Yeah, that's pretty close to the feeling I had on that Trek...It was a good bike for one type of riding, but trying to use it for casual cruising or picking up groceries was futile. Lol.
On Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 2:32:10 PM UTC-5 Slin wrote: > > Interesting observation about the comfort of the Trek - I wonder why it > became uncomfortable when slowing? > > I've noticed that pedaling hard removes pressure from the hands and > saddle. So on some bike setups with low handlebars, if I'm coasting, I can > feel like I'm sliding forward on my saddle or need to support more of my > weight with my arms. > > > > On Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:37:19 AM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding > Ding! wrote: > >> I’m *loving* these bike stories you guys are giving. Now that I’ve got >> club riding experience, I can better relate to your stories. >> >> Interesting observation about the comfort of the Trek - I wonder why it >> became uncomfortable when slowing? I can relate about the hills, too. We >> Riv riders are working harder on our hills than the rest. I stand up and >> PUSH on my pedals on our ascents. I feel like I need more weight to get >> them to turn faster, and I can feel the bikes behind me gaining. But once >> we crest the top I’m back up to pace again. I know I work harder on my >> bike, but I also think that makes me stronger. I am at my high school >> weight, or maybe less, and I have new muscles and even new circulation. I >> have augmented my riding with weight lifting and core about 6 days a week, >> and I think that helps my rides, too. >> >> I can also relate to the bag comments - Marc (Sam rider with a >> Saddlesack) and I rode a club ride one day. One guy said to us, “You guys >> are ready for anything. Even a job interview…with your little briefcases.” >> >> Club rides are good, clean fun and a good way to challenge yourself. They >> don’t replace the best kind of riding - using your bike to go places and do >> things - but they are a good time. >> >> Ryan and Feltovich - did either of you make any converts? Anyone want to >> try your Rivendell and then love the comfort? >> >> L >> >> On Sep 10, 2022, at 12:51 PM, Ryan M. <ryan.merri...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Club riding can be a lot of fun and quite rewarding. I always liked >> riding with a group like that when I had the time...the fitness of it was >> great. >> >> >> I started out club riding on my Sam Hillborne with a Sackville handlebar >> bag hooked up to a set of Nitto Noodles. My friend would make fun of me >> asking why I needed a trout creel on the bike; I just answered that it was >> the perfect size for a 6 pack of beer and a sandwich in case we needed a >> rest stop. It was a great bike for riding with the slower or medium speed >> group. Eventually I bought a carbon Trek and really started riding with the >> faster group. Did it for a few years and I do think the bike setup helped >> with the speed and I don't think I could have kept up with the group on my >> Sam. I did buy a Roadeo and road that...and it was a great bike for club >> riding. That carbon bike could climb a hill faster and more efficiently >> than the Hillborne could, I can't deny that. The Roadeo was faster than the >> Sam too and really about the same as the carbon bike for efficiency. The >> thing about that carbon Trek bike was that it was really comfortable for >> long rides provided I was kinda hammering the pedals most of the time. As >> soon as the pace came down to casual, the bike would become uncomfortable. >> The Rivs were comfortable all the time. >> >> It's always a sobering moment when the group gets blown away by the >> single speed riding, flip flop sporting, floppy t-shirt and jean short >> wearing bike shop employee who just looks like he is out for a Sunday >> stroll. >> >> >> On Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:26:17 AM UTC-5 felt...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> When we lived in minneapolis I rode with a small neighborhood group that >>> did a weekly Sunday ride at a respectable pace. I was riding a Rambouillet >>> back then: fenders, canvas saddle bag, shellacked bar tape, 33.333mm tires, >>> etc. The other riders were on aluminum or CF bikes, of course. One day, we >>> were doing our version of a paceline on a winding road near the U of M >>> campus when we got passed by some shirtless college kid in jean shorts on a >>> mountain bike. The group instinctively sped up to chase, but it was quickly >>> obvious that we weren't going to catch him. Wry smiles and "holy crap, that >>> kid was flying!" But the obvious point was that his speed wasn't really >>> hindered that much by his upright/heavy bike and that the racy bikes and >>> fancy clothes in our group were not making a significant difference to our >>> middle-aged dadbod speeds. >>> >>> On Friday, September 9, 2022 at 8:05:49 PM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle Ding >>> Ding! wrote: >>> >>>> Doug - congrats on your increasing fitness on your new bike! Bikes and >>>> health are great investments. Despite demonstrating that speed and comfort >>>> are NOT mutually exclusive, I have made zero converts. Absolutely