The MEATengines haikuniverse is already home to Chris’ classic On One Inbred. But, somewhere in our correspondence, I lost track of his second single, and even classicer {yes, I know, it’s ‘more classic’} 1992 GT Karakoram. There are a pile of heritage hardtails, like this GT, with ~420mm chainstays, and Chris has mathed that out to a 32×16 or 34×18 magic gear combo for his needs. Currently the latter, to take advantage of some sweet, silver, LM M560 Shimano 110-BCD five-bolt crankarms: “The slightly below 2:1 ratio is better for cruising around.”
This is a one-owner thriver, rather than a survivor. It once sported a classic ‘Tequila Sunrise” palette, but paint is first and foremost protective, so Chris had it resprayed as a “next chapter.” It’s that same sweet story of an old mountain bike finding renewed love as an ATB. Or, as Chris put it, “All in all, just fun to honk around on.“
This is one of the lost A.a.S.S. posts that rode in with a sweet bicycle that I previously shared and then went ride-about in my inbox. If you have a similar tale of tardiness with my correspondence, as I sit here and talk about a limited number of #1FG rigs in the queue, please do like Chris and fire me a reminder! Whether it’s already sitting with me, or it’s coming in fresh, sharing your one speed wonder is easy:
You write a Haiku
Submit it with the photo
Then, I say thank you
Chris on the ’92 GT Karakoram:
An old steel hardtail
Given a new lease on life
Adventure awaits
{Photos: Chris Hagon}
For more of the MEATengines one-speed haikuniverse: About a Single-Speed