all purpose gear thread

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.