The biking thread

[W3H5]

That's real nice. I assume you just ordered the same size as the current frame you have?

I just, minutes ago, received word that my bike has only just left Chongqing province and is not even out of China yet. Looks like I may be waiting another week before I get out for a ride. :sad:

 

[Shaun]

Yep same size, dimensions are almost identical with the top tube being exactly the same.

Sucks about your bike, how are the injuries going? Will you be able to ride ok now?

 

[W3H5]

I've been doing some soft exercises; 5km walks and I bought a jump rope. So far it seems I'm pretty well recovered. I'd say the knee is at 90% still but I've always had some issues with both of my knees.

My main hurdle will be getting fit again. My muscles may not have lost too much power but I know my lungs and heart will need a gradual increase in fitness because I've been so inactive for a long time. I've cut down to light cigarettes too so I'm hoping that might help a tad.

 

[phillgt2002]

Nvm this post!

 

[W3H5]

Had no idea Ducati made bicycles. Just spotted this while out and about.

 

[Shaun]

So, the new frame turned up yesterday.


Parts stripped off other bike and getting ready to start.

Starting to look like a bike.

And it's complete.

A quick video after quickly dialing in the gears to make sure it's at least rideable.
Once the cables have stretched I'll give it a final tune for some crisper shifting.



Putting it together all went smoothly albeit a long process due to having to do other things in-between building it. The only concerning part was the very first process of belting out the original bottom bracket bearings with a hammer and a punch. Each blow was met with a cringe on my behalf listening carefully for any cracking sounds, all was good though and really I shouldn't have worried as that's a normal process anyway and carbon fiber is strong and flexible to an extent.

Knocking in the new ceramic bottom bearing was less stressful but still required care as the last thing I wanted was to damage the bearing as it wasn't cheap. Oh does it turn smoothly way better than the Shimano bottom bracket bearings, with the chain off spinning the cranks sees them turn by themselves for a decent time once you let go of the pedal.

So far very happy with it but I haven't had the chance for a decent ride yet (that should come tomorrow), just took it for a quick spin around the block to calibrate the Garmin on it.
I haven't cut the fork yet as I'll try the stem in various positions with spacers before deciding if it needs cut as once done it's irreversible.

The seat looks a bit out of place with the red but unless one the same but in black and white pops up cheap it's staying as I'm quite fond of it now.

Also must resist.
Another day maybe come tax time.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Three bikes, one rider.....you has a problem.

Thanks for the effort gone to with the pics, it certainly helps us share the experience .

Also, what do you cut the forks with?!

Although the latte earns you minus marks. /cap

 

[W3H5]

Looking good, Shaun. The red on the seat won't be very noticeable once your on it.

How does the Garmin compare to a phone app?

 

[Shaun]

Three bikes, one rider.....you has a problem.

But but they're all needed, nah probably flog off the frame I just stripped if I can get an ok price for it.

Thanks for the effort gone to with the pics, it certainly helps us share the experience .

No problemo 👍.

Also, what do you cut the forks with?!

Just a hacksaw with a fine blade 32T/inch. Trick is though getting is perfectly square. If I decide it needs to be cut I'll more than likely get one of the machinists at work make a jig for me so no mishaps can be had.
When I mean cut it's the tube above the frame that is at the end of the forks, if you look at the pics you can see the spacers under the stem. While testing it the spacers can also be put above the stem so it can still be clamped down but I don't like the look of that if it's going to be permanent.

Although the latte earns you minus marks. /cap

Looking good, Shaun. The red on the seat won't be very noticeable once your on it.

Are you saying I've got a big arse? .
Nah I was actually thinking the exact same as you.

How does the Garmin compare to a phone app?

Does the same sort of thing except you can see it while riding making it much better.
The screens can be customisable with heaps of variables, my normal screen has speed, cadence, ave speed and ave cadence. Other screens show me elevation, gradient, lap time, the list goes on. It's a great little device really.
Once done I plug it into my PC, open Strava and it uploads all the info to Strava.

Incidentally, I had a spare hour and even though the wind was up I couldn't help myself and went for a quick ride.
I headed up the only hill in the area and I'm happy to admit I was having one of those days when you just feel crap on the bike, nothing in the legs.
Upon checking Strava when getting home turns out I bettered my best time for the climb in parts and was just shy of my best time for the decent. Considering on the way down I was extremely cautious just in-case I forgot to tighten something up I was pretty happy with that.
Bike seems really nice and stable so quite happy so far.

