all purpose gear thread

locking seat post clamp and/or and extension cable for you lock

http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Pinhead_Components

in before snark

"saddle" excuse me

what do you wear on the bike

jeans.

Hi dere:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/biondino/drugcheat.jpg

Nice.

My boss gave me a KOM jersey which i have never worn and will never wear.

I love the Astana colours, and for some reason when Vino was ridiculous last year it made me want his jersey all the more. Thanks to ebay, I now have one.

I've got a Team Bianchi jersey and knicks from a couple of years ago that is mah fave team outfit.

I want a Holdsworth jersey (my local bike shop is where the renowned marque was born) but they're all really expensive.

astanas kit is nice- nice jersey

now that im not racing for anybody, i am trying to find cheap but good riding gear that is without any adverts or affiliations of any kind. ive got like 12 years of orange and purple and blue kit. oh and one set of maroon and gold collegiate stuff from racing for du.

my experience unofficial bike racer rules hold that you may not wear pro jerseys lest ye be mocked. scrub bike racers are ridiculous like this, but i conformed. dint want to get 'ooooh, fanboy!' or 'are you mark cavendish in that high road gear? because man have you become FAT.'

"experience is that..."

Yeah a friend of mine who is a very serious sprinter earned the nickname Coasty coz he always gets around in this nasty old team coast jersey.

hunt3r, craft is the best at making the kind of gear you are looking for. it's relatively cheap. you are a lawyer.

also, hunt3r OTM about wearing pro team kit. i never would although i REALLY like the slipsteam/chipotle argyle crazyness. i would wear the socks in my home i think.

As i've mentioned before somewhere, this mob's factory is right near me, they make some good gear and the 2nds are hell cheap.

..not that that really concerns you ppl in the northern hemisphere very much.

well i love knog products so whatever

i just got this. First tech-y jacket I've purchased in like ten years.

i wish id had that on my hut trip, the fullbore shell was way too much at 45 degrees

"The rear zip pocket stashes some carb gels or car keys without making you feel off-balance"

ha dood how big is yr keyring and gel flask!?

why plain solid colors appeal to me. i figure thats like half of the stuff ive had, the rest worn out crashed out lost.

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3610/teamcrapfn6.jpg

i think craft is the best at solid colors, none too offensive

When you first took that photo, did it induce a seizure? It's like a Bridget Riley painting.

http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/i/riley-Dominance-Portfoli-01.jpg

VITAMIN COTTAGE

i forgot to throw socks armwarmers and gloves on pile

i do have other, non team gear, but thats the detritus of a misspent early adulthood

FUNERAL PYRE STYLEE?

(not with me on it, mind)

Is it also really bad to wear Campagnolo clothing (because it looks cool) when your bike is all Shimano?

It depends how much the opinions of lycra fascists matter to you! I think you'll get away with it.

In anticipation of my flash new bike actually arriving, can someone tell me what exactly is the grease with which I need to grease my eggbeater threads? I am baffled by all the various kinds of lubricant bikes require - a quick lesson would be great.

Thanks!

I use Pedro's syngrease for all my greasing needs and their synlube for the chain. Oranjpeelz degreaser is good too.

http://www.pedros.com/products_bikecare.htm

anybody here ever use a carradice bike bureau? inspired by the ile msgr bag thread, im looking to get a friendlier commuter pannier. i use a single ortlieb classic, and its great- on the bike. i want something that looks non-bikey and is shoulderable, with minimal lashing fuss.

i looked at arkel briefcase and commuter bag, but the former is too big and expensive, and the latter looks to bikey and has stow issues on the shoulder strap, but im listenin'.

What is yr new bike Mark C?

Walter, it's an unnecessarily highly specced bike I can only justify because a tax break means I get it for 40% off - it's the Focus Cayo Pro.

looks great. when will it be in then? bettya cant wait

It was supposed to come end April, latest is that it'll come end May. I'm actually really nervous about riding it because it's not going to feel nearly as soft as my Trek. But yeah, I can't wait. I might just stroke it for a bit.

There's altogether too much carbon on that thing. I'll probably shatter it when I try and put the pedals on.

might just stroke it for a bit

ahem, easy now

so anyway, i was looking at buying one of the carradice bags direct. i figured it would cost $50 or so to ship it by slow boat, but its looking more like $100. that sure seems like an awful lot.

ROWR. if this had a shoulder strap, i think id get it.

this basil preston laptop bag is approaching my ideal in appearance and apparent function. i cant find a single review anywhere. nor a picture of attachment mechs. any info appreciated.

http://www.niagaracycle.com/images/sbsimages/140540.jpg

I am wondering if I should start looking at alternative bikes - the Focus still isn't in stock, and it's almost two months since I ordered it. If I were to go for something else, do you think Wiggle would feel morally obliged to give me some kind of discount/upgrade if I had to choose a different machine?

i dont know about their moral obligation, but obv its in their best business interest to satisfy their customer in the face of unreasonable delay. did they advise you that there would be such a delay?

what are your damages?

btw i bought that basil bag w/ no performance review. hope its not a pos.

no free lawyering

yeah and its england. ive got a copy of chitty on k's right here on my desk tho, so solicitors and barristers watch out.

ok i had ordered a bag from carradice but it was on hold until i approved the shipping cost. i then figured i would cancel as it looked like shipping would be exorbitant. carradice just advised shipping from uk is affordable after all, and i really wanted their bag in the first place. gah!

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7941/bikebureaunfrontlb2.jpg

i think i need some new handlebars (i have flat ones now, but my wrists start hurting on longer rides). i'm not sure if i should get flat ones with bar ends or just get drops?

my old commuter had flats/barends and they were very good for alternate hand position. my current bike has drops, and i love having the hoods, but i almost never use the drops because the bar has a very deep bend.

also, refitting with drops gets pricey real fast if you want brifters

Bullhorns!

would like that bike

altho i don't really dig the straight forks

When I ordered the bike they said end of April. At the end of April this changed to the end of May. I got an email today saying they were sorry, they still didn't have it in and they'd chase up their supplier. All a bit disappointing although I haven't been misinformed (as far as I know).

Cutty, I don't think lawyers are the first people I'd go to with anything to do with morals :)

ledge, have you looked the Fixie Inc site recently. Sigh.

just CALL THEM AND COMPLAIN BRO AND BE NICE. summer's a wastin'

when i looked at yr bike on bike radar last week the second thing i saw was other ppl complaining about delays. obv its an issue, no idea when it got to be one.

true story-i net ordered a bunch of bike parts (airbomb), and they put my order on hold for one week, then two. i called them yesterday, said "what up?!," and very nice dude said, "how bout i replace with next model up for no charge, ship tomorrow?" and i said "cool."

so yes, even some net order houses will help you. (dont think it was a moral issue tho.)

Hmmm that sounds good! I shall take your advice I think. Thanks again Hunter (you ought to start charging for advice, like cutty, it's solid gold stuff).

cutty charges for advice?

Eww it's the spider bike.

??

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1117/1058568572_8c31a2f6a9.jpg

Bought today: teflon grease, teflon lube, track pump w/ gauge. 80psi feels really fuckin' inflated, or at least compared to the 60psi to which I was previously, and approximately, inflating my tyres. My tyres can take at least 115 psi, according to their info, but I am way too scared of explosions to test this out (I am also terrified of blowing up balloons in case they pop in my mouth).

100 psi for you. (im surprised you didnt have problems at 60 if yr on 23s- squishiness, pinchflats etc)

I honestly thought I was inflating fairly aggressively. Maybe it was higher than 60 - I should experiment from 1 bar and see if I can gauge a rough estimate as to my previous levels. I certainly had a couple of punctures about a year ago which I was pretty sure was because of over-inflation (I managed to blow a substantial hole in a Specialized Armadillo), but in retrospect I guess it couldn't have been.

couple of punctures about a year ago which I was pretty sure was because of over-inflation (I managed to blow a substantial hole in a Specialized Armadillo)

dunno. if the bead was seated right, i think itd take an awful lot of pressure to accomplish this.

i knew guys whod go 20 psi over the tire psi rating for tt's. i thot it was dumb, but they didnt appear to have problems.

Ah well, I guess I was wrong. I had a very brief ride today - did a 2/3 mile hill three times, interval training of a sort - but there was enough of a tailwind to be uncertain of any benefit. I was expecting the ride to feel much harsher but it wasn't as bad as I'd imagined.

Would it be a criminal offence to have auxiliary brakes on a 16lb carbon bike?

Oh, Hunter - do you read/post on any cycling forums? Any you'd recommend for a non-racer noob like myself?

bikeforums.net has some good info i think.

i dont do any others anymore as they usually are not worth the aggravation or i think the ppl are unreliable. rec.bicycles.tech is sometimes worth a perusal on tech questions.

i <3 my new bar ends

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2035/2539505395_b1fe6c348c.jpg

bar ends and risers! so unfashionable, my friends tell me. but i don't listen to them.

A wonderfully arch diss from the ledge there.

lol, no it's true, i sport the same combo myself!

i knew i was going to get clowned somehow for my bike setup!

responding to a post way way way back (sorry)... mark, do your eggbeaters have titanium spindles? if they do, it's better to grease them with ti prep instead of standard grease.

xpost to jordan (nice name, btw)- bar ends on risers have nothing on mary bars... the most hideous handlebar creation of them all.

bar ends on risers are barftown, get some nice wide bullhorns broski

Hi Jordan,

No, the eggbeaters have stainless steel spindles, so teflon grease will be okay?

Not that I'm getting the fucking bike, and am engaging in a deeply unsatisfactory exchnage with Wiggle who want me to take the next model down as an alternative. Fuck that (though I guess if they can, say, give me much nicer wheels on it, I might say yes).

xpost to jordan (nice name, btw)

???

bullhorns look nice, but it was so much cheaper and faster to get the bar ends. maybe later, although i am still kinda tuomas about why the bar ends/risers combo is bad.

How much of a wheel upgrade are they offering?

xpost to Mark C

xpost to jordan: my name is jordan as well.

Ed, Fulcrum racing 3 vs Fulcrum racing 5 (price difference: £211 at Wiggle). Basically, the way we've worked it is I'm getting both, so I might have the 5s to sell.

