 |
| Welcome
Sign Up Log On |
|
|
Messages: (26) 1
My next bike is going to be a Seven. Specifically, an Axiom Steel.
I put a deposit on it last night, at Mystic Cycle.
Still not sure about the color, though. Limited options, and they don't have the bright, royal blue I really want. I'll probably go with the red. Red bikes are cool.
Nevermind the paint, though. For the first time since my early teens, I'll be riding a bike that fits me!
[Top]
Congrats...there are few joys (outside of family) like a new bike.
But spend the money and get good wheels. I recently bought a new set of wheels for racing - Mavic Open Pro, Dura ace hubs. My standard setup is Mavic CXP-23 with Ultegra hubs.
I couldn't believe the difference such an upgrade made - the original components were no slouches and were only a year old. It was like a whole new bike.
cheers, Chrisotpher
[Top]
[Top]
Hi Seth,
Congratulations on your decision to buy a Seven. They are beautiful bikes and having one that actually fits you is certainly long overdue given your enjoyment of cycling and justifies the cost. I'm sure you will be happy with it.
After you asked me for some opinions, I posted on the roadbikereview.com discussion page. Thought you might enjoy reading these posts...
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=1310
For the record, you're not slow up hills, just a little bit slower ;-)
Steve
[Top]
Steve mentioned that he had posted a request for suggestions about my bike in the forum at RoadBikeReview.com.
Lots of responses, too. That's cool, I appreciate the help. Too bad Steve then had to blow it by posting my picture at the end! Twerp. ;-)
Looks like a lot of people think I should definitely not skimp on wheels. Nobody actually mentioend the Deep V's that Steve recommends -- in fact, I don't think any two people mentioned the same set of wheels -- but the general consensus is that I should pay for really good ones. Too bad they're so expensive! I'll start with whatever I can afford and save up so I can upgrade before the PMC in August.
[Top]
[Top]
Twerp?
You mean I shouldn't have posted your picture? But you're such a fine looking specimen...for a GIANT.
Seriously, if it was in bad form to post your photo, I'm sorry.
[Top]
On 3/1/04, steve davis said:
>You mean I shouldn't have posted your picture?â But you're such a fine >looking specimen...for a GIANT. > >Seriously, if it was in bad form to post your photo, I'm sorry.
No it's ok, twerp was a joke. That's why I winked ";-)".
Seth
[Top]
[Top]
On 5/27/04, Chris said:
>I've been a PMC road mechanic/medic for going on 9 years. and ran >the mechancic crew on the Boston->New York AIDS Ride for several >years. I've seen it all out there. One of the things you should >avoid is fancy wheels. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a >broken spoke on one of the ultra light wheels that we simply can >not repair on the road and the rider ends up sitting around until >we get him a standard replacement wheel.
To be honest, I don't even know what's a "fancy wheel" and what isn't. The wheels I have on the new bike weren't particularly expensive, so I don't think they're "fancy," but they are Tandems.
>I have to admit, Cool Wheels are nice to have and some people can >get the aero advantage. (Chances are you can as you seem to be a >lot stronger than most)
I have to be strong to carry this big frame (and all the meat attached to it) wherever I go. ;-)
>But, for ease of repair, nothing beats standard spokes.
I do have standard spokes.
>Heck, I usually find myself relacing whole wheels at Mass Maritime >about 11pm and the rider is ready to go with a better than new >wheel in the morning.
Very cool. (Just reading this gets me excited about the ride this year.)
>I'm not a tall person, but I'm heavy at 230lbs.
Oh yeah, you're *so* heavy. Go look at my stats, wise guy. ;-)
>It is amazing how 'light' you can be on the equipment though. My >road bike is a 32 spoke rim on Campy Record hubs with DT butted >spokes.
What I have on there now: the rims are Mavic A719, and the hubs are Shimano Ultegra.
Guess that's not really the best setup, by what you've said.
(If I can afford it) I'll get another set of wheels around mid-season, and I'll try what you've suggested.
