Ultimate Bike Thread....

[CurtEgerer]

First impressions of the Tarmac Pro from a classic steel rider: Light, light, light. And did I mention it's light? Extremely quick acceleration. Surprisingly compliant ride for a stiff frame, not twitchy at all over the bumps. But the most notable difference is out of the saddle - the first couple of sprints were a bit disconcerting because the rear is so light it felt like nothing was back there. But I got used to that quickly and it tracks completely stable. The bike has got to be an incredible climbing tool (no real climbs around here to try that).

All that said, this is a friggin' Specialized Tarmac Pro with Dura-Ace - not dissimilar to a TdF bike of 2007! And here I am, an old man riding gently rolling terrain at 20MPH average Not exactly what the bike was intended for. Fun to ride for sure though.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

The carbon frames (coming from a steel frame guy) is that you can have your cake and eat it too.

Lighter, stiffer where it counts, more flexible where it counts. Other than the craftsmanship - win win win in every respect.

In other news, the trashcann-eur was going to be finished, but, before even doing the gratuitous glamour shot spread, I have already decided to go back to drawing board. Will strip rear of frame, braze on rear disc mounts and go gravel rims/disc! My wife is going to be mad if she sees I stole her road rims.

[sc_rufctr]

Carbon frames are great however I've broken three in the last 25 years.

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ Is there a common failure location you've seen? I've checked over that Tarmac frame for hairline cracks and haven't found anything.

[sc_rufctr]

IME The head tube/top tube areas seem to be less than it should be on newer carbon frames, more so on disk brake frames. Seat posts are strong. So are down tubes.

Basically when they broke they were done. Technically repairable but the cost of repair exceeded the value of an undamaged frame.

The only common factor was me running into something that didn't get out of my way.
- and my mood at the time seems to be a big factor. "Agro old Basterd" thinking he's still young somehow.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

lol- As I extoll the virtues of CF, I forgot I have a new project on my plate-
Carbon repair due to chain drop/suck. Carbon ain't perfect, and pulling my cranks off last week I was reminded why. This is a pure gash caused by chain rub/suck over about 3 years. I couldn't see the extent until I removed the cranks. I cant tell if it is starting to crack structurally. It might very well be, but, it's still quiet (perhaps some acoustic monitoring equipment???/) naw.... Doesn't matter. I've got a carbon fiber repair kit on order and will reinforce the bejeseebus out of this area. I've still been riding it, as a worst case scenario the cranks would just break loose into the current bb hanger, but, I think I'll hold off until the kit comes in. I also think this is a good repair to "get into CF repair". It's structural, but not catastrophic structural if my repairs don't hold. I will overbuild the area to compensate for future chain drops. Repair pics to follow when I get into it.

[astrochex]

A coworkers Gary Fisher bike was hit by a cart at work. You can see the metal frame is bent. I will get better pics, but any thoughts on repairing a bent frame? Tia.

[herr_oberst]

Find a local framebuilder and ask what he'll charge to straighten it on a jig.

It won't be cheap, (The bike will need to be completely disassembled, straightened, and reassembled) and your friend might be better off searching the classifieds for a replacement.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

It won't be cheap, (The bike will need to be completely disassembled, straightened, and reassembled) and your friend might be better off searching the classifieds for a replacement.

This^

I'd find a replacement frame on CL or something-
or, flip the bike on the other side and hit it with the cart again

[Zeke]

Send it to Paul Brodie.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Send it to Paul Brodie.

Not to be disrespectful, but who and where is Paul Brodie?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Not to be disrespectful, but who and where is Paul Brodie?

Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/@paulbrodie

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

This^

I'd find a replacement frame on CL or something-
or, flip the bike on the other side and hit it with the cart again

If it was a high end frame or if it has special meaning to him, it most likely would not be worth it.

What is the thought on something like this??

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

What is the thought on something like this??