Bar ends/risers isn't bad, it's just unfashionable. Ignore the hataz.

ok wow that carradice bag got to me in colorado from lancs in 6 days total. meanwhile i've been battling to get parts from two different usa suppliers for almost 4 weeks. o my country.

so this bag seems pretty great for what i need. comfortable on the shoulder, easy to affix to the bike, looks normal enough that i dont have to transfer gear to another bag when i dont commute by bike.

Carradice stuff is damn good. I had an utterly indestructible pair of panniers made by them. What did you get?

bike bureau as pictured upthread. actually, silver/gray fastex buckles have been replaced by simple black on mine.

i looked at the arkel stuff which is highly rated, but their attachment system looks to be a pia for commuting (though bombproof). and more expensive, even after i paid 19 pounds for shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350071576486&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=022

How much is that worth in us$$??

$80 or so...I had a B-17 Narrow and hated it...i like the standard B-17..FWIW

just bought a black san marco rolls instead

Guys I just won a competition! Well, actually I was runner up in a competition but I won a Rapha Classic Sportwool Jersey! Are they any good? They're quite expensive it seems, so I assume so.

MARK, THEY ARE AWESOME!! KUDOS!

Yes truly awesome and worth nearly 200 quid or something ridiculous.

£110 but still, I'm pleased :) Cheers ddb!

its not the hampsten one is it

I don't know - apparently I will be contacted by a Rapha rep to find out my size (fuck knows what size I am - large, I guess, but I always get it wrong). Actually, just found the competition - no, the winner wins the Hampsten stuff, I just get a jersey apparently, with complimentary arm-warmers!

i own a classic sportwool jersey. i don't wear it as much anymore because i have team kit but i wish i could wear it everyday.

Hey all I just got a new pair of shiny hand built wheels that are awesome. Thing is, the old cassette had to be replaced along with the sprocket since I have a 20 year old bike with 6-speeds.

Since this was done, the drivetrain is noisy, jumpy, and shifts strange. Any ideas whether this is a case of a lack of lube (sounds like a personal problem), something that will work itself out over time as the new cog teeth wear down a bit, a chain issue, or what? Maybe a question of derailleur adjustment? There is exactly one gear where it rides smoothly now.

Did you replace the chain as well? How many cogs on the new cassette? How many rings up front, or is it just one? If you're running 1x6, you're going to get a baddish chainline at either end of the cassette. A newer chain might be the fix?

Got any pics?

Also, I rode a Selle Anatomica the other day and O_O

Quite how anatomica did it get to make you O_O??

So have you got a new 6-speed cassette, or is it 7+? Cos the chain that fits 6 speed will be large and sloppy on the narrower sprockets of a more extensive cassette and it certainly sounds like that could be the problem.

i mean it is practically a blowjob in saddle form

I didn't replace the chain, was thinking of that. It's a 2x6.

I will look into taking some pics tonight perhaps.

This weekend I have to compile a list of the things I'll need for my Paris ride. One of those bags that goes behind the saddle, y/n?

yeah, take some of the weight off your back.

triangular ones under the top tube quite nifty too.

Update: installed new SRAM chain, bike shifts much much better. A+

i bought the wrongest looking saddle the other day to replace the ripped one on my commuter. yet to try it tho

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31KtEnNt81L._AA280_.jpg

that saddle is ESPECIALLY DONG-LIKE!

http://dojak.net/blogpix/moped.jpg

Ledge (as I know you have one) and others: Do I want a bike GPS?

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=&pID=10885

I kinda want one, Ed, but £300 is a lot of money.

I have seen them as cheap as £240 (including maps and cadence sensors, but not heart rate).

I get your point though. Especially as I am hoping that forthcoming macbook pros are worth spunking on.

HEART RATE MONITORS

which one do i buy

the one thats attached to the powermeter rite?

i ultimately decided a really basic one did enough for me.

This is a totally silly question:

Does anyone have any ideas for an interesting bell? I'm finding that a bell would be useful for the last little leg of my commute (peds in the way). Any bell will do, but I figure there might be something interesting out there.

perhaps this?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31ED48ZFVEL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

haha

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31XS59JXAGL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Kind of classy:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EzR1xr2VL._SL500_AA192_.jpg

For gbx

this is probably overkill

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=331

One of my best mates swears by his Polar HRM

As mentioned elsewhere, here's the new wheels for my Armstrong Moth conversion:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/krakow81/IMG_3445.jpg

Goldtec Track hubs on Mavic Open Pros, 36h, black

Flatted last week and decided to swap out threadbare tires for a set of folding 700x28 Grand Bois Cerfs:

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/Cerfgreen.JPG

They're supposedly spec'ced by Ikuo Tsuchiya of Grand Bois cycles in Kyoto, made by Panasonic, and dist'd in US by Vintage Bicycle Press.

they're just tires, right?

aw, you're mean.

i just got this on sale!

http://www.trailspace.com/images/news/2007/02/21/rab-latok-alpine-jacket-300x300.jpg

lol it's british

nice. you're set for the mountain passes.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HPM/HM23~Kenny-Posters.jpg

the many mountain passes of minnesota

...mostly i just bought because my marmot shell is ten years old and weighs a ton.

the hood has a nice periscope profile. maybe if you cleverly install some mirrors you can burrow right down into the torso of the shell, sparing your face from the cruel minnesota winter entirely!

Good on you for buying Rab. (I used to live near the factory, my sleeping bag I have of theirs is getting on for 15 years old and going very strong.

fixed gear sturmey 3spd sounds like a cool idea.

ive been thinking about using 3 speeds instead of 8, if the nexus ever dies. it would be like having gears 3,5, and 6.3 from my current hub.

yeah, i've been v v intrigued by the sturmey! would be fukkin great for a winter commuter bike!

i've been v v intrigued by the sturmey!
commenters there are all rabid about the product but have the indie vapors that it will be named the S3X plz so waht.

i actually dont want fixed, but i want the proto barend shifters shown in that blogs nov post.

if they want to call it the sheldon then they can do what everyone else already does and write the word 'sheldon' on it with a fucking marker

yeh and totally blaspheme by putting like "S3X WITH DED SH3LDON" or "SH3LDON'S S3X MACHINE" or whatever

what are you all desirous of that is bike-related this holoday season

um, holiday

An ortleib bike laptop pannier.
Gimp shoes.

Surely if you don't want a fixed SA, you have many to choose from already?

LAKE WINTER BIKE SHOES
SOME NICE CRANKS FOR CX BIKE AND ALSO PEDALS
FULL FENDERS FOR SAME
BAILEYWORKS BACKPACK????? <----SHIT LOOKS NICE!
NEW REAR WHEEL

i'm getting a new commuter build! v.v. excited!

cant rly justify it but studded tire alternate wheelset for use on cx bike when shit gets too dicey for the commuter

i got one of these, haven't played around with it yet.

http://blog.makezine.com/_content_wp-content_uploads_2007_09_kaossilator.jpg

a kaoss pad for bike use

odd, but definitely needed

Brakes that work.

A transmission that doesn't skip.

Tyres that don't puncture every few days.

oh i thought this was noise board. stupid site new answers.

lol

you could like hook the kaoss pad up to one of those POV spoke deals and do light shows while you ridin

I've been looking for some vintage steel, and on Friday I found some: a 1976 Raleigh Gran Sport (Carlton-built). I'll convert it to fixed, getting it some new wheels and odds and ends, but the randonneur bars and front brake (Weinmann centerpull) get to stay. It's got a velvety ride, tons of soul, and I'm so stoked.

anyone here ever used a seatpost clamp on rear rack? im looking to turn my decrepit mtb into my bailout icy condition commuter. i got some cheap studded tires coming.

i want to keep using my bike bureau on a rack, but im unsure if a seatpost mount can really bear a single sided 15-18 lbs max load.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/20-1982-BLK-ANGLE.jpg

collardio, pics?

I've used a rack with seatpost clamp. It worked fine in terms of carrying loads, but it wrecked havoc on the bike's handling. Seatpost racks sit higher than conventional racks and when leaning into a turn, I could really feel the difference. Did not like it at all and gave up on it after a few weeks.

thx, thats an interesting point. i was more concerned with it rotating on the post under load.

the conditions i will be using it under-- i dont think ill be leaning into turns too much. hmm.

My rack was pretty robust, so I didn't have a problem with it twisting. I wouldn't get one of the quick-release type clamps for obvious reasons.

As for handling, if you're building up a beater/utility type rig, then performance is kind of not an issue. The higher center of gravity might get kind of dicey on slippery surfaces though.

yah, yr post caused me to scrutinize an mtb locked outside my building with a post rack. it was about my bike's size. the rack did not bend down towards the rear tire as the one above, it was straight. it was ginormously high from the rear wheel, so i can imagine that would be poor.

Super Cub, I'll try to get some pics of it this weekend, before I start doing any mods (I'm resigned to it taking me a while, b/c I'm super-busy these days). From the looks of the brazing and the paintjob, it appears that the Carlton shop had its hands full trying to keep up with Raleigh's production schedule.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81965454@N00/3115540665/

FUK YEAH

heavens!

Did u just get cutty?

yeah i just got it! the ride is pretty fucking amazing. FENDERS!! what a country.

do you have to smoke a pipe and wear tweeds to ride that?

that's the one way, right? raleigh has had some very classy offerings lately.

how is the stock gearing?

42x16 surprisingly not as forgiving on the bridge uphills as i expected it to be. great on the flats. really comfortable ride.

I wouldn't think you'd want to go much lower than 42x16 - unless you're really into spinning.

i am.