 

[W3H5]

Considering on the way down I was extremely cautious just in-case I forgot to tighten something up I was pretty happy with that.

This gets me often. I'll be riding along, come to a step decent and think, "hang on, did I fasten these bars on tight enough" and then imaging bombing down a hill and the bars coming off in my hands. It's funny to imagine but scary at the time.

 

[alpacaflip]

Wish I could close the road; anyway here is a clip from a road ride from about a week ago.

 

[W3H5]

That road looks great, very little traffic. Seems you was getting some good speed along there.

 

[GT5Redsucker23]

So, the new frame turned up yesterday.


Parts stripped off other bike and getting ready to start.

View attachment 146552

Starting to look like a bike.

View attachment 146553
And it's complete.

View attachment 146559

View attachment 146555

View attachment 146571

View attachment 146557

View attachment 146558

A quick video after quickly dialing in the gears to make sure it's at least rideable.
Once the cables have stretched I'll give it a final tune for some crisper shifting.



Putting it together all went smoothly albeit a long process due to having to do other things in-between building it. The only concerning part was the very first process of belting out the original bottom bracket bearings with a hammer and a punch. Each blow was met with a cringe on my behalf listening carefully for any cracking sounds, all was good though and really I shouldn't have worried as that's a normal process anyway and carbon fiber is strong and flexible to an extent.

Knocking in the new ceramic bottom bearing was less stressful but still required care as the last thing I wanted was to damage the bearing as it wasn't cheap. Oh does it turn smoothly way better than the Shimano bottom bracket bearings, with the chain off spinning the cranks sees them turn by themselves for a decent time once you let go of the pedal.

So far very happy with it but I haven't had the chance for a decent ride yet (that should come tomorrow), just took it for a quick spin around the block to calibrate the Garmin on it.
I haven't cut the fork yet as I'll try the stem in various positions with spacers before deciding if it needs cut as once done it's irreversible.

The seat looks a bit out of place with the red but unless one the same but in black and white pops up cheap it's staying as I'm quite fond of it now.

Also must resist.
Another day maybe come tax time.

Nice bike! Is it an Izalco?

 

[Shaun]

Nice bike! Is it an Izalco?

Yeah mate, Izalco Pro.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Can anyone here recommend a mountain bike that is great for a beginner, not too big (I'm 5'6, 126lbs) and isn't going to break the bank? Say, under $400?

Edit: Scrap that, just realized how much these things are.

 

[phillgt2002]

Can anyone here recommend a mountain bike that is great for a beginner, not too big (I'm 5'6, 126lbs) and isn't going to break the bank? Say, under $400?

Edit: Scrap that, just realized how much these things are.

Your wallet will be blown into oblivion if you want a good mountain bike.

Anywhoo.

I need a new saddle, rims, and tires. Ugh. I just did a pizza run for my parents and it cost $50, I was thinking about how all of this money we spend on takeout could go toward useful things like my addiction. I brought the Guerciotti
out after a while and it rides good, though I may need to replace a tire since the stem is leaking air for some reason.. I just don't want it to get stolen because it is really nice and pretty hard to find, I guess the only thing I can do is stay with it at all times and not risk locking it up somewhere. Looks like I'll be commuting exclusively on the Schwinn for now, can't wait for that saddle though, the rims and tires can wait for a bit.

(note it's kind of dirty due to slight mud on the trail I take to class)

something funny I saw over at GAF.

 

[W3H5]

That's hilarious!

 

[CodeRedR51]

Your wallet will be blown into oblivion if you want a good mountain bike.

Yeah, can't do that, car project is more important. Found some OK Walmart specials for $250-300 which should work just fine for me.

 

[W3H5]

You could probably pick up a second hand bike for a reasonable price. People sell for all kinds of reasons and many of the bikes I've looked at second hand recently have been in pretty good condition for a good price. You may be able to pick up a better-than-standard bike for the price of a new one at Walmart.

 

[Andrew R]

Hey guys, sorry if this gets covered often, it's just hard sifting through 90 pages. I'm looking at getting a very basic entry level (so entry level I'm not even sure what it's called )....road bike? Cyclist bike?

A friend of mine just got an Azzuri Voltri and I'd like to get something around the same level so we can go riding, only problem is I'm after a second hand bike in the 200-250 dollar region (first year apprentice, just don't have spare money for much better). It obviously might be harder for you guys to point me in the right direction as I'm in Australia so prices/availability is probably very different but I was looking at things like;

Trek road bike on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1045119365

Or even this;

Bicycle: Road Bike: Pursuit on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1045406537

Would attempt a bit of a low ball offer on this;

Sell Trek alpha 1.5 road bike on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1044068691

Am I heading in the right direction at all? Or do you guys have a particular website I should use for some research?

