Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Demar on June 29, 2015, 10:55:55 PM
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I bought a 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5. I have been toying with the idea of buying a new bike for 3 years or so and finally pulled the trigger. My current ride was a 1990 Peugeot that I hadn't ridden for about 10 years. I'm trying to drop a few pounds and strengthen my muscles before they are totally gone. I'm sure it will help my mc riding. I singed myself and daughter up for a century ride (100 mi.) in September. I my 20's I rode 13 centuries....but, that was a long time ago. As the centuries have sag wagons I figure I can always stop and get a ride back to the start if it doesn't go well. I have 3 months to train.
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Sounds great!
Two wheelers, powered or not, have been magic for me most of my life. My current ride is a somewhat customized Giant Escape 2W - a mid level hybrid. It is perfect to be my grocery getter and adventure vehicle.
I hope to add a powered bike to my collection soon, but right now the bicycle is it.
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Demar, go for it, and keep it up! I've ridden all my life, through a single speed with coaster brake, many Sturmy-Archer 3-speeds, a Peugeot UO-8, a Gitane with 531 double butted tubing, a Bob Jackson, Paramount, Pinarello, and my current Litespeed. 20 miles/day, every day in recent years, with an occasional 100 miler. Also mountain biking here and there. I don't think there's a much better way to fight age, although I'll probably get a rowing shell sometime and see if I can work that in. I find that having fit legs and cardiovascular system helps with almost everything I do.
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Bicycles are good stuff. You'd be surprised how much knowledge/skillset transfer there is between bicycles and motorcycles, etc especially if you get somewhat fast or ride in groups of fast riders on your bicycle.
Enjoy!
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When I was a child I'd go off to school. I am autistic and school was hell on earth. Then I would come home to a household of mental and physical cruelty. I had no safe place. . .
. . .except my bicycle. I could go farther faster than on foot. The two wheeled vehicle is a friendly place to be for me. I have aboard one both freedom to travel and the security that comes from that.
Powered or not, I still love being on a pair of wheels.
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When I was a child I'd go off to school. I am autistic and school was hell on earth. Then I would come home to a household of mental and physical cruelty. I had no safe place. . .
. . .except my bicycle. I could go farther faster than on foot. The two wheeled vehicle is a friendly place to be for me. I have aboard one both freedom to travel and the security that comes from that.
Powered or not, I still love being on a pair of wheels.
That's the truth. My first bike as a kid was my first "vehicle" and taste of freedom. I would imagine when home isn't the most comfortable place that freedome becomes much more important.
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I haven't ridden in about twenty years, I was riding about 800/1000 miles a month and just burned out. I keep talking about starting riding again, so for it still just talking. I have a Klein, Mondonico, Viner, Specialized and a Team Santana hanging on the wall gather dust. Maybe this thread will inspire me to ride. ;-)
Bob
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That's the truth. My first bike as a kid was my first "vehicle" and taste of freedom.
That was my experience. I remember, when I was a kid, taking off on my bike and watching the world go by. Still ride today....15 - 20 miles a day.
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I love my motorcycles, but my bicycle is what keeps me going. Got my first good road bike in High School and haven't stopped peddling since.
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I take my neighbor's kid's Big Wheel down his driveway when no one is looking.
Leaves me smiling for days!
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Like some other guys ,the bicycle freed me from my parental control when I was a kid. And that would be a single speed heavy Schwinn or Roadmaster not some lightweight multi speed racer. And it was hilly in both directions.... :laugh:
We ride for exercise when weather permits. This is a popular area for riders because it's relatively flat and lack of traffic. We ride in jeans and boots, no helmets... Long distance groups of riders pass by and some remark how they used to ride like us and how much fun it was....8-10 mph is a reasonable pace on cheaper bikes that are more work to ride than 2000 buck bikes.
