buying a bike

So what should I get to replace the surly? Probably not for a while, I have a loaner till then.

You really liked the Surly, didn't you? Like for like not practical?

Other than the dropout thing that both gbx and I suffered from it's just fine. Soma double cross is functionally the same thing with a proper dropout. Just seeing if there is anything out there I should be looking at and really just hoping something comes good on CL/eBay.

Do you have a budget (sorry if that's a sore point)? Do you know Cotic?

I have less of a budget the longer I can ride the loaner. Need to work that out, constraint is it's a pain the the arse to buy groceries and stuff without a bike, so may end up getting something sooner rather than later, which means cheaper.

Gunnar crosshairs would be good, but not sure it gives much over surly/soma.

Hoping a good steel cyclocross frame turns up on eBay, build it out with SRAM Apex, could swap wheels with the BMC and hold off on buying new wheels till next spring.

Don't know cotic, but the seem to be more of an mountain outfit.

The Roadrat gets a lot of love:

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat

is apex really a lot less expensive than rival? last time I looked the saving was only around £70

It's not, but I think it is less of a lower down product, more satisfying a different market. The claim is that you can get close to a triple range with a compact double.

It would be wrong to put a panier rack on this, no?

http://www.wrenchscience.com/DBImages/800H/bmc_crossmachine_blkwht_2010.jpg

and by that I mean the older aluminum frame. I do love my BMC.

fact: i saw a bmc road bike with kickstand yesterday.

I have just bought a Brompton. Sadly, only on behalf of a friend. But it's pretty and I want it (though sitting on it I find the suspension disconcerting).

Hey Americans, the Jenson USA end of summer sale is on - they have A+ bargains.

Garmin-Slipstream Felts 4 sale (including hunter, taylor phinney & steven cozza's)
http://www.shopslipstreamsports.com/bikes-and-equipment.html

someone posted one of these on the bike lust thread recently iirc?

A dude at the local velodrome (san diego) races on one of those Union Jack Felt track bikes with B.Wiggins nameplates on it. Dude wears a full England national kit and is ungodly fast.

He'd have to be with that gear. It's definitely not Brad, is it? Try criticising The Jam in his earshot and see if he explodes.

Hey, Crackle Box, did you buy a bike?

mark sell us ur dog eh

(just been gawping at ur flickr, cutest dog ever imho)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6506/photorp.jpg

terrible pic but yeah went for the caad 9, love it, fast as fuck. haven't used my oyster card since i got it :)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6506/photorp.jpg

Cute!

Thanks for dog compliments, David. I could loan her to you between 6 and 7 am when she'll spend an hour trying to eat your face.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-BMC-Cross-Machine-CX01-Cyclocross-Frame-56cm-/170535563402?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item27b4b6308a#ht_1851wt_1086

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/Salsa-Las-Cruces-Cyclocross-Bike-58cm-Dura-Ace-Ksyrium-/190439369666?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item2c57122bc2#ht_500wt_1101

plus OMM rack? Fred tastic

wht's the diff betw. a road bike and a cross-bike?

disc brakes and knobbly tires?

geometry for easier (dis)mounts and wheel clearance

wider clearances for knobbly tyres in the main, often less drop from chainstay to bottom bracket for higher clearances.

xpost

My saddle broke this morning - a rail sheared through. I've borrowed a girl's saddle (Spesh Jett 143) to get home on, and have a spare Regal at home which I don't much like. This is for my fixed - any recommendations for a non-hipster, reasonably priced city saddle?

you looking to sell the regal, mark?

(also have you considered a rolls?)

http://www.equusite.com/articles/basics/images/basicsEnglishSaddle.jpg

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ZY268A43-Surly+Long+Haul+Trucker+Bike+26.aspx

can you fit a 62 cm? truly odd looking. ive never seen a 26" wheel long haul trucker befo.

My very short friend has a 48 or 50cm LHT with 26" wheels but I assumed it was only because the frame is so tiny that 700s wouldn't fit.

62 is probably a wee bit too big for me. 60cm on the Cross Check was at the top end of fine.

Coz, I am currently using the Regal and now that I've got it set up right it's so much more comfortable than before. It's still a bit firm and slightly unanatomical but it gives great support so I may even end up making it my number one choice. I'll give it a bit longer (and do some longer rides on it - 11 miles is the most it's done in one go so far) and let you know if it's a pass. Assuming you were enquiring?

yeah kinda - I've been looking into getting a rolls because my current saddle is literally a pita but I imagine a regal would be just as good. don't know how to pick a saddle tho, really, if I'm being perfectly honest

My teammate has the 2009 Orbea Orca with full Dura Ace and if I could do it all over again, I think I would go that route. Unfortunately, I am married to my bike for at least another season or two but I willfully admit a lusty crush on the Orca.

don't know how to pick a saddle tho, really

^ this. tried one of those specialized ultra-firm ultra-anatomical ones - all the weight on yr sitbones. horrid. currently have a charge spoon, s'ok, as ok as any other i've had.

I changed saddles out of necessity (broke my Specialized Toupe in a crash) and had to replace it within 24 hours and a bro let me have his Fizik Arione TT saddle (TT = more padding up on the nose of the saddle?) and let me tell you I was freaking sore. It was a huge difference esp in any ride over 60 mins. I was all kinds of sore up in the uh... contact points.

Now I'm used to it and will probably stick with it for the rest of the season (30 days?) but if anything happens to this one I'll def go back to the Toupe. Key takeaways: if you find a saddle that works, it's probably for a good reason and worth sticking with. Same with shoes/pedals and other contact points so long as you feel good.

I like the Toupe on my Focus. It's been okay for 100 mile rides - not that I'm comfy down there necessarily but nothing terrible's happened, chafing's been minimised etc. It's nice and flat, and has a good grip on lycra shorts. Not a comfort saddle for pootling about town, but a good perch if you're giving it some over distance.

I had an Arione rip-off (planet X own brand) on my fixed for a while but it was slippery, though comfortable enough (generously padded for a roadie saddle too).

Selle italia, anything gel flow seems to work for me, got to love that slot. the WTB on my sadly gone surly was fine up to the 2 hour point and then became numbing. Can't wait to bring back the really nicely worn in gel flow saddle from my merckx to put on the BMC.

As for replacing the surly. I'm going to strip the gruppo from the merckx when I get back to the UK and use it as he basis of my build. Downside, I get locked into campy which is annoying and expensive in the states, upside, I get a shopping trolley up and running sooner.

two words: prologo

one word!

anyone for a pompino at £399 down from £599
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPMPRS/on-one-pompino-road-sport

am doing a couple of accumulators today with the intent of getting one of those, great deal.

ok, if manure beat everton 2-0, sunderland beat wigan 2-1 and wolves draw 1-1with fulham, I am getting one. plus a rapha country jersey.

ha good luck

big money hu$tla$

Bollocks, knew I shouldn't bet on a match between those 2