What’s the Old Fart riding today?
Argonaut MAX Custom
Ben Farver of Argonaut Cycles, Portland, Oregon, built this fine custom for me this Spring. It’s Columbus MAX-tubed, which accounts for the big, weird steel you see, particularly the rear triangle and fork legs. Even more stunning, in person, is the ovalization of the main tubes, which change profile along the tube length. Ben made a good thing better with some extra detail work on the lugs and a great, high-polish chrome job that is sure to have cost him a couple week’s worth of tennis elbow.
The paint is from Spectrum Powerworks, and shows their usual attention to detail. It’s a brilliant Italian Rosso with a tiny bit of gold metal flake that really pops in the sunlight.
2006 Moots Compact SL
This is custom frame built with a 6 degree slope along the top tube. It is constructed of Reynolds 6/4 Titanium, which has since disappeared from the Moots line for a couple of years but which is now rumored to be making a comeback. It’s the standard Moots bead-blasted finish, which makes for a very durable, hard-wearing bike. I think it’s beautiful. It’s also the best-riding bike, all-around, of any that I’ve ever owned and undoubtedly the bike I’d keep if I could only have one. She’s very light, yet sturdy and responsive even under my big ass. I’ve never felt a bike more comfortable on bad roads, ever. The only problem I can see is its lack of clearance in the fork for 25mm tires or better. Thus, she always wears 23mm tires.
- Top tube: 59.0
- Seat tube: 56.5 center to top
- Seat angle: 73
- Head angle: 74
- Head tube: 19.4
- Chain stay: 41.5
- Wheel base: 100.1
- Stand over: 83.0
- 2008 Shimano Dura Ace 10-speed with SRM Pro Dura-Ace crank, crank-length 175mm
- Moots setback stem and 130/90 stem
- Chris King Titanium headset
- Easton EC 90 SLX CNT carbon fork, 43mm rake
- Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL Premium Clinchers in this photo, but frequently DT Swiss RR1850 aluminum clinchers
- Continental GP4000 S clincher tires, 23mm
- Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow saddle, white
- Fizik tape, white
1981 Pogliaghi
Team Bikes