42x16 is my commuting ratio of choice. Good for a quick getaway from the lights but still fast enough on the flats.

it's a flip fllp right? are you riding free or fixed?

flip flop

flip flip i am riding freewheel

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w-bnypVN9u0/SVblUzbEEnI/AAAAAAAAAao/4JL_ONuOzyk/s640/DSCF0551.jpg

there's the Raleigh Gran Sport I picked up recently. Let me sneak in another angle:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w-bnypVN9u0/SVblrVCHCbI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/Qb-XGHGb1JE/s640/DSCF0556.jpg

the bike has an interesting history. previous owner was 5he1d0n I3r0wn. she's a joy to ride.

http://i39.tinypic.com/16k3puf.jpg

topeak thing

uhh sorry that photo is huge and the colour is awful \:

My gf gave me over bootees and a merino wool base layer in preparation for pittsburgh. Very happy about this.

nice.

just bought a 41 tooth chainring for the bianchi that (having read this thread) may be too small.

the stand is great, it's left no marks on the ceiling at all.

i have the topeak stand, love it.

awesome raleigh, collardio

i would srsly retape that with some bianchi cork white

yeah I'm thinking about getting rid of the old dura ace hoods too, they look pretty absurd

oh no my xmas booties my dad got are meant for ROAD SHOES

who the fuck where's ROAD SHOES in the winter anyway

me?

getting booties big enough for mtb shoes is my issue. the neoprene size 13s dont really fit over my 11.5 mtb shoes. i cut out the back zipper and just pull them over as far as they'll go. works fine as long as i dont need to walk.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=25144&storetype=estore&estoreid=1518&pagename=Estore%3A%20New%20Shoes%20for%20the%20New%20Year
i kinda like the look of these tho i know nuthin of lake shoes

helmet hat: http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_yakkay_helmet

oh god

lol

pearl izumi makes some nice mtb-specific shoe covers.

if thats real 80s style benotto disco tape on the pista, its proper.

also, i think those lake shoes are contraband what with kanga leather.

ouch
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/?p=3746

....is this UK only, or global?

buy SRAM, ppl, support your american bicycle manufacturer!

I got a cycle computer from Tesco for £1.50 today. It even works. Bargain.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/tech/probikes/index.php?id=/photos/2009/tech/probikes/carlos_sastre_cervelo_testeam_s3/18rotorchainset

drilled out, eliptical and anodized. 70s meets 80s meets 90s in fucked up 2009 technological three-way. hope it works for carlos

intense

thinking baot putting track bars on lolpista. I'm going to keep the front brake (shimano 600) what lever should i look at getting?

paul e-lever

^^^

thanks they look nice.

How much of a numpty will I look like if I get this bag:

http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/images/large/officebag2.jpg

Reasons for considering, it goes on top of the rack so it works with my shopping baskets

alternative is this which is not so waterproof and I'm not sure if it's mounting hardware will work with the rack.

http://www.topeak.com/mediafiles/products/1887/

wait, so it actually mounts on your rear rack? why not?

It has nifty recessed mounting hardware:

http://www.ortlieb.de/_pdf_en/officebag2.pdf

I'm trying rationalise the expense. I don't think my current laptop carrying solution is very good, laptop bag stuffed into the shopping basket. Over the shoulder is completely out as my back is fucked, I am having physio at the moment. It is $209 and I'm not sure if REI will let me use my 20% coupon for it.

this looks good too but I'm not sure it is large enough

http://www.racktime.com/index/lang/en/rubrik/Bicycle%20Bags/artikel/Wall-it/

rats

http://www.racktime.com/pics/200/2008_11_24_11_32_41_4.jpg

http://www.racktime.com/index/lang/en/rubrik/Bicycle%20Bags/artikel/Wall-it/

i found an ortlieb hard shell on craigslist like new and very cheap, but didn't get as it didnt look to have a shoulder strap. also, sorta small.

if you handcuff to your wrist youll send the right vibe with it

those racktime bags look good to compete with my bikebureau, if it ever gives up. much much prefer black though.

should I get a carbon fork? Because the only thing stopping me is the potential ire of my SO and a sense of shame at spending unnecessarily. I'd like to be quicker and maybe dampen the ride a bit. I'd be helping the economy and all.

I want this, I want to be protected by laser force fields.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/self-powered-laser-for-safer-night-cycling.php

cool. but if you go between rows of stopped traffic, youd probly set it off yrself?

twelve horns! overkill. light on its own would be good though.

http://mantasaddle.biz/images/stories/manta_mbk_still.jpg

how about this then

http://mantasaddle.biz/

http://mantasaddle.biz/images/stories/manta_mbk_still.jpg

I guess you should just click the link.

what in the hell

Anyone wanna recommend me a bike pump? Here is the deal: This wouldn't be an emergency-specific thing b/c I am a big dude riding a bike w/ super-skinny rims & am going on increasingly lengthy outings over terrain rife w/ cracks, potholes etc. So, basically, my tubes need re-ups quite often, only to 80-90psi, but I'd like to manage that without a lot of stress & strain. I'd like to get a Zefal HPX, but would prefer something not frame-mounted, so I can fit it in a triangle frame-pack with other tools, etc. Can I get a size #1 HPX & fit it into a 16" frame pack, or would I be better off with one of the Topeak Morph series? The Topeak pumps are generally well-reviewed, but I'm suspicious of all the movable plastic pieces & how sturdy they would be over time.

Also, do I really need to spend $50+ on a carbon-fiber water-bottle cage? Being that my bike was manufactured in 1976, I'm guessing probably not. So, anyone wanna recommend me a decent cage, appropriate for an older bike w/out being too clunky/clattery?

Topeak have a great little pump called the pocket rocket which I have for exactly that purpose. It'll take you up to 120psi no worries.

if you just need to pump up between rides get a floor pump

if you just need to pump up between rides get a floor pump

― all yoga attacks are fire based (rogermexico.), Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:05 PM (2 hours ago) [IP: 67.164.75.254] Bookmark

Thanks, tho I have floor pump. What I am concerned about is maintaining proper PSI levels over the course of 20-30 mile rides & replacing the occasional tube on the road. Again, the combination of being a burly fellow & encountering a fair amount of less-than-ideal road features ensures that I would do well to prioritize this, at least until the point where I am able to comfortably afford more modern & high-performance gear.

Thanks for the suggestion, Ed. I will look into the Pocket Rocket.

I'm rocking a 1976 Flandria btw:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/1534730409_8b85bf2f1e_o.jpg

Mine is actually an original Belgian racing model & not its (slightly downgraded) American equivalent. It is pretty great & has certainly given me a taste for the sport, but now that my curiosity has gotten me researching gear, etc, I'm feeling pretty isolated-in-1976 technology-wise - esp. after checking out a lot of the pics on this board.

Also, do I really need to spend $50+ on a carbon-fiber water-bottle cage?

dunno why anyone would need anything more fancy than this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/c4c/dd3/570/26379/product_page/specialized-e-cage-50mm-bottle-cage.jpg?1227116287

yours for 6 dollarpounds

Those Pake track frames... are they cheap for a reason?

mass produced in taiwan like every other off-the-peg track frame

i have heard, apocryphally, that "pake" is hawaiian slang for "junk" but would need this corroborated by an actual hawaiian. super cub?

u need a vintage silca with campy head rite? thats def 70s or prior teknologie

those pake frames are still pretty nice, esp. for the price... i bet they're made in the same factory as soma, surly, etc.

also, king stainless steel cages are relatively inexpensive and a super way to class up an old steel bike.

"Pake" means more like cheap. I think it originally meant Chinese (person), and the meaning kind of evolved from there.

note: this is just my understanding; I do not condone or sanction or pretend to really understand any of this.

To be clear, "pake" would be used like this:

He's so pake, he takes his girlfriend to McDonald's on her birthday.

Ok, back to bikes.

I'm not sure if locks are gear, but what kind do I need? I bought a faux vintage cruiser today, and the lady at the store recommended this 50 pound $90 kryptonite chain that I would wear around my waist when riding. It would seem to sort of destroy the BCBG look I am going for. But it's insured for the price of the bike if stolen. I preferred the look of the U lock--but she thought that the $40 version wouldn't be worth anything over an hour. I decided maybe I would just hardly lock my bike up at all if that was the case. Suggestions?

She also said I should detach the seat when I lock it!

any kryptonite lock is going to have a decent monetary guarantee, although you can only redeem those if you have evidence that the lock was broken (namely, the broken lock, which the thief would have to be kind enough to leave near the crime scene for you to retrieve). a kryptonite evolution lock (the black/orange one) is a good choice for not too much money (and the evolution mini fits in a rear pocket a la every hipster with a fixed gear bike). just stay away from really cheap u-locks and the master lock handcuff looking ones.

i guess it depends on how you plan on carrying it?

i am a hipster scumbag with a mini-U and i love it for its portability. however, i'm def taking my chances: my cx bike has quick release skewers and i rarely ever bring a cable to secure them (that, btw, is a good, light option: mini-u w/about 4' of kryptonite cable to run thru the wheels).

the heavy duty chains are just that: HEAVY. and wearing them around your waist will def destroy your look. however, if you put a plastic crate on your rear rack you can just drop it in there, no sweat.

yeah, do that

didn't mean to imply all who use mini-evo locks are hipster scum; i mean, messengers started using them for their portability, and they're pretty damn convenient... but it's hard to deny that they've become a fashion accessory for the buy-new-chrome-gear-to-match-the-season set.

i use a new york u-lock, which is not convenient at all.

no no, it's fine, i agree with you!

why can't i get a d-lock (u-lock, whatever) in white

Rear baskets will make carrying any lock a breeze,a long with anything else you fancy and would compliment the look of the bike quite nicely.

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/Chass3ur/01010004.jpg

all they lack is neon

i wore these for a larf this weekend: 1992 team issue vuarnet shields with iridium flash lens. at one point i had a smaller lens for these which looked more like 1992 than these, which look 1988. (the optics on these are actually rather nice).

kanye west to thread

I need some cycling goggles. As the weather has gotten warmer, I've found myself hurdling through random clouds of gnats (much of my riding is done on paved bike trails in wooded areas).

While we're on the subject, can anyone recommend prescription cycling goggles. (resolute non-contacts wearer here).

recommend me a seat-post rack. my frame, annoyingly, has no rack mount eyelets but i'd like to get groceries and stuff on it just the same. doing a quick search on amazon shows nothing rated past 25 lbs; quick-release ones (which i think i'd prefer) are even lighter.

check out old man mountain who have a number of expensive but very durable rack solutions for no eyelet situations.

cetma has front racks for bikes w/no eyelets, but they're expensive. bombproof, but $$$

hmm interesting stuff, but i dunno if those would even work, since the frame has these odd bmx-style dropouts

pic here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NbIGWWUsrQs/Rz491EmUZUI/AAAAAAAAAXs/iFDkiOBBvOY/s1600-h/Cayne+Uno+Dropout.jpg

maybe the angle on the OMM sherpa is just right but it'd be a gamble. i may be SOL.

xp hmm will investigate

ok lol

XD

cross-post w/WS, let's just be honest

btw they are called "track ends" :)

o i c!

