Current Projects chat and miscellany

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I just snapped the seatpost collar on one of my bikes in the exact same way as repeated on the last page. What are the fucking chances?

What causes that kind of failure? Over-torquing the bolt?

What causes that kind of failure?

Poor design. A seatpost collar which has significant bending stiffness is a failure of design, the optimal design has infinite tensile stiffness and no bending stiffness, the closer you get to that the better.

Where is a good online resource to read/learn about bike fit?

Specifically, I'm very comfy on both my fixed and my TTrace bike, but I consistently find the fit of my road bike uncomfortable. I can't afford a bike fit right now, but I'd at least like to learn a little bit about the fundamentals so that I'm not shooting completely in the dark.

A tape measure should sort you out, just set up the road bike identically to the fixed bike. I think if you're any any issues related to fit, you can't afford not to have it attended to professionally, it's a better investment than any other bike related purchase and often cheaper than blindly experimenting.

yeah, I know it's best to get a fit done but (a) I don't have the cash right now, no matter how much I may want to and (b) I'd also simply just like to learn a bit more about it - for instance, what would the implications for comfort and handling be if you place the rider either further forward or further backward on the bike.

My fixed is comfy and although I've done long rides on it, it is mainly my commuter and the fit is very relaxed. During my last attempt at tinkering with fit, I tried to replicate my TT position on the road bike but this resulted in the saddle position (and thus my weight) being very far forward, but oddly I also fee quite stretched out as well. This is the most comfortable guise that I've had it in but the handling always felt a bit funky (especially on the descents).

True to your wisdom, my last bout of tinkering made everything worse, but still I'd be interested to understand more - even if I do go for a fit when I have the cash.

I don't know how good his book is, but I've only heard good things about Andy Pruitt, so you might as well start with a £7 punt here:
Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists: Amazon.co.uk: Andy Pruitt, Fred Matheny: Books

yeah, I know it's best to get a fit done but (a) I don't have the cash right now, no matter how much I may want to and (b) I'd also simply just like to learn a bit more about it - for instance, what would the implications for comfort and handling be if you place the rider either further forward or further backward on the bike.

Do you have a spirit levels or have access to one? while measuring tape is great, the spirit levels make it a lots easier to make sure your saddle have the right setback as your other bicycle as well as the saddle/bar drop.

But mdcc_tester's right, the bike fitting service is worthwhile in the long term, especially when they will give you the fit sheet to allowed you to replicated the set-up on a new bicycle, and probably can explain the fit better than most of us.

Been lurking these forums for a better part of a few years now, thought I might post my bike.

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yeah, I know it's best to get a fit done but

I used the fit calculator at Competitive Cyclist. It's takes a load of detailed measurements from your anatomy, spits out a few options for you to try.

Would a trackbike with a deep drop be more triathlon than road in that bike fit calc?

Been lurking these forums for a better part of a few years now, thought I might post my bike.

[URL="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/b3ans12345/DSC_0077_zps34a70238.jpg"][/URL]

Very nice!

Dent on the modified Tokyo Fixed Dream Machine is too big to fill in and need the top tube to be replaced.

It's retired to the shed until I can afford to replace the top tube, and the Kogswell replace it as the audax/tourer, perhaps even outshine it.

Nearly done, just brought it home during lunch break, just need the 19t Phils cogs, cheap chain and uber-long reach brakes (finally!) with enough room for mudguard and my beloved Grand Bois 32mm tyres.

Geometry on paper look great, slack 72 degree ST mean inline seatpost with Brooks (need to fish out the Thomson I have lying around), and 74 degree HT with 44mm of rake, very low bottom bracket, extended headtube (identical to the Tokyo Fixed now) and internal rear brake routing.

I forget how easy and quick it is to build up a fixed wheel bicycle, probably less than half an hour.

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I've got some brakes if you like ed. They're silver, dual piviot and cheap

From frame to ride-able, less than 10 minutes for the Vivalo

I've got some brakes if you like ed. They're silver, dual piviot and cheap

Even the Shimano long reach was just about reach the braking surface but too risky due to the likeihood of the pads wearing in and touching the tyres, I need at least 58-59mm drop, so the Tektro R559 will have to do (unless that's what you have).

they're 52–72mm

Excellent, pm me price and type of animal to sacrificed.

From frame to ride-able, less than 10 minutes for the Vivalo

Do you ride without a headset then?

And bottom bracket?

To be fair, mine already have the headset on, which prompt the quick build.

BMXs are even quicker with press fit BBs and integrated headsets

ed, what tyres are those?

...Uber-long reach brakes (finally!) with enough room for mudguard and my beloved Grand Bois 32mm tyres.

^

I accept no substitute.

Just finished my new road bike last weekend..

Got the frame from planet x and wanted to mount it with sram components at first but a friend made me a great deal on a campa record gruppo that I couldn't resist. My bank account was relieved if you know what I mean.. ;)

I know some of you won't like the white saddle & tape, but with black it looked so dull..

Otherwise, I went for a spin on Sunday, it rides great and loved its behavior.. really happy with it although some settings need adjusting.

Been lurking these forums for a better part of a few years now, thought I might post my bike.

Welcome to the shit storm Ken.