Current Projects chat and miscellany

really? im pretty sure its the other way round?

If you compare Aksiums with alloy-spoked Ksyriums over a full race, the superior aerodynamics of the Aksium outweigh the lighter weight of the Ksyrium. In a UK style hill climb race, the lighter wheel might be better.

just need some clip on tt bars if anyone has any?

I should have some ancient Profile Aero II; definitely have the clips/extensions, will hunt for the cups/pads if you're interested.

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If you compare Aksiums with alloy-spoked Ksyriums over a full race, the superior aerodynamics of the Aksium outweigh the lighter weight of the Ksyrium. In a UK style hill climb race, the lighter wheel might be better.

ok i figured you had some reasoning behind your comment. i was going on prices

i was going on prices

That's what Mavic wanted you to do.

you always have some reasoning behind your comments. i was going on prices

fixed :)

I should have some ancient Profile Aero II; definitely have the clips/extensions, will hunt for the cups/pads if you're interested.
i might be if tilover isnt.

My hybrid/commuter/tourer bike looks tiny but it still feels so big. Its the first OTP ive bought since I was 16. Spent quite a lot on it and bought odds n ends like rack & 'guards. But I just can't get on with it.

Geometry feels weird, effective TT feels super long despite it being small size. Got toe overlap, Seat feels way too far back even with an inline seatpost, big is super stiff which rattles bones and guards/panniers. Drop bar brake levers dont really work with the discs.

This bike is dissapointing, but it looks pretty cool in a utilitarian way. Thinking of putting my nitto promenade bars on it, will probably look daft but I would be able to use MTB shifters & levers which might work better.

I gotta tell you - Sora shifter and disc brake does not mix.

they're horribly spongy with those combination, even with the Problem Solver Travel Agent, I find it impossible to make it perform well, it's only the Sora shifter itself that doesn't work well.

it's a shame you feel it didn't fit you well, it look an awesome do-it-all bike much like my CdF for a lots less than half the price.

edit - perhaps change the bar for a compact one? the reach look rather long on the current bar.

Could compromise with a flat bar instead of risers? personally i think they would suit that style of bike better than drops anyway.

A bike fit made a huge difference for me and turn out with the saddle at a certain position + stem length, it fit perfectly.

But I realised the Kona isn't somethong you'd want to spend a lots of time on just to tweak it, another option is MTB off-road drop bar.

Geometry feels weird, effective TT feels super long despite it being small size. http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w55/noseley/konadewdropbog.png

It's just a guess, but could it be that the bars are too low?

I know the photo doesn't give the most accurate view of the geo, but to me it looks like the headtube is quite slack and the intention might have been to have the bars much higher with a short stem... which would bring the reach in quite a bit.

Just a thought.

By the way DFP, I have a Salsa Woodchipper off-road drop bar if you fancy trying out a different position without spending money, it got a rather short reach to the levers and can be set high.

I'll buy them off you! :)

Sometimes I feel like I waste too much time buying old bikes / frames and messing around with them,

This is exactly the reason I bought it. I was messing around for a year trying to find an old cyclocross frame (with eyelets) in my size to build up as utilitarian winter or light touring kinda bike. I kept buying frames which had problems, and going on goosechases for parts, then realising the price of everything added up (parts, tyres, paintjobs etc) usually added up to as much as a new bike.

I also was thinking, that if I was to do some touring I would rather have an all new bike rather than a screwed together heap of vintage miscellany, just for confidence.The allure of disc brakes also caught my eye as I know from experience that on rides in the wet, especially on canal paths, All the wet grit acts like a grinding paste and practically dissolves rims and pads.

So I finally decided Id try an OTP, but anything more cyclocross orientated was both quite expensive and it was rare to find any with eyelets. The only thing that took my fancy was the GIant TCX1 which was about £1k , which I didnt feel I could justify, especially as I wanted to abuse it somewhat, and treat it as a every day shopping-hauling bike. The parts on it also seemed mediocre for the price. But I kind of regret this now.

I got the kona for about £350, which is more like £400 now the guards n rack. Yes the giant cost twice as much, but the kona is no fun to ride. Just feels stiff, clumsy and like I said, too long. Wouldve been good to find a decent second hand cross bike, but they never seem to come up in my size.

It's just a guess, but could it be that the bars are too low?

.

I have t rex proportions I guess. I really dont mind low. The most comfortable bikes I have ever used have been low pro's with 24" front wheels. And super low bars.

Its the TT length that bothers me, as long as it is short I am happy with very low bars. On the kona the front end actually feels too high. The weight of the rider feels too far back over the back wheel, like a dirt jump bike or something.

By the way DFP, I have a Salsa Woodchipper off-road drop bar if you fancy trying out a different position without spending money, ]

Thanks ed, but I am not local. I also dont think I could live with the splayed out hooks of the drops. Just too kooky.

^^ like I said it was a guess. My thinking was that you might be trying to make it fit to a riding style it wasn't designed for.

I remember your thread on this. I'd still say go for a px uncle john. Apart from the wheels you'll be able to shift everything across.

...just saw these wheels pretty cheap too.

Decided to have drop bars on the district for a change,also put ultegra cranks on.

I like the um tries to think of something nice to say orange cables...

it's a bit marmite, but i like marmite

I like marmite...it's not like marmite...I kid, very retro

...marmite...marmite...

I like marmite...it's not like marmite...

Wheels For Sells thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Been there, conquered that

I think you're spreading yourself a little thinly.

(gets coat)