Messages

1

General Discussion / vancouver bc to san francisco (or even further to tijuana mex) along coast

« on: August 18, 2011, 07:17:53 pm »

I once did that trip back in '82, as part of a trip that started in Toronto Ontario and had me bicycling across canada to vancouver bc and then over to victoria.

the last leg along the stunningly gorgeous old 101 pacific coast highway was just that: stunningly gorgeous.
...i'm thinking of redoing it again...only this time all the way down to the Mex border
(i'm now nearly 50, so worry if my body could 'do it'...but hey, just gotta get in better shape and lose 25lb too)

any books with good pics one can recommend to inspire me?

how long should I estimate it would take (can't remember how long last time, but i was doing 80miles/day on average)
in all my 2.5 months I only had about 5 days of rain....amazing.

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Gear Talk / Re: serotta rapid tour: any impressions / thoughts (might be offered one)

« on: July 02, 2011, 03:21:29 am »

hey now i get it (duh)...sorry for not reading what i'd copied and pasted:  the seller has over 10 bikes for sale and one of those listed was listed with its gruppo noted beside the serotta i'm interested in... i copied and pasted but due to some layout both series of gruppos came out (and I didn't check...my bad, so i understand the dubious tones).

so tis cleared up now below

Rear Derailleur  Ultegra 6500, long cage
Shifters  Ultegra 6500
Brakes  Ultegra 6500
Seatpost  Ritchey
Hubs Ultegra 6500

I'm guessing the other person thinks fraud because the above descriptions make no sense.  Chorus is a Campagnolo group.  Ultegra is Shimano group.  You cannot have a Chorus Ultegra rear derailleur, shifters, or hubs.  As for the seatpost, you can't have a Chorus Ritchey seatpost either.  Campagnolo and Ritchey are two separate companies.  The person who wrote this advertisement is clueless about bike parts.  I would not trust anything about this bike.  Someone may be selling a mythical bike and just grabbed words off the internet they thought would appeal to a broad range of people.  Not realizing the names they combined made the description nonsensical.

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Gear Talk / Re: serotta rapid tour: any impressions / thoughts (might be offered one)

« on: June 30, 2011, 03:40:18 pm »

happy riding:

RE: your post above.

i don't understand why you think 'fraud'?  they're older series components, not the newer versions.
i've spoken with seller and his friend back and forth alot over last few days...am doing this via paypal
to protect myself too.

my gut tells me all is legit. (and i'm pretty cautious)

lastly if it doesn't work, I'll just sell it...not a big investment here.
lots of serotta savvy people would love to get this frame, I'm sure.

I'll use this steed, if it fits well, to gather data on what I do and
don't want in a sport geo, should I next summer order a
Hampsten Strada Bianca (unsure if it'll be Ti or steel, however).

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Gear Talk / Re: serotta rapid tour: any impressions / thoughts (might be offered one)

« on: June 29, 2011, 11:13:39 am »

tt spec that i require is 52-53...this one is a 53, ..st is fine

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Gear Talk / Re: serotta rapid tour: any impressions / thoughts (might be offered one)

« on: June 28, 2011, 02:15:00 pm »

Serotta  2000 Rapid Tour and gruppo
(under 1000 miles) for $1100
NOTE: I was to consider an IF club racer for 2500-3k, but thought, keep the extra cash, enjoy this and find out better what I do and don't like in a frame to then consider a custom hampsten strada bianca next spring.
...thoughts?

