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Gear Talk / Re: Tips for avoiding back pain at night
« Last post by staehpj1 on Today at 11:22:12 am »I'll emphasize the comment about right level of inflation. For me that means just enough to keep me from bottoming out., but no more.
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Gear Talk / Re: Tips for avoiding back pain at night
« Last post by John Nelson on Today at 08:25:39 am »I use a 2.5" thick air mattress and cannot sleep well with anything thinner. Back pain is such a tricky thing. You'll probably need to experiment with different pads and different firmness of inflation.
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Classifieds / 1982 Trek 720 21" Reynolds 531
« Last post by lotomojo on Today at 07:28:52 am »Beautiful vintage Trek touring frame with original components.
This is one of the all-time classic touring frames sought out by bike lovers everywhere. It's hard for me to part with, but I bought it 3 years ago and have ridden it <100 miles as I've become more of a gravel tourer. It's in fantastic shape!
See pictures for detail and I'm happy to answer any questions. I switched out the stem, but the original stem is included as well. Probably fits best someone in the 5'7" - 5'10" range.
$799.
This is one of the all-time classic touring frames sought out by bike lovers everywhere. It's hard for me to part with, but I bought it 3 years ago and have ridden it <100 miles as I've become more of a gravel tourer. It's in fantastic shape!
See pictures for detail and I'm happy to answer any questions. I switched out the stem, but the original stem is included as well. Probably fits best someone in the 5'7" - 5'10" range.
$799.
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Gear Talk / Re: Underwear
« Last post by bogiesan on Today at 07:12:24 am »I ride aa recumbent without shorts.
No, I don't.
I run triathlon-style jammers with seamless synthetic briefs.
Jammers are basically bike shorts without the chamois or padding.
Everyone finds their own recipe for maintining the comfort of their nether parts and the preventing various afflictions that can occur on long distance rides.
Bicycling shorts have evolved to the current designs over nearly a century. You need to separate the hype from practicality (you do not need to run $300 Cinelli bibs worn by Tour d'France stars) but you need to find a style of padding that fits your anatomy while providing protection from your chosen saddle. Because you will be sitting on it for many hours, I suggest you find the saddle you will love first.
No, I don't.
I run triathlon-style jammers with seamless synthetic briefs.
Jammers are basically bike shorts without the chamois or padding.
Everyone finds their own recipe for maintining the comfort of their nether parts and the preventing various afflictions that can occur on long distance rides.
Bicycling shorts have evolved to the current designs over nearly a century. You need to separate the hype from practicality (you do not need to run $300 Cinelli bibs worn by Tour d'France stars) but you need to find a style of padding that fits your anatomy while providing protection from your chosen saddle. Because you will be sitting on it for many hours, I suggest you find the saddle you will love first.
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Gear Talk / Tips for avoiding back pain at night
« Last post by Saburo on May 18, 2013, 07:51:49 pm »On my few tours so far, I haven't had a problem with my back while riding but I have had extensive pain at night. No matter what I can't sleep through the night due to lower back pain and stiffness. I use a Therma-rest pad but it doesn't seem to help with comfort. I have trouble sleeping on my side or stomach though I tried that. Any tips would be great because that's really the only thing I don't like about touring...
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Classifieds / Re: FS:Surly LHT 60cm 26" FULLY LOADED LOTS OF XTRAS!
« Last post by popeyespal on May 18, 2013, 07:06:38 pm »SOLD! Thank you all.
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General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)
« Last post by John Nelson on May 18, 2013, 05:41:07 pm »I prefer the non-self-inflating pads. Yes, it takes more work to blow them up, but you get a lot more comfort for the same weight and they take up less space. But the only way to find out what you need is to try it--multiple times. Sleep on it outdoors (so you can check both comfort and insulation). Everybody is different.
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General Discussion / Re: Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?
« Last post by DaveB on May 18, 2013, 01:53:49 pm »Yes, the "performance" and racing market is driving the ever increasing cog count and ever lighter component market but, "obsolete" components are available lon after they have become obsolete. You can still buy 7-speed cassettes (or even 5 and 6-speed freewheels) in a fair range of gearing and 8 and 9-speed will be supported for years and years to come. Of all the major manufacturers, Shimano has been the best at supporting older groups and providing useful touring components. Campy is strictly focused on the racing and performance market and SRAM isn't much better.
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General Discussion / Re: Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?
« Last post by pdlamb on May 18, 2013, 01:20:03 pm »You've hit the nail on the head. The manufacturers are driving the change, and it's the marketers driving the manufacturers. I don't know if there's anything consumers can do, unfortunately.
