Cycling Thread

[Zozobra]

The ride is for the Christie, which is a cancer research trust. I won't be taking sponsors myself, but my bud who I am riding with will be. It's about 60 miles from Manchester to Blackpool and he's doing it on a single speed hack that we put together last year.

If they can't swing you a frame/bike of equal or higher spec can you not pursue a refund?

[TurboPablo]

Disassembling a frame for you creates a potential liability for them since it is already put together and torqued down.

Carbon is amazing. To a point. Which is why I went with Ti instead.

[SuperFlyinMonke]

My shop has already taken the bike apart. I am considering pursuing a partial refund, since the components are nearly the most valuable parts. I have a lead on a couple frames that they don't seem to have access to.

I should also mention that my bike shop seems to be trying to do the right thing and that it appears that they're offering me the only compatible frame in my size that's available in Canada without disassembling a bike.

[madryan]

My shop has already taken the bike apart. I am considering pursuing a partial refund, since the components are nearly the most valuable parts. I have a lead on a couple frames that they don't seem to have access to.

I should also mention that my bike shop seems to be trying to do the right thing and that it appears that they're offering me the only compatible frame in my size that's available in Canada without disassembling a bike.

Can you get the shop to comp you a frame that's equal value and then sell the "warranty" frame when it comes in?

Lots of really cool frames out there for realistic money these days. Even some great steel bikes and you never need to worry about weird breaks.

IMO, I'd never buy a carbon frame from a relatively small builder. Trek, Specialized, etc. you're always going to have lots of warranty replacement options. Even Ridley who actually does almost a "build to order" deal with their carbon stuff is really good. A buddy had to warranty one of theirs.

Be advised... The wheel standard is about to change. New hub standard or some such for road bikes. Wider hubs, through axles front and rear, etc.

I'd love disc brakes on a road bike too now that they've got the tech sorted well.

[Zozobra]

My Croix de Fer has mechanical discs and they're great. Granted that is a CX/adventure bike and not a pure high speed roadie.

[SuperFlyinMonke]

They're relatively small compared to Trek, Specialized and Giant, but they're more of a mountain bike/downhill bike manufacturer. They've been making road bikes for many years, but it's definitely not their main market.

I bought this as an insurance replacement and I was doing my best to do a replacement in kind to be as compatible as possible.

I didn't know about the hub standard. Mine already had the newer wider (25c) wheels and there are other things that weren't directly compatible, like the direct mount brakes to my swivel mount ones.

I'll get on the phone with them later today, I have a bunch of work to do, so I'm trying not to get too distracted. I like the idea of having them sell the frame when it comes in and going with a Specialized frame instead. I doubt they would go for it, but I'll put up the idea.

[itchyfingers]

I decided if I am going to wear spandex, I might as well dress like a superhero...

[TurboPablo]

I'm going to be stepping up to better fitting Ti framvery soon. The front end of mine is a bit too short.

[newholland]

AH.. it's been a while.. i've been so damn busy with work and playing, i've hadda take a few years off riding but for a coupla rides here or there.

all the folks i know are mountain bikers. it's kind ridiculous. i don't ride mountain. or i should say DIDN'T.. i had a single speed 26er for a long time now, and i broke a crank spider (no kidding.. no idea how), so it sat in my garage..


well.. i took that, and built THIS gloriously outdated beast...



an on one inbred. i built it up with spare parts, and shit if it isn't a WAY more fun experience rocking a 1x8. didn't need fancy, and in fact, i built it up friction.. til i realized i was gonna die in creekbed transitions riding with people.

so yeah-- here's my new ride.. a huge investment of $108 to put it up to.. er... 1998 standards.... don't care. lovin' it with 20 psi in the tires rippin' through the woods

[newholland]

I'm going to be stepping up to better fitting Ti framvery soon. The front end of mine is a bit too short.

whatchu lookin at pablo-- lynskey or a seven or something?

[TurboPablo]

A slightly bigger Lynskey.

They offer a great trade in program. So I am going to disassemble mine and send it in. With the trade in and some cash, I'll be able to step up another level. Along with getting the right fit.

I love the way Ti rides like a coiled spring.

[andvari7]

This is my dad's new saddle. The science behind it seems good, but there's no way in hell I'm ready to pay $300 for a damn saddle.

I'm going to get out tomorrow, if I can swing it. Probably Saturday, if I don't have any more apartment showings. Sunday, unless there's a tornado.

[SuperFlyinMonke]

How is a saddle that completely avoids your sit bones and has a segment that goes up your bum scientifically sound?

I've been loving my Norco. I'm definitely happy I got the replacement and the "equivalent" frame that is not considered high modulus anymore is the same as my old one and made in a better factory. Different bottom bracket too, so it's a lot better in the power transmission.

I rode in to work today, about 30km. I'm only at about 630km on the year though.

[itchyfingers]

How is a saddle that completely avoids your sit bones and has a segment that goes up your bum scientifically sound?

