For the Cyclists in Tribeland.

[spaboy]

I'm assuming it's the full alloy version at that price. The one with the carbon fork would be pricier.

Keep in mind that coming from steel rig to a full aluminum, you'll notice how much more rigid it'll be.

 

[I_bRAD]

2 pics of the foes fixed gear. So, what's so special about it?

 

[littlejon]

I'm assuming it's the full alloy version at that price. The one with the carbon fork would be pricier.

Keep in mind that coming from steel rig to a full aluminum, you'll notice how much more rigid it'll be.

nope, it is a langster chicago with a carbon fork and a straight bar.
i understand the carbon fork would soak up more of the bumps and buzz from the alloy frame, it should be similar to my old rocky mountain that got nicked.

would i feel all that much difference changing from steel to alloy?

it would be a commuting / workout bike for me and get lots of miles.

 

[spaboy]

I ride a steel Masi & notice it a lot when I ride a full alloy rig. Thinkin bout a Dolan frame with carbon front for next year

That's a sweet buy for the Chicago edition. The carbon fork will soften up the front end nicely

I_bRAD

A: It's a Foes
B: It's a crocodile!

 

[Flashy_McFlash]

Anyone read this brilliant little piece in the Post?

Time to stop giving bicyclists a free ride

National Post Published: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Toronto Councillor Michael Walker is taking some flack for his suggestion that bicyclists be licensed. Too costly! Too much bureaucracy! How do you decide who needs a licence? What about municipal boundaries? No other cities do it! Wildly impractical!

Yeah, well, so what? When have any of these arguments stood in the way of City Hall? The food cart licensing and control fiasco stands as a monument to the ability of politicians and bureaucrats to turn the simple business of vending snacks into a regulatory nightmare.

But that's not the point, really. Even though dumb government is to be deplored and resisted, Mr. Walker is on to something, although he's only halfway there. If local governments are going to be consistent in their application of environmental principles, green regulation and pay-as-you-go footprintism, we need more than bicycle licences. We need a bike tax.

Everybody knows that drivers of automobiles must pay their way. To drive on city roads, they pay heavy gasoline taxes to offset the cost. Drivers pay to park. They pay for car licences and driver's licences, which are all taxes. They pay heavy third-party liability insurance fees in case they run somebody over or ram into another car. All this is fair and just, right?
But bike riders pay nothing, even though the cost of urban bicycle infrastructure, operating risks and potential liabilities are mounting. Bikers are getting a free ride that all non-bikers are paying for.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent bulldozing, levelling and paving hundreds of kilometres of bike trails across the GTA. Trail maintenance costs are also borne by taxpayers. Even more costly are special bike lanes on city roads. Setting aside a four-foot-wide lane looks like a free lunch, but often these lanes displace automobile parking spaces or force the shutdown of an automobile corridor. There's a cost to all of this, in addition to maintenance, and bikers should pay for it.

Bicyclists cause accidents. So do automobile drivers, but they pay for their own accident risk insurance. Car drivers pay fines when they break traffic laws, but bike riders seem to be exempt from the laws. When's the last time a bike rider was ticketed for running a red light, riding up on the sidewalk, or putting pedestrians at risk by recklessly swerving through crowds?

And then there's the carbon footprint. When car drivers cruise Yonge Street on Saturday night, their metabolisms are more or less flat-lined. They just sit there, burning up little energy personally but paying for the cost of their automobile's carbon footprint via taxes and fees. Bike riders grinding up the same route burn up a lot more carbohydrates, which their bodies convert into carbon dioxide and exhale, adding to their carbon footprint. The volumes are small, but it all adds up, and bicyclists don't pay.

Bicycling has gained much of its popularity in recent years because bike riders are free-riding on services and infrastructure that they don't have to pay for. Maybe a licence and tax system would be too costly to administer, but in principle it's the right thing to do.

Paying the full cost of biking is more important than a rules test to get a licence to ride. Many bike rules are dangerous. There's nothing scarier than an amateur bicyclist making a left turn at an intersection across multiple traffic lanes diligently following the rule with one hand steering the handlebar and the other stuck in the air signalling a turn. Councillor Walker has half an idea. Licensing is a waste without a tax to the social and environmental costs of biking. Would $100 a year do it?