Tubeset Columbus  Colorado C3S
Crankset Ultegra 6500, 170, 52/42/30
Front Derailleur 
 Ultegra 6500, clamp‐on
Rear Derailleur Chorus Ultegra 6500, long cage
Shifters Chorus Ultegra 6500
Cassette
9‐speed, 12‐23
Brakes Chorus Ultegra 6500
Seatpost Chorus Ritchey
Saddle San Marco Ponza
Bars
Nitto Noodle 42
Stem VO threadless adapter & VO 100
Hubs Chorus Ultegra 6500
Spokes DT straight, 3x DT butted, 3x
Rims Mav Mavic MA2/32
Tires  Continental Ultra Race

6

Gear Talk / serotta rapid tour: any impressions / thoughts (might be offered one)

« on: June 24, 2011, 09:35:30 pm »

I have a Rivendell Atlantis for commuting/touring (26" rims) and while I love it also
 wish for another bike that's quicker yet also not a race bike: you know the gig:
 has 42-43cm chainstays, can take fenders/28-32mm tires....more upright
...comfortable for long rides and yet can also be a performer when asked.

i've been offered a serotta rapid tour, but am having probs finding more info on it ie geo
 etc....just want to know if any past or current owners could chime in with their impressions

cheers

7

Classifieds / wanted: sport touring frame with 52-53 tt/clearance for fenders 28mm tires

« on: May 18, 2011, 09:52:36 am »

wanted: sport touring frame with 52-53 tt/clearance for fenders 28mm tires
i stand 5'6", with 80cm standover.

i have a touring bike and wish to grab something faster for centuries, fast club riding etc.
...something comfortable for all day long rides but can get very performance oriented too when
you kick it into gear....ti or steel, can take fenders and 28mm tires.
...ideas: gunnar sport (52), marinoni sportive, hampsten crema or sb, IF club racer.
cheers

8

Gear Talk / Re: Gunnar frames - are they any good????

« on: September 07, 2010, 09:18:45 pm »

check out their newer 'fast lane' model....has disc and can run fatter tires (up to 38" i think with fenders) and even handle loads of up to 40-50 lbs...not a true touring gig and yet not a true sport frame....this frame and the 'grand tour' were ones that Richard (schwinn) suggested I look at and even tweak in my search for an 'all rounder' (for both touring and randonneuring, even if I had to swap out a ligher wheel set and remove the racks for less weight, which I'm cool with).

9

Gear Talk / Re: Which touring bike?

« on: September 07, 2010, 09:16:02 pm »

just got a note from salsa in my inquiry into a true allrounder (good for both touring and randonneuring) and was told to hold off as they're coming out with a new and interesting concept for their 2011 line...''won't be steel'' is what i was also told (and hopefully no aluminum...then TI?)

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Gear Talk / Re: selling atlantis (too big) need suggestions pls for a versatile allrounder

« on: September 07, 2010, 09:13:29 pm »

yet if you're too far forward you also can place too much upper body weight unnecessarily on one's hand/arms/shoulders too, thus causing more fatigue and strain....

it's always a fine balance given the kind of ride (and goals) that you're seeking, as per peter white suggest in his famous and respected article 'How to fit a bicycle' see the 'fore/aft position'...open and scroll down.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

whittierider:
RE: where to buy couldn't find that interesting sounding ''bontrager reversible seat post'' you mentioned below (couldn't find it on bontragers' website... in the link provided here....http://www.bontrager.com/products/components/seatposts/ i could be blind of course)
"finally found satisfaction with Bontrager's reversible seat posts which let you put the clamping mechanism in the front instead of only the back like most seat posts.  Now I can be comfortable on the bike all day.  My whole family now prefers the reversed seat posts."

Tri bike geometry places the saddle way forward, compared to a tour bike. Many tri people slide their saddle all the way forward, on top of that. Then, many of them ride even further forward on the nose of the saddle. This maximizes usage of the hamstrings and glutes. Yes, it's primarily to save the quads for the run. But, many of these people are putting out huge watts for 112 miles at time. Reading many training logs, you'll find these competitors regularly putting in as many as 170 miles, on their training rides, on their tri bikes, multiple times per week.

Having a forward seating position does not hurt knees, too low of seat height will. As one slides the seat forward, the distance to the bottom bracket is reduced. So, a seat height adjustment will be in order.

Like "whittierider", I run my seat all the way forward. This rotates the hips up under your body and allows your weight to rest on your sit bones. Having a bike stretched out causes you to ride on your perrineal region-not good.

