tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post7797950377971028410..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Rando Bikes in Use: Boston EditionVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6272391292764441222012-07-18T21:48:13.639-04:002012-07-18T21:48:13.639-04:00I did the full spring series of SIR brevets this y...I did the full spring series of SIR brevets this year and would say that the historical reenactment crowd made up at most a third of the riders, and with the exception of Jan they were generally at the back.<br /><br />I myself did the 200k and 600k on a Rawland rSogn, and the 300k and 400k on an older carbon Time, both with cordura handlebar bags.Fred Blasdelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057528812732998703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-254520909352607852012-07-18T10:41:35.829-04:002012-07-18T10:41:35.829-04:00Rolly -- the runner's equivalent would probabl...Rolly -- the runner's equivalent would probably be traditional running shoes vs. Vibram Five Fingers vs. barefoot. I've heard that friendships have been shattered over such matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56249436394696502812012-07-18T03:21:03.960-04:002012-07-18T03:21:03.960-04:00It's the weather. Having ridden brevets with...It's the weather. Having ridden brevets with fenders and without (I pulled the fenders from my midlifecrisismobile when I needed to repair a broken front rack, and haven't gotten around to replacing them because the fork doesn't get along well with fenders) I can assure that on a PNW rainy day fenders make the difference between just being wet and drowned rat wet.orchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127551500120547348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77840971148062885762012-07-17T19:37:13.076-04:002012-07-17T19:37:13.076-04:00I don't believe it. It's a reputation, no...I don't believe it. It's a reputation, not reality.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18219033175360790142012-07-17T18:24:33.248-04:002012-07-17T18:24:33.248-04:00Carbon fiber rebuilds are possible. My LBS repairs...Carbon fiber rebuilds are possible. My LBS repairs CF. He learned the basics working on CF rowing sculls. Those things are too big an investment to discard when predictable damage occurs. Auto body shops are messing with CF and anyone working on race cars knows a few things about CF. Scares the daylights out of me but it's no longer that far out there.<br /><br />Agree with GRJ that a direct approach to a builder is the way to go and the named shops sound likely. Those shops are not prototyping and promoting 70mm rake CF forks because they're working as fast as they can turning out zero sales resistance racerboy toys and most prospective customers who gotta have that rake buy steel anyway.<br /><br />Speaking of steel many of the virtues of a CF fork can be had by using lighter and smaller diameter fork blades. Finding those tubes and finding the builder to work with them might be hard though. Most forks are (correctly I think) massively overbuilt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24743278846097034182012-07-17T18:09:47.161-04:002012-07-17T18:09:47.161-04:00There are several good Rando bike builders in the ...There are several good Rando bike builders in the North East.<br /><br />In fact, JP Weigle of Lyme CT. is widely believed to be the best and was building rando style bikes well before the craze.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-75444395381598591592012-07-17T18:06:37.850-04:002012-07-17T18:06:37.850-04:00Aerodynamics and the impact weight in the front of...Aerodynamics and the impact weight in the front of a bike has on handling are two different things.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67156653979584595682012-07-17T18:04:59.646-04:002012-07-17T18:04:59.646-04:00The study results can not, however say anything ab...The study results can not, however say anything about market preference for CF over light weight steel bikes.<br /><br />CF bikes practical for PBP are made in the thousands every year. Light weight steel bikes optimal for PBP are produced one at a time in a few small shops.<br /><br />Even if everyone at the PBP wanted a well sorted light weight steel bike, it would be impossible for them to get one as the manufacturing sources are not there in numbers necessary to meet the demand.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-35295184622553735002012-07-17T17:01:52.995-04:002012-07-17T17:01:52.995-04:00Rando bike doesn't equal handlebar bag bike, t...Rando bike doesn't equal handlebar bag bike, that is just one take on it. If my bike had shimmy with a moderate front load I would use a saddlebag, framebag, or some other way of carrying stuff. <br /><br />I'm surprised to hear of your shimmy with an AHH like that. I use a handlebar bag on my 56cm Hilsen and don't get issues, especially catastrophic ones. What tires are you using on your AHH?Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-35059178840181482032012-07-17T16:36:00.471-04:002012-07-17T16:36:00.471-04:00True. There's gotta be a runner's forum so...True. There's gotta be a runner's forum somewhere out there where it happens... looking for a pun... I got nothing. bah<br /><br />-- RollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-80844518159619646092012-07-17T16:25:11.802-04:002012-07-17T16:25:11.802-04:00I kept the downtube shifters because I like them a...I kept the downtube shifters because I like them and I know how to fix them when something goes wrong. I only barely regretted that decision near the end of the hilly 300k. The rack is a Nitto "Mark's Rack" from Rivendell, with an Acorn boxy rando bag on it. The bike handles a load up front quite well, and if I am to believe what I read on the Internet that might be because it has a relatively low-trail geometry. For the brevets I swap the crankset for a compact double, and I use a generator hub on the front wheel. The bike is pretty fast (although I'm not) but I also find it very comfortable for long rides. This is my first season in randonneuring so who knows where experience will lead, but so far I think it's a great brevet bike.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19256591118385222712012-07-17T16:07:40.157-04:002012-07-17T16:07:40.157-04:00I read this thing; it's the most disciplined s...I read this thing; it's the most disciplined study Jan's done, imo, with appropriate language.<br /><br />Keep in mind Americans' participation in PBP 2007 was at a pretty high rate compared with previously.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45828007823148080372012-07-17T15:40:17.229-04:002012-07-17T15:40:17.229-04:00Oh that's fantastic! That bike was pretty fast...Oh that's fantastic! That bike was pretty fast. Did you change the shifters or stay with the downtube shifters? And what kind of front rack?Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-87610086285826527012012-07-17T15:34:46.583-04:002012-07-17T15:34:46.583-04:00LOL I do not doubt for a moment that there are for...LOL I do not doubt for a moment that there are forums where grown adults are just as aggro and dismissive toward each other about their shoe choices!Duynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88010202026598168702012-07-17T15:18:07.443-04:002012-07-17T15:18:07.443-04:00Also, again, for the record I don't really car...Also, again, for the record I don't really care what any person, mechanic, magazine, blog, whatever says - I ride and build/experiment with/read about bikes for enjoyment. My own enjoyment and experience is really all that matters to me. All this one side vs the other... low trail is the holy grail vs BQ is BS noise is, in essence, kind of like the old aluminum vs steel noise. At the end of the day everyone has an opinion based on personal taste, experience and preferences... the more experience the opinion weilds the greater the chance it will hold up when others test it, but they all deserve consideration. <br /><br />Bikes are like shoes... so many fits, purposes, styles etc. but you've gotta wear what is comfortable for yourself to be happy. Imagine if we were so aggro and dismissive toward each other about our shoe choices? Why... why, it'd be just like back in highschool ;)<br /><br />-- RollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52137301813178243682012-07-17T15:07:38.502-04:002012-07-17T15:07:38.502-04:00"the elegant set wants to show off their bike...<i>"the elegant set wants to show off their bikes and the roadie set wants to be first to each checkpoint"</i><br /><br />Many roadies on modern bikes think their bikes are quite elegant, beautiful machines. The aesthetic preference for vintagey bikes with handlebar bags is not universal.<br /><br />And FWIW, that Rivendell Rambouillet in the pictures belongs to Melinda Lyon. I do not know whether she still holds the record for the fastest female PBP finisher, but she held it twice in the recent past.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78693460195457567662012-07-17T14:56:40.224-04:002012-07-17T14:56:40.224-04:00"randonees are different insofar as the finis..."randonees are different insofar as the finish time isn't necessarily optimized. You either finish, or you don't. Randonees area competition of sorts, in that te elegant set wants to show off their bikes and the roadie set wants to be first to each checkpoint, but any bike capable of carrying it's rider along the course will qualify."<br /><br />come on, the roadie set wants to show off their bikes just as much as the next guy. expensive carbon fiber, new race wheels, are you kidding? <br /><br />jan heine and his buddies compete fiercely. have you seen the guy's finishing times? have you read the article where he complains that pbp has become about finishing rather than competing?