(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/IMG_7380.jpg)
'09 Specialized Langster
Mostly stock, except for the bars and levers. The bars are a set of Profile Design T2 Wing base bars, which give me better leverage on the levers than my drops, since I spend most of my time on the brake hoods anyways. The new bars are lighter and more comfortable for me too, easier to sprint with.
If I ever find 'em cheap, I'm going to swap the brakes out for Ultegra or Dura-Ace calipers, and the wheels for some Open Pros.
There's not a whole lot I can do to the bike without dropping serious cash into it, since it already has a carbon fiber fork and seat post, and the cranks are already strong and fairly light (Sugino Zen Messenger). I can't really justify dumping a lot of money into it because it is a cheap bike, a very capable bike, but still pretty cheap.
When I first got it, it weighed in a 19.5 lbs. With the bar swap and lever swap, it's probably down to an even 19. I've seen them get to 12 and 13lbs, but that's beyond my monetary means, and wouldn't hold up to the type of riding I do. Strength comes with weight, and I need it to be strong.
Very nice alpha. occasionally you can snag a set of wheels on ebay on the cheap. ( especially durign the off season)
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on October 09, 2009, 01:11:06 AM
Very nice alpha. occasionally you can snag a set of wheels on ebay on the cheap. ( especially durign the off season)
That's what I'm hoping for. I can get a set of Open Pros laced to Formula hubs for about $200 at my LBS supposedly, and if I can get those cheaper, I will be on that so fast. I'm watching eBay regularly. I hope the off season turns up some nice deals. The Open Pro wheels should drop the weight by at least a full pound. My wheels are HEAVY.
Looks good! I used to have one of those, 2 actually. I used to look for Dura Ace brakes for my old road bike, but they weren't going for less than $100 for the pair on ebay, and I didn't feel like paying it. I've always liked open pro's too.
This is my current favorite ride to work.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3994689581_22c18c7e66_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3995449742_65ec5074cc_o.jpg)
Quote from: tt_four on October 09, 2009, 04:42:34 AM
Looks good! I used to have one of those, 2 actually. I used to look for Dura Ace brakes for my old road bike, but they weren't going for less than $100 for the pair on ebay, and I didn't feel like paying it. I've always liked open pro's too.
You used to have TWO Langsters? What year models? Why'd you sell 'em?
Yeah, most of the Dura-Ace and Ultegra calipers I see are going for $60+, which isn't bad, but more than I want to spend. I hear the Open Pros are a pretty sweet balance of strength and lightness, rarely coming out of true even with non-hand built units.
Quote from: tt_four on October 09, 2009, 04:42:34 AM
This is my current favorite ride to work.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3994689581_22c18c7e66_o.jpg)
I was considering a cyclocross bike, actually, but decided a single speed better fit my needs. No hills, mostly road riding, no real need for shifters, and way out of my price range, especially with the components my riding would demand. I just sometimes wish I did have the clearance for bigger tires. Why'd you go with the flat bars? I've seen a few CX guys do that, but most stick with the drop bars.
How are you liking the Canonndale? I was looking at their Capo when I decided on a single speed, but the '09 model was too much hipster-style crap, as well as out of my price range, and the '10s were just downright expensive. An '08 would have been nice, but none available.
Oh wow, those are both so nice. I've been wanting a single speed or fixie, but so expensive and I can't find used frames in my size :2guns:
However I do have a 05 Fuji Newest 2.0, that's my current road bike...
Any suggesstions for making it lighter would be very helpful..It's currently completely stock, except for pedals.
I'm looking to get new wheels for it and tires also.
Looks kinda like this:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/481434082_70401921b0.jpg)
Quote from: Dj Hunny on October 09, 2009, 09:49:17 AM
Any suggesstions for making it lighter would be very helpful..It's currently completely stock, except for pedals.
Whole bikes are a paint to make lighter. Companies do a good job of evening out parts, so it's not like motorcycles where everyone replaces the air filter and motorcycle and are 50% of the way through mods. You've just gotta chip away at it a little at a time. Wheels are the obvious one, and little things like stems, bars and seatposts are things you don't think about that often weigh a lot. How tall are you? I've got one of my wife's tiny track frames hanging in the basement she's been wanting to sell.
Alpha:
The first one I had was one of the first years I made, I don't remember how old it was. One of the langsters with the awful forks. I rode it for a while. It was mostly a winter bike, I figured the aluminum would be good because it wouldn't rust. It was some work to make fenders fit, and I think I had to cut them up a bit and get creative, but they eventually went on. It was a size 56, and I usually ride a 52, I got away with it because of the compact geometry, but got rid of it eventually. The second I never ended up building. I bought the frame, fork and headset at a bike swap for $90. It was barely used. It was the year with the skulls on the downtube. I probably would've build it if I could've found a new fork I liked for it, but I ended up selling that one too. I usually have pretty fast turn around with bikes. I buy them used and ebay/craigslist, ride them for a year or two, and then resell it. Unline motorcycles, bicycles are a good habit that will just pay for itself if you do it right.
As far as the cyclocross, I've always just loved that fork, pretty much the whole reason I wanted that frame. I need to find one for my mountain/winter commuter as well. Once I find an old touring frame I'm going to build that up with the fenders for riding to work in the rain and just keep the cyclocross how it is, minus the fenders. I don't really do any off road riding on it. Just the day I brought it home. I just like it for being an overbuilt road bike. The handling isn't the best for riding in a straight line. No huge preference on the bars. Half of my ride is downtown, so it's easier just to have the mountain shifter on there and the single chainring up front, not to mention mountain shifters are WAY cheaper than road shifters. It's pretty ideal for riding in traffic, not to mention I could replace the outside chainring with a chainguard and don't have to worry about my pants getting eaten, and some bmx pedals for normal shoes. My road bike has drop bars. I used to hate them in town, but I've finally gotten used to them, but in the time I hated them I just got used to the riser bars as well.
Other than that, I love the bike. The aluminum fork can be rough when you hit stuff, but it's only a 20 minute ride to work each way, so not long enough for it to matter what I'm on. I love cannondales in general. I'm only about 1.5-2 hours away from where they're made, so that's what I always look for. I've gotten to take a tour of the factory, and one of my friends used to work there up until this past spring(go type "cannondale track" into ebay and check out his custom six13 track bike he's trying to sell for $8000, it's not gonna happen, but it's still an awesome bike). My winter bike is an old Cannondale M800 rigid mountain bike turned single speed with fenders. It's from around the time of the Beast of the East frames, so the bottom bracket is seriously 2 inches higher than most bikes, I feel like I'm on a tall bike. My road bike is a cannondale Caad 5. The only bike I have that isn't a cannondale is my fixed/single speed, which is a pake. I've had a couple other single speed frames, but to be honest it's been the most comfortable of any of them. The frame will some day be replaced by a cannondale, preferrably one of the red/gray or black/white/red ones from around 2000, if not just a plain black or silver capo, their new paint schemes are god awful. I'd love one of the early 90's frames to go with all the other old cannondales, but the hipsters with money screwed that up by inflating the value on those framesets to $800+. I'd also be happy with one of those old KHS frames with the curved seat tube. The last one is my wife's road bike, which is also a cannondale. It's a gorgeous shade of bright pink from the late 80s, and then she's got one of the original Schwinn Madison track frames from 1985.