The sherpa hardware looks like it might work with the dropouts but send that photo to OMM and see what they say.

new project! bought a beat to shit old steel australian made racer, needs a new chain, derailleur cables, pedal straps and cassette at least.

Yeah I've got a project as well. Hosteler? French job that my sister got, in dire need of overhaul. Should be fun?

I got a combo Giant U-lock with a cable; I guess I am supposed to U-lock the back tire and frame to a post, and then cable the front wheel to . . . the back wheel?

How long will this prevent a thief? And do I have to take my seat with me, as the bike lady suggested?

cable the front wheel to the lock. yeah it's a hassle. also yup i take my seat with me.

ive been asking this for 20 years: where do saddles go when stolen? are they in pawnshops or something?

ive not had one taken yet, and cant figure why they are so wanted. unless they are brooks and ludicrously expensive.

I saw what was left of a bike chained to a light pole in Chicago last summer that was just the frame, fork, and seatpost complete with a nice brown Brooks saddle. I can't imagine anything else on the bike would have been as worth stealing as that.

who would want some worn-out, dumpy old seat lol

gbx hows that brooks mod/clone you got doin?

Dude it's great

My seat isn't super special, but it's brown with contrast yellow piping that matches my bike, and the saleslady maintains that it if is stolen I won't be able to replace it.

I want this bespoke rapha suit quite seriously:

http://bikehugger.com/2009/09/david-byrne-bicycles.html#more

fancyman!

got rapha 'bonk bag' on clearance the other week, handy on the long rides when i've despatched the rack and bag.

I love my rapha jacket so very much. I am hoping one of my family deems my 30th birthday a worthy occasion to buy me their cross jersey. (I am a fred for rapha, if I had the money I would so drop it on the Rapha-Condor team bike).

i cant afford rapha, and treat it with the same jealous disdain that i like to think PC users used to feel for mac snobs ie i want it

lol that's why i bought the bag, 30 bucks was do-able! 240 for a long-sleeve jersey, not so much.

reading an article in which the president of rapha goes on at length about "experiential marketing" made their line less appealing to me.

tested swix lobsters today in 27 deg for one hour ride in. these are pretty good. my hands stayed quite warm, no sweat. they are very thin. i was able to get in and out of pockets well, even work my mp3 player. that was not even close to possible with my old pi's. the swix could have a slightly better flex tho.

ffs all I want is xs long sleeve wool baselayers

You'd think that biking stuff would be the one arena where my size wouldn't make shopping utterly impossible.

im such a dork, but there are rare days when i actually could use this. on sale and shipping is 13cents today. nashbar ffs ;_;

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_166278_-1___

oh man there are like two days a month I could use that I think

recs for smallest/portable flat kit, plz, including pouch or DIY pouch workaround

or basically: which C02 thing is smallest/best? and will they get you up to road PSI or is this like the bike equivalent of the trunk donut

I am a big fan of the planet bike pocket rocket pump, which will take you to 120psi and fits nicely in the back pocket. Park self adhesive patches fix 90% of punctures in my book.

i've got the topeak road morph, so i'm slightly hesitant to get another mini-pump, but if it's really backpocket then i will have to check it out

i want something small enough that i can carry it in my jacket or easily put it under the seat. also gotta be able to carry a tube because fuck dealing with a patch when its snowing/raining imo

for proper training or where i anticipate being out the back on my own, the most minimalist is best, i think i have an innovations thing. for commute i have a quickshot thing that accepts any style of cartridge (threaded, unthreaded, 12g or 16g). even a 12g will get me rolling on 28s at like 75 i think.

one thing to know is that imu co2 goes through butyl tubes over time, its soluble or something. youll lose psi over days. so refill with a pump when you get home. maybe this is a myth, but it seems to match my experiences.

I have an under seat wedge that fits the pocket rocket, tube, pump, patches. (actually I have two, the second one fits a rain jacket and chocolate as well)

can u leave bag on bike safely?

i mean w/o theft?

In Pittsburgh, yes. Anywhere else I wouldn't risk it.

Since moving here I bought a frame pump and I leave it on my bike along with lights and the wee wedge and still have all these things. I can't imagine this working in London, Chicago or new york. The worst that's ever happened was somebody turning my lights on.

american pranksterism from the sounds of things

i wouldn't worry about leaving a wedge here in mpls, either, though i think i'm maybe too cavalier about not locking my wheel(s)

i never used a wedge on racing bike b/c i hated fiddling w it during racing season, on/off on/off. fuck that carry shit in jersey. and never use a wedge on commute b/c i wanna keep my shit, so i stick it in a little bag in pannier. so i don't have any saddle bags. *shrug*

treating myself to some gear from the new decathlon store this weekend: shoes, bibs, whatever else takes my fancy...

^^^new bibs, silk under-gloves, raincoat, multitool, lube

sounds like a recipe for a good night out.

lol

explain me cycling caps

imo they are good things when worn properly, in the cold under a helmet, or in the rain. off the bike they are dire.

i wear mine when it's rainy or misty, but also when it's sunny to give my cheeks and nose some respite from the sun. also, hats with a little browpad are better at sucking up sweat that would otherwise sting my eyes.

they are surprisingly effective against the sun

my new bibs are the shit

holy cow guys last night i worked on an old schwinn world tourist, a 12 speed cruiser style bike that had the free hub in the bottom bracket.
that was funkytown!

I can't even figure out how that would work!

if its what im thinking of, those let you shift gears while coasting right? i remember when i was a kid around 1980 a friend had a panasonic that could do that. when you coasted, the drive train kept rotating. weird.

yea, the chain keeps moving even tho yr pedals don't. it's supa-freaky

dudes, INSOLES

so i bought xc skiing boots yesterday (my ex-racer buddy is hooking me up w/dope skis/bindings/poles) and opted to throw in some superf33t insoles because my dogs are sensitive like that (at least in performance footwear ie my alpine boots). put them in my bike shoes when i got home just because there isn't any snow yet and it was like daaaaaaaaaaaamn

like noticeably affected my pedalstroke and everything---i could feel a mechanical difference in my ~hips~ it was crazy

superfeet are the absolute business but I don't have any for my bike shoes. I should get some.

srsly, i didn't think it'd make much of a difference, but wow

also, i am that dork that wears his bike shoes all day (shut up) and it actually made them totally fine for walking and everything, it was crazy

CRAZY

dudes
ok so i realize that clicking on a freewheel cassette when coasting is normal, but lately when i'm in one particular gear and pedaling there is this excellent "gaga-daga" clicking. so 1. why is this happening? and 2. should i continue to think it's cool or go to the bike stand and fix this mofo?

nobody got any ideas abt this ^^ ??

While pedaling? Trim your derailleurs, and stop riding in gears where the chain has to cross over at an extreme angle.

the angle is not extreme at all. it's the 15 tooth (3rd of 7) sprocket in back and the big one in front.
derailer in back is adjusted fine for the range of motion i need it to do . . .

i think naus is right, your derailler is not indexed properly. if you cant adjust it so it goes away, check the alignment of your derailler hanger. you can sometimes do it by eye, but it can be tricky.

i don't understand. i have no click stops in my shifters which would correspond to the index . . .
i am referring to this
maybe i am not explaining this adequately. the sound kinda reminds me of how a 3-spd clicks at different rates in different gears, but this clicking only happens on the 15 tooth sprocket. other gears are quiet when pedaling. hanger looks straight

Try adjusting the tightness of the derailleur cable - if it's gone a bit slack this usually shows up most obviously in the middle of the cassette.

Otherwise, "gaga-daga" isn't all that helpful so sorry if we can't pinpoint it! Make a recording?

Looking for a recommendation on saddle bags: does it matter which or are they all the same? Does anybody have a preference? Basically looking for something that can hold a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, 6" adj. wrench, pliers, allen keys, house keys, and phone. It would be nice if it could hold a small pump too, but that's not essential as they can clip to the frame.

I'm looking to do more frequent, longer solo rides, and (esp. with it getting dark before 5 these days), would like to be able to have some confidence that I won't be stranded dozens of miles from home due to something that could have been helped with a basic roadside fix.

got SPDs and some decathlon road shoes for my xmas, woot!!!

kind of makes me wish I had an iPhone

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/12/pedal-brain-12-28-09.jpg

http://en.pedalbrain.com/home

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sidi-Wyoming-shoes-NOS-neon-fluor-46-47-klein-track-80s_W0QQitemZ260521693039QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Men_s_Athletic_Footwear?hash=item3ca84d8f6f

just wow

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4174560711_6117ebd0cf_o.jpg

ok what workstand do i shot

I built one out of pipes, 2x4s, a PVC t-joint, pop rivets, two hinges, a clasp, and some pipe insulation foam. Works pretty good, cost like $40.

^needs to do this^

how heavy/what tools were required?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=diy+bikestand&aq=f&aqi=g-sx2g-s1&oq=&fp=c26c79a56c95bda8

2nd hit looks good gbx

Not sure how much it weighs - maybe slightly more than my no-carbon road bike? As for tools I used a hacksaw, drill, rivet gun, and table saw plus the usual screwdrivers, pliers, utility knives, etc.

It's not super portable, but it's not permanently mounted or anything. It lives in my garage so I have room for it, but I'm going to take it into my basement to build up my brand new frame(!) next week and moving around isn't going to be a big deal at all.

As for tools I used a hacksaw, drill, rivet gun, and table saw plus the usual screwdrivers, pliers, utility knives, etc.

no, yes, no, no, yes, no, yes

http://i.imgur.com/vukRM.jpg
spokeless rear wheel dudes; hueg hub

oh shiiiiiiiit I own a workstand

get wrenchin, no more excuses for a non pristine drivetrain

gbx from here on out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ktTXjSqvJc

what about sloth

xp

http://blogmay.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/sloth_in_a_box.jpg
"get wrenchin"

ok, sloth!

I am move to a new level & I'm going to need some apparel, starting w/ shoes. I'm not sure what brand the pedals are, but can you guys tell by looking at them what *type* of shoes would be best & then whatever brand recommendations & such..

lube question: this thing has some dynamite components which, from the close-ups the dude sent me, appear to have been pristinely maintained. Would you guys recommend using White Lightening type lube? I've heard complaints that the cleanliness of that stuff is not worth what some would argue is a sacrifice of optimal performance. Whatever the case, I do not want to be the guy who grungifies this beautiful thing, even as a I ride the fuck out of it.

