Getting back into cycling

[otto_kretschmer]

I retired and moved back to Arizona from a 18 year stint in California. I turned 56 not that long ago and I've been twiddling my thumbs since I moved back home. I started to go over to my sister's house every morning to walk the dog with her. It was a way to get out of bed and start my day since I no longer have to get up at 3:00 and do a 112 mile commute. We walk 2 1/2 miles and it definitely helps.

I was thinking about the El Tour de Tucson. Its a 100+ mile fund raising bike ride held in November. I did it once in college and once right after when I was working at the local bomb factory. The last time I rode it was at least 25 years ago.

I bought a Cannondale road bike around 1988 when I was in the Navy. I rode it on both Tours but it hanged on the wall of my garage the entire time I was in California. Sunday I pumped up the tires and rode it up and down my street. There is no way I can do a hundred miles on the bike the way it is now. The bike was too small for me when I bought it but when your young you can adapt to it. I will have to make some changes.

option 1: Tweak the Cannondale with mountain bike bars. Bring the bars back and up 4 inches and it probably will be comfortable enough to ride.

option 2: Build a "new" bike from a vintage steel frame and parts I can find on Craigslist.

option 3: Buy a new bike off the rack or maybe have one custom built.

I want to start riding over to my sister's for the dog walk. Its a 9 mile round trip to add to the 2 1/2 mile walk. There is lots of time to get ready for the Tour in November.

I decided to take option 1 and 2. I can't touch my 401k for another 3 1/2 years so I have to be careful with my spending so no new cars, motorcycles or Rolexs.

I was browsing Ebay and I found a vintage Andy Gilmour frame for sale. It is a 26" frame and thats about 66 cm. My Cannondale is 59 cm so the top tube of the Gilmour is about 2" taller than my Cannondale. My inseam is 84 cm so the Gilmour should fit me.

Andy Gilmour is a local bike builder. He moved to Arizona from Scotland, maybe in the late 60s and may still be building bikes. My sister used to race bikes in the early 70s and she had Gilmour build a bike for her. The Gilmour bike is going to be a bit of a Frankenbike. I'm just going to scrounge used parts off of Craigslist. It's a vintage frame so I don't think many new parts will work on it and there are lots of good vintage parts out there.

If the Gilmour bike doesn't work out I'll just hang it above my fireplace as art and I'll probably move on to option 3.

[look 171]

Why are people so hung up on steel frames? Oh, I like 'em too, 30 years ago. I just built a Colnago Master Light for my 15 year old out of my old parts bin so its period correct. You know how many times he has ridden that? Once. He has a brand new modern Trek full carbon with electronic 12 speed Ultegra (we built together) so when he can get up early enough on Sundays, that's the bike he wants to ride.

How tall are you and what size is that Cannondale? I raced on a CADD 3 Cannondale in the early -mid 90s. While it was a great bike for the typical US crits, it rattled my filling loose on the drawn out torture training rides. I didn't care then because I can take a lot of pain. Now, I rather not ride that for more then 50 miles. How much money do you want to spend? A typical modern bike with 10-11 speed mechanical will set you back 1500-2500 bucks? https://www.ebay.com/itm/314455091460?hash=item4936fbe904:g:zQoAAOSwT6FkANi c&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwJi9GFhmIqDJxz%2FnBbiezBPW0S1 9btEQjtSvL7GHYSXVe0BatafSkyMYzXnVjzswlTfP2BF1DM1TS 3sKxIISiNh6UCAYvn1L2TH0paY6X3Vf8O5ss2lF8WP%2FKT9L6 cQwf69Fb7fcXmx%2FlrVM8u1gYdUB0p0rC%2BBp3I6dw6gbzjS R3U7kMtLDh0ccsG%2BbbzJOICYIvjmsFDDblXsaDnrKBor0yt3 ocOr%2Bo1pspt0RuY8D93ETPOjl85xzSJ%2Fi3HusfQ%3D%3D% 7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8iH8pTdYQ
This thing will run circles around an old steel bike.