It goes like this. Component manufacturers (Shimano, Campangolo, and SRAM) sell the overwhelming majority of their output to bike makers. Bike makers want to sell lots of bikes, naturally; it's how they make money. And most of the people they sell these bikes to don't know what they need, so they buy the bling ads and bike magazines tell them to buy. Laterally stiff yet vertically compliant? Buy that one (never mind it's impossible)! Eight speed? No good, there's a 9 speed next to it. And look! 10 speeds! Even better, 11 speeds! Best of all, 11 speeds with electronic shifting! Who cares if it covers the same gearing range as the outdated 9 speed (or even 7), more is better! It might not shift because the battery's dead? No problem, I'll only ever ride 100 miles in a day, in 5 hours. (5 hours 'cause I know I'm slow!) Who says so? Buycycling magazine and its ilk, which exist to (you guessed it!) sell magazine ads, and oh, maybe some subscriptions too, so they can sell more ads.
Any bike manufacturer who tries to fight the "more is better" mantra is going to lose sales. Likewise any bike shop. So they'll keep selling 9-speeds this year as "cheap" bicycles, but you know you really ought to "upgrade" to 11 if you can afford it.
Pretty soon there's no demand for 9 speeds (like there wasn't any demand for 8 speeds a few years ago). The manufacturers used to make 9 speeds in the top of the line, then it was the bottom of the line, pretty soon it'll be out of production, period, and you'll have to troll for used parts on Ebay to keep that group going. Or better yet, buy the a new bike with the new 14 speed group that will be announced in Next Month's Buycycling magazine!
Buy what you want, buy the spare parts to keep going as long as you can afford to; as I wrote above, I don't see any way to beat down the rampant stupidity. Sit down with a mechanical engineer who's been around a while and ask him about some of the claims -- he'll get a good laugh out of them.
It goes like this. Component manufacturers (Shimano, Campangolo, and SRAM) sell the overwhelming majority of their output to bike makers. Bike makers want to sell lots of bikes, naturally; it's how they make money. And most of the people they sell these bikes to don't know what they need, so they buy the bling ads and bike magazines tell them to buy. Laterally stiff yet vertically compliant? Buy that one (never mind it's impossible)! Eight speed? No good, there's a 9 speed next to it. And look! 10 speeds! Even better, 11 speeds! Best of all, 11 speeds with electronic shifting! Who cares if it covers the same gearing range as the outdated 9 speed (or even 7), more is better! It might not shift because the battery's dead? No problem, I'll only ever ride 100 miles in a day, in 5 hours. (5 hours 'cause I know I'm slow!) Who says so? Buycycling magazine and its ilk, which exist to (you guessed it!) sell magazine ads, and oh, maybe some subscriptions too, so they can sell more ads.
Any bike manufacturer who tries to fight the "more is better" mantra is going to lose sales. Likewise any bike shop. So they'll keep selling 9-speeds this year as "cheap" bicycles, but you know you really ought to "upgrade" to 11 if you can afford it.
Pretty soon there's no demand for 9 speeds (like there wasn't any demand for 8 speeds a few years ago). The manufacturers used to make 9 speeds in the top of the line, then it was the bottom of the line, pretty soon it'll be out of production, period, and you'll have to troll for used parts on Ebay to keep that group going. Or better yet, buy the a new bike with the new 14 speed group that will be announced in Next Month's Buycycling magazine!
Buy what you want, buy the spare parts to keep going as long as you can afford to; as I wrote above, I don't see any way to beat down the rampant stupidity. Sit down with a mechanical engineer who's been around a while and ask him about some of the claims -- he'll get a good laugh out of them.
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General Discussion / Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?
« Last post by pedaler on May 18, 2013, 12:19:55 pm »I know it's a bit late in the day, but I've finally realised that my numerous 9speed set-ups will become obsolete (at least the quality stuff) in due course. I get the feeling that its the manufacturers who are forcing this upon us.
Am I alone with this view? What can be done to retain good-old 9 speed, if indeed that's what we want? I was content with 8 speed at one time and in my youth, aspired to 10 speed, but that was 2*5.
Are there cyclists out there who have actually requested this change? Plenty are embracing it but is it because of a perceived improvement, the reduction in choice or just owning the latest stuff?
Let's see where this gets to. If I'm classed a stick-in-the-mud then so be it, but at lest I'll know I'm in the minority. But if I'm not a minority case, what are we to do - who's the customer? Manufacturers should always be asking themselves this except in this case, the main 3 are trying to outwit each other at our expense and my irritation.
Am I alone with this view? What can be done to retain good-old 9 speed, if indeed that's what we want? I was content with 8 speed at one time and in my youth, aspired to 10 speed, but that was 2*5.
Are there cyclists out there who have actually requested this change? Plenty are embracing it but is it because of a perceived improvement, the reduction in choice or just owning the latest stuff?
Let's see where this gets to. If I'm classed a stick-in-the-mud then so be it, but at lest I'll know I'm in the minority. But if I'm not a minority case, what are we to do - who's the customer? Manufacturers should always be asking themselves this except in this case, the main 3 are trying to outwit each other at our expense and my irritation.