Ultimate Bike Thread.... - Page 237

herr_oberst · 07-11-2023, 08:13 AM

You may change your tune about carbon bikes after a few miles on the Tarmac. And Dura-Ace brakes are fine; I ride with people who have no interest in discs, and have had to to go to brands like Wilier to find a rim brake carbon bike that suits their needs. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Wilier makes beautiful bikes.

The only prob with the Tarmac shown on the stand is it was built pre-fat tires, so most likely 25 is as plump as you can go.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 07-11-2023, 09:08 AM

Tarmacs are cool bikes.
Here's mine- (I cracked a white Fondriest frame so I swapped my yellow parts to the black/red frame and it looks like Mcdonalds ketchup and mustard) hence the colors-

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

^^^ There's no question that carbon bikes like this are head and shoulders above any classic steel bike in performance. For me, I like riding and owning classic steel bikes just like a classic car. I'm not racing so going faster means nothing.

As far as the rim brakes, I don't have a problem with them at all - it just seems like the market is going to have a problem with them and I'm trying to come up with a value. I'm seeing various rim-brake Tarmacs not selling at $750 asking! If the value is low enough, it may wind up in my garage.

ALSO: are there sizes on these things?? I think the newer ones are sized, but I see no markings whatsoever on this one. And the seat post has a huge range. The guy who rode this was probably 6'1". I'm 5'9" and easily adjusted the seat post within the hash marks and can easily standover it.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 07-11-2023, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I'm trying to come up with a value. I'm seeing various rim-brake Tarmacs not selling at $750 asking! If the value is low enough, it may wind up in my garage.

Good luck. It's a bad time to sell bikes. I'm seeing a lot of used stuff across the board just sitting. Some of my used stuff would go so cheap, it's not even worth posting.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

^^^ that's what it's starting to look like. Lots of really nice bikes sitting on eBay for cheap and not selling

Also, I wonder if Specialized took down their archive completely? They still refer to it and it sounds like it was comprehensive but I can't find a way to access it. They say to measure the head tube and then look at the geometry chart to determine frame size, but you need to know the year of the bike to find the chart ... the serial number does not contain year or size info.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 07-11-2023, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

^^^ that's what it's starting to look like. Lots of really nice bikes sitting on eBay for cheap and not selling

Also, I wonder if Specialized took down their archive completely? They still refer to it and it sounds like it was comprehensive but I can't find a way to access it. They say to measure the head tube and then look at the geometry chart to determine frame size, but you need to know the year of the bike to find the chart ... the serial number does not contain year or size info.

Yeah, that's weird. All mine have a size posted. My BIL has a roubaix very similar to yours and his is marked 58, but his has a longer headtube. Mine is a 54. I'd guess you have a 56, but hard to tell from the pic angle.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

It's a 2007 according to a couple of pics I've been able to find. Dura-Ace RD-7800 was 2004-2008 so that makes sense. Top tube is slightly too long for me but a shorter stem would pretty much solve that if I were to keep it. It probably is a 56 or so (I ride 52cm). I'd never come close to standing over a 56cm classic frame and the saddle would need to be slammed all the way down, but this one I can because of the sloping top tube.

Better pic with saddle adjusted for me:

herr_oberst · 07-11-2023, 11:58 AM

Tarmacs are cool. This is a "4" , probably MY2014. (Yeah, this pic is an ego stroke. This is a fun bike, even though it's now obsolete.)

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

^^^ Very nice

Found a 2007 catalog with specs and geometry chart - it's a 56cm. WAY too big for me in terms of classic steel frames. But. I don't fully understand modern geometry on these carbon frames. Just taking some basic measurements and comparing to my steel LeMond they are quite similar except the top tube is 1.25" longer on the Tarmac. I can at least make for a comfortable reach with a shorter stem. I didn't compare anything with seat and head angles but I can easily ride it. So what is the logic behind the modern race bike with the visually small frame and the extremely long seat post exposed??

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Hmmm, the Ultegra crank is a newer vintage and replaced something else. The front derailleur is a Dura-Ace Triple (weird, but should still work with a double). Problem is there is not enough travel in the derailleur to get on the big ring. So I'm thinking the offset on the BB is wrong (crank out too far, looks OK visually) or the crank is not compatible with the drivetrain. Maybe it originally had a triple and the BB was spec'd for that? Sooo many drivetrain component variations these days

look 171 · 07-11-2023, 03:21 PM

That's a 10 speed Ultegra crank. I am not sure if there's that much adjustment on the BB on those type of one piece cranks.

Modern bikes with slopping top tubes is a much easier fit then traditional or old fashion frames. Still I think the slop top frames are ugly as heck.

A general rule of thumb is if top tube fits, then everything else will fall into place. Play with the seat post height but not too much with a stem, 30 mm max, IMO.

look 171 · 07-11-2023, 03:23 PM

Manually push the front derailleur to see if it reaches the big ring. I know you already know this but is the set screw backed out to max?

sc_rufctr · 07-11-2023, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Tarmacs are cool bikes.
Here's mine- (I cracked a white Fondriest frame so I swapped my yellow parts to the black/red frame and it looks like Mcdonalds ketchup and mustard) hence the colors-

Cool bike!

The additional bits that come with a set of "Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra Wheels" (carbon).

"A" · "A"'s Garage

My trusty road bike since 2004, has over 36k miles on it, still the same magic carpet ride as the day I got it.
Have had many carbon, steel, aluminum frames since, but always gone back to ti.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Yes, screw is backed out, cable is undone. Manually pulling cage out, it is short.

Can someone take a look at their Tarmac and check this dimension - chainstay to large chainring. I know, there's going to be variables and this one has the frame protector that adds 2-3MM. I'm measuring 12.5mm from the frame protector to the chainring center. Just trying to ballpark it right now. The derailleur travel is at least 7-8mm short. Thanks.

herr_oberst · 07-11-2023, 05:35 PM

I've got about 13 on mine, same on my winter bike (Kona Zing Deluxe).

My steel gravel bike with a 105 has 9. (Kona Rove)

Are you positive you're completely out of derailleur adjustment? Is something maybe blocking it? Try removing the cable and just checking the mech. by hand?

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

OK, so offset appears OK. Thanks! Cable is completely disconnected and adj screw is backed all the way out. I'm going to have to remove the derailleur and see if something is blocking it internally. Very strange.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

On a completely different note, I pulled this 3-spd Huffy out of the trash 2 weeks ago and made a few modifications

My ride around the 'hood bike. The Rattocampionissimo - roughly Rat Champion Supreme in Italian.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 06:52 PM

Ah shoot! you beat me to the decals.

Give me a day or two for the downbar bike reveal!

edit- actually Curt- you need a front water bottle mount and a stubby front fender so you don't slip on the cobblestones!
That is the best looking Huffy I've ever seen in my life!

edit two- I know the person who I pulled my bike from the trash can 20+ years ago. I am going to make a montage and send it to her of all the places her bike (actually her son's bike) has been.

They will be amazed, and then arrest me for bike theft!

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

^^^ can't wait to see it

Tarmac problem solved. Sort of. Took the derailleur off and completely cleaned it. Grimey, but not anything unusual. Reinstalled and carefully aligned. Annnnnnddd ... it works.

So I'm thinking it was mounted too low by a mm or so and the massive triple cage was actually hitting the small chainring. The problem is it shifts like crap. Apparently, this bike has triple brifters as well, so there's 3 detentes. When you shift to the big ring, you have to push in on the brifter twice! I'm going to try to adjust the cable for the middle detente and see if that works better.