Ultimate Bike Thread....

[herr_oberst]

NBPD. Hydraulic discs have been a revelation for me. More confidence on the downhills, better control in all situations.

And just to add to a better ride experience, how about five minute pad replacement - both wheels - and the calipers auto-adjust. Suh-weet!

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ have you bled them yet? I just yesterday got a bleed kit and plan to do it soon. Watched the vid from Park Tool and it gets quite involved Agreed, the hydraulics are great if you need them. They're on my fatbike with 180mm rotors (which is pretty much a dedicated trail bike now) and I absolutely love them for that situation. Levers are a bit soft so I know there's air in the lines. The bike sat for 4 years.

Gravel bike has mechanical discs with 160mm rotors which are just OK but no real need for instant braking where I ride with that anyway. Might try a 180mm rotor in front and see if that improves things.

[CurtEgerer]

BTW: if anyone is looking for tires and components, check out Merlin Cycles in the UK. Some incredible deals right now. Ordered a pair of Schwalbe Jumbo Jims in 26x4.8" for $108 shipped to the USA (typically, these are over $100 each + shipping). Ordered Thurs, on my doorstep Monday morning Placed a second order for a pair of Maxxis Race Recon's for my gravel bike - $15 each! + some other stuff.

Merlin Cycles


And how's this for cool bike of the week? Tribute to a 1930's Path Racer. 531 frame, 3-speed, Brooks saddle, etc. $1700.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

^^^ have you bled them yet? I just yesterday got a bleed kit and plan to do it soon. Watched the vid from Park Tool and it gets quite involved Agreed, the hydraulics are great if you need them. They're on my fatbike with 180mm rotors (which is pretty much a dedicated trail bike now) and I absolutely love them for that situation. Levers are a bit soft so I know there's air in the lines. The bike sat for 4 years.

Gravel bike has mechanical discs with 160mm rotors which are just OK but no real need for instant braking where I ride with that anyway. Might try a 180mm rotor in front and see if that improves things.

They feel great. Modulation for days! No need to bleed. (but I've got the tools if I need to let it bleed.)

I had mechanical discs on my last Gravel bike. Never again - the difference is night and day, like the difference between single pivot calipers and V brakes was.

[Racerbvd]

OK, for most of us, these wouldn't qualify, but as a underprivileged, abused child who doesn't have much, these may mean as much as a Pinarello to us..

[CurtEgerer]

Big crash out on the singletrack trail with the fatbike Thurs. First crash in ... well, I don't even remember when my last legit crash was. Pedal strike on a small hidden tree stump going around a fast righthander. Bike stopped instantly. I did not. Flew over the handlebars Superman style Short flight followed by a hard landing on both kneecaps and my left hand. Thought I was going to be laid up for a week or so, but got back in the saddle the next day and did 10 miles on the gravel bike (adhering to Rule 5). Knees bruised, sore wrist, but otherwise no problems. Not bad for a "frail, elderly, retired senior citizen on a fixed income" such as myself

[herr_oberst]

You must've remembered to do the monkey roll! I'm glad the getoff wasn't lots worse and you saddled that hoss the very next day.

Your story reminds me of why I don't do long days out in the woods or desert on my own anymore. (Also a retired geezer here) 30 miles on a bike is fun. 15 miles back to the car on foot? Better to have some pals around to help figure out the best way out of a bind!

[look 171]

Dang, I am glad you are OK. You are one tough dude. I will start riding twice a week due to my knee injury coming to an end. Doc order no more then 50-70 miles a week. Hell, I can only get about 30-40 broken up in two rides. Here we go again. I forgotten how hard is it to get back into shape after 8-9 months or sitting around getting fat. 20 lbs, man, 20 to go.

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ It really is amazing how quickly you can lose it when you don't ride for a few months. I've been thankful to be riding nearly everyday for the past year and for the foreseeable future - cycling is my retirement Just watched a YouTube vid of a young man in his 90s who's still riding regularly and very well to boot!

I have been wondering how that crash would have went down had I been clipped in? I'm riding platform pedals with no clip-ins on that bike. Quite a learning curve. I almost think the crash would've been less severe if I had stayed with the bike.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

^^^ It really is amazing how quickly you can lose it when you don't ride for a few months. I've been thankful to be riding nearly everyday for the past year and for the foreseeable future - cycling is my retirement Just watched a YouTube vid of a young man in his 90s who's still riding regularly and very well to boot!

I have been wondering how that crash would have went down had I been clipped in? I'm riding platform pedals with no clip-ins on that bike. Quite a learning curve. I almost think the crash would've been less severe if I had stayed with the bike.

I think it can go neither way. Taking the bike with you along the clips when you go down may slow the impact a bit? I bet you wouldn't go over the handle bars so far? Most of my crashes had been clipped in with a lot of sliding, using my skin as brake. I remember crashing years ago as a kid on platform pedals. One would think its less painful because it is much easier to monkey roll? I can't monkey roll worth a damn.

I plan on riding for a long time. I still look forward to getting out on the group ride but its a nasty beating with these young guys. I tell ya, the itch to get out and ride is high but I am not in any shape to go anywhere. Wheel sucking someone on the road today doing 18-19 mph for about 5 miles killed me. I curled up and slept after my hot shower. Doesn't help just getting over the flu.