That's a pretty cool motorcycle ya got there Byron!
In what sense? A new bike for you? Repair?

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

That's a pretty cool motorcycle ya got there Byron!u
In what sense? A new bike for you? Repair?

One of the guys on one of the BMX sites I go to is offering it up for trade for some of my vintage BMX stuff. I know nothing about this modern stuff and am not afraid to admit that. I was very surprised with how expensive these are and all I know is that it is a pedal assist downhill bike.

Between my knee issues and breathing issues, it has been suggested that I consider a eBike.

I switched a few bits on Bolt.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

One of the guys on one of the BMX sites I go to is offering it up for trade for some of my vintage BMX stuff. I know nothing about this modern stuff and am not afraid to admit that. I was very surprised with how expensive these are and all I know is that it is a pedal assist downhill bike.

Between my knee issues and breathing issues, it has been suggested that I consider a eBike.

-edit- those hutch forks bring back memories! Same for the Ame grips

I'd say if your vintage BMX parts are just 'sitting around' and not getting much use, this thing would be fun.
Do you need it in Fla? probably not- it's overkill- unless you are jumping anacondas, but-

There are several people who show up to a local gravel ride on these things. It's a pretty open group, so everyone is welcome. These things are awesome, especially for people (including myself) getting older with perhaps some 'ailments'.

Well, I'm not there yet, hip replacement, bum knee, arthritis, bad attitude, but, advil can only go so far. I am mortal!

The pedal assist keeps them dominant until about 20? 24? mph, - but- then, it kicks out. above that they are like a sitting duck with a heavy bike. The faster people in the group will gang up on them on the fast flats and pass in a pace line, but when the pitch goes up, they can catch right up.

I love it on fast flats "Pull in- GET HIM!!!!"

Reminds me of fords/camaro's vs. mini coopers. It's fun racing on heavy gravel/hardpack.

I think you'd enjoy it for a while and perhaps be able to hone in on something else. Get it, enjoy it before the shocks wear out, and trade up for something else.

Just make sure the dropper post can extend to something semi-reasonable to pedal. If the seat will not extend to a good pedalling position for you to pedal naturally, I'd pass, and look for something that fits. I would research the battery assist capabilities on that specific model, check out reviews, etc. The lower pivot point is in a good place for a 1x. I like it!
edit two- although if I was just kicking several blocks over on pavement to a local bar, I'd take the bolt!

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

-edit- those hutch forks bring back memories! Same for the Ame grips

I'd say if your vintage BMX parts are just 'sitting around' and not getting much use, this thing would be fun.
Do you need it in Fla? probably not- it's overkill- unless you are jumping anacondas, but-

There are several people who show up to a local gravel ride on these things. It's a pretty open group, so everyone is welcome. These things are awesome, especially for people (including myself) getting older with perhaps some 'ailments'.

Well, I'm not there yet, hip replacement, bum knee, arthritis, bad attitude, but, advil can only go so far. I am mortal!

The pedal assist keeps them dominant until about 20? 24? mph, - but- then, it kicks out. above that they are like a sitting duck with a heavy bike. The faster people in the group will gang up on them on the fast flats and pass in a pace line, but when the pitch goes up, they can catch right up.

I love it on fast flats "Pull in- GET HIM!!!!"

Reminds me of fords/camaro's vs. mini coopers. It's fun racing on heavy gravel/hardpack.

I think you'd enjoy it for a while and perhaps be able to hone in on something else. Get it, enjoy it before the shocks wear out, and trade up for something else.

Just make sure the dropper post can extend to something semi-reasonable to pedal. If the seat will not extend to a good pedalling position for you to pedal naturally, I'd pass, and look for something that fits. I would research the battery assist capabilities on that specific model, check out reviews, etc. The lower pivot point is in a good place for a 1x. I like it!
edit two- although if I was just kicking several blocks over on pavement to a local bar, I'd take the bolt!

