Biking: Catch-all

I can’t imagine averaging 18 mph in any context. I rode 30 yesterday training for a 45 and averaged I think like 12. So kudos to you!

muraii wrote:

I can’t imagine averaging 18 mph in any context. I rode 30 yesterday training for a 45 and averaged I think like 12. So kudos to you!

When I used to do road biking, my average was about 15 mph, so yeah, I'm impressed! And I never did anything that long.

I usually average between 15 to 16 on all my rides. Being in large groups and the super flat middle third really helped I think.

15 is my average when I'm alone and going on bendy routes. It's relatively easy on a road bike. If you can comfortably cruise at 20 to 25 mph on a roadie and you're with a group on a flat road with no intersections, you can jack the average really high.

I've been looking at changing my gearing. I'm on a fairly conventional Campagnolo drivetrain on a SOMA frame with, I guess, a 50-34 up front with a 10-speed cassette. Looking at their site it seems they don't support anything below that:

Campagnolo wrote:

The varying number of pins for each of the three chainring combinations (34/50, 36/52, 39/53)... (emphasis mine).

I don't know quite where I want to be but I spend 90% or more of my time on my small chainring and have occasion to go all the way down (notwithstanding that it's cross-chaining). That's mostly just on some ascents, and I'm still building strength and stamina, and I usually have some kind of load, but still, that's where I am. I feel like--and this is certainly Russ coming through--I might get more out of a lower-geared setup.

Given that Campagnolo doesn't seem to have anything like that, I'd have to switch. Which most likely means swapping not only chainring and cassette but also derailleurs and for all I know shifters, too. The prospect of buying all that makes me wonder if (a) I shouldn't just hold on to what I'm doing and let muscle and cardio development improve my utilization of these gears or (b) sell the bike and opt into something with the gears I'm looking for that might also otherwise better fit what I think I want to be doing. I know for a fact I'm not interested in racing in the least, but I do think I'm on-board with the adventure/touring/gravel cycling that's all the rage.

There's a Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 with a 1x @ 40 with SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain/brifters that's attractive and at $1,500 I think would be pretty nice. Slightly more-affordably my LBS has the Salsa Journeyman Claris 650, which has a Shimano Claris 8-speed drivetrain, 46/30 up front and 11-34 in back, for just under $1,000. I expect the Claris line, while at the low end, is fine, but I have no notion of what's worth splurging for and what's not. I don't want to get caught up in branding FUD.

If I can sell my current bike--which, I mean, I'd just as soon keep it and n + 1 my life but money dollars are whispering--I can probably offset a good chunk of either bike's cost. Is there a better option to consider? Maybe rummage through Craigslist or BikeRadar or the like a bit for someone with a touring/adventure-geared drivetrain they're parting with for a bit less?

Well I’m learning a lot about gear ratios/gear inches and BCD specifications for chainrings from different manufacturers. Turns out Campagnolo make chainrings with BCD of 110 mm except for one of the bolt holes that’s hidden behind the crank arm and is at 112 mm. Finding a Campagnolo-compatible chainring pair that’s touring-geared is looking tough. Wick Werks make an “ultra wide” Campagnolo-compatible 53/34 set, and responded to my inquiry that that’s the only one they make.

I currently have a gear range of about 35-115 gear inches. It would be great to get more low-end, so now I’m going to look at a wider cassette. Thing is, I have a short-cage rear derailleur, so then I’m looking at a derailleur hanger extension or a new derailleur altogether.

Fart.

I'm looking at this bike to buy used on FB Marketplace. I've come across a Diamondback that looks like a good deal. Can anyone look at this one and tell what model it is?

IMAGE(https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/69297685_430009977606726_8772581237358329856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQmX9fNSrcmRqlERb3R5rAsKj-G_WwEHU3klxIVXqm2PezEIYdoPxwwSLIpMaumBqhMcteha4fOnlXD96aykGa7D&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=54ad0d3dc958ff6f0f75cc811b223857&oe=5DCACAF1)

Looks like it's the Trace which is no longer made. I think it sold for about $500

Do you know if I can put knobby tires on that and if those rims can be made tubeless? Also, is $200 a good deal?

EverythingsTentative wrote:

Do you know if I can put knobby tires on that and if those rims can be made tubeless? Also, is $200 a good deal?

Pretty sure you have to replace the rims to go tubeless, since tubeless tires require a special bead on the rim to work. Knobby tires shouldn't be an issue, just depends on keeping the width within the limits of the rim/fork.

Been looking for a fat bike for a while. I didn’t want to spend a lot on one since I already have three bikes. Found a two year old Raleigh Rumson on Craigslist for $500. Has a rack, bag, Jones H bars, Brooks seat, light, fender, and a pump. It’s a medium so it’s a little small but I prefer mountain bikes smaller (my 29er is a L and feels a little big).
I raised the seat post a few inches and will probably get a longer stem. The H bars default position is a few inches closer than traditional bars so it feels tight. If I put my hands further forward it feels about right. I’m not sold in them yet though. They are wide enough and have a lot of hand positions but feel a bit more upright than I am used to. My hope is the longer stem will help. If not I'll swap them for the regular bars on my 29er and see how that works. It also had a mirror on it that was hugely annoying. Dug into my wrist all the time. I removed that (will probably put it on my gravel bike). Still trying to figure out tire pressure.

