I'm curious about how everyone gets about when they're not in their 8's. Forget other cars (if it's not an 8, who cares?).

So, if you're in the mood, lets talk about bikes and blades, titanium and carbon and that old chesnut ... Campy v's Shimano!

I'll start the ball rolling by saying I'm a confessed bike-a-holic, with 16 bikes in the family and 7 being mine. My rides range from a 7.2kg Ciocc/Campy exotic, to a full house Rotec downhill monster.

I'm currently in discussion with my wife about mounting my son's 4.5kg one off bmx racer on a wall for display/art, now that he's outgrown it :)

I'll resort to pictures if the interest in this thread is there.

Kev.

Kev,
I can't say that I'm as fanatical about biking as you are but I do love to single track on my Specialized Enduro Pro. I think it is a great general purpose trail bike.

So what is your favorite bike in your stable?

Originally posted by Speed Racer
Kev,
I can't say that I'm as fanatical about biking as you are but I do love to single track on my Specialized Enduro Pro. I think it is a great general purpose trail bike.

So what is your favorite bike in your stable?

My fav would probably be my specialized fsr pro (max backbone). Only the frame and rear susp exist from the original. It's running white bros dc118 triples up front and full XTR with mavic 521's that are built for strength.

I suppose it's just a great all rounder simply because everything else I have is so purpose built for high performance, whereas the specialized is happy on a technical downhill and just as at home on a slow pedal through easy singletrack with the kids.

When I picked up my FSR Enduro I asked the bike shop to swap out the Hayes disc brakes and replace them with a Shimano XT setup with Jagwire Red pads. In my opinion the Hayes had too much of a On/Off personality. Where as the XT discs have just as much stopping power but they also have great modulation.

So what is your preferrance?

I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to brakes...

On my rotec (downhill race) I do run hayes discs, 8 inch. I had them re kitted a few months ago and they are magic. my lbs know they way I like things set up and I run them with a fair amount lever travel.

Otherwise I tend to go with v-brakes. Almost exclusively avid arch supremes.

I'm happy to run hydraulics when I'm in a downhill race with support, but when a long distance is involved, I wimp out for something I know I can repair on the trail :D

I'm trying to find a rack that will sit on the back of my 8 (with spoiler) and not cause any damage, but I feel the bootlid is a bit flimsy. I only want to carry a light road race bike on it and I loathe the idea fronting for a sunday morning seniors race without my 8 :(

How are you moving you bikes about?

Currently I'm not moving the bikes around with my RX-8. Instead we mounted my old trunk mount bike rack on my girl friend's car and use that instead.

Ultimately I'd like to add a Class I receiver to the car so that I can use my SportWorks bike rack again but attempts to have a hitch made have not panned out.

http://www.bicycleracks.com/Images/animation.gif

You may also want to check out this thread on bike racks (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10295).

4 bikes in my garage, 5 if you count the yamaha 750. heh the latest is a spot steel singlespeed. love the handling, carves much better than my homegrown, but don't care for the SID fork that much. i'd take a heavier coil fork for better response. haven't ridden my homegrown since getting the single.

All this high end bike talk brings back memorys. I have a few bikes in the shed that I haven't seen in years. My IBOC series mongoose(those were the good old days) with continental slicks, great all around riding bike. I'm stuck in a descent paying yet depressing toy store bike-tech gig at the moment, so thanks for the memories Kev

Hmm . . . I probably shouldn't even post into this thread. You guys spend alot more money on Bikes than I would ever even consider.

I have a 1985 Fuji touring series IV with about thirty thousand miles on it with tours on two continents and several different countries. I have rebuilt it about every two years, and it has virtualy no original components on it any more. However its touring days are now over. The frame has become dangerously skwungy.

Other than that, I have a 1988 Atala racing bike with serious miles, but I really don't have any way to calculate how many that has on it. It is also tired but still has some useable miles on it.

However, I was considering dropping some real current money on a new touring bike. I was thinking of having one hand built out of fully extruded Colombus tubing. The hard part is convincing someone to build it heavy enough to deal with me and about 100 pounds of luggage. Touring is not something that people really understand any more.

The real problem with that plan though is since 9/11 and the new airport rules, I really can't figure out how to get my bike onto a plane, so I'm not sure whether to spend the money. Any of you guys flown a bike in the modern age?

Gary Fisher Big Sur with Avid arch supreme discs and some gold old Diadoras Chiles (god I love those shoes). I met the founder of avid a few years back and he sent me a set for free because I hooked him up with a really nice bottle of wine, I think I came out ahead in the deal :) Back in the day I raced a Torker BMX bike and later a Free Agent. I'm a hardtail guy and probably always will be.

