The GT Outpost Gets (Another) New Life

It took some work to get the old GT Outpost into decent condition after being neglected for so long. Once the bike was undressed down to the frame, the components and frame were cleaned thoroughly with soap and water. After that, I attacked any spots of rust with the polishing wheel. The front derailleur and the original crankset were too far gone, so they ended up in the trash. And I figured this was the time to go ahead and replace the old, beat up rear derailleur as well. KC was kind enough to give me a spare Shimano STX RC rear derailleur and a Shimano XTR crankset, and I picked up a Shimano STX front derailleur from Queen City Cycles. Once everything was cleaned up, I bolted the components back onto the bike. Then I slapped a new chain on the drivetrain, ran new cables and housing, and dialed everything in.

I've developed a new-found respect for this bike as I worked on it over the past couple weeks. The triple triangle frame made with 4130 chromoly is pretty much bulletproof. It also has double eyelets both front and rear, so it's ready to handle loaded all-terrain touring. Many miles on the Katy Trail have shown that it rides beautifully on longer trips. And my best attempts at attacking single track have shown that it's highly versatile. While I don't ride it as often as I should, I hope to keep this machine around for many more years.

Overhauling the Outpost

I'm ashamed to admit that I've badly neglected my old GT Outpost. You know that nasty, gray, salty slush that hangs around on the roads after it snows? Last winter, I rode through that stuff and then hung the Outpost back on the wall in the garage without rinsing it off first. Months of continuous exposure to salts, moisture, and other scary chemicals from the snowy road grime left the bike in pretty poor condition. Most of the components are now covered in a thick layer of surface rust and there are occasional spots of heavy rust on the frame. Of particular concern are the chainrings and cassette, which will likely need to be replaced. The front derailleur is in pretty bad shape as well, but I'm going to try to salvage it with a thorough polishing and, if needed, some wood bleach.

Thankfully, most of the rest of the bike is in serviceable condition. The frame will need to be touched up, the wheelset should be fine after the hubs have been repacked, and the rest of the components should be in good shape after a thorough cleaning. It'll need a new cassette and a full tuneup, but Kenneth gave me some replacement chainrings a while back, so I should be able to get the bike back to ride-ready condition without too much hassle. It's been disassembled and the frame is now hanging in the repair stand, so it shouldn't be long now.

My Next Pair of Gloves

If you've ever signaled a left-hand turn on a dark night and taken your lane with traffic approaching from behind, you'll have felt the apprehension that comes along with hoping - just hoping - that the car behind you has noticed you signaling your turn and isn't going to plow into you as you merge into traffic. Similarly, you'll also probably covet these new reflective crochet cycling gloves from VEEKA. I discovered these ingenious gloves via CycleEXIF, and I must say, they're right up my alley. Old school looks, with modern safety technology. Does it get any better?