General Chat

Will certainly be keen for the Dynamo, just need to invest in a head torch..

I'm up for that @jdp

If you don't wear a helmet then Alpkit Viper. I have one for running. Best budget headtorch around (Gamma is also good) although TBH there are so many other riders on the Dynamo that I did it with two of my normal commtuing lights (one ahead, one on road looking for potholes) and it was fine.

silva trail runner is the mutznutz , could probably be ziptied to a helmet too as the band is not integrated.

I don't know what that means, is it something kind of cool internetz speak?

It would have been if Microcosm had done it properly. It should have been +1
Cool intenetz speak for I agree!

Ah, I would've got it had pesky Microcosm not messed it up!

First ride on the Concorde yesterday - LOVELY!

Why have a delayed riding gears for so long?

I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?
We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!
--Henri Desgrange, L'Équipe article of 1902

:)

Yeah 1902!!

I know what you mean though, I just really enjoyed blasting through the city at 35mph and then dropping down a couple to do 25mph up inclines I'd struggle to do 16mph up riding fixed.

It has also made me realise that when I get Cami back on the road it'll be with a much smaller GI so I can get into spinning and hill climbs rather than mashing along and destroying my knees!

That's interesting. When I got back on my Cadex a few years ago it felt so slow in comparison for me; sure it was less tiring to get up hills, but I felt I could power up things much quicker fixed. I guess it's all about cadence matching with gears - if you can't keep your legs spinning at a high enough rpm to warrant changing down a gear, then you've never going to go any faster. I know when I used to ride long distances with gears when I was younger I'd just get stuck in my lowest gearing and still end up grinding up hills, just a lot slower!

Went out on Friday on the Colnago and I think that is the first time that I've actively enjoyed having and using gears. Before that I always felt that I was constantly in the wrong gear and either spinning too much or grinding too much. I guess it just familarity and a learning process.

I do feel like I'm learning to ride all over again

Worst bit is that I can knacker myself out far quicker with using gears wrongly than I can riding fixed.

I need to have a play around with saddle angles and possible stem lengths #euph

I think I'm putting too much weight onto my hands

I'm finding my gears most enjoyable. Disc brakes too. Being able to smash along singletrack in the drops is really rather pleasurable. I've convinced myself to go out for another ride.

@jdp - I've ordered one of those alpkit inner bags, so I'll let you know how I get along with it :)

I'd say sort out the saddle angle and the lever angle first before worrying about changing any components - saddle nose up and levers in line with the tops will probably help bucket loads. The stem length on there at the mo looks pretty good to me anyway, and the Vai's a layback right? It might be better to just get an inline post if you feel you're too stretched, as that should allow you to get further forward without affecting the handling to poorly (as long as the nose isn't over the bb/pushing your knee over your foot too much of course)

blasting through the city at 35mph and then dropping down a couple to do 25mph up inclines

Bloody hell mate.... When are you signing your first pro-contract?

^^^ It is Norfolk.. ;)

Looking for recommendations for the best place to lock my bike up in/near Magdalen Street. I will need to leave it for a couple of hours on Friday afternoon. I have a good lock.

Haha...mild inclines! ;)

@invertedcriss Go and buy lunch, then ask if you can leave it out back at the Dandy while you do what you need to do? Alternatively, I've used the ones on the corner by the Mischief/King Of Hearts/RAF Careers place many a time, and have had no problem during daylight hours.

Went to Mouseholds with some friends, took my roadie for some snaps. Still need to chop the steerer, looks ghastly!

Did you ride it in the bomb-holes ;-)

Could you describe it to me? I rode it pretty much wherever we were, but it was hella fun riding down one of the larger hills.