Alright, back to work. Open pro's are great. They're light and pretty strong. They are soft though, so they'll probably have some dents and scratches in them by the time you're done with them, but they'll probably still be straight. I always wanted to build some wheels for my nice road bike(also a cannondale!) with open pro's, but then I just ended up selling it instead. Shiny things are no fun.
Quote from: Alphamazing on October 08, 2009, 02:34:56 PM
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/IMG_7380.jpg)
That seat does not look too forgiving. >:(
I built up a 9spd Trek back in the day that came in under 16lbs. That little turd was lightening fast. Still have the wheels, Dura Ace hubs on some italian tubeless rim...38 spoke. I ran Various Conni tires at 200-220 without a problem..........wouldn't do you much good though.
Hey TT_four,
I ride a 47cm frame or smaller...i am 5'2'' - 5'3''. For all you cyclists help spread the word on bike ride...I'm cycling in the AIDS/LIFECYCLE ride.
Well, we've been trying to sell this one.......
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3714458365_17c8af81ac.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/3714460887_11bceb3bf0.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/3714460607_bebfb07479.jpg)
I guarantee it's the smallest frame you'll find for 700c wheels that isn't custom made. The seat tube is 47cm to the top of the clamp, 43cm to the center of the seat tube, and the top tube is 49cm long. My wife is 5'4 and that's where the seat was when she rode it, all of about 10 times. There's a couple minor scuffs in the paint, but she hasn't ridden it since that picture was taken, so it should give you a good idea.
It's this frame.... http://www.nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=366
She wants $150(+shipping) for the frame, full carbon fork, headset(FSA orbit), stem, and seat post clamp, if you're interested.
Quote from: Dj Hunny on October 09, 2009, 09:49:17 AM
Oh wow, those are both so nice. I've been wanting a single speed or fixie, but so expensive and I can't find used frames in my size :2guns:
However I do have a 05 Fuji Newest 2.0, that's my current road bike...
Any suggesstions for making it lighter would be very helpful..It's currently completely stock, except for pedals.
I'm looking to get new wheels for it and tires also.
Lightening a bike is pretty expensive, usually. Carbon fiber fork, carbon fiber seat post, lighter cranks, carbon fiber handle bars, lighter seat, and lighter wheels are the start. Then it gets down to little stuff where you're only saving a few grams. The best place to start is with a really light weight frame. Single speeds and fixed gears are naturally lighter than geared bikes because they don't have the excess weight of the derailleurs, shifters, etc.
I tried riding my Langster as a fixie, but I absolutely hated it. I clipped pedals in the turns way too often, because I tend to corner really quickly. I flipped the rear wheel to a single speed, and it's been a blast ever since.
Quote from: tt_four on October 09, 2009, 11:42:36 AM
Quote from: Dj Hunny on October 09, 2009, 09:49:17 AM
Any suggesstions for making it lighter would be very helpful..It's currently completely stock, except for pedals.
The first one I had was one of the first years I made, I don't remember how old it was. One of the langsters with the awful forks. I rode it for a while. It was mostly a winter bike, I figured the aluminum would be good because it wouldn't rust. It was some work to make fenders fit, and I think I had to cut them up a bit and get creative, but they eventually went on. It was a size 56, and I usually ride a 52, I got away with it because of the compact geometry, but got rid of it eventually. The second I never ended up building. I bought the frame, fork and headset at a bike swap for $90. It was barely used. It was the year with the skulls on the downtube. I probably would've build it if I could've found a new fork I liked for it, but I ended up selling that one too. I usually have pretty fast turn around with bikes. I buy them used and ebay/craigslist, ride them for a year or two, and then resell it. Unline motorcycles, bicycles are a good habit that will just pay for itself if you do it right.
Yeah, the early ones with the steel and/or aluminum forks were pretty crap. This one comes with a pretty damn nice kit to it, with a carbon fiber fork, seat post, the Sugino Zen Messenger cranks (nice!), the really nice Specialized Toupe saddle, and a pretty decent FSA headset. I got mine (2009) for a touch over $600 from my local bike shop. Now THAT is value!
Quote from: spc on October 09, 2009, 01:56:38 PM
I built up a 9spd Trek back in the day that came in under 16lbs. That little turd was lightening fast. Still have the wheels, Dura Ace hubs on some italian tubeless rim...38 spoke. I ran Various Conni tires at 200-220 without a problem..........wouldn't do you much good though.
Well yeah, when you're running tubeless tires of course those pressures are normal! :icon_lol: My tires are still the stock Specialized Mondos, which have been okay so far, but I hear they become a bit flat prone later in life. We'll see.
Quote from: Dj Hunny on October 09, 2009, 03:10:27 PM
Hey TT_four,
I ride a 47cm frame or smaller...i am 5'2'' - 5'3''. For all you cyclists help spread the word on bike ride...I'm cycling in the AIDS/LIFECYCLE ride.
That is an itty bitty frame! You might get away with a 50cm frame, unless you were measured for that size, in which case... damn!
Quote from: seamax on October 09, 2009, 12:10:40 PM
That seat does not look too forgiving. >:(
Actually, it's really comfortable. It's been specially designed to relieve pressure in my manly areas, and the lack of padding means that it won't chafe. Surprisingly, the more "minimal" bicycle seats are typically more comfortable over long rides than heavily padded ones.
Quote from: Alphamazing on October 09, 2009, 10:09:38 PM
Actually, it's really comfortable. It's been specially designed to relieve pressure in my manly areas, and the lack of padding means that it won't chafe. Surprisingly, the more "minimal" bicycle seats are typically more comfortable over long rides than heavily padded ones.
Yeah, seats are usually the opposite of how they look. The seat I've used the longest is a thin plastic seat with no cover on it. It looks like Alpha's, only doesn't even have the thin padding or cover. You're really just supposed to get support under your ass bones. Having a bigger padded seat lets the pressure spread out evenly, which is bad, because there are places down there I don't really want pressure on.
Where does the engine go?
:confused:
:D
Quote from: GeeP on October 10, 2009, 06:36:19 PM
Where does the engine go?
On the skinny black thing that looks like a seat.
Quote from: GeeP on October 10, 2009, 06:36:19 PM
Where does the engine go?
I made it years without a second though, but I'll admit lately as i've started to get back into motorcycles, when I come to a hill, I catch myself wishing the damn bike would push itself once in a while.
On a nice 20 mile ride today, I learned that I spin out at about 30mph. I can't keep that speed up for long with my gearing, but I can get there.
