Help - I may be on the horns of a dilemma

il_principe

Clever Pun wrote:

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

cjcp wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Roubaix such a ghey sounding name isn't it...

Dentists bike.

You know your bike is called a "Prince", right?

Thing is Jash, I know it's an awesome bike, looks ace, goes like stink and all that, but the name DOES conjour images like this into my brain for some reason: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/CHRPOD/ENG03079611601.jpg.

that pops into your head... little young isn't he?

this is the kind of thing I visualise about "The Prince"... well Jash's one anyways

Yeah baby! I feel a new thread coming on...

linsen

I'm sorry LiT did you say the words "irritating" and "long legs" in the same sentence?

:evil:

greg66_tri_v2.0

I've decided.



It's ninja :twisted:

lost_in_thought

Good choice!

Way to own two carbon cervelos...

il_principe

Greg66 wrote:

I've decided.



It's ninja :twisted:

Just as well really, it's a bugger to find Gaffer tape in any other colour.

DonDaddyD

Hang on, let me get this straight Greg. You've now got two carbon fibre Cervelo's that look the same and have eactly the same geometry?

Why?

Am I right in saying that the new one you previously had before in a different colour but you didn't like it and replaced it for the one you replacing now. So technically you're going back to the one before the old one?

One aluminium and one Carbon Fibre did make some sense (I strive to have the same at some point) but - and I ask this in all seriousness - what are the differences between both bikes and which will be your winter hack?

Eitherway hats off to you sir hope you like your new bike, which you had before but in a different colour I believe, I'm confused...

Chapeau.

Edit: I'm not trying to knock you for your decision or try to ridicule you. I generally don't understand the decision leading to this and suspect that there may be some genius I'm unable to immediate grasp until its explained to me. I generally don't understand.

biondino

The Winter hack will be full Sora.

greg66_tri_v2.0

DonDaddyD wrote:

Am I right in saying that the new one you previously had before in a different colour but you didn't like it and replaced it for the one you replacing now. So technically you're going back to the one before the old one?

Not quite. I had Bike 1 and the red one. I didn't like the red one, so I sold it and got Bike 2. Now I have to return Bike 1. And I'm getting the lighter stiffer version of the red one, in black. And yes, one of the reasons I didn't like the red one was that it was too stiff.

DonDaddyD wrote:

I ask this in all seriousness - what are the differences between both bikes and which will be your winter hack?
...
I generally don't understand the decision leading to this and suspect that there may be some genius I'm unable to immediate grasp until its explained to me. I generally don't understand.

Differences: New Bike 1 is super aero and super stiff and super fast. Bike 2 is more comfortable, not as aero, super stiff and super fast.

I may have to ditch the winter hack idea. I'm thinking of going to a long ride (Bike 2) and short ride (Bike 1) model. The red bike I got rid of was hard work after 2 or 3 hours in the saddle.

This may mean New Bike 1 is my winter hack. Now shush, and move along.

There's no hidden genius to this. It's a decision dictated by (a) a desire to have two bikes with identical geometry (perhaps irrational); and (b) strong views about bike colours. If you recall, I was adamant that they were not red. They were a strong shade of orange...

DonDaddyD

Greg I'm generally lost.


Edit: After drawing a little diagram with pen and paper I'm with you.

Which of your bikes (the new Bike 1 and Bike 2) is technically better?

greg66_tri_v2.0

DonDaddyD wrote:

Greg I'm generally lost.


Edit: After drawing a little diagram with pen and paper I'm with you.

Which of your bikes (the new Bike 1 and Bike 2) is technically better?

New Bike 1. By a short nose.

Anyone who (a) has feet that can fit into a size 45 bike shoe; (b) doesn't have some hideous foot infection that would require me to burn my bike shoes; (c) doesn't mind the risk of catching a hideous foot infection from me that would require them to burn their feet; and (d) can cope with the pinnacle of pedal development (Podios) is welcome to take whichever I've got with me for a spin round the block (ie the Embankment drag strip) on a Morpeth evening once the clocks go forward.

lost_in_thought

Greg66 wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Greg I'm generally lost.


Edit: After drawing a little diagram with pen and paper I'm with you.

Which of your bikes (the new Bike 1 and Bike 2) is technically better?

New Bike 1. By a short nose.

Anyone who (a) has feet that can fit into a size 45 bike shoe; (b) doesn't have some hideous foot infection that would require me to burn my bike shoes; (c) doesn't mind the risk of catching a hideous foot infection from me that would require them to burn their feet; and (d) can cope with the pinnacle of pedal development (Podios) is welcome to take whichever I've got with me for a spin round the block (ie the Embankment drag strip) on a Morpeth evening once the clocks go forward.