Many of us here can get out and ride alone for miles and still enjoy it but with others sure making it more fun. I often wonder how much longer will we still enjoy riding alone. A couple of guys I talked to started to play pickle ball on some mornings for some simple conversations. I don't know about pickle ball?

[upsscott]

I had knee replacement in October so I figured I'd get an E bike to help get back in shape. If you're looking for a direct to consumer bike brand to try out check out Fezzari cycles out of Utah. Great customer service and the bikes come with great component specs.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ that's great that you're back in action after such a serious surgery!

[CurtEgerer]

Valtteri Bottas entering UCI Gravel World Championships ....

valtteri-bottas-f1-gravel-cycling-2024-world-championships

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

^^^ that's great that you're back in action after such a serious surgery!

That is funny.

Hey, Merry Christmas to you all.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Valtteri Bottas entering UCI Gravel World Championships ....

valtteri-bottas-f1-gravel-cycling-2024-world-championships

I don't know who that is but if he's a f1 driver, I am surprise they allow him to race gravel. If he gets hurt just a little, his driving season is over and they invested a lot of money on him

[NutmegCarrera]

Okay, fellow "old bike" weirdos-
Or, maybe that's fellow old "bike weirdos"... Not sure exactly.


Anywhooo-
Here's some old stuff I pulled out while cleaning and organizing the bike cabinet after end of 2023 and before start of 2024 ride/race season.

Don't need any of this, and since some of it's a little 'vintage', thought it's worth offering up to the collective. Would be interested in putting a couple bucks in my pocket and covering shipping if interested.



Have two Avocet Cyclometers (I always really liked these...) One model 20 and one model 50 (Altimeter).
Not working, so probably best for a static display on that Mercxx, DeTomasso, Vitus or other 80's or early 90's goodness...
Have boxes and instructions for them - along with wire harness for the 50 (for sure), may be able to dig up harness for the 20 somewhere.

A few pumps - well suited to road tires. Not sure they'd be much good on anything with a lot of volume. One blackburn is brand new. Others have had light use.

A pair of early 90's vintage bar ends. Your retro MTB build is pretty much useless without a pair of these!

Some plastic fenders: One touring set from Zefal - and one front MTB fender.

Some old fashioned quill pedal cleats, and a pair of Time adapters for Sidi shoes.

Some empty boxes from patch kits (nostalgia, and all...) And a couple pairs of old-school rim strips.

And finally, a Campy Athena road BB - used, but I think pretty good shape. BC threads, and was for a double chainring.

Oh - and I found a VW scirocco pocket knife. Must have been a dealer item. I think it probably came from my father in law - who was a car salesman.

Anybody interested in any/all - shoot me a DM.
Will ship out of WI.

Happy holidays, folks.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

NBPD. Hydraulic discs have been a revelation for me. More confidence on the downhills, better control in all situations.

And just to add to a better ride experience, how about five minute pad replacement - both wheels - and the calipers auto-adjust. Suh-weet!

Did a full bleed this morning (Shimano M365 with 180 rotors). Nothing to it after finding a How-To vid on U of Tube by some kid at a bike shop who does a gravity bleed rather than the 'official' tedious method utilizing a syringe and pushing the fluid up from the caliper to the lever. This is the reverse with no syringe and seems to make sense because like he said, most of the dirty fluid is in the caliper and gets expelled first with gravity bleeding. He's done 3000 of them, so how bad can the method be? Anyway, less than 30 minutes all in for me having never worked on hydraulic brakes prior. Brakes feel great.

[Henry Schmidt]

I forgot all about this carbon Alan I build in the 80s. It's been hanging in the carriage house for 20 years. Shimano Dura Ace groupo ?
I had an Italian Masi Gran Criterium from 69 or 70, (pre-Carlsbad move) that I built in high school but a Senior Triathlete bought it about 8 years ago because he wanted to ride something vintage.
After a trip to the cycledrome in Long Beach, this Alan was built as a Fixie (single speed fixed gear bicycle) but after two laps around the block that silliness stopped.
After years on the Masi, the Alan carbon had a smother ride but do to my lack of spin technique, the frame flexed like Stretch Armstrong.
I guess we could call this a barn find?

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Did a full bleed this morning (Shimano M365 with 180 rotors). Nothing to it after finding a How-To vid on U of Tube by some kid at a bike shop who does a gravity bleed rather than the 'official' tedious method utilizing a syringe and pushing the fluid up from the caliper to the lever. This is the reverse with no syringe and seems to make sense because like he said, most of the dirty fluid is in the caliper and gets expelled first with gravity bleeding. He's done 3000 of them, so how bad can the method be? Anyway, less than 30 minutes all in for me having never worked on hydraulic brakes prior. Brakes feel great.

Yeah, but be sure not to get ANY fluid on the pads, or they'll squeal until replaced.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yeah, but be sure not to get ANY fluid on the pads, or they'll squeal until replaced.

For shimano mineral oil brakes I've had great luck with flame. Balance the pads on the kitchen stove burner, turn on the fan and let them cook until the stuff that is bubbling out hardens into a crust. Long time: 15 minutes. Then sand that crust off and pads are like new.