Bicycle thread

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Zodiac

M, don't you think the buzz is more so when you're on an aluminum bike (with an aluminum fork) than when you're on a steel bike?

My theory is like a shock absorber; road is rough gives buzz from the ground up. As it travels up the steel fork into a steel frame it dissipates or goes through to the other end like a conductor. If it's a CF fork, it's meeting the other (different since it's a different material and resonates differently) material like steel or aluminum and they're repelling each other - like two different pitched tuning forks i.e. more buzz...

Since aluminum is so buzzy any CF at the lower ground level absorbs vibes well. So this works for alum bike frames.
But IMHO steel soaks up vibes better than CF, so CF forks on a steel bike is a wash. All you're creating is 2 different frequencies that meet at the headset - and most CF forks have a steel or aluminum steerer tube anyway (not high end).

Or maybe I'm just crazy....

I was on a steel cross bike with a steel fork. Buzzy...

Same bike path the next day on the CF fork? No buzz.

M

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

rant
There's a bunch of whiny little bitches in the club associated with the shop. Won't go out riding under 40deg. Too cold! Waaa! HTFU ya sissy Marys! Geez! Its not like we're in fucking Alaska or anything! This is Northern VA!
/rant

Which is why I don't do group rides. There are always the crybabies who find something to bitch about. They can't just enjoy a ride.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Zodiac

M, don't you think the buzz is more so when you're on an aluminum bike (with an aluminum fork) than when you're on a steel bike?

My theory is like a shock absorber; road is rough gives buzz from the ground up. As it travels up the steel fork into a steel frame it dissipates or goes through to the other end like a conductor. If it's a CF fork, it's meeting the other (different since it's a different material and resonates differently) material like steel or aluminum and they're repelling each other - like two different pitched tuning forks i.e. more buzz...

Since aluminum is so buzzy any CF at the lower ground level absorbs vibes well. So this works for alum bike frames.
But IMHO steel soaks up vibes better than CF, so CF forks on a steel bike is a wash. All you're creating is 2 different frequencies that meet at the headset - and most CF forks have a steel or aluminum steerer tube anyway (not high end).

Or maybe I'm just crazy....

I don't know if your theory is correct, as I believe carbon to have natural damping qualities. But, your thinking seems to be similar to my experience.

Again, I'm talking my new bike versus the old. Even though my Tricross has carbon seatpost, seatstays, and fork, it still has more buzz throughout than the vintage bike. And again, the Tricross is on 32mm Contis and the BSA is on 28mm Panaracers. IDK. Maybe I just need to go order a Vaya (It's orange, this year! And, only $1500 with Apex.) to figure this all out.

[trailer Rails]

The Vaya is an awesome bike. All the pictures of it with the high rise stem and the saddle nose pointing up make puke in my mouth a little but i still want one.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by trailer Rails

The Vaya is an awesome bike. All the pictures of it with the high rise stem and the saddle nose pointing up make puke in my mouth a little but i still want one.

Makes me wanna' throw on an aerobar and go.

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by Zodiac

PS - That bike has a very good wheelset, don't change out the rear - keep them paired - they're bulletproof and will last forever.

I did like the look of those wheels to be honest so that is good info to know.

[fullmonte]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

rant
There's a bunch of whiny little bitches in the club associated with the shop. Won't go out riding under 40deg. Too cold! Waaa! HTFU ya sissy Marys! Geez! Its not like we're in fucking Alaska or anything! This is Northern VA!
/rant

From now on you guys can call me fullNancyboy, in this thread only. FNB did ride 115 miles of singletrack in February. My toes (even with booties) get frozen at road bike speeds when its under 40F. They refuse to thaw out until immersed in hot water. The short winters here are a huge plus.

[TheNedster]

Originally Posted by fullmonte

From now on you guys can call me fullNancyboy, in this thread only. FNB did ride 115 miles of singletrack in February. My toes (even with booties) get frozen at road bike speeds when its under 40F. They refuse to thaw out until immersed in hot water. The short winters here are a huge plus.

I had the same problem even with good socks and ducnut's el cheapo plastic bag toe warmers (don't laugh, they help!). My bicycle sensei had me loosen the straps on my shoes; instant improvement due to increased bloodflow to the tootsies. Might be worth a try if you haven't already.