Apparently, if I join the cycling team and race in two races, I can get any Specialized bicycle for 50% off.
I think my bikes usually top out at 25mph. What kind of gearing do you get to 30mph with? I think mine has 45/16 or 47/17, I usually stick around there as we've got some pretty good hills here.
Quote from: tt_four on October 12, 2009, 05:44:03 PM
I think my bikes usually top out at 25mph. What kind of gearing do you get to 30mph with? I think mine has 45/16 or 47/17, I usually stick around there as we've got some pretty good hills here.
46x16
I spin fast. Not as fast as Pablo though, apparently.
I don't have a computer, just basing it off the speeds of those around me.
Hmm... yeah, now that I think of it, I don't have a computer on any of my single speeds either. I'm thinking about my geared bikes, which I just ride with tennis shoes and bmx pedals, not to mention my one bike has riser bars, which aren't too aerodynamic. Someday I'll have to take my little gps out on the way to work. I love tucking up behind a big van or delivery truck on the way to work. You can fly when you get out of the wind.
Plus my bike is fixed, and top speed gets kinda rough because when you're spinning like crazy and hit your top speed, you can't say "whew that was fast" and just coast back to a normal speed. You've gotta keep pedaling it out.
I got a new bike. First race is in late February, can't really race my fixie/SS in a road race. I will, however, be taking my Langster to the velodrome this summer once road season is over.
So here's the new hotness. 2006 Fuji Team Pro, Ultegra/Dura-Ace mix, full carbon fiber frame and fork, weighs in at ~18lbs, about a pound and a half lighter than the Langster. I still have room to weight weenie it too, if I find the right deals. CF bars, stem, seat post, crank set, wheels. I'll have to find some REALLY good deals to make any of those purchases, but I got such a killer deal on this bike I might be able to find the budget later on in the season.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9061.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9065.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9067.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9071.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9075.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/Fuji%20Team%20Pro/IMG_9076.jpg)
I like how you can see the CF weave through the decals, like in Fuji and Team Pro. It's the little touches.
F'n Texas! Get that junk outta here in the middle of December :flipoff:
I'm into this kinda weather this time of year, dreaming about having a nice pair of studded tires....
(http://velospace.org/files/IMG_3164.JPG)
Seriously though, that's a nice looking bike. Fuji has some good looking stuff, I've always liked their road forks. I used to have a Cannondale six13 with full Dura Ace. Too rich for my commuter blood, I sold it after 305 miles.
This is my current road bike, which doesn't get ridden a whole lot, but it's old enough that I don't mind leaving it parked behind work, and it's also old enough that I don't mind letting it sit in the basement because depreciation can't make it worth any less than I paid for it. $50 for the frame/fork/headset, $100 for the Sram Rival 10, $75 wheels, $5 cranks, free seat, free post, $2.50 stem. That's the stuff I go for! haha
(http://velospace.org/files/sincycle1.JPG)
Quote from: tt_four on December 22, 2009, 08:48:19 PM
F'n Texas! Get that junk outta here in the middle of December :flipoff:
Today's high was in the 70s. I still didn't go out for a ride. :(I spent all day cleaning. Lame.
Quote from: tt_four on December 22, 2009, 08:48:19 PM
Seriously though, that's a nice looking bike. Fuji has some good looking stuff, I've always liked their road forks. I used to have a Cannondale six13 with full Dura Ace. Too rich for my commuter blood, I sold it after 305 miles.
Not bad for $700, eh?
Quote from: tt_four on December 22, 2009, 08:48:19 PM
This is my current road bike, which doesn't get ridden a whole lot, but it's old enough that I don't mind leaving it parked behind work, and it's also old enough that I don't mind letting it sit in the basement because depreciation can't make it worth any less than I paid for it. $50 for the frame/fork/headset, $100 for the Sram Rival 10, $75 wheels, $5 cranks, free seat, free post, $2.50 stem. That's the stuff I go for! haha
You got a Rival setup for $100? Holy crap! How are you liking the Double Tap? I'm a Shimano guy myself, but I haven't actually tried the SRAM stuff so I can't make any personal judgment except based off what I've read. The little bit I have ridden the Fuji, holy crap the Ultegra is NICE. Clean, quiet, quick shifts. Just a nice click click click. Also, your cranks look like the same ones I have. Truvativ Rouleur? I'm looking for a cheapy Ultegra crank to swap with, because I've read some bad reviews on these, and because I really don't like the chrome chain rings. Getting replacement chainrings would be more expensive than a barely-used Ultegra crank too, I think.
haha, I have a friend that used to work at cannondale, and he has no need to ride anything less than $7k bikes with full dura ace, so I usually got any of the random stuff he had. I think that six13 I had was probably about..... $750-800, just about all the parts came from him too. I do like shimano stuff more, but I hate their 10 speed, their shifters are way to big for my tastes, and I don't actually like how smooth they shift. The nicest shifters I've ever had were the DA 9 speed. I loved the solid click they gave you when you shift. You can barely feel these ones shift. I'm sure some people like that about them, but I didn't. I would've tried to trade these ones for some 9 speed stuff, but logically, I felt like I was going back a step by going to 9 speed after I had 10 speed, even if I did like it more, just being shallow I guess. If I had a choice I'd have campy stuff on the bike, but I'm really more of one for compatibility and easy to find parts, and never wanted to take the time to collect all the pieces.
The double tap is ok, once you get used to it it's all the same. It's nice being able to do anything with just the one lever, plus you can pull it in closer to the bar so you don't have to have your fingers extended to the lever to shift a lot. The one thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a half step when you're going from the large front ring to the smaller. People say you don't need it, but shimano shifters are way smoother because they have it, and it does make a big difference in being able to downshift any time you want and not worrying about if the chain will be rubbing. Otherwise if you really want to be in that half step, you have to downshift, then half shift back up a step. It's good though. They're comfortable, and I think they look a lot better than the shimano stuff, plus I can still use shimano cassettes or chains or any of that stuff if I need to. I also like that all the cables are under the bar tape, although the newer shimano 10 shifters finally put their shift cables under the bar tape as well.
I wouldn't mind some nicer cranks, but I got those ones for $5 out of a box at a bike swap. My friend gave me a new bottom bracket and the chainrings for free. I stick to the old look pedals so I can ride it in tennis shoes if I want to use it for commuting. Otherwise I'm not too picky about them, but if I had nicer shifters I'd definitely try to find some nicer cranks.
Here's my last one while the pictures are getting thrown around...
(http://velospace.org/files/IMG_3570.JPG)
Yea, racing ... yea, so you put a GS motor bored to 569 with wiseco pistons and stuff 39mm CR carbs and race it.
Cool.
Buddha.
I thought of another benefit to riding fixed gear over the past couple weeks. The lack of brake pads.....