I've been loving my Norco. I'm definitely happy I got the replacement and the "equivalent" frame that is not considered high modulus anymore is the same as my old one and made in a better factory. Different bottom bracket too, so it's a lot better in the power transmission.

I rode in to work today, about 30km. I'm only at about 630km on the year though.

So much this bolded part!

Andvari - what does your dad say about the seat?

I have to believe it changes shape when the weight of your torso is on top of it. I've put in enough miles on my Specialized Avatar saddles to the point where it isn't causing pain. I won't say it's comfortable, more like tolerable. Gotten better at getting out of the saddle on sprints and climbs, and shifting my weight around on different points of the saddle, so I think this helps too.

30 km is a nice commute, SFM. Now get out on some weekend rides and increase that total!

I've been working on climbing so my distance isn't what it could be - done about 1800 miles and 91,991 vertical ft this year. aka: 2896 km / 28,000 m

AH.. it's been a while.. i've been so damn busy with work and playing, i've hadda take a few years off riding but for a coupla rides here or there.

all the folks i know are mountain bikers. it's kind ridiculous. i don't ride mountain. or i should say DIDN'T.. i had a single speed 26er for a long time now, and i broke a crank spider (no kidding.. no idea how), so it sat in my garage..


well.. i took that, and built THIS gloriously outdated beast...



an on one inbred. i built it up with spare parts, and shit if it isn't a WAY more fun experience rocking a 1x8. didn't need fancy, and in fact, i built it up friction.. til i realized i was gonna die in creekbed transitions riding with people.

so yeah-- here's my new ride.. a huge investment of $108 to put it up to.. er... 1998 standards.... don't care. lovin' it with 20 psi in the tires rippin' through the woods

That's awesome man. Looks like a super fun setup! I've been kicking around the idea of getting a full suspension mountain bike, but shit aint cheap. I also want new shoes and pedals for my roadie. And another guitar.

[andvari7]

He described the saddle as something you sit in, rather than sit on. It takes a few rides, but for long-day rides, he said it was a night-and-day difference.

Infinity Bike Seat, by the way.

[itchyfingers]

^Very cool, thanks man! Speaking of expensive...

[itchyfingers]

Aaaaaaannnnnnd, I just bought a mountain bike...

[newholland]

Whatd you get itchy? Im lookin at a trek roscoe right about now...

[andvari7]

I envy those of you who are able to get out on mountain bikes, be it for single-track or rock. The single-track courses here in St. Paul are heavily saturated. Not a single week has gone by this summer without rain, and yesterday was particularly rainy. Road rides haven't been great, but that's because I'm not in shape, and I've spent most of my weekends, what little time I get, searching for apartments. Well, that has been remedied, and now I can look forward to rides out in the sticks. Maybe through the lakes, the preserves, or the parks; just not the cities.

[itchyfingers]

Those Roscoes are badass trail bikes, NH.

I have been test riding pretty much every full-suspension MTN bike in the $2500 range at all the stores in town for weeks. On Saturday, after a club ride that departs and returns at a local shop, I went inside and sorta fell in love with the Specialized FSR Camber. It had the 29" wheels, aluminum frame, 2x11 drivetrain, & hydraulic brakes. It pretty much checked all my boxes except the dropper seatpost and the 1x crank, but it was the comfiest and most responsive bike I'd tried. However, I'd just ridden 46 miles on a roadie, so I was thinking it might be only RELATIVELY comfortable. I managed to leave the shop without buying, but I couldn't stop thinking about the bike.

FF to yesterday, I was pretty much set on buying that bike, and upgrading the seat to a dropper. I asked the guy how much for that upgrade, and he said it would be about $450 for the internal one. Then he said, you should look at the carbon version of this bike. It comes with a dropper post. It has upgraded components, and the 1x11 drivetrain. Oh and because it's carbon, its several pounds lighter, and there's a stash box in the frame. It just happens to be on sale for $500 more than the aluminum one. So yeah, no brainer. I went over my budget by $500, but I was gonna get these upgrades anyway down the road, so it was an easy decision. Lifetime warranty on the frame and free tune-ups / maintenance for life are the other nice perks.

Hit the canyon behind my house for a quick ride before my training appointment last night. Reminds me of my old dirt bike I had when I was a kid.

TL/DR: I went over budget and bought the Specialized Camber FSR Carbon Comp.



EDIT: Today's trail...

[Zozobra]

Today I've been fixing up a mid 90's Trek 930 singletrack that someone shipped out to Ascension Island for down days here on the project. I had a little ride on it last night as a shakedown. The front hub was pretty stiff and the hub would turn a few times before creaking to a halt. I stripped and greased it today and it's a lot better and freely spins. Next up was balancing the canti brakes with performance vs rubbing which was fairly straight forward. The next task was adjusting the ream mech into behaving as sensibly as I can. The chain has stretched and the top mech sprocket rides pretty close to the cassette so it's a little jumpier than I'd like. In order to get it to sit on the big cassette sprocket I had to tune it such that it wont shift into the small sprocket, which to be honest, around here isn't a problem as it is hilly AF. Finally I managed to shift the seat post up an inch to so I don't ruin my knees.

