State of the Quickbeam 3-3-12

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Today is “March Forth,” which pleases me. Good day to leave on a trip, but we’re just going to Mount Hood. Yesterday I started my March project of documenting my bikes, so I can check back on them next year.

The state of the Quickbeam, March 3rd, 2012

Weight as shown (bag, tools, hubs, light, pedal decks, U-lock): 36.5 lbs

– Red Sturmey Archer S3X 3-speed fixed gear hub – shifter mounted on the seat stay
– Black SON dynamo hub
– Shimano 600 cranks, single 42t “rocket ring”
– Nitto M12 with Wald basket (with green sign)
– Carradice Cadet on the front
– Single E6 light, upside-down on a spacer tube
– Eggbeater Candies, large-size skate deck pedals
– Green Brooks B17
– Green-painted Salsa stem
– Original WTB Nitto Dirt Drops
– Green Newbaum’s bar tape
– Stock Tiagra levers. One missing gray plastic bit.
– Front Tektro CR720 cantilever, red Yokozuna road pads
– Rear stock brakes, red Koolstops
– Green-painted Velo-Orange ‘Zeppelin’ Fenders – double nuts
– Mud flaps made from green leather shoe tongues

Comments

8 responses to “State of the Quickbeam 3-3-12”

March 5, 2012

David Spranger

Looks like you are running different tires, front and back. What tires and how wide are they? Can you comment on why different and how you like your tire choice?

Thanks,
David

Reply
March 5, 2012

Pondero

Thanks for the update. I always enjoy watching how this bike evolves/adapts/adjusts. This is especially true now that I’ve acquired a QB of my own. Bravo, my friend.

Reply
March 5, 2012

philip

Hi David, thanks for noticing that. The rear is a Marathon 47mm (actual width about 42mm), and I need to check what the make and model of the front is. It’s a little narrower than the Marathon I took off the front – it was too close to the fender. I like wide tires, and wanted to try the Marathons. These are heavier and wider than I prefer, but work for my commuting and logging road riding. A true 38 would probably work best for this bike.

Hola, Señor Pondero! I love your Quickbeam. I need to go on an “Unpopulaire” myself soon. Hopefully March will be more active than February.

Reply
1. March 5, 2012
  
  David Spranger
  
  Thanks for the report. I have the same fenders as you, ready for my SimpleOne build. I am fretting over the choices I have to make for tires for this bike. I tend to choose tires as wide as will fit. Nice to know I could put 40s in there. I am pretty sure the SimpleOne has the same clearance as the Quickbeam.
  
  Reply
March 5, 2012

philip

I’m a tire-crammer myself. I have shameful tire greed, and run things so close I end up cursing all darumas, nuts and bolt-heads inside the fender, since they steal tire-room.

Reply
December 22, 2013

State of the Quickbeam 12-21-13 | Bike Tinker

[…] First day of Winter… 58 degrees tonight sitting on my porch in California. It’s been a while since I documented my bikes; the Quickbeam has C-Lines and thornflickers, but it’s about the same. Except no fenders or lighting, since it never rains here and never gets dark. So… pretty much totally different. […]

Reply
July 18, 2025

budi

can you tell me what the dropbar is?
thanks.

Reply
1. October 12, 2025
  
  philip
  
  Back in 2012 they were “original WTB dirt drop bars,” called “RM-2s.”
  The new version of these, which I have on a couple bikes, are Nitto RM-3 bars. Soma and Blue Lug carry them.
  https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/nitto-handlebar-rm3-dirt-drop-2758?search=rm-3#attr=4749,378,3367
  
  Reply