Old owner rode it a few times and then it sat in the garage for a year. Unfortunately they didn’t wash it so the tires are stained. I got most of the mud off but you can see it in person. Otherwise it cleaned up well. With the front bag, fender, rear rack, and 4.9" tires it weighs 38.6 pounds. Not great but not horrible.

IMAGE(https://b2l1ua.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mVDUdxdvE1szj5mXFIKETzMxxZjVZiya0sQMkbCDzphekVzdgTUcmMUQyKXHC13QlHxLA8XlIkI0RHVsHEB4JnVGGhPQrTz7YnFkYAhGMAOGgFYfTPTBMsyfSf-5gNmGZ_owh7R-rdEvMDXVU-eQAHSNGAKl0TOVUXvWcBA_aEn7IaIEB4_H8Rww3bycjVk8j?width=1024&height=768&cropmode=none)

Looks like a pretty workable snow and mud runner.

That’s a steal for $500.

muraii wrote:

That’s a steal for $500.

I actually checked facebooks local stolen bikes page to make sure. Then, I went to their house to look at it and they had 2 other bikes. Said it just wasn't for them. So I was pretty sure it wasn't stolen at that point. What thief is going to have you go to their house. Anyway, yeah, it's pretty much a steal at $500.

Kind of a boring update.

The Trance E+1 Pro 2019 I bought continues to perform exceptionally well as a commuter. Kind of overbuilt for it, to be honest, but it's amazing for badly maintained Philippine roads. The small bump sensitivity that gives you confidence on the trail reduces fatigue on commutes, making them pleasant even on the worst road surfaces. Full suspension means you laugh at most potholes. There is almost zero chance of encountering any road imperfection or debris that will risk you crashing.

The only things I wish for, honestly, are fenders and rack provisions. I have to take everything to work in a backpack, but it's alright.

I do still have my Dirt E+2. Still works fine. I use it and my panniers when I need to go shopping or have a lot of stuff I want to haul.

I have lost a fair bit of strength and stamina, but I reckon that's almost entirely because of the months I spent using the car on account of bad gouty attacks. On new medication, I've been better through September to December and the ebikes allowed me to pedal when I would have otherwise continued to use the car (because I was too weak to make my commute by bike).

Norfair wrote:

So I maaaaaay have signed up for a 225 mile one day ride across Wisconsin this year.

Wish me luck.

Welp, I've gone and done it again.

Norfair wrote:
Norfair wrote:

So I maaaaaay have signed up for a 225 mile one day ride across Wisconsin this year.

Wish me luck.

Welp, I've gone and done it again.

D’oh!

I hear Britney Spears had a song about that.

I'm addicted to youtube videos of old bike rebuilds. Oldshovel has a channel for it and some of his rebuilds are amazing.
Edited. Thanks Muraii

EvilHomer3k wrote:

I'm addicted to youtube videos of old bike rebuilds. Oldshovel has a channel for it and some of his rebuilds are amazing.

That is a neat channel, fer shur. Video link's busted, though.

Picked up a GoPro Max a week ago, got out to test it on Tuesday. Learned a few things from my first ride:

1. Need to angle the camera a bit further upwards.
2. Need to check for sweat droplets on the lens (oops!)
3. I sure do huff and puff a lot!
4. I'm very thankful that I live in an area where my social distancing can include biking.

Anyway, if you're totally bored, you can take a look if you want

The video was recorded primarily on Horsethief Bench except for the very end, which is the last bit back to the road on Mary's.

Edit: Deleted the crappy video, look down a few posts for a much better video covering the same trail.

That's really cool!

Serengeti wrote:

3. I sure do huff and puff a lot!

If you don't then you're not doing it right

Nice vid, Serengeti!

Your post reminded me of an old video I saw a while back from Seth's Bike Hacks. Maybe there's some advice you could find useful here for making more videos. And I need you to make more videos so I can live vicariously through you.

Last weekend my front wheel jammed in a root on a hairpin turn and I went over the handlebars and ended up falling on them somehow. Jammed into my ribs in my upper chest. At the least I have pretty bruised ribs.

It's been getting worse throughout the week. Having broken ribs before there is no reason to go into the hospital unless I really need pain meds. Still, I was thinking this is one of the worst type of injuries to get during a respiratory pandemic! Typical of me, FML

I can't wait until it gets dry enough here to get back out on the trails. Temps are nice and everything is starting to bud/bloom but it's been wet and sloppy for almost a week. I could really use a couple of hours in the woods on my bike right now.

If we succeed in selling our house this year I might be able to get a more adventure-capable bike (read: 45mm+ tires + disc brakes). That'll be good for Colorado riding, though the roads there seem to be in better shape than Ohio's from what we gathered on a weekend trip.

I'm not necessarily trying to hit technical single-track but some fire roads or light trails would be nice to explore.

Video #2, recorded last Saturday. No sweat on the lens this time, and there's music! Also a fair bit shorter, for those of you with limited attention spans.

Next video will be a different trail - more are starting to ride well now that things are drying out a bit more on the north side of the valley.

Great video and that looks like a ton of fun. So many rolling curves and places to build up speed. Although I think some of that stuff would kick in my fear of heights.

It's a bit different here in New England where it's all super chunky with roots and small rocks.

Obviously not me but for example this is one of the places I go to:

My latest video is up on YouTube. This time I'm riding the 18 Road Trails in the North Fruita Desert. First time on these trails this season, so I rode around a few jumps that I would normally hit. I'll go faster and jump higher later in the season, I promise!