Riding in this miserable weather tears apart your brake pads like sandpaper to bare skin. If I replaced them timely I'd probably only get a couple weeks out of a set, but I usually just run them down until the metal is about to poke through. At the same time the pads get extra hard from being cold, plus if you ride for a while without using them the snow/mess will pile up behind them, and you've gotta pump them a couple times before they're clean enough to barely even stop you anyway. I'd love a winter bike with disc brakes on it, but I don't feel like buying any more bicycles.
Sorry to be off topic but does everyone kind of smile when they see something that was built in their hometown???
-Jessie
(http://velospace.org/files/IMG_3570.JPG)
Yeah, not quite my home town, but it's still only 2 hours away. That's the reason that 90% of the bikes I've owned have been cannondales. Don't care as much now that they've laid off 2/3rds of their staff to ship the jobs overseas, but I usually buy used bikes anyway, so I can still get plenty of Bedford made cannondales.
At the same time, you think they're gonna change 2/3rds of their "Made in USA" stickers to "outsourced at the expense of Bedford" stickers? Doubt it.
I've finally cut it down to a reasonable 4 bikes, 3 of which are cannondales. The one that isn't is my fixed/single frame, and I hope to replace that with a cannondale frame at some point as well, althought fixed gears really work better being steel. I also want to find one of those mid 90's touring frames for some fenders and bar end shifters to ride in wet weather. I'd like to take the fenders off the cyclocross bike and keep that thing intended for fun. My wife only has 2 bikes, but one of them is a cannondale. The other is one of the old Schwinn Madison's that was made in Mississippi. Not as local, but still good enough for me, plus the prices of those old cannondale track frames are through the roof.
They'll probably do like my Diamondback that says "Designed in the USA" on a real big sticker on the seat tube. You look real close and you'll find a little "Made in China" sticker on the bottom of the frame.
-Jessie
I used to always get yelled at by the owner of the last shop I worked at because I always made sure to leave the "made in China" stickers on all the headtubes of the raleigh and jamis bikes he sold. At least he didn't hear me talking up Cannondale's when they'd ask my opinion, because we didn't sell them, although the shop right across the street did. Haha
nice bikes ! my old-ish trek 5900 was made here, but i don't think any more of them are.
i'd like to braze a little, never was good at it, and make up a cool frame at some point.
:)
i <3 bikes
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on January 08, 2010, 08:25:30 AM
Sorry to be off topic but does everyone kind of smile when they see something that was built in their hometown???
Definitely. Though neither of my bikes are built in the US. While my Langster was designed in the US, it was handmade in Taiwan (according to the sticker).
Quote from: tt_four on January 08, 2010, 11:07:04 AM
I've finally cut it down to a reasonable 4 bikes, 3 of which are cannondales. The one that isn't is my fixed/single frame, and I hope to replace that with a cannondale frame at some point as well, althought fixed gears really work better being steel.
I really REALLY want a Cannondale Lefty mountain bike. And I hear the Capos are pretty nice for fixed gears. As for the steel, my aluminum Langster is pretty damn nice. Light weight (<20lbs), handles great, and I don't really notice the road buzz because the carbon fork and seatpost absorb everything pretty nicely. If you get a chance to try a Langster, do so, they are quite nice, though a bit stale. They don't have the "fixie flavor" or whatever that a lot of people look for. The Langster is a bare bones SS/fixie and nothing else. It's not a style bike, it's just a get 'er done bike.
Quote from: ohgood on January 08, 2010, 06:09:35 PM
nice bikes ! my old-ish trek 5900 was made here, but i don't think any more of them are.
All the high end Treks are still made in the US, likewise with Specialized. Only the cheap-y mass produced frames are outsourced. I know that all the CF frames for Trek and Specialized are made in the US. There's not sticker on my Fuji, but I am assuming it was made in Japan. I could be wrong though.
Race season starts up pretty soon. Got a 100mi ride coming up on the 18th. First time I'll do a century, hopefully won't die.
Quote from: Alphamazing on January 09, 2010, 07:45:33 PM
I really REALLY want a Cannondale Lefty mountain bike. And I hear the Capos are pretty nice for fixed gears. As for the steel, my aluminum Langster is pretty damn nice. Light weight (<20lbs), handles great, and I don't really notice the road buzz because the carbon fork and seatpost absorb everything pretty nicely. If you get a chance to try a Langster, do so, they are quite nice, though a bit stale. They don't have the "fixie flavor" or whatever that a lot of people look for. The Langster is a bare bones SS/fixie and nothing else. It's not a style bike, it's just a get 'er done bike.
I do like the lefty mountain bikes, but I don't mountain bike enough to spend that much money on one. When I had a mountain bike, I used it about 3 times a summer, otherwise I just ride it on the street.
I'd like to replace mine with a capo, but I'd REALLY like to replace it with one of the Major Taylor frames from somewhere around 2001. They're pretty much the same exact thing as the capo, but they had red/grey or red/white/black paint jobs, and they were built up with really nice parts. They came with full dura ace groups and weighed absolutely nothing. The new paint jobs I think look awful.
I've had 2 langsters. I rode the one for a while, but sold it because it was too big. I did like it though. The other langster frame I had I never even built up. I just got a good deal on it, and resold it for more. I also had a Fuji Track Pro. That bike had a carbon fork, and it was the bike that made me hate aluminum fixed gears. It was heavy and felt like I got hit with a baseball bat every time I hit a tiny hole in the road. My pake is a cheap frame but it still rides really well.
I went back and forth on it for a little while, not sure if I wanted to let it go, but I think I decided I'm gonna sell my road bike. It's the blue and white one I posted above. Saving up for another motorcycle hasn't been as productive as I thought, and now that I work 1.7 miles from home it's usually not worth pulling out my road bike, let alone taking the time to put on some clipless shoes in hopes of actually saving some time getting to work. I browsed ebay to see what cannondales with Rival were going for, and I was decently surprised. I'm hoping I can get about $1000 out of it, plus a couple hundred out of the rest of the bike clutter sitting in my basement that I'm tired of seeing so I can get a jumpstart on saving. I'm tired of seeing some crazy deals go through craigslist lately and not having any money to jump on them.
That'll leave me with the fixed gear/single speed, the cyclocross bike with riser bars and slick tires that I usually ride, and the winter mountain bike. Someday if I work farther away from home I'll consider another road bike, but in the mean time it's just hanging out, and I'd really rather have a gsxr, buell, or 636r just hanging out instead. What do you guys think?? Alpha's profile says he hasn't been on since February, I wonder where he's been.
He comes and gos. He's busy off learning how to be an engineer or some such sillyness.
Hey tt want to sell one of those road bikes?
this is my current ride. going to try and scrape togethr enough and get a road bike, and transplant this engine to it.
(http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u360/gstwin/downsized_0414001846.jpg)
god u could get a real bike, vrooom, for the price of one of those people power pusher :cookoo:
I dont have that option frank. , and as al gore harps about global warming, chevrolegs are the way to go :D
Quote from: frankieG on April 15, 2010, 12:54:08 PM
god u could get a real bike, vrooom, for the price of one of those people power pusher :cookoo:
Your point? I could have bought a friggin 1098 for what I have in my closet. People make their own choices, regardless of whether you think those choices are sound.
