basscyclist thread picture thread

[JMacBass65]

Your son reminds me of mine:

He's only 9 years old and the bike is all steel. 30 pounds! He'll be a monster when he gets on something light.
We've been looking at a Fuji like your guy has. They seem to make a decent kids' road bike.
I did the same toe clip, no strap, set-up for my son.
I think your son is ready for some proper shoes and pedals. I love Shimano.
I remember one day at the riding spot, my son was feeling really good and averaging 15 mph. He was passing recreational roadies. One guy passed him, then looked back, then looked right down at his computer and then back at him, like he couldn't believe it.
He gassed after one lap, but it was cool to ride with him at a decent speed.


S

That's awesome. I picked up some Look style pedals that were on closeout last month, $35. Not getting shoes until until spring because the dude is simply growing too fast. He's grown nearly six inches since last winter. Unfortunately that slick Fuji might not fit for much longer.

 

[Slackerprince]

That's awesome. I picked up some Look style pedals that were on closeout last month, $35. Not getting shoes until until spring because the dude is simply growing too fast. He's grown nearly six inches since last winter. Unfortunately that slick Fuji might not fit for much longer.

You might be able to get some shoes on close-out that are reasonably priced that he can wear for a while.
You can always sell them on craigslist or trade them, or something, afterwards.

S

 

[Slackerprince]

Now that I have a MTB (and my son has a decent MTB also) we are much more closely matched. I can still smoke him on a decline, but not by much. It won't be much longer (like, later this year) that he'll be passing me.

I've given my son the "pro" push start after we stop for water and it takes some actual effort to catch up with him.
So great to share the sport/hobby with your kid.

S

 

[drummer5359]

I ride an old US made Trek 830. It's nothing fancy, but it suites my needs for what I use it for.

 

[jbrown62]

Off to rehearsal...

 

[JMacBass65]

I ride an old US made Trek 830. It's nothing fancy, but it suites my needs for what I use it for.

The 830 is a great bike. When I was running shops for a large regional chain, we'd sell those all the time.

 

[Razman]

I ride an old US made Trek 830. It's nothing fancy, but it suites my needs for what I use it for.

"Suits my needs" is the name of the game. My road bike is an early 90's Giant 980c, carbon tube lugged frame. It rides great - smooth as silk (to me) and I bought it for a song. A multi-K ($$$), lightweight, modern aero bike is not going to bring me that much more enjoyment (although I saw a good deal on a CAAD 10 that was nice and priced great, but no $$ to get it). And, as I've said before, the main component in my cycling group that needs to lose weight and become more aerodynamic is not my bike...

Raz

 

[dlb1001]

Neat posts. I'm just waiting for my collar bone to heal up and the rain to stop, here in the Bay area. Broke the collar bone on the last nice day in November, right before Thanksgiving, which shot down the rest of cross season for me. So, the only riding I have been doing is on a stationary trainer.

 

[drummer5359]

The 830 is a great bike. When I was running shops for a large regional chain, we'd sell those all the time.

I bought mine used about six years ago, do you have any idea of how old it is? I'm just a little curious.

"Suits my needs" is the name of the game. My road bike is an early 90's Giant 980c, carbon tube lugged frame. It rides great - smooth as silk (to me) and I bought it for a song. A multi-K ($$$), lightweight, modern aero bike is not going to bring me that much more enjoyment (although I saw a good deal on a CAAD 10 that was nice and priced great, but no $$ to get it). And, as I've said before, the main component in my cycling group that needs to lose weight and become more aerodynamic is not my bike...

Raz

lol. The past two years in particular I've put a lot of miles on my old Trek 830. I thought about trading up to something better, but like you said, the bike isn't what's limiting me.

The other thing is this, when I bought it used around 2011 I paid $150. In my opinion what I've done would be akin to picking up a dirt cheap Highway 1 P-bass and gigging the crap out of it.

 

[fokof]

Brand/model?

Ventana ElGordo

 

[John B jr]

The legs aren't what they used to be but I'm still a member of the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club. The 2009 Ibis roady has a one-off paint job that would have bought me a new American P if I was doing it this year. The whole bike set me back enough to get an much older one. I pay some serious taxes!

Full carbon down to the dropouts. Zipps, DuraAce drivetrain/brifters, Ritchey cockpit, San Marco saddle, Tompson post, ceramic bearings whatever component spec I wanted at the time. I managed to break the FSA carbon cranks trying to accelerate onto the back of the paceline. These pics are from Mt. Hamilton.

Edited to add:

2012 Trek Cobia 29er on the same summit.

 

[JMacBass65]

I bought mine used about six years ago, do you have any idea of how old it is? I'm just a little curious.

Mid to late 90s, I recognize the paint job as something in my shop when I worked there, which was 95 -99.

 

[JMacBass65]

View attachment 1027876 The legs aren't what they used to be but I'm still a member of the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club. The 2009 Ibis roady has a one-off paint job that would have bought me a new American P if I was doing it this year. The whole bike set me back enough to get an much older one. I pay some serious taxes!

Full carbon down to the dropouts. Zipps, DuraAce drivetrain/brifters, Ritchey cockpit, San Marco saddle, Tompson post, ceramic bearings whatever component spec I wanted at the time. I managed to break the FSA carbon cranks trying to accelerate onto the back of the paceline. These pics are from Mt. Hamilton.

