Steel road bikes, yet another narrow focus bicycle thread.

[Bueller]

Originally Posted by HamboneSlim

That's a beauty.

So what's the gearing? Old people want to know.

39/53, 11-25.

20 lbs.

It is a beauty, but with that gearing for me it would be a torture rack. 41.7 - 128.9 gear inches. No third ring. I'm a sissy.

[HamboneSlim]

Yeah, I just looked it up.

That's a 4.8:1 gear ratio in high gear - great for going fast. A 1.56:1 ratio in low gear, not good for middle-aged hill-climbers. I wouldn't be able to climb the hills around here with that gearing.

[vtwin]

Originally Posted by mutineer

Let us know how that saddle works out for you. I'm liking it and thinking of getting one, damn the weight, it just looks cool.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Bueller

39/53, 11-25.

It is a beauty, but with that gearing for me it would be a torture rack. 41.7 - 128.9 gear inches. No third ring. I'm a sissy.

Compact cranksets (50/34) are relatively inexpensive (FSA @ ~$50 on eBay). And, that rear derailluer will accept up to a 28T low gear. That'd get you ~32" low gear.

It is a beautiful bike!

Originally Posted by vtwin

Let us know how that saddle works out for you. I'm liking it and thinking of getting one

Do your research on Brooks saddles. They have a ton of different models. The two important things are width and shape. Some are quite narrow and have crown to them, others are wider and flatter.

Wallingford has an exchange program that is risk-free. If you're not sure about which one to get, call them. Bill is a super-nice guy and has a great reputation with the tourist community.

[Gummee!]

@Mutt: humph

He can probably push that derailleur to a 30t cassette if he can find one. 'Course, if he's not riding it loaded down, he probably won't need it.

M

[HamboneSlim]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

He can probably push that derailleur to a 30t cassette if he can find one. 'Course, if he's not riding it loaded down, he probably won't need it.

The old Suntour freewheels, you could take them apart and swap out individual sprockets. I don't know if you can do that with the modern units.

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by vtwin

Let us know how that saddle works out for you. I'm liking it and thinking of getting one, damn the weight, it just looks cool.

I have done the Brooks saddles for many years, and they are using skinny, cheap cows these days. My last titanium .swift lasted less than 5 thousand miles before the right rear of the saddle sagged beyond belief. The leather was thinner on that side. Brooks at first offered assistance, but then did not follow through.

I hooe yours is better.

Beautiful bike, btw. Love it.

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by HamboneSlim

The old Suntour freewheels, you could take them apart and swap out individual sprockets. I don't know if you can do that with the modern units.

Yes, you can, with non riveted cassettes. I would just buy a whole new cassette with the range i wanted, then sell the original or keep as a spare. Shoot, the shop might do that for almost nothing.

[FinlandThumper]

Originally Posted by mutineer

Dude

It ain't about you



Plus it's a fucking cool bike.

That is a very cool bike, congratulations. Tell us how you like the saddle after youve ridden it...I have heard great things at brooks.

[FinlandThumper]

Originally Posted by ducnut

I like that it has a curved, steel fork. That'll ride much better than a straight-leg fork. Also, disc brake provisions are already on it. The specs don't show if the hubs are disc-ready, but, they appear to be MTB hubs. So, I'll assume they are disc-ready, then. Three bottle mounts and 35mm tires add to the deal. That should be a really nice bike, for you.

Yes, i thnk so too and i am quite happy. I sat on it and peddaled a bit, and while the floor model was a bit small, the whole setup just worked. The bar end shifting was the only thing i felt was a compromise (would have preferred shifting in the levers for example), but it wasnt a deal breaker. The model I am going with has discs installed, but yes, they told me that the bike is configured to go disc or cantilever with only a swap of brake hardware. The stock hubs can run disc or not as you wish. I also really liked that flexibility even if I won't exploit it. The Shimano deore xt hardware is also decent.

I also liked the Marin Toscana, with aluminum frame and carbon fork. The Shimano 105 package was tempting, and it was an attractive bike. But I don't really need the weight savings, and I wanted a bike with solid road and cargo capacity and a nice supple ride. The steel frame simply gives all that, and it's a beautiful package. If the deal goes through next week I will post up a few pics.

When I as there i was temporarily distracted by the absolutely beautiful Colnago World Cup. Too expensive though, and it looked like a magnet for theft. But something about cyclocross bikes...

Basically the Marin four corners will start me out very nicely. My commute will be 11 miles each way and I will do it every other work day, with balance of commuting on my Dakar in summer. I have figured out that with the money I will save from quitting my gym membership and reduced motorcycling costs, it basically pays for a new bike every season or so if I wanted ... so if that Toscana still calls in a couple years, I might pick it up and make a "racer" out of it. A decent bicycle costs less than a cheap suspension upgrade for a motorcycle. I mean, even if you spend two thousand or more on a bike, it's still peanuts compared to motorcycling as far as costs go.

As a bonus, the total time of my commute is longer but with time saved not going to the gym anymore I will break even in that end.

[Gummee!]

Commuting by bike is an amazing thing. You get to work refreshed, ready to work, and you don't have to take 'family time' to train.

I found I got lots more done when I rode to work.

If you can't get there AND back, drive a car in one AM and ride home. Then ride back in in the AM and drive back that PM. Repeat till you can ride there and back.

M

[vtwin]

Originally Posted by ducnut
Do your research on Brooks saddles. They have a ton of different models. The two important things are width and shape. Some are quite narrow and have crown to them, others are wider and flatter.

[URL="http://www.wallbike.com/index.php"

Wallingford[/URL] has an exchange program that is risk-free. If you're not sure about which one to get, call them. Bill is a super-nice guy and has a great reputation with the tourist community.

Thanks, will do.

[vtwin]

Ok, got off my fat lazy ass to at least get some near new tires and tubes off CL. Time to get the old Contis replaced, don't trust the old rubber and went from 23s to 28s.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by vtwin

Ok, got off my fat lazy ass to at least get some near new tires and tubes off CL. Time to get the old Contis replaced, don't trust the old rubber and went from 23s to 28s.

Have ya tried em on the bike yet?

Do they fit?



M

[mutineer]

Took it for the first ride today

Mother of Christ riding a fucking bicycle sucks

I remembered why I quit doing it.

I went out to dinner with some friends Friday night and had gin and tonic, whiskey, a dry aged filet, baked potato and some creme brûlée. That was way more fun than riding a fucking bicycle.

Just a quick little 24:39 minute ride and my lungs nearly burst out of my fucking chest. Sucking 36 degree air fucking hurts.


Five little goddamn miles.

Shit.




Still a pretty nice bike.
Except that the seat everyone says is great when it breaks in feels like prison rape until it does.


All of you guys that can crank out mile after mile




Fuck you.