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Biking '10 part 2
- Thread starter Ziltoid
- Start date
I miss time to ride - the 6 week old is killing me 
I did some upgrades to the vaya. thomson stem (had to really look for an old 26.0 on ebay since they are discontinued), thomson masterpiece setback, and selle anatomica saddle. I know I know - 190g seatpost with a 650g saddle on it
I did some upgrades to the vaya. thomson stem (had to really look for an old 26.0 on ebay since they are discontinued), thomson masterpiece setback, and selle anatomica saddle. I know I know - 190g seatpost with a 650g saddle on it
One thing I've said for a long time is that buying saddles primarily by how much they weigh, or not weigh, is silly. Saddles are the most intimate of the three contact points between you and your bike (saddle, pedals, and grips/tape) and personally, I want the one that is the most comfortable first, and then I look at the weight. If there are two saddles that are equally as comfy and/but one weighs less that the other, then yeah - I'll go with the lighter one. Otherwise...
Spent the morning spinning across town & back on errands- got stuff done, went for a ride: double bonus. 
Im not exactly sure. I think its a record. Late 60's, early 70's. I have only found one other person on the net who has this bike. Its an Italian made, but im pretty sure it doesnt have the integrated headset. Just spent all day cleaning this thing, new tires (WHAT A PAIN!!! well see if the ride of tubulars is worth it), and new grips. So far i have $150 into this bike. Does anyone know anything about this bike?
not my bike, but extremely simlar
That's what beater bikes are for!
I train weekday mornings with a gang of racers & ex-racers, and when I really wanna get a workout I leave the carbon Cannondale with GP4000S tires at home and pull out the 1985 Bridgestone with Armadillos. >24lbs of lugged steel with 7 speeds and downtube shifters...and fenders! The complete antithesis of the SpecialGianTrekized bikes everyone else is on. That'll get yer heart rate up in a hurry! After one such ride one of the other cyclists came up to me and shook my hand, saying "that's an awful lot of bike to be dragging up these hills!"
Question for you guys,
I want to keep riding as late as possible and I'm wondering if I should buy long sleeved jerseys/pants or just buy the warmers and keep using my stuff, which would be cheaper, considering I also need a skullcap, shoe covers, long finger glives, right?
I want to keep riding as late as possible and I'm wondering if I should buy long sleeved jerseys/pants or just buy the warmers and keep using my stuff, which would be cheaper, considering I also need a skullcap, shoe covers, long finger glives, right?
Anyone in the bay area go to the SJ Bike Party? I went for the first time Friday. It was pretty fun, and 28 miles isn't hard at all when you take 4 hours to do it.
If yours is in fact VERY similar to the one in the pic, what you have is a late 50's/early '60's Bianchi, and possibly a Reparto Corsa (their pro-lvl frame shop), and no - it doesn't have an integrated headset. Does yours have the serial number stamped on the head-tube also? Can you post pics?
Warmers are going to be cheaper and are a little more versatile, as you can remove them easier while on the road if you get too warm. I can ride comfortably in with an undershirt (definitely buy at least one undershirt!), warmers, neoprene toe-covers, and occasionally a wind-stopper vest thru most of the winter, but this is California and winters here don't get much below freezing at night. Given your location tho, you'd probably be better off buying specific winter gear in general, depending on just how much cold riding you want, or can stand, to do.
If you liked that one, go do the SF Chronicle's Tour de Penninsula ("30 miles...with shortcuts!")...fun, low-key ride starting in Redwood City, up to Canada Rd/hwy 92, and back to RWC.
You're in New Brunswick, Canada? How late is "as late as possible"? I.e., how late into the season do you ride now, and how much later do you forsee riding?
I live in New York City, and I'll ride down to about 65°F in shorts & a short sleeved jersey. Below 65°F I like to cover my knees (kneewarmers if I expect the day to get warmer later, knickers if not) and I'll probably add a baselayer under my jersey. Somewhere around 55° or 50°F I switch to long sleeved jerseys. Below 50°F I'll probably wear either full-length legwarmers, or long tights. Below 40°F I'm into layers up top: long sleeved baselayer, long sleeved jersey, and probably a wind vest. By the time it gets below freezing there's no more fudging it, I'm wearing full-fledged winter gear: fleece-lined tights, and a jacket over the baselayer (and/or jersey).
I ride year-round, so I have a closet full of cycling apparel for all temps, down into the teens. So how much colder is it going to get where you are, and how much colder do you want to get while you're riding?
I'd like to keep biking until there's snow or that the temp is sub-zero, which ever comes first, riding all year around is suicide over here all those hills, frozen macadam... I don't even want to imagine it (I live on top of a very steep hill that I go down and climb on every ride, hence me not wanting to ride sub zero, if it's frozen I die, simply).
Warmers (both of leg and arm), base layer, skull cap, full finger gloves, shoe-covers seems like the way to go.
As for how cold it gets in January-February we get a week or two that hits -40oC, -20's are very common from mid-late November and up to April.
edit: This is my first season so I'll be the guinea pig to check how late is too late.
Warmers (both of leg and arm), base layer, skull cap, full finger gloves, shoe-covers seems like the way to go.
As for how cold it gets in January-February we get a week or two that hits -40oC, -20's are very common from mid-late November and up to April.
edit: This is my first season so I'll be the guinea pig to check how late is too late.
A good rule of thumb is that if you're pretty comfy/warm/etc in the first five miles or so, you may be overdressed and might be too hot later in the ride...sounds dumb, but it works.
And tennis, that is a cool bike!
Canada based co. Sugoi makes some of the best cold weather stuff IMO (along with Endura). They are also pricey. For full length gear - cannondale makes good bang for the buck gear. I own the c'dale grind jacket and it is very very nice on snow rides with just a base layer blow.
My take on warmers vs full length garmets: If you plan to shed it during the ride, go with warmers and a windvest(typically on morning rides in the fall). Late fall I go with full length tights/jersey/kinckers. Below freezing is usually when I pack it in although I've gone on the occasional snow ride that can be a lot of fun. Probably n/a for you skinny tire folks
Bought a Bob trailer and did a 150km ride last week.
Had to tow the Bob full of clothes/tent/food , adds a lot to the ride!
Went well , the Bob behaves very nice , a good product.
I also bought the Bob because the rehersal place is 40km from home and have to get the gear there.
Had to tow the Bob full of clothes/tent/food , adds a lot to the ride!
Went well , the Bob behaves very nice , a good product.
I also bought the Bob because the rehersal place is 40km from home and have to get the gear there.
+1
...and I'd even be so cocky as to remove the caveats "may" & "might". If you're comfortably warm within the first 5 miles you are overdressed & will be too hot later!
Unless you're just going for a 6 mile ride.