Quote from: spc on April 19, 2010, 08:40:14 PM
Quote from: frankieG on April 15, 2010, 12:54:08 PM
god u could get a real bike, vrooom, for the price of one of those people power pusher :cookoo:
Your point? I could have bought a friggin 1098 for what I have in my closet. People make their own choices, regardless of whether you think those choices are sound.
BINGO, you buy this item, ( insert item here) for you, not for anyone else. you buy it caue you wnat it. FWIW a competitive cyclist will usually have$$$ tied up in his or her bike. mainly because those things, can withstand FAR more abuse than your average rider anywhere. ( the normal consumer)these types of bikes are light, and dont use store grade componentry either. hence the cost. hell even pablo here IIRC has ridden competitively. i do in charity centuries and whatnot. whre tis not speed, BUT distance, ridden, and amount of money raised for teh ADA or whatever the charity beneficiary is. ive been volunteering wihtADA tour de cure, ( riding centuries mainly) SLOWLY lol, since 1995from my home in clinton, to chattanooga, or clinton area to harrogate tn, or such. the gist of this long winded ass post?, you spend $$ of what works for you, NOT what works for frnak or me or anyone ELSE, UNLESS youre buying it for them. frank this wasnt intended as a direct shot at you, just a long winded expy of things like this
That bike is pretty intense. I've seen a couple guys around here with bikes with motors on them. How fast will that get you moving?? reminds me of one of my other rides, which my wife brought home for my to fix up last summer...
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/4512922626_7ca48be726.jpg)
Anyway, yeah I'm actually on now to put this one on craigslist. That's the only reason I even remembered I posted in this thread a week or two ago. I'm gonna see if anyone will give me $1000 for it local so I don't have to deal with shipping it. Not sure what you were looking to spend, but if you're interested I'll give you first dibs. Otherwise I'll just toss it on ebay, along with a million random parts I have that I know I'm never going to use now that I started getting back into motorcycles. I'm hoping to gross $2k so buy a crashed buell xb, 03/04 636r, or pretty much any year gsxr750, or else just to start off my saving for one of those in good condition for a little more.
How tall are you? The top tube is 53cm, seat tube is 55 center to top, Rolf vector comp wheels, fizik aliante seat, Sram rival all around, with truvativ cranks(same company, different name)some easton bars, comes ready to go. The computer, shifters, derailleurs, D-A chain, seat, bar tape, chainrings and bottom bracket all have 447 miles on them, the rest is more used, but it's in pretty good shape! Smooth as can be.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/4552658923_7712359bcb_b.jpg)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/4553297218_be7d3ecf37.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/4553297496_ebbdeb772b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4552659477_c472b5ae11.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/4553298010_dd8e8ab5a3.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/4553298190_7de554faf0.jpg
im 5'10" with shoes on, i have a trade offer for my trek , the offer is an older scott waimea
(http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u360/gstwin/lilbike.jpg)
I'm 5'8, an obviously the post is in a lower position for me to sit on it. It would fit you find if you wanted it. The scott sounds like a good deal though. I can't find any pictures of a waimea online, but they make some pretty good stuff.
TT, if i wasnt as broke as a whore in a convent id offer you somethignfor that cannondale [/drooling] lol am prolly going for that scott, since i no longer have a DL, a bike is my main mode of transportation. the lighter the better. since, twice a month ive got a doctors appt. 15 miles out ( and back) and if i have no ride, i bike it. have done it twice now. :oops: once for a test, and once by law. :police:
Quote from: tt_four on April 14, 2010, 09:21:51 AM
I went back and forth on it for a little while, not sure if I wanted to let it go, but I think I decided I'm gonna sell my road bike. It's the blue and white one I posted above. Saving up for another motorcycle hasn't been as productive as I thought, and now that I work 1.7 miles from home it's usually not worth pulling out my road bike, let alone taking the time to put on some clipless shoes in hopes of actually saving some time getting to work. I browsed ebay to see what cannondales with Rival were going for, and I was decently surprised. I'm hoping I can get about $1000 out of it, plus a couple hundred out of the rest of the bike clutter sitting in my basement that I'm tired of seeing so I can get a jumpstart on saving. I'm tired of seeing some crazy deals go through craigslist lately and not having any money to jump on them.
That'll leave me with the fixed gear/single speed, the cyclocross bike with riser bars and slick tires that I usually ride, and the winter mountain bike. Someday if I work farther away from home I'll consider another road bike, but in the mean time it's just hanging out, and I'd really rather have a gsxr, buell, or 636r just hanging out instead. What do you guys think?? Alpha's profile says he hasn't been on since February, I wonder where he's been.
Sorry, I've been racing! Road season finally ended. Got in 6 race weekends over the semester, plus a dev class and two days of track racing. I have track races every week for the next two months or more (depending on if I want to make the drive to Frisco, TX), and then more track racing weekly until mountain and cyclocross season start up. When I'm not racing, I'm trying to get in at least one ride a week and managing time dealing with classes and research.
You can get away with a 'cross bike as a road bike. I've seen a guy haul ass on a 'cross bike in road rides, but he sorta spun himself out in the final sprints in races. I'm looking at 'cross bikes now, but just for funsies, as I don't have any decent 'cross racing near me to justify one. I have got some new additions to the stable, which will be mentioned later. As for the 'cross bike, just toss some road slicks on it and it's just as capable as any road bike when you're commuting.
If you are goin' to use the GSX-R, then go for it. Like I said, for most applications you can get away with the 'cross bike as a road bike. As for me, I haven't had the chance to touch my poor DR-Z in months, and I am going to sell it as soon as I can.
Quote from: spc on April 14, 2010, 09:25:24 AM
He comes and gos. He's busy off learning how to be an engineer or some such sillyness.
Yeah, I'm a bit flaky on forums these days. Sorry about that. I'm debating whether I want to switch into the doctoral program, or to simply get out with my Master's and head somewhere else for the PhD.
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 14, 2010, 05:12:17 PM
Hey tt want to sell one of those road bikes?
this is my current ride. going to try and scrape togethr enough and get a road bike, and transplant this engine to it.
As someone who loves motorcycles, this thing makes me hurt on the inside.
Quote from: frankieG on April 15, 2010, 12:54:08 PM
god u could get a real bike, vrooom, for the price of one of those people power pusher :cookoo:
Every motorcycle I have purchased has been more than any of my bicycles, even my fancy new mountain bike. My first motorcycle was a '92 GS500E, which I got for $1000 plus registration, etc. I have never paid more for a bicycle than that, and I have a fancy carbon fiber framed road bicycle as well (see: post #1 of this thread).
