Pimp My Supercycle

Still a little slow over at the hangar. This being the weekend we can’t expect much. A couple of the machines are already out in the field for the day and we are expecting the arrival of one of the mediums. Seems that the client isn’t satisfied with shuffling 9 geologists around with the 6 seater, they want to move everyone in one go so they have opted for the 204, the civilian version of the original Huey. Until the big bastard arrives we have to figure out what the project of the day will be.

It didn’t take long.

There have been over the weeks, months and years many complaints about the ride quality of my assigned machine. The old gal has been in a state of disrepair for some time and in need of some luvin’. Now is a good time to revel in its majesty.

The Supercycle Bullet

36 pounds of the highest quality Malaysian 2180 Steeltube construction; a rigid framed, 18 speed Gripshift equipped wonder of its time.

Parts highlights include:

The aforementioned Gripshift, second generation twist grip shifters
The finest in one-piece cranks
A revolutionary “F.I.S.” Falcon Index System rear derailleur.
And the super comfy 2-way sprung saddle.

Unfortunately the years have not been kind to the poor little thing and she has fallen into some disrepair. There is the tell tale cancer forming on all of the precision welds but most notably was the poor performance of the transmission. The left shifter literally, left to hang and twist in the wind a victim of some horrible mishap. The chain no longer able to move up or down the chainrings, just stuck in the tiny little 30 tooth granny gear. The Falcon was not pulling its weight either, being limited to only 5 of its 6 cogs. Then there is the saddle, any support it could give had since disappeared with the demise of its faux Corinthian vinyl. Our once proud Supercycle had since become a meek 5 speed likeness of it’s formal self.

The repairs began with the removal of the front shifter. The lack of a quality bike shop in town makes searching for replacement parts difficult and expensive. Not too many hills in these parts and the fact that it had only run on 5 of the 18 possible gears lead to this rash action.

Next we addresses the suspension/ride comfort issue or lack there of. Being made of high quality 2180 Steel tube, the Supercycle was the pinnacle in stiffness during its time. However times have changed and rigid frames are going the way of the dodo. Having the finest in aircraft-grade materials at our disposal I tackled the seating issue head on and managed to return the saddle to it’s once waterproof Barrca Lounger glory.

The cockpit was then addressed; with the removal of the front shifter, new grips were the next item on the list. Again we had to dip into the aircraft parts bin and re-taped the bars in the finest cork used on all of the Bell collectives. This was then dressed in high quality black hockey tape to cover up the unsightly seams of the cork and epoxy.

With all of the major complaints on the Supercycle dealt with, we had to dress up our new and improved girl with a little bling. Nothing like a set of streamers and axle end caps to add a little pizzaz to the new pride of the fleet. The transformation now complete, our ugly duckling is now one pimpin machine and the envy of every little girl in town.

The boys don’t seem too impressed. One of them has this motocross bicycle that I think I am beginning to covet. It’s this cool looking 24” wheeled fully suspended number that looks like a motocross bike complete with gas tank, radiator intake thingies and long seat with integrated fender. Now that kid has riding the bomb.

The first ride produced favorable impressions as I managed to make it to and from the crew house without bursting any of the patented suspension cells. One might describe the suspension as that of a really thick a jiggly gel saddle that squeaks with each pedal stroke.

Of course such a prime example of post-production modifications demands the latest in theft protection systems and when it arrives in Norman Wells we will be sure to employ it. Until then we must rely upon hiding it in the bushes cuz no-one knows the combo on the green chain currently wrapped around the glistening chrome of the 2180 Steeltube chick magnet.