I have been slaking off this year due to rain and my lazy ass. I am bearly able to hang on in our local training rides of about 50 miles. In exactly 5 weeks, we registered for the Levi ride up in Santa Rosa. I am doing the 80+ miles with, I think, 4000' of climbing. Tell you the truth I don't want to know how many feet of climbing because I just want to get through it and go and enjoy dinner with a few guys.

If you are disciplined, and know how to train, you have plenty of time to get up to those miles. If you rode 3-4 days a week with plenty of rest time in between the big heavy days, you should be able to do 50 miles within a month. I am 56. Went out to beat myself up last Sunday did 5o hard miles. Flat going out, hills coming back with a bit of wind. I found my power off the saddle lacking so I have to work extra hard to keep up with the fooking 30 year olds that are kicking my teeth in on the fast steep hills.

I am sure your sister will be able to give you training tips.

Please spin easy gears, about 85 and work up to 95 rpm for the first 3 weeks. The power will come without much effort after that.

[rwest]

I’ll add that thinking mountain bike handle bars will make you more comfortable will probably make you less comfortable on a long ride.

They put your hands in an unnatural position- hands want to be in line with your arms, not turned 90 degrees like on a straight bar. I get hand pain in less than 20 miles on a straight bar. The curved bar gives you lots of options to move your hands around.

Good for you on taking on more exercise- you’ll live longer and those years will be much better.

[gchappel]

You could spend years building a custom bike. Most of the custom frame builders are a year or more behind. The new bikes are just better. Especially brakes. Just better.
Get a "relaxed" fit bike- less reach and a higher stack.
Go ride NOW, especially if you want to do 100 miles in 6 months.
Then take your time and build your custom piece of art.
Two different processes.
Enjoy the journey
gary

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by look 171

Why are people so hung up on steel frames? Oh, I like 'em too, 30 years ago.

Same reason we like old steel cars. But if you're racing, absolutely go plastic.

[jyl]

Post a pic or two of the Gilmour frame.

Consider building a retro-roadie, modern components on a vintage frame. It’s cool and you get a very usable bike with all the mod cons, plus if you get a carbon frame you can move over components.

I built a Look 753 frame with carbon Campagnolo (mix of Record, Chorus, etc), HED carbon tubular rims, carbon bars, etc. It’s light and groovy.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I'm as old school as it comes, but, go try some new bikes- Specialized roubaix, etc.

1. If the cannondale doesn't fit, it never will. (edit- I shouldn't have said that- with enough tinkering, it might- but consider new tires, tubes, bars, stem, stem adapter- you'll be in hundreds at least. I've got a whole drawer full of misfit stems, so it's easy to go grab one, if you are starting from scratch, it's more hit/miss.)
2. I've done some retro builds on vintage road bike frames, and they are fun, but not as fast or comfortable as some of the newer frame designs. The newer frame designs let you have your cake and eat it too. Faster, more responsive frames, AND more comfortable. Specially for a 100 miler. You need something you can get on and get out and ride on, not tinker with.

Even if you don't get a new bike, try some out. I generally try to avoid the 'next big thing(ie- gimmick)' in bikes, they are just two wheels and a frame after all, but, things really have come a long way. When I went from a 1980's viner to a 2000's fondriest, I was in heaven (and this being said from someone who still uses a flip phone. )

[zakthor]

Idea to get that old bike to fit:
- mtb bars on race bike really suck, too twitchy and dangerous. I’d did it and regretted it.
- you can get 46cm road bars, I found them very comfortable for my shoulders. I like the fizik cyrano bull. Retape with nice tape, the sram super tape is cheap and good.
- get a new style ‘ahead’ stem that normally bolts to fork steer tube, you can try a bunch of open face stems quickly
- to use ahead style stem you’ll need a quill to ahead adapter

With that quill adapter you can raise/lower bar height and quickly iterate stem height and reach. You’ll find you will want to get lower as your fitness improves.

I still have my 86 cannondale and while stiff I think it has a great ride.

