The Official DMF Bicycle Thread

[triangleforge]

Thanks Randy! I'll do that!  [moto]

I'll second Randy's & Stateprez' advice -- ride it like you buy it for a while, and then decide if anything needs changing. Because they're (relatively) easy to change, it's worth having a couple of different rear cassettes around -- if you're mostly riding rolling terrain, the 11/25 should be just fine; if you're headed for Mt. Lemmon, then a 28 might be welcome. One thing to be aware of if you're using one cassette predominately & others hardly at all is that the chain, chainrings & cassette (especially the gears you use the most) will wear with one another -- introduce a brand new or significantly more worn component into that trinity, and they're not going to play well with one another. When I was swapping cassettes to try to match the terrain of particular races, I'd usually buy a chain that I'd run with that particular cassette, so that they'd wear more or less together.

[kopfjäger]

There's also what Koph alludes to: Riding singlespeed on hard singletrack makes you a more focused and better rider. You become hyper-aware of carrying momentum over obstacles, up hills or around corners where on a geared bike you'd (or at least I'd) coast, downshift and re-accelerate on the other side. With the whole idea of shifting off the table, I tend to be a whole lot more engaged in the ride, paying LOTS of attention to the balance between front and rear on steep climbs, and going down on the other side I try to keep my speed/momentum up, because you can't get it back just by pedaling in your monster top gear.

Mostly, though, it's just fun for reasons that seem to defy my ability to explain -- pretty much the same deal as riding fixed on the road.

Amen brother. Nothing compares to an SS on singletrack. 

[Fresh Pants]

Amen brother. Nothing compares to an SS on singletrack. 

I agree. Even when just about barfing up a lung on the first climb of the season (with no off-season training), it's just a load of fun.

[bulldogs2k]

I see....I want to try!   [moto]

[kopfjäger]

I see....I want to try!   [moto]

I promise you this, about a half mile into your first ride you'll be like WTF did I get into. I also promise, once you learn to carry momentum as stated above, you will fall in love. (maybe a few rides in  )

I have friends that ride geared and SS, they are faster on the loops with the SS than their geared bike. All about momentum.

[bulldogs2k]

I promise you this, about a half mile into your first ride you'll be like WTF did I get into. I also promise, once you learn to carry momentum as stated above, you will fall in love. (maybe a few rides in  )

I have friends that ride geared and SS, they are faster on the loops with the SS than their geared bike. All about momentum.

Ya, I may get a ss roadie for training since single tracks are a a bit of a drive from where I live.  I find my self down shifting on slight inclines and spinning, great idea for rides, but I'm trying to train and build endurance so a SS may do the trick.  Plus they are cheaper then their geared counterparts.   

[cokey]

I want a new rodie but with only 2 or 3 rear gears (cassettes), possible?  I am always on the front big gear and last or 2nd rear when I ride.. that includes when going up n over the bridge.. 

[triangleforge]

I want a new rodie but with only 2 or 3 rear gears (cassettes), possible?  I am always on the front big gear and last or 2nd rear when I ride.. that includes when going up n over the bridge.. 

Well, you could always pick up a mid-70s road bike - old guys like me remember when there were only five cogs on the back.

[triangleforge]

Ya, I may get a ss roadie for training since single tracks are a a bit of a drive from where I live.  I find my self down shifting on slight inclines and spinning, great idea for rides, but I'm trying to train and build endurance so a SS may do the trick.  Plus they are cheaper then their geared counterparts.   

If you get a SS for the road, bite the bullet and go fixed -- it's fun in its own way, and NOTHING will break you of the bad habit of coasting through corners quicker than, well, not being able to coast. 

[bulldogs2k]

If you get a SS for the road, bite the bullet and go fixed -- it's fun in its own way, and NOTHING will break you of the bad habit of coasting through corners quicker than, well, not being able to coast. 

Ya, I was looking at a lot of options and most mainstream bikes have flip flop hubs. 

Has anyone heard of republic bikes?  They sound pretty good for a cheap daily alternative.  http://www.republicbike.com/build_aristotle_crmo.asp?product_category_id=1&product_id=6

[Randimus Maximus]

Is Monster Dave still out riding his new steed?

[DesmoDiva]

I think they rode off into the sunset together.   

[Monster Dave]

Hey guys and gals! Thanks for the inquries and Diva that was really a sweet things to say! Sorry for not posting up this weekend but as you can imagine we spent the whole of the weekend getting me all setup on my new bike and riding!

Here's a pic taken the day that I took my new steed home:



I found out that it is slightly different (in a good way) than as listed by Felt because the bike shop was able to choose at the time of ordering it if they wanted things changed. So while it still retains the 11/25 rear cassette, it fortunately has a compact crank on the front. I also swapped out the stock bars for some Deda bars that are better fit to my shoulder width and added some nice carbon pedals to help keep the weight down.

Maureen was such a sweetie and was so understanding that I spent much of the weekend either riding or getting things that I needed for my bike. She surprised me with the gift of a new wireless cycling computer that displays/tracks speed and cadence as well as other useful data and is really easy to use not to mention small and out of the way from interfering with the flow my bike.

Although we had some potentially crappy weather on Saturday, I was jonesing so badly for a ride on Sunday that I braved the 34 degree weather, the 15mph winds, and was able to put in 50 miles. It was great! It was so cold that overnight we actually got snow!! The mountains around northern Phoenix were all snow covered and it was quite a beautiful sight to see. I only wish I had taken the camera with me!!!

Anyway, it was a fantastic weekend! I want to thank you all for your input regarding my questions last week! Hopefully we'll meet on the road someday!  

[stateprez]

Congrats on the new ride.  I've had a set of 44cm bars waiting on the last two road bikes I've ordered- I feel cramped on 42's.

I haven't ridden my geared bike since I finished my SS.  Coupled with NAHMBS pics from the weekend, I've been thinking I need a custom/handmade in the near future.

[Monster Dave]

Congrats on the new ride.  I've had a set of 44cm bars waiting on the last two road bikes I've ordered- I feel cramped on 42's.

I haven't ridden my geared bike since I finished my SS.  Coupled with NAHMBS pics from the weekend, I've been thinking I need a custom/handmade in the near future.

Thanks! 

Yeah, I've got crazy wide shoulders, and the 42s that were on my last bike were really restictive, but I didn't notice until I upped it a little to 44s.