I did a spur-of-the-moment extension to one of my usual loops yesterday, to take on a hill climb challenge. I was pretty certain I'd be forced to give up and walk up, but amazingly I made it all the way up (I ride singlespeed, to give it a wee bit of context), though it required proper slaloming across the full width of the road at several points and proceeded at a sub-5mph crawl. Nonetheless, definitely the toughest hill I've tackled on ss, so I was pretty happy.
― krakow, Thursday, 27 November 2008 08:19 (fifteen years ago) link
that makes sense caek. xp
― collardio gelatinous, Thursday, 27 November 2008 13:32 (fifteen years ago) link
(I ride singlespeed, to give it a wee bit of context)
i've been thinking of setting up a fixed gear or singlespeed for winter riding, but am somewhat hesitant b/c of my temperamental right knee (aka patellar chondromalachia)....although, i must say, the knee has stopped complaining in the past few months, apparently strengthened by my near-daily commute.
anyone ILTRMBers with bad knees ride fixed or ss?
― collardio gelatinous, Thursday, 27 November 2008 13:39 (fifteen years ago) link
3 HOUR THANKSGIVING RIDE. YES.
― cutty, Thursday, 27 November 2008 17:49 (fifteen years ago) link
i don't have awesome knees (skiing + bikes) and i ride fixed. if you ride in a low, spinny gear and use brakes, then fixed shouldn't really be a problem. but if you ride in some monster track-specific gear and go brakeless, you can be assured that your knees will explode.
― hyperspace situation (gbx), Thursday, 27 November 2008 18:14 (fifteen years ago) link
that's helpful & encouraging gbx, thanks.
rode out to thxgiving dinner today....about 25 miles, a bit chilly (i didn't pack a shell and ended up having to improvise a windshield-bib out of a square of waxed canvas that i'd rolled my patch kit & tire levers in)....but a sweet ride nonetheless....hills, farms, bridges....and best of all: dry clothes & turkey were waiting for me at the end.
― collardio gelatinous, Friday, 28 November 2008 02:33 (fifteen years ago) link
ah yesterday was a great thxgiving on the cx bike. blacktop to daniels park, singletrack climb to the ridgetop, dirt road and blacktop again down to the park, then a grand loop of the rolling singletrack through the scrub oak, then more blacktop home.
30 deg and cloudy, so hardly anyone to slow down for.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Friday, 28 November 2008 18:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Ok 2 inches per hour whiteout on way home out of control shit.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Saturday, 29 November 2008 18:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Just got back from a just under 2 hour ride, during the course of which the water in my bottles froze as I rode! My drink & piss stop halfway round became an impressively tooth aching affair.
― krakow, Sunday, 30 November 2008 11:25 (fifteen years ago) link
I put a thermometer outside about 15 mins ago and it's down to -2.2 C and still falling.
― krakow, Sunday, 30 November 2008 11:26 (fifteen years ago) link
Where are you? Not so cold in London (compared to last weekend), but it poured down with rain the whole time I was out this morning.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 30 November 2008 13:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Took a fixed wheel for a test ride yesterday, for the first time. Lovely riding, although can see it takes a bit of getting used to. But I have a question - SPDs or double strap toe clips? I've cycled with toe clips my whole life, but feel they might be a bit of a problem. What with not being able to track stand or anything.
― GamalielRatsey, Sunday, 30 November 2008 14:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Most fixed riders use clips and straps. Shouldn't be a problem. And track standing will come soon enough (although I still suck at it).
― Super Cub, Sunday, 30 November 2008 19:59 (fifteen years ago) link
@The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short): I'm in Glasgow. It's held steady at -2 to -3 C all day, not warmed up a jot. Some brutal fog too. Not riding weather, that's for sure.
― krakow, Sunday, 30 November 2008 20:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I may live to regret this, but I've just splashed out and ordered this bike. It's more than I was intending to spend, but the discount is just incredible.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Sunday, 30 November 2008 23:20 (fifteen years ago) link
nice
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Monday, 1 December 2008 16:19 (fifteen years ago) link
An absolutely beautiful day yesterday, so I went for an extended 45 mile jaunt amidst snow and a wonderful winter sunset. I even somehow managed to avoid any slips or falls, despite the final 15-20 miles being on unlit country b-roads after dark with the temperature plummeting. Tired and happy last night soaking in the bath and digesting suitably epic amounts of pasta.
― krakow, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 07:40 (fifteen years ago) link
another 16F on the way into school today w/fresh snow.
