Bicycle thread

[mud]

Velo Orange make this chain guard. You just can't use it with a front derailer. Could work very nice for what you want to do though.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by mud

Velo Orange make this chain guard. You just can't use it with a front derailer. Could work very nice for what you want to do though.

Cool. Thx.

[Chisenhallw]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

I live in a world of metered parking and traffic clusterfucks, about as close to downtown as you can be without being in it. I'm single and can carry a week's groceries in a big messenger bag. I travel distances that could realistically be walked.

It is either a bicycle or a scooter. I figure my lazy ass could use some exercise.

Yeah? And I live here. Trust me, I know from metered parking & traffic. See my last post about jousting with Baltimore transit buses on a dark & rainy night. So you & I both know that thrashing around a city is going to be a giant PITA. It just is. You're gonna have to buck up & get used to it. Either you climb into your cage and deal with meter maids, or you climb into the saddle and tuck your pants in.

Enough lambasting. I ain't here to lecture you (even though I think I just did. Sorry 'bout that). Let me try to help.

I own a 2011 Specialized Sirrus Elite, and honestly, it is one of the best city bikes you could ask for. Road bike? It's Roubaix geometry, just with flat bars (I like the uprights on the end). It's got rack mounts both front & rear, so you could go all sporty high-speed bakfiet if you wanted. Fender mounts too.

The chain ring has a guard around the outside edge, so it's less prone to eat your pants leg. I roll mine up anyway, but that's cause I'm a dork. Aftermarkets are available too for complete pants protection. And it's winter, cycling season is petering out. I bet if you walk into a bike shop about a month from now they will practically beg you to take it.

Honestly, the only thing I would change up about the one I've got would be a switch to disc brakes. Otherwise, I have hopped curbs, bombed sidewalks (legal in Bawlmer as long as you give right of way to pedestrians), salmoned the wrong way up in a bike lane, kicked buses & taxis, and in all other ways acted like a complete cycling douchebag (Because otherwise I'll get killed. )

The Sirrus has help up beautifully.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by ducnut

I just don't understand why cantis, with orbital pad mounts, are so flippin' hard to get the pad to stay angled, when tightening them.

I either but sure 'nuff! they are.

I've taken to using a piece of something (folded over lid of a box of Conti glue lately) to space out the back of the pad as I'm tightening.

Seems to do OK

Oh, and I'll second the motion for disc brakes for Grainbelt. All-weather stopping = good.

M

[k7]

Nice afternoon ride today. 46-miles at exactly 20.0 mph. Yes, it was fairly flat but a tad windy. Good ride though - nice sunny day.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by mud

Velo Orange make this chain guard. You just can't use it with a front derailer. Could work very nice for what you want to do though.

I just got this one for my GF's '63 Phillips. It looks suspiciously like VO, with a little different design.

Originally Posted by Chisenhallw

And I live here.

For some reason, I thought you lived in Kansas City.

Originally Posted by Gummee!

I've taken to using a piece of something (folded over lid of a box of Conti glue lately) to space out the back of the pad as I'm tightening.

Seems to do OK

Zip-tie, for me.

[Chisenhallw]

Originally Posted by ducnut

For some reason, I thought you lived in Kansas City.

.

Used to (well, 2 hours east of KC, anyway, in Columbia). Moved to Bawlmer in July. Girl got into Hopkins.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Chisenhallw

Used to (well, 2 hours east of KC, anyway, in Columbia). Moved to Bawlmer in July. Girl got into Hopkins.

That's right, Columbia. Guess, I haven't totally lost my memory.

[Lewy]

I got 2 rides in today and was still home before 11am

First on the MTB



And then on the road on the CX bike



Was planning on a night ride tonight too but my wife just told me it wont be happening

[pierce]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

...Maybe an old steel road frame with a single speed and a freewheel hub and a chain guard is the way to go. I'll just build one. Yeah. I can do that. I have all winter. What could go wrong?

if you're going to SS a old steel roadie, make sure its got horizontal dropouts . and isn't some nice english/french/italian double butted 531 or columbus frame.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by pierce

if you're going to SS a old steel roadie, make sure its got horizontal dropouts . and isn't some nice english/french/italian double butted 531 or columbus frame.

That's all the rage, I guess. I saw a Indy CL add where the guy put something like "Please don't turn this into a fixie". I don't remember what the bike was, now.

[Chisenhallw]

Originally Posted by ducnut

That's right, Columbia. Guess, I haven't totally lost my memory.

You know what's nuts? The transit bus drivers in Columbia were a cycling menace, too.

[Grainbelt]

Originally Posted by pierce

if you're going to SS a old steel roadie, make sure its got horizontal dropouts . and isn't some nice english/french/italian double butted 531 or columbus frame.

I'm leaning toward a single speed, but it will have to have a freewheel hub, I'm not coordinated enough for a fixie. and the frame will likely be whatever I find laying around a friends basement or something. I think this will end up being a fun winter project!

[pierce]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

I'm leaning toward a single speed, but it will have to have a freewheel hub, I'm not coordinated enough for a fixie. and the frame will likely be whatever I find laying around a friends basement or something. I think this will end up being a fun winter project!

The horizontal dropouts are a near must as vertical ones mean you need an external method of adjusting chain tension, such as an eccentric bottom bracket, or an external chain tensioner.

and grinding the derailleur boss off a campi dropout should be a felony!

[Chisenhallw]