Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 How many SNAers are cyclists I wonder? Ive been kind of obsessed with it lately, particularly when I started to see the kilos coming off. Here's my Apollo Ventoux, just about the cheapest road bike on the market, but it seems ok to me Might upgrade next year but for now its great. (pictured leaning up against my new centre speaker ) [ATTACH]4514[/ATTACH] Im determined to ride everyday for the next 6 weeks, and hopefully by then I will be a bit lighter and more able to keep up with the others. Cheers, Jake
mondie Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 l consider myself a cyclist albeit a casual and lazy one most of the time. l enjoy the sensation of riding and ever since l got my car licence l have stayed on the bike. Since moving to Blackwood a lot of the pleasure has gone out of it though, its so damn hilly around here that every ride has become an ordeal of sorts. l am either crawling up a hill tongue dragging on the road, or belting down the other side at speeds that are probably illegal in residential areas. l think l need to retire the heavy 12 yr old MTB and invest in a light hybrid, something with bigger lighter rims but not full racer rims like yours Jake. There is a shop here that sells Scott Bikes, they make some good looking bikes that fill the gap between a robust MTB and a lightweight road bike. l am hoping something like that will help take some of the pain out of the hills Cheers, mondie
Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Author Posted October 18, 2008 l am hoping something like that will help take some of the pain out of the hills Cheers, mondie I really don't think thats possible Mondie As Greg Lemond said, it doesn't get easier, you just go faster. And no matter what bike you own a hill is a hill However, MTBs are terrible things out of their element. The least you can do is to put slick tyres on it, that should give you another 5-10 kph. But hybrids are pretty good now, and really whatever gets someone out there is the go. Cheers, Jake
Nude Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 l consider myself a cyclist albeit a casual and lazy one most of the time. l enjoy the sensation of riding and ever since l got my car licence l have stayed on the bike. Since moving to Blackwood a lot of the pleasure has gone out of it though, its so damn hilly around here that every ride has become an ordeal of sorts. l am either crawling up a hill tongue dragging on the road, or belting down the other side at speeds that are probably illegal in residential areas.l think l need to retire the heavy 12 yr old MTB and invest in a light hybrid, something with bigger lighter rims but not full racer rims like yours Jake. There is a shop here that sells Scott Bikes, they make some good looking bikes that fill the gap between a robust MTB and a lightweight road bike. l am hoping something like that will help take some of the pain out of the hills Cheers, mondie Ummm, dare I suggest changing the cables....
proftournesol Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 I've been cycling for about 20 years now. Here's my current bike (well, one of them). We have 2 cycling trips planned this year: we'd like to do a ride called Raid Pyreneen, a 10 day ride along the length of the French Pyrenees - 28 cols! Then we want to do a Tour de France trip, probably with Phil Anderson (through Adventure Travel) and then ride from Geneve to Grenoble doing much of the Marmotte route through the Alps. The bike far exceeds the limited abilities of the rider but I do like hills. In 2006 we did a 4 month cycle trip around Europe with our then 12 year old daughter. Here's a link if you're interested. http://web.mac.com/deepthoughtpsych/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html
Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Author Posted October 18, 2008 Ive seen that before Prof, I think in an older thread about pushys. That really is an awesome pictorial journal of what must have been an awesome trip. Just fantastic and very impressive mate. Its great to see someone doing something different like this, and although the bike is no doubt perceived as a hard way to travel you really do see so much more in the saddle than you do in a tin top. Cheers, Jake
JCR33 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 I used to jog every morning for 4-5 km and since I moved back to Sydney last year, it has been very hard for me to pick this up again. With the new environment and life style here, it has been harder than I thought to pick up the routine again. With my recent misfortune of spraining my ankle which put me out of action for almost a month, I want to pick up some form of sport to keep me fit. Cycling has been at the back of my mind lately. Living in Hills area will give me plenty of slopes to burn some calories. Michael, your bike is really nice, can you tell me where I can get some good reads on bikes? Any good place to shop some nice ones? BTW, no news on the grinder, I am afraid...
proftournesol Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 Ive seen that before Prof, I think in an older thread about pushys. That really is an awesome pictorial journal of what must have been an awesome trip. Just fantastic and very impressive mate. Its great to see someone doing something different like this, and although the bike is no doubt perceived as a hard way to travel you really do see so much more in the saddle than you do in a tin top. Cheers, Jake it's a really easy way to travel in Europe - no parking hassles, eat as much fuel as you like! having a folder makes it easy to catch trains though.
proftournesol Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 Michael, your bike is really nice, can you tell me where I can get some good reads on bikes? Any good place to shop some nice ones? BTW, no news on the grinder, I am afraid... www.cyclingnews.com is a good place to start. Setup is probably more important than the bike itself, if in Sydney, I'd go speak to Steve Hogg who writes in the cyclingnews letters and technical columns. A custom frame will give a much better fit and be more comfortable that spending the same amount on a 'name' bike that may be 1kg lighter.
