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The first real tan lines of 2009. Work related not fun related. Surveying waterlines in Sumter County on beautiful day.

Rollin Down Shakedown

Out on the trail today with an old friend. Back out of retirement my trusty Independent Fabrication Steel Deluxe. This has to be one of the best riding bikes I've every ridden. It's hard to top the ride of Reynold 853 steel. This frame has been in my possession since 1996. Many epic rides on this bike. It has gone through many fads and trends of mountain biking history for the past 13 years. Since 2000 it has found a home hanging in my garage. About the time the 29er revolution hit me right in the head. Since then it's morphed into several garage projects, but nothing I've been completely happy with.
So for now the build up has been one of patience. Looking for deals to get the project up and running. Scored a nice deal on '07 Rock Shox Sid Team. HBW had a stripped down Bontrager Race GXP crankset with no rings sitting at the shop. Took some old wheels and set them up with Stans. The single best thing for 26" wheel bikes. Also trying to keep with the simplicity of this ride. I decided to set up a 1x9 drivetrain. Since I've been riding a SS for the past two seasons. The whole front derailleur thingy distracts me. Mostly wondering what gear to be in. Now with this 1x9 setup it's much more straight forward. As for the rest of the bike Bontrager, Avid and King parts make the bike complete.