Ultimate Bike Thread....

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by mudman

I rode a 61cm Specialized Allez the other day and it felt too small. I've got both long arms and legs.
I'm a MTB guy trying to get into road.

The Cannonwhale is not the bike for you.

Too old, too vintage, worth more as a classic collectable than a usable daily driver. (But it looks like a nice low mileage example. The bike didn't fit the owner, so I suspect he didn't ride much after the 'new' wore off for him.)

Look for something newer, with brifters, a cassette with at least 9 speeds, lightweight low spoke count 700c wheels. You'll be able to adapt the fit a lot easier, with a larger array of bars and stems available to you. Because you're apparently long-limbed, it's gonna take some work to get the bike to fit you well. I'm in the same boat.

Start searching bikes like this. This is a 58, so it'll probably be a little small, but it's a place to start looking:


https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/bik/5720379844.html

[herr_oberst]

Time to fatten up the herd. I was jealous watching all my pals go off road on their fancy-shmancy gravel bikes with their fancy-shmancy tubeless tires and their oh, so fancy drop bars...

Behold, the 2015 Kona Rove, 59cm.

It's a smidgen larger than ideal, but I can help that with a straight post and a slightly smaller stem. It's also kinda heavy, but I like the fact that it's adaptable - slap on some racks and bags and I'm bikepacking! Strip it down and I'm out gravel-grinding (and singletrackin' if it's not too technical - it has a pretty impressive standover height!)

It's very comfortable with that long head tube forcing a more upright position....

I'll give it a new crank and tires and some other little upgrades, but I took it out for a 30-mile spin last week and had a great time, plus I was able to keep up with the gang just fine. It's got a 32 - 36 granny, so I'm not afraid of big, steep climbs, and the long wheelbase had me feeling comfy on 40mph pavement descents...

(and, no, I will not nickname it "turdblossom' thank you very much!)

[berettafan]

ordered a new bike this weekend. should be in later this week. it's not 'ultimate' by most definitions but I am way stoked about it.

Roubaix Sport with 105. almost bought a di2 model but didn't like the paint scheme on the one the shop had and there were no others available at the sale price to order. Test rode a 105 bike to see how the new 105 shifts and was very impressed with it so i'm saving $500 and putting that towards a wheelset and few other items.

garage door pic will be posted after I pick it up.

Gotta say the Roubaix really does smooth the road out. I rode a Tarmac and the difference was remarkable. Tarmac didn't really feel faster but definitely felt jittery. zero jitter on the Roubaix. Can not wait to get a nice long ride in on this bike.

[wayner]

New bikes are fun!
The graphics under the seat are a nice touch.

[sc_rufctr]

[Joe Bob]

No pedals and the seat tube got bent.....nice looking ride. What Gruppo?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by berettafan

ordered a new bike this weekend. should be in later this week. it's not 'ultimate' by most definitions but I am way stoked about it.

Roubaix Sport with 105. almost bought a di2 model but didn't like the paint scheme on the one the shop had and there were no others available at the sale price to order. Test rode a 105 bike to see how the new 105 shifts and was very impressed with it so i'm saving $500 and putting that towards a wheelset and few other items.

garage door pic will be posted after I pick it up.

Gotta say the Roubaix really does smooth the road out. I rode a Tarmac and the difference was remarkable. Tarmac didn't really feel faster but definitely felt jittery. zero jitter on the Roubaix. Can not wait to get a nice long ride in on this bike.

Two thumbs up! Spesh is definitely at the top of their game right now.....and I, for one, am glad to see the trend away from the murdered out black framed bikes....

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

No pedals and the seat tube got bent.....nice looking ride. What Gruppo?

All Dur-Ace.

[Joe Bob]

MUCH better than 105. Ride the piss out of it!

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by berettafan

ordered a new bike this weekend. should be in later this week. it's not 'ultimate' by most definitions but I am way stoked about it.

Roubaix Sport with 105. almost bought a di2 model but didn't like the paint scheme on the one the shop had and there were no others available at the sale price to order. Test rode a 105 bike to see how the new 105 shifts and was very impressed with it so i'm saving $500 and putting that towards a wheelset and few other items.

garage door pic will be posted after I pick it up.

Gotta say the Roubaix really does smooth the road out. I rode a Tarmac and the difference was remarkable. Tarmac didn't really feel faster but definitely felt jittery. zero jitter on the Roubaix. Can not wait to get a nice long ride in on this bike.

Nice bike. Did the dealer tell you about the all new Roubaix due out on 9/9?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

murdered out black framed bikes....

Funny. I have no problem with that, but can't stand the graphics. I just don't understand the graphics. A single color would be beautiful. But then, I am a boring guy

[intakexhaust]

Commentary on that Dura Ace. Did you fellows watch the Olympic mens road race?

Must have been at least 20 competitors having chains dropped while over the rough stuff. Something surely poor in their design. Heartening for those counting on such a significant one day out of four years event. No make up days like the Giro or TdF.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Nice bike. Did the dealer tell you about the all new Roubaix due out on 9/9?

No but I saw talk of it online. Looks like possibly some suspension mech in the head tube and expansion of disc models. In both cases i'd pay more to NOT have them. I've read some older talk when the SL4 was introduced about it being stiffer than the prior model which suits me fine.

The Roubaix as it is now just rides so ridiculously smooth I can't see any improvement being worth while unless it's weight or stiffness. Main concern with the new bike is getting the right position so i can get to a point where i'm doing a half dozen century rides each year.

Ordered a wheelset along with 105 brakes and pedals yesterday. Going with a budget minded fat ass build of Velocity Deep V/105 hubs 36 spokes. I want to be worry free 30 miles from home. Don't know if the 20/24 axis elite wheels will have any value to others new but at my weight it's a matter of when not if they give up.


For comparison sake I've been riding a 2011 Trek 1.1 all stock other than GP4000 25mm tires (what a difference they make!). I think it's a bit stretched out vs the Roubaix and definitely not as smooth. Not going to sell it right away as I may want to keep it for work commuting. I put a rack and pannier set on it this past year and enjoy being able to bring a change of clothes to the office with me.

[Racerbvd]

[Racerbvd]

Anyone tried out the wireless Shram shifters?

[wayner]

Playing around with yellow tape.

Going to try satin black instead just on this area. (I'd really like to get rid of the white scallops but don't want to mismatch the Celest, or paint any more carbon than I have to).

Thoughts?


(oh, and ya, I always thought that I would like to have a 928 but not quite what I was originally thinking)

[wayner]

whoah!

[mudman]

https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/5727443207.html

Picking this up tomorrow for a song, and I can't sing for crap.
Worried that it will be too small for me but for the price it's worth the gamble.
Plus it's near a site I'll be working at tomorrow.

[Joe Bob]

Post and pics be kaput....post pics or it didn't happen.

[mudman]

2007 Giant OCR3. Needed to scratch an itch, hoping this will make me itch more.

Trying to do photos but pelican says my 721kb photo is too big. WTF?