[fullmonte]

Originally Posted by TheNedster

I had the same problem even with good socks and ducnut's el cheapo plastic bag toe warmers (don't laugh, they help!). My bicycle sensei had me loosen the straps on my shoes; instant improvement due to increased bloodflow to the tootsies. Might be worth a try if you haven't already.

Now you tell me. Got any pics? Day time highs haven't dropped below 60 in over two weeks. The short of it is I've recently rediscovered how much fun mtb single track can be, since we have some new trails that are close (a 10 minute drive)to the house. That, coupled with the harshest winter in years, has kept me off the road bike. I figured I'd wait until most of the salt/sand grit gets washed off the roads before jumping back into it. The winters here are very Seattle like in nature with lots of rain. We got snow twice and then nothing, in terms of precip.

[elchulopadre]

Originally Posted by Mercury264

Thanks for your reply

Any thoughts/comments on my logic in getting a steel bike with Ultegra ? Thoughts on the spec of the Motobecane ?

Compact cranks are basically two-chainring cranks with a smaller bolt-circle diameter, which normally accomodate smaller chainrings. A typical 'standard' crank can have 53 teeth on the big'un, and 39 on the small 'un, where the compact might typically have 48 and 34, respectively. Actually, your bike comes with a 50/34, so it's almost undoubtedly a compact - I don't think you can get anything smaller than a 38 to fit on a standard crank.

Smaller chainrings sacrifice top speed in exchange for more options on the low end. An additional benefit is that it lets you run a cassette with few gaps in between the gears (like an 11-23, for example), giving you a much more even distribution of your gear ratios. The problem with standard cranks is that a lot of these ratios are unusable by mere mortals.

Nothing wrong with steel, nothing wrong with ultegra. The spec of the motobecane looks pretty good, actually. Unless you're looking at the blue one, in which case it's crap.

[rbrsddn]

My buddy went with the Compact crank when he built up his Trek Madone. Not sure the ratios, but I think the big ring is 48 T. I've got the 39/53 standard cranks, but am going up to a 27 Cassette. Next build will most likely have the Compact. Ultegra is a very durable gruppo. No need for Dura Ace unless you want the bling factor.

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by elchulopadre

Compact cranks are basically two-chainring cranks with a smaller bolt-circle diameter, which normally accomodate smaller chainrings. A typical 'standard' crank can have 53 teeth on the big'un, and 39 on the small 'un, where the compact might typically have 48 and 34, respectively. Actually, your bike comes with a 50/34, so it's almost undoubtedly a compact - I don't think you can get anything smaller than a 38 to fit on a standard crank.

Smaller chainrings sacrifice top speed in exchange for more options on the low end. An additional benefit is that it lets you run a cassette with few gaps in between the gears (like an 11-23, for example), giving you a much more even distribution of your gear ratios. The problem with standard cranks is that a lot of these ratios are unusable by mere mortals.

Nothing wrong with steel, nothing wrong with ultegra. The spec of the motobecane looks pretty good, actually. Unless you're looking at the blue one, in which case it's crap.

Goddammit, it's looking more and more likely I am going to go orange (never thought I'd say that about a bike....)

[k7]

All these posts about bicycles and equipment - I'd love to hear of your goals for bicycling.

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by k7

All these posts about bicycles and equipment - I'd love to hear of your goals for bicycling.

I guess my primary goal is to get fit and lose weight. I have tried many things and cycling just suits me the best - I am no lightweight so running regularly is out and while I used to swim a ton, it hurt my shoulders and it was just a PIA to do, especially if you have people who have no freaking idea how to swim lanes.

That said, I LOVE cycling as it gets me out and about and I really feel like I'm doing something good for my body.

Not really a regrets kind of person but I sure wish I'd found cycling 20 years ago....

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by elchulopadre

Smaller chainrings sacrifice top speed in exchange for more options on the low end.

Actually... the 50 x 11 combo feels almost exactly like a 53 x 12 combo so you're not losing out on the top end either.

I toodled along on my cross bike this AM. It has a compact crank on it. I find myself in the big ring longer. Only shifting to the inner when the road points up.

After a few weeks of riding only the compact crank, the regular rings on my other bikes felt HUGE!!!

M