Big Bike Thread

[Reality|Bites]

Go to a shop and try a 19"

 

[ichabod crane]

Just ordered some new handle bars 135grams

 

[Inquisitor]

I've been ogling those Apparently carbon bars aren't so great with lock-on grips, is that right?

 

[ichabod crane]

I've been ogling those Apparently carbon bars aren't so great with lock-on grips, is that right?

Will tell you when they arrive, but I know some people with the standard Monkey lites and other carbon bars and they are using lock on's no probs

 

[R0B75]

Probably 21" as I'm 6ft 2in, take a 34 leg trouser and weight 14.5 stone.

Yeah, you'd need a 21" or XL frame size.

 

[Sagalout]

Any fellow roadies kicking off their winter training schedules? I'm still doing my commuting on my FCR 1 (30 miles a day) plus 3 days a week of 1 hour at least on Bianchi 928 C2C on a turbo trainer.

Only just got back into road bikes. Used to do a lot of time trialling years back, but this year got into mountain biking which re-ignited my love for cycling in general. Unfortunately after spending a shed load on an MTB the cupboard is a bit bare this year for a road bike, so I've actually just spent about £100 on reconditioning an old 1980's (I think) Vitus with Reynolds 531 tubing. The bike was free, given to my dad about 5 years ago but its been rotting in his garden so was all a bit of a state. The componentry on it wasnt bad - Shimano 105 dual pivot brakes, Shimano 105 front mech and Mavic wheels. I added the following:

New seat
Shimano Tiagra rear mech: £10 from LBS 'box of bits'
Shimano SPD pedals - £10 from same box of bits!
Tektro brake levers - £10, again from box of bits
New consumeables - casette, cables, inner tubes, tyres, chain, bar tape etc
Rattle can respray and a couple of tins of WD40 to clean it all up.

Plan is to use it as a training bike to get competetive level of fitness over winter and then buy a decent carbon framed bike in time for the new season. Took it out for a first 20 mile run at 7am this morning. It actually rides really nicely, and the running gear is silky smooth. Just got a slight issue with fork judder on braking that I need to look at, but otherwise I'm really happy with it.

Planning on doing 3 x early morning rides a week, around 20 miles each plus a decent ride on a weekend, although this will often be an MTB ride depending on the weather etc. Never used a turbo trainer so not sure on that - I think I'd get bored but I guess I'll see how the weather wroks out!

I'll upload some before an after pics later

Edit - heres a few before and during pics:

Oh dear...

A few cans of WD40 later...

Pink just didnt suit me....

And all done...

So much more rewardign bringing an old quality bike back from the dead rather than buying new cheap junk

 

[andi]

Probably 21" as I'm 6ft 2in, take a 34 leg trouser and weight 14.5 stone.

I'm 6'3, 14.5 stone and my rockhoppers a 19. You need to sit on what you choose at least, preferably ride it. Even the same frame size will feel different from bike to bike.

 

[Ironic Namesake]

Tried this today, need to try another way of mounting as very rattly this way on the handlebars - and position too high (otherwise cables get in the way!)

 

[R0B75]

I shall be getting one of those soon. Did you get the extreme sports kit aswell? It has helmet and handlebar mounts amongst other things.

 

[Ironic Namesake]

Yup, got the extreme sports kit too - used the handlebar mount that came with that.

 

[R0B75]

How much did you pay for it in total? Seen it for around £70 all in.

 

[Ironic Namesake]

Can't remember the exact amount but was around the £70 mark with special delivery

 

[Bennah]

After working that out, I'm going to calculate the number of bikes bought since you first said you were looking for a new one

The 'rents are moving away soon so Ive got to save up for my own place/house, luxury's have been thrown out of the window atm

Still got plans to build the Cove Handjob though. Probably completed, come 2012

 

[SDK^]

And all done...

So much more rewardign bringing an old quality bike back from the dead rather than buying new cheap junk

Wow, what a turn around; it looks stunning.

 

[Reality|Bites]

How much better is a Cove Handjob frame compared to a Rockhopper frame?

It must cost at least £2k to build a decent bike with a Handjob huh?

 

[Randell Floyd]

Well it was bound too happen one day, sadly it was the day I was having my last ride on the bike before selling her.

Yep my first proper off.

Llandegla, coming down a flat hill like I have a million times, going about 20mph and I must have slipped a little on something under the gravel, tried to catch it and ended up going over the bars.

After the initial shock I knew I'd popped my shoulder out, so being in the trade I knew that, with the car far away it was a case of popping it back in for the sake of the pain.

Just out of A&E and lucky there's no fracture at all, and no obvious muscle damage, time will tell on that one. Sod's law I have a Welsh Ambulance fitness test coming up in the next couple of weeks! Bike came out of it perfect due to the way I fell, and now just aching all over!

 

[Supercow]

Isn't it a little odd filming your commute/effectively just the road and traffic Ironic Namesake ?

 

[Bennah]

How much better is a Cove Handjob frame compared to a Rockhopper frame?

It must cost at least £2k to build a decent bike with a Handjob huh?

Around £400 for the frame. I estimate it will cost around £1600 for the whole build with a bit of luck.

 

[6thElement]

Ordered a Fisher Paragon 29er for a test ride this weekend. If I like it I will be buying it.

Shiny shiny.

I've had one since '06. Mine is a 19" and I'm 6'2", my bikes vary between the L and XL sizes.

 

[weescott]

I've been ogling those Apparently carbon bars aren't so great with lock-on grips, is that right?

maybe 10 years ago. I'm running the Monkeylite XC's (claimed 155g) on my Heckler with Yeti Lock On's. You have to be careful when installing/uninstalling them that you don't score the bars, but the first few layers are cosmetic only so you don't have to worry about it too much.