>Light and strong. I build my own wheels, and handbuilt wheels are >simply MUCH better in both strength and true.
I didn't build mine myself, but I did watch them build the wheels at my local shop (where I bought the bike).
>Even my Mountain Bike is a 32 spoke front wheel. My Recumbent has >36 spokes only because there is no way to unweight anything and you >slam the ruts. Still, that wheel is perfect. > >If you are like me and can power the pedals (I have snapped KMC >chains just riding) then I HIGHLY recommend a 4-cross lacing in the >rear, especially on the drive side. A 2-cross on the non drive and >the front is fine.
Sheesh, it's like you're speaking a foreign language. :-) I really don't know much about wheels, that's why everybody was trying to "help" a couple months ago when this was first being discussed. Of course, no two people recommended the same things.
>The science behind the wheel is tension. Your weight releases >tension, not adds. So, most big guys and Tandems have wheel >failures not due to the weight, but because the spokes below the >hub reach a 0 tension and the wheel loses it's structure.
That was very interesting, and seems obvious now that you've said it. My weight produces downward force that tries to deform the rim, essentially squashing it from a circle into an oval. Where it is deformed (like when you hit a pothole or a rock), the tension on the spokes is reduced because the distance from the center of the wheel to the edge of the rim is shorter. When the tension is decreased to 0, there's no longer anything holding the spoke in place. When the force on the wheel returns to normal (the moment after you hit the rock), and the spoke is gone, the wheel is no longer being pulled evenly by the spokes and so is deformed.
I think I get it! ;-)
>Buying a strong flange hub and reinforced eyes in the rim and then >using good spokes (I love the butted DTs) with a standard brass >nipple will allow the wheel builder to crank up the tension and >give you a very strong wheel.
Hmm. I think I need to make sure I wreck my wheels near the end of the first day so I can get you to build me a new set at the MMA. ;-)
>You don't need Tandem rims. In fact, if you are good at 'unloading' >as you travel over rough road, you can likely ride a 32 spoke wheel >with no trouble at all.
Not sure what you mean by "unloading." Using legs/arms as shock absorbers when hitting rough spots? "Hopping" over the rough spots? Something else entirely?
>The trick is finding the rim that can take the tension. Many of the >really light rims deform as you crank up the tension and are only >designed for lighter riders. My road bike has the old Mavic Reflex >(non-anodized as the coating weakened the sidewalls) which make for >a light and strong combination. > >Hubs? Phil are great, but heavy. I have Phil on my Recumbent for >the shock loads and towing a trailer. I have Campy Record on my >road and Shimano XT on my Mountain. Find a hub you like and go with >it. Just make sure that if the flange is aluminum, it is a THICK >aluminum so that you can tension the wheel a lot.
But how can I find a hub I like without buying and trying everything? A big part of the problem here was the limited budget and having to get something decent the first time around. (Thus the need for recommendations from experienced riders.)
>This will be my 1st year actually riding the PMC. Because of the >distance, I have to ride the Recumbent. (Carpel Tunnel causes my >hands to go numb after about 40 miles on an upright) My job this >year is to ride at the end to both keep track of the last rider, >and offer mechanical and medical support for the end of the ride >allowing one more van to patrol. My training this year has been to >learn to go slow. Actually had to pull off the Campy rear >drivetrain and install a Shimano Mountain Bike setup so that I can >go slow enough. (^_^) One thing about Phil Hubs is that it's an >easy change! (^_^)
I think it would kill me to have to make sure I was last. Some people ride so darn slow it would just drive me nuts.
On the other hand, when I do half centuries with the local club, I don't have to try to be last. Those little guys really climb hills a lot faster than I do. ;-)
>See you in August! (or perhaps, hopefully not) (^_^)
Well, hopefully not on the route, anyway, but I'd love to try to meet up at the MMA afterwards.
>Now if I can convince them to keep some food so that I have a >chance to eat something this year at MMA.
