THE DAILY

Feature Bike No. 28

BP: This bike is outfitted with some very nice componentry. Do you notice a difference in the ride as compared to any ‘ol bike converted to single speed with run of the mill parts?

TR: Absolutely…I have a Schwinn that I’ve been running freewheel for a couple years now. I built it with some middle of the road to lower end components and it’s a world of difference when I switch up bikes. Imagine driving a Ford Escort for most of the time and then hopping into an S4…it’s kind of like that…or at least what I’d imagine that scenario to be like as I have never actually driven an S4…but I did own an Escort not too long ago. Anyway…you get the picture. Essentially a bike is meant to get you from point A to point B, much like a car; it’s simply a matter of how smooth you would “prefer” (‘can afford’ would be the better term here) your ride to be.

BP: Have you raced on this bicycle?

TR: Yep. Raced a couple of the midnight Keirin races on North Winooski Ave last summer. Also raced the Turkey Chase (2^nd edition), ShutterSpeed and Ride Off the Wagon on this bike..."...never won no checkered flag…but never came in last..."

BP: If you built another Track Bike, what would you do differently?

TR: Make sure I buy the right size frame! The Durcus is a great frame…super clean aesthetically speaking and hella light…but it’s too small for me. The price was right as was the sales pitch for me to buy this frame, ”It ain’t pro…but it ain’t ghetto.” So I scooped it up and built around the fact that it was too small. Kind of a mistake on my end as you’ll fully enjoy your ride a lot more if you build a bike that’s truly your fit. Don’t make this mistake with your next potential bike frame…as the folks pitching ExtenZe™ would lead you to believe…size does matter. I may try drop bars on the next build…other than that I’m hyped on everything else on this bike.

BP: Would you sell this bike?

TR: The frame for sure as it is too small for me…but I would most definitely keep everything else on that bike.

BP: In closing...

TR: Big ups to Hernandez, Blotto & Liam for their input and assistance on this build…an encyclopedia’s worth of bike knowledge between the three of them….thanks homies!

Bicycle Type: Track Bike

Owner: Tomas Ruprecht

Primary use for this bike: Transportation…and a local race or two

Frame: Durcus One--Master; Durcus One is the house brand for W-Base (Japan)

Tubing: Aluminum

Headset: AheadSet C4

Crankset: Sugino 75 - 165mm

Chainring: Sugino 75 - 47t

Bottom Bracket: Sugino 75

Cog: Phil Wood Track Cog 17t

Hubs: Phil Wood High Flange 32 Hole

Rims: Velocity Deep V