― Tanganyika laughter epidemic (gbx), Wednesday, 3 December 2008 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link
i rode in 25 degree snow again, but only for 20 mins back from train station (at 2:30 am!) we all hardcore here at daily bicycle log
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 3 December 2008 16:19 (fifteen years ago) link
i'm having to stay off the bike for a bit due to aching perineum. looking to get me one of those slotted saddles, selle anatomica or whathaveyou.
― collardio gelatinous, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 20:42 (fifteen years ago) link
New bike arrived today while I was at work and trapped my wife and baby in the flat for several hours as the delivery bloke refused to carry it up the stairs ("I'm not insured for that") and left it blocking the way in and out.
I've pretty much got it assembled now, but haven't been able to ride it yet. I had a bit of a panic that I'd got the wrong frame size (my geometry didn't cope well with the sloping top tube), but fingers crossed it's OK. This is my first encounter with gear levers combined with brake levers: it took me forever to work out that to change down a gear you needed to push the brake lever sideways as well. Who knew that? Who knew it could even go sideways? I was also a little bit thrown by the fact that the handlebar tape only goes up the sides and not the across the middle - is that the way it is nowadays? I often ride holding that bit.
The brakes seem to be set up with the pads incredibly close to the rim, probably less than 1mm clearance on either side. Is this normal? The back rim rubs on the pads on one side - I've tried adjusting the brakes (without success) and I've also tried undoing the quick release and adjusting the position of the wheel slightly, but the amount of clearance is so small that the margin for error is negligibile (and so beyond me). Should I just slacken the brakes a bit?
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Pads should be close for callipers. If your brake is rubbing at the rear, check the rear wheel is sitting correctly in the forks. If the adjuster grub screws don't give you enough play to centre the calliper, start from scratch by centring it using the bolt that attaches it to the frame, it could easily have got knocked in transit.
― Ed, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:43 (fifteen years ago) link
http://img369.imageshack.us/my.php?image=commutera2.png
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Friday, 5 December 2008 00:18 (fifteen years ago) link
http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=commuteir1.jpg
wow it warmed up a whole degree since this morning
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Friday, 5 December 2008 00:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Last night ended up being fa ntastic, intensely cold but deserted canal paths with fox and rabbit tracks and a million diamonds flashing back to me. The bluish light from my light caused the animal tracks to appear with vivid tron-like neon fx. All set to ssb's alpinisms.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Friday, 5 December 2008 15:26 (fifteen years ago) link
WOW. that sounds awesome.
― cutty, Friday, 5 December 2008 16:48 (fifteen years ago) link
good soundtrack to a winter wonderland ride.
I've managed to take the new bike out on a couple of gentle test rides now and I'm pretty happy with it. I managed to sort the brakes out (and they work really well compared to the side-pull ones on my old bike). I've mostly got the hang of the integrated gear levers now, but I'm still struggling a bit with changing up from the small ring to the big ring - it's a bit hit and miss. I'm not sure if it needs adjusting, or if I'm just not doing it right. I push the brake and gear lever inwards together and it starts to catch and make a noise, but sometimes it doesn't actually shift, just makes a noise like it's trying to shift, and I have to 'change down' (even though I haven't actually changed up yet) before I can have another go at changing up. Any advice? This is Shimano 105, by the way.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Saturday, 6 December 2008 12:03 (fifteen years ago) link
you need to adjust the limit screw on the front derailleur so that the cage swings out further by only a mm or so, id bet. even 105 should never be hit or miss these days. get it dialed and enjoy\
had another whiteout commute from the station today, (but with a crucial stop to by some marginal vino), with about 2 inches of wet snow on the path and roads. fenders started to pack up with snow it was sketchy fun.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 05:02 (fifteen years ago) link
"buy," "by," whatever im buzzin its snowin eh
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 05:04 (fifteen years ago) link
NBS, you have to push the level all the way across to move the front derailleur enough - it's a bigger push than to change down on the rear derailleur, anyway. Do you have small fingers? Also, do you have to trim the front derailleur when moving into the big ring - this is done by pressing the lever to change down but only about halfway so you get a "click" and any rubbing that was going on is no longer going on.
Nice bike, and nice reduction. Wiggle rather alarmingly says it's 13kg but I don't think it could be if it tried!
― Mark C, Tuesday, 9 December 2008 17:54 (fifteen years ago) link
NBS, you have to push the level all the way across to move the front derailleur enough - it's a bigger push than to change down on the rear derailleur, anyway.
Yeah, I gathered that, but I'm not sure when to stop pushing. I mean the change doesn't actually happen while you're pushing the levers, does it? It happens shortly after you release them (for the front mech, anyway). Or at least that's how it seems.