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Two wheels, that's what important to most of us. In hilly Seattle I often use an e-assist bike, an Ohm Urban, which gets my old body up the hill and home. Otherwise there is no need for a battery boost. I'm also looking at riding a road bike that is less than 25#, although it won't absorb bumps as well as the suspended over-50# e-bike.
What is interesting is that I often choose either bicycle before choosing the Breva for a ride, as traffic gets thicker and driver distractions increase.
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What's with this carbon fiber? snapping suspenders Your 90's ride was good enough.
Now I still ride my SPX tubed Lighthouse Custom with 25 year old Campy Delta Brakes & C-Record group. I did have to put a triple on it because I'm not as strong as I used to be and the Kestrel Carbon fork I fitted a number of years ago is a lot cushier than the steel fork. The 20 year old spoke wheels I built are just fine.
We are Guzzi riders we do not supposed to purchase new, more efficient, smoother and more comfortable rides!
For this transgression you'll have to realign your Yin by riding the Guzzi more. :bike-037:
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What's with this carbon fiber? snapping suspenders Your 90's ride was good enough.
:grin: My '70s racers are still good enough, for that matter. About 22 lbs, sew-ups, etc.. Over the next 40 years, bikes have lost a very few lbs, and gained things like nicer shifting and more sprocket combinations, but if you think about it, bikes aren't progressing very fast.
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What's with this carbon fiber? snapping suspenders Your 90's ride was good enough.
The bike I bought is an endurance style with higher bars and a different frame geometry compared to my old Peugeot, which was a bit tall for me. The new bike has the bars a bit higher and is much friendlier on by wrists and back.
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"anything with 2 wheels is cool" said an octogenarian on a Buell rocket to me a few weeks back when we were talking about old bicycles.
I've been riding the same Ultegra equipped steely since '87. Love everything about it, and no plans to replace it. Lots of miles logged on it back in the 90's, not so much in recent years, but a new job a couple miles from home has me thinking commute!
Sounds like a nice bike, good luck on the century. What part of the country are you doing this in?
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:grin: About 22 lbs, sew-ups, etc.. Over the next 40 years, bikes have lost a very few lbs, and gained things like nicer shifting and more sprocket combinations, but if you think about it, bikes aren't progressing very fast.
Some of us haven't been able to ride sew-ups for a couple of decades. We started out a little big, even with low body fat and got a little bigger. I have enough trouble with 25c tires and flats.
I do find it interesting how my wife's Vitus 742 with my mods only weighs 17 lbs even though it's an early 80's bike. The Kestrel fork, 24 spoke American Classic front, 28 spoke mavic rear, Mavic GEL 280 rims, continental sprinter 250's along with me cutting the 36 handlebars, stem and generally lightening the bike helped a bit. Of course being a 46 cm bike frame helped.
One down side is guess who gets to repair her sewups! at least I became a master sewup repairman because I got so many flats
I learned long ago when I got fitted for a bike that many of us cannot buy bikes "off the rack". Mine is odd bicycle in that it's long and low while having a very strong steel frame. just call me short shanks
Maybe that's why I feel so comfortable on my Griso.
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I do find it interesting how my wife's Vitus 742 with my mods only weighs 17 lbs even though it's an early 80's bike. The Kestrel fork, 24 spoke American Classic front, 28 spoke mavic rear, Mavic GEL 280 rims, continental sprinter 250's along with me cutting the 36 handlebars, stem and generally lightening the bike helped a bit. Of course being a 46 cm bike frame helped.
The GEL280s go a long way toward lightening. I have some wheels with those, and a spare or two around, and I think a GL330 too. Wheels with those rims feel strange if you're not used to picking one up.
One down side is guess who gets to repair her sewups! at least I became a master sewup repairman because I got so many flats
I've repaired many, but in recent years I've just gone to inexpensive training tires. I get them 3 for $50 plus shipping, so they end up being around $20 each. www.yellowjersey.com (http://www.yellowjersey.com) sells them. If she wants racing tires, these aren't them, but they work great for my daily rides, and are very durable. They're also quite true, unlike some name brand tires I paid good money for, only to find out they're about impossible to get sitting straight on the rim.
