Retain This

When we last checked in on Project Singlespeed:

(The singlespeed in question)

I'd expressed misgivings about chain retention.  Specifically, for reasons I won't bother to reiterate I'd curated the drivetrain with a rear cog extracted from a used cassette, and after I dropped a chain on my first full-length test ride I worried that maybe this wasn't going to cut it.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of laziness, I increased tension on the chain and hoped that would do it.  Then, the next day, I took the bicycle on a more cyclocrossy-type ride:

And in 20-ish miles I dropped my chain twice:

Forced to acknowledge the admonishments of the naysayers, but still unwilling to spend a single red cent on this damn thing, I rolled up my sleeves and dug around in my vast spare component holdings--and wouldn't you know it, there was a brand-new unopened 9-speed chain which was just wide enough to accomodate the proper singlespeed cog I had originally intented to use.  So I installed everything and headed out on more or less the same ride, and I'm pleased to announce the bike has passed the chain retention test:

I've also got to say that even though I threw this together as quickly as possible I really like how it came out.  The brown-and-tan motif is befitting of my current moniker (that's Tan Tenovo to you), and besides the unsightly (that's pretentious for ugly as fuck) spacer stack I daresay it's a pretty classy ride.  Also, it happens to ride very nicely, and I attribute that to three (3) things:

1) It's a singlespeed and singlespeeds always feel nicer because they're light and quiet (until you find yourself over- or under-geared of course);

2) I haven't been riding a Cambium lately and I forgot how freaking comfy they are;

3) The tires, which just fell into my lap, happen to be really nice (or "supple" as you're supposed to say):

(Damn your precious aesthetics, I buy long-valve tubes because nothing's more annoying than realizing your valve's too short.)

Islabikes sent me these tires along with the Luath 24 they're now never getting back, and I really like them.  They're a good old-fashioned cyclocross tire and not those overpriced hybrid tires they sell as "gravel" tires nowadays.  Of course, being spoiled by the Jones and its sumptuous plus-sized tires I forgot how annoying it is when you hit a root or a pointy rock or something (which is easy to do at this time of year when the ground is covered with leaves), but otherwise they feel great, even on pavement.

So there you go, the bike should be ready for my upcoming singlespeed cyclocrossing event, and I may even keep riding it after said event for that matter.

Ride safe this weekend,

I love you,



--Tan Tenovo

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