ojwithbikes

razzed South Norwood country park on @ltc ‘s
Kinesis cos they’re a massive legend and loaned me it. It was fun, hard to make much of a bike after an 45min ride around, but it did have that little snap to it when you put the power down that my steely boi maybe lacks, the no toe-overlap was great, and it felt a lot less twitchy than the bikes I’m used to.

But I’m gonna put a pin in that idea for now and just focus on actually riding and staying active this winter so that when spring comes I’m either:
A) in good enough shape to not give a shit about the small specificities of gear range, wheelbase, or the intrinsic properties of frame material
Or
B) so indoctrinated by the #grindset that watts/kilo, base miles vs sweet spot training, and CdA push me into buying a Crux

With all that in mind, I’ve just bought some 32c Teravail Ramparts from Spa Cycles (thanks for the tip) because I cannot get that small front-tyre-on-mudguard-rub to stop and it really adds a nice little grating unpleasantness to every ride 🙃 - the less excuses I find to not ride my bike as the weather gets worse the better

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reposting this 👌 meme for posterity

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you are welcome to have a go on my Mason too if you want to further confuse yourself

I can't believe you've exposed my uncut spacer stack. I'll never live this down.

Hey! I’m uncircumstacked as well.
There’s no shame

Teravail Ramparts 32s came and went on tubeless like a dream yesterday. So I thought I’d test out a little road-fixed friendly loop today in preparation for the dark times.

This 32c sizes does seems dramatically smaller than the GK semi slick 35c, like more than it should, dunno if it’s just my eyes playing tricks on me. It does make me think a 35c slick or those smart Vittoria 34c tyres would have given me the clearance i was looking for with some more cush/grip but oh well, these were £40 each and feel amazing, super sticky and cushty.

The ride was good, definitely challenging enough to make the most out of just a few hours on the bike. Took a few breathers and snack stops, but I rode up every climb so I take that as a win. Should be a good winter run out. Plus by going to the Caterham viewpoint frequently throughout winter, I’ll get to fantasise about bombing across and down that hill on the bridleway into the quarry when the mud is dry. Good stuff.

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I always found my Teravails (47C Rutlands in this instance) measured up a tiny bit narrower than their equivalent WTB tire, so maybe there is something to that hypothesis.

Seconded! I've had a couple of sets of Ramparts and they do come up a bit small. Great tyres though.

Not to mention the tubeless setup magic

sooooo anyone want to buy a pink kepler?

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Did you decide on a replacement?

I went for it and bought a GX Race, purple and £700 new, swayed me to it.

Unsure how to build it up though, it’s going to get GRX 12 speed before spring next year, but not sure whether to swap over all the flat bar stuff or put go to a drop bar setup with a GRX mech, 11-42 cassette, and some 105 levers i have.

All seems a bit dumb because I’m not really going to be riding off-road till the dry and sunny times come back…

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Oh boy! It's definitely nicer in purple. Let's get a GX Race ride in, I'd love to embarrass myself.

I’ll give you a shout whenever i get it built up🫡

right then people, I need to get this sucker built up.
First I need to strip the Kepler for parts and get it out the way, that’s on the list for today.
Then I reckon I’m gonna need to get the bb shell faced, steerer cut and bung fitted by a shop as I don’t have the tools for that stuff.
The rest I should be able to do at home with some patience and careful rearranging of furniture to make working on a bike hung up on a shit stand in a small flat less of a headache.
I think I am going to put the old grx/105 drop bar setup on this bike and chuck all the flat bar shit in the spares. Anyone reading this have any flared 42c grav bars? Black or silver, nothing fancy, just testing fit.

Or on an absolute random and peculiar curveball - just because I reckon small returns to medieval practices of a trade and skill based economy would go some way to brightening up our increasingly mundane and alienating world - if anyone with good bike mech skills n equipment wants to do a little skill/time share: I can teach you some sourdough/viennoiserie/patisserie tricks I’ve learnt over the years and you can teach me how to not destroy a bit of metal I’ve just spent a lot of money the HIT ME UP

idk im bored.

Anyone reading this have any flared 42c grav bars?

I might do you can have, lemme check, if i dont get back harass me on whatsapp

will do 🫡

I am also happy to help you have all the tools, what I dont have is time but you are welcome to come here and use it all and my shed and stand etc

To think we could have finally got your slap n fold technique down

I might take you up on it, tools almost definitely, it’s a very kind offer, will see how the great purge in my flat goes today; find out how bearable I can make working on bikes in its strange layout.

I've got some Giant Contacts you're welcome to at forum rates - not loaaaaaads of flare but 420 mm at the hoods becomes c. 435 at the drops. Let me know if it's suitable!

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I’ll let you know @vthejk if i fail to bug Amey to dig through the shed soon heh

anyway, DONE

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I have some easy access ones you can have for free too in SE6

Ooooo you naughty boy

know anyone wanting a new bike rossy? I’ll give you a good price!