Guitar Gear Forum

I found a deal on bike I want. Kona humuhumu.

Problem: only small size left in stock. 16”

That said, my inseam realistically could put me on a 16”, but my height puts me on a 19” or so. I need to go to the store and look at mtb sizes in real life. Doesn’t seem as cut and dry as classic road bike sizing.

So, bikes are like bourbon. Every new piece of shit bike for under $4,000 is made by 3 places in Asia.

Advanced Sports International = Fuji, Kestrel, Breezer, SE, Performance, Nashbar, Phat, Tuesday, Oval Concepts, etc.

Kinesis = Diamondback, Felt, GT, Haro, jamis, K2, Kona, Raleigh, Santa Cruz, Schwinn, Bikes Direct, Motobecane, Mercier, Windsor, etc.

Giant = Specialized? La Pierre, Merida, Bianchi, etc.


This is just making me want to keep buying "authentic" frames built up with frankenparts.

The bummer is, I WANT something.

Needs:
steel frame
no derailleurs
bigger than race tires.
rack mounts
fender mounts
not old/rusty/jenky.

Wouldn't mind having:
disc brakes or rim brakes
rigid or suspension fork
single speed or internal gearing

So, found out Ben’s cycle sells USA made steel frames for realistic prices with options I want. They are called Milwaukee bicycles. I think Waterford makes them.

Lynskey builds their Ti frames here in 'merica.

TurboPablo wrote:Lynskey builds their Ti frames here in 'merica.

yeah those are like 3 times more expensive than the Milwaukee frames.

gene--

check out the surly midnight special frame. you can add a tensioner cog on the hanger too if you don't like the extry hardware, though you could just skip it and leave it too. has brake bosses for disc, it's a 650b frame so you can put in up to like 60mm tires (!) OR run 700c x 28s (same diameter as 650x44).. it's disc, doesn't matter! bosses for racks and fenders. and it's steel. totally not unreasonably priced either. everybody sells QBP stuff, so most bike shops carry 'em on special order!

i've thought about building one up myself as an all purpose commuter, but i'd rock a double/full mech on it, 'cause.. well that's how i roll. worth the build though!

You could check out planet-x perhaps? They do some cool shit and you can take advantage of the plummeting pound
https://www.planetx.co.uk/

lookee what I bought.



except in this colour:



Frame and fork built in the USA by Waterford with True Temper steel.

It's going to have fender mounts, rack mounts, and water bottle mounts.

It's just a frame, so I'm going to have the LBS put in the BB and headset.

https://www.benscycle.com/milwaukee-bic ... 34/product

very stoked right now.

Cool Gene. Let's ride sometime.

I just got all set up with Zwift in my basement too.

Loop wrote:Cool Gene. Let's ride sometime.

We can take our bikes out sometime as well.

btw, is a zwift like a Sybian?

2 things:
1. Rode the Cannondale today. Great bike. Loved the brooks swallow. Glad to have a cateye computer again. Realized my deda bars were beating me up. These Nitto bars RULE. I still need to adjust my derailleurs some more.
2. Bens cycle called me to say I couldn’t have any of the options I wanted. Kind of bummed. Going to talk to them again tomorrow.

i had a domane 4.3 carbon fiber but sold it. no amount of proper cycling shorts can make resting all of my weight on my taint/prostate comfortable. now i just chill on my comfort bike.

Sasquatch wrote:i had a domane 4.3 carbon fiber but sold it. no amount of proper cycling shorts can make resting all of my weight on my taint/prostate comfortable. now i just chill on my comfort bike.

I know what you mean. It sure takes a lot of trial and error. It doesn't take much being wrong to fuck up the whole ride. Everything has to be perfect.

I'm surprised my road ride went as well as it did last night, actually. It was a combination of
1. the Brooks Swallow worked for me, despite its slender appearance. Plus, the angle/height were good enough.
2. These Nitto Drop bars are more comfortable than that stiff Deda bullhorn I had.
3. This Nitto tall stem is pretty sweet.

I rode for the first time in a couple weeks. The smoke from forest fires in BC have kept me off for far too long. It was a pretty crisp 5C on my ride to work, but it was nice.

I need more hand and feet layers. Boot covers won't break the bank and I may just get some latex gloves for under my other gloves to keep the wind off.

Seats are so important. You've really got to be patient and do research. It also helps when you've got a LBS that has a policy of exchanging saddles until you find the right one. I landed on a Specialized Toupe.

Also, I love my carbon bike. It rides really well. I would like a steel bike, but I've got everything I need right now, except maybe race wheels in the future. I really just ride for fitness, but I want more speed...

Speed??

There are a few ways to get more speed without putting in the work

1. Aero bars. ASSUMING you are comfortable, this will easily add 1-2 mph.
2. Aero wheels. These are so damned expensive. Easy to damage too.
3. Aero helmet. Not worth looking like a complete moron out in the real world. Shit, Laurent Fignon lost the TDF because he wanted to roll into Paris in style NOT wearing an aero helmet.

The problem with messing with your position = an uncomfortable bike will never be fast.

All that said, wheels that spin well and a stiff frame will get you halfway there.

I gave up finding the perfect saddle after going thru a fitting and trying out about 5 different types. I have a Specialized Avatar on 2 of my bikes, but I feel like there MUST be something better out there. At this point, I'm like F it, once I'm riding over 4 hours, my whole ass is numb anyway.

I'm back to logging over 100 miles a week, looking to add some volume to that if I can avoid the usual work/family/music pitfalls.

The answer to a better perfect saddle is always BROOKS.

I've had good luck with the B17 and it's brother "the Flyer"(like a B17 top, but with big heavy springs underneath).

I also like the Team Pro and the Swallow.

The B67/B68 are too wide for any real road/distance riding. These are truly more for cruising/comfort bikes.

Are the Cambium saddles worth a shot or is all the Brooks majesty within the leather?

SuperFlyinMonke wrote:Are the Cambium saddles worth a shot or is all the Brooks majesty within the leather?

I have a Cambium C17. I haven't ridden it yet. It looks like a tire, and it seems "flimsy" compared to a leather model. That said, If I could go back to some of those rainy all day rides and save my flyer, I would.

I'll let you know when I ride it. Mine is one of those ugly black demo models. Got it for $59 on ebay. Grab one today with the 15% coupon. $50 or so.

I'm good with my Toupe. I was just curious for someone that's an avid Brooks user how it measures up with the other leather variants. I definitely know it's a heavy fucker in comparison to others, but if it keeps an ass happy longer, it doesn't much matter at the end of the day.

So, I got my custom frame order fixed. The only thing I can't have is Fender Mounts. not the end of the world. I would probably take my cannondale out in the rain anyways.

I'm stoked. I decided to go with the threaded Waterford custom USA fork. I REALLY like the Nitto extended threaded quill stems. I also got a Nitto Noodle 48cm drop bar for it. Nitto seatpost. I think a Tan Brooks team pro will look good on there. I can't wait!

Is it a fixie or will you have some gears to run through, Gene?

itchyfingers wrote:Is it a fixie or will you have some gears to run through, Gene?

Planning on free wheel single speed. It's a flip flop hub though, so I could go fixie, but not betting on it. I've tried it. Didn't really like it.

Too many mesas (e.g. too much climbing) in SD for a single speed, but I hear its pretty flat out there in the midwest. Hope it checks all the boxes, brother!