<br /><br />in both camps you will find those who are there to finish and to look good, feel good doing it. and in both camps you will find those who are there to get the best finishing time they can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72705688639841431732012-07-17T14:53:58.956-04:002012-07-17T14:53:58.956-04:00From photos I have seen of rando events, most of t...From photos I have seen of rando events, most of the bikes seem to be steel or titanium. Look up flickr pages of various randonneur group and you will see what you described. Vintage, rivendells, mercians, boulder bicycles, or modern titanium bikes. Even the photos of Vancouver Island rides show a stunning array of beautiful traditional 'rando' bikes more often than not. I have no experience with carbon fibre, my husband tried one and said it was like riding cardboard.<br />A randonneur I talked to said he rides titanium, and the geometry has to be stable.<br /><br />There are old stock bleriots out there. Dream cycles in Vancouver had quite a few. All to big for me, and my husband didn't decide he wanted one until they had sold his size. Check them out, last time I was there they had one or two. Supposedly wonderful bikes.Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60131552910962646872012-07-17T14:42:04.675-04:002012-07-17T14:42:04.675-04:00I didn't make it to the 600k, but you might be...I didn't make it to the 600k, but you might be interested to learn that your old Trek 610 completed the NER 200k and 300k brevets this year, with the addition of a front rack and 32mm tires. It's the only brevet bike I've tried, but as far as I'm concerned it's a pretty good one.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62617307106347626292012-07-17T14:40:19.449-04:002012-07-17T14:40:19.449-04:00Also for the record, I've never done a brevet ...Also for the record, I've never done a brevet - work and raising an 8 month old make that impossible for this season, though I really want to give them a whirl. I do however go on spontaineous 60, 80, 140 and 200km rides with friends, some on CF racers and some on vintage steel. Usually we go fast enough to make it hurt because we're idiots with testosterone and steam to blow off and most of us come from messenger or racing backgrounds but are really just hacks who love riding... fast is also fun. I believe a 300 would be within my reach, a 400 probably would but would surprise me with painfulness... 600 I could probably do with the proper preparation/training... 1000+ who frggin' knows ;) but I'm keen to find out someday.<br /><br />My fave bike for short rides is the full on racer Moser but I do need to brake more than the CF riders on the steepest downhill we encounter (they don't get much faster than this chute). The fastest and most stable bike for dowhills is the faux rando bike... no BS... hmmmmm... interesting, wha? <br /><br />Thanks for all the insight, yuz'all, and for feeding my geekery. I have much to learn and cycling is becoming more and more interesting all the time with all this collective experimenting and chatter. <br /><br />-- RollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79871683853680538942012-07-17T14:17:11.900-04:002012-07-17T14:17:11.900-04:00For the record I'd rather stab myself in the e...For the record I'd rather stab myself in the eye than do a rando -- we're just playing internet hypotheticals.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-8246972491203159112012-07-17T14:16:03.982-04:002012-07-17T14:16:03.982-04:00So you know. I'm aware of the existence of wi...So you know. I'm aware of the existence of wider rims from days of yore; good to have your anecdotal feedback. Nothing you said I disagree with but...<br /><br />Going down a mountain a properly-designed 23mm rim supports the 23mm tire sidewall better. And I say this with no regard to marketing -- I have a set of these rims, ride them off road in challenging conditions, descend regularly at 50+ on road and do not feel the need to go bigger. <br /><br />For me it's the ideal combo of speed/security. I'm referring to personal preferences and what I'm used to as a former racer. <br /><br />Some people like a super big tire in all conditions; so be it. I have a set of fat tires on a bike that would dwarf any one elses!Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70140189001563042952012-07-17T13:43:14.192-04:002012-07-17T13:43:14.192-04:00"how very specific JH is about the tubing and..."how very specific JH is about the tubing and exact methods of construction: It is simply unrealistic for most of us to achieve the fully integrated and lightweight results he claims are possible. "<br /><br />Yup. I, through 12 years of messengering on various frankenbikes, mountain bikes, road and track bikes and tire/gear combinations truly believe that I discoverd Jan's geometry/tire/etc theories and ideologies by accident. Specifically, one way was riding a track bike that I'd stuck a touring fork on to eliminate TCO - best snow bike of all time... handled better than any other bike I ever rode in all conditions (Montreal snow and Halifax, Nova Scotia wind, slush, probably the same as New England weather with a little longer season and maybe slightly greater extremes). It was more stable than any other bike when humping boxes of lawyer's files on the handlebars through busy traffic. It was a custom made-for-someone-else frame that had apparently won a world jnr track championship. I have no idea if it was low trail or long trail - had never concerned myself with trail at the time - but it definately had unique handling characteristics and allowed for 30mm tires, which made terrible Halifax roads less knarly. It had tight geomentry and originally a steep headtube angle. Was amazing for light offroad.