Get wider bars and Ride that cannondale for a few months to regain cycling flexibility and fitness, at that point you’ll be ready to acknowledge a good bike fit.

[herr_oberst]

This sounds like a lot of fun, and it will help you transition now that you're retired. Your idea of commuting to the dog walk is a good one. Any base miles will help.

Keep us posted and we'll help you get this century under your belt!
Are you exceptionally tall? a 66 is a big bike. (A 59 is a big bike!)

The only advice I can add right now is that I don't recommend flat bars. At all. Not enough hand positions. Modern drop bars are well designed to give you many comfortable options while you put the miles in the bank.

If you want to have some fun, go to several bike shops and ride some bikes. You don't have to buy a new one but you might find one that has a comfortable fit that you can try and replicate with your new frame.

[herr_oberst]

It looks like a really nice route! Some climbing, and a downhill slide back to the finish!

https://eltourdetucson.org/el-tour-de-tucson/route/

[otto_kretschmer]

man... I'm feeling the love today, thanks guys

You guys convinced me to not go with option 1, so no mountain bike bars on the Cannondale. I'm 6'-4" so I need a big bike and I'm not going to find my bike on a show room floor. I made that mistake in 1988 with the Cannondale and I won't do that again. I remember while riding it I would switch positions often, on the hoods, then on the corners and then on the straight parts and then back to the hoods. I didn't use the drops that much.

The Gilmour frame should be on my porch by Saturday. It has a lot of "patina". If I can get new decals from Gilmour I'll paint it baby blue or orange and if I can swing it maybe I can get him to sign it again.

The Gilmour bike is a project and I have a rule of not starting a new project until I finish my current project and I'm breaking that rule now. My 76 911 is still on jackstands with the motor on the floor but I had to grab this Gilmour. I always wanted one of his bikes and if I waited it would be gone. I was worried it would be too big but I took a tape measure to my Cannondale to see where the top tube would be and I should fit it.

I never heard of gravel bikes until a couple days ago when I started researching a new bike. I really like the tires on those bikes but I don't know about the gearing. Tucson has lots of good bike paths and I have always rode on asphalt. I'm thinking a road bike with the wheels and tires of a gravel bike is the way to go.

New bike vs old bike. I have a 1975 BMW R90S and a 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14. I like riding both but for serious touring a new bike is better. A new 2023 BMW R1250RT is probably another leap.

I need to get going and walk that dog now..

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Food for thought.

You know, if you are open to gravel biking, go take a look. They are fun as heck, and if you get the 2x in the front, you will probably won't outrun your high end gearing in any meaningful way. Avoid the 1x setups. Good news- the 2x (what youd want) is usually on the lower / mid end $$$ anyway.

You can always go to narrower road tires than the stock 38-42c setup if you wanted too, then switch back to wider tires after your 100 miler.

Most road bikes have gone up in tire size so much 28c+ to the point where the line between a road bike and gravel bike can get blurred. A lot of times I have to get up really close to something to figure out what the heck it even is.

I haven't really touched my road bikes since going gravel bike. Most of the roads here are so bad, they are more gravel like anyways.

As for size, some of these brands do have 61,62, 64 size bikes---which most stores arent going to stock in house, but, I bet you could get one discounted mail order if you knew what you wanted. I see a lot of bike companies will have some online ordering and some sizzling great deal, BUT the only bikes left are the largest sizes.

You could also try what the local bike store has, and if you like the model, see if they can order the larger size for you.

You are a big dude. Unless you have some leg/torso discrepancy, it seems like one would be close.

Seriously- go ride some new stuff. Just to get a feel.


This is a random size chart I pulled off the net, ignore the circled items. Not every brand/model goes to 64, but there are a lot of 61's out there.

[herr_oberst]

This showed up in my feed today.

[jim72911t]

Just get a modern bike and be done with it already. Technology, fit, ride quality, etc has changed sooo much over the last 35 years. If you want to keep your vintage bike, cool, I have some too. They get ridden once a year just to remind me why they hang on the wall the other 364 days.

