General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[patrick_b]

My old school steed, still running strong.

 

[Thrift Vader]

We are going to need more than that. . .

Deetz on the handlebars?

 

[patrick_b]

We are going to need more than that. . .

Deetz on the handlebars?

Easton monkey Lite CF bars from the early days of risers. These were a low profile riser bar back when most bars were still flat and aluminum, maybe early 00's. Now CF is everywhere on MTBs but back then it was a big deal.

Frame is a Litespeed Obed, their midlevel frame back when they were still made in TN by the Lynskey's. That Moots layback post was a grail purchase from the late 90's. My forks are Manitou ti (something) with about 2" of travel. I still ride off road a few times a month during the season in a 100 acre park full of singletrack that's a minute's ride from my house. I see one other old school MTB guy all the time. He rides a Merlin from the same era. We often chat about the golden age of hardtails in New England. In those days, Boston had some amazing custom steel and ti frame builders, Independent Fabrications, Merlin, Seven Cycles.

I keep thinking I want a 27.5" Santa Cruz or something but then I realize I'm not jumping or hucking anything at my age. So I just go enjoy a 45 min ride in the woods.

 

[mhip]

Here's the spec (cuz I'm a loser):

Frame: Eddy Merckx Titan (Made my Litespeed in Chattanooga most probs)
Fork: ENVE
Wheels: White Ind. T11 on Light Bike Carbon Rimz 20 h f, 24 r. 2x lace, brass nips, Dura Ace skewerz
Brakes: Campy Super Record 2018
Cranks: Campy Super Record 2014 52/39, S/R BB
H/S: Chris King
Cassette: Campy Super record 25-11
Chain: Campy Record
Tires: Veloflex Arrenberg Tubular 25s
Pedals: Dura Ace
Seat Post: Thomson Masterpiece, Thomson Collar
Stem: Thomson Elite
Seat: Selle Italia - super lite carbon ****
Bars: Deda Superlergherarjah
Tape: Deda
Derailleurs: Campy Super Record 2015

Literally my dream bike. So nice having a bike completely fitted. **** I'm so high on glue right now.

Pretty confident that bike will get you ass...

 

[otc]

I keep thinking I want a 27.5" Santa Cruz or something but then I realize I'm not jumping or hucking anything at my age. So I just go enjoy a 45 min ride in the woods.

Have you tried one? Modern bikes ride...different. Today's trail geometry, bigger tires/wheels, and improves suspension just conquer everything.

That said, maybe you really don't want one...might make your local trails too easy.

I think if my dad gets a new bike, he might get bored...I think I've posted this before, but he rides a 90's Klein Mantra.

Now THAT Was a Bike: 1996 Klein Mantra Pro - Pinkbike

No other bike promised so much, yet delivered such evil. Behold the Klein Mantra.

www.pinkbike.com

Birthed in 1996, the Mantra was one of the hottest, most lusted-after models of its time. But let me tell you, from first hand experience, the Mantra was, and still is, a bike to be feared. Should you run across a Mantra (and there are still plenty of them floating about), whatever you do, DO NOT attempt to ride one down any kind of hill. Not if you cherish your collarbones. Consider this a public service announcement with a backstory.

Given that riders of modern bikes view them as unrideable death traps...I imagine things would get a lot less exciting on a new bike.

 

[patrick_b]

Have you tried one? Modern bikes ride...different. Today's trail geometry, bigger tires/wheels, and improves suspension just conquer everything.

That said, maybe you really don't want one...might make your local trails too easy.

I think if my dad gets a new bike, he might get bored...I think I've posted this before, but he rides a 90's Klein Mantra.

Now THAT Was a Bike: 1996 Klein Mantra Pro - Pinkbike

No other bike promised so much, yet delivered such evil. Behold the Klein Mantra.

www.pinkbike.com

Birthed in 1996, the Mantra was one of the hottest, most lusted-after models of its time. But let me tell you, from first hand experience, the Mantra was, and still is, a bike to be feared. Should you run across a Mantra (and there are still plenty of them floating about), whatever you do, DO NOT attempt to ride one down any kind of hill. Not if you cherish your collarbones. Consider this a public service announcement with a backstory.

Given that riders of modern bikes view them as unrideable death traps...I imagine things would get a lot less exciting on a new bike.

I rode a buddy's 29" wheeled Santa Cruz on the same trails. It's like night and day. No picking a line, just roll over roots, ruts, etc. I can only imagine the trails that are rideable on that thing would be impossible on my old hardtail. The one thing that I can't stand about my old school tech is the brakes. With any rain or mud, I long for modern disc brakes.

These days it's more about the exercise than anything else. I have a 10-11 year old Specialized Roubaix that I also ride. I just prefer the woods if I want to get the heart rate up.

 

[UnFacconable]

Soo, I've expanded my disengagement at work and have decided to use more and more of my workday to go mountain biking. Last few days I've scheduled fake meetings to give me cover to head up to Marin to hit the trail. It's great for my mental health and you only get so many times in your life where you can do stuff like this.

At her suggestion, I've been riding my wife's Ripley lately which has been fun. I have had a crazy number of pedal strikes (and one brutal chainring strike ) and had been assuming it was just endemic to the Ripley due to the low BB and its reputation as a pedal striker but I finally realized that I never adjusted the shock sag to account for the weight differential. I checked it today and it was crazy low so I pumped it up before my ride and had a massive decrease in pedal strikes. Still haven't dialed the Ripley in perfectly but I guess that's what workdays are for the next few weeks/months until I become engaged again at work.

 

[flipstah]

First ride with Pumpkin and first ride of the season! Oh lawwwwd I'm fat.

 

[Thrift Vader]

Looks great!

Still gotta wait a few weeks over here for the 1st ride of the season.

 

[flipstah]

Looks great!

Still gotta wait a few weeks over here for the 1st ride of the season.

Thanks man! It was super cold this morning and still sketchy to take the road bike but better than nothing.

 

[Piobaire]

Thinking of pulling the trigger on a Fitzik Antares but can't decide which one. Want an open version but not sure if my Domane will fit carbon rails.

 

[Fueco]

Thinking of pulling the trigger on a Fitzik Antares but can't decide which one. Want an open version but not sure if my Domane will fit carbon rails.

Do any of your local shops have Fizik demo saddles? That’s a great way to try them out out. I’ve had three different Antares saddles and have liked all of them. The current one is the R5. The others were the original VS model.

 

[Piobaire]

That's a good idea but I'm lazy and just want it delivered. Guess I'll look in the web and see if I can find an LBS that has demos.

 

[Crispyj]

Anyone have experience with Rotor 1x12 groupset?

 

[Piobaire]

Okay, so I'm paranoid about ordering the wrong build for my Zipps. How do I make sure I order the right build? 11-34 Ultegra cassette.