The cycling thread

[dubber36]

Right, it weighs 9.6kg with a wedge bag, tube, levers and a multitool and a mini pump strapped to the frame. Add another 1.5kg to that when both water bottles are full.

I went out for a good long ride this morning. The ride comfort is superb, those damping inserts in the forks and seat stays really do work. It was much easier to ride that the Giant, it seemed to just flow along with little effort. Well I say little effort. The wind seemed to be blowing from 3 different directions.

[Booth11]

Right, it weighs 9.6kg with a wedge bag, tube, levers and a multitool and a mini pump strapped to the frame. Add another 1.5kg to that when both water bottles are full.

I went out for a good long ride this morning. The ride comfort is superb, those damping inserts in the forks and seat stays really do work. It was much easier to ride that the Giant, it seemed to just flow along with little effort. Well I say little effort. The wind seemed to be blowing from 3 different directions.

Pretty lightweight then.  That, combined with a rigid frame make a huge difference to the handling don't you think?  A decent bike is well worth the money.  The damper inserts sound useful, especially on our woeful roads.  Went through loads inner tubes in last couple of years, got a shelf full of them in the bike shed.

The poor roads are what led my other half to buy a hybrid bike (Felt QX75) a few years back - less hard work than a mountain bike (on road) but a bit tougher than a dedicated road bike.  Though it's a lovely bike, I've never really liked it, it's neither one thing or the other to me.  I prefer the proper road bike and just have to suffer the punctures.  The Felt F3 road bike is a dream to ride by comparison, that weighs in just under 7kg and as with yours, just flows along. And for off road, well that's what a mountain bike is for.

Sounds like you're going to be putting it through it's paces this weekend.  Now, are you sure 2 full water bottles weigh 1.5kg, maybe you should get them on the scales to be sure 

[dubber36]

Now, are you sure 2 full water bottles weigh 1.5kg, maybe you should get them on the scales to be sure 

When I went to school, a litre of water weighed 1kg.

[Booth11]

Now, are you sure 2 full water bottles weigh 1.5kg, maybe you should get them on the scales to be sure 

When I went to school, a litre of water weighed 1kg.

When I went to school......."litres, kilos, what are these new measurements you speak of?" 

At least I can guess how big your water bottles are now 

[charlie]

Been using the turbo more than going outside but it's ideal when weathers no good and your looking after a child.  Been up to the hr mark a few times but struggle to do longer. Boredom sets in and that is with using a training programme on the iPad 

[Sam]

Now, are you sure 2 full water bottles weigh 1.5kg, maybe you should get them on the scales to be sure 

When I went to school, a litre of water weighed 1kg.

When I went to school......."litres, kilos, what are these new measurements you speak of?" 

At least I can guess how big your water bottles are now 

When you went to school I imagine you zeroed in the beaker, here we need to account for it! 

[dubber36]

I forgot to tell you about my new bike. Well, I say new, it's a late 70's, early 80's Raleigh Europa in need of restoration.

I saw it in the loft of a house I was surveying before Christmas. I went back there last week to do some more work and thought I really couldn't leave it there, so made an offer and bought it for £20. The tyres are perished, but the tubes hold air, so I have been able to ride it up and down the road and am pleased to say that after 35 years in a loft, everything still works.

Pics to follow.

[dubber36]

Here it is





How the hell did we used to climb with these gear ratios?



Bikes have moved on a little.

[Booth11]

They have indeed moved on!  So what are your plans for it?

I still have fond memories of my original hand built road bike which I stripped down with copious amounts of Nitromors (lethal stuff) and resprayed back in the 80's.  I loved that bike with a passion until some theiving bugger nicked it from my student house 

You'll be wanting to build a new fancy bike 'shed' now for your bike restoration project. Or will you evict the Mk2 to make way for this 

[dubber36]

Plans are to strip it and clean it, but leave it with its current patina. It is in extremely good condition. I'm hoping all the new parts it will need will be tyres (tan walls ordered) and cables.

What I'll do with it, I'm not sure. It's just one of those things that's nice to have for nostalgic reasons.

I'd like a bike shed, put I prefer them in the integral garage, as that's part of the house and pretty secure. Space is getting a bit tight in there now, so the Mk2 might have to go and live in my parents garage.