Bicycles
 

Cheesy,

Are you still enjoying your bicycles?

I've gotten back into them recently.

In my previous life I've raced, and done my share of long distance touring but got out of it for a while.

Tammy, whom I've been with for about a year now, is an avid bicyclist and we have gotten back into it. How much I missed it and enjoy it.

I recall you had a fun colection and rode often.

You're kidding, right? ;)

:hehe:

Been gone a while... ;-)

I was just kidding. :lol: Don't worry, he will soon reply. He is flying home right now. ;)

Tammy? Boy....I have been out of the loop! I do recall something about Harp Seals though, Doc.... ;-)

It's about time you two prodigal sons returned home. What took you so long? :wtf:

:hehe:

The harp seal therory remains.

If I ever want to get married (don't worry I won't) club me to death like a harp seal to show mercy for me.

Hey, Doc. Yep, still messing with bikes. Even riding them again, now. Losing thirty pounds makes a world of difference as far as knee pain goes. Even makes it easier to climb hills. Imagine that.

I picked one 'new to me' bike earlier this year. A 1974 Raleigh Gran Prix for $20.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps3dg6mkxe.jpg

But, these French Velo Solex mopeds have been both a hoot and a challenge.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psxt62hphp.jpg

Good to have you back, Doc.

I love the classic bikes. Being a classic myself, they mean something special to me. I remember when bikes like that were the coolest newest thing LOL. I am sure it did not look like that when you bought it for $20 though,?

You are quite right, Doc. The day I walked her home from the flea market.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psgzcyxok0.jpg

I even broke down and brought the Rivendell down from the rafters last month. I'd forgotten what a sweet ride it was.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/bikamper/riv.jpg

Is that a Brooks saddle? Did you restore it? Or did you just get lucky and it cleaned up so nice?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pshyt2syzs.jpg

My mountain bike is not nearly as interesting, but it does give me to the top of the trail. I really do enjoy bicycle riding.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps4ne27p5p.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psvmsqedi1.jpg


Not a great picture, but you get the idea. The road bike is a Trek 2120. A first-generation carbon fiber bike. Old, outdated, but functions beautifully, does everything that I need to, and it is a pleasure to ride. I can go for a long ride, come home exhausted, and look at it, and want to go for another ride. What more can a I expect from a bicycle LOL

Nice, Doc. Is the Motobecane from Bikes Direct?

The saddle that WAS on the Raleigh in the coming home pic is a rock hard Ideale 39. I have about half dozen and only one is comfortable. What is on there now is a cheap Velo that was reworked, padded, and recovered in calf skin to look like a Rolls saddle. The guy did a great job.

The saddle on the Riv is a Brooks B17. Best saddle out there.

It is indeed a beautiful saddle. Yes, good eye. My Motobecane is indeed from Bikes Direct. If a person knows a lot about bicycles, frames, components, geometry, and what his or her needs are, Bikes Direct is an excellent place to get a wonderful value on a bicycle. You also have to know how to do some basic assembly and tuning, but for a China Rider, that comes easy. Although it is a French name, that is The only part that is French. The bicycle, like most nowadays, is made in China. I guess that makes me an active China Rider! Excellent.

Just thought I'd bump this up. I know how much Doc likes snow.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psugkqq1c4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps3c74kp8w.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pstywlzhnp.jpg

Just an hour ride on Far A$$ Wally this morning. That's only six miles, feels like sixty. Fresh snow, along with more coming down and Canada Geese on the Fox River as far as the eye can see. Saw three Bald Eagles, too, but wasn't fast enough with the camera.

Still trying to find a good compromise with tire pressure. 15psi works good on pavement but beats the snot outta me on rough stuff. 10psi smooths out the rough stuff but makes the bike an anchor on the road. Such is life.

I have to admit the Fat Bike thing is interesting and thank you for taking the time to share the wonderful pictures!

When I was in Sun Valley, Spudland (SL) last month I considered renting fat tire bikes to ride on the snow but we went with cross country skis instead. It looks like a fun workout, with the potential for numerous funny harmless falls and slips.

I bet it's hard to dress for. Warm enough for the outside but cool enough you don't get wet with sweat.

As far as tires go you can try what the 4X4 guys do. Air down for the fluff and bring a pocket pump to air up for the pavement. A small pump weighs only ounces but will take a little time with high volume low pressure situations.

BTW I've purchased another Motobecane. This one is a 'Bucket List' bike. A high end carbon fiber full Ultegra long distance race bike. The sort of thing I've always wanted. I'll be competing in a Century in May. I've been training fairly hard for the past month. I've fairly old but strong enough, and the bike's technology makes up for some of my weaknesses.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psdbtwnfsb.jpg

Well, you put a Lifan motor in an old XR.... When's one going in here!? ;-)

I think I may be interested in more Centuries but I need to make sure I can live through this one first before I make more plans LOL!

Last Century I did was with a much younger body...

Hopefully you got that on the January cyber deal for cheap .

Good on ya, Doc.

I don't know how many I have done but I was 52 in 2008 when I did my last. That was one year after getting clobbered. Since then, though I still have the ability, I just don't have the desire. I would rather stop and smell the roses(aka stop and bend an elbow:D).

That said, make sure the bike fits you 'perfectly'. Same with the shoes if they are cleats. Probably more so with the shoes. It would suck to drop at 90 miles with knee pain. Take your time, better to finish able to drive home than to have your tongue flapping in your spokes. Also, invest in a little green can of Bag Balm. Your butt will thank you.:)

Doc's last Century was last Century.