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Next your I turn 60 so I'm thinking of treating my self to a new bike, to replace my 97 Bianchi ERO's, all Campy, frame still made in Italy, 24lbs of solid steel. Before that was my 82 Bianchi 980, which I still ride because the friction shifters (Campy) work so well. Or I just may give it a good going over, maybe some lighter wheels.
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Wow....I never thought I'd see names like Vitus and American Classic mentioned on a Guzzi site. :thumb:
Campy is a given since Luigi works there too :laugh: :laugh:
Most of my years have included BMX as a kid then mountain bike riding/racing and road bike etc As another poster said, one day I just burned out. I'm down to a fixed gear trainer and that's mostly because I can't imagine not owning at least one bicycle. I was still pretty fast when I stopped riding regularly, I just got tiredof it and startedsurfing and running (slowly ha ha) a bit.
These posts are great to read, I've always felt like two wheels make anything cool.
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Anyone know a dealer for a vintage Sturmey archer 5 speed hub? My Raligh Sprint 5 speed that I bought when I was a kid and got a paper route needs a bell crank for the left two speed side, they where made from some pot metal and broke a long time ago. I search the web on and off over the years but have never been successful.
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Sounds like a nice bike, good luck on the century. What part of the country are you doing this in?
Thanks.... San Luis Obispo, CA http://www.slobc.org/lighthouse/index.html
I rode it once before in college in 1980.
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Thanks.... San Luis Obispo, CA http://www.slobc.org/lighthouse/index.html
I rode it once before in college in 1980.
You dog! Beautiful country and cooler than the valley. I rode the Gourmet Century there long ago. The builder of my bike, Tim Neenan, lives in your area that's why his bikes are branded "Lighthouse". He quit for more than a decade but has now retired and is back into building frames. http://www.lighthousecycles.com/
I've been talking to Tim about building me another frame, same geometry as my present frame but as a single speed. I had a gorgeous baby blue Masi track bike that I loved and had to sell a few years ago. I really miss not having a fixed cog.
I'm hoping that this year the Norcal Guzzi group will have a weekend tour (for me) in the SLO area. The Griso needs to stretch it's legs every few weeks.......
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Bicyclists! makes sense on a motorcycle forum.
My fastest was a '79 Raleigh Competition GS. I upgraded to a long cage Campy rear derail, Mavic rims, Galli Titanium (the bolt) brakes, and a few others. I was young and although I never was good at uphills due to my asthma I could keep on going. Did a century once, but just didn't care that much to find other routes for a repeat. Coasted downhill at an obscene speed a few times. Good machine. Gone in a rush of sudden poverty long ago,
Current is a mid level hybrid: Giant Escape 2W. Alterations: Brooks Flyer (sprung B 15) on a carbon fibre micro adjust post, front and rear racks and panniers for grocery getting and intended touring, handlebar bag, seat bag with tools and spares, a Lezyne frame / floor pump, lights, bar end mirror - left only, bipod centre stand, bell... Not so fast as the Comp but then neither am I. During cooler times of year I generally ger around 80 - 100 miles per week. Love it!
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The truth is most of the dudes here are overweight and would be much better off getting bicycles to exercise more than their right wrist, and then quit worrying so much about what kind of oil to put in their engine instead of what kind of food to put in their own bodies
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The truth is most of the dudes here are overweight and would be much better off getting bicycles to exercise more than their right wrist, and then quit worrying so much about what kind of oil to put in their engine instead of what kind of food to put in their own bodies
hey! i resemble that remark.
there's a Colnago down in the garage growing dust at right now.
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Every now and then I think of picking up a Colnago Master Light, with the straight chrome forks. That would be fun. Currently have a 2006 Wilier Thor - my first carbon bike. Rather dishy, with downhill handling the 1970's Colnago's could only dream about.
