Education We Like to Ride Bicycles

Today I fitted Swiss Stop brake pads to my bike because I was sick of Shimano pads getting contaminated by riding in the same county as a puddle with some diesel in it.

Good news, the Swiss Stop pads do not care about dirty water.

In fact I'm pretty sure my bike could now slow down the world if I brake hard enough.

 

Hmm sounds good, I'm fed up with my pads squeaking and fading, may well look at getting some when I can afford it.

Looking to get a half decent water proof jacket.

This any good

Anything else maybe I should look at for the money

 

Worth noting that Altura have a decent sale on via their website right now. Some good bargains to be had.

 

Just realised the jacket I linked to goes upto £72 once I chose the right size, I cant afford much more than £40.

They do have a jacket for that price but only in 2xl whereas my cycle jerseys are 3xl, I'm not that big, I wear XL t shirts but these things seem to be sized really badly.

 

Here's a similar jacket for £40: https://www.altura.co.uk/products/detail/AL22POD6/podium-elite-waterproof-jacket/?ng=

Worth noting that Altura only size up to 2XL but at least they have a decent returns policy (if you bought directly from them).

Alternatively, there's always Decathlon - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-warm-cycling-jacket-red-id_8396401.html This is £22, albeit only in XL, but their stuff doesn't tend to be particularly fitted unless it's the top-end road stuff. I have a version of this jacket from a couple of years ago and although it's not 100% waterproof it'll keep moderate rain off. Other colours available but cost a bit more.

 

Project stupid is a go, 11-42 cassette with a 42T front ring, dog leg adaptor and some new single chainring bolts needed

 

Seems to be me spamming this

Anywho, rebuild No.1 plastic speedy bike. Really not liking the bar tape plus its badly wrapped. Noticed the QR was on the wrong way round after the photo.

So SRAM eTap Red groupset bar the cassette which is Red Force wasnt paying three times the price for one with elastomers. Wireless shifting really is surreal to ride, it just works, doesnt complain and the rear shift is quick as you like.
New Freehub body is on the way as the fancy carbon wheels cant mount the 11spd cassette. An the DT's fitted need new bearings so its no riding at the moment anyway, Urgh!

Camera didn't like the fading light so this will do for now

 

Not at all, keep the bike pics coming!

That eTap has me salivating here. Lovely.

 

Will do doubt I'll get any till weekend now as work means I dont see daylight.
Next job is to work out what the hell this freehub is, looks like an AC but I dont recognise the design. Can see me ending up re lacing the wheel at this rate.
May drop the carbons on just for pimp shots though!

 

Did find a free hub for the above rim, turns out its actually a Reynolds OE spec.

Anyway plastic white frame is picking up some very nasty injuries, dink in the chain stay, a lump of paints broken away from the inside of the fork, gouge marks inside the rear triangle where debris have become trapped and chain marks around the bottom bracket. Oh that and the front brake boss has broken away in the frame lug still works fine just tightens an spins only an issue if there's no wheel attached which, well there always is.

Still rides fine just its days are numbered, started to browse frames looking at the back end of this year to purchase. The weight weenie in me is saying carbon. But, I spend a couple hours in a local bike shop over the weekend and kind of fell for a pair of Italian steel frames both about 2Kg so about double what I have now.

So, choices

Cinelli Nemo (sixty colours one of which is Orange fnar fnar)
http://cinelli.it/en/prodotti/nemo-tig-en/

Cinelli Vigorelli (Only comes in Purple for 2019)
http://cinelli.it/en/prodotti/vigorelli-road-en/

 

That Nemo does look rather nice, especially if it can come in British Racing Green or Mclaren Orange.

Maybe get some helicopter tape on it when you decide which one to buy? Chipping the paint off a Planet X is one thing, but such finely painted Italian style should not be subjected to those horrors.

 

Heli tape is defiantly on the list for which ever I get, I have a wide strip on the underside the downtube on the PlanetX and you can see where its taken damage.

I'm actually quite taken with the purple the Vigorelli comes in, in person its a very deep purple with a light silver sparkle to it an the very shiny graphics.
I asked about the other paint colours an they are getting a sample set in. to give a rough idea the Nemo comes in any of the below, so no BRG unfortunately and I'm not sure the Orange is quite McLaren enough either. Ideal world I would get an XCR with no paint but I dont have nearly 4K knocking around.



I did hear a rumour that PlanetX are releasing a 953 stainless frame unpainted which could be inestresting. We will see if that appears

 

It's called the Strada 953 and they already sell it, it is quite nice. But that Emerald Green, I know it's not proper BRG but it's still lovely.

 

Its is lovely I'm going to hold out till they get the colour tubes in so I can see how they look in the steel. One thing I didn't note on the Vigorelli is it has a slightly higher BB so you can pedal through corners, being as its basically a track bike it makes sense.

 

Well, tubes came, colours are indeed stunning, tried a Vigorelli in my size and nope, bb is too high so you end up compromising your position in order to sort the higher BB issue You end up more perched on than sat in so to speak.

Had a chat with Planetx regarding some Ti frames, turns out for a small amount you can get semi custom geometry so I've sent my bike fit numbers across they came back saying I'm within 5mm on the top tube which is liveable, can rotate the bars a touch (their suggestion I agreed with) so now just waiting for some stock that's being welded at the moment.
Just debating a couple of parts, Headset is different so choose between FSA, Hope, CK etc. an the seat post is wider so need a new post so ill flog the Deda Superleggro, no idea what ill replace it with

 

I need some private time...



Sun came out really briefly, simply stunning in the sunlight, saddle height needs a tweak probably and probably swap the stem as the white stripe on it hurts my OCD.
Finishing touch is going to be a custom engraved stem cap, may put some invasion stripes on the fork to match the frames ones.

 

I was expecting porn, but I wasn't expecting super niche porn about the world's most expensive 2 speed.

Unless you're waiting on a cassette.

 

Less niche? It has 22 gears now, but mis matched wheels

 

I'm looking to buy a decent but not expensive bike rack to fit on a hatchback car (Vectra).

It needs to carry two mountain bikes, on the rear not in the roof and there is no towbar.

Any recommendations?

 

Finally put my old bike up for sale, been sat in a garage for 99% of the past couple of years, waste, hopefully someone else will be able to make use of it.

Part of me is definitely looking forward to using a bike regularly again, won't be till I move though methinks.