The Bicycling Thread

[955i]

You got the ride in just in time, it seems. I might ride in some misty stuff this afternoon before the white stuff appears later today here in Oklahoma.

That path looks like fun. Thanks for the photo of the locomotive. It is interesting how the boiler support is designed. I never get tired of looking at or being around these steam locomotives. They are so very complicated, it's easy to see why the transition to diesel was revolutionary rather than gradual.

[Bobby]

I just pulled the trigger on a new Specilized Stumpjumper Evo Pro. It will replace my ten year old Santa Cruz 5010C, which has been a great, do everything bike. Really looking forward to the enhanced downhill capability of the Stumpy.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

Aluminum or Carbon? Either way it looks like a blast. Congrats.

[wildbears]

Congrats!!!

[Bobby]

Thanks. Full carbon.

[Bobby]

[Bobby]

Yeah, it never ceases to amaze me how much pounding these spindly bikes can take. I've been mountain biking hard for 30 years and have only broken one bike, and that was a strange situation. I fell off a narrow trail onto some large tallis and one of the rear stays struck a sharp rock. And even though the carbon fiber stay was broken it didn't come completely apart. I ended up riding it another ten miles back to my truck. Amazing material.

[955i]

Bobby, my son-in-law (good racer) and I (virgin Cyclecrosser) raced in Tulsa last year. Trav broke the frame on his new Ibis Cyclecross bike on a routine creek crossing that I had gone through several times with no problem. Ibis DID NOT STAND BEHIND it. It was only after his well known local bike shop in Houston (West End Cycles) got involved and got ugly, did Ibis even meet him 1/2 way. And THAT carbon frame did not look spindly. My aluminum Bianchi is much slower and never overstressed. LOL

[Bobby]

The new Stumpjumper is rather stout, not spindly looking at all. I guess the same can be said for motorcycles as well as bikes, it always helps to have the local shop on your side when dealing with companies. My bike shop worked with Santa Cruz which is how I ended up with a new 5010 frame. I ended up paying a little less than wholesale for it, which I thought was pretty good since my Blur was eight years old.

[802Mike]

Just saw this somewhere:

[955i]

Mike, that's sorta true. Interestingly, cyclist and motorcyclists share the common enemy - cagers. It might be because of this that we commonly get friendly waves (Harley low-hand-wave) from even the scuzziest looking bikers.

[wildbears]

My last crash was due to a cager cutting me off at an intersection.

[ZATO]

You got that right!

[Lee]

Highs in the low 30s for the next week so I'm probably done for 2020

20 miles today. Sunny with temps in the upper 40s and winds 20 to 30 mph.
Had a Bald Eagle do a low pass over me just when I stopped to look at the Geese.

[wildbears]

I have an ancient pair of ski googles that I use for rollerblading in the cold. They partially obstruct peripheral vision so haven't tried them yet for bicycling. Not sure how compatible they are with eyeglasses.

[955i]

30 minutes on the trainer this evening. Knee's fair. Didn't seem to hurt it much. I try to show discretion once in a while.

[wildbears]

30 minutes on a trainer can be like a couple of hours on pavement...

[Pete_Tallahassee]

I can't do it, I'm a wussy. I hate it under 60? and I don't go out under 50.

[955i]

Pete, don't be a baby!

[Bobby]

Road the new Stumpjumper Evo yesterday. Had rain the night before so the granitic trail was super tacky. The supple suspension made the bike feel like it was glued to the trail. Soaked up so much more of the bumps than my 10 year old Santa Cruz. If anyone is interested in this type of bike, they are selling now for about $4500, down from a MSRP of $6600. They won't last long at that price.

[955i]

I'm glad I'm not in the mood to buy a $6,000 suspended mountain bike. I'm sure that would be a good way to hurt myself.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

My thoughts exactly

[955i]

After three years of faultless service with quick and positive smooth shifts up and down, my Campy Veloce shifter went "Poof!" Broke an internal part that is unavailable on the left side shifter. Oh, well. You have to replace the whole mechanism, so that is what will be ordered ASAP. In the meantime, it looks like I will be keeping the Merckx on the dadgum trainer.

[Lee]

On my old Trek 2300 road bike the right side shifter went bad. The Ultegra 9 speed shifter was no longer available and I started to watch ebay for a used one.
After a year or two I found a new take off 105 shifter that was period correct and bought that.

[wildbears]

My vintage Record chainrings are still in good shape.
But....
New replacements are not available.
The "shifters" are vintage Record downtube friction type with nylon washers.
If the washers break or wear out they can't be replaced.
The next step will be an Ultegra or a Dura-Ace 11-spd groupset.
The switch over will be DIY as the local bike shop would charge 3 x the internet price to purchase and install it.

[955i]

Fortunately, a true bicycle mechanic was test riding the Merckx when it broke. He was previously a Campagnola rep and has close contacts with people in the biz. A fix is likely in the works, but it was interesting what he said about the Campagnola company and their attitude toward the normal customer. Apparently, racing and technological innovation is placed far above customer relations or even profit. He said that the company brass likes customers and profits, but just doesn't pay much attention to either when it comes to inventory, design, or sales. Hence, Shimano's complete dominance.

That said, my lower range Campy groupo was terrific these past three years. I feel it is equal to, or better, than Ultegra stuff I have used. (I haven't ridden any bikes with the latest mechanical Dura-Ace groups.) Interestingly, the rim brakes are terrific. They have enough grip to lock the wheels easily, but enough feel that you don't. I don't know about a mountain descent in the rain because I haven't done one, but other than in such a scenario, I like them much better than the mid-level discs on my Bianchi Zurigo.

[wildbears]

Great Allegheny Passage!

Just got my Trail Guide for this bicycle trail in Pennsylvania.

About 150 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD.

Mostly gravel.

I'm thinking about 30 to 45 miles each morning.

Then meet up with the wife, who'll be driving the sag wagon, for local touring, cuisine, and overnight accommodations.

We're currently thinking it will take about a week.

The trail continues on to Washington DC for another 180 miles or so. (C&O Canal Towpath Trail).

Maybe we'll save that section for next year.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

Go for it!

[Lee]

That would be a fun way to do the trip.

[Aa3jy]

Ride everyday at low tide on the Worlds Most Famous Beach?

[Pete_Tallahassee]

When do you head across the peninsula or has that bridge stopped you?

[Aa3jy]

Ride everyday at low tide on the Worlds Most Famous Beach?

[Pete_Tallahassee]

Sorry to hear. Hope that's resolved with good results.

[Capnrip]

Wife and I got out Sunday to do the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail down on the VA/NC border. This canal was dug by hand during the late 1700s. I'm sure snakebites were plentiful. Escaped slaves used to hide out in the Dismal Swamp too. I helpd a guy bring a boat up through here a few years ago and I was impressed by the old stone mile markers. A couple of pics.