But there is something special about steel. I have a 531 frame I made about 1974 up in the shed needing a repaint. I suppose most of the necessary components are around somewhere. I rode it until 1993, when I picked up a Schwinn Paramount.
Modern bicycles are indeed wonderful - I must stop and try out a bunch sometime. I'm almost recovered enough to ride again!
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hey! i resemble that remark.
there's a Colnago down in the garage growing dust at right now.
Dust the bike off get on it and quit resembling that remark😄
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If you look around there is a market for the :vintage" ten speeds. Panasonic, peugot, fuji from the 70's.
funny I got my Fuji out of storage 3 years ago to start riding and noticed the frame had grown! or maybe I shrank?
Either way I had to go down 2 inches. :angry:
The bike I bought is an endurance style with higher bars and a different frame geometry compared to my old Peugeot, which was a bit tall for me. The new bike has the bars a bit higher and is much friendlier on by wrists and back.
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Here's my current ride. I sold my "dropped handlebar" Motobecane from 1977 and upgraded to a Electra Townie with pedal forward (6 inches forward of the seat tube) design.
Easy to pedal and the upright position is easier on the back. When Trek purchased them, they removed the fork suspension on newer models....look for a 2013 or older for that on Craigslist.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f82/juturtle/IMG_4216_zps5be13ced.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/juturtle/media/IMG_4216_zps5be13ced.jpg.html)
Since I like whitewalls I added those to my wife's ladies model along with a suspension seat post on both.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f82/juturtle/IMG_5271_zpsbsvcszte.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/juturtle/media/IMG_5271_zpsbsvcszte.jpg.html)
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If you look around there is a market for the :vintage" ten speeds. Panasonic, peugot, fuji from the 70's.
funny I got my Fuji out of storage 3 years ago to start riding and noticed the frame had grown! or maybe I shrank?
Either way I had to go down 2 inches. :angry:
My old Peugeot was sitting in my sister's basement. I dusted it off, tuned it up, and it's now a bike path warrior. Gets lots of looks too.
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In 1984 I latched onto a Rossin steel frame that fit me perfectly, and built it with Shimano parts. I'm still riding it but have upgraded wheels and drive-train components over the years. Now running Mavic sew-up wheels with Campy cassette and derailleur -- all "analog" with the levers still on the downtube. Had to go to flat bars for the same reason I can no longer reach clip-ons.
Mountain bike is a Klein Mantra bought around '94. Worn out two sets of wheels and a dozen sets of tires.
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I am headed for insanity. My Giant Escape is here in my room with me and Neither of us is outside riding. That is because we in Aridzona are in the final stages of pre monsoon. By the time there is any light the temperatures are quite unpleasantly high, later in the day probably dangerously high for physical exertion. I may have to put a blanket over the thing so I don't have to see it there, taunting me.
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I've got a big tire 3 speed was around 100$ and it's beautiful in it's simplicity.
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I googled your bike, looks like it came with Shimano RS11 wheels, I put a set of RS31's on mine in November & my black colored 105 brake pads have worn half the braking surface away. :shocked: You'll notice wear indicators drilled in the side of yours too, when they're gone you pitch the wheels.
Thanks for the tip. I looked into Kool Stop brake pads and ordered two pair. :thumb:
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You are bad people. I got out my bicycle and am now thinking maybe a ride every morning would be good. I used to go up every other Wednesday morning early, ride from Foothills Parkway to Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort for coffee, and then ride back before anyone was up on motorcycles. Great ride! The Wilier is on rails through the downhill corners, every bit as fast as I can motorcycle it safely - the limit being my sightline.
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You are bad people. I got out my bicycle and am now thinking maybe a ride every morning would be good. I used to go up every other Wednesday morning early, ride from Foothills Parkway to Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort for coffee, and then ride back before anyone was up on motorcycles. Great ride! The Wilier is on rails through the downhill corners, every bit as fast as I can motorcycle it safely - the limit being my sightline.
