Pauliemon
Active member
Uh oh! I missed my Levo SL, so I bought another one. There's been a 2022 SL S-Works frameset on sale for a while now. I decided to go for it. For some reason my debit card wouldn't cooperate. I called the shop and they sent me a link, but no Bueno. So Ben at Cycle Sport sent me another link. This second link had a $1000US discount! I didn't want to chance it so I used a Visa cc. Many thanks to Ben.
Now the parts. I always build my wheels. I use Nextie carbon rims. For some reason I order them during Chinese new year, which is February 13th through the 26th. The whole friggin' country shuts down for 2 weeks. Must be one hell of a party. I've done this for the last 3 wheel builds, doh! The Reynolds stem, OneUp carbon bars, front rotor, and Butcher front tire were on my old SL. I scored the Industry Nine hubs for less than $300 from the Bike Closet. They are not the current models but I don't mind. They have 609 POE which means they have zero lag and instant engagement. It also makes them super loud. They sound like an old fighter plane coming in for a strafe. Drives me nuts! I pull the cassette body off and grease it up, that quiets them down. DT Competition Spokes with brass nipples.
I love Crank Bros Mallet pedals, best of both worlds. Specialized bike, Specialized tires. These tire are tested and developed right around here in Northern California. So they work very well around here. XTR M9100 drivetrain and 4 pots. OneUp dropper post. I believe I have a WTB Silverado saddle around here somewhere. I'm psyched! 2025 was a hard year for my wife and I. I had triple bypass surgery last January and a grand mal seizure in December. My wife had her second knee replacement in May. We're both 74, born 3 days apart in the same hospital. Needless to say it was a tuff year and I didn't get much time on the bike. I'm hoping to change that in 26.
I'll keep you guys informed on the build as it happens in this post.
Here's my old SL right before it's first ride.
I loved this bike and had no plans to sell it. I had purchased a full power Levo and figured two bikes better than one. A buddy called me and said, "I know someone who wants to buy your SL". I told him $6500, which is what I paid for it, I thought he'll never go for it. Wrong! Crap, now I have to sell it to him. I pulled off the Fox 36 Factory GRIP X fork and FLOAT X shock, carbon wheels and bars and Reynolds stem. I replaced them with the stock parts. He did get the Fox Performance 36 from my new Levo. The stock SL came with a 34. I already had a Fox 38 on the new Levo. This guy didn't care, he wanted an ebike for camping trips.
I hope my little story amused you. More to come.
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