tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post2492500089251749204..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: The Inaugural Kearsarge KlassicVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8807830798397538062012-09-27T10:23:24.958-04:002012-09-27T10:23:24.958-04:00I live in the area and hadn't heard of this, o...I live in the area and hadn't heard of this, otherwise I would have gone. I'd love to get a cue sheet to go try out the route myself. Any idea if it's posted online somewhere?CRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8792644297157673852012-09-18T13:49:00.905-04:002012-09-18T13:49:00.905-04:00That's mainly true of LBS owners selling spank...That's mainly true of LBS owners selling spanking-new bikes. Can't blame them -- but I flatly disagree. I've owned my Quest for three months and hundreds of miles and I'm still dialing it in and making up my mind.Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02731815508918636273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22739479652659952462012-09-18T13:46:18.080-04:002012-09-18T13:46:18.080-04:00You're most welcome, I'm really enjoying y...You're most welcome, I'm really enjoying your blog. We have significant crossover in bike and riding tastes -- always a fun thing.<br /><br />If you're ever out near Amherst, we have a certified Salsa dealer in Hampshire Bicycle Exchange. Chris, who runs the place, is a Vaya owner (sold me one of his own, in fact). Might make a good day trip to call and see if he has your size in stock -- and then take it or your bike for a ride in the gorgeous Pioneer Valley. Just sayin'... ;-)Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02731815508918636273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51553568978703596682012-09-15T08:39:52.755-04:002012-09-15T08:39:52.755-04:00oh...that explains it. thx.oh...that explains it. thx.Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15243433555787114063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67164353090977899692012-09-14T02:58:46.972-04:002012-09-14T02:58:46.972-04:00Love this: "My attitude at this point can bes...Love this: "My attitude at this point can best be described as 'surrender.' And maybe because of that, I relaxed and suddenly the bike felt as if it was not only riding itself, but teaching me how to hold my body upon it so as not to interfere with it riding itself." Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08657532405866434855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86167954862734235922012-09-13T11:35:20.886-04:002012-09-13T11:35:20.886-04:00When you have a particular problem with a particul...When you have a particular problem with a particular bike get out the wrenches and try stuff. You don't need to solve universals. You don't need to arrive at a platonic ideal. You need to stop. You need to be safe.<br /><br />Cantilever brakes have stopped tandems on mountains at least since the 1930s. They work. The Tektro is a good brake. I own a set. They stop. That's all they have to do.<br /><br />If the favored analytic methods are Oh Dear It Is All Ever So Complicated flanked by They All Suck you can't work on bikes. A bike that is a Mystery to it's rider is a problem waiting to happen. Get out the wrenches. Try stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-68763672741577281202012-09-12T23:03:38.126-04:002012-09-12T23:03:38.126-04:00I get something similar just in my hands from prol...I get something similar just in my hands from prolonged use of angle-grinders or sanders, so I imagine you are right about it being caused by vibration.Simon.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04604488469108285983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44300404245066692502012-09-12T20:32:12.571-04:002012-09-12T20:32:12.571-04:00Looks like fun! Living in New Jersey, I am envious...Looks like fun! Living in New Jersey, I am envious of all those dirt roads in New Hampshire and Vermont. There is a ride in NJ called the Hell of Hunterdon every spring, which is not too far away from me, but only 15% of the 79-mile distance is on non-paved surfaces.Bob E.http://www.flickr.com/photos/30490050@N04/sets/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20149444706144652862012-09-12T19:59:12.610-04:002012-09-12T19:59:12.610-04:00The KK started in New London and meandered through...The KK started in New London and meandered through Sutton, Warner, Webster, Andover and Wilmot. It's an amazingly beautiful area.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50013740276016274942012-09-12T16:59:34.395-04:002012-09-12T16:59:34.395-04:00Where are these great roads for biking in NH? I gr...Where are these great roads for biking in NH? I grew up there, and whenever I visit (not very often), it seems so not bicycle friendly out there...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-1513860019487871272012-09-12T10:42:01.434-04:002012-09-12T10:42:01.434-04:00Mini V brake on the front wheel would fix the brak...Mini V brake on the front wheel would fix the braking on that bike, imo. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67683852740102260172012-09-12T09:39:55.040-04:002012-09-12T09:39:55.040-04:00I think what you'll need for the KK is A Bike....I think what you'll need for the KK is A Bike. I comment from the middle of the continent but for quite a few years my sister lived in Andover about 2 miles from the KK route. I've done all those roads in 42x24 with 700x23 tires. Which was not ideal but with beautiful roads beckoning and only one bike along for the trip it was fine. 39x26 and 700x28 was much better. These days I'd be sensible and use tires the size V did, but there's no use for the knobs if you stay on roads. The steepest toughest route in the neighborhood is going to the top of Kearsarge from Warner. You'll need good knees to do that in 42x24. All other climbs are short. Basically you need A Bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-30800688279380203672012-09-12T08:24:12.127-04:002012-09-12T08:24:12.127-04:00I do not own the SH anymore.