Yeah you guys, quit contributing to greenhouse gasses by breathing.

 

[spaboy]

I can't believe someone would print what you bolded.

Gotta tax the joggers then. Using all those city parks for free

 

[Phat Trick]

That shit can't be real. If it is, it's just more evidence at how this city hates cyclists.

Anyone know where I can score some decent mtb shoes and baggy shorts in this city on the cheap? Also, I've got a set of egg beaters that came with my bike. How do they compare to spd? Are they worth keeping?

 

[khemistry]

Michael Walker what a joke.

 

[Cri]

Also, I've got a set of egg beaters that came with my bike. How do they compare to spd? Are they worth keeping?

the crank brothers pedals? i love them. if they are the plain old egg beaters they don't have a platform..which can suck sometimes...but good for racing. I like them.
i also have a set of the crank brothers candy pedals..similar to egg beaters but with a small platform.
Can't compare to the spd as I have never used them.

 

[I_bRAD]

Anyone know where I can score some decent mtb shoes and baggy shorts in this city on the cheap? Also, I've got a set of egg beaters that came with my bike. How do they compare to spd? Are they worth keeping?

Maybe mec for baggy shorts, but the lycra is better in the woods anyhow 'cause it doesn't get hung up on stuff. I actually switched to the tight shorts long before I even got into road biking.

Never owned eggbeaters, but the general consensus is that they're great if you like things that break and need lots of maintenance. Time ATAC ftw. There's always platforms too. I wouldn't ride platforms in the woods but lots of people do. I just got a set of syncros mentals for my commuter and I'm liking them so far.

Edit: I just realized that the weight weenie in you would never ever consider those pedals.

 

[Phat Trick]

LOL!
Yes, admittedly I am I little bit of a weight weenie. What gave me away?
What can I say? Anything that makes the ride easier.
I'll try the lycra/spandex on the tails. I just always thought that the tight stuff was for the roadies.
I tried riding on platforms and I don't like it. I can't really get the power down like when I'm clipped in. Especially on the climbs. I'll do a little more research into those Time Atac's. They look interesting.

Thanks Cri. I'll give the Crank Bros. egg beaters a try on the weekend. I've got them on the table in front of me. I keep looking at them and thinking: these are weird looking.

 

[Deus]

I have a cyclocross bike on which the front derailleur stopped working. It is on the small sprocket and will not shift onto the large one. I am unsure whether this problem is at the derailleur or the shifter on the handle bars. When I ride it and switch gears it switches onto the large sprocket as long as I hold the shifter, but slides back as soon as I release the lever. I have 105 setup with break/shift levers (STI). Does anyone have any ideas where the problem could be?

 

[I_bRAD]

Check the head of the cable to see if it's frayed. (the part inside the shifter)

 

[I_bRAD]

Assuming you've already checked the cable tension.

 

[littlejon]

i dunno what to do about that specialized langster.

i went to visit it last night and rode fixed for the first time [through clubland].
it fits me well, is in nearly new shape and is good & cheap at $600.
i liked it. i m sure it would go very fast.

but the whole bike screams 'steal me' in giant bold letters.
i don't really have a place to keep it indoors, and i feel it would disappear bit by bit if it was outside, no matter how many kryptonites were on it.

fug.




also - dear jack-off on my morning ride in: we share the road.

 

[spaboy]

Invest in the Pinhead system which will lock down your fork, bars, seat & front wheel. You can't use it on the rear wheel as you need to have the extra power of the bolts in the rear for fixed. I wouldn't trust the pinhead with horizontal drops.

Pinhead Security

 

[kuba]

Going today to check this out:

-Soma Groove frame
-XO rear derailer
-Sram X Gen front derailers
-Sram X 9 Rapid Fire
-Sram PG 990 9 speed cassette
-RaceFace Deus XC crank
-RaceFace Deus XC handlebar
-RaceFace stem
-RaceFace locking grips
-RaceFace Atlas seat post
-RaceFace bottom bracket X Type
-Chris King head set
-Avid V-brakes with Avid levers
-DT Swiss hubs and rims
-Specialized tires
-Crank Brothers pedals
-Marazocchi Bomber MX Comp forks

Now. She asks $1400 in the message but $1200 in the subject, we're going to offer a g-note and that's that. Anyone care to comment on this bike? Looks like it's pretty loaded and ready to roll..