Also, do you have to trim the front derailleur when moving into the big ring - this is done by pressing the lever to change down but only about halfway so you get a "click" and any rubbing that was going on is no longer going on.
I think I encountered this, but had no idea what it was. On some of my failed attempts the sequence went like this: push both levers in, hear noise like front mech is trying to shift onto big chainring, keep riding a bit, no change happens, release levers, no change happens but noise continues, try to move both levers in again but they won't move, move just the gear lever (not the brake lever) about halfway in, hear a 'click', the noise disappears, try moving both levers inwards again, possibly have success or repeat this process again.
you need to adjust the limit screw on the front derailleur so that the cage swings out further by only a mm or so, id bet. even 105 should never be hit or miss these days. get it dialed and enjoy
I've just spent an hour slowly driving myself mad trying to sort this out with the bike on a hanger in a narrow stairway. I couldn't work out which limiter screw was the top and which was the bottom (there were no 'L's or 'H's to be seen) or which direction turning the screws would do what. I also decided that it was unhealthily noisy in certain gears at the back and after reading up on it thought I ought to play with the cable tension a bit. I've been up and down through all the gears and made a million tiny adjustments without any obvious improvements. In fact, I think I've probably made it worse: it won't stay on the 9th biggest sprocket now.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 23:27 (fifteen years ago) link
I ought to get a pro to look at it, I suppose, before I fuck it up. The thing is, you're supposed to get it serviced after 100 miles or so, and I've done about 20 on it, so I'm not sure whether to persevere for another 80 miles before taking it in.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 23:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Yesterday I saw a dude (in lycra) bite it on market street SF when his back tire slipped on trolley tracks. Looked like a brand new Bianchi Pista, he was clipped in so he had an extra grimace on his face when I saw him go down. Looked ouchey. I'm so careful on the tracks this time of year.
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 23:49 (fifteen years ago) link
oh yeah, brakeless and clipless... I still don't get that style.
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 9 December 2008 23:50 (fifteen years ago) link
it's fun
― Tanganyika laughter epidemic (gbx), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 01:22 (fifteen years ago) link
did you rock that when you were bkmsgr?
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 01:26 (fifteen years ago) link
y
― Tanganyika laughter epidemic (gbx), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 01:26 (fifteen years ago) link
not now, tho
u r crayZzz
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 01:40 (fifteen years ago) link
i think the pista justed bucked him off for wearing lycra
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 17:14 (fifteen years ago) link
hahhaha
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 17:56 (fifteen years ago) link
do you guys think it makes sense to upgrade the stock wheelset on my Raleigh Rush Hour (Freedom rims and no-name hubs) for a decent set of Mavic rims and Formula hubs? The stock wheels feel pretty darn heavy, but I have no basis for comparison. Good upgrade?
― Super Cub, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 18:03 (fifteen years ago) link
how do you use the bike? if u ride in the city youll get a chance to rebuild soon anyway ime.
if you went open pros 14/15 with alloy nips i'd wild ass guess you could save between a quarter and half a pound per wheel. (75g rim, 40g hub, 20g nips, 50g spokes) thats a big difference, but if ur carrying gear and lights and stout tires, you might never feel it.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 19:19 (fifteen years ago) link
I ride in the city - daily commute on crap roads. I run gatorskin tires, which are tough but pretty sporty (25's).
My frame is made from Reynolds 520, so it's hardly light, but I'm seriously surprised when I pick up my wheels. They seem like they weigh a ton. They don't get too badly out of true though and seem overall sturdy. I dunno, I'm probably just looking for a justification to make my bike "better."
― Super Cub, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 21:21 (fifteen years ago) link
I never replace anything till it breaks, which it always does soon enough.
― krakow, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 22:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Third time out in a month or so, which is pretty good going for me at the mo'. Only about three hours and ten miles but it was vair vair muddy. Good ol' familiar trails around Dorking and I was feeling pretty confident, so dealt with the mud and tree roots like a pro.
― sister s (ledge), Sunday, 14 December 2008 17:26 (fifteen years ago) link
its below 0 F now, and supposed to get to -12 F overnight. it was 55 deg yesterday tho and i got in a couple of hours at least.
ive never ridden below 0, and i dont plan to start.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Monday, 15 December 2008 04:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Damn. Where are you Hunt3r?
― krakow, Monday, 15 December 2008 08:00 (fifteen years ago) link
denver. hey at 6 am its MINUS 17 DEGREES. srsly ive never seen it this cold here. i dont think ive ever seen it below minus 7 or so.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Monday, 15 December 2008 13:46 (fifteen years ago) link