Hilarious that this thread started because you thought red and white would be impractical for a winter hack...

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

Hilarious that this thread started because you thought red and white would be impractical for a winter hack...

Did it? I've quite forgotten.

<wanders off, whistling to self tunelessly, looking slightly unsettled...>

DonDaddyD

Greg66 wrote:

New Bike 1. By a short nose.

Anyone who (a) has feet that can fit into a size 45 bike shoe; (b) doesn't have some hideous foot infection that would require me to burn my bike shoes; (c) doesn't mind the risk of catching a hideous foot infection from me that would require them to burn their feet; and (d) can cope with the pinnacle of pedal development (Podios) is welcome to take whichever I've got with me for a spin round the block (ie the Embankment drag strip) on a Morpeth evening once the clocks go forward.

What is it with you and European measurements. KPH instead of MPH. Euro instead of £... urgh anywho...

I generally have a rule not to literally put my feet in another Man's shoes (I would make a joke about swinging but Biondino is online...). In any case I'm a 42 (size 8), my cycle shoes are (worryingly I've just checked) a size 44 and you're a size 45 (10.5 british size).

Very tempting though, got a pedal spanner?

greg66_tri_v2.0

You'll fit. Bring some plastic socks and your best pedal unclipping skillz...

DonDaddyD

Greg66 wrote:

You'll fit. Bring some plastic socks and your best pedal unclipping skillz...

That reminds me of this scene in a Dutch film I downloaded yesterday night..... whoa... wrong forum... :P

always_tyred

I work in kph.

I have a bright orange bike.

Screw you guys, I'm going home.

lost_in_thought

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Hilarious that this thread started because you thought red and white would be impractical for a winter hack...

Did it? I've quite forgotten.

<wanders off, whistling to self tunelessly, looking slightly unsettled...>

greg66 wrote:

The current Soloist is a charmingly impractical blend of red and white. And white. And a bit more white. Really great for a winter bike. Not.

And then?

Teeheehee!

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

greg66 wrote:

The current Soloist is a charmingly impractical blend of red and white. And white. And a bit more white. Really great for a winter bike. Not.

And then?

Teeheehee!

Well, at least new Bike 1 will be mostly black.

Black is the new black, as I think we established quite conclusively earlier this week

il_principe

Greg66 wrote:

You'll fit. Bring some plastic socks and your best pedal unclipping skillz...

I have a dream, Greg, stuck in the Morpeth, with no shoes and a 2nd hand Giant.

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

You'll fit. Bring some plastic socks and your best pedal unclipping skillz...

I have a dream, Greg, stuck in the Morpeth, with no shoes and a 2nd hand Giant.

exactly what I was thinking... he'll have until wimbledon to practice unclipping...

don_don

Littigator wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I wouldn't ride my saxophone.

Don_Don? Open goal....

That's one of the funniest posts I've read in days...thank you!

C*bblers, I've been really busy this morning and now its all far too late

Having said that, there's no way I'd make tasteless jokes about LiT's saxophone...

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

Oh man! Now I really am on the horns of a dilemma. My Soloist Team is currently ‘de-built’ and being examined by Scotsmen. In the meantime – and initially as a stopgap – I have built up an old frame as a single speed commuting bike. Flat bar (simpler to build and I’ve got the parts), 39x15, vertical dropouts with chain tensioner, Aksiums and Continental GP4000Ss. Now, this isn’t my first SS, as the pics in my sig demonstrate (though this one's built up on a different frame). But I’ve always been leery about using it on my commute because of the combo of distance and hills (8.5 miles each way. Numerous Bristolian gradients).

My problem is this: the single speed has been awesome. Like getting a new lease of life on my commute. Why?
a) It encourages a no compromise, take-no-prisoners approach to riding, particularly over a consistent 8.5 mile route. I want to spank my bike. And then spank it again. Hills? F*ck ‘em. Head down and up you go;
b) It is much easier to pace yourself when you know you’ve only got one gear to deal with. This actually makes hills (even quite big ones) easier than spinning up in low gears;
c) While we’re on the subject, pushing a big gear around seems quicker than spinning on a steady cadence (for me at least, and at the moment at least);
d) It feels like a much better workout; more anerobic than aerobic;
e) Ominously, I’ve even kind of been enjoying the flat bar. I have a short 100mm stem which makes it feel proper nippy through the traffic. Hand position gets boring and uncomfortable after about 5 miles though + a feel like a bit of an arse;
f) Finally and most importantly, I seemed to have gone faster than ever before. Scalp after scalp has fallen to me this week. Geared roadies whither before me; like autumn leaves in a nuclear blast.