I was done eating and out of there before most of the riders had even shown up. (My wife picked me up, and I slept almost non-stop until it was time to head back for departure on Sunday morning. :-)
There was so much food, though! It's hard to believe even a crowd of 4,000 cyclists could eat it all. (They should let my wife cook for them. She'd have everybody stuffed and food left over to feed everyone again on Sunday.)
Hey, thanks for writing. Your whole message was very interesting, I'm sorry it took me a week to write back to it.
Seth
[Top]
The combo you have is perfectly fine. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a truly 'better' setup. I prefer the 'butted' spokes as they allow more stretch and thus more rim deflection before losing all tension. But having your wheels handbuilt instead of machine made was a good move.
How do you pick a hub? It isn't really that hard. Stay clear of the crazy lightweight stuff as they are marketed to racers who only need them to survive a race or two, and there is a mechanic with another wheel not far away. I'd also avoid the big ovrbuilt stuff that is designed for loaded touring and tandems as they carry a weight penalty that you probably don't need. In the rest, find the ones that fit your budget and then Look at them. I like the Campagnolo parts because you can replace bearings and they even have llittle ports where you can squeeze in a drop of oil or two after a wet ride. But a Campy rear hub needs a Campy derailer to operate better. They are also a bit more $$.
It is hard to beat Shimano for value. You get good stuff at a reasonable price and they can not afford the lawsuits if parts fail, so you can be assured of some good engineering.
Rims are likewise in many reepects. However, being able to see a crosssection is extremely helpful For larger riders, I recommend the more aero rims as the structure makes for a stronger rim. Although these rims do add a bit more weight. The really light "box" rims with a very low profile are not as stiff laterally and will not allow the wheel builder to put as much tension on it.
And no, you don't want me to build you a wheel at MMA, it isn't at all my best work, but probably still better than a machine.
Your description of the failure of a wheel is right on the mark. Also remember that there is a rotational piece that comes into play too as well as a rebound cycle. So as you impact a bump and deform, that deformation moves up as the wheel spins, and then the metals act like springs and contract and expand a little. So over a rough road, you have a multitude of initial impacts and cycles all happening at the same time. Not only will this fatigue the metal, but increase the possibility of structual failure when the tension is marginal. The Physics can get really complex as you add in all the various motions and forces involved.
"Unloading" refers to using your body (or bike suspention) to absorb the impacts rather than 'slamming' into them. For example, the ultra light crankset I have on my Mountain Bike was notorious for breaking in competition. I think the company went out of business because of the failures. Yet, because I ride 'light' and use my body to absorb the shock, my cranks are celebrating thier 10th year this year and I am still dreading the day they "fail".
Seriously, how you ride can play a lot more to the longevity of components than anything else.
Riding slow is not nearly as much fun, and the training rides have been quite unique in finding people to ride with that are slow. One person who I have seen on the PMC two years now is slow due to bad knees and has to granny gear almost any hill to keep the stress managable. She has been great to ride with even though it sucks to have to use brakes going uphill. (^_^)
I'm not worried about them running out of food, there is always more then they can use. The problem is that the food areas shut down at 8pm. Well these last few years have seen riders come in after 8pm. Even though I was in a van those years, I missed dinner, and I can not do that if I'm expected to rest and ride on Day 2. My biggest saving grace is that I do get to sleep in a little in the morning as the last rider does not leave MMA until about 7am or about the time the first rider reaches the 'lunch' stop.
I'm plannign to do a Century ride in July on a saturday and get up nice and early on Sunday and my 50 miler just to see how well I can recover on one night's sleep.
As I've been telling everyone, it isn't the distance that is worrying me, it is the TIME.
Anyway, good luck on the training and see you in August.
Chris
[Top]
Surfed in and read the stuff on the Axiom. You will love the bike. DO NOT SKIMP ON WHEELS. I'm not as tall as you (only 6'2") but I'm 220ish I have been riding since I was 16 (23 years now) and selling bikes on and off since 1984. Wheels are what make teh ride. Buy once, but right. Cheap wheels will let you down and ultimately buying two sets will be a bigger drain. When I buy a bike I get hot wheels with the bike then buy cheap'uns for training once the bank account recovers.