Thanks, I have to weigh the value of extensive part of my childhood vs what I use to consider cheating. And yes, basic bar rides require me to do all the pedalling, a beer is a reward for the effort, but when we do our Thursday night ride in town, it includes bridges and I wear out a 1/4 way through the ride. Speaking of Gravel bikes, I haven't taken mine out for a while and need to.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Thanks, I have to weigh the value of extensive part of my childhood vs what I use to consider cheating. And yes, basic bar rides require me to do all the pedalling, a beer is a reward for the effort, but when we do our Thursday night ride in town, it includes bridges and I wear out a 1/4 way through the ride. Speaking of Gravel bikes, I haven't taken mine out for a while and need to.

Tell you what. If I were in your shoes, but for a weekly in town local hammerfest, I'd research assist bikes in general and look for more "cross country" or hardtail variants. Especially if you are riding mostly pavement.

I also get the importance of childhood. My Torker is off limits.

I get the cheating issue of these ebikes. I've got some local establishments I go to- and ride to- just to burn off some calories and make the night an adventure. Perhaps the short rides makes a regular beer turn into a light beer. At any rate, there was some dude riding a ridiculous e-bike with small wheels ( 20 inch? 16 inch?) ) the other day at 30+ mph straggling all over the road. I followed him in my car (I couldn't pass- he was all over the place). Mr. Bean couldn't have done better himself.

Later on that night, I rode a real bike to my local establishment. On way home, he "amped?" up at the top of a hill in the other direction.. We passed head on at about 40+mph combined. Loosened up after a beer or two myself, climbing a hill under my own 'real' power, I looked at him and and yelled "CHEATER" as he passed.

My David Attenborough voice kicked in.
"In nature, some are worthy. He, was not."
I wondered if he would do a u turn and track me down.
David Attenborough kicked in again:
"Doubtful"

Tonight's ride home...

I played with some settings in manual, but was not able to make the autofocus lock on the bars as intended- next time, I will manually set the focus in short to catch the bars and let the sunset happen in the distance, with the road in blur- a work in progress.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Tell you what. If I were in your shoes, but for a weekly in town local hammerfest, I'd research assist bikes in general and look for more "cross country" or hardtail variants. Especially if you are riding mostly pavement.

I also get the importance of childhood. My Torker is off limits.

I get the cheating issue of these ebikes. I've got some local establishments I go to- and ride to- just to burn off some calories and make the night an adventure. Perhaps the short rides makes a regular beer turn into a light beer. At any rate, there was some dude riding a ridiculous e-bike with small wheels ( 20 inch? 16 inch?) ) the other day at 30+ mph straggling all over the road. I followed him in my car (I couldn't pass- he was all over the place). Mr. Bean couldn't have done better himself.

Later on that night, I rode a real bike to my local establishment. On way home, he "amped?" up at the top of a hill in the other direction.. We passed head on at about 40+mph combined. Loosened up after a beer or two myself, climbing a hill under my own 'real' power, I looked at him and and yelled "CHEATER" as he passed.

My David Attenborough voice kicked in.
"In nature, some are worthy. He, was not."
I wondered if he would do a u turn and track me down.
David Attenborough kicked in again:
"Doubtful"

Tonight's ride home...

I played with some settings in manual, but was not able to make the autofocus lock on the bars as intended- next time, I will manually set the focus in short to catch the bars and let the sunset happen in the distance, with the road in blur- a work in progress.

My problem is that I still like off-road too





But not sure how a bike that heavy would work for me.

[CurtEgerer]

A neighbor with some serious health issues has an electric motorcycle ... er, e-Bike ... fantastic solution for him. I maintain it. Funny story the other day when I asked if everything was running good. He said it was making a weird noise and did not seem to be pedaling correctly but he continued pedaling on his 5-mile ride and made it home. When he got home, he looked at it and found the chain had fallen off the chainring. He had 'pedaled' over 3 miles