Bicycles

[tpelle]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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.

I was on an extended out-of-town assignment about 10 or 11 years ago out in California east of LA in the Moreno Valley area - actually on what used to be Lucille Ball's horse ranch.


Anyway, the company rented an apartment for me that was only a couple of miles from the job site, so I purchased a Bikes Direct Motobecane road bike. Steel frame. Very retro. Had frame-mounted shifters and the whole deal, but had mountain-bike gearing, to be delivered to me out there. I carried a Brooks B17 out there in my luggage because, once broken in, there IS NO more comfortable saddle. Rode it a lot in the evenings and on Sundays.






My original intent was, when I was finished with the job, that I would just find somebody to give it to out there (minus the Brooks, of course). But I liked it so well that I packed it up and shipped it back home. I rode it a lot back here, but then stopped for a while. Last summer I got it back out and tuned it up, then took it out to the multi-use trail that I had been riding on, but the black top was so frost-heaved and broken up that I put it away.


I used to ride on the side roads near my house, but the distracted drivers have gotten so bad that it has scared me off.


But the Motobecane is still out in my garage, along with my old Trek MTB and my Surly Long Haul Trucker.

[cheesy]

Just thought I'd bump this up. I know how much Doc likes snow.




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.

[FastDoc]

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.

[FastDoc]

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.

[2LZ]

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

[FastDoc]

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...

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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...

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).

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.

[katoranger]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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...

Doc's last Century was last Century.

[Bruce's]

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

[FastDoc]

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

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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.

[FastDoc]

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...

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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.

[FastDoc]

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?

[cheesy]

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.


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.