Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I got a new bike!

It's a Mondonico, with brand new Velocity Aerohead 36 spoke wheels and Ultegra gruppo!

See the story here... I love*** this bike. Now I can sell the Klein.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5225590#post5225590

Looks nice, enjoy!

Sweet! So how many does thid make? 5? 6?

You are bike hording. ;)

I have 4 bikes... My Atlantis and this Mondonico will be my main touring and road bikes. Then the SR touring bike and the Bridgestone 200 will be my back-up touring and road bikes.... because I travel a lot I need a set of bikes to be in the place I'm not very much, but enough to ride. Like in the summers, I'm about 60/40 between up north and in the cities. The Klein will now be sold, or parted out (because I like the triple on it). I generally only have 2 bikes with me at any given time.

Although I just found out someone broke into my brother's cabin up north. Maybe when I get back up there I'll find out I'm down a bike.

What's nice is that this Mondonico was almost paid for by bikes I've bought on CL, didn't like, and resold!

I have 4 bikes... My Atlantis and this Mondonico will be my main touring and road bikes. Then the SR touring bike and the Bridgestone 200 will be my back-up touring and road bikes.... because I travel a lot I need a set of bikes to be in the place I'm not very much, but enough to ride. Like in the summers, I'm about 60/40 between up north and in the cities. The Klein will now be sold, or parted out (because I like the triple on it). I generally only have 2 bikes with me at any given time.

Although I just found out someone broke into my brother's cabin up north. Maybe when I get back up there I'll find out I'm down a bike.

What's nice is that this Mondonico was almost paid for by bikes I've bought on CL, didn't like, and resold!

Cool new bike.

What's the Klein you're selling?

Triples are great, you must be strong rider to ride those vintage doubles, I couldn't do it.

No, I can't* ride this bike as it is, except in the easiest two cogs. The seller was a real rider... I'm going to explore making it a triple. I'm going to granny-fy this poor bike, unfortunately. But the ride is as sweet and buttery as anything I've ever ridden... very similar to my Atlantis. Even with its skinny wheels, I think I could stay on this bike all day when I get it set up.

Here's the Klein. It's 55 cm, so it would be too small for you, probably...

http://homepage.mac.com/sbacig/.Pictures/bike2/IMG_0554.jpg

:beer:

As long as I was taking photos, I took some of my workspace, too!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5225648&postcount=1

hmm, do tell about the Klein if you still are interested in selling it

The Klein is an aluminum bike, pre-Trek. It was an expensive bike in its day. It has Shimano 105 grupo with brifters and a triple. No scratches. I had it modified with a Nitto Techtronics stem and Nitto Noodle bars so it would give me a more comfortable ride, but I may put it back the way I got it. It was always* a blast to ride, but I ride rougher roads and gravel and the aluminum is unforgiving. It's so fun on good roads, though. I need to build a bike up from scratch, so I may part the bike out and sell the frame. I have to see how much the 105 gruppo sells for and see which way is most cost effective.

Here's a link to the specs:

http://www.airfreetires.com/Specs/Step5.asp?BikeId=25891&Brand=Klein&Model=Stage+Comp&Year=1997

[QUOTE=solveg;5225848]No, I can't* ride this bike as it is, except in the easiest two cogs. The seller was a real rider... I'm going to explore making it a triple. I'm going to granny-fy this poor bike, unfortunately. But the ride is as sweet and buttery as anything I've ever ridden... very similar to my Atlantis. Even with its skinny wheels, I think I could stay on this bike all day when I get it set up.
QUOTE]


Have you considered a cross bike crank. They are typically a 50/34 insead of the 55/39 etc many road bikes doubles have (not sure what yours has so this might not be useful). A 48/32 with a bailout inner ring on the casset (34) might be the ticket without having to change the durailers or shifters.

[QUOTE=solveg;5225848]No, I can't* ride this bike as it is, except in the easiest two cogs. The seller was a real rider... I'm going to explore making it a triple. I'm going to granny-fy this poor bike, unfortunately. But the ride is as sweet and buttery as anything I've ever ridden... very similar to my Atlantis. Even with its skinny wheels, I think I could stay on this bike all day when I get it set up.
QUOTE]


Have you considered a cross bike crank. They are typically a 50/34 insead of the 55/39 etc many road bikes doubles have (not sure what yours has so this might not be useful). A 48/32 with a bailout inner ring on the casset (34) