There are apparently some things every girl should do. One of those things is to take the most roundabout route to your local bike shop with a bottle of champagne tucked away in your baileyworks. Oh, yeah, and ride fast.
Because when bottles of Veuve Clicquot are involved, good things happen.
Being pressured to at least come out to the “Champagne and 40s” themed pre-party [“because we’re classy…and we’re not”] for the law prom I refused to go to, I threw a bottle of champagne in my bag with a bottle of water before heading out on a quick ride yesterday. The ride was super short, so I sprinted as fast as I could, whenever I could, trying to make my thighs feel that searing burn.
Disgustingly sweaty and breathless, I stopped by IBC on my way home. I expected to drop in for a quick chat and be less of a wobbly-kneed, steamy mess when I left. Lucky for me, though, I happened to walk in on Erich building one of my wheels.
Despite the initial “Ahhh don’t look!!!” I got to watch my Miche hubs being laced to my front Deep V rim with DT Swiss Competition double-butted spokes and black brass nipples. This was, admittedly, the first time I’ve seen a wheel being built; much less one for me. Naturally, I took enough pictures to make a Japanese tourist proud.
The black nipples were Erich’s idea, and I initially didn’t think it would make a huge difference, and was expecting silver nipples anyway. How wrong I was! Like [unnecessarily] painted toe nails in the winter, it’s the small details that simultaneously pull everything together and turn up the sophistication factor like woah.
“Bike Parts Learning Time with Erich” unfortunately had to end before the whole thing went into the truing stand [and yes the above picture is a sneak peek at the already completed rear wheel]. Mostly because I was already late to the pre-party, and I had champagne to deliver. I tore myself away from that coveted space behind the counter, next to a bike stand that held up something too pretty to articulate with words, to get back on my trusty tractorino.
I’m stopping into IBC again today. It’s going to be another good day. I can just tell.
Tags: brass nipples · dt swiss competition spokes · lucky · miche hubs · veuve clicquot · wheel building3 Comments
3 responses so far ↓
After many years in the saddle and wrenching on my own rides most of the time (until Campagnolo throws me a curve ball), Erich still teaches me something every time that I go into IBC.
His service is the main reason that I go in there.
Thumbs up to your wheelbuilder.
very nice! I like the black nipple idea!
RMM — thanks! erich is definitely one of the best (and friendliest!) mechanics in town. and i am not completely biased because he is building me one of the prettiest bikes in the world.
3rrr — nice touch, right? i’ve been looking at your 49t chainring…i’m going to save up to get one! it would look SO GOOD on the new bike!!!