Frame, Fork, Rider: Ray x Sword
The Rider:
First, tell us about yourself, how you started cycling, and what keeps you going.
From the age of 6, bicycles began expanding my world. Riding around the neighborhood, and beyond, for my elementary school days through junior high, my bikes took me everywhere. I remember spending most of my summer days at the mall, and the bike/skateboard shop inside it. Looking over all of them, learning about them, dreaming about them. I especially remember the Centurion Ironman Dave Scott road bike. I’ve always liked the color purple and the yellow headtube really popped. I wanted one, but could never afford it.
As I “outgrew” BMX and spent more time roller skating and skateboarding, I took a bit of a separation from bikes but kept rolling. Eventually moving from SE Idaho to Central Indiana right after my junior year in high school. I began roller speed skating competitively and someone gave me their old Club Fuji 12-speed road bike to use for cross training. I began doing 20-ish mile road rides and quickly fell in love again. This was a different style of riding than I’d done before, but I found it brought more than just the physical freedom that I had in my youth. This brought a mental freedom. I traded up for a used Trek 2100 later.
I moved back to SE Idaho in 1999 and rode a Haro Backtrail 24” BMX bike for transportation around town. I used a student loan change check to buy a full-suspension mountain bike from a friend and started riding the great trails around town. The road bike was gone by now.
I moved to Portland in 2006 with only the MTB. Which, as we know, is basically useless around Portland without a car. So I began looking for a bike to ride around town. I found an old (ironically) Centurion LeMans converted to a flip-flop rear wheel. I ran it freewheel for a while then jumped to fixed after succumbing to the hype. I thought back to that Centurion I wanted years ago. Sometime around 2010, with a few bikes in between, I found one for sale and scooped it up.
I’ve basically had at least one bicycle in my life since and have used them for transportation, recreation, fitness, and whatever use I can find, including camping.
Additionally, my move to Portland was motivated more for career options than anything. I was wanting to build a career in coffee and I had some friends already here.
The Bike:
Now tell us about the bikes; what's the story?
I could safely say that I would not have this bike without inspiration provided by John Watson (Prolly is not Probably, The Radavist). The FBM Sword was put on my list of bikes I wanted when I saw the release of the updated Sword on PINP years ago.
My boss at the time was/is the guy that scrolls Craigslist looking for cool bikes and found this one for sale in 2013. It’s from the first run of Swords made in Johnson City, NY in February 2006, serial number 22. It was set up fixed-gear with a dope wheelset consisting of pink Deep-V’s and pink Phil Wood hubs, and a Surly Steamroller fork. I rode it this way for years around Portland. Then, when the Vanilla/Speedvagen Urban Racer was covered on The Radavist, I knew that’s where I would eventually take the Sword.
Moving to Hood River, OR in 2015, I quickly realized brakeless fixed bikes aren’t a good idea in the Columbia River Gorge, so I had a local shop build the first 650B wheelset for the bike. Initially, I did the Sram 2-speed Automatix coaster brake hub that was on the Urban Racer. And then I realized that a coaster brake alone isn’t enough either. So the FBM fork was eventually ordered to get a disc on the front.
The Sram hub exploded after a while and I’ve used a Shimano Nexus for the last 2 hubs. This is currently the 3rd hub laced to this rim, and it needs to be replaced now too. I’m very limited in drivetrain options, so I’m not sure where exactly to go with it. This has become the perfect city bike for me, but I wish there were a good IGH/coaster brake option for 120mm bikes. If I find a good option, or even just get another Nexus, I want to lace up some carbon hoops and get a Paul hub for the front. I’m also wanting to get the frame refinished with a really unique finish for the fork, rack, and handlebar while the frame will be matte black powder.
Yes, I hate the mismatched tires too, but I want the fattest tires I can fit. I wish Ultradynamico made a 650x42mm Cava. The 48mm won’t fit between the chainstays, even though they’re already dimpled.
What & how has this build helped you in ways that your other builds couldn't?
I tried quite a few new things with this bike. New wheel size, custom front rack, internally geared drivetrain, coaster brake, tubeless tires, and handbuilt wheels. It’s really helped open my eyes to function over form as well as comfort over performance. And the basket changed my life.
So Frame, Fork, Rider seeks to find out about the connection between the rider and their bike. What makes that connection for you? Is there something specific about that bike that does it for you, or is it some sort of a holistic experience?
I could probably recite a complete bill of materials for this bike from memory. I’ve never been able to adopt the “n+1” mindset and choose to build my bikes with an eye for versatility. I try to make practical choices in builds and the process is one of my favorites.
Any last thoughts?
Many years ago, I saw a bumper sticker (ironically on a car) that read, “Hate your job? Ride a bike!” And it really resonated with me. Bicycles make me happy! If I go too long without even a short bike ride, I can feel it. My mood is greatly impacted. I alluded to it earlier, but bicycles are therapy as much as they are fitness, recreation, transportation, or anything else. I love them.
Full Build Specs:
Frame: Ed. 1 FBM Sword
Fork: FBM Assassin w/ Canti and Disc mounts
Shifters: Shimano
Brakes/Levers: Paul Klamper/Love Lever
Rotors: Hope 160mm Road
Crankset: Paul 170mm
Chain Ring: Paul 34T
Cassette: Sturmey Archer 16T cog
Chain: Salt Bikes gold BMX half-link
Headset: FBM Bikes
Bottom Bracket: Phil Wood
Handlebar: Fairend/Nitto threadless bullmoose
Seatpost: Thomson Elite/setback
Seat Clamp: Thomson
Saddle: Brooks C15
Pedals: VP Components Vice
Hoops: Velocity Cliffhanger
Hubs: Surly disc (fr.); Shimano Nexus 3sp Coaster Brake IGH (r.)
Tires: Ultradynamico Cava 650x47.99B (fr.); Panaracer GravelKing SS+ 650x43B
Bar tape: Ergon GS1 grips
Luggage: Blackburn Outpost framebag; Swift Industries Sugarloaf basket bag, Sidekick stem bag
Rack: Custom front rack made by Norther Cycles (RIP) w/ Tanaka basket
