Messages

391

Gear Talk / Changing from Drop bars to Straight bars

« on: December 18, 2007, 10:30:54 pm »

As always the Sheldon Brown website has good info (by Tom Deakins) on this (and any other bicycle topic):
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html.
Photos of several types of bars and their efficacy for touring.

392

Gear Talk / Touring Pedals

« on: November 24, 2007, 05:47:31 pm »

Inappropriate footwear? Take any strong opinion with a grain of salt.  If you are comfortable and the bike moves down the road that's all that counts.

A touring pedal has a larger surface area to suppport your foot for the long hours that a tourist is on the bike. Racers do too but their shoes have stiffer soles to compensate, and but their goals are different; weight matters most. Also they don't care about walking ease off the bike. The only downside that I can see to the pedal with SPD on one side and platform on the other is that they weigh more (I ride them on my city bike, almost never with my cleated shoes); but for tourists does the 249 grams difference between the Shimano (SPD) M324@ 530 g. (platform on one side) and top of the line Dura Ace road pedal @281 g. matter? The quality of any Shimano pedal will be excellent.
As for toe clips being dangerous, more people fall over on their bikes with SPD pedals than they ever fell off riding with toe clips. That said, I ride SPD on tours exclusively.

393

Gear Talk / Kick Stands

« on: November 09, 2007, 11:03:48 pm »

Check out this foldable kickstand: http://www.click-stand.com.

394

Gear Talk / Brooks saddles and rain

« on: October 22, 2007, 09:54:53 pm »

If you're off the bike throw on a cover; there are several made including by Brooks. On the bike don't forget the water coming from underneath so put on the fenders. If you don't ride it soaked, not just wet from sweat, it will be fine. Riding it really soaked may cause it to droop.

395

Gear Talk / Rain Gear

« on: August 26, 2007, 11:15:18 pm »

Actually one of the 02 jackets does have a hood. However, I don't like hoods and I'd rather either use a shower cap (dime store for a buck or so, and great patterns!) which gives my better peripheral vision, or none at all if it is warm out.

396

Gear Talk / Rain Gear

« on: August 26, 2007, 07:24:08 pm »

For light rain, light weight, and low price,  02 raingear is good and found in many bike shops and http://www.rainshield.com/p_cycling.html.  For top shelf you can't beat Showers Pass (http://www.showerspass.com/) or Gore (http://www.gorebikewear.com/index2.html).

397

Gear Talk / BOB and old steel frames

« on: July 15, 2007, 10:55:39 pm »

It is pretty common to cut the skewer and tap it at its shorter length. Any good shop should be able to do this for you.

398

Gear Talk / Bike recommendation (under 1200 dollars US)

« on: July 06, 2007, 10:07:14 pm »

Let's not confuse the issue by saying that drop bars equals racing bikes.
 Most people find that for long days in the saddle touring a racing bike with its shorter wheelbase, and narrower, harder tires is not as comfortable as a touring bike. A touring bike affords riders the option of not bending over as much which is easier on our backs. Try to get the bars even with the saddle on a newer racing bike. I've never seen someone buy a touring bike complain about comfort, but lots of people who buy racing frames who are uncomfortable, especially the older rider (I'm 55 and that means me). Fit, fit, fit, touring frame or not is the key. FitKit is fine but a real pro can do it just as well by watching you ride on a trainer and asking you what kind of riding you do.

399

Gear Talk / women's shorts

« on: May 02, 2007, 11:39:36 pm »

Check out http://www.sheilamoon.com/, a maker of cycling clothes for women.

400

Gear Talk / women's shorts

« on: May 01, 2007, 11:53:46 pm »

Any of the major brands are good: Canari, Pearl Izumi, Cannondale, Sugoi, Hind, Giordana to name a few of the most common. Boure' has a great reputation but I haven't tried them (and can be made in custom sizes for folks with really big thighs but regular hips for instance). I have 5 PI, one Hind, one Cannondale. and one Sugoi and like them all. I buy what's on sale at local bike shop and REI-Outlet (always a short on sale at a great price). I tend not to buy the thickest pad which can move around more and cause more problems than it cures. There are choices in thickness of fabric: if you're in really hot weather, maybe a thinner lycra, but it won't last as long. Just remember, no underwear (seams can chafe) and use a lube like Chamois Buttr. Have a great century!

401

Gear Talk / Denali Trip bike question.

« on: May 01, 2007, 11:55:01 pm »

My only thought is that the longer the fender the better.

402

Gear Talk / mounting extra bottle cages

« on: March 12, 2007, 03:51:47 pm »

I don't recommend the velcro strap equipted cage. It wouldn't stay in place on the underside of my downtube. I stopped using it and just lashed the extra bottle or two on top of my BOB bag with bungies.

403

Gear Talk / Volpe vs. ??

« on: March 04, 2007, 10:15:54 pm »

Check out the Waterford RST series including the fantastic RST-22 using Reynolds 853 frame material. I think it is the middle ground you're looking for. I pull a trailer and have a rack on the back and handlebar bag up front. It is the most comfortable bike I've ever owned, in part because of the custom fit. Quick feel (which is of course partly a function of the wheel/tire setup) yet very comfortable for all-day-in-the-saddle rides. I ride 700/32's WITH fenders when I tour and 25's the rest of the time. Room for the new longer reach caliper brakes which are much nicer looking than cantis.   Hands off is no problem. While Waterford has some stock sizes I think every bike is custom made based on the fit recommended by the shop. For full disclosure I should admit that it is a Wisconsin shop and I'm writing from Madison. I visited the shop when mine was being made and it is very small and not like factory. Someone had to take time from their work to show me around. I've also visited Trek which is only 30 miles away and it is definitely a factory, not to take anything away from that fine company.

404

Gear Talk / Advice re Trek 520 frame size

« on: February 19, 2007, 11:00:06 pm »

You would be well served to find a shop that can do a professional bike fit. That is the best way to determine not only the size of the frame but how the saddle, cleats and bars are set up. If they don't know how to put you on the right sized frame or ask what type of riding you will be doing, leave. It's too important a task to ignore.  A setup for a tourist is different from one for fast club rides etc. The age of the rider is also a factor as older riders have more difficulty in aero positions. You can go to a pro shop and have the fit and take the data to the Trek shop if need be. I guarantee that yo won't be disappointed in paying the money for a proper fit! (It is worth it for anyone even if they aren't buying a new frame.)  That said, I think a 25" frame is about right, perhaps 24" if you're young.

405

Gear Talk / trekking handlebars

« on: February 19, 2007, 11:09:21 pm »

I love my Nitto mustache bars for around town but on long tours it has fewer position options, no drops for instance. Mustache has the advantage of greater braking power than on the tops of the STI hoods, and using bar end shifters or down tube shifters you always have friction mode in case the indexing goes awry.
For handlebar bags with Shimano STI I use something I think is called noodles which rerout the cables down and away from the bag.