BTW, modern doesn’t exclude steel. All of my modern bikes are steel.

[otto_kretschmer]

In the engineering world we call this "analysis paralysis"

[MFAFF]

Originally Posted by otto_kretschmer

man... I'm feeling the love today, thanks guys

You guys convinced me to not go with option 1, so no mountain bike bars on the Cannondale. I'm 6'-4" so I need a big bike and I'm not going to find my bike on a show room floor. I made that mistake in 1988 with the Cannondale and I won't do that again. I remember while riding it I would switch positions often, on the hoods, then on the corners and then on the straight parts and then back to the hoods. I didn't use the drops that much.

The Gilmour frame should be on my porch by Saturday. It has a lot of "patina". If I can get new decals from Gilmour I'll paint it baby blue or orange and if I can swing it maybe I can get him to sign it again.

The Gilmour bike is a project and I have a rule of not starting a new project until I finish my current project and I'm breaking that rule now. My 76 911 is still on jackstands with the motor on the floor but I had to grab this Gilmour. I always wanted one of his bikes and if I waited it would be gone. I was worried it would be too big but I took a tape measure to my Cannondale to see where the top tube would be and I should fit it.

I never heard of gravel bikes until a couple days ago when I started researching a new bike. I really like the tires on those bikes but I don't know about the gearing. Tucson has lots of good bike paths and I have always rode on asphalt. I'm thinking a road bike with the wheels and tires of a gravel bike is the way to go.

New bike vs old bike. I have a 1975 BMW R90S and a 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14. I like riding both but for serious touring a new bike is better. A new 2023 BMW R1250RT is probably another leap.

I need to get going and walk that dog now..

Once you go gravel you never go back.....
Well maybe... Built up a Ti gravel frame last year ...and added a 50/34 Ultegra chainset driving an 11-32 cassette. Hydro disc braking. All running on 48mm deep carbon aero rims and WTB Exposure 36mm tires @45psi.

After more than 10,000 miles in 360 days I'm pretty sold on it. Mainly ridden on roads and country lanes and it is fast and comfortable. At 55 comfort is a priority and it's fast enough for most club rides and fun and games.

As comparators I have:
i) 2016 carbon race machine with Ultegra Di2.
ii) 1986 steel framed (531c) Raleigh Road Ace (ridden since new) with Shimano Golden Arrow group set.
iii) Alloy framed gravel machine 2014 with Shimano 105 groupset.

The ti gravel frame is faster than all of them.... the carbon machine might be far more responsive and accelerates better but it lacks the flow of the ti machine. The steel is just sublime... but slow comparatively slow... I have ridden it for decades so it feels good, but the data doesn't lie. It's slow and with a full race position no longer that comfortable for a longer ride. Love it though.

The more relaxed position of the gravel bike, even with a longer stem than would be expected is far more appropriate for the type of riding I want to do and the weekly 120km rides are pretty much always done on the ti machine. The carbon bike's slim outright speed advantage is insufficient to overcome the ti gravel machine's additional comfort.

[MFAFF]

And… frame from ebay… complete ultegra group set as well. Wheels are ex demo models … carbon seat post Facebbok market place.

New chain, tires, bar tape and saddle.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by jim72911t

Just get a modern bike and be done with it already. Technology, fit, ride quality, etc has changed sooo much over the last 35 years. If you want to keep your vintage bike, cool, I have some too. They get ridden once a year just to remind me why they hang on the wall the other 364 days.

BTW, modern doesn’t exclude steel. All of my modern bikes are steel.

I'm as old school as it gets, but Jim and Look are giving you the best advice you will get. I let my Iron Horse go for a Guru and also have a carbon fiber Felt. Major improvement over my Cilo and Iron Horse. You just can't beat the modern technology.

[otto_kretschmer]

here is the Cannondale, vintage mid 80s

[sc_rufctr]

I've been riding a bike *daily for decades.

Just go... Get started. Don't over think it and make it fun.

(*I wont set off if it's raining)