Last Chance for the Diamondback

Standard

The weather finally turned cold last week, and I found myself in the annual ritual of changing out the Diamondback’s slicks for studded snow tires: twenty-six inch Nokians. I’m six and a half feet tall, and a bike that fits me looks absurd with 26 inch tires.

The diamondback in its original configuration.
Diamondback with flat bars

This is the bike I was riding when I started this blog. I didn’t know anything about bikes when I bought her. She’s too small for me, and the frame geometry is only really set up for a beach cruiser.

As I have gotten more ‘serious’ about bikes, I have tried to make the Diamondback work for me. I put drop bars on her, I put moustache bars on her. I even took her camping in the mountains. No matter what I did, I never felt really comfortable on her.

Diamondback with moustache bars
Diamondback with moustache bars

Last week, I decided that enough was enough, and that I was going to replace her with either a Surly Karate Monkey or Crosscheck. After taking an honest look at my post-holiday finances, however, I decided to give her one more chance.

So, I ordered up a pair of Albatross bars from the right honourable gentlemen at Hiawatha Cyclery. I figure if the bike is designed for an upright riding stance, then that’s how I’ll ride it.

Diamondback with Albatross bars
Diamondback with Albatross bars

I have been stuck indoors with the flu for the past several days, so I haven’t been able to ride her in her new configuration just yet, but if these bars don’t work out, there’s likely to be a karate-monkey-shaped hole in my credit card in the near future.

One thought on “Last Chance for the Diamondback

  1. Looking good. I think it will be more comfortable than with the m’bars. You’re right about those tiny wheels though. It reminds me of a folding bike.

Comments are closed.