no one >>>> is >>>> rushing out to buy a Racing Platypus of their own. However, their gaze has >>>> been shifted to using bikes as transportation/for errands, and there is >>>> some interest in the club about getting Rivendells to that end. The club >>>> recently asked 5 of us to present how we commute/shop by bike and two of >>>> us >>>> were Rivendell owners, so that was pretty awesome. The club has been >>>> saying >>>> it wants to broaden its focus and even changed its mission statement to be >>>> more inclusive of all types of cycling. So, the winds of change are >>>> blowing. >>>> >>>> Joe - I think you have to join a club ride. Your paint is Rad Red. >>>> That’s racing paint. >>>> >>>> I try to be a good sport about the comments but they do get old. They >>>> just have to say something, though; I think it’s too much for them. They >>>> have subscribed to the racing school of thought and then a clear violator >>>> of the rules speeds by. If one can assign value to suffering, then that’s >>>> one thing. You can be willing to suffer if there’s a payoff. But what if >>>> you were riding an uncomfortable bike/saddle and wearing uncomfortable >>>> clothes/shoes/diaper butt for NO REASON? If you can be fast without that >>>> stuff, then what? Sacred cows. Being slaughtered. >>>> >>>> Anyway, I am not trying to rag on the racers. I love riding with the >>>> racers. We just see things differently, but I’m glad to know them. >>>> L >>>> >>>> On Sep 9, 2022, at 9:01 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I love your smiling comeback to the guys. Personally if I was >>>> hammering on a carbon racer and a young lady on a pretty raspberry mixte >>>> with fenders, rack and dynohub beat me I wouldn't pull up in the parking >>>> lot and tell her she's doing it wrong. I'd ask what *I'm *doing wrong! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Friday, September 9, 2022 at 2:58:33 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding >>>> Ding! wrote: >>>> >>>>> I’ve continued my club rides this summer, and will soon get to >>>>> experience them in the fall. There is no question that these rides have >>>>> made me fitter; I can look back at my Apple Watch recordings and see it. >>>>> I’m sure everyone is fitter by the end of the season, actually. Before I >>>>> joined the group, my normal trips were a mere 10 miles, and I was proud >>>>> of >>>>> that mileage. Now, is not uncommon for me to ride 28-30 miles on a club >>>>> ride, and go out again on my own ride the same day. I just have to be >>>>> careful that I get enough hydration and electrolytes, or I pay for it the >>>>> next day. At the beginning of the season I was in the 14 mph group. The >>>>> watch shows the “splits”, a mile by mile tracking of speed, and I can >>>>> also >>>>> see what my heart rate was doing - it was up in 140s and 150s. Now I’m in >>>>> the 16 mph group and we exceed 16 regularly, but my heart rate is still >>>>> slower at high speeds than it was when I was in the slower group. I’ve >>>>> considered riding with a group going 17, but I would be pushing and I >>>>> have >>>>> to think it’s hard on one’s heart to push it for upwards of 2 hours. >>>>> >>>>> Today’s women’s ride was a hilly route that took us through vineyard >>>>> after vineyard. Wait until you smell the grapes, they told me. Did you >>>>> know >>>>> that grapes have a scent? I did not. They smell exactly like grape juice, >>>>> which I did not expect, since I’ve never eaten a grape that tasted like >>>>> grape juice. Also of note from today: a near tragedy. The ride starts at >>>>> a >>>>> park. The group was circled up, waiting for the last woman to arrive. She >>>>> approached on the 2 lane road, 2 vehicles behind her. She was lit up, had >>>>> her arm wide out, signaling to turn left. A woman near me began to scream >>>>> NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! The truck directly behind her slowed, but the one >>>>> behind him decided to pass. He nearly killed Anne. She was unharmed but >>>>> deeply shaken. >>>>> >>>>> I’ve learned a lot about road safety and being a good group member by >>>>> calling out road hazards and taking my turn leading the group so the ride >>>>> leaders can rest. I love all the scenery and the wildlife and the crops. >>>>> We >>>>> see animals and flowers and lakes on every ride. It’s a feast for the >>>>> eyes, >>>>> and I love that I can sit upright to fully see and appreciate them. I >>>>> look >>>>> down at my raspberry bike and I love that we get to do this together. The >>>>> camaraderie is enjoyable; it is good to be with bike people, even if they >>>>> don’t understand your choice of bike. I’m no longer self-conscious when I >>>>> roll up at the start of the ride. I don’t feel pressure to wear clicky >>>>> shoes or a jersey; I’m there with my Grant Safety Triangle and my Target >>>>> workout wear and my Keen sandals and I don’t feel inadequate. >>>>> >>>>> I still get comments on nearly every ride about how much my bike >>>>> weighs or how fast I *could* be if only I had a real road bike, but I >>>>> weather them pretty well and only send comebacks to the most egregious >>>>> offenders. This will always happen at the end of the ride, after we >>>>> sprint >>>>> to the