2006-06-23 18:30:05.19208+00 by meuon 11 comments
I broke down and upgraded to a Rans V2 F26 today. Had a short ride. Wow, almost as different as going from my 'mountain bike' to the Quetzal C105. Added my clip pedals, and played around in the neighborhood. It climbs hills much better, and screams downhill. Disk brakes are nice, you feel like you can actually stop at speed and on slopes. Hopefully I'll get some long rides in this weekend and next week.
[ related topics: Bicycling ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 18:48:19.161911+00 by: Dan Lyke
Damn, that was fast!
The thing about disks that I liked was running the descent down White's Hill on the tandem and Charlene saying "Are you alternating brakes?", 'cause the control was so smooth that she couldn't tell.
On the other hand, the deep stiff rims on the low spoke wheels on my road bike are true enough that I'm totally cool with 'em there. Tomorrow I'll get to test 'em on a big descent (One stretch should be like coming down Taft Highway times 3).
What kind of clips are you using? I'm on Shimano SPDs 'cause I've got mountain bike shoes (both for the mountain bike and for better grip when I'm holding a tandem up with the stoker on it), but I'm interested in people's experiences with other shoes, especially for Charlene. I've heard that the "eggbeaters" give a little more angular float, which might be good for her.
If I break down and build the ultimate Open Source bike computer, you in? And then do we build a site where we can upload GPS tracks and ride info?
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 20:28:17.287459+00 by: meuon
You mean like: MotionBased And for an example of a biker.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 20:28:32.946517+00 by: meuon [edit history]
I'm using Shimano SPD and some Shimano 'mountain bike' shoes, but my pedals are normal MTB pedals on one side, and clippables on the other, works nice for casual riding to have a normal pedal face.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 20:55:58.79093+00 by: ebradway
I think Trimble has a pretty good solution already in place. Haven't played with it yet, but they can even use GPS-enabled cell phones...
I've thought about toe clips on my 'bent, but I'm around peds and intersections alot and need to be able to get my feet down. I'll probably go for harness/clips...
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 21:53:50.638547+00 by: meuon
One reason to use clips is to let your legs 'hang' when coasting..
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-23 22:07:23.748308+00 by: warkitty
I use the Shimano SPDs and touring shoes. Not convinced the eggbeaters are worth switching for.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-24 05:17:26.8514+00 by: Dan Lyke
Meuon, yeah, kinda, but... you know... with Perl and stuff... [grin] Actually I also see no reason you couldn't have scrolling topo maps as you ride.
Eric, once you get used to getting clips in and out, you'll wonder how you ever got along with cages, and if you run 'em loose it's not a big deal to drop your feet a lot.
Warkitty, the only reason I know if is that the eggbeaters allegedly provide a few degrees of rotation before the unclipping action kicks in. My pedals force my feet into a specific place, which some people claim is hard on the knees. Of course there are all sorts of "hard on the knees" theories, from those who think it comes from too narrow a stance to those who sell pedal lengtheners to give you a wider stance to... well... pretty much everything, but I've heard the "you should have some rotational freedom" argument from a few people.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-24 08:39:29.966022+00 by: meuon
I'm pretty sure one of the reasons I got a cramp last weekend was it was my first real ride with clips, and I'm still figuring out where to adjust the show plates. and it will take me a while to get used to them. I've seen Bebop pedals discussed some with feelings for both recumbents, road and mountain bikes, I'd love to see some and see what the fuss is about, and you got to love a bike gear website with quotes like: "...do they mean a 170 pound roadie profiling past Starbucks, or 170 pounds of human cannonball ripping down a rocky 20% chute? Do you want to bet your insurance deductible on your answer?" Laughing..
Well, maybe I'll get some road time in this morning.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-24 13:59:13.48618+00 by: meuon
Road time: 5am till 8am. Coolidge Parke to the Chickamauga Dam and back, plus some cruising around "Art District" and downtown. I'm a bit klutzy at low speeds and sharp turns, but cruising.. oh my.. it's very different from the Quetzal. It just feels good. I could have just kept on riding, and almost did, but I also needed to go home. Picked up a simple $30 bike spedo/odo meter at Suck Creek Cycle on the way home.
Side note: At 8:20am, Suck Creek Cycle is not only open, but obviously a gathering place of bikers and related activity.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-24 23:04:37.017293+00 by: warkitty
That's why I like my spd. I do get some rotation, unlike the look pedals.
Road time this morning: 50 miles over Suck Creek to Powells Crossing, then across and over the back side of Signal.
I love rocketing down the W.
#Comment Re: made: 2006-06-25 12:20:24.966484+00 by: meuon
I'm not up to Dan's or WarKitty's distance or speeds, but I can see the possibility of getting a lot better and still enjoying the process. I think this 'meter is better calibrated: From Stone Cup to the Dam: 8.2 miles on the bike path, 10mph avg. Back, most via Amnicola Highway (not much traffic at 6:30am), 8.1 miles, 16pmh average., 27mph peak.