past tense bike check
I meant to post this for a while. Indeed, it's actually too late in a sense, as I've sold this bike. Still, I wanted to post a more detailed bike check that says why I run stuff, outlining the political and social reasons. I'll do the same for my new bike, but it will be a lot shorter: "I use all MacNeil parts because I love D'Arcy and he's a smarty-pants."
I’ve done this before in a more compact, streamlined way, but the following carries more info. This is long. Cut and paste it in a word processing document to save connection time.
Part of my PhD focuses on the relatively modern phenomenon of the Pro Bike check. In short, my position on these is that they serve as a shopping list for young riders, and that this ultimately serves the industry rather than the members of the culture. Participation in a culture shouldn’t be about consumption, in my mind. Of course, the reality is that BMX is almost entirely about consumption. This is bad, methinks. I have positioned myself outside of this over the past few years, as I don’t pay for my parts and clothes. Of course, this is bovine feces, as I am immersed in the evil. If you sport logos, you are participating in the exploitation of the culture by industry. And, boy, do I sport logos.
So for the sake of paradox and hypocritical contradiction, I offer a bike check (albeit of a different flavour).
Frame: Custom Solid with 3/16” 14mm dropouts, no gussets, 19.75” top tube, 13.5” chainstays, with Oryg tabs. Weighs 5.3 lbs. Aaron and Ryan are good friends, and this is the third frame they have made custom for me. It is painted with metallic purple / metallic green flip/flop paint that I got from Stephane Lavigne, a rider that owns a car parts store chain here in Montreal.
Fork: MacNeil ID with 990s: because D’Arcy Saccucci is both a genius and one of my best friends
Headset: Solid – absolutely rules, and from friends. The industry had to shift to internal headsets before this thing took over.
Stem: Fly – no significance to me. Just a light stem that works.
Bars: Ronin Big E’s – As I used to blog on Ronin’s website, you can probably figure out this hookup. Not just because of Shane however: These are the perfect bars.
Grips: We The People Dave Osato Slapshots – Dave looked at my Vancouver bike last year and I got this unspoken vibe from him: “why aren’t you running my grips?”
Bar Ends: MacNeil aluminum: Almost everybody at this company is my best bud.
Levers: Tech 77 – El Marko from Dia Tech sent me these along with homemade beer (I don’t drink), and the beer bottle snapped en route.
Front Cable: Ten Pack – Jamie Mac
Detangler Cables: SST – I have a history with B.S.. And honestly, if you know how to set up brakes, they work so much better than dual cables. There is an elegance to two-into-one cables
Brakes: Dia Tech Hombres w/ Fiesta – Beer flavoured – Lighter than 990s, with a better brake shoe system
Cranks: Solid Hella Light 175mm – Because they love me
Sprocket: Ronin 25t – the anodizing hasn’t even worn out in 18 months
Pedals: Sealed KHE Stimulatorz – from El Marko, my drinkin’ buddy
Chain: KMC chrome
Rear Hub: 36H Profile cassette with Ti 14mm axle and LHD 9t titanium driver – Because Matt Coplon rules
Ft. Hub: 36H Profile mini with ti bolts
Rims: 36H Araya RB J1 rear, 36H Araya Super 7X front
Spokes: Marwi titanium w/ gold nipples – traded old parts with a guy that worked for Marwi at Interbike
Tires: Demolition Zeppelin 1.80” – La supports me and all my events. And they make skinny-ass tires which go fast
Seat and Post: MacNeil Combo w/ Capital seat – D’Arse is an absolute genius. When Jamie Mac first showed me a prototype, I couldn’t find the bolt. I was completely fooled
Seat Clamp: Demolition – Light and from La
Pegs: 4 MacNeil Titanium w/ Macneil Caps – Genius – and park friendly
I’ve done this before in a more compact, streamlined way, but the following carries more info. This is long. Cut and paste it in a word processing document to save connection time.
Part of my PhD focuses on the relatively modern phenomenon of the Pro Bike check. In short, my position on these is that they serve as a shopping list for young riders, and that this ultimately serves the industry rather than the members of the culture. Participation in a culture shouldn’t be about consumption, in my mind. Of course, the reality is that BMX is almost entirely about consumption. This is bad, methinks. I have positioned myself outside of this over the past few years, as I don’t pay for my parts and clothes. Of course, this is bovine feces, as I am immersed in the evil. If you sport logos, you are participating in the exploitation of the culture by industry. And, boy, do I sport logos.
So for the sake of paradox and hypocritical contradiction, I offer a bike check (albeit of a different flavour).
Frame: Custom Solid with 3/16” 14mm dropouts, no gussets, 19.75” top tube, 13.5” chainstays, with Oryg tabs. Weighs 5.3 lbs. Aaron and Ryan are good friends, and this is the third frame they have made custom for me. It is painted with metallic purple / metallic green flip/flop paint that I got from Stephane Lavigne, a rider that owns a car parts store chain here in Montreal.
Fork: MacNeil ID with 990s: because D’Arcy Saccucci is both a genius and one of my best friends
Headset: Solid – absolutely rules, and from friends. The industry had to shift to internal headsets before this thing took over.
Stem: Fly – no significance to me. Just a light stem that works.
Bars: Ronin Big E’s – As I used to blog on Ronin’s website, you can probably figure out this hookup. Not just because of Shane however: These are the perfect bars.
Grips: We The People Dave Osato Slapshots – Dave looked at my Vancouver bike last year and I got this unspoken vibe from him: “why aren’t you running my grips?”
Bar Ends: MacNeil aluminum: Almost everybody at this company is my best bud.
Levers: Tech 77 – El Marko from Dia Tech sent me these along with homemade beer (I don’t drink), and the beer bottle snapped en route.
Front Cable: Ten Pack – Jamie Mac
Detangler Cables: SST – I have a history with B.S.. And honestly, if you know how to set up brakes, they work so much better than dual cables. There is an elegance to two-into-one cables
Brakes: Dia Tech Hombres w/ Fiesta – Beer flavoured – Lighter than 990s, with a better brake shoe system
Cranks: Solid Hella Light 175mm – Because they love me
Sprocket: Ronin 25t – the anodizing hasn’t even worn out in 18 months
Pedals: Sealed KHE Stimulatorz – from El Marko, my drinkin’ buddy
Chain: KMC chrome
Rear Hub: 36H Profile cassette with Ti 14mm axle and LHD 9t titanium driver – Because Matt Coplon rules
Ft. Hub: 36H Profile mini with ti bolts
Rims: 36H Araya RB J1 rear, 36H Araya Super 7X front
Spokes: Marwi titanium w/ gold nipples – traded old parts with a guy that worked for Marwi at Interbike
Tires: Demolition Zeppelin 1.80” – La supports me and all my events. And they make skinny-ass tires which go fast
Seat and Post: MacNeil Combo w/ Capital seat – D’Arse is an absolute genius. When Jamie Mac first showed me a prototype, I couldn’t find the bolt. I was completely fooled
Seat Clamp: Demolition – Light and from La
Pegs: 4 MacNeil Titanium w/ Macneil Caps – Genius – and park friendly
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