*about to move to a new level. someday I self edit.

those look like, er, LOOK pedals. you'll need a shoe with the three screw holes on the bottom - most do - and some new cleats. (you can get cleats that give you a little side-to-side movement, or ones that lock you in fixed.)

haitch wears the shimano R086, because a) it doesn't cost a ton, b) it is white, which makes it more PRO.

well, never mind about the pedals b/c ya, they are indeed part of a Look setup & the dude is going to keep them, so I'll need to get a whole set-up, which is prob for the best anyway tbh.

Hunt3r, haven't you said before that you hose down your cross bike and re-treat it with White Lightning?? I dunno, I tried it once for packing a (really old) hub and it wasn't anywhere near thick enough, had to pull apart and re-do. Maybe there are certain things it's good for?

oh no! its for chains only. for hubs/bbs/headsets i use the usual grease, i think its phils. sorry laurel

That makes so much more sense.

Any thoughts on Eggbeater vs. Speedplay pedals? I've narrowed my options down to these, as I am looking for a system in which the shoe is locked onto the pedal, but which also offers more fluid, open foot movement than old school toe-clip pedals.

i didn't like speedplay 'light action' pedals when i had them on my bike - never felt quite locked-in enough. i swapped them off for ultegra SPD-SLs pretty quickly. i think they are not recommended for racing though, so the other models in the speedplay range might lock you down better. they were really easy to get in and out of, though!

I wouldn't race with Eggbeaters, and after 60 miles or so I get hot spot issues, but for shorter rides and commuting they're brilliant.

The CB Candy pedals may be a good compromise though, more support for the foot.

http://outlier.cc/2009/12/winterweight_og_pant.php

pssst you can get these for $100 w/ the code WinterNAHBS

Sold to the overpaid fred in pittsburgh.

while we on the discount code tip:

http://www.rapha.cc/long-sleeve-jersey-09/

SLEEVE10 for 20% discount!

if I ever win the lottery, I will buy a piece of Rapha... maybe a cap.

do you think we should have a "Bike Deals"/Coupon thread? I like to shop off-season for killer dealz. y/n

do it

acquired some mavic gear that's not made of exploding shards of carbon fibre - 'SL arm warmers' for sun protection, aren't creeping down the arm so that ticks the one big box for me; 'race glove' is their basic mitt and fits pretty well, will have to test the padding on the palm over a longer distance than i pulled tonight, seems fine so far. both items get a thumbs-up (TENTATIVE).

So why is it is so exceedingly difficult to find a cheap silver 26mm / 1 1/8 threadless stem anywhere?

What do people like in a road pedal?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/first-look-reynolds-composites-studio-rzr-46t/113090

whoa! im a bit jaded about claimed advancements, but that is impressive to me. if they work and don't break.

Anyone want to weigh in on time vs Shimano vs Look vs Speedplay?

speedplay for crits

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/1991_Spec_M2.htm

i can't believe examples of this product still exist even virtually, but check out how similar the profile of those cf spokes look to hunt3r's 1994 team sponsor fiber flight's cf spokes. im sure they are worlds apart. <3 sponsors, but no way was i lacing those to anything.

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/Chass3ur/IMG_1566.jpg
proof, /packrat!

those 'CF spokes bonded into the rim' wheels (lightweights, cosmic carbone ultimates) seem to be pretty tuff, but if you fuck one up it's a trip back to germany/france to fix i think... big buck$$$$$ for a busted spoke.

ed i tried speedplay ('light action') and SPD-SLs (ultegra) and the speedplays were easy to get in/out but didn't feel locked-in enough for my liking. am willing to put that down to them being the light action version - probably should've got zeros instead. having no probs with the ultegras tho, would recommend unreservedly.

i have big ass feet (12/47) and the idea of a platform pedal seemed more comforting. supposedly shimano has less problems with hotspots due to anatomical design, not sure if that's fact or sales pitch.

guys i think im old schooling that 16 y/o skinsuit above for my tt's. im not paying to buy a vanilla one. so so retro.

Not quite sure what to make of this

http://www.prologotouch.com/images/big_schlecksella.jpg

hahaha!

(i have a nago evo, it's pretty good)

I gotta say that shifting w/my new ultegra gruppo is v nice (not a shimano stan btw)

kinda think i got lucky with nu-ultegra as my first 'real' road group experience tbh. think it might've dropped the chain... once? otherwise shifting has been rock-solid, comfortable brifters, brakes are good. i like the twin-levers shifting too - have a feeling i'd get over-excited on a sram setup and go down when i wanted to go up or whatever.

serious qn: is front mech trimming not an issue anymore?

only arksing because of smooth gear changings across the board w/the ultegra 6700

does anyone experience with vermarc stuff? a friend is doing a shitload of gear for his informal club (the group that rides from his restaurant), and all my old shorts are wearing/worn out. it would be weird to wear kit from a non existent "team" but the price is right-- if the gear is good. looks nice.

One of my top 5 favorite "feeling" (as opposed to "looking") bib shorts I own which are from Vermarc Sport DK. I got them in the Sports Basement bargain bin for ~$20 and they declare very loudly across the butt and thighs in Electric Blue and Gold: "PROCYCLING" in three different futuristic Fred-tastic fonts. No team name nor illusion of sponsors like their QuickStep kit... I like to think that the usage of "PRO" is in the advocacy sense but who am I kidding. Bear in mind I would never wear these on a day that I would have any chance encounter of anyone I know, and mostly these see the most saddle time under the wintertights.

But yes... PROCYCLING!

The chamois looks "medical grade" if that makes any sense. Very nice.

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/Chass3ur/BacaroKit_FINAL_OLcopy_Page_2.jpg

no "procycling." "eat to ride, ride to eat" = fat mantis approved imo

hmmm, i'll probably take that down in a couple, its not my image.

boo... img rip

thinin' 'baout compact cranks

you can get 110 bcd rings up to 52, so why don't you see more bikes with 52, 38 on a 110 bcd. OK so the chainrings will be marginally heavier or less stiff, but more choices on 110?

guys I just want to point out that I've been wrenching half assedly for a few hours and my bike RULES

so why don't you see more bikes with 52, 38 on a 110 bcd.

you do in the pros when they go to the mountains. some guys rock a 52/36 which must wreak havoc on the chain/rear d but i think they install chain guards (?).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81965454@N00/3115540665/
― cutty, Thursday, December 18, 2008 1:15 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

cutty wht is this bike? it is pimp

ah raleigh one way, p.nice

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/4721829372_2c61cf0794_b.jpg

that's awesome. at my old job, we had catalogs like that going back to the late 80's with all kinds of innovations that seem totally ridiculous by today's standards.

reminds me of a kidney pool.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124052/index.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bicycle-Road-Touring-FACET-BioCam-1000-50-Speed-/280476276840#ht_575wt_954

cutty iirc u been using dura ace tubeless - what's yr verdict?

OHHHHHH btw... my teammate who I was supporting in my race on Saturday was riding.... Dura-Ace tubeless. Just an FYI... those conditions sucked though. I was riding reynolds attack front (crabon) and easton circuit (alum) rear.

he flatted... that was my point.

my flat count for the last 12 mths

commuter: 7 (incl. 2 in space of @ 3 hrs, was not happy that day)
roadie: 1
singlespeed: 0

moral of story: never commute by bicycle

what kind of tires do you have on your commuter? i'm tempted to go with some bomb-proof tank tires this winter.

I have superslick, superlight Ultremos on my commuter and I never puncture (twice, on a tyre that had started to delaminate (and had been recalled), in 7000 miles)

anyone got a spare set of 27" x 1 1/4 alloy wheels going spare?

spare spares

GEAR!

http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/roadwheels.jpg

^great for conquering the col nagl

Not in a UCI sanctioned race you won't

i got a 16 spoke rear race wheel that looks like the one on the left... some weird Astana-era Bontrager re-brand of a Hed 50mm carbon rim with DTSwiss bladed aero-spokes and DTSwiss high flange hub.

The decals were rather annoying so I modified the "BONTRAGER" to, at first, "F N RAGER" and now to simply "RAGER"... which may not last the week tbh.

http://www.ibikesports.com/detail.aspx?ID=84

I wonder if Apple would be interested in sponsoring my new Apple iBike Team

the reviews on that thing are all over the board but the bad reviews are really brutal on the accuracy (esp the tests done with multiple systms). for that kinda money just buy a powertap.

ayo i just scored this sweet 20 spoke straight laced wheel from a buddy but neither of us can figure out what the manufacturer is. the hub and skewer clamp both have an S shape with an N or Z cut out of that and a 3 in the empty space and no combination of any of those characters gives me a hit with googles. anybody know what i'm talking abt? will post pic in a bit for clarification . . .

Specialized?

Suzue?

Sounds like Neuvation.

http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/cycling/images/Neuvation_logo_for_blog.gif

Maybe this hub laced to generic rims?
http://www.neuvationcycling.com/product155.html

that is not the hub on that m28, the one i got is probably kinda old now
there is some light corrosion in and around the qr clamp thing
and i can't discern any markings on the rim, so that is a good guess that i would be the hub and a generic rim.
points to steve shasta totally nailed that logo looks the same as hub and qr clamp, thanks!

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd210/jdchurchil/bike%20stuff/DSC_0029.jpg?t=1279803058
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd210/jdchurchil/bike%20stuff/DSC_0028.jpg?t=1279803100

ingenious carradice quick release solution
http://www.cyclofiend.com/working/2009/wbph001-andreball0909.html

the gear system (shimno positron!) on my gf's bike is pretty shonky - if I wanted to change it for something cheap and reliable (5 spd) what would be my best option? i.e what am I looking to score off of ebay?

Even hardened stainless steel wears down after a few thousand miles:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4827369721_08b0329c7b.jpg

http://www.rouleur.cc/uploads/gallery/101_01.jpg

http://www.rouleur.cc/the-laurent-tshirt

Spent some time today fettling up the old neglected 1998 marin muirwoods, put lovely new jagwire cables in, looked bang on, except the front shifter will only find 2 positions (of three) and the rear will find 5 of 7. None of them are particularly sound either, feels well wrong, have a horrible feeling the springs etc in the trigger shifters are gone, which will only incur more cost, may as well have just got a new bloody bike. Am well pissed off with it.

so, im not riding slack but i keep dropping my chain off the cog. i've retensioned twice but the prob keeps coming back in a few rides. the alignmnent is perfect and has not changed. is this just what happens with ss drivetrains/cogs when they get worn out? cog looks to be ok to me, but does have pretty high mileage.