Guest JohnA Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 theres a few of us keen cyclists on here my ride is a 2008 fuji team rc carbon road bike
JCR33 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 www.cyclingnews.com is a good place to start. Setup is probably more important than the bike itself, if in Sydney, I'd go speak to Steve Hogg who writes in the cyclingnews letters and technical columns. A custom frame will give a much better fit and be more comfortable that spending the same amount on a 'name' bike that may be 1kg lighter. Michael, Thanks for the link. What is the price range for a custom frame?
proftournesol Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 Michael,Thanks for the link. What is the price range for a custom frame? probably $3500 or so for an entry level complete bike with a steel frame (steel is probably the most comfortable and strongest frame materiel but heavier) all the way to Titanium and carbon frames up to $10k for a complete bike. The geometry can be tailored to the type of riding you do and it will fit like a glove. You can also have it painted any colour scheme that you like:)
Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Author Posted October 18, 2008 theres a few of us keen cyclists on heremy ride is a 2008 fuji team rc carbon road bike Now thats a horny looking bike! I would like a Trek Madone 5.5 (2009). Not really cheap I spose but then what is? Certainly cheaper than lots of hifi I can see myself settling for a 5.2 though [ATTACH]4517[/ATTACH] Cheers, Jake
Guest JohnA Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 love the look of that trek jake, looks like the specialized bikes also another favourite of mine are colnago
davidsss Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 I try and ride to work once a week, it's good exercise, good for the environment and a really cheap way to get to work. My only problem is I wish that Melbourne City Council would decide whether Swanston St is a road or a mall. DS
proftournesol Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 I try and ride to work once a week, it's good exercise, good for the environment and a really cheap way to get to work. My only problem is I wish that Melbourne City Council would decide whether Swanston St is a road or a mall.DS I rode down Swanston St yesterday after nearly being killed by a taxi in StKilda Rd that cut across the bike lane to pick up a fare - only problem was, I was in the bike lane. Swanston Street was even scarier!
Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Author Posted October 18, 2008 love the look of that trek jake, looks like the specialized bikes alsoanother favourite of mine are colnago I was fondling one just yesterday. They weigh bugger all, its amazing. Im bound by what the LBS sells of course, no Colnagos up this way Im afraid I try and ride to work once a week, it's good exercise, good for the environment and a really cheap way to get to work. My only problem is I wish that Melbourne City Council would decide whether Swanston St is a road or a mall.DS Good stuff David, I probably should ride to work, but my hours are so sporadic and on/off that I get pissed off having to cycle the 3kms back and forth, back and forth all day and night. Swanston St sucks, but I guess if they decide ultimately 1 way or another you could still pedal through there. I dont see anything changing for a while though, not while trams are still using it. Cheers, Jake
davidsss Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 I actually don't mind the trams and they wouldn't be a problem if there weren't so many vehicles parked on Swanston St. Trams are thoroughly predictable unless they come off the tracks (been there, done that!). I recently rode home at night as we decided to go to the exhibition on Art Deco after work and it was fine. My ride is about 11Km each way, if it was 3Km I'd do it every day. DS
4heckssake Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 Bikes , oh yeah, got a few, ride a few times a week and aim for every day. The fleet at the moment includes: Colnago Titanio roadie Santa Cruz Blur MTB One On singlespeed MTB singlespeed hard rubbished collection pub bike I'm being good at the moment but often have a couple more. It's been a life long affliction for me. A day is not a good day without a pedal! 4hecks.
Jake Posted October 18, 2008 Author Posted October 18, 2008 Bikes , oh yeah, got a few, ride a few times a week and aim for every day.The fleet at the moment includes: Colnago Titanio roadie Santa Cruz Blur MTB One On singlespeed MTB singlespeed hard rubbished collection pub bike I'm being good at the moment but often have a couple more. It's been a life long affliction for me. A day is not a good day without a pedal! 4hecks. You know fixies are the new black this year dont you?
Nude Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 Bikes , oh yeah, got a few, ride a few times a week and aim for every day.The fleet at the moment includes: Colnago Titanio roadie Santa Cruz Blur MTB One On singlespeed MTB singlespeed hard rubbished collection pub bike I'm being good at the moment but often have a couple more. It's been a life long affliction for me. A day is not a good day without a pedal! 4hecks. 'pub bike' Used to have one of those, till I landed in the creek many years ago!
4heckssake Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 You know fixies are the new black this year dont you? hehe, yep have given one a go but it takes too much concentration to not stuff up on them....particularly on the way home from the pub.
Waylander Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 I did a tour de pub on bmx last weekend for a friends bucks party. It is not illegal to drink and ride in the state of Victoria, however I would not recommend it. There were some very big stacks and luckily no permanent injuries. I have had a limp for a week - turns out that in the 20 years since I last rode a bmx I must have forgotten how to jump tabledrains. 1
Soultone Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Any suggestions for a cheapish hybrid? Been looking at the Kona but any suggestions would be appreciated.
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