Machine Soul

The machine soul of a mountain bike is defined in this old essay by John Gurklis in Dirt Rag: "Machine soul is acquired as the rider's mental energy becomes infused into the frame members of the bike."


After almost ten long years of riding, my Trek STP (picture here, scroll down) has a respectable helping of machine soul.  And now after swapping out the stem, the cranks are the only original component left on the bike.  Currently on the third back wheel, second fork, fourth rear deraileur, second set of brakes, umpteenth chain (I'd estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of seventeen), the carbon frame is going strong.  We'll see how much longer this soul machine keeps going. This bike always fit well, but now after replacing the stem (due to long-term stress, didn't want to keep taking chances on the old hunk of aluminum) with a slightly shorter one, it fits even better.


ps: The coyote mojo is on its fourth bike.  But that's a separate matter.