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basscyclist thread picture thread
- Thread starter Nobody
- Start date
Here are my bikes:
My Planet X Pro Carbon road bike. Since taking that photo in the summer, I've slammed the stem as low as it will go. As a result, the saddle to bar drop is lower now. I could probably go with shorter cranks and a higher seat still, maybe when the weather improves.
My Planet X Stealth TT bike. My tiny aero frame TT bike. This has a 10 speed gear set, I think its 10-26 or something on the rear, definitely not a hill climbing bike! The front end is super low and has a "praying mantis" aero bar position, which is a very efficient aero position. The wheels are carbon fibre 65mm depth on the front and 85mm at the rear. The tyres are Vittoria Corsas, very low rolling resistance but they are fragile.
Its not the most modern TT frame it doesn't have full internal cable routing for example, but it is my first TT bike and it really is fast compared to a road bike. I love riding it. Again, I could probably go for shorter cranks and a slightly higher saddle.
I haven't done a lot of outdoor riding recently as the roads are dirty and it too cold here in the North of England. People ride in colder conditions than this, but that does t mean it's fun, plus there is salt down which isn't great for bikes. I've been doing plenty of miles on Zwift to make up for it but I do miss getting outside, the fresh air and the feeling of speed.
The speed of my rides has increased dramatically too, when I started at the end of July I weighed 104kg, I'm now 83kg. I started off by feeling uncomfortable after 20 seconds on the drops, now I ride a time trial bike for fun, my core and upper body conditioning has improved so fast.
My Planet X Pro Carbon road bike. Since taking that photo in the summer, I've slammed the stem as low as it will go. As a result, the saddle to bar drop is lower now. I could probably go with shorter cranks and a higher seat still, maybe when the weather improves.
My Planet X Stealth TT bike. My tiny aero frame TT bike. This has a 10 speed gear set, I think its 10-26 or something on the rear, definitely not a hill climbing bike! The front end is super low and has a "praying mantis" aero bar position, which is a very efficient aero position. The wheels are carbon fibre 65mm depth on the front and 85mm at the rear. The tyres are Vittoria Corsas, very low rolling resistance but they are fragile.
Its not the most modern TT frame it doesn't have full internal cable routing for example, but it is my first TT bike and it really is fast compared to a road bike. I love riding it. Again, I could probably go for shorter cranks and a slightly higher saddle.
I haven't done a lot of outdoor riding recently as the roads are dirty and it too cold here in the North of England. People ride in colder conditions than this, but that does t mean it's fun, plus there is salt down which isn't great for bikes. I've been doing plenty of miles on Zwift to make up for it but I do miss getting outside, the fresh air and the feeling of speed.
The speed of my rides has increased dramatically too, when I started at the end of July I weighed 104kg, I'm now 83kg. I started off by feeling uncomfortable after 20 seconds on the drops, now I ride a time trial bike for fun, my core and upper body conditioning has improved so fast.
So here is what happens when my band stops playing due to Covid and I take a long break from playing bass and being on TB. I get more bikes!
First one is a 1967 Raleigh Record that I found at a junk shop for $20. It wasn't in the best shape but the frame was very good. I had the frame powder coated by a local shop and then spent several months figuring out how I wanted to build it up and gathering parts. Spent way more than I had planned on but very happy with how it turned out!
At some point during the summer I decided I wanted a single speed because apparently all the cool kids are riding them. I found a good deal on this Surly Karate Monkey with a Niner carbon fork and hand built wheels with Hope hubs. Also Hope headset and bottom bracket. I don't ride it a lot but it is nice to not have to think about shifting some times!
Toward the end of 2020 I decided I wanted to convert my trusty old '92 Specialized Hardrock (that I actually bought new in 1992) in to a drop bar 1x bike. I found a fantastic deal on everything I needed for the drivetrain and the wheels and tires. Just had to add a new stem, handlebars and shifters/brake levers. I think I will get more use out of the bike set up this way than I did as a flat bar mountain bike.
First one is a 1967 Raleigh Record that I found at a junk shop for $20. It wasn't in the best shape but the frame was very good. I had the frame powder coated by a local shop and then spent several months figuring out how I wanted to build it up and gathering parts. Spent way more than I had planned on but very happy with how it turned out!
At some point during the summer I decided I wanted a single speed because apparently all the cool kids are riding them. I found a good deal on this Surly Karate Monkey with a Niner carbon fork and hand built wheels with Hope hubs. Also Hope headset and bottom bracket. I don't ride it a lot but it is nice to not have to think about shifting some times!
Toward the end of 2020 I decided I wanted to convert my trusty old '92 Specialized Hardrock (that I actually bought new in 1992) in to a drop bar 1x bike. I found a fantastic deal on everything I needed for the drivetrain and the wheels and tires. Just had to add a new stem, handlebars and shifters/brake levers. I think I will get more use out of the bike set up this way than I did as a flat bar mountain bike.