Probably not the problem but is the chain clean/lubed? Frequent problem with dirty rusty chains.

thx. could probly be more lubey, but is def clean. worth trying tho. i'm dreading tryna pull the snapring out of that nexus hub in order to replace cog. snapring is diabolical to put ON, can't be easier to get off, im guessing.

so, im not riding slack but i keep dropping my chain off the cog. i've retensioned twice but the prob keeps coming back in a few rides. the alignmnent is perfect and has not changed. is this just what happens with ss drivetrains/cogs when they get worn out? cog looks to be ok to me, but does have pretty high mileage.

vertical, horizontal, or track ends?

track ends

Chain in good condition? No stiff links or anything? Post a pic of the teeth on your cogs maybe?

looks ok, but now as i think about it, i can't remember how old it is for sure. it could be as old as 16 months, which would be ~ 6000+ miles on it.

friend at work said he thought his bottom bracket bearings were worn out on his 6" travel MTB due to a creaking/grinding noise when he turned the cranks - he has external bearings, so i thought this was unlikely, especially given that he never rides in rain/mud. took a look at his bike and told him that on a bike like that, especially when you have a chainguide, grinding is pretty hard to diagnose. took a closer look and realized the chain was bone dry - turns out he had never lubed it one time since buying the bike a year ago. he felt dumb.

replaced cog at 5:00 a.m.-- the old 18 really didn't seem bad, considering it has about 12k on it. anyway, i thought i had a spare 8spd chain lying around, only to find i had only a 9 spd. not really compatible, but rode it anyway-- chain is binding a bit on cog.

I just got some of these with prescription inserts for biking/skiing whilst being blind and they are turning out great for the former.

http://www.sportler.com/sportlerShop/produkt/katalog/adidas-elevation-clima-cool_5408157

being able to see whilst going fast has emboldened my descending a little.

http://cdn.rackspeed.de/bergfuchs/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/A/D/AD-Elevation09_L_5/Adidas-Elevation-Climacool.jpg

raver

They are huge by the standards of glasses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/bike-blog/2011/jan/26/hoy-scalextric-olympic-cycling-set

took 1.6 lbs off mtb at well under $.40/g. ~value~ bitches!

imagine if i just shut my piehole and lost 10 lbs for free! it was -7 deg F this morning, so i may just have time to do that.

i just had a drivetrain overhaul and new cables = close my eyes and feels like new bike.

arent you getting a new bike anyways?

i wish i could close my damn eyes and feel like a new me, because 2011 is the year i feel rather old for the first time (weird lower back issues). i need a new lumbar and shit.

I am on the fence about new bike. I am kinda hoping to get a hand me down from one of the P1s tbqh. A boy can dream....

mpls bike swap

went this morning to dodge homework and walked out with:

specialized A1 FS rockhopper frame -- $25
26" wheelset (white ind laced to salsa delgados, free qr skewers and wheelbag!) --- $80
specialized saddle with carbon somewhere in it --- $25 and surprisingly comfortable
wool cycling hat -- $15

Congratulations, you have a velocipede!

http://www.capecodbiketrails.com/Velocipede%20gifs/Robinson-drawing.gif

aaaaaaand a buddy of mine scored an unused carbon cx fork for $50 and a thompson seatpost (w/shitty saddle) for $25

sorry, scored ~for me~

I have put a garmin 500 on lay-by

its a fun thing. still wish garminconnect would return to google mapping, bingmaps is awful.

i heard my road frame is coming back to me this week all coupled up, it's been gone since thanksgiving!

Is there any sort of bike rack that would work for storing a bulky cruiser type bike in an apartment? The one's I see online seem designed to work with light 10 speeds.

anyone got a link to a list of SRAM apex equipped bikes?

anyone got a link to a list of SRAM apex equipped bikes?

Not sure of a list but road.cc reviewed the specialised Allez Apex and rather liked it.

i have a specialized w/apex and am quite happy with it

Is there any sort of bike rack that would work for storing a bulky cruiser type bike in an apartment? The one's I see online seem designed to work with light 10 speeds.

The pulley system I had in London* was rated to 20kg (45lbs) which would probably be ok, however that needs a high ceiling and being able to screw it into joists.

*not sure if I was here when you were.

I = it

so this is more of an MTB thing, since their road components never really took off... but race face is closing down? i'm kind of o_O about it - they never seemed like a company that would be hurting for cash, although i guess with sram just getting better and better, 10 speed, etc, they just couldn't sustain their business anymore.

My gf is very keen to sort out bike storage solutions - even if I get rid of two of mine we'll still have four between us. Do people have any experience of the metal shed type bike storage units you keep outdoors?

i have a shed

I am envious of men with sheds.

looking for a commuter/pub bike. I should just get a pompino right?

those are just english steamrollers, right?

pretty much

not according to GIS

no, the on one is way better for a utility bike imo. it has cantilevers and rack brazeons to make racks and fenders easy. i very nearly bought one but ended up getting a better deal on the since discontinued robroy.

not according to GIS

― jaxon, Thursday, March 17, 2011 10:17 AM (30 minutes ago) [IP: 24.5.84.161] Bookmark

lol!!!

i guess pompino means blowjob in italian

my current fork is a 300g profile ac that is 10 years old and has seen many hard miles and even a couple lay downs. as i was descending deer creek in a tuck at about 50 mph, i thought, is this fork really safe at 10 years old?

light 1" all carbon forks are really hard to find now, and expensive, if you can find one at all (you can still get _beautiful_ woundups, but they are sorta heavy). anyway, i should have bought an easton they were blowing them out in november at half the going rate. now they are all gone afaict.

after much searching and soul searching, i just bought an easton ec90sl straight leg.

straight leg forks, c/d? i say dud, but it's all i could find.

"very nearly all gone"- obv, i found one.

Thank you for your recent order. This is to inform you that your order (#140687) has been cancelled. It was cancelled due to our being out of stock of this item.

guess not. fuck.

to get a fork, im now tryna order a columbus minimal from uk. this is crazy. nice looking non-integrated curved blade fork, except im not loving gloss finish. my seatpin is matte, this could be aesthetic crisis.

our thoughts and prayers are with you u_u

quiddities and agonies of the rolling class - a ruling iltrmb thread

can you sand the fork back a touch to get rid of gloss finish??

i picked up the garmin last week and did a couple of rides over the weekend, pretty good! hunt3r have you seen strava? googlemaps, comparison with other ppl on local climbs, power estimation etc etc. this link should still get you a 3-month trial.

also they just released a free iphone app today iirc

thanks haitch, i've been thinking about strava. last night, i used wordpad to edit a file. i forgot to turn off my garmin and it recorded part of my drive from the mtb trailhead. i fixed .tcx file and uploaded back to garmin connect, mostly successful. it's weird, i know nothing of xml, but it's very intuitive and clear to do.

I just got bar ends and SPD peddles and shoes for my bike. I will fear hills no more.

I can't get my old peddles off!

My new peddles are on!

Just did a lap of cmapus with the SPEDs clipped in; didn't fall off, but I did really enjoy it. Only irritation is how hot & hilly campus is today.

Had my first "SPD moment" on the way to work this morning; unclipped left foot as I approached a pedestrain/bicycle crossing so I could stop in time, lights changed at the last minute, and I tried to carry on rather than stopping. Que slow topple to my right...

Despite many years of SPDing had one of those last week, after two beers. With many spectators.

Need to bring this thread down to earth for a sec: I need a new saddle for my 3-spd townie. Now that I live 5-7 miles from anywhere, I can't ignore how painful the old two-tone seat is anymore.

Who makes a decent sprung saddle that's not inappropriate for an old bike WITHOUT being a "cost of my firstborn" Brooks? Looked at Electra's options, so far they're winning. Anyone else I should check out?

Velo Orange have their sproingy saddles on special for $65 right now

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/saddles/vo-saddle-model-5-sprung-touring.html
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/saddles/vo-saddle-model-8.html

anyone in UK/europe want a free set of KEOs?

anyone in UK/europe want a free set of KEOs?

Which Keos? (would pay postage if they are better than mine)

will take a pic and post them up laterz; couldn't tell you what model, came with pub bike

I'll pass then, was hoping you had gone off your nut and wanted to give away some blade carbons.

loooooooool nah just standard scumbag keos I think #spdforlife

any takers yet? i'd get use out of them tbh.

no takers, they're yours if you want them

dwh0w13 at g00gl3m41l dot c0m

minus all googleproofing natch

http://www.outdoortrekking2010.de/out/pictures/1/menpaceeventjacketblack.jpg

love the aesthetics, eVent fabric, ayo im gettin it

(ebay has a few larges very cheap if ur a looking a for a minimalist but real rainjacket)

took 20s off new dayglo pink beater, tubes looked pretty old, pretty crusty

put on 25s. front tube just exploded (shit myself basically) in my kitchen. pinch flat? or...?

bad rim strip?

Rough bit at top of rim, if there were only 20s before you may have friction where previously there wasn't any? Or yeah, pinched it

Wasn't the valve, was it? Exactly that happened to me last night - only to discover that the valve in my Continental tube is removable (??) and it had just shot across the kitchen and could be popped back in and all's fine.

shiiiii... don't know. will have a look tonight. that sounds potentially dangerous

anyone experienced with dmt shoes? thoughts?

btw the vaude jacket arrived and is awez. not tiny, but more packable/thinner than expected. close fit (def. not club fit), but not _race_ fit. s'alright, i need it as all rounder anyway.

where is my mantis jersey goddamit

other than aesthetics, is there any thing to stop me cannibalising my old read (stx) mech from my marin muirwoods and putting it on the new beater with friction shifters? (for which I'v found some dirt cheap wheels and a 5 speed cassette - which I worry is all the frame will take...)

anyone? Bueller?

but also - meant to say yesterday - I introduced the beater to Autosol and autoglym polishes yesterday - this stuff is unbelievably awesome, what were dull grey brake levers destined for the bin/ebay, are now gleaming, shiny levers of wonder that I can see my face in - seriously magical stuff - so much so I've decided to keep them.

