Current Projects chat and miscellany

You've got to die of something. Initially we were going to climb Everest, on foot that is, but in the haze of the drunken hour, one day back in September last year, this whole cycling thing came up... A few thousand pounds later and in desperate of a brain transplant, here we are.

Which is probably enough of a reason to do it.

However, I give you exhibit a:

I reckon it's going to be novel, fun and devil-may-care experience into the first hairpin.

By hairpin #2 I reckon it will be a charmless, gruelling affair that you wish was over.

ftfy

Exhibit A gives me a hard on by the way...

*toomuchinformation

some of those Alpine descents are bloody dangerous even on a roadbike with fully working brakes and a freewheel. narrow,dimly lit tunnels with wet surfaces and cars in front and coming fast the other way is a moment i would hate to be going downhill fixed brakeless. Motorbike riders often ride the famous cycling climbs and do it fast and occasionally recklessly. Add to that the odd camper van trying to negotiate a hairpin by taking up the entire road and then you bomb down, choose your line into the turn and then see the camper van late. With no brakes you would be toast. Go fixed by all means, more power to you but brakeless, dont do it!!!!!!!

In case I didn't make it perfectly clear, I totally agree that it's an insane idea.

Listen to the Scoble experience ..

Then you're a bit of a mug who's asking for trouble then!
Are you running a sweepstakes as to how long before you need to call an ambulance?

Soon, soon...

good shot
esa mexico pista , buckler decor perchance?

"Then you're a bit of a mug who's asking for trouble then!"

Not everything in life has to make sense and be based on sound judgement.

"Are you running a sweepstakes as to how long before you need to call an ambulance?"

Will do when the time comes. Are you in?

Lynchman, what pedals are you gonna trust descending the alps and pyranese brakeless?
Is go super paranoid dope smoker and run dura ace SPDSL+restraps
Or Speedplay
Or SPD-R

However, the consternation of potential mechanical failure getting back down brakeless, is a never ceasing concern

In case I didn't make it perfectly clear, I totally agree that it's an insane idea.

I thought that was a squid attack
For a sec.

Lynchman, have fun on your suicide mission, just expect zero sympathy when you fuck your knees so badly you cant ride a bike again/ride off a cliff cause you couldent scrub enough speed on a descent, you had it coming fella

Why the fuck would anyone want to ride down an alp fixed and brakeless? I love both those types of riding but fuck descending a mountain without a brake.

I'd want to but I'm a dumbfuck 15 year old, ain't gonna talk you down because I know if I was set on the same thing I wouldn't listen.

Is this some kind of bizarre trolling?

Then you're a bit of a mug who's asking for trouble then!
Are you running a sweepstakes as to how long before you need to call an ambulance?

More like a sweepstake for when the alpha male machoims drains away from a couple of blokes in their 40's when they realise that they neathier have the ability or stomach for 15km downhill breakless.

Should have done a massan ed.
1:35 on.

http://vimeo.com/30420931

This is exactly the kind of thing a person wouldn't ever actually do unless they were being filmed.

You'd need new spokes. And which wheels would you suggest?

Yeah, of course you'd need to factor in the cost of both spokes and hub but you could sell the other rear hub and possibly save some money overall. A mate of mine recently put together a single speed mtb wheelset this way as it worked out cheaper than building a set of custom wheels. Not really much of an expert on weight weenie road wheels so i wouldn't know what to suggest as a base wheelset.

As for your brakeless mountain riding idea, I know a guy who is still havin knee problems from doing the Isle of White Randonee brakeless three years ago! Think about it very carefully before you potentially ruin riding fixed for yourself for the rest of your life.

Latest state of my on-going current project.

Am aiming for light(er) summer tour/winter/some-CX bike.

Need to borrow some ones Hollowgram spider removal tool if there's one available west of London, then I can fit the compact spider and rings (please!).

Still needs some jiggery-pockery with different ratio cassettes, a handlebar that fits my hands, and a decent rear rack (30-40kg) and panniers.

good shot
esa mexico pista , buckler decor perchance?

I think it is a Mexico yes, it's not gilco crimped but more a square profile like a Mexico.

After seeing your team buckler road bike it's defo that colour way!

Love it!

This is exactly the kind of thing a person wouldn't ever actually do unless they were being filmed.

I'd do that hill, I'd keep both my feet on the pedals though!

@Lynchman - If you ran a fixed/fixed hub you could at least run two different GIs and swap the wheel round at the top of the mountains; thus having a more appropriate gear for descending?

Not really much of an expert

Clearly.

OK, so our custom build on trials hubs is about 1250g and £400

Find me all the OTP road clincher wheelsets which are under £400 and under 1350g, taking it as read that the swap could be cost neutral and the road hub is ~100g heavier than the conversion hub.

Now narrow that empty set to only those wheelsets where the rear hub takes J-bend spokes, the same number each side, and a number which can be replaced with a front disc hub.

@Lynchman - If you ran a fixed/fixed hub you could at least run two different GIs and swap the wheel round at the top of the mountains; thus having a more appropriate gear for descending?

What, like these guys did?

http://vimeo.com/54272055

http://8bar-bikes.com/pages/fixed-alpcross