tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post569681561881075497..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: A Tale of Two BikesBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-9171090249868786802014-05-17T09:08:01.792-04:002014-05-17T09:08:01.792-04:00I much prefer carrying on the bike than my body. R...I much prefer carrying on the bike than my body. Riding with backpacks, messenger bags, or whatever, traps so much heat -- and SWEAT! Nice to hear from you DeVon!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-33831438847536946902014-05-17T06:50:03.218-04:002014-05-17T06:50:03.218-04:00My commute has a couple of ~14% grade hills---I no...My commute has a couple of ~14% grade hills---I notice and prefer to get rid of every extra ounce for those. I also note that panniers create a LOT of wind resistance and slow me down by a substantial amount, so I am willing to wear a backpack when I don't have a lot of stuff to take with me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09963008814386098436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-52847182868615981142014-05-11T00:39:00.729-04:002014-05-11T00:39:00.729-04:00I recently stripped all my racks, bags, goo-gahs, ...I recently stripped all my racks, bags, goo-gahs, and aluminum full wrap fenders off of my Masi CX. Now, I'm riding with a spare tire, a pump, two water bottles, small plastic fenders, and small head and tail light. The difference: I ride at exactly the same speed as before, but the bike is much more fun to ride. <br /><br />I'll build something else up that's better suited for hauling stuff around with and foul weather commuting. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683137564994734073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-73468866588318424332014-05-10T22:00:12.699-04:002014-05-10T22:00:12.699-04:00Thanks for the info -- I've considered going w...Thanks for the info -- I've considered going with a good dynohub, but they can be awfully expensive. The SP is a good bit more affordable, but I wondered how it stacked up. Thank you!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-32315082434972015062014-05-10T20:00:38.762-04:002014-05-10T20:00:38.762-04:00The published numbers -- weight, efficiency, drag ...The published numbers -- weight, efficiency, drag -- for the SP are up there with SON's best. As for real life, I can't say, since I've not used it long enough -- I've had it about a year and, frankly, I've used it only twice or so -- I work for myself, at home, and night riding is not a frequent activity.<br /><br />FWIW, in such use as I've given it it seems entirely competent: I notice no drag when the Cyo is on or off and, altogether, I can't say that I can tell any actual difference between the SP (bought used but NIB for $75) and the SON 20 R (full retail). Once or twice I thought I noticed vibration, but when I tried to repeat it, it wasn't there. Having used the SON 28, the SON 20R, and two DH-3N72s at about $120 at bike shop prices, I'd have to say that, at least from short term evidence, the SP is the reasonable man's choice.<br />Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-52436236806131567852014-05-10T09:59:38.865-04:002014-05-10T09:59:38.865-04:00Thanks for the comments! You mention the Shutter P...Thanks for the comments! You mention the Shutter Precision dynohub -- I'd be interested to know how it compares to the SON, which I see you also have. The SP being much cheaper, I wonder how it stacks up. <br /><br />I wouldn't want you to be left with the impression that a lightweight "go fast" bike would be a waste of time. I really enjoy riding that black Mercian. It might not be significantly faster as measured -- but as I pointed out, it certainly "feels" fast, and that is something. If I'm just going out to ride and the weather is clear and I don't have anything to carry beyond a water bottle and a banana or something, a "stripped down" bike is the one I'll grab. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-35216615245693608672014-05-09T20:00:33.320-04:002014-05-09T20:00:33.320-04:00That was a very interesting post. My sole deraille...That was a very interesting post. My sole derailleur road bike (I have two fixed gear road bikes and a Fargo for off road riding) is a Rivendell Rambouillet built up very nicely but with no thought for weight. Weight is added by a Shutter Precision front dynohub, a Cyo headlight, an auxiliary battery headlight and two battery tail lights, and a Fly rack -- not to mention a sizeable seat wedge and a full-size frame pump. I haven't weighed it recently, but I think it is about 25 lb ready to ride but without errand/commuting luggage or bottles.<br /><br />I'd recently been wondering if it would be worth the while to strip it and make it a gofast bike, or else to find a classic '70s or early '80s racing frame (my brother has a very early Bertin that I could buy cheap) and build up a fast road bike with multiple gears. Thanks to your anecdote, I now think that such an exercise might be largely a waste of time.<br /><br />OTOH, my two fixed gear road bikes are both custom 559 or 571 wheel Rivendells, one a 57 and the other a 58 but otherwise identical except for color and lugs. The '99 was built as a strict gofast: no provision for a rear brake, one set of bottle cage mounts, no braze-ons. It weighs about 17 3/4 lb with very light 650C wheels and Michelin Pro Race 3 23s; no seat wedge or bottle but with the single Iris cage. 75" gear. The other has two cages, a SON 20R and Edeluxe, a custom ss rear rack, a dynamo and a battery rear light, a bell, and slightly heavier pedals (Dura Ace SPD versus original edition Look Keo Maxes). 559X32 mm actual wire bead Kojaks. Weight built but no luggage other than seat wedge or bottles is about 23 lb. 70" gear. Both bikes have similar wheels: different hubs but 559 and 571 Sun M14A/ME14A rims respectively.<br /><br />Whether it is the wheels or the 5 lb difference in weight or the tires or simply the higher gearin, the gofast is very definitely faster up hills, gauging this by rpm along the same sections. Every time I think to myself, "I don't need a gofast; most of my riding is errand riding", I ride a few hills on the gofast and experience once again the delight of climbing on a light bike. I daresay that if your route included (as mine did back when I commuted across town 15-16 miles each way) some 7 miles of climbing, mostly gradual but with a few steep 1 mile hills, you'd be considerably faster on the light bike.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-22278089184294980062014-05-09T10:33:50.359-04:002014-05-09T10:33:50.359-04:00Thanks, Nathan -- There are 7 Mercians currently. ...Thanks, Nathan -- There are 7 Mercians currently. Crazy, really. Thanks for the article link -- I'll be sure to check it out.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-33710482975991420502014-05-09T10:11:13.692-04:002014-05-09T10:11:13.692-04:00Both of your Mercians are very good looking bikes....Both of your Mercians are very good looking bikes. How many do you have in your stable anyhow?<br /><br />Here is an interview of a UK wheelbuilder that I think would be right up your alley: http://andywaterman.info/harry-rowland-cyclist-magazine-wheels/Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18289009784609315495noreply@blogger.com