Wow, I know that route well, and it would be a great bicycle ride. I've ridden the Dragon from DG to the bottom parking lot and back, and it was a lot hillier than it seemed when I was on a motorcycle. :grin: So do you live near the 129 end of the Foothills Parkway?
Edit: I just remembered that I have photographic evidence of the ride:
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c327/triplejim/travel/Deals%20Gap%202012/bicycle_by_us129_800_zpsgzwkwukc.jpg)
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I live in Friendsville, 50 miles on the dot from DGMR. We would drive up in the truck with the bikes in the back and ride. I continue to think about putting a bike rack on a bike. Would fit easily on my VL800. Not so sure about the 1400!! Not as many places to clamp junk on.
We'd also do the Foothills Parkway loop or two. Up foothills, down happy valley. Or to Walland and back around the front side of Chilhowee Mtn.
I have ridden back here from over in NC via the gap. Takes a while. Pretty ride.
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All those routes sound like fun rides. Friendsville... I hope you're not getting fumes from the fire today.
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Thanks for the tip. I looked into Kool Stop brake pads and ordered two pair. :thumb:
I've done a few rides with those pads & I still see what I assume to be AL dust showing up. So now the plan is to just wear down the wheel with normal riding before the year is done - shouldn't be difficult b/c on closer inspection they're well beyond half way there. :huh: Shimano says 1 year warranty & I can drop them off at a nearby facility.
Not thrilled with the kool stop pads despite all the good user reviews, they don't fully contact the rim surface b/c they aren't flat. Maybe that's an OK strategy for the wet - they're OK but not as good stopping in the dry as the Shimanos - I'll probably grind them flat & use 'em up that way.
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Something sounds odd. My Campy brakes with stock pads on Rolf wheels have been in use for six or eight years @7,000 mi/year, and the rims and pads still have plenty of life left.
Do you ride on wet roads very often? Or maybe a lot of city riding that makes you stop a lot?
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60KM this morning on my Purple R800 Cannondale....smoot h as silk.
Have had the bike now for 15 years (used to have a Gitane, Motobecane and Italvega before), about 7 years ago I invested in a set of Bontrager wheels (AMAZING!), changed out a few components like handlebars, stem and seatpost to carbon, freshened up cables, wiring housing and all Shimano components running smoothly.
Nothing like a 60km ride in 100 F heat, but fueled by a 3 liter camelback full of iced water with electrolyte tablets and all was good!
Tomorrow... the Norge gets exercised!
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...about 7 years ago I invested in a set of Bontrager wheels (AMAZING!)...
You probably remember, but after Trek and Rolf had a falling out, Trek started making Bontrager wheels. I have one as a spare, and it's fairly similar to the Rolfs. I like that style, and the aero shape is quite strong and stiff, but they're not particularly light. (both Rolf and Bontrager)
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True they may not be the lightest on the market (there was a price/weight tradeoff to make at the time! :), but compared to the Mavics I had on before, they're like a set of feathers and they ROLL forever! Reminds me of the Phil Wood hubs we used to lust after when we were kids in the 70's. Those would roll all the way to China!
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Sounds like a reasonable plan.
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Here's my rig, my buddy Ashley built this one from parts at his bike shop for me, no name on the frame but hey, it works for me! We're lucky here we're near a rails to trails riding area (about a mile away) called the Frisco trail. Now if I can just keep up with the wife! I've taken off about 20 lbs. skipping the carbs and hitting the trail. Feels good! Bicycles were a great passtime in my younger days,Schwinn sting ray, Schwinn Varsity, Univega, BMX, Trek mountian bike later, Loved it!
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag65/guzzistajohn/bike%20001_zpskncsluk1.jpg) (http://s1299.photobucket.com/user/guzzistajohn/media/bike%20001_zpskncsluk1.jpg.html)
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Demar,
Hot damn, you are going to have some fun! Love my Cannondale. My body definitely is in better shape since I bought it. Riding is now evening right at dusk to mitigate our extreme Houston heat.
