Cycling Thread

[Azure]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Calling BS. Impossible.

Oh crap. I meant 74kph. Sorry about that.

46mph according to my GPS tracker.

[bossy22]

I got a kick out of this. It's fatty's ride.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Azure

Oh crap. I meant 74kph. Sorry about that.

46mph according to my GPS tracker.

Much more believable than going 20 over the limit on Deerfoot

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by Azure

68kph is pretty good.

I actually surprised myself and hit 74kph on a gravel road with a mountain bike the other day.

It helped that the wind was pushing me.

Yeah, I think I'd be scared going that fast on gravel, although fatter tires on the MTB would help. Mine was definitely not wind assisted, more like wind-resisted. Downhill on the west side of Scott Lake Hill. Unfortunately the gearing on my 'cross bike just isn't strong enough I was spinning pretty damn close to my maximum spinning speed and couldn't get any push on the pedals. Next year I think I'll go to a full roadie to get more top end gearing.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

Yeah, I think I'd be scared going that fast on gravel, although fatter tires on the MTB would help. Mine was definitely not wind assisted, more like wind-resisted. Downhill on the west side of Scott Lake Hill. Unfortunately the gearing on my 'cross bike just isn't strong enough I was spinning pretty damn close to my maximum spinning speed and couldn't get any push on the pedals. Next year I think I'll go to a full roadie to get more top end gearing.

You know you don't have to replace the entire bike to get higher gearing right?

You could do the same thing for about $100.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

Yeah, I think I'd be scared going that fast on gravel, although fatter tires on the MTB would help. Mine was definitely not wind assisted, more like wind-resisted. Downhill on the west side of Scott Lake Hill. Unfortunately the gearing on my 'cross bike just isn't strong enough I was spinning pretty damn close to my maximum spinning speed and couldn't get any push on the pedals. Next year I think I'll go to a full roadie to get more top end gearing.

Just get a new rear cassette. You may want to get a chain as well if you have a bunch of km on your bike. You're bike prObably came with a 12-25. Going with a 11-25 will help. Is your front a cross crank or a compact crank?

[ranchlandsselling]

Appreciated all the responses to my long winded mountain biking questions. Will specifically address when time allows. I tried to do one big multi quote and it was messing up and I lost a lot of the reply

Thanks!

[Northendzone]

going that fast on a MTN bike is a scary/fun experience. If on a gravel road you really need to be confident in your handling skills as you'd be a mess if you had to dump it.

My best flatland speed on my old 8 speed rig was 52 kph - it was wind aided and I managed to spin at that speed for about 2 minutes. these days I'd be puking if I had to get above 30.......

[freedogger]

Aluminum bike frames love to pull apart at high speeds. Be careful

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Can you post a pic?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

going that fast on a MTN bike is a scary/fun experience. If on a gravel road you really need to be confident in your handling skills as you'd be a mess if you had to dump it.

My best flatland speed on my old 8 speed rig was 52 kph - it was wind aided and I managed to spin at that speed for about 2 minutes. these days I'd be puking if I had to get above 30.......

The gravel road is almost like pave this time of the year with all the seeding going on so the trucks have pretty much paved it.

I hit 30mph again today, with a slight wind into my face.

Slowly getting better.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

You know you don't have to replace the entire bike to get higher gearing right?

You could do the same thing for about $100.

Oh, I know that... I'm just looking for an excuse. Love my 'cross bike, but a buddy just bought a beautiful full carbon Cervelo roadie and I'm jealous.

I do have a compact crank up front and I know I could switch out the rear cassette, but I'm thinking I want to get better geometry, weight and gearing for higher speed riding. It just happened to be on Sunday that the gearing was the noticeable issue.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Just get a new rear cassette. You may want to get a chain as well if you have a bunch of km on your bike. You're bike prObably came with a 12-25. Going with a 11-25 will help. Is your front a cross crank or a compact crank?

See my last post. Already changed out my chain end of last season. But as a I said, gearing is just one excuse...

[pylon]

I think I have built the ultimate commuter. I have done a bunch of upgrades to my Devinci Oslo SL, and now it it the Devinci Super-Olso Pylon GT edition. It is comfortable, but so fast! The frame/carbon fork combo was so impeccably fit and finished, I figured it was worth making my main ride. I cannot say enough about the quality of Devinci's frames. The made in Canada thing really shows.

- Swapped stock crank for SRAM APEX 50/34 compact.
- Shimano M-540 SPD pedals which work awesome with casual MTB style cycling shoes.
- Swapped out garbage stock Alex wheels and tires for Mavic Aksiums with Continental 25 X 700c Ultra sports.
- Cut 3" off handlebars and added carbon bar ends.
- Bontrager wireless computer.
- Super short 3T Pro stem to give the bike the feel of being on road hoods, when on the bar-ends.
- Bontrager interchange rack. (These re the nicest racks I have ever seen, and the bags/attachments just snap in and out and release with a button).

All that is left, is the Apex Front/rear derailleur, and SRAM double tap flat bar shifters which I have on order. And because it is V-brakes, I can mount cyclocross tires on the old rims for winter.

With the rack lights and pedals, 21.3 pounds. The thing is every bit as fast as my Trek 2.1 was, and not far behind my 5.1 Madone... but sooooo comfortable. Total invested with all upgrades, just under $1500, thanks to a strong dollar and frugal online shopping. I had a total cycle snob in our dealership the other day, and he tried to buy it off me to replace his commuter. No way Jose! This thing took me a year to get it right where I want it. Even though it isn't the spendiest, it is definitely the coolest, most versatile and personalized bike I have ever owned.

[Wormius]

How can it be comfortable without a giant gel foam seat cover?

[pylon]

I bought some Sugoi cycle ginch to wear under my shorts. Really a must have if you don't want a big, ugly ass, old man seat.

http://www.sugoi.com/can/bike/men/sh...x-liner-1.html

In a pinch I will just wear my regular lycra cycle shorts under neath some cargos. But the Devinci is a spandex free zone. The main reason I bought the thing originally, is I didn't want all the girls at work to know what religion I was when I rode my drop bar bikes in, so I figured I should by a bike less spandex-dork'ish to commute on.

[Slava]

Anyone out on the paths this weekend (I know...longshot). I was looking forward to riding in tomorrow, but the water issue just dawned on me. I saw some areas where the paths could be closed, but I might just give it a shot anyway and just be at work late.

I figured maybe someone saw something and could give me the heads up though!

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Slava

Anyone out on the paths this weekend (I know...longshot). I was looking forward to riding in tomorrow, but the water issue just dawned on me. I saw some areas where the paths could be closed, but I might just give it a shot anyway and just be at work late.

I figured maybe someone saw something and could give me the heads up though!

The trails on the north side of the Bow River downtown were flooded, but there might be detours.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Wormius

How can it be comfortable without a giant gel foam seat cover?

The smaller bike seats at mor comfy, even though they don't look like they would be

[Wormius]

I know. I was joking. I have a tiny Sette one that is bad for the first few days of riding, but it gets more comfortable later. Maybe that's just due to me sitting a bit more gingerly on it.