<br /><br />Fast fwd 10 years when I become interested in long distance riding. I'm also a commuter/utility/grocery getter type rider the entire time who still loves t go fast, so I'm happiest on road bikes. Internet research and geekery leads me to become ever more fascinated with vintage bikes. I inevitably become interested in all the rando bike, allrounder, Riv vs BQ, etc etc discourse and eventually start using my welding trade to experiment with frame modifications. It all seems to qualify what I believe I stumbled upon earlier with that franken-track bike. Key words here are 'believe' and 'experiment'. I feel kind of trendy towing this line, but I've actually recreated that tracks bike's handling; the faux rando bike I've built can be rode with 12 beer on the front rack, heavier than a handlbar bag I'd guess... no shimmy and no hands at any speed I've tried... stable and predctable and fast. For the record I own 5 bikes with various geometries, some with steeper (A Moser) and more shallow angles (a vintage Crescent Pepita). <br /><br />It's nice for me to read about other's experiences and curiosities... and that others are modifying bikes to suit a purpose as well. I'm the only one I know of in my entire province who rides bikes with front rando racks and the experiment continues on. (Oh, I did see oneother portuer style bike a month ago.) The serious cyclists here are either on racing bikes, touring bikes or light touring/club racer types. <br /><br />I really want to explore more but it's hard in a town with a young cycling culture... only 400 000 people here and the closest major cities, Montreal or Boston, would be a 13 hour drive.<br /><br />Mostly we have students on cheap, old, yard sale road and touring bikes, hipsters and art-folk on fixies or older roadsters as well as the usual mish mash of the commuter biikes, race bikes etc that they sell in local shops. No rando bikes... i gues becasue we're as far from Seattle/Portland as you can get and still be in North America.<br /><br />-- RollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18774986646912944632012-07-17T13:41:34.685-04:002012-07-17T13:41:34.685-04:00When I was a boy, Jim, 22mm sewup rims were still ...When I was a boy, Jim, 22mm sewup rims were still oldschool ordinary. Most wood rims were wider than that. We knew perfectly well the Campionatos rolled faster on the wide rims. We also knew that a tire fully supported with a full shellac job rolled faster than a tire with a quick glue.<br /><br />For testing I can tell you that 28mm tires on 20mm rims go down twisty mountain roads at 50mph with no problem. Same tire on a 23mm rim feels nicer, speed is still determined by skill. Flat sprinting at 40mph you can tell the wheel is more precisely placed with the wide rim. Placing in the sprint is determined with legs and nerves. Anyone making lesser demands on their equipment can happily ride the rims they got. Lots of people switch tires for specific purposes, no one in their right mind is going to own wheels with multiple rim widths. And if they've got 32 tires on 20 rims they should not worry, just go a bit slower. <br /><br />If you want to play rando your next rims could be wider. Until yesterday good wider rims weren't even there. The biggest speed advantage for most will be that changing a flat is quicker and easier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90113208474803391622012-07-17T12:53:28.056-04:002012-07-17T12:53:28.056-04:00"http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQEquips...<i><a href="http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQEquipsurvey.pdf" rel="nofollow">"http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQEquipsurvey.pdf"</a></i><br /><br />I forgot that this article is available online for free; I will add it to the text of the post.<br /><br />Looking over the results again, I actually think that 42% steel and 53% fenders are impressive statistics for 2007. I am also surprised to see that Ti was more popular than CF. <br /><br />The half/half use of generator vs battery lights makes me wonder whether this choice might be related to how much support riders had at control points. 3 nights' worth of batteries for lights sounds like a lot to carry, and I can hardly imagine there being enough time to charge rechargeable lights at controls. <br /><br />Given the rise in popularity of classic bikes, wide tires, bags, etc since 2007, I wonder what a 2011 survey would have looked like.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com