Project SUB*

Project SUB - Before (2009) and After (2011)

I will use this page to chronicle my perennial pursuit of perfection as applied to my 1993 Bridgestone MB-5. Since purchased new in 1993, I really did not pay much attention to the MB-5 since back then I was seriously putting miles on my Bridgestone Radac 3100, during a time I lived to ride. What's funny is I do not remember why I bought this bike. I did ride it occasionally, but for the most part it was a spare. Around about 1997, when my son (born in 1996) was big enough, I used the MB-5 to tote him in a Burley trailer around the neighborhood and to the park. Then, there was no riding, basically, at all. Work, life, divorce, son's pre-school, grade school - just did not seem to have the time to live to ride, so both bikes sat.

Once I was back riding a lot, and as of January 2011, bike commuting daily to our new office in downtown Portland I have also been constantly working on Project SUB (I did not actually come up with the SUB moniker until about mid-way into my changes. Oh, and SUB stands for Sport Utility Bike), ever fine-tuning this, getting a better that. This was not always a project, but once I started reflecting on the myriad of changes, this is definitely a project. Most of the work has come between 2009 and now, with quite a few coming the last several months, since I have my daily commutes as test grounds.

Summary to Date

• 6th set of tires (4th in the last 5 months) skinnier versions of set number 5
• 2nd crankset/bottom bracket - the original 175mm length arms never felt totally comfortable
• 4th handlebar (3rd drop-bar) traditional drop bar shape
• 2nd brake levers since I cannot use mountain bike levers on a drop bar
• 4th location for the original thumb shifters
• 4th set of fenders - keep changing tire widths, keep changing fenders to keep up aesthetics
• 3rd rear rack (2nd since 2009) mostly an aesthetic choice, but still must be functional
• 5th pair of pedals - orignal platform to Performance SPD to Shimano dual mode to Power Grips High-performance to Time ATAC Alium

SUB Specifications

• Base -- 1993 Bridgestone MB-5 (mountain bike) {original frame and fork}
• Front Derailleur -- Shimano Exage LT {original}
• Rear Derailleur -- Shimano Exage LT {original}
• Shift Levers -- Shimano Deore DX Thumbshifters {original}
• Brake Levers -- Shimano Tektro {drop-bar style, replace original Dia-Compe SS-4 levers}
• Brakes -- Dia-Compe XCE cantilevers {original}
• Crankset -- Sugino XD600, 170mm, 26/36/46 {replace original Sugino XS450, 175mm}
• Pedals -- Time ATAC Alium, replace Power Grips High Performance, replace Shimano PD-A530 dual mode {replace original Sakae MTP-170}
• Bottom Bracket -- Shimano BB-UN54, 68 x 107mm {replace original cone and cup BB}
• Rear Cogs -- Shimano uniglide freehub 7-speed, 11-13-14-16-18-20-22 {original cogs - 13-30}
• Hubs -- Shimano Exage {original}
• Rims -- Ritchey Vantage Sport, 32-hole {original}
• Tires -- Continental Sport Contact, 26 x 1.3 {original 26 x 2.10 Ritchey Megabite}
• Handlebar -- Nitto Model 185, 400mm {replace original mtb handlebar}
• Stem -- Profile Design H2O, 90mm x 130 degree {replace original mtb stem, Hsin Lung #128-1}
• Saddle -- Specialized Ruby, 143mm {replace original and Specialized Lithia}
• Fenders -- SKS P35 fenders {design custom frame mounting brackets}
• Rear Rack -- Axiom Streamliner DLX
• Front Light -- Busch & Muller IXON-IQ LED {design custom stem mounting assembly}
• Rear Light -- Dinotte 120 AA

Recent Changes

• 21 Aug 2011 - Modify OEM shifter brackets and mount to custom brackets, removes need for the clamps on the bars, much much cleaner look.
• 20 Jun 2011 - Swap to another set of clipless pedals, Time ATAC Alium, like the float being in the pedal and not with the adjustment of the cleat.
• 25 May 2011 - Replace SPD pedals with Power Grip pedals, cleat adjusting taking a toll on the knees, give them a break for a while.
• 07 May 2011 - Locate a traditional drop bar that is the same as my Radac, Nitto Model 185, 40cm width (Radac width is 39cm). So, the Cinelli LW is now on the shelf.
• 07 May 2011 - Found a 1.3" version of my Continental SportContact tires (mine are 1.6"), so installed. Quite a bit shorter (less diameter) so I also had to change out my fenders. Off came the SKS P45's and on went my spare P35's. I had to modify the brackets to reduce the huge gap between the fenders and the tires. Sweet, I have a skinny tired SUB now.

SUB Album

Project SUB Photo Album on my Flikr Account