Very nice!
The Karate Monkey with the Niner fork, very, very nice!
I don't know how many times I almost bought that same frame and fork. Very good.
Riding SS is great! Not every time, I ride mine maybe once a month or so, but it's great fun, you ride differently, it's more engaging.
Maintenance time!
I know, I know, the bike is all dirty, it will be cleaned after today's ride.
But I let I fall down yesterday, rookie move, I put it against a wall with strong wind coming and it fell to the ground. Must've hit the shifter, it was all wacky during the ride. Now it's fine and it's time to lube it!
Last night ride, empty streets, due to confinement:
And:
I know, I know, the bike is all dirty, it will be cleaned after today's ride.
But I let I fall down yesterday, rookie move, I put it against a wall with strong wind coming and it fell to the ground. Must've hit the shifter, it was all wacky during the ride. Now it's fine and it's time to lube it!
Last night ride, empty streets, due to confinement:
And:
What bike is that? The only other bike I have seen with a bottle opener in place of the front derailleur is a Lauf.
I've been looking for an inexpensive 2nd hand fatbike since last winter. The few that have come up on the classifieds have sold even before I could get a look in and the shops have a few but they are all high end and I ain't paying $5700 for a Pivot carbon fatbike or even $2500 for a Garneau.
So last week I was in Costco and sized up their Northrock XCF fatbike. I had seen them before but had always sort of not paid much attention. The frame is apparently made by Giant and this year it comes with a 10-speed Deore drivetrain with an 11-42 cassette and a clutch derailleur. I was a bit shocked by that at the $549 price. The cranks are comically short (155mm) and the stock chainring is 34t on some strange 76mm bolt circle. The bar is also pretty narrow at 650mm. Wheels are only 60mm wide but are drilled for weight, front hub spacing is 120mm which is a bit weird. Tektro mechanical disc brakes. I came to the conclusion that with a few key mods the bike would be perfectly serviceable so I bought one. Put a 710mm Chromag bar I had kicking around on there and went out and picked up a 30t Raceface chainring as well as a cheapo set of 170mm square taper cranks. I'll bring the cranks back because a friend gave me a set of old LX square taper cranks he had lying around. I was worried the 4.0" stock tires would be abysmal but really once I got the pressure right (8 rear 6 front yesterday) they weren't too bad. A bit squirrely on corners but otherwise ok. I was prepared to live with them for the season but a friend of mine emailed me to say he had a couple of sets of 4.7" Vee Bulldozers I could have so assuming they'll fit in the frame and fork I'll be doing that. All in all, after riding it, even if I had to replace the BB and all, I think it's still a pretty good deal. Rode 13k on it yesterday and smashed out 10 PRs so it doesn't slow me down. I'm stoked.
Haven't removed the dork disc yet because I wasn't sure I was going to keep it until I rode it yesterday.
It also has a snazzy sticker on the fork that says "Front." I will not be removing it.
Got the big 4.7s on there. Fabulous conditions tonight. Running about 5psi and I think I could go a little lower on these tires. They're heavier than the stock ones but they dig in better and definitely engage better in corners. Will convert them to tubeless this week. I think that will save about 3lbs of rolling weight.
I was going to say 6Oz the first time and then 4Oz after. but @fokof beat me to it.
Yeah, that's what I'm looking at doing. I noticed the weight of my wheels last night because the Bulldozers are quite a bit heavier than the stock ones were. I'm tempted to turn the front tire backwards. Apparently people are doing that with this tire.
I commute year long to work.
Arcteryx Jacket and pant 8 months per year.
Just add middle layer in winter.
In summer , I bring dry clothing and change @ work when it rains.
I love the hot summer rain !
Arcteryx Jacket and pant 8 months per year.
Just add middle layer in winter.
In summer , I bring dry clothing and change @ work when it rains.
I love the hot summer rain !
I wouldn't want to try that out in gusty crosswinds.What do you wear for your daily commute when it rains? I'm not sure I want one of those ridiculous ponchos
View attachment 4156124
I have several rain outfits.
For summer showers I carry a poncho / jacket.
It's less sweaty, but keeps your legs dry when the wind isn't too bad.
It has sleeves and a smaller surface so you'll catch less wind.
For heavy winter rain a suit.
With shoe protection.
And I combine these rain-pants with breathable outdoor jackets.
For summer showers I carry a poncho / jacket.
It's less sweaty, but keeps your legs dry when the wind isn't too bad.
It has sleeves and a smaller surface so you'll catch less wind.
For heavy winter rain a suit.
With shoe protection.
And I combine these rain-pants with breathable outdoor jackets.