Thanks guys, once again, sorry if it's a painful question.

 

[Shaun]

@Andrew R I'll have a bit of a look around for you when I get the chance (heading out on my bike now), do you know what size you need?
Also where in Aus are you? It helps for Gumtree and eBay.

 

[Andrew R]

@Andrew R I'll have a bit of a look around for you when I get the chance (heading out on my bike now), do you know what size you need?
Also where in Aus are you? It helps for Gumtree and eBay.

Thanks a lot mate! I'm on the Gold Coast. No idea what size I need though I'm 180cm tall. I noticed most things seem to be 57's, figured average size for me being an average height.

I've been reading a few reviews on Trek's and they seem to be ok for entry level riders. I definitely don't plan to get serious with it, just some fitness and a better way to spend the weekend than on the couch.

 

[Emptyone]

57/58 is right for a 6ft guy, same as me ish. One thing to bear in mind is there is nothing like trying a bike and feeling it click with you. If you find something online, check it out in the local bike shop first for sure.

 

[W3H5]

You chaps watch cycling film documentaries?

I've been keen on them for the last few years but think I've seen nearly everything that interests me. I'm not huge on watching films about the actual bike nor so much the professional side of things like tour riding and competitions. I prefer to watch about the culture and the people, films that focus on what the riders can do with a bike rather than the technical specs of the actual bike.

So far, like I said, I've seen a lot and I'm looking for recommendations for films I might have missed. To explain the type I like here are my top few in no particular order: Pedal, B.I.K.E, Lifecycles, Where The Trail Ends, Line of Sight.... Mainly documentaries and pretty much all at the extreme end of the cycling spectrum.

Suggestions appreciated.

EDIT: Currently watching Ride the Divide. 👍

 

[Andrew R]

I'm still digging around for something suitable. Do you guys have opinions on Reids vs Treks?

There's a couple of Reid Condor's for around the 200 mark or a Reid Osprey for 220ish.

As far as Trek goes there's still just the two I previously posted. Haven't found a lot of info on the USPS stickered one while the 1.5 seems like a great bike but may be above my price range.

 

[Shaun]

@AndrewR
I've been meaning to get back to you mate.
I had a quick look and in your area the ones you had listed were most of what was in your range.

As for Reid v Trek. Reid is a home brand type name which normally means they are reasonably specced for the same price compared to a "brand" name. Having said that for what you are going to do with it they are fine. They just don't have any cafe cred if you get my meaning, not that that's important by the way.

Oh yeah for your height something in the 56-58 range will be OK. Better to ere on the lower side of caution if you have to though because you can make a small bike bigger but not a big bike smaller.

 

[Andrew R]

Haha, cafe cred definitely doesn't factor into my decision making but thanks for the tip!

I guess I'll just see what's around when I can afford it and see how I go, can always upgrade later on. I'll aim for the Trek anyway.

Thanks heaps for your help @Shaun! Much appreciated.

 

[DustDriver]

Can anyone here recommend a mountain bike that is great for a beginner, not too big (I'm 5'6, 126lbs) and isn't going to break the bank? Say, under $400?

Edit: Scrap that, just realized how much these things are.

I bought my MTB last year for €800 and have only had a flat tire (cost of mtb is not going to change that)
It was a model from the previous year, so saved €200.

You can get cheaper bikes, but if you want decent specs, that's the minimum price point to go for.
And this is for hard tail crosscountry style MTBs. If you want a downhill bike, the minimum price is over twice that.

 

[Shaun]

So I've been spannering in the garage in my spare time over the last two nights.

Spot the differences?
That's it done,finished,no more. Well apart from maybe the bar tape as that was all I could get my hands on in a hurry (forgot to order some) and it doesn't feel very good. Only a ride will tell, speaking of which roll on the weekend.

@WH3S do you have any more of a list of films to watch? I'll track down the ones you've mentioned, just wondering if you know of any more?

 

[W3H5]

That bike is looking mighty fine!

I've noticed there are a few road racing moive/documentaries that people are saying are a good watch. Things like The Flying Scotsman and the Race America documentary, but I haven't seen them, not really my cup of tea.

The web has a few more that a Google search should bring up pretty easily, that's how I found the one's I've watched, just by browsing really.