If it's a pub bike/beater, I don't see what you care about aesthetics. Friction shifters work, period. Other than having to trim sometimes to make it smoother, your shifts won't be that much slower.

As far as five speeds go, measure the rear dropout. If it's 120mm, stay with a 5-speed. If it's 126, go ahead with a 6. Hell, if it's 120, you might even be able to find an old Suntour "Ultra-6" freewheel that has 6 cogs in the width of a standard 5. You'll need a narrower chain for that, but all modern chains are narrow enough. A SRAM PC-850/870/890 will likely do the job just fine. It's what I had on my c. 1974 Peugeot UO-8 before giving it away.

(I've heard/read of people bending out their rear stays and dropouts to 130mm to take modern cassettes. I'd be wary, esp. if you don't know the specific tubing/metallurgy of your frame. CrMo can be bent, but MnMo like Reynolds 531 can't.)

oh, it's only a beater, but it's my beater, and I like a nice-looking (serviceable) bike. (in fact have changed my mind on the brown saddle bars, am going with....orange, I reckon it'll look nice with the silver frame, and orange tape = way cheaper than brown leather)

Thanks for the call on drop-out width, it looks hella narrow by eye, will measure it up when I get home. There's no way I'm bending the tubes, with my clumsiness, that way el disastero lies.

^_^

^^^^my face when i got my first new sidis in 13 years

oooooh

are they white??

hunt3r:
http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lli0jnIwNV1qhxs03o1_500.jpg

TS: that advert vs pippo's epic wheelsucking - what is more offensive

lol btw they are not white
well dag! i think northwave did better w/ cipo and his ladiez but hey

anybody got a favorite method of taking your bike on a plane? this looks pretty nice:

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2009/07/bike-cases-softshell-or-hardshell/

i like my cheap perf hardshell for airline travel, but i think cardboard is just as good.

domestic usa air charges are obviously typically off the charts now. if you can pack and ship in advance by ups/fedex, it's def cheaper. cardboard works just as well or better here if you do it right, and is free. one problem i have with shipping the hardshell is that its dimensions are juuuuuust over a shipping pricing breakpoint, so the smaller cardboard box works better in that respect too.

obv, if you dont have a backup bike, shipping makes you bikeless for a while.

that softshell looks really nice!

Many bike cases or bags have their logo written all over the outside (i.e. “BIKE PRO“). This immediately attracts attention to the check-in agent and they’ll most likely charge you extra for a bike (unlike golfers). The Pika Packworks says nothing about bikes on the outside. It doesn’t look like a problem, so check-in agents don’t treat it like a problem. This was one of the factors that the design of the bag was based around – to dodge the excess bike charges. Apparently saying that “camping gear” or “bike parts” is inside the bag does the trick if they ask.

If this works, the case is a bargain at > $300.

and thanks for the tips. didn't even know about the excess bike charge, is how green i am.

also instructive
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/02/how-i-travel-with-my-bike.html

Scored a set of Kreitler rollers + headwind fan + fork stand for $150 today :)

quick question, I have seen these "frame protectors" on many a hipster fixie, but..... what do they protect against?

like this:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/5124966788_189c12c1cb_b.jpg

the handlebars denting the top tube.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh thanks for that

Italian review of Ultegra Di2 with pix (run thru g-translate):

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyclinside.com%2FTechnews%2FBiciclette%2FComponenti%2FUltegra-Di2-Eccolo-Lo-abbiamo-provato.html

want

Might want when they replace the UGLY matt plastic look on all the components!

http://www.sram.com/rockshox/products/sid-world-cup

so apparently a buddy of mine that works at sram is sending me one of these? for free? along with other "surprise parts"?

someday he'll want free medical svcs u kno

ha yeah i told him i would deliver his kids, should he ever have any

gbx, google tells me that retails for £725! Nice freebie.

how much does a kid retail at tho

About £7k I think, private in the UK.

i have re-purposed a cinelli workshop apron for kitchen duties. p good!

i just looked at the ultegra di2, and mark c otm-- that is very very unsightly.

i haven't followed rockshox product development in a few years, so consider my mind blown at the idea of a sid w/120mm travel and 32mm stanchions.

Christ! Though what really got me was the amount of time this dude is erect during his sleep.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/science/28tier.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1

so no surprise parts, and the fork is a 2009 model, but still: free fork! just showed up!

do you have a frame for it, or is it like, a pogo stick conversion project?

i've got a rockhopper frame i got for $30 at the swap, along with a white ind/delgado wheelset. also, my friend gave me his old mtb to part out (he's going to kenya for a year), so i should be able to scrape something together.

major thing lacking is a disc brake for the fork, and a compatible wheel. p much have everything else covered? and since half my friends work at qbp i've been assured that i will not go wanting

another decision is SS v. geared

bro's bike has a LX/XT/XTR drivetrain i should be able to swap in, but MN is p well-suited to singlespeeding it.

Just bought Emma a lovely (but discontinued) Brooks Countess saddle for a mere £40.

Found the right color but cannot bring myself to buy a saddle that says "EndZone" on it.

I collect my new bicycle in 2 and a half hours!

Awesome! Pics and thoughts pls.

I barely slept last night.

But first ride is going to be over this blue bridge, which opened today - http://www.exetersciencepark.co.uk/latest_news.php

yfrog.com/kltthquj

Bike!

great!

sts homey

What's sts?!

slam that stem!

(j/k, you shouldn't do that)

Hahaha

Did 23 miles in 90 minutes on it last night along a not particularly quick route, didn't feel like I was pushing it too hard, stopped a couple of times to talk to people, and still did a quicker average mph than I would have when pushing it really hard on the hybrid. And that's without even having put slicks on, which I intend to do. Pleased!

http://i54.tinypic.com/15r1sli.jpg

$20 oval chainrings not sure if they will work with other bits.

I fitted new pedals to my roadie yesterday, a pair of Crank Bros Candy SL in delightful green (they were 80% off or something). Haven't ridden with them yet but the hot spot on my right foot was getting worse and worse so I hope they're a good investment.

That said, I also moved the cleat about 1.5mm when I replaced my old ones, which might help - and, annoyingly, found a small crack in the sole of my shoes, so the hunt for bargain replacements is underway (though tbh I just want Spesh BG MTB shoes again as I've never owned something that fits so well - but they're £100 these days and never discounted, grr).

Finally, I cleaned my drivetrain for the first time, quite possibly, since I replaced my old one, about 2,000 miles ago. Oops.

Are there any decent aggregators which would tell you the price for (say) the shoes I want across many online retailers?

garmin announces platform for its pedal powermeter- keo compatible built by exustar, ~$1500. really was hoping they'd retain the original speedplay design.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/bikes-and-tech/quick-look-garmin-vector-power-meter_188454

i saw those today at the bike show!! product debut in australia, who'd have thunk it

the pedal could do with a metal scuff plate imo

so look has two power platforms- polar and garmin. i really don't like them, but that seems like good news for them. if you have those on your road bike, you'll get reg looks for your rainbike and tt bike right?

i figure that garmin's choice was in part based on exustar's willingness to manufacture to price point and look is a license they have. from my interactions and reading on speedplay, they don't seem like the kind of company that would do anything like that at all.

these are supposed to be out next year

http://www.brimbrothers.com/2011/06/announcing-zone/

whoa

One of these companies news to come out with the $750 power meter, they will own the market.

news = needs

Polar/Look pedal is only compatible with Polar heads which is understandable but very dumb.

these look great: http://gizmodo.com/5831624/light-your-bike-at-night-with-revolights

What's a good book on bicycle maintenance / building a bicycle?

zinn

Duly ordered.

Would totally buy those revolights, too.

Anyone got any advice re: prescription sports glasses?

I wear Oakley flak Jackets (have sunglasses and plain) and they are awesome, apart from the fogging when stopped at lights etc. Good for peripheral vision.

I have Adidas elevation clima cool, they are convertible between sunglasses and ski goggles, a little big for the former and small for the latter but pretty good for both. They take a prescription insert, have changeable front lenses etc.

Cannondale is offering team pricing to our club. Super tempted to pick up super six with rival for $2000

One of your ex-teammates is joining my team btw. Super rad guy, his dad was my math prof yearssssssssssssssssssss ago funnily enough.

Wait a sec, are you racing for Sw@mi's? I think I always assumed that...

(cuz they race cannondales as well...?)

Nah sw@mis is out eternal rival. I race with the (SoCal cup winning) SDBC. Its a super exclusive club, you have to have $45 to join! The team deal is through the same shop (Nytr0) as theirs.

ah okay, well we poached a rival of your guys, then. :D

What do we think, guys? For my fixie-about-town? Is it worth adding 690g to a lightweight bike for style and, I hope, comfort? Is the suspension completely unnecessary and I'd be better off with a suspension-free Brooks and/or something else entirely?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11673

Sprung saddle is very nice but I think it works best with an more upright riding position.

It's 90 quid for a saddle though! Seriously toying with a 12-28 cassette for the kaffenback instead of the 11-25 I've got on there at the moment cOnsidering my hill-aversion.

how much movement does the suspension offer? i reckon too much bounce could be a bit annoying.

i won a saddle last month from local brand 'thrones' - bright yellow w/ flanders lion on it - for getting third in a 'guess the bike weight' contest. it doesn't really match any of my bikes!

Ed'll make you an offer.

Fair dos re saddle. The point is it's not supposed to make you bounce around but then I've never tried one. Tbh even skinny racing saddles are fine with me so I can probably be fairly unpicky.

Chris, I know, but it'd be a Christmas present so it's all good :)

I am, right now looking for shocking pink components to match my winter trainer

http://dappered.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ShannonWeek7Header.jpg

how about a brown cord suit with a stylish shirt and tie

(and pocket square)

I could rock that, would need a better tie, though, maybe a Pucci one.

Putting a leisure saddle on a track bike is like putting a sofa in a ferrari.

I like sofas and I like Ferraris, so...

rules about "track" bikes is pretty old school ever since lol hipsters, but keep the flag flyin old man

**flies flag high**

http://road.cc/content/news/46989-video-eurobike-faves-pinion-bb-system

rate these saddles: flite vs concor vs turbo

plz

see if there's a dealer near you that has a trial program.

i think race pace has one but i still want to see what iltrmb ppl experiences have been, steven shasta

IMHO this kind of stuff (contact points*) is such a high matter of personal preference, the #lazyweb can't tell you what your own ass on the saddle will.

