Cycling Thread

[KTrain]

Fantastic ride in from McKenzie Towne this morning. No wind and lots of sun. Lots of meetings and the turn in weather means I like won't get another chance to ride in till late next week.

[Bill Bumface]

Had a fantastic tail wind this morning while hustling to make it for an 8am meeting.

Thank god the speed trap already had someone pulled over

[worth]

I ask because there seems to be a resurgence in Raleigh bikes. They are using all Shimano group sets, they have a $2,000 gravel bike with Shimano 105, and a $2,800 bike with Ultegra components. Of the few review I can find of recent bikes, they have all been really positive.

Apparently they were bought by a Dutch company in 2013 and since then things have turned around a lot.

[Torture]

Did my first commute to my new office.
Mount Pleasant to Quarry Park...20km, almost all pathway (vary degrees of scenic ride by the river to ride through the industrial park) and about an hour.

Little more uphill on the way back so we shall see how it goes this afternoon!

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by habernac

Raliegh's always been a poor choice for anything short of a townie style bike.

I disagree with that statement. Raleigh has been building bikes longer than most other manufacturers. Sure, when Huffy owned them their quality suffered, but the 70s machines with 531 Reynolds steel were very nice and I'm always on the lookout for one. These were classics in the steel era.

Fortunately, Raleigh has brought back their classic steel frames. Their geometry provides a quite stable ride and, thus, likely suitable for many customers.

The Grand Prix is an attractive bike in my opinion: Reynolds steel and Campy gruppo. Perfect.

The Grand Vitesse with Reynolds 853 and Shimano Ultegra. Nothing wrong there, although I prefer Campy.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by millhouse11

so, I started out my own bike repair business this year. It's been pretty good. One thing I've noticed, is that 80% of the bikes I'm getting in all need new chains. This surprised me, since I always checked my chain and replaced when it was time. This extends the life of the more expense parts, like the cassette and chainrings. What surprised me was that it was all high end bikes. People I know. So, having said that, buy a chain checker. I know you can measure your chain with a ruler, but if you have the tool, you will use it.

That doesn't surprise me in the least.
I know a lot of people who ride who can't even do basic things like change a tire, and some who don't even know that chains need to be lubed, let alone replaced on the reg.

Some people just aren't mechanically inclined, or don't know what they don't know.

[Tacopuck]

Does anyone have experience with the Cyclocross style bikes?

I'm looking to buy a new bike that i can use in the city and on dirt single track occasionally as well as some longer distance rides. I currently have a crosstrainer style Norco XFR which i love but i want something lighter.

The cyclocross bikes look like the best mix of a road bike (gearing & weight) with the ability to veer off the pavement when necessary.

Im specifically looking at the Norco Threshold A105

[KTrain]

I have a 2010 Norco CCX2 and it's been great. Admittedly, I don't take it off the road/path all that much. I used it mostly for lugging the kids around when they were younger and now I use it on the crappy weather days.

That probably didn't answer any questions but I can say that's it's been a super solid bike for me and haven't had any issues at all in the 5 years I've had it.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by Tacopuck

Does anyone have experience with the Cyclocross style bikes?

I'm looking to buy a new bike that i can use in the city and on dirt single track occasionally as well as some longer distance rides. I currently have a crosstrainer style Norco XFR which i love but i want something lighter.

The cyclocross bikes look like the best mix of a road bike (gearing & weight) with the ability to veer off the pavement when necessary.

Im specifically looking at the Norco Threshold A105

I have an All City Nature Boy and love it. It is single speed but they have a geared model (Macho Man).

http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/nature_boy

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Tacopuck

Does anyone have experience with the Cyclocross style bikes?

I'm looking to buy a new bike that i can use in the city and on dirt single track occasionally as well as some longer distance rides. I currently have a crosstrainer style Norco XFR which i love but i want something lighter.

The cyclocross bikes look like the best mix of a road bike (gearing & weight) with the ability to veer off the pavement when necessary.

Im specifically looking at the Norco Threshold A105

I have a Kona Jake The Snake CX bike and I enjoy it a lot. I can ride roads ,gravel, grass. Single track is possible but with no suspension it does rattle the fillings.
I like that I can curb hop and alley bomb

[Tacopuck]

Originally Posted by Timbo

I have a Kona Jake The Snake CX bike and I enjoy it a lot. I can ride roads ,gravel, grass. Single track is possible but with no suspension it does rattle the fillings.
I like that I can curb hop and alley bomb

That's more what I'm looking for. The single track is mostly just for cutting between paths in the city. I'm us to the rumbles as I usually keep my front suspension locked out anyways.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Tacopuck

Does anyone have experience with the Cyclocross style bikes?

I'm looking to buy a new bike that i can use in the city and on dirt single track occasionally as well as some longer distance rides. I currently have a crosstrainer style Norco XFR which i love but i want something lighter.

The cyclocross bikes look like the best mix of a road bike (gearing & weight) with the ability to veer off the pavement when necessary.

Im specifically looking at the Norco Threshold A105

I ride a Felt F65X as my commuter when it rains in Vancouver. Here's my post after I bought it:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...postcount=1856

[Northendzone]

What a glorious commute home, I wished I lived further than I do.

Looking forward to arise with the wife tonight.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Looking forward to arise with the wife tonight.

Lucky dog.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Did a quick 20k on the paths tonight to break in the new bike and the new pedals, and damn, I had some struggles with those things. Clip in like nothing, but a struggle to get out of for some reason, to the extent that I almost bailed and strained something in my shoulder.

It's a sign that you're old if you can manage to hurt your shoulder while riding a bike.

[Timbo]

I'm Mr. Flat pedal for those reasons

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Did a quick 20k on the paths tonight to break in the new bike and the new pedals, and damn, I had some struggles with those things. Clip in like nothing, but a struggle to get out of for some reason, to the extent that I almost bailed and strained something in my shoulder.

It's a sign that you're old if you can manage to hurt your shoulder while riding a bike.

What kind of clips do you have? Could it just be a matter of tightening the screw or switching out the cleats?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Did a quick 20k on the paths tonight to break in the new bike and the new pedals, and damn, I had some struggles with those things. Clip in like nothing, but a struggle to get out of for some reason, to the extent that I almost bailed and strained something in my shoulder.

It's a sign that you're old if you can manage to hurt your shoulder while riding a bike.

Keep riding them, it'll become second nature after awhile. Turn your heel outward to exit. When I crash now, my feet are already out and ready for the fall, I don't even have to think about it.

[Fuzz]

I'd loosen the tension all the way on them. I worry about my knees so I keep mine loose. They still hold securely as long as you don't twist.

[Northendzone]

^ it can also help if you back off the tension on the pedal of your dominant foot as it makes it easier to get out. After a month or so, crank the tension back up.