Edited to add:

2012 Trek Cobia 29er on the same summit.

View attachment 1027881

Wow - that's some awesome terrain you got out there!! And that Ibis......drooldrooldrool

 

[John B jr]

Wow - that's some awesome terrain you got out there!! And that Ibis......drooldrooldrool

Thank you @JMacBass65 Getting there is half the struggle. My best recent time is 104 minutes for the 19 mile climb over Labor Day weekend. Anything under 2 hours is good but the pros take an hour or so. Very squiggly descent that has claimed its share of racers in the Tour of California.


Some other rides that I've done many times as well.

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[fingerguy]

Ventana ElGordo

Where do you guys find these bikes? All I ever see is Specialized, Trek, and Giant.

 

[EricF]

14 years ago, when I was lean, strong, and fast...

This was a Cat 3 crit on a pretty straight-forward, almost-rectangular course. The guy I was most worried about going into the last lap was the one immediately behind me in yellow and green. I knew him well as a very powerful rider with a fast finish, who had beaten me in previous races. The guy on the far right motored off the front before the last corner and tried to just hold on. I knew that was too soon for me, and hoped for him to fade. I made my jump out of the last corner, from about 3rd or 4th in line, with about 200+ yards to the finish, and put the hammer down with everything I had. I got the jump on the big threat, and closed the gap to the guy off the front...

Winning rocks!

In that race, it became clear to me that I could launch my sprint earlier than the rest of the sprint monkeys I usually battled, and I could hold my speed for well over 200 yards. This became my tactic. Launch early, and make everyone chase. I was pretty successful, and I went on to win quite a few more races over the next couple of years.

2004, wearing the California State Champions jersey...

That was my last year of racing. The amount of training time to compete at that level wasn't compatible with being the kind of dad I wanted to be for my newborn daughter, so I hung up the race wheels.

The red Time still hangs in my garage and whimpers at me. Unfortunately, my time for taking her out for even a short cruise is almost non-existent.

 

[Mark Reccord]

Thatt was my last year of racing. The amount of training time to compete at that level wasn't compatible with being the kind of dad I wanted to be for my newborn daughter, so I hung up the race wheels.

The red Time still hangs in my garage and whimpers at me. Unfortunately, my time for taking her out for even a short cruise is almost non-existent.

While I was never even remotely at the level of fitness or competition that you achieved I did a lot of riding before my kids were born and it, too, took a back seat when they came along. I don't think this is a very good option for road riding (for obvious reasons) but I've gained quite a bit of time on the bike back by purchasing a good set of lights and riding either very early in the morning or in the evening after the kids are in bed. I often find myself riding technical singletrack solo at night. At first I was a bit nervous about it but I've grown accustomed to being in the woods by myself after dark and now I really enjoy it.

This pic is from last night. I hit the trail at about 9PM and did a one hour loop. Conditions were so good that I decided to do a second one. I wasn't planning to do that but at least at night I have the freedom to extend a ride if I want (and can handle the sleep deprivation). My daytime rides are always rushed.

 

[Roland GR 88]

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[EricF]

While I was never even remotely at the level of fitness or competition that you achieved I did a lot of riding before my kids were born and it, too, took a back seat when they came along. I don't think this is a very good option for road riding (for obvious reasons) but I've gained quite a bit of time on the bike back by purchasing a good set of lights and riding either very early in the morning or in the evening after the kids are in bed. I often find myself riding technical singletrack solo at night. At first I was a bit nervous about it but I've grown accustomed to being in the woods by myself after dark and now I really enjoy it.

Good lights are must for night riding - road or trail. Nice view!

For me, the end of my racing career was also the start of my return to playing music, so I essentially switched one hobby for another. Music, however, kept me at home a lot more.

Today, the newborn daughter that triggered the end of racing is now 12yo, and playing softball at a very high level, with me as one of her team's coaches. Even playing music has taken a back seat to softball, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Every once in a while, my daughter and I go out for a spin together through our 'hood. Her rig is a low-end Trek MTB, but I'm thinking it might be time to see if she fits on the steel Bianchi road bike I put together for my wife years ago.

 

[John B jr]

Good lights are must for night riding - road or trail. Nice view!

For me, the end of my racing career was also the start of my return to playing music, so I essentially switched one hobby for another. Music, however, kept me at home a lot more.

Today, the newborn daughter that triggered the end of racing is now 12yo, and playing softball at a very high level, with me as one of her team's coaches. Even playing music has taken a back seat to softball, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Every once in a while, my daughter and I go out for a spin together through our 'hood. Her rig is a low-end Trek MTB, but I'm thinking it might be time to see if she fits on the steel Bianchi road bike I put together for my wife years ago.

@EricF Almost the same boat as me. I coached 12-U girls softball but was not going to mess with the drama that comes when they get any older than that. My "baby" is 19 and visiting us until school starts up next week. It's only because she lives in Hawaii that I can indulge in band stuff. So apparently, you're doing travel ball. We were just rec league but it was fun; great memories that are cherished to this day.

I blew up a knee a few months ago and boy, does the fitness drop off quickly. I was running 30+ miles a week and went all "Jens Voigt - Shut up legs" and then they had the last laugh. I can ride but I can't run at the moment.