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 25, 2010, 07:37:51 PM
im 5'10" with shoes on, i have a trade offer for my trek , the offer is an older scott waimea
Those aerobars look RIDICULOUSLY long. I have a set of bullhorn (aerobar base bars) on my commuter, and they look to be about half that length.
Now... on to my new rides...
Road season is now over, and the Fuji served me well. During this time though I got to take part in the wonder that is track racing. I sold the Langster, and bought myself a proper track bike. Dura-Ace Track cranks, Deda cockpit, the works. Proper track geometry. And it's a Motobecane!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/IMG_0260.jpg)
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs430.ash1/23771_1389869619346_1010256306_2131695_5831386_n.jpg)
Got a race this Friday, and then every Friday until late June.
The next addition to my stable of bikes is a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp, which I was lucky enough to get on our team discount (since we are sponsored by Specialized). It hasn't come in yet, but I've got a mountain biking class (!) next semester, so I'll definitely get a ride in weekly on her. Our team discount is RIDICULOUS, and I could not pass up such a deal, especially with mountain racing season coming up.
One advantage of the whole cycling thing is that I'm now in, by far, the best shape I've ever been in, despite weighing more than I ever have (I'm sitting in at ~160 now, whereas when I joined the forums here I was a spindly 130), and despite having a higher body fat percentage than I ever have. Still working on cutting down the excess body fat percentage, but still feelin' good.
Damn i am envious. if my body starts working again, going to get back into riding, ( without using the engine assist) at this point i doubt it will lol, even so, im not going through car withdrawal, am enjoying teh bikes more and more as time goes on. in all honesty i could care less if i ever drive again
Look who's back!
yeah I put my road bike on craigslist on Sunday, and I'm gonna move it to ebay this weekend if no one takes it by then. Then I'm just gonna work on listing all my parts. It's going to take forever. I also have that cheap paypal account that only lets you transfer $500 a month to your bank account, so it's going to take my months to actually get my money. Hopefully I don't find the perfect bike, have the money, but have no access to in because I have to wait another month to transfer money from paypal.
I can only see the second picture because I'm at work, but I do see that Cannondale Major Taylor frame. That's definitely the frame I'd love to have someday. I almost bought one of those with full dura ace on it once. It was the lightest thing I've ever felt. Is yours the white bike I'm guessing? Looks good.
My cyclocross bike already had road slicks on it. I bought it with full intentions of just using it on the street. I'm pretty happy with it, but the geometry isn't the best for riding over 15mph or so. It rides ok but it doesn't have that solid planted feel that most road bikes have at speed, but I'm sure it makes up for it when I'm moving around at slow speed. The only reason I wonder how well it would do on a longer commute is that massive aluminum fork, which is my favorite part of the bike, but it might provide a pretty rough ride if I'm going more than 4 miles.
I've never paid more for a bicycle than a motorcycle either. That carbon Six13 with full Dura Ace I had only cost me about $700-800, but I sold it for a good price too. The blue and white cannondale only cost me $300-350, and over time riding/building bikes is definitely a habit that pays for itself if you keep on top of it. I used to buy things, ride them, and then sell them for more in the end. I'm sure you could do that with motorcycles too, but it's all a bit more complicated.
I'm also in the best shape I've ever been now that I'm riding everywhere. I was in better shape a couple years ago when I was in college, but I'm not all that far behind that now. That's one of the main reasons I fear moving out of the city and commuting by motorcycle/bus/car. I hate actually exercising, so I really like that I do it now without even trying to. I've never owned a car so I've never missed having one. I think I might be buying a truck in a couple weeks though. Mostly for the hauling capabilities, and to save it for when I do move out of the city, which I know is coming. I'd rather get this one from a friend rather than make a mistake buying one off some guy on craigslist that ripped me off.
Link said paypal acct to your bank acount, then get a paypal debit card. ( i got one. no credit needed. it draws from paypal balance. and anythign further, draws from linked bank. OR you can request a check, and they send you one. in amount of your choosing. its a paypal DEBIT card, not paypal CREDIT ;)
p.s. you can shop online using the card. i have. its like ANY standard CC debit card. its tagged as a mastercard. has the 16 digits the cvv2 code. so it works. and is QUITE useful
That's awesome! No limit for how much you can withdrawal in a month? I'll definitely look into getting of those those then. I was thinking of trying to split stuff people paid for evenly between my account and my wifes, so it would cut the time in half, but still the card sounds better.
Quote from: tt_four on April 30, 2010, 07:49:10 AM
That's awesome! No limit for how much you can withdrawal in a month? I'll definitely look into getting of those those then. I was thinking of trying to split stuff people paid for evenly between my account and my wifes, so it would cut the time in half, but still the card sounds better.
i had moved beyond a thousand in a months time
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 28, 2010, 10:13:47 PM
Damn i am envious. if my body starts working again, going to get back into riding, ( without using the engine assist) at this point i doubt it will lol, even so, im not going through car withdrawal, am enjoying teh bikes more and more as time goes on. in all honesty i could care less if i ever drive again
I rarely drive these days, typically just to get groceries one a week or so. I will end up driving more over the summer since I'll have to go to the weekly track races an hour and a half from here. I had the DR-Z with me down here, thinking I would ride it around when I needed to go somewhere, but it ended up sitting, untouched for months. I found out I actually don't go anywhere, as my time is consumed with school.
Quote from: tt_four on April 29, 2010, 05:44:53 AM
yeah I put my road bike on craigslist on Sunday, and I'm gonna move it to ebay this weekend if no one takes it by then. Then I'm just gonna work on listing all my parts. It's going to take forever. I also have that cheap paypal account that only lets you transfer $500 a month to your bank account, so it's going to take my months to actually get my money. Hopefully I don't find the perfect bike, have the money, but have no access to in because I have to wait another month to transfer money from paypal.
Good luck with that. The SRAM and Rolfs and the Thompson seatpost on there will definitely help the sale, but I fear you're only going to get ~$800 out of it. This is based on the cheapy buyers I have experienced, so YMMV. I wish you luck. You may actually get your price out of it by removing some of the slightly nicer components and selling them separately. The Thompson seatpost can sell, easily, for $50 on eBay, but probably won't increase the bike cost significantly.
Quote from: tt_four on April 29, 2010, 05:44:53 AM
I can only see the second picture because I'm at work, but I do see that Cannondale Major Taylor frame. That's definitely the frame I'd love to have someday. I almost bought one of those with full dura ace on it once. It was the lightest thing I've ever felt. Is yours the white bike I'm guessing? Looks good.
Good eye on the frame! There's another kid on a Capo out there, who had an unfortunate accident a few weeks ago when someone crashed in front of him. Nice kid, but he got a separated shoulder, among other injuries. Shame.
Mine is the white bike, correct. Came stock with Dura Ace cranks, hand built Vuelta wheels, Deda stem, seat post, and track drops. The frame is, essentially, the same frame as the old Fuji Track Pro, the current Fuji Track Comp, and (I think) the Masi Coltello. Carbon fiber fork drilled for brakes, which lets me run it as my commuter as well. Our track race today got rained out, unfortunately. Next week, I hope we are not so unlucky.