I'd still suggest working off the components already on the bike. Utilize the adjustments and try different positions. Throwing parts at the bike without experimenting with what you've already got just leads to further confusion.

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Gear Talk / Re: selling atlantis (too big) need suggestions pls for a versatile allrounder

« on: September 07, 2010, 04:35:04 pm »

thanks...actually even grant (of rivendell) in his reply to me on this inquiry suggested a better riding position is always more back than front for that very purpose (using hips vs knees)...of course this is all personal by one's mechanics, but in general you get my drift i'm sure....

and yes I will continue to tweak...maybe go back to moustache bar...or trekking...or albatross

thanks everyone.....

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Gear Talk / Re: selling atlantis (too big) need suggestions pls for a versatile allrounder

« on: September 07, 2010, 01:14:05 pm »

and no the suggested fit for me was either a 51 (53cm top tube) or a 53 (54.5 toptube)...bike fit later tells me i need a max 53 toptube......

 I'll fiddle with swapping out bars (from noodles to moustache...

.maybe even those butterfly/trekking bars...look weird, i have a pair but they're VERY versatile...only wish they weren't so wide (59cm!!)...

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Gear Talk / Re: selling atlantis (too big) need suggestions pls for a versatile allrounder

« on: September 07, 2010, 11:59:16 am »

my top tube for the 53" is 54.5....i'm using a nitto dirt drop to shoot the bars upwards (80mm but at a huge slant upwards) vs a traditional 80 mm stem...seems my bikefit suggests max toptube of 53....

don't wish to move saddle forward too much as a bikefitter for guru bikes says you're using your knees more instead of your more powerful hips (which grant peterson of rivendell agreed with: he also suggests trying to work with it and that a 53" should be ok).

i might try swapping out the  nitto noodles with moustache bars to bring the bars closer to me, thus that way i could keep the seat positioned back better (it's midway right now on the seat clamp) to use the hips/better pedalling positions as grant suggested.

...and yeah...i' haven't been out much cycling this season,....so maybe it's also just my body feeling 'out of position' for the first while.

RE: '' I finally found satisfaction with Bontrager's reversible seat posts which let you put the clamping mechanism in the front instead of only the back like most seat posts"...I will have to investigate that seat post...thanks!

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Gear Talk / selling atlantis (too big) need suggestions pls for a versatile allrounder

« on: September 04, 2010, 07:06:52 pm »

drats...was seeing a specialist bike fitter today (guru bikes dealer in vancouver bc where I live) and it was determined my atlantis too long (53", pinstripped, honjo fenders, dynamo light,... the works...only 300km on it too)...anyhoo so I am in search of a replacement.

ideally i'd like to get a bike that can be used for both loaded touring if need be but is also spritely enough (even wheel change, remove back rack for less weight) could be a comfortable randonneur, too.

......some ideas....marinoni turismo....gunnar sport (use a trailer instead of panniers for heavier riding)...or gunnar  crosshairs (does higher bottom bracket really make that much of a diff?...and is there that much of a diff? in models?)...or for $300 more get a tweaked waterford gunnar....

cheaper ideas: salsa casserolle....or vaya....or specialized tricross (have only started to research both these bikes)

other thoughts?
cheers and thanks
joe aka canali
vancouver bc

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General Discussion / Rivendell Atlantis owners...share your thoughts

« on: April 29, 2005, 01:42:42 am »

I have a surly cross check (love it!) and have always lusted after a bike from Rivendell...well found a very slightly used one and am going to plunk down my money for it....the only problem is that my cross check runs 700c wheels while my Rivendell (due to my shorter stature) will only accept 26" wheels, but the owner said I can get the same speed (as I love to fly on the flats) by simply upping the larger chainring a bit.

Anyway, I am excited and so feel free to share your thoughts on your Atlantis (pros, cons (if any) with me.
Email me@ joseph.collins@telus.com