I don't know what wheel issues you've had but if you trush the mechanic at Mystic and they know you let him/her decide.
Odd coincidence, I once knew a few tall Dillinghams from the Berkely, MA area. Any relation?
Bruce Masterson
East Providence, RI
[Top]
On 3/3/04, Bruce Masterson said:
>Odd coincidence, I once knew a few tall Dillinghams from the Berkely, >MA area.â Any relation?
Whoa.
Yeah, I am one of the tall Dillinghams from the Berlely, MA area! You probably knew my Dad, Mike Dillingham. I'm one of his three kids.
In fact, he reads this site and might know who you are.
Weird. And cool. :-)
Oh, you mentioned that you 'surfed in'... do you remember how you found the site?
[Top]
Double whoa.
I was friendly with Ellyn Dillingham. We hung out a bit in High School, very good person in my estimation. I went to PCD while she was at Wheeler. I seem to remember a Brad... Ellyn was, another odd coincidence, my great aunt's paper girl.
I answered the email and forgot to follow up on the Dillingham thing.
good luck with the new bike, it will be very, very nice. I'm still flush with the excitement of getting my latest bike. Hope to see you on the road.
Bruce
[Top]
On 3/3/04, Bruce Masterson said:
>I was friendly with Ellyn Dillingham. We hung out a bit in High >School, very good person in my estimation. I went to PCD while she was >at Wheeler. I seem to remember a Brad... Ellyn was, another odd >coincidence, my great aunt's paper girl. > >I answered the email and forgot to follow up on the Dillingham thing.
Bruce,
Hey, it's funny that you said you knew some tall Dillinghams.
Ellyn is my Aunt, I'm 8 years younger than she is (and you, apparently). Brad is her brother, he's 9 years older. Older than him is Jim, and older still is Mike, my Dad. (So, I'm closer in age than any of her brothers.)
Got that? :-)
The reason it's funny? The ones you mentioned are the *shortest* in the whole family. (Not that any of them are short.)
Ellyn is probably 5' 7" or 8". Brad was 6' 4â at his best, I think. Those are both guesses.
Jim is/was 6' 5" (guessing, again). Mike, my Dad, is/was 6' 8".
However, that generation has been... surpassed. ;-) I'm 6'9" (plus), my brother is 6'5", my sister is about 6'. I have two female cousins (one from Jim, one from Ellyn) that are 6' 1". Brad's brood is pretty too, too, though I don't see them very often.
I'll let Ellyn know I heard from you, I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it.
>good luck with the new bike, it will be very, very nice. I'm still >flush with the excitement of getting my latest bike. Hope to see you >on the road.
I'll be in at least two events this year: the PMC and the Tri-State SeaCoast Century. I'll do the King's Tour of the Quabbin again this year, too, as long as it's not raining.
Any events you'll be in that you might recommend?
Seth
[Top]
I get so involved in the TFCE and other club (www.nbwclub.org) issues that I don't get to ride any other events.
I keep meaning to do the PMC. My mother died of cancer in 1993 and the Jimmy Fund was a favorite charity of hers. I have yet to get my act together and register though. Too much else going on.
We, the NBW ride in your area a few times a year. Not big events but we get 100 or so riders. Courses are marked, maps provided and the ride is free. Al rides are Sunday mornings but as the route is marked a week or so in advance you can ride it anytime you like (no map though).
I thought my 61cm Colnago was a big bike. You are a big dude. What shoes do you use? My friend Ted is a US 15 and has an awful time finding cycling shoes (I assume your feet are pretty big).
Ellyn's your aunt. Sheesh I'm old, a few days younger than Ellyn if I remember...
See ya on the road,
Bruce
[Top]
I picked up the new bike this afternoon. Oooh, that's a pretty bike.
I think I'll take back what I said about the blue. I'm quite happy with it. It *is* lighter than I expected, but now that I've seen it again I don't think I'd change it if I could. It's beautiful.
Pictures will follow, probably tomorrow.
Unfortunately the weather isn't cooperating today, so I won't be able to actually ride it until tomorrow afternoon. :-(
[Top]
I'm happy for you. There's nothing like getting out on the bike for a few hours of quiet reflection to ease all that ails you.
[Top]
As promised (and requested), here are some pictures of the new bike.
Click on any image to see a larger, more detailed version.
These last two are the front and back of the laminated card that came with the bike. The signatures are of the only four people to work on my bike.
The specs say: Top Tube Length: 63.1, Seat Tube Length: 64.0, Head Tube Length: 26.9, Head Tube Angle: 74.5°, Seat Tube Angle: 72.0°, Tube Set: Origin, Serial Number: NOYB ;-), Destination: USA.
[Top]
[Top]
[Top]
Congratulations on the bike. It looks nice. Almost as nice as that red one I was telling you about ;-)
I'll look forward to seeing it in person and drafting in your wake.
[Top]
On 4/26/04, steve davis said:
>Congratulations on the bike.â It looks nice.â Almost as nice as that >red one I was telling you about ;-)
The only problem with a red bike is that it wouldn't have been blue.
Seth
[Top]
I took another look at the pictures this morning. Looks very nice. I actually thought it would be a bit bigger. My bike has a 60cm seat tube and a 58cm top tube. I think Boyko's top tube is 60cm. It must feel great to be able to stretch out on the bike because you sure looked cramped on the old Cannondale.
So... what wheels did you finally end up with? I remember a great deal of discussion about them. It looks like you got something very "robust". 36 spokes?
I imagine you've ridden it a bunch already. What are your impressions?
[Top]
On 4/26/04, steve davis said:
>I remember a great deal of discussion about them.â It looks like you >got something very "robust". 36 spokes?
Yeah, they're 36-spoke Mavic A719.
My old wheels were 36-spoke, too, but these are nicer.
>I imagine you've ridden it a bunch already.
I haven't ridden it nearly as much as I would like. I got it Friday night, and took it out very early Saturday morning. Remember, this was my first ride in about seven months: I only did eight miles.
I was going to take it out Sunday afternoon, but it turned very cold (49 degrees by the time we got home from meeting, and it kept going down), and I just didn't feel like freezing.
Monday it rained like crazy.
Tuesday I took it out, and felt great. I was going to do twenty, but after eight miles I was screaming down a hill at 45 mph when I hit something in the road and blew my front tire!!! Argh!
Part of that ride was going to include a trip to the bike shop, to pick up the frame pump they ordered for me (I don't have one, and my old mini-pump is broken). So, I had no way to change the flat. Corinne was napping, so I started walking. Found a couple of old guys chatting in a driveway, and asked if I could use the phone. I called the bike shop, and they actually drove out to pick me up, brought me back to the shop, fixed my flat, and gave me a $25 CO2 cartridge "gun" and two cartridges, to hold me over until the frame pump comes in.
That's service. :-)
I have the bike down here with me, in PA, and plan to ride again this afternoon.
>What are your impressions?
It rides like a dream! There's no shake *at all* if I ride with my hands off the bars (the old one shook like crazy). I notice a lot less vibration "in my butt", even with the thinner saddle... the gel-filled seat post works better than I expected.
The bike is really light, too. I haven't weighed it, but I can pick it up with one finger: couldn't do that at all with the old one.
Seth
[Top]
Wooph. That's a pretty bike. You're gonna like riding something that fits you. The cycling world as you knew it is over.
I thought my 61cm Colnago was a big bike but that Seven is gianourmous. I hope to see you on the road some time and get a better look at it.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Regards,
Bruce
[Top]
<- Previous Thread:
All of the Above
Next Thread: ->
Today's Fun Fact
Until August 31
My Amazon sales
benefit the PMC
Apr 1 - Aug 31
Ad revenue
benefits the PMC
|
TruerWords
is Seth Dillingham's personal web site. Read'em and weep, baby. |