 

[spaboy]

Not too familiar with the frame but the specs alone make it worth a g-note

 

[rubytuesday]

Who here bikes through the rain, sleet, and snow? I'm looking for advice on how to stay alive, warm, and dry. Today I road in the pouring rain and it was ok, except that my hood blocked my peripheral vision and I got pretty wet everywhere else.

 

[I_bRAD]

I do. I'll post some tips for you in a bit

 

[I_bRAD]

rubytuesday:

Here's a start:

http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikewinter/index.htm

And more:

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=53

Full fenders and mudflaps FTW.

You're right about the sweat- you gotta find the balance of what feels comfortable once you're warmed up and moving You'll have to stick it out for the first few minutes until your body comes up to temperature, but that's really no big deal.

A windproof/waterproof jacket, pants and even booties (for rainy days or without mudflaps) really helps.

Use lots of lights- most commutes at this time of year are in the dark for at least one way! Visibility is key.

If the bike lane is full of ice, snow and random debris (which it usually is at this time of year), then take the lane instead. If there's no room for cars to pass, you can pull over now and then to let them- but legally you don't have to, it's just a considerate thing to do (and some people don't really seem to appreciate the potential consequences of running into a cyclist with a car) If you're just gonna pass them again the next time traffic stops, or if you're approaching a red light anyhow- then they can wait.

Watch out for ice hidden under fresh snow! Also, streetcar tracks are particularly slippery at this time of year so keep that in mind too!

For maintenance: Keep your tires inflated, but the lower end of the range on sloppy days will give you a bigger contact patch and more traction. Especially on the front tire.

Wipe down your chain and lube it fairly regularly. Especially if you've been riding in slop.

Lube the pivot points on your derailleurs to keep them moving. (use light chain lube for this)

Last- have fun and be sure to laugh at the huddled masses shivering at the streetcar stops.

 

[kuba]

Going today to check this out:

-Soma Groove frame
-XO rear derailer
-Sram X Gen front derailers
-Sram X 9 Rapid Fire
-Sram PG 990 9 speed cassette
-RaceFace Deus XC crank
-RaceFace Deus XC handlebar
-RaceFace stem
-RaceFace locking grips
-RaceFace Atlas seat post
-RaceFace bottom bracket X Type
-Chris King head set
-Avid V-brakes with Avid levers
-DT Swiss hubs and rims
-Specialized tires
-Crank Brothers pedals
-Marazocchi Bomber MX Comp forks

Now. She asks $1400 in the message but $1200 in the subject, we're going to offer a g-note and that's that. Anyone care to comment on this bike? Looks like it's pretty loaded and ready to roll..

Need some opinions here.

Girl's ex built it for her 2-3 years ago. It's been ridden like 4 times. teeth are all in perfect shape, no wear whatsoever.

It's 3 years old - all the components are the same. She wanted 1400 then 1200 for it, I want to offer her 800 take it or leave it. The bike is a little too big for my wife though - so here's the point:

When my wife stands over the top tube, she can almost barely lift the bike to her crotch area. Is this a problem? Is the bike too big? My wife is 5'3'' and the bike is a 17. I can get a shorter stem so the fit is ok but I'm worried about the top tube being too high...

As for pricing this thing, it's hard to say but it has cro-mo steel frame (columbus tubing), and all the components are, as I said, in great shape..

thoughts on fit and price?

 

[spaboy]

A 17" is a bit big for a lass at 5'3. You can tighten the cockpit up via a shorter stem and moving the seat forward on the rails.

Is she gonna be trail riding with it? If she's just commuting it should be fine but being to big will make the bike a little sloppy and less nimble. It will be good if she's just sitting down but it won't feel good off the saddle when you're trying to throw it around.

 

[Joe Seven]

Heading down to Vermont on Wednesday to ride the Kingdom Trail for 3 days. Pumped. Anyone been?

 

[xopus]

nope, but ive heard they're amazing.