1. If you’re not living a cave or stationed out in the middle of the ocean on Diego Garcia doing god knows what, you’ve probably seen 44rn_design’s track chainring on your RSS horizon.  Aaron spent 2 years designing, prototyping, testing, spec’ing and sourcing the final US-made track chainring.  I found a few free minutes today to drop my new purchase on my bike, along with an Izumi V chain and EAI Superstar cog for full-on drivetrain refreshness.  I’ve never felt a smoother set-up- there’s an absolute positiveness to the ring that offers and incomparable ride experience.  Aaron’s careful engineering and honed design results in zero slop between the teeth and the chain bushings and the overall effect is a ninja-quite drivetrain that delivers 100% of rider energy to your wheel.  Only 50 of these rings were produced: 20 silver and 30 black, 144mm BCD and 47T only, and they’re moving quick.  Buy your MA-designed and -manufactured ring for a measly $67 here, while you still can.  Full details on the design and process here.  Pictureset of the rings mounted up on various track cranks here.

    If you’re not living a cave or stationed out in the middle of the ocean on Diego Garcia doing god knows what, you’ve probably seen 44rn_design’s track chainring on your RSS horizon.  Aaron spent 2 years designing, prototyping, testing, spec’ing and sourcing the final US-made track chainring.  I found a few free minutes today to drop my new purchase on my bike, along with an Izumi V chain and EAI Superstar cog for full-on drivetrain refreshness.  I’ve never felt a smoother set-up- there’s an absolute positiveness to the ring that offers and incomparable ride experience.  Aaron’s careful engineering and honed design results in zero slop between the teeth and the chain bushings and the overall effect is a ninja-quite drivetrain that delivers 100% of rider energy to your wheel.  Only 50 of these rings were produced: 20 silver and 30 black, 144mm BCD and 47T only, and they’re moving quick.  Buy your MA-designed and -manufactured ring for a measly $67 here, while you still can.  Full details on the design and process here.  Pictureset of the rings mounted up on various track cranks here.

  2. New drivetrain day!

    New drivetrain day!

  3. Getting excited to install and run my new 44rn locally-designed and -made chainring. Full photoset and review to follow…

    Getting excited to install and run my new 44rn locally-designed and -made chainring. Full photoset and review to follow…

  4. New in the shop:  late 80’s Basso track, Columbus SL tubes.  54.75cm ST, 53.5 TT.  Old-school geo: 75 degree seat & head tube angles.  Chrome 21mm round blade fork for rough road tracking.  Ecru Italian paint all day long.  Ready for the streets. “How much for that doggie in the window,” you ask?  $500 takes this one home, at Arc-En-Ciel Bicycle Studio.

    New in the shop:  late 80’s Basso track, Columbus SL tubes.  54.75cm ST, 53.5 TT.  Old-school geo: 75 degree seat & head tube angles.  Chrome 21mm round blade fork for rough road tracking.  Ecru Italian paint all day long.  Ready for the streets.

    “How much for that doggie in the window,” you ask?  $500 takes this one home, at Arc-En-Ciel Bicycle Studio.

  5. Some years back, I was digging though a older friend and bike part source’s pile of vintage components and I came across a Saavedra headset.  I was familiar with the Argentine company’s acclaimed tubular rims, and I found myself infatuated with the nicely-finished roller bearing mechanism from South America.  A fair price was struck and the seemingly- indestructible headset has moved from bike to bike in the stable ever since.   The bearing assemblies in the unit are similar to the Stronglight A9 or Miche Primato, with steel races supporting conical retainers with high-grade roller bearings.  For some reason, though, the set-up issues and touchiness of the Primato has been absent in the Saavedra- it’s been plug-and-play.  The high polish alloy and clean lines set off any vintage or handbuilt frame.  Rolling around with an obscure south-of-the-border bit of bike jewelry has always been a nice touch, too. I recently acquired a source of NOS “Super Competition” model headsets, and picked up a few for the shop.  It should go without saying, but they are 1” threaded, ISO crown race.  $55, here at Arc-en-Ciel.

    Some years back, I was digging though a older friend and bike part source’s pile of vintage components and I came across a Saavedra headset.  I was familiar with the Argentine company’s acclaimed tubular rims, and I found myself infatuated with the nicely-finished roller bearing mechanism from South America.  A fair price was struck and the seemingly- indestructible headset has moved from bike to bike in the stable ever since.  

    The bearing assemblies in the unit are similar to the Stronglight A9 or Miche Primato, with steel races supporting conical retainers with high-grade roller bearings.  For some reason, though, the set-up issues and touchiness of the Primato has been absent in the Saavedra- it’s been plug-and-play.  The high polish alloy and clean lines set off any vintage or handbuilt frame.  Rolling around with an obscure south-of-the-border bit of bike jewelry has always been a nice touch, too.

    I recently acquired a source of NOS “Super Competition” model headsets, and picked up a few for the shop.  It should go without saying, but they are 1” threaded, ISO crown race.  $55, here at Arc-en-Ciel.