Ike

Have been cycling for about 20 years. Used to race (about ten years ago) in Cat 4s and 3s. Now mainly just commute and cycle for fitness and fun (both on-road and off-road). I'm traditionally a roadie and I've ALWAYS been a Shimano fan, dating back to when I built up my first road bike in 1985 with 6-speed SIS components -- still have some of those parts

We currently have six bicycles:
- Sandi's MTB is a 2001 SBI Rockhopper
- Sandi's road bike is a bike I built out of spare dura Ace 8 spd components and a Performance Forte 7000-series aluminum frame and carbon fork
- my mountain bike is an Excel sports Pro Ti MTB (bought in 1996) with (older) Deore XT 8spd/gripshifters
- my main road bike is an Excel Sports Macalu Pro Ti road frame (also bought in 1996) with Dura Ace 9spd, a Forte carbon fork and a pair of wheels I built myself with Ti spokes and red CXP-33 rims; weighs about 18 pounds
- I have a second road bike that was actually my first real serious road bike -- a refurbished 1985 Raleigh Gran Course frame (Reynolds 531c) built up with (again) spare Dura Ace parts (some dating back 16-17 years). Eugene spicer at Spicercycles.com (http://www.spicercycles.com/)
refurbished the frame and spaced it for the modern (130mm) rear hubs
- my favorite bike right now is a mongrel singlespeed road bike (running 52TX18T for cruising), courtesy again of Eugene Spicer: a 7000-series generic frame converted to a track bike (cost was only $350 with mods & powdercoating), built up with spare partts and another set of red CXP-33 rims and Ti spokes. Weighs about 14 pounds and goes like hell -- my current weapon of choice for the 19-mile commute to work
- also had a beautiful (factory refurbished a few years ago)1988 Klein Quantum frameset I sold on eBay earlier this year. It was my primary racing bike in the early 90s

Great thread -- I love cycling

Ciao!
Darren

Originally posted by IkeWRX
I'm a hardtail guy and probably always will be.

Ike

Ditto, Ike. Not a fan of FS bikes. I was trailriding well before shocks came out, so I learned on non-suspension bikes. My current MTB has a Judy SL shockfork -- plenty for me

Originally posted by Haze

However, I was considering dropping some real current money on a new touring bike. I was thinking of having one hand built out of fully extruded Colombus tubing. The hard part is convincing someone to build it heavy enough to deal with me and about 100 pounds of luggage. Touring is not something that people really understand any more.

The real problem with that plan though is since 9/11 and the new airport rules, I really can't figure out how to get my bike onto a plane, so I'm not sure whether to spend the money. Any of you guys flown a bike in the modern age?

Check out Gene Spicer (http://www.spicercycles.com/). He can hook you up with a custom bike for just about any requirement, and it won't cost you an arm-and-a-leg like other customs will.

I've travelled quite a bit lately with my Macalu in a trico sports ironcase I've had since 1993 (a great investment for $250). The outsize of the box will cost you $70-80 each way. Some airlines provide discounts (for triathletes, for example) to clubs and such -- it varies, though. the requirement to open the case seems to vary from airline to airline and airport to airport -- depending on the equipment they have -- if it won't fit into their machine, they'll have to open 'er up to have a look see...

Originally posted by SpacerX
Ditto, Ike. Not a fan of FS bikes. I was trailriding well before shocks came out, so I learned on non-suspension bikes. My current MTB has a Judy SL shockfork -- plenty for me

I've got a Judy SL on my bike as well, great fork for the money and not too squishy for us hardtail guys!

Originally posted by Haze
However, I was considering dropping some real current money on a new touring bike. I was thinking of having one hand built out of fully extruded Colombus tubing. The hard part is convincing someone to build it heavy enough to deal with me and about 100 pounds of luggage. Touring is not something that people really understand any more.

The real problem with that plan though is since 9/11 and the new airport rules, I really can't figure out how to get my bike onto a plane, so I'm not sure whether to spend the money. Any of you guys flown a bike in the modern age?

check out surly bikes: http://www.1x1speed.com/
they understand touring pretty well. taiwanese made though but good bang for the buck if you don't want to drop dough on a custom ride. full rack and fender mounts standard.

mmm... spicer. my friend got his rigid ti fork. major drool factor

touring rocks. did a napa valley tour starting from berkeley and one in michigan and had a blast. gotta do more tours in the US before i head overseas.

I'm partial to mtn biking myself. I spent a few years in PHX, AZ and loved it. Too bad SA doesn't really have anything like it... I have a Trek 6000 w/ a few upgrades such as clipless pedals (is there any other way to ride?), a "pancreas" friendly seat, and a few other things... I also have a couple of Camelbak's (can't live w/o them in AZ). I also know/knew/worked with an owner of Titus bikes.