When the weather cools off I'm going to take it in a thrash around the island.

[TurboPablo]

Itchy, do those trails get technical or is it mostly flat?

[Loop Bizkit]

Congrats Greg!!!


MTB>Road. All damn day.


I'm going back to Brown County park at the end of September for a long ride. 36 Miles, 5,000 ft of climbing. In MTB speak, that's like a century lol. I've only been out on my bike once this year too, Probably gonna die.

BTW, I've ridden the FSR Cambers. Perfect XC bike. Not too much front fork travel, and fairly stiff rear suspension in the one I rode. This is ideal for my style, IMO...since the more cush its set up, the more the downward travel robs your wattage. You'll love fast, rooty descents with the FSR, just don't set it too loose our you'll lose all of your power in climbs and grassy straights.

I was dead set on replacing my FSR Giant Trance this year, but I spent the whole summer in the boat getting fat lol.


Edit: Also see that you did the 1x11. SICK. That's the best way to go for sure.

Edit#2: Dropper posts are awesome, but unless you're downhilling a lot, they're really not as useful as we'd love to believe they are.

[newholland]

Aahh.. even as a lifer roadie i just started doing mountain riding and man am i lovin it. We have really rocky trails here in frederick and i tried going fully rigid.. no dice on babyheads . As it turns out- i skipped out on the roscoe and nabbed a 17 cannondale cujo 2. Did 7 miles last night and man what a blast. 3" tires.. total gas!

[itchyfingers]

Today I've been fixing up a mid 90's Trek 930 singletrack that someone shipped out to Ascension Island for down days here on the project. I had a little ride on it last night as a shakedown. The front hub was pretty stiff and the hub would turn a few times before creaking to a halt. I stripped and greased it today and it's a lot better and freely spins. Next up was balancing the canti brakes with performance vs rubbing which was fairly straight forward. The next task was adjusting the ream mech into behaving as sensibly as I can. The chain has stretched and the top mech sprocket rides pretty close to the cassette so it's a little jumpier than I'd like. In order to get it to sit on the big cassette sprocket I had to tune it such that it wont shift into the small sprocket, which to be honest, around here isn't a problem as it is hilly AF. Finally I managed to shift the seat post up an inch to so I don't ruin my knees.

When the weather cools off I'm going to take it in a thrash around the island.

That's awesome Zozo! I am learning about tune-ups and maintenance bit by bit, but I have a ton more to pick up. Thank god for youtube!

Itchy, do those trails get technical or is it mostly flat?

So that one is at the base of Rose Canyon, and the main trail looks like that - flat, some sand, loose rocks, but super chill. There are three offshoots that climb up out of the canyon, some singletrack stuff, but it was super easy, even for a noob like me. Heading out to Mt Laguna on Saturday, which should be on a different level.

Congrats Greg!!!


MTB>Road. All damn day.


I'm going back to Brown County park at the end of September for a long ride. 36 Miles, 5,000 ft of climbing. In MTB speak, that's like a century lol. I've only been out on my bike once this year too, Probably gonna die.

BTW, I've ridden the FSR Cambers. Perfect XC bike. Not too much front fork travel, and fairly stiff rear suspension in the one I rode. This is ideal for my style, IMO...since the more cush its set up, the more the downward travel robs your wattage. You'll love fast, rooty descents with the FSR, just don't set it too loose our you'll lose all of your power in climbs and grassy straights.

I was dead set on replacing my FSR Giant Trance this year, but I spent the whole summer in the boat getting fat lol.


Edit: Also see that you did the 1x11. SICK. That's the best way to go for sure.

Edit#2: Dropper posts are awesome, but unless you're downhilling a lot, they're really not as useful as we'd love to believe they are.

Thanks man, its like MTN is a completely different sport. 36 miles/5k ft offroad is NO JOKE Arend! You better get out there and drop that lake weight, brother! Thanks for the tips on the suspension, I'll keep them in mind. The drive train and dropper post are probably over-the-top for my needs, but I'm trying to look at this as the last MTN bike I'll ever need, so might as well get the latest and greatest.

Aahh.. even as a lifer roadie i just started doing mountain riding and man am i lovin it. We have really rocky trails here in frederick and i tried going fully rigid.. no dice on babyheads . As it turns out- i skipped out on the roscoe and nabbed a 17 cannondale cujo 2. Did 7 miles last night and man what a blast. 3" tires.. total gas!

Right? The jump in tire size is absurd! I'm a little nervous to get back on my roadie today, they're gonna feel like pizza cutters compared to the MTN wheels. That Cujo looks badass man, have fun out there! I am stoked about today, going on my first ride with real road shoes and pedals...