Here are the specs. (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/team_track.htm)
My team's Specialized order came in, and the Stumpjumper is now taking up what little room I had left in my apartment. The Fox fork that came on it is WONDERFUL. I feel downright spoiled with how responsive it is. If only it were a 29er...
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on April 29, 2010, 07:55:36 PM
Link said paypal acct to your bank acount, then get a paypal debit card. ( i got one. no credit needed. it draws from paypal balance. and anythign further, draws from linked bank. OR you can request a check, and they send you one. in amount of your choosing. its a paypal DEBIT card, not paypal CREDIT ;)
I simply linked my PayPal to my bank account, no need for the debit card if you don't want.
True. alpha, BUT debit allows instantaneous usage of your paypal balance if needed/wanted plus paypal can be used in places where paypal ISNT an option BUT debit/credit is. so that was why i had both set up. the bank link PLUS teh debit card
I got teh waimea. been riding it to work and home = :icon_mrgreen:
My road bike sold on ebay tonight, $930. I was hoping for at least $1000, but I'll take it. Paypal raped me for $30 with their charges, but you'll have that. I got a couple emails from the kid who bought it before the auction was over, and he was super into the bike, so at least I'll know it's going to a good home, and on the plus side, I'm $930 on my way to a Buell :kiss3:
I've got some other things listed now. Over the next two weeks I'm gonna try to unleash my entire stockpile of bicycle stuff I don't need, as well as a couple moped things on the internet and hope to pull at least another $1000 out of it all. Then I just have to wait until July, which is a 3 pay month, so I can hopefully re-route my spare paycheck, and then the hunt will be on! The hunt will actually be on as soon as I sell all the stuff in my basement, as my ideal situation would be finding one that's been laid down for closer the $2000 and fixing it up, but they're not that common as it is, and it's even less common for people to crash them compared to normal sportbikes since it's somewhat of a different crowd.
Once I find something hopefully Heather will have her permit again, I can lower the GS and we can do some riding together. After going out a couple times now I was thinking about retaking the MSF class again too. I do ok, but I think my cornering wouldn't mind a refresher course. I know you have to look through the turn, and I have been, but it's a really unnatural feeling if you're not used to it, and I need an overweight bald Harley guy yelling it at me again to let it sink in. Plus it'd be cool to take the course with my wife since she needs to retake it anyway. She passed it last time, but was only 18 at the time and hadn't had her permit for 6 months, so it didn't count.
Ooh, and as far as paypal, I verified my social security number and it just got rid of the $500 monthly limit. That was awesome news. I was gonna apply for the debit card, but this was much easier. I'm headed down to the basement to make a little wooden box that just has a slot cut out of the top. I plan to stick all the money in it so there's no way to get it out until I'm ready to break the box, since I have a habit of spending little bits of my savings at a time until it's all done. This way it'll be locked up and out of sight.
Here are the last pictures ever taken of it....
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4572318781_566d8acbd1.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4572953548_36d85735cd.jpg)
and just to make myself feel better, hopefully this will be it's replacement :D
(http://www.bikez.com/pictures/buell/2004/20739_0_1_2_lightning%20xb9s_Image%20credits%20-%20Buell.jpg)
TT get the debit anyways. that way you can use paypal where paypal isnt accepted. that is if you dont already ahve a debit card, id do it anyways. that way you can touch your money from either your paypal acct OR your bank. BTW have any spare parts to sell? if so let me know. odds are i could use them the waimea is my only source of transportation for the time being. as soon as i sell my computer. going to buy another engine kit, and install it on the scott. going to try and do that before june5 ( tour de cure charity ride) ive either ridden in it or volunteered since 1995. and rode VERY briefly alongside lance armstrong one time. ( was using that as a practice/trainer ) that year i got almost 58 mph out of a MTB outside of chattanooga
58 mph?? that's pretty intense on a mountain bike. I may look into it eventually. At the moment having access to that money is the last thing I want. It's going straight from paypal to my bank account, and from my bank account to a little wooden box that I'm going to make and keep in my basement that just has a slot big enough to slide a couple bills in. That way I'll just stick my money in it, and not have a way to get it out until I'm ready to smash the box.
What kinda parts are you looking for? I've got a bit of everything, and anything I have is going on ebay. I had a bit of a hoarding thing going on, but it was cool when I was super into bikes because I could fix or build anything at any point in time. Ever since that last shop I worked in came within inches of making me hate bikes all together, I'm not too upset to see it go for the basement space, as well as the cash. Depending on the size and interest I'm gonna be listing all of it on ebay or craigslist, I've only got 4 things listed at the moment, but I've been busy the past 2 nights. By this weekend I should have a bunch of things on there....
http://shop.ebay.com/tt_four/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340
I'm thinking that seat would look pretty slick on your bike though.
I also have some old GS junk I need to get rid of too, I think I've got a front brake/line/cylinder, a seat, and a tail light all boxed up somewhere. Gotta remember to move that stuff along too.
was on the verge of going out of control so i rode it out. went down first hill, up second down second, up third and down third. befoerr gravity slowed me down. then i got passed by lance armstrong ( seriosuly ) thi=s was before i knew who he was.) from what i heard, he and a few others were using the ride as a trainer. hte hill was mont eagle the tires were IRC metro duro kevlar. and the bike was a giant yukon. that thign was a pig. a nice pig but a pig nonetheless. if my body cooperates, am pulling an all day volunteer gig at tour de cure in roane county tn. this june 5. am contempalting selling my gaming pc to purchase anothre bike engine kit for my scott. leg/back/kidney problems make pedaling rather iffy . bike tbh isnt that uncomforatble. btw am watchign the saddle. will wait until near clsoe and see if i cna swing it. if not ill have ot let it go away. will keep an eye on your listings though and see whats up. currently my scott has a can creek headset on it, and shimano 105 brakes and derraileurs on it, and finally got the cateye working. so as soon as i mtorise this thing. going to see how fast i can get her. tires are continental gatorskin. almsot new too. piece by piece i think i did pretty good on this trade.
Sounds like a good deal. You can get some amazing deals on bicycle stuff if you know what you're looking for. When they were my main hobby it used to literally pay for itself. I spend enough time on ebay, craigslist and at bikeswaps that I'd practically build bikes, ride them for a year, then still sell them for more than I paid for them and move on. I could do with a pair of gatorskins. I swear I get a flat tire every single time it rides here. I'm cheap with tires though. In the couple years that I worked in bike shops I collected so many used tires that still had plenty of life on them that I've only bought maybe 3-4 new tires over the past 6 years, 2 of which are still new and hanging in my basement. Someday I'll convince myself it's worth it to buy some nice thick tires so I don't have to worry about it anymore. I'd like to just find some tuffy liners, but I'm not sure if they make them for skinny tires.
the scott will absotively fly when i get her motorised. am applying for a part time sales job at a nearby bicycle shop. called biketopia. as teh crow flies itws about 14 miles away from my home
I've worked at 2 different shops. The first one was awesome, and I had a blast the entire time I worked there. The second was a life sucking venture that almost made me hate bikes. I quit before I got to that point, but my enthusiasm has severely diminished, which kinda sucks. Luckily enough we still had the GS stored away in a shed so it encouraged me to get back into riding.