Lot of bikes can ha...I do not own the SH anymore. <br /><br />Lot of bikes can handle a ride like this. Anything the rider is comfortable with, equipped with wide tires and low gears basically. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3751309681482730592012-09-12T08:12:36.402-04:002012-09-12T08:12:36.402-04:00While I'm not one to discourage owning a numbe...While I'm not one to discourage owning a number of bikes (having 5 myself) I just can't imagine that the Sam Hillborne wouldn't be the perfect bike for this type of ride. For quasi-mountain biking, I could see the need for a higher bottom bracket, but for dirt road rambles, I don't know how you could improve.Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15243433555787114063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26250996766828074232012-09-12T02:50:43.775-04:002012-09-12T02:50:43.775-04:00Sounds like a fun ride. If you really want to feel...Sounds like a fun ride. If you really want to feel safe on decents get a mtb with hydralic disc brakes which are standard these days. They also feature low gearing for climbs and fat tires and suspension forks for control and comfort.<br />Cross bikes are great to but for comfort, safety and climbing on bad roads and trails it is hard to beat a mtb.Johan Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45316250408532659792012-09-11T22:23:41.963-04:002012-09-11T22:23:41.963-04:00Oooh, my favorite type of ride! So glad your photo...Oooh, my favorite type of ride! So glad your photographic and writing talents are describing such cool rides. Between this and D2R2 it sounds like you are doing some magical rides, and color me jealous. I might need to plan my 2013 calendar around these rides. Maybe start one up here in frigid Maine!Reggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14831898567423896721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8786547572927938762012-09-11T21:29:12.857-04:002012-09-11T21:29:12.857-04:00From the photos, what a wonderful ride. I wish you...From the photos, what a wonderful ride. I wish you could have photo'd one of the steep, rocky downhills.<br /><br />I want a good dirt road bike to supplement my stable; I'm not sure what the best option would be, but I'm thinking along these lines:<br /><br />1. Fargo. This is easy, since I have one (from the last year before suspension). I have a massively heavy but (in its own way) fun wheelset for our local (bosque, Rio Grande silt) paths: SnoCat SLs, 44 mm, with 2.35 Big Apple Liteskins ("Lite" -- hah!) that rolls very nicely over sand up to 3" deep and gravel, swallows washboard with scorn, and even handles rip-rap. I also have a Sun Rhyno-Lite wheelset shod with 35 mm Kojaks. I expect for something like the Kearsarge, an in-between size would be best.<br /><br />2. A nice cross bike: A Cross Check?<br /><br />3. A nice retro road bike with 38's or with even fatter 650Bs. My brother just scored an early '60s Cinelli that I covet.<br /><br />What do y'all think?Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-81603700561831945412012-09-11T21:21:09.849-04:002012-09-11T21:21:09.849-04:00Your Honey write up said a bunch of hooey about ho...Your Honey write up said a bunch of hooey about how you weren't good enough to ride it. Total BS and that was only last week. <br /><br />The best thing your ride companions did was leave you alone to figure it out. Getting out of your own way is the biggest thing you can do to get more confident/better. <br /><br /> <br />Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27779855167722785032012-09-11T21:10:54.382-04:002012-09-11T21:10:54.382-04:00Heather, I experience a very mild version of this,...Heather, I experience a very mild version of this, especially when going over washboards. I am sure it is from the vibration. It is possible that some bikes are more resistant to it than others, and it could also be a matter of how you hold yourself on the bike. When I feel the way you describe, I change my position and try to relax and it goes away. Of course, everyone is different. <br /><br />As for tires... On the kind of roads described here, I prefer the feel of Grand Bois Hetres to the Racing Ralph knobbies. The Hetres didn't bounce as much and felt more sure-footed, if that's the right word. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17576114765515935712012-09-11T21:04:52.421-04:002012-09-11T21:04:52.421-04:00I've been meaning to try a Salsa Vaya. The Whe...I've been meaning to try a Salsa Vaya. The Wheelworks nearby sells them, but they never seem to have one in my size.<br /><br />Thanks for the link and the shout!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44464573502477203782012-09-11T21:02:14.008-04:002012-09-11T21:02:14.008-04:00Sure. In the Honey write-up, I was basically shari...Sure. In the Honey write-up, I was basically sharing my first impressions of a cross bike, no more than that. And here I was describing the feel of the bike solely in the context of the ride report. <br /><br />Personally I think a good understanding of a bike can only be achieved after several hundred miles of riding in different terrain and weather, different types of rides, etc. Of course the problem with this is that such long test rides are usually unrealistic. You basically have to buy the bike to test ride it in this manner. Or else get real lucky and live near a bike shop that is liberal with their demo models. <br /><br />There are those who insist that a 2 mile ride outside of the bike shop should be enough to determine how any bike handles. Maybe for some that is true, but not for me.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13243309299426282602012-09-11T20:41:32.461-04:002012-09-11T20:41:32.461-04:00I think you are still being too hasty and inaccura...I think you are still being too hasty and inaccurate when you give your "impressions" of this bike after a short ride, proof being knocking out this hard one on the same. <br /><br />You're still not taking into acct. adaptation and tires, fwiw. <br /><br />Just needed to be pointed out. Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48999466545731319942012-09-11T20:05:14.014-04:002012-09-11T20:05:14.014-04:00I think she had a direct drive tricycle before tha...I think she had a direct drive tricycle before that. Been a cyclist for a while. Just didn't know it.MDInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59551611807119586832012-09-11T20:02:13.582-04:002012-09-11T20:02:13.582-04:00There is really no mystery to it. They all suck. H...There is really no mystery to it. They all suck. Here is the physics sim:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.circleacycles.com/cantilevers/" rel="nofollow">http://www.circleacycles.com/cantilevers/</a>MDInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-39802435800345951782012-09-11T20:00:30.757-04:002012-09-11T20:00:30.757-04:00Oh also - I am getting reports of cyclists not fin...Oh also - I am getting reports of cyclists not finishing. So some arrived ahead of us because they cut their routes short. Just saying : )Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com