Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Here's some more of that seatpost test.

I know. I still own the saddle of doom, because I can happily ride it for a day or two without issue. It's a bit too hard to pick a saddle and then ride for a solid week on it just to work out if it's better or worse than the last choice. I wonder if there's any benefit to the pressure mapping when I know where the pressure is and will be because the saddle I use is designed to support me in that single spot.

I get the odd saddle sore and then in TCR I had blisters, blood blisters, bruising, all manner of sit-bone destruction :) I'm using a less padded version of the same kind of saddle to see if there's any difference but I've not ridden it on a single long ride yet to tell.

I wonder if there's enough room in the layback Thomson for Di2 still?

Hmm, I could just swap my Thomson out for the S-Works and see how it goes?

Anyone have any idea how the S-Works Pave compares to S-Works carbon post?

Would be interesting to see similar comparison about saddle rail materials. If there is any difference. I've had some titanium and carbon rails before, but on different saddles so it's hard to compare. Yesterday I bought a new saddle, same model as the one I already had, but that's with cromo rails and this has titanium. The weight difference is about 10 grams. Difference in price is bigger. Bought another just to have the same saddle on my other bike but I'll see if there's a difference.

the syntace p6 hi-flex seems to be quite popular with ultra offroad events. I am getting one shortly for my SS full rigid, will report back

Anyone got a right hand Paul thumbie going spare?

Thanks for the advice, just ordered the pizza rack and Chrome duffle. Hopefully a good combo on the CDF.

Next up dyno hub, disk brake light weight 650b wheelset. Any recommendations?

Didn't you start off with a geared cx bike?

.

^nice!

from @Shroom

on these new generation of bikes, after you actually ride some proper miles, the disc brakes start rubbing, the bikepacking bags loosen themselves off and flap like mad, the gear indexing goes out, the dynamo stops working properly, the bottom bracket starts creaking, the chain keeps dropping and holding up the ride, etc etc....

If rear racks and flat bars are the new trend, I'm going to jump in with a expensive hybrid reader's wife.

Several hours of grotty mud yesterday, and not a hiccup. I'd use it for a lot more, but dare not lock it up out of my sight.

This Ogre is very, very cool. Seems to me like the rider is really getting the most out of all the different options for setting it up.

@Shroom, @Paulo_C - don't suppose you know which tyres those are? Don't quite look like standard compass tyres..

Soma Supple Vitesse 42c

Ok, here my old trusty Giant Terrago (22 inch) original paint but removed the decals.

Got all nice but functional parts, like :

Surly Bars
XT 1 x 9
Mavic caramic rims XT hubs
Dura ace shifter on Pauls thumbie
Tubus rear rack with de Carradice super C panniers
etc.
etc.

I did go for the quality but non fancy look ;-)

Please let me know what you think.

I ride the Surly open bar for around 2 months now and loving it even more than my old streight flat bar with bar ends.

I like it! What front do you have on there? Also what is the black thing near the top tube/head tube intersection? Front light?

The rack you mean? Its some 8 euro cheap but sturdy alu rack, brandless.

And yes that thing on the toptube is a light, the ficture broke from my handlebar and this was the only place to get it fixed quickly. But as you can see it,s no good with stuff on the front rack ;-)

That looks really good! I suspect you would benefit from a front mudflap though.

Looks great!

Indeed, the downtube gets really dirty in these rainy days so are my shoes. I have to see how I can make one from srap.

Thanks.

Any suggestions for mudflaps? To fit to 700 x 45ish mudguards

I cut some from an old plastic binder and pop riveted it on. It works great - also helps to keep the oil on your chain.

I asked this recently, went to a local rubber supplier and they gave me a massive roll or 6mm sheet for free!

One of the few advantages of living in a highly industrialised area.

Edit: 6mm seems a little bit excessive though.