Got taken out by a driver the other night. Hit-and-run, unfortunately. Bashed my helmet up, it's useless now, but my head is still good, albeit a bit sore. CT scan was thankfully clean, so no permanent damage. Unfortunately, the incident broke the steel fork on my Bridgestone. The Bridgestone is therefore toast, and on its way out (going to donate it to the Austin Yellow Bike Project).
This means yet ANOTHER bike will be entering my stable to serve as commuter and future race bike. Since I'll be racing the track bike weekly this summer, I can't keep converting it back and forth from track to commuter duty and back every week (it's a time consuming and annoying job). The track bike is also really uncomfortable for commuting because the frame is ridiculously stiff, and the position is very aggressive.
Can't commute on the carbon road bike. Can't commute on the high end mountain bike. A new bike won't hurt I guess!
I've got a lead on a new Specialized Tricross Singlecross on sale near by, so I'm going to check it out this Friday. Will end up racing it this winter, no doubt, and maybe even the fall and next spring if I have the time. There are plenty of 'cross races here in Texas, so I've got lots of opportunities to do so.
Whoa bro glad youre alright man. ive had at last count 14 near misses and one collision. wiht cars. within hte last month. the collision wasnt painful nor did it cause injury. well the only injury it caused, is when i bunnyhopped my trek 4500 onto hte hood of an 88 honda ( and back off again.) she pulled out in front WHILE looking at me. she started bitching about the tire tracks and slight dent on hood of her car, im like ok, YOU pulled out in front of me, I have witnesses. we can call the police right now. i can find somethign broken in this bike. and YOU will pay for it, or you can go on home. like it didnt happen. your choice. ( she went on home). i see this car on occasion, and it still has the tire track on teh hood
Oh man, that sucks, glad you're ok. The stuff people are capable of doing and completely ignoring is mind blowing.
Why is your bridgestone no good anymore without the fork? Did it dimple the top and downtubes, or do you just not want it without the matching fork? I'm sure someone else will appriciate it all the same. I used to have a fuji track pro, which as you mentioned is pretty much the same thing as your bike, and it was awful for riding on the street. I rode it to work maybe 2 times then I just sold it. Oddly enough, the cheapest of the frames I have, is the one that gets the most use and is one of the most comfortable city bikes I've had, which is an old pake frame, back when the seat tubes were all 26.8 and I had to ream it out to 27.2 to fit a normal post in. I can only fit a post in a couple inches now too, so I have to cut them all short, haha. Hope you find something new. I've been looking for an old cannondale touring frame forever now. I have a bunch of old 7 speed stuff with some bar end shifters that I've been holding onto for when I find one, it'll make a great bike for around town when the weather is questionable or I feel like going slow.
well i se this car coming out in slow mo. traffic is heavy so no go there, ditch on left, ( 35mph) no go there either. so it was tankfully a WTH gaveit what i had. and landed on the tires. ( on the car, and afterwards)
The Bridgestone isn't worth much of anything, even when it had the fork. The MB-5 and MB-6 are some of the most least valuable of the old Bridgestones, unfortunately. I barely used it, and it would have been an annoying commuter (30lbs of old mountain bike steel? no thank you). Now that the fork is broken, it's not even worth fixing it up again, time wise or money wise.
I haven't had much time to ride lately (finals), but before, and soon, I will be riding each of my bikes at least once a week. The road bike will be ridden at least twice a week, the track bike will be raced weekly, the new commuter will be used 5+ days per week, and the mountain bike at least once a week. Starting in the fall the track bike may see less use, but the mountain bike will see increased use (race season!). The road bike and commuter will continue on. Winter time? The commuter bike will turn into a race bike, as cyclocross season starts, possibly turning the track bike back into the commuter.
Then spring will roll around and road season will start back up again. I think I'm actually set on bikes... for now.
Ok, that makes more sense. I love the old bridgestone mountain bikes, but in this current day of Keirin frenzy, when I hear someone say bridgestone I usually assume they're talking about a track frame, so I was wondering why you were just going to hand it off for free.
Your situation is how I used to end up with so many bikes. I had 12 at one point. I swore I needed one bike to fit every possible use there was. I don't race, but I still needed certain ones depending on weather, distance, and my mood. Currently it's nothing but the 1.7 mile commute to and from work, so, boring, I know, but on the plus side if I hadn't started to get bored with bicycles I never would've pulled the GS out of storage after 4 years. Aside from wanting to find an old cannondale touring frame, the only other thing I really want to do someday is replace that pake frame with something else. My 3 main choices are a cannondale track frame, any generation, whether it was the old one from the early 90's, which I'm not paying for, a major taylor which I'd love, or a newer capo, I really don't care, or else I'd take either of the older KHS frames. Preferably the one with the curved seat tube or else the one with the sloping top tube(which my friend said he was going to sell me, and then backed out on...).
After that I feel like I'll definitely be done with new ones for a really long time.
can always put an engine kit on one of them :)
Hey TT, as broke as i am, i put in for the saddle ( your ebay sale) only up to 5, BUT i don thave much more than 15 in paypal. sooo thats the best i can do. BUT even if im outbid, it will bring more than it was. approaching 14 hours now. so last minute bidding war should commence shortly. must admit. with that enigne due to arrive the 18th. that saddle would look pretty good on the racebike
haha, thanks for the help. It was a pretty corny looking saddle, but I couldn't pass it up when I saw it.
I think there may be another bicycle casualty in my Buell pursuit. My right knee has been sore for a couple months, my knees have always been picky. This morning as I was getting ready for work I really didn't feel completely up to getting on the fixed gear bike that I usually ride. Knowing that's less that ideal for the condition of your knees I'm thinking I might just sell it and take it easy on bikes with gears for a while. I love riding fixed gears, they're by far the most fluid way of getting around town, but if I want to be able to walk when I'm old it's probably best if I give it a rest. Trying to leave every single redlight with that tall of gearing just isn't that great of an idea it turns out.
anyway, that'll put me down to 2 bikes!! I haven't had that few of bikes since I was in high school. It'll just be that cyclocross bike with slicks and riser bars, and that single speed mountain bike with slicks and fenders for winter riding, and I'll just use it to ride in the rain now. Still hoping to pick up an old touring frame eventually, and I'll just be able to ride that when the weather is questionable. The little bicycle stand I made in the basement to hold my and my wife's bikes is going to start looking pretty lonely since it already has one empty spot.