parking lot. Some guy will come find me at my vehicle and tell me >>>>> how I’m doing it wrong. After getting lectured about how I could go 25% >>>>> faster if I had this bike and narrow tires, blah, blah, I say, “Well, I >>>>> just beat you, so I don’t think my bike is the problem.” This is now my >>>>> standard response. But I smile when I say it. Seeing that I will not be >>>>> parted from my Racing Platypus, some have now moved onto my heavy >>>>> Hydroflask. I carry 40 oz of water in a stainless steel Hydroflask and >>>>> they >>>>> can’t get over me lugging all that extra weight along. Also, they want to >>>>> know if it is orange juice in there. Oh, whatever. >>>>> >>>>> I laugh, and they laugh and we ride on. >>>>> >>>>> Leah >>>>> (Pictures attached, but only of the women’s rides, because they are >>>>> the only group who will stop for a photo op!) >>>>> On Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 9:27:43 PM UTC-4 Max S wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> As many / most of you know, carbon fiber composites have been in >>>>>> structural applications in aerospace and other fields for decades. That >>>>>> said, the frequency and thoroughness of regular inspections (and >>>>>> replacement) carried out in those applications is perhaps beyond what a >>>>>> typical cyclist is willing to do. But here's a couple of nice videos >>>>>> that >>>>>> demonstrate the durability of CF bike parts: >>>>>> >>>>>> Danny MacAskill Tests Santa Cruz Reserve Carbon Wheels: >>>>>> https://youtu.be/VfjjiHGuHoc >>>>>> >>>>>> Carbon vs Aluminum Frames - Which is Stronger? (you can skip to 1:40 >>>>>> mark for start of tests) >>>>>> https://youtu.be/w5eMMf11uhM >>>>>> >>>>>> But there are also examples of frames and wheels failing... like this >>>>>> one: https://youtu.be/NVkWlsbnUZ8 >>>>>> >>>>>> Aluminum fails too, but for different reasons: >>>>>> https://youtu.be/qKeeHDuoFq8 >>>>>> >>>>>> - Max "horses for courses & ride what you brung" in A2 >>>>>> >>>>>> On Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 8:52:20 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks, Max, a clear and informative response. I didn't realize one >>>>>>> could save so much time at sub 18 mph. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I've only dented 1 rim that I remember, back in about 1971 or 1972 >>>>>>> when I bashed a steel 27" rim by failing to dodge a pothole at the >>>>>>> bottom >>>>>>> of a fast hill on the way to school, but it is good to know that CF >>>>>>> rims >>>>>>> can outlast and outwear aluminum ones and at lighter weights; the >>>>>>> Velocity >>>>>>> Blunt SS wheels on my (disc brake) dirt road bike are very light, but >>>>>>> I've >>>>>>> thought of replacing them with an even lighter CF-rim pair (but thin >>>>>>> crust >>>>>>> and not deep dish!) some day, especially since I could use the Blunts >>>>>>> for a >>>>>>> wheelset for a long-wished-for Monocog replacement. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As to weight, I've had a few heavy bikes that just felt easier to >>>>>>> pedal in given gears in given conditions; a mark of these was that I >>>>>>> naturally tended to ride at cruising speed on flats 1 cog smaller / 5 >>>>>>> gear >>>>>>> inches bigger. But I never took any measurements. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To respond to Andy's remarks, I myself tend to gauge "speed" by >>>>>>> feel, first by ease of pedaling as described, and distant second, >>>>>>> smoothness of tires (I qualify "smooth" by "tires" because I've had at >>>>>>> least 1 noodle frame that felt very plush but not particularly fast; >>>>>>> not >>>>>>> particularly slow, but not especially fast -- ancient long wheelbase >>>>>>> Raleigh Technium). But I have never, ever thought a bike faster because >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> it felt rode rough or buzzy. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> So indeed, my criteria are largely sensory. But I'd still not baulk >>>>>>> at lighter and stronger rims. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 10:10 PM Max S <msh...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Patrick, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> This is a deeply and widely explored topic. There are some numbers >>>>>>>> and graphs to look at here: >>>>>>>> https://www.wheelscience.com/pages/aero-v-weight >>>>>>>> In my personal experience, deep rims can save me ~10-20 watts, >>>>>>>> depending on how fast and where I ride. So, it can get me from 16.5 to >>>>>>>> 17.0 >>>>>>>> mph or to 17.5 mph average over a 50 mile ride on our local gravel >>>>>>>> roads, >>>>>>>> for example. >>>>>>>> If those rims are carbon, that nets a 1.3-1.5 kg wheelset that is >>>>>>>> both aerodynamic AND sturdy. If I try to hit that weight mark with >>>>>>>> aluminum >>>>>>>> rims, I get a less aerodynamic and a flimsier wheelset. >>>>>>>> Speaking for myself, the upshot of running deep dish carbon wheels >>>>>>>> is that they let me give up an hour of sleep the night before to keep >>>>>>>> up >>>>>>>> with my riding pal... But if you're riding by yourself, and your sleep >>>>>>>> hygiene is good, and you're eating right, and you're not checking the >>>>>>>> local >>>>>>>> rankings