Gravmutterizing

Time to put things to good use... with the GR300 taking over, it was time to hack up the old Marin Nicasio+. Everything's on a budget this time. Weight is not a concern. I set out in mind for a practical smooth ride. Speed is definitely not on the agenda for this build. Even if all beefed up with weight, it should be something that can take on some unpaved paths.. No stupid moves on full on MTB trails though... ok or maybe... ;)

Debating between  decked out with front and rear racks or not... but decided to forgo front for now. I'm not touring so it's kinda pointless to load up front and retard steering and adding on further to the clunkiness. Rear bags and panniers have its cons too of course but....

Anyway racks or no racks--The past year of riding and removal of fenders from the Stanyan has told me one thing--- FENDERS must come back on this build

 

No fancy Honjo or Gilles Bertould or even SKS this time. Looking up and down-- value for money seem to be these from Shopee/ Lazada. I know I'm gonna bitch when it comes to installing and was already thinking that later on the struts will be changed to adjustable ones or hacked  up with some c-clips/ darumas if I decide to cut away the loops or straighten them out.

And here we go again... Of course no self respecting fenders will let you install them without a fight. So out with the Dremel tool again for some mod...

 

 

Anyone that installed these parts will definitely know-- the front will always move to the opposite direction with the rear. So getting one end aligned means more offset to the other. You literally have to bend the m#th@rF%^ker back with some brute force and or twist the center fixture to the fork. Ditto for the rear but not so bad as the end just behind the seat tube/BB is a fixed point. 

 

Not having damuras and c-clips at this point means the only way to adjust gap to wheels is via bending of the struts... That's always gonna be ugly no matter how balanced you can get both sides to be.

As with all parts installed -- shakeout ride and more tweaking back home... Yea.. gaps at both ends of front and rear nearing the splash guard is a little wide. Especially at the front wheel, which meant a little toe overlapping than I would care for.... More strut bending time again.

The panniers arrived the day before... an item I kept on my Aliexpress cart for like 1-2 years? Finally sprung for it just before Xmas. Not Billingham quality but also not some cheapo knock-off andpretty good quality and workmanship I must say. Now just to season up the straps a little. To tone down the edges for a nicer "worn" blended look.

Oh-- and those funky colored lock-on grips are here too. Wasn't expecting too much at the price point but they seemed sturdy enough for this intended build and the graphics adds a nice splash to the bike. Helps to convey the"un-seriousness" of this ride.

Recycled old parts swapped over to here ---

• BROOKS C17  --el cheapo version, test-piece harassed into being sold to me cheaply10 yrs ago.

• SURLY Tubular Chromoly Rear Rack - Heavy AF. but can load up to 36kg
  

• 9s Shimano bar-con shifter - set to friction mode to gel with the Microshift rear dee because I'm again too cheap to buy the Microshift flatbar shifter after removing the dropbar levers that came with this bike. Again some old shit from my bike bin
  

• SOMA Clarence bar - one of my many funny bars collection that won out on this setup. I find the original 680mm a little short especially when the bike  is a bit loaded at the back and extended it out to ~720 with some Control Tech bar-extender. Not something I would ever do with MTBs but its ok here...as its all easy cruising with little of the mad crash prone stuff I do on  mtbs.
  

$$$ spent on this hack up

• Tourbon panniers - USD$86
• some cheap funky grips - SGD$10.56
• Unbranded Thermoplastic fenders - SGD$ $21.30
• "Avid" 5 levers - SGD$9.80
• New cable housings and cables - SGD$13.00
• Decathlon Kickstand - came with this bike when i bought it used... not exactly necessary but convenient to have especially if the bags are weighted down and not leaving it lying down in the wet on some days... or when taking out the cooking "toys" to prep a meal or coffee.
  

 

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  Last but not least- -a tad of personalization. Key chain name tag from my Boracay vacation in The Philippines eons ago... and oh, the refuse to die 20 years Cat-eye blinker as a backup here that some kind LBS owner gave me on a rainy day much like this last day of 2021 when I was heading back from his shop in the evening, cos mine kaput back then... I'll always remember these little acts of kindness in my cycling journeys.

  Some final thoughts? Upgrade the brake calipers to those hybrid mech/ hydraulics like the Huin Tech R1 or TRP Spyre? Normal ride speed the mech calipers work just fine but when loaded-- I could appreciate a little more stopping power. 

  Or should I break out my fossilized Shimano DCLs-- the most hated flatbar integrated control in the world and swap to full hydraulic?-- hmm but that would mean changing out rear dee and all. Nah.
  

"NEW BIKE" -- under SGD$200 for 2022