General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[venessian]

Come on guys.

Piob is clearly the target market for a Pinarello!

Or a "New and improved UAE Private Equity Colnago" maybe?

 

[venessian]

My road bike. Steel Eddy Merckx. Mostly vintage Dura Ace. Was towying around with different heights and what not. Just started riding again after a 10 year hiatus. Yes, those are platform pedals, I need new cleats.

View attachment 1385397

Merckx were superb steel frames. Fantastic.
Which model (tubing) is yours?

What happened to the original fork, that you replaced it with a Vicious fork? (Good replacement forks btw.)

That looks like a very long crankarm length, given the saddle height.

 

[venessian]

Mine is black with silver decals. ??‍♂️

Elegant!

 

[otc]

I don't think I ever came and posted photos of this after getting the frame straight and building it up:

 

[Biscotti]

Merckx were superb steel frames. Fantastic.
Which model (tubing) is yours?

What happened to the original fork, that you replaced it with a Vicious fork? (Good replacement forks btw.)

That looks like a very long crankarm length, given the saddle height.

No idea what happened to the original fork. I had Viscious make that fork back in the 2000s.

Saddle height is significantly higher now. Have been adjusting ****.

No idea about tubing. I'm away from home right now.

Also I oddly almost preferred riding with platform pedals over cleats.

 

[otc]

I always find it interesting that the MTB world has largely moved away from clips.

Not so much in XC racing where almost everyone uses clipless pedals (although the fact that it is not 100% is telling), but it seems like all of the MTB youtube vidoes I watch, etc. are with platforms.

Maybe it is just because I learned with them as a kid (and at that point, late 90's, it seemed like all "good" pedals were clipless), but I feel weird without them...especially on bouncy jagged trails. I've seen people try to study pedaling efficiency (finding that being able to pull up doesn't really do much), but on the whole I like being locked in.

And I've never had any issues getting unclipped...again maybe the benefit of learning as an easily moldable child, but clipping out of a pedal is basically second nature.

 

[Biscotti]

...

 

[Piobaire]

Sweet Fit!

 

[Biscotti]

...

 

[venessian]

I do not ride MTB, so I do not really know, but it seems platform would be great there, especially with the new aggressive-soled shoes combined with very aggressively-profiled DH-style platform pedals.

For commuting, with starts stops every block in many cases where I live, platform are really great. On long gentle uninterrupted rides they can be very comfortable even, because of the shoes mainly.

For commuting I used to use those dual-sided Shimano SPD/platforms, and when I switched to Speedplay X2 then Zero on all bicycles I just use those clip-on platforms they make. They work very well.

 

[Biscotti]

I always find it interesting that the MTB world has largely moved away from clips.

Not so much in XC racing where almost everyone uses clipless pedals (although the fact that it is not 100% is telling), but it seems like all of the MTB youtube vidoes I watch, etc. are with platforms.

Maybe it is just because I learned with them as a kid (and at that point, late 90's, it seemed like all "good" pedals were clipless), but I feel weird without them...especially on bouncy jagged trails. I've seen people try to study pedaling efficiency (finding that being able to pull up doesn't really do much), but on the whole I like being locked in.

And I've never had any issues getting unclipped...again maybe the benefit of learning as an easily moldable child, but clipping out of a pedal is basically second nature.

For me. I think making minor adjustments on my footing help alleviate pain and soreness. I have really flat feet. Not sure if there's any science behind this. Given it's been years since I've ridden with cleats, but will probably buy new pedals and cleats and go full roadie again. ?

 

[otc]

I do not ride MTB, so I do not really know, but it seems platform would be great there, especially with the new aggressive-soled shoes combined with very aggressively-profiled DH-style platform pedals.

For commuting, with starts/stops every block in many cases where I live, platform are really great. On long gentle uninterrupted rides they can be very comfortable even, because of the shoes mainly.

For commuting I used to use those dual-sided Shimano SPD/platforms, and when I switched to Speedplay X2 then Zero on all bicycles I just use those clip-on platforms they make. They work very well.

On the first point, it is true that the studded pedals plus shoes that basically have climbing rubber on the bottom does let people really lock in. But 90% of XC pros still use clipless and it seems like no matter how good your rubber is, it isn't better than always being locked in by a spring in the sweet spot. At least around here its not like there are any extreme trails anyways with jumps where you'd be throwing tricks.

On the second point...I don't buy it. If you've learned how to use the pedals, unclipping and re-clipping should be second nature. It should be pure muscle memory to quickly twist out when you put your foot down and to immediately pop back into the pedal on the first stroke.

Obviously if you want to be able to ride in street shoes, the calculus changes, but if you are only going to commute in cycling gear, it is inconsequential if you know how to use your pedals

(then again, I've seen videos of triathletes trying to mount their bikes...many people don't know how to use pedals)

 

[venessian]

OK, but many people who "know how to use [their] pedals" often use both types, ride both types, enjoy both types, don't see it as an "experience issue".

And for some, it's not so much knowing how to clip/unclip/clip/unclip, it's just a bit of a hassle to do it every single block. Or, they just do not want to ride in their cycling/cleated shoes sometimes. Some people can trackstand, too, clipped in or not, and some people cannot or do not want to do so. No big deal in any case I think.

 

[Piobaire]

I remember I had a pair of cycling shoes for casual, breakfast type rides, where there would probably be lots of walking, and the cleat was essentially countersunk so you could walk normally and not do the duck walk as with full on road shoes. They were a bit harder to clip in with but great for those casual rides where you'd for some walking around too. I think they were Shimano shoes but can't remember for sure.

 

[otc]

You gotta let go of your inner bike snob and be OK with buying a "Walmart-affiliated" bike, but there are some pretty crazy deals on 2019 models here:

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You can order through moosejaw with activejunky cash back for another 12% off.

I've been thinking about picking up a cheap MTB, and I'm glad my size is sold out in the GX Eagle build...because I'd be about to overspend!