I can't tell you all how exctied I am to see a thread about bikes on here. I've been working in the cycling industry for years.

I have a number of bikes, but I'll just share my favorites. On the road, I ride a 2003 Specialized S-Works. This is by far my favorite road bike I've ever owned. Light, quick and still comfortable. And good enough for Cipo.

On the mountain side, I am partial to my Surly 1x1. I've had it since they first came out, but I totally rebuilt it this year. The Fox fork was the best upgrade. I also had it custom painted by a friend. Flames!

Anyone else on this thread in Wisconsin?

Originally posted by mamccubbin
I can't tell you all how exctied I am to see a thread about bikes on here. I've been working in the cycling industry for years.

I have a number of bikes, but I'll just share my favorites. On the road, I ride a 2003 Specialized S-Works. This is by far my favorite road bike I've ever owned. Light, quick and still comfortable. And good enough for Cipo.

On the mountain side, I am partial to my Surly 1x1. I've had it since they first came out, but I totally rebuilt it this year. The Fox fork was the best upgrade. I also had it custom painted by a friend. Flames!

Anyone else on this thread in Wisconsin?


Milwaukee area here, but I've been bad and didn't get up to Kettle all season :(

Originally posted by IkeWRX
Milwaukee area here, but I've been bad and didn't get up to Kettle all season :(

Yeah, I only made it to Kettle once this summer. It's just gotten to crowded for me. I spend most of my time at Camrock near Madison, or Blue Mounds State Park.

Originally posted by SpacerX

I've travelled quite a bit lately with my Macalu in a trico sports ironcase I've had since 1993 (a great investment for $250). The outsize of the box will cost you $70-80 each way. Some airlines provide discounts (for triathletes, for example) to clubs and such -- it varies, though. the requirement to open the case seems to vary from airline to airline and airport to airport -- depending on the equipment they have -- if it won't fit into their machine, they'll have to open 'er up to have a look see...

Nah, the problem is whether or not they will let the bike on the plane at all in the modern age. I worry that I'll get the new bike and be stuck touring the US, which is OK, but the sites per mile are much less than in Europe which is where I really like to go.

As for the hard case, those things definitely are very nice, but they utterly fail for my purposes since the deal is I fly in, pull the bike out of the retrofitted cardboard frame box, build it in the parking lot, leave the box where it lies, and bicycle usually to another airport and fly out. The hard part is getting the box to get out with. Usually, if you find the janitor, he will drag up somebody else's old box from the basement. Some airlines sometimes sell a bike box which pretty much is a roll in, but they can be sort of prohibitively expensive, and in periods they go out of the business all together. If no box can be found at all, enough screaming can usually get the bike thrown on top of the luggage. This is of course seriously dangerous for the frame, but it will get the bike home.

The problem I have with getting a new touring bike is the definition of bike touring. Most of the people that have ever done it do it with a sag wagon tour of some kind, and these days people seem to be going for cross over bikes, which I find too slow on long transits. What I really want is what I've already got which is a triple crank road bike that has a heavier than normal frame for the multi hundred pounds that the bike has to carry with tent, cook gear, clothes, spare parts, tools and unfortunately me. I checked out both this website and the other one posted, and I will definitely keep them bookmarked. I haven't decided what to do yet, but driving to Indiana in my new 8 to get fitted for a bike is definitely NOT out of the question :)

Thanks for the great sites Julian and Spicer that's very kind of you both. Have a good one - H

fyi, surly cross check for sale in michigan. longish top tube though

http://pacman.vosn.net/~mmba/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4233

-------------------
I have a 54cm pea-green Surly Crosscheck that I'd like to sell. It's set up for (and only been used for) light loaded road touring and is in great shape. Nice, smooth stable ride, but I need the money more than the bike. Built up as follows:

Green Chris King headset

Salsa 80mm X +15-degree cromo liploc stem (110mm also available, no extra charge) and Salsa Bell Lap cyclocross handlebars, Syncros seat post, Terry Fly (mens) saddle.

Shimano XT rear derailer and XT hubs, 36-spoke Mavic MA-3 rims, brass nipples, custom 9speed 13-32 cassette, fresh cables, SRAM chain. Nearly new Panaracer Pasela tourguard kevlar bead 700X35c tires. (smoooth and durable!)

Shimano 105 road triple crankset (170 arm length, 30/42/52 rings), matching Octalink bottom bracket, and front derailer, nine speed shimano bar end shifters and aero road levers, or will substitute low-mileage 105 STI levers for an additional $25.

Avid Cantilever brakes with new pad inserts.

Pedals not included, though I have a couple of choices if you need some.

Accessories:

Planet Bike fenders, Blackburn expedition rear rack, and bottle cages, Zefal frame pump.