*saddles, shoes, pedals, etc.

There is a reason why you'll see pros in the peloton wearing/using non-team issued gear (or in some cases, re-branded or brand-camouflaged) and its usually always contact point stuff.

What is your saddle history and what was your experience with each?

not making any choices based on what anyone says here just a curious bro killing time on the internet

i had san marco saddles on the bianchi and cannondale, nice and firm but too narrow. the lemond i have now had a stock bontrager saddle, total throwaway p.o.s. just poorly shaped and soft and cheaply made.

p much decided on flite for the lemond and i need a saddle for my old raleigh. i like the shape of the turbo better than the concor but not into the turbo's suede/nubuck material. i'd rather have a synthetic cover

i love my specialized alias saddle

have yet to ride on a taint cutaway

i've had a brooks, and two selle anatomicas. had a honeymoon period with the anatomicas (which i posted about here, i think), and thought they were the best ever saddles. buuuuuut a couple longer rides disabused me of that notion, and the rails kept bending (hence going through two of them). the wingy things on the back of the alias, coupled with the taint cutaway, do what the anatomica does, and better. i've never had any ~issues~, even on longer (40+mi) rides

fwiw, competitivecyclist.com has a saddle tryout program, but you're limited to high-end stuff

feel like a brooks would get stolen fast in this city but could be wrong

I love Selle italia and Selle San Marco with taint cutaway slits. You can pick up barely used Selle Italia Gel Flows on ebay for around $50 all the time. It is totally subjective though.

for real riding i really like the vanilla selle italia slr (which you cant really get anymore). for crapping around, the mid-upper level wtbs are nice.

man "crapping around" just isn't something i want to see in a discussion of saddles

the best saddles for taking a crap from are flites, but i have a limited sample size there.

The comfiest saddle I have is the POS stock Bontrager throwaway saddle on my old Trek, fwiw.

:O

is it this one?

http://thebikeline.com/images/library/large/bontrager_260398_05_m.jpg

If it's not that one it's pretty damn similar!

So, the temperature is dropping in the UK, and judging by my office quite rapidly today. What are your top tips for keeping riding when it's cold?

good bib tights, gimp shoes, man up

Have a hot bath in the morning before heading out. The bit I hate most about riding in the cold is the first ten minutes - a hot bath raises your core temperature sufficiently to not really notice the cold until you've had a chance to warm up.

In terms of gear:

a decent wicking baselayer
a long sleeve lined (or wool) jersey
a rain/wind jacket
mittens
shoe covers

pair of uggs

Hot water in the bidon before you leave the house, put it in the middle pocket of your jersey, under the wind jacket.

This is awesome, magic light comes with Techno

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dynamodirk/magnic-light-get-new-energy

Yo guys I am SO EXCITED abt my new rack/milk crate setup!!!

So everyone at every bike shop has told me that zip ties are p much the de facto attachment method for milk crate onto a rear rack, which is perfect if you never need to take your basket off ever. But as someone who needs to take his basket off sometimes, this simply wouldn't work. I tried a bungee but it was a pain to attach securely, and I watched it tip over w/ a basket full of groceries when my bike was leaning against a pole. Not cool. So anyway after a bit of research I have found the perfect solution: nylon straps for like hiking and shit! At $10 for two 1m straps they are a bit pricey, but instead of a plastic buckle they have a loop at one end and a v secure steel buckle at the other, and they tighten and loosen really easily, they are pretty flat/not bulky, and also they STAY TIGHT. I just carried a shit ton of shit home from TJ's and they worked perfectly. Y'all should peep this:

http://www.seatosummit.com/images/products/10mm%20hook_accessorystraps.jpg

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10931257

seriously, sea to summit is one of those companies where when you're like "gee, i wish someone made _____, that would be so convenient," sea to summit just happens to make it. (i don't work for sea to summit.)

A "shit ton of shit". That's for the striking visual imagery thread.

Anyway.

After nine months of not really riding after we moved, I have reinvigorated my enthusiasm in two ways: 1; some work done on the bike to make it smooth and good again (new bottom bracket and headset), and 2; new fancy gear. I got a Kask helmet which is superlight and white w/ red, and I got new shoes (Shimano touring ones, very racy in styling), and, the biggie, some prescription Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses. Been hankering after these for aeons but I knew they'd be expensive. They were, but the optician did interest-free credit, so who cares. Winner.

Other new gear to prepare for winter: GripGrab shoe covers and gloves. New lights (Lezyne stuff). Solo gilet.

Pondering some new 3/4 bibs, and probably gonna go for DHB Aeron Pro.

How are you preparing for winter? I'm probably going to put the Cube away for winter soon, and get back on the Tricross.

Oh boy winter. I've always biked to work but last year it was 2mi round trip 3x a week and now it is 7mi round trip 5x a week. I am totally not even sure of what to what with snow and fast cars and all

Also COOOOLD!! If you bundle up you are most assuredly stinky sweaty after 5 miles!

one of the BEST things about winter commuting is the very low sweat risk, imo. make sure your ears arms hands and feet are warm. overdress those if you have to do. the rest of you will usually be fine with street clothes and a breathable soft shell on the top. you needn't be stinky or sweaty or stinky sweaty.* if you are breathing harder than you would walking, youre going too hard. you won't be "warm" but you will be ok. because i commute in the morning in street clothes, not sweating is pretty much an obsession for me.

*if your ride includes like, 200 ft+ of continuous vert at 4%+, you may get sweaty if you exert yourself.

I have a serious aversion to cold though

What do people think of Vulpine? I think I am lusting after their jackets.

http://www.vulpine.cc/Shop

I need to buy a winter/rain/wind jacket but where to even start. maybe I'll just buy a gabba
http://www.wigglestatic.com/product-media/5360072722/castelli-gabba-rain-jersey-12-hrs.jpg

will rep the hell out my vaude racecut eVent jacket. no pockets, but really well-made, well-designed, and breathable.

like the look of that vulpine softshell a lot, but i doubt i'd buy a cycling specific softshell. i use a non-cycling marmot gravity for commuting, it's really great if you want a dual duty jacket, but cut all wrong for recreational riding.

Vulpine stuff I've seen in the stores is pretty great. It's cut so it looks good off the bike whilst being still functional on it. I've had the Rapha soft shell for the last 4 years or so and while it's a great jacket it's pretty slim cut and no so great if you want to get a shirt and a jumper under it for when you arrive at work. Depends what shape you are really.

I bought my sister a castellated soft shell last Christmas and that was very nice but I think I'm going off castelli, my latest shorts went baggy in the legs way too quickly and the logos don't stretch well with the fabric. I've lost some weight since I've been here but that shouldn't cause the leg cuffs to roll up.

The cold and rainy season's on its way, need softshell and gloves+shoe covers ... Vulpine (sold out!)+ GripGrab looks like a nice combo.

Oy! How do you ride a bike in the winter without having to spend $100+ on a jacket???

just gou out and hardman it. flandrien!

I just got GripGrab hurricane gloves and some shoe covers too. Not used the latter yet, but the former are really good after about five rides. Barely noticed I was wearing them which I take as a good sign.

The Vulpine softshell looks lush, but I'd be wanting to do 40-60 mile training rides in it from time to time, and I'm not entirely sure it'd be best suited to that. Whereas the Rapha seems more like it would...

just had my bike serviced

first ride - everything like butter
second ride - at low speed, there's a weird rubbing sound which goes away when you get rolling again. second ride was in the rain, and the sound was when climbing

what could that be?

I had something very similar a couple of weeks ago, actually, but it vanished after about 30 yards. Never heard it since so forgot about it, and it's been serviced since.

Rapha stuff seems awesome but normally when I buy clothing that expensive I only expose it to the elements when I'm walking from my horse-drawn carriage to the door of Francesca's palazzo.

i always think this thread is about steroids when i see it on sna

Rapha stuff seems awesome but normally when I buy clothing that expensive I only expose it to the elements when I'm walking from my horse-drawn carriage to the door of Francesca's palazzo.

― eris bueller (lukas), Thursday, 17 October 2013 10:56 (3 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Look at some Assos stuff some time, it is swiss and makes rapha look cheap.

It's also all disgusting.

I don't mind assos much; has a nice austere ~swissness~ vibe

I do prefer rapha tho and will probably invest in a rain jacket or race cape / softshell

I still think their bum grease is the best I've tried.

Think I'm definitely gonna get a Vulpine softshell when the new ones come out next month. Green, grey, or claret, though? Or, presumably, original black too?

I am thinking of a balaclava; I like the idea of all in one mouth/hat/scarf thing. I have a fleece one but it suuuucks bcz you cannot breathe in it! Anyone have a good one to recommend for like under 20 or 30? I feel like it might be one of those things where you can just get a regular one for cycling instead of a cycling-specific one but idk

Also I think this is the year I finally buy "gloves for cycling" (but again I am thinking maybe not "cycling gloves" bcz omg ex$pen$ive)

GripGrab god gloves. Rapha snood thing for balaclava.

For, not god. Fucksake.

that stuff is like crazy expensive. $40 for a fake hat!

"the hat can also be used as a collar, or even a headband for that bona fide 'Euro' aesthetic." barf

I mean I am fine w/ wacky multi purpose things but I am trying to score shit on the cheap here

still wearing summer socks w/overshoes and about an hour into my rides I lose feeling in my feet but I'm not sure if they're frozen or just pins-&-needle'd

surely I'd get the same sensation in my hands tho but they're well covered

I should probably invest in winter socks and some proper thermoroubaix overshoes right?

wearing oversocks not overshoes

Was tired of flappy ish wind vest, bought a castelli fawesome. Without tryin it on, hope it fits.

just picked up a capo lombardia jersey for winter. the same material as the gabba/fawesome at a lower price. aero fit & nice long sleeves so no gappy arm-warmers

the front isn't fleece-lined sadly but tht's not fatal

same material as the gabba/fawesome at a lower price

doh! i actually prefer arm warmers they are warmer (if not gappy) tho. i've never found a ls jersey that's just right- warm enough in the arms, not overheating my body. maybe capo is the one.