I snapped some photos of Goliath after its conversion to a super-cool externally geared transporter. Simply click on any of the images in this post to be directed to the gallery, where you can view each image in higher detail.

Note that in one or two of the photos you can see clearly that the carrier pigeon doesn’t have a derailleur hanger. As referenced in earlier posts, the bike was designed to use a roller brake and internally geared hub; subsequently, it doesn’t have traditional cantilever,  v-brake or disc brake mounts in the rear –nor does it have a derailleur hanger. The fine folks at Joe Bike simply used a bolt-on derailleur hanger that slips securely over the axle and then secures in place via a bolt within the dropout. The SRAM derailleur then mounts to the hanger as with a traditional, hanger-equipped bike.

Technical details aside, day two with the new ‘mountain pigeon’ provided additional glee and appreciation. Yesterday was the first day I actually took the girls for a spin on the bike and they had just as much fun as ever, with little appreciation for the new machinery underneath.

I opted to try out the 22T chainring with both girls and found the range well suited to the hilly sections of inner NE and SE Portland. The new transmission enabled me to whip along briskly with as high a cadence as I desired –especially handy when packing an extra 100 pounds up-hill. I think my wife will really appreciate this gearing configuration as it really provides tremendous confidence when tackling a hill. As I ride nearly every day of the week, my leg strength is a bit higher, so I may opt to convert my carrier pigeon to a 24T or 26T ‘granny’ chainring. That’s the great thing about using a derailleur-equipped bike with an external two-ring crank –chainring swaps are super-simple and relatively inexpensive. Whatever the case, the 22T is most excellent for packing loads and a welcome addition.

One last note, I find that the 175mm arms on the FSA Gamma crank are very well-suited to the geometry of this bike and the riding position –a noticable improvement over shorter arm cranks. Combined with the transmission’s expanded gearing, this bike can handle whatever you’re willing to give it, while making you feel like a powerhouse in the process!