Alan, that is so funny. That is literally and figuratively true! I rode another 30 mile training ride tonight, granted not a giant deal, but there's 1000 foot climb involved. I felt great :-) Cheesy, thank you so much for the excellent advice. I will probably be picking your brain more as the event gets closer. Having all of you guys, my friends, know my plans, will help keep me from backing out LOL

You know where to find me.;)

I was looking back at your pics. The Rivendell in particular is very interesting. What kind of gearing (if any) does ity have? I almost looks like there is some sort of a weird derraileur but the rest of the drivetrain looks like a single speed...

It has a Sram 7 speed gear hub, Doc. Gear range is roughly 25/85 inches. Because the frame has vertical dropouts I needed to use a Surly Singlator, the weird derailleur thingy, to get the chain right. Without it, the chain is too loose or too tight.

650B wheels, drum brakes front and rear, front dynohub, and very, very comfortable.

What an exotic bicycle. It really looks cool. So it shifts something like the way in old Raleigh three speed would? Thumb lever or something? All internal?

Thanks, Doc. And yes, all internal. It uses a twist shifter mounted on the end of the right side handlebar. The owner of the bike shop who built the bike, and I, had a heck of time figuring how to mount a twist shifter on a drop bar, but we did it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/rivshift.jpg

It is the only bike I own that I paid someone to build, which felt strange. Coming up with, and machining the adapter for the shifter was my only contribution to the build. Well that, and a mountain of cash.:D

The mountain of cash is a key contribution.

I'll also hire the LBS for stuff I can't do, or can't do well. Wheelbuilding mostly. Also servicing/bleeding hydraulic disc brakes. Its done with different tools and materials than cars and motorcycles. I sometimes feel bad I don't use the LBS's more but its faster for me to fix most things myself. Lord knows I would have no idea how to build the wheel and hub on your bike in particular. God only knows how many little bits are INSIDE the hub!

I was a pretty good bicycle mechanic in years gone by, but with the uber-modern bikes much is different. Not really better or worse, just different.

I greatly prefer the clean thin athletic looks of the classics, but I can't argue with the performance advantages of my carbon fiber monocoque bike.

My LBS is where I usually stop for a cup of coffee and gossip. :)

The last time I had anything in for work was that Sram 7 hub. Long story, but I ended up fixing that myself. Nothing against the shop, they couldn't get support from Sram for the issue I was having. The Sram rep and I had a 'heated' discussion about what I felt was a design flaw(read:cost saving measure). The rep went as far as telling the shop owner he was done talking to me but he would talk to the shop guy that worked on gear hubs. The shop owner pointed at me and told the guy to keep talking. :lol:

Anyway, proved my point at our next meeting with my $0.50 repair. Sram rep won't talk to me anymore but if I need any parts they're at cost.:tup:

I never left bicycles. I have owned and built several. I am now down to my trusty KHS softail (pictured) and my ebike. I did one MS150 but I don't think there is another 150 in me (unless I try a recumbent. Hmmmmm)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...er/KHS0245.jpg

Nice ride.

Great bike, Wheelbender. Nice pic too!

I like your sig:

"It's not WHAT you ride; it's THAT you ride"

I agree with that.

My training for the Century is going well. Yesterday I rode 40 miles at 15 MPH average (moving; my pee/rest stops added up to about another 10 minutes) and I did fine. The total climbing ws 2,200 feet so no slouching there.

I did luck out on one variable. The headwind was light when I headed up into the hills, but picked up on the return so I had a tailwind part of the return and downhill part of the loop. That inflated my speed a little but even so I think I did OK. At least I did not get passed by any similar geriatric physicians ;-)

I also discovered that when you are soaked with sweat from a 1,100' climb and then descent 700' with a tailwind on an early Spring day in the Northwest you really freeze your bells off...

One word. Layers.
Or two words. Wind pants.

I was wearing insulated tights (Do these tights make my arse look fat ;-), and I did have 3 thin layers on top. The top layer I took off for the climb. I should have removed the top 2 layers and climbed in one so only that layer would have been wet. also I could have made that layer my outside or middle layer so the wet would not be against my skin... warmer gloves +/- hand warmer packets would have been nice.

I am still learning. It was not that cold. Upper 50's dropping to about 50 on the return part of the loop, but I was pretty uncomfortable at the end.

As my endurance began to fall and it became more difficult to get comfortable on a bicycle. That lead me to doing more bike building than riding.
I built this Mongoose cruiser from a frame only.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...der/goose2.jpg
I later added a redneck engineered stick shift.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...stik467all.jpg

Love it.:tup:

Went to a local monthly flea market today and scored a set of British Karrimore front panniers with the rack.:D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psz58zdemy.jpg

Now, which British built bike in the stable gets it?:hmm:

Please post a picture of your ebike, I've got a Bafang BBS01 crank motor that I originally fitted on my son's bike, but recently moved to a Dawes (Dahon licensed) folding bike, for my own use.

Realizing that I can't legally ride dirt anywhere with a motorcycle, I'm now playing with buying a 1000W BBS02 crank motor and a mountain bike, to make an electric dirt bike, which I can ride anywhere.

Factoring in the cost of batteries, a Chinese dirt bike would be much cheaper.