Have fun!
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Nice hardtail, John. It looks like titanium... who cares what label was on it, most of them are made in the same factory anyway. Light, no corrosion, hard to beat!
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Nice hardtail, John. It looks like titanium... who cares what label was on it, most of them are made in the same factory anyway. Light, no corrosion, hard to beat!
Yep, It's titanium, the best part about it was the price! *FREE* Ashley is a good buddy to have!
OH! dang near forgot, suspenders--------KER-SNAP!!! :thumb:
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Free is a good price. :-) I occasionally throw together a bike for a son or daughter, but they don't normally get a titanium frame. They're at college, so I try to make them look horrible, with lots of rust and ugly welds, etc., so they don't get stolen!
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Last weekend the wife and I rode 12 miles of pretty technical gravel, lots of wash outs from the rains we've been having. over 4 old railroad bridges. It was fun and a challenge at times. I was impressed, she kept right on going. A steady uphill all the way back, she beat me back to the truck by a long way.
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My old Peugeot was sitting in my sister's basement. I dusted it off, tuned it up, and it's now a bike path warrior. Gets lots of looks too.
Probably because it`s ancient and people feel sorry for you having to ride it. :azn:
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I've been a cyclist just as long as I have been a motorcyclist, back in 2001 I did the California Triple Crown (200 miles is one day) and then parked the bicycle for a few years (burnt out). So, now at 58, I find myself cycling to keep my blood pressure in check (no meds needed) and weight with in range.
Bicycle's have gotten crazy expensive, with $3000+ carbon wheel sets, $100 dollar tires, complete bikes going for way over $12,000 now, and it doesn't even come with a motor! My 2005 Bianchi, aluminum main frame with carbon seat and chain stays with Sram Force 10 speeds is good enough for what I do now a days, I recently purchased two 90's Klein Quantums with down tube shifters and I'm super happy with their performance and handling. Plus, it works the mind more having to reach down to the down tube shifters
The bicycle club members are always asking me where I learned my bike handling skills, my answer is from my other bike! Yes, counter steering also works on light weight road bikes :thumb:
Keep the rubber side down,
Mike
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How's everyone doing on their bikes? You guys getting your cardio in? Did my first sprint triathlon last weekend, next goal for this hood-boy is head down the coast in six weeks to the land of billion dollar fund managers, investment bankers & carbon fiber to give them heck on a 23 lb Walmart special. HECK I say! :afro:
Still riding 12 to 16 mi 3X a week. Pulled a bunch of old bluejeans out of the closet that fit again, glad I kept them!
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How's everyone doing on their bikes? You guys getting your cardio in?
I'll be doing 20 mi/day and a few longer ones here and there as long as I'm able. After my bicycle ride today, I went for a 90 mile loop around the lake with my newly licensed daughter, each on a motorcycle. That was a first for us.
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The early connections to bicycles as a precursor to interest in motorcycles struck a chord for me. I remember the first two bicycles I loved as a kid - a black Raleigh with a banana seat, and a similarly shaped red Schwinn Stingray. As I type this it dawns on me that I have a pair of V11s - black and red - in the garage. Coincidence or diagnosable condition?????? Is there a psychologist in the house? Is it true what they say? The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Anyway, I used to ride bicycles a lot on the street, but now I prefer my mountain bike. It keeps me fit (mentally and physically) for the dirt bike, which I assume also helps with street motorcycling.
Times like this make a guy appreciate what a big thumper can do.
(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m492/timscudder/Cafe%20Husky/IMG_1183.jpg) (http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/timscudder/media/Cafe%20Husky/IMG_1183.jpg.html)
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Anyway, I used to ride bicycles a lot on the street, but now I prefer my mountain bike.
Mountain biking on good, challenging trails is huge fun and great exercise.