This bike is a great, comfortable ride--I've enjoyed owning it, but the longish top tube (56cm, give or take) makes the fit a little awkward for me (hence the 80mm stem!) and I have other bikes that I enjoy riding more, so this one has to go!

$650 as is, $675 with the STI levers, and I'd rather meet somewhere than ship it. I'm in East Lansing.

Thanks,

Steve Frederick, e-mail freder16@msu.edu, post here, or PM me...

I'm partial to Mtn biking though I've been doing both for a long time. My Mtn bike is my pride and joy(for two wheels anyway). It's a '02 Specialized S-Works Enduro. I absolutely love it!! Best mtn bike I've owned and that's been alot. Comes with the full new XTR group including the disc brakes. God I love my bike!

Just found this thread while searching for bike rack info. so I thought I'd throw in my bit. I currently ride a Kastan Pro XL 20" BMX bike. I have Mavic BMX rims on it, JAD 3 piece, Shimano V brakes, Gt stem and old school GT handlebars, i also run Snafu rimjobs tires and they are awesome. I still have my chrome 86 Gt pro performer/world tour frame and fork in mint condition as well, just need to snatch up some old school parts to get it back together. I've been riding BMX/skateboarding since about 84-85, never took it seriously, just always had fun with it (you won't find me doing backflips in other words lol) I have some cool nostalgia stuff like a signed sticker by RL Osborn and some other nifty things. I love all disciplines of cycling, BMX, Flatland freestyle, Mountain biking, Tour De France etc. I'm most intrigued by trial riding but there never seems to be any events televised. If anyone is ever in Austin and is a fan of BMX, check out www.empirebmx.com and also stop by 9th and Lamar downtown, a lot of pros hang out and ride there as well as a lot of the really good locals.

I started mountain biking back in '91. I started racing in '93 while I was in college and I bought my fave bike at the same time. It was the Specialized Stumpjumper FS Comp. It had Judy Rock Shox, upgraded to Shimano XT shifters, Shimano clipless pedals, Mavic SUP 217 rims, Oversized front hub (can't remember the company), Flight seat, etc., etc.

I loved that bike and it's still at a friends house in Cali. He keeps telling me he's going to ship it up to me but never follows through. I want my hard-tail back!

I haven't been on a bike in 3 years since I moved up here to Spokane.

I have been riding for about 3 or 4 years, but just got into the road scene about a year ago. I love Mountain biking and the thrill of flying off jumps on my dh monster. After all my username is Ironhorse after my DH rig. I have a Fuji Newest and a IronHorse that is attached. I used to ride a Gary Fisher Sugar 3+. I am one who thinks a bike rack added to any car, is a good car :)

I am riding a Cervelo R2.5 CSC edition with DA10, FSA carbon cranks and Velomax AscentII wheels. Best bike I ever had.

The hard part is convincing someone to build it heavy enough to deal with me and about 100 pounds of luggage. Touring is not something that people really understand any more.

Check out Bruce Gordon...

http://www.bgcycles.com/

For me, a properly configured touring bike is the best of both worlds. I ride mainly road but it's nice to have a bike that can do a trail or gravel road now and then without worry. I ride a Trek 520. Or make that will be once again riding I've had some back/hip problems the last several weeks that are now resolving. Yay!

I've been trying to figure out a way to teach my wife how to ride a bike. We bought her one a few years ago. She rode it once or twice (never fell) and it's been in the basement ever since.:rolleyes:

How do you teach a 30 year old woman with modest co-ordination to ride a bicycle? :confused:

How do you teach a 30 year old woman with modest co-ordination to ride a bicycle? :confused:

Do you know the ol'e carrot on a stick trick used for donkeys? Replace carrot with a credit card or bob bon.

I've been itching to buy a bike but a combination of living in Houston and too much work keeps me away. I just think it is a waste if I am not gonna use it at least three days a week.

Now for a quick quiz:

Name the manufacturers of the first carbon fiber bicycle frame and first titanium bicycle frame.

http://www.exoticar.com/pages/more_info_2.cfm?product_id=4045

Name the manufacturers of the first carbon fiber bicycle frame and first titanium bicycle frame.

Don't know if they were first, but Kestrel is one of the earlier carbon frames that I recall.

Don't know about Ti. Lightspeed? Just guessing.

I like Steel :)

Don't know if they were first, but Kestrel is one of the earlier carbon frames that I recall.

Don't know about Ti. Lightspeed? Just guessing.

I like Steel :)I really liked the M2 aluminum/ceramic matrix of my old bike. I was a bit stiff if you were used to other types of frames but not as stiff as the carbon fiber. It was definately more stiff than the Ti frame options.