Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

LX canti pads are shite. Seriously lack of power under load. Any recommendations?

If they're shite, a pads upgrade may not make that much of a difference, I would try and set up your cantis again to make sure you get the most out of it.

Failing that, mini-v as other suggested, or the new Shimano CX cantis that's amazingly easy to set up.

Shame about the racks.

Nothing wrong with the rack, in fact for the money, they're great.

LX canti pads are shite. Seriously lack of power under load. Any recommendations?

LX cantis from CRC?

Shame about the racks, surprised considering the attention to detail elsewhere. Rear should have welded fixing arms at the correct length for frame considering it is an OTP. Front rack should have a brace around front, althought maybe I am being fussy as forks do seem quite stout.

That's my fave rack, Blackburn EX2.
I see what you mean about the arms though, normal ones probably don't fit due to the longer rear triangle.

The Blackburn EX2 is my second favourite rack, and probably the toughest alu one you can buy for the money, well, the only alu rack that's worth going on a big tour on, as alu rack tend to crack easily when under tremendous load.

OMM ones are way tougher than Blackburns.

Seems like they've gotten rid of the straight fork from the Croix de fer, I think the new one looks crap :(

looks like a fork you'd get on a £99 hybrid - unicrown needs to die

More importantly, does the tour de fer have clearance for bigger tyres?

also, MTB crankset can gtfo - won't someone please think of the q factor?!

Looks seriously ugly.

This is the functional thread

Pompino!

also, MTB crankset can gtfo - won't someone please think of the q factor?!

I think mtb chainset is the key to a bike like this. q-factor thing is overblown. Seen many petite women riding bikes with such wide cranks on tours that they are knock kneed, but they manage. When riding an mtb do you really think to yourself, fuck I wish my feet were closer together.. would be so much more efficient?

It keeps the price down, the standard ring sizes that come on a mtb chainset are also perfect for this sort of bike.

Pompino!

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/14545833525_05695601e9_c.jpg

Any ideas on what fork that is?

Edit - Found them - Specialized Sirrus alu

Pompino!

Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya [Explicit] - YouTube

Buys two racks, wears backpack

Of course, it may be a jetpack. What do I know?

do you really think to yourself, fuck I wish my feet were closer together.. would be so much more efficient?

It's not my brain that tells me this, it's my knees.
Via my brain, of course.

I think mtb chainset is the key to a bike like this. q-factor thing is overblown. Seen many petite women riding bikes with such wide cranks on tours that they are knock kneed, but they manage. When riding an mtb do you really think to yourself, fuck I wish my feet were closer together.. would be so much more efficient?

It keeps the price down, the standard ring sizes that come on a mtb chainset are also perfect for this sort of bike.

Totally agree. Narrow q-factor is massively over-hyped. I've had way more hip/kne problems with narrow q-factor bikes (bb30 cannondale) than anything else, although I am tall and fat/broad. It's about pelvis breadth, which is generally related to height.

Even road triples don't go low enough - I've bodged a 26t TA ring onto my road bike because I want to maintain 90rpm up 15% hills at the end of 3 hour rides. I use 22t on my practical bike for the same reason, given that it has to carry luggage.

Compacts aren't functional on any bike unless you never ride on the flat because they always result in crossed chain and/or slack/tight rear mech when you're cruising. Stupid design for traditionalists/aesthetes.

Triples 4lyf.

When riding an mtb do you really think to yourself, fuck I wish my feet were closer together.. would be so much more efficient?

Yes.

I think... q-factor thing is overblown.

Narrow q-factor is massively over-hyped..... although I am tall and fat/broad. It's about pelvis breadth, which is generally related to height.

Some girls are bigger than others. The rest is hyperbole.

nice raw bike !

thoses bikes are so inspirational !

Functional bike people, I'm sure I've seen these PDW mudguards mentioned here before. Anybody got them?

They look like a good design, but are they worth the extra ££££££££?

https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/fenders/full-metal-fenders-city

It got excellent coverage and appear well made, my only nag is that I think the majority of the weight is on the stay which can be replaced by an alu one.

Cheers Ed, I might give them a go.