on various "segments" on Strava, it doesn't make much >>>>>>>> difference. >>>>>>>> Well, no, let me take that back. What I've discovered of late in >>>>>>>> riding gravel roads is that half of my aluminum rims have developed >>>>>>>> dents, >>>>>>>> whereas the carbon wheels have not. I'm not a particularly heavy rider >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> I like to think I'm a careful rider. But running the same size tires >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> carbon wheels seems to not result in the same number of dents. Now >>>>>>>> this >>>>>>>> will probably at some point turn into a chipped / delaminated section >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> that carbon rim, but for now, they seem to suffer fewer of those >>>>>>>> dents. >>>>>>>> Carbon frames and forks do save a significant amount of weight – >>>>>>>> expect about 2-3 lbs saved over a similarly sized steel frame & fork, >>>>>>>> especially from Rivendell. The weight is felt on the hills – about 10 >>>>>>>> seconds per mile of climbing at 4-5% gradients, in my experience, but >>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>> could be mis-remembering. It's easy to stick two extra 2-liter soda >>>>>>>> bottles >>>>>>>> in your saddlebag and test the effect quantitatively and qualitatively >>>>>>>> for >>>>>>>> yourself. >>>>>>>> If the above makes me sound like a carbon apologist, I'll say that >>>>>>>> all my bikes have steel frames and forks, and most have aluminum rims. >>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>> just prefer those for now, for a variety of reasons. But sometimes I >>>>>>>> do >>>>>>>> ride carbon wheels and enjoy the looks and the very very slight speed >>>>>>>> benefits, and noticeable durability benefits for some aspects of my >>>>>>>> riding. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> - Max "who should be working on getting more sleep rather than >>>>>>>> re-gluing his tires" in A2 >>>>>>>> On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 12:30:36 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Pretty Sotherland, and that's one of the most interesting head >>>>>>>>> badges I've seen. The motto in full is "Sans peur et sans reproche" >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> "Without fear and without blame" or generally, "Beyond fear and >>>>>>>>> reproach," >>>>>>>>> the motto of the ideal knight of chivalry. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I'm just asking this (of the group) and not reproaching: Do carbon >>>>>>>>> fork and aero carbon fiber wheels make that much of a difference over >>>>>>>>> a >>>>>>>>> good steel fork and say lightweight tubulars or RH extralight >>>>>>>>> clinchers at >>>>>>>>> less than race speeds? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Fri, Aug 12, 2022 at 2:03 PM Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >>>>>>>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Today was a women’s ride. 29 miles at over 16 mph, and it was >>>>>>>>>> great. Such a nice group of women. Many of them ride TO the ride, >>>>>>>>>> and then >>>>>>>>>> ride home again. I come from the opposite end of the city, so I am >>>>>>>>>> always >>>>>>>>>> stuck driving. Anyway, I have some photos but first let’s take a >>>>>>>>>> minute to >>>>>>>>>> appreciate this lugged, steel bike that belongs to my ride leader. >>>>>>>>>> You’ll >>>>>>>>>> see her decals say “Sotherland.” That does happen to be her name, >>>>>>>>>> yes, but >>>>>>>>>> it is also the builder’s name. John Sotherland used to build the >>>>>>>>>> Rivendell >>>>>>>>>> frames in the Waterford days; he has since opened his own shop. John >>>>>>>>>> is a >>>>>>>>>> brother-in-law to my ride leader, and he made her this beautiful >>>>>>>>>> pink and >>>>>>>>>> white fade bike in 1988. This is the original paint job. I did not >>>>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>>>> time to ask about the fork, but aren’t her chainstays interesting? >>>>>>>>>> We were >>>>>>>>>> pulled over on a highway waiting for a rider to fix her flat, so I >>>>>>>>>> hurriedly took these few shots. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Save this one bike, all the rest were carbon. >>>>>>>>>> Leah >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> [image: image.png] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>> send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e826b19d-0048-49d7-968e-e8b93766186dn%40googlegroups.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e826b19d-0048-49d7-968e-e8b93766186dn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>> Patrick Moore >>>>>>> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/EICfswhTsI8/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0aba1581-79c7-450f-888b-6ff872dd98c8n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0aba1581-79c7-450f-888b-6ff872dd98c8n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/EICfswhTsI8/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/55924047-b979-4af4-9e32-57b731e915d4n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/55924047-b979-4af4-9e32-57b731e915d4n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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