Three major downsides:
a) Down-hills suck. Spinning away or freewheeling is tedious, particularly given the spanking point above;
b) I like it so much I am now wondering whether I want to replace the Soloist like for like at all. Maybe I should go for money back and get a Pearson Touche instead. Maybe I should just keep the cash and ride the jerry built one I’m on at the moment; c) 95% of my riding is on my commute. But for the other 5 % I still like a long ride on a sunny Sunday. SS is no good for that.

Oh God. I always swore I’d never fall for all this SS guff. What is to be done?

lost_in_thought

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

Oh man! Now I really am on the horns of a dilemma. My Soloist Team is currently ‘de-built’ and being examined by Scotsmen. In the meantime – and initially as a stopgap – I have built up an old frame as a single speed commuting bike. Flat bar (simpler to build and I’ve got the parts), 39x15, vertical dropouts with chain tensioner, Aksiums and Continental GP4000Ss. Now, this isn’t my first SS, as the pics in my sig demonstrate (though this one's built up on a different frame). But I’ve always been leery about using it on my commute because of the combo of distance and hills (8.5 miles each way. Numerous Bristolian gradients).

My problem is this: the single speed has been awesome. Like getting a new lease of life on my commute. Why?
a) It encourages a no compromise, take-no-prisoners approach to riding, particularly over a consistent 8.5 mile route. I want to spank my bike. And then spank it again. Hills? F*ck ‘em. Head down and up you go;
b) It is much easier to pace yourself when you know you’ve only got one gear to deal with. This actually makes hills (even quite big ones) easier than spinning up in low gears;
c) While we’re on the subject, pushing a big gear around seems quicker than spinning on a steady cadence (for me at least, and at the moment at least);
d) It feels like a much better workout; more anerobic than aerobic;
e) Ominously, I’ve even kind of been enjoying the flat bar. I have a short 100mm stem which makes it feel proper nippy through the traffic. Hand position gets boring and uncomfortable after about 5 miles though + a feel like a bit of an ars*;
f) Finally and most importantly, I seemed to have gone faster than ever before. Scalp after scalp has fallen to me this week. Geared roadies whither before me; like autumn leaves in a nuclear blast.

Three major downsides:
a) Down-hills suck. Spinning away or freewheeling is tedious, particularly given the spanking point above;
b) I like it so much I am now wondering whether I want to replace the Soloist like for like at all. Maybe I should go for money back and get a Pearson Touche instead. Maybe I should just keep the cash and ride the jerry built one I’m on at the moment; c) 95% of my riding is on my commute. But for the other 5 % I still like a long ride on a sunny Sunday. SS is no good for that.

Oh God. I always swore I’d never fall for all this SS guff. What is to be done?

I miss my bowery. And I miss mashing up hills. I am so not into this spinning... I can understand your dilemma.

cjcp

The world's gone mad. :P

The benefit of a geared bike is that you can vary your workout.

biondino

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

b) I like it so much I am now wondering whether I want to replace the Soloist like for like at all. Maybe I should go for money back and get a Pearson Cartouche instead.

Fixed your post....

greg66_tri_v2.0

S_G_I, you've let yourself down, and you've let me down. I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.

<sigh>

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

I'm disappointed in myself. But scalps is scalps. And as LIT says, mashing up hills is a blast.

Sitll, the real villains of the piece remain Cevelo. That S1 paint job really p*sses me off.

il_principe

biondino wrote:

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

b) I like it so much I am now wondering whether I want to replace the Soloist like for like at all. Maybe I should go for money back and get a Pearson Cartouche instead.

Fixed your post....

mmmm Catouche!

itboffin

erm Greg you prob don't want to hear this BUT whilst in 'Town' yesterday I popped into the LBS naturally! I'd forgotten that particular LBS is a stockiest of you know what and there on the wall with the other beautiful frames was a 56cm one of these



But you've moved on right?

Oh and it was on sale to.

greg66_tri_v2.0

ITB: pm'd ya.

This is all getting a bit out of hand.

So obviously - new frame is easier is set up with new cables. And a new chain. I thought cassette would be ok with a newer chain, but swapped into onto Bike 2 (which has a newer chain than Bike 1 had) - errr, no. 16 Jumps like a b@stard. Shame you can't buy the individual sprockets. That would be too easy. New cassette.

And new bar tape. And while I think about it, that shifter that I mashed up in my frost fall looks a bit crappy to to on a new frame. New shifters please. And look at that rear mech. Ditto. And I've never really liked those bottle cages...

And so it goes on.

B@lls.