Who here is a road (bi)cyclist?

I got back in the saddle in August, and it feels good.

Just turned 2000 miles.


ANyone else want to talk road bikes/rides?

but I'm interested in getting into duathlons and triathlons. I need to seriously upgrade my bicycle--it's an outdated, overly heavy mountain bike--and take swimming lessons--my swimming skills are sad.

How's the weather been? We've had 50-60 degrees up here this week, but RAIN...I don't have the proper clothes for this wet cool stuff...Nor the cold snowy stuff....

I'm trying to love my wind trainer, but it's NOT easy....

I'm hoping to get back on the road come March, because there's a 200 Km Brevet the end of April.....

:hi:


Weather's been great. Cool mornings (lo 60's) and warm days (lo-mid 80's). No need for longer lycra yet.

I don't like trainers much either. Damn boring. Although I do have to say that rollers can get rather exciting if you don't steer really really straight (I mean really).

Sorry that you can't get out more until March. Why not try getting some cold weather gear?

I'm working my mileage up every week. Longest ride so far, since restarting, has been 85 miles. Looking forward to breaking the century mark soon.

Also, I'm starting to think more seriously of a new lugged & silver braised custom steel frame bike with the modern stuff - 20 speed STI shifters, carbon forks, and faster wheels. Serious bucks, though.

I twisted a pair of wheels and banged up "The Lads" pretty good last winter trying to teach myself to ride rollers.
I'll get the hang of it this winter, though...Hoping to get some Xmas money (my favourite gift, ALWAYS thre right size and colour!) and spend it on tights and stuff before silly stuff like bills eats it up...

Who's frame are you thinking about getting? Bruce Gordon? Rivendell?

I saw some photos recently of a new Alex Singer and a Mariposa...DROOL!!!!!

I've put a few black tire skid marks on my walls and floor with the help of rollers.


I was looking at the Rivendell and the Spectrum websites, and they both make beautiful frames. (Man, the Ti frames from Spectrum are works of art. But, I'm going with steel.)

There's a local frame builder here, who used to work at Spectrum, and his frames are as good looking and well made as any. SLX tubing. You can put as much money into it as you like for extra fancy lugging, chain hanger, pump peg, & internal cable routing. Paint jobs are silky & exquisite - anything you want. Starting price is $1000 not including Ouzo or WoundUp carbon forks. He does Ti also, but the price is more.

Aside from forks, I'm going to avoid carbon anywhere else. I like metal - for stem & bar, seatpost (Dura Ace), seat (I prefer leather w/chrom molly rails), cranks (Campy Rec 10), & pedals (Dura Ace 7800 SPD SL).


Funny thing.. AFTER you get a nice bike, its not about the bike.. its about the rides. :)



:hi:

Peterson has some unusual ideas about bikes and sizing, but he has a large following of happy riders. Right now, he's championing the French 650B wheel size with his new "Saluki" model.
I've not seen the Spectrum site, but I've visited Mariposa and they make beautiful frames. Vanilla makes a pretty machine as well.

But again, these are all Randonneur-style bikes., and follow Peterson's "Retro-Grouch" style. Don't forget the internal lighting wiring and French-style chainstay protector...:-)

I'm not sure I would trust a carbon fork. I'm heavy guy, and stuff like recommended rider weights and such come into play. One of the denizens of the BOB-group related a story yesterday about how he was riding with his family, all on Riv Atlantis bikes, and they came across a fellow laying on the path in a huge world of hurt. Seems that he had hit a large rock in the approaching dusk and had totally shattered his carbon fork, along with his patella...Tore up his shoulder and wore-out his T-Mobile kit, too...Maybe when I get below 220#...

Well...I have a mountain bike, too, for riding through town as the streets of Boston would eat my road bike alive. But my road bike is my go to bike for rides.

I haven't been in the bikes since July, though....tore some things in my foot, and have to have surgery next month. Then it's on the trainer....

How often do you ride? And where?

:hi:

Sorry to hear about your foot. Ouch!


I live in the Miami area. So far I've only been riding here too. I try to get out there 5-6 days a week (can't always do it, so on average its 4-5 days a week). Now that daylight savings time is here I head out early (at dawn) before work during the week for 25-35 mile rides, and a little later on weekends, as well as a lot longer distances. Longer rides go from Coral Gables to Key Biscayne and then south on Old Cutler Road down to Homestead and back (about 80 miles). There are no bike lanes in S Fla.. gotta pay attention and ride fast & straight. I have lost 25lbs of beergut since August.

I am re-addicted.



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Take care of that foot, and keep in touch w/your progress.

can be found right here ...

i used to belong to the Charles River Wheelmen in the Boston area ... i haven't been doing much riding the last 2 years ... tough to ride with my welsh terrier on the bike ... i'm a roadie all the way though ...

check this link for a few laughs ...

:hi:

The CRW site has some great looking rides.

Thanks for the humor link. Funny stuff.


Hope you get more chances to ride. :)

That's for those nutcases in Chicago.

:hi:

Go to see you're a rodie. :thumbsup:


Where do you ride?

To and from work, with a variety of rides during the week, though my favorite is out to the Columbia River, where there is a great bike path between the I-205 Bridge and the 1-5 Bridge. I also spend a lot of time going up and down Mt. Tabor and riding around the West Hills. Most weekends we get out for a ride in the Willamette Valley or along the coast, and we usually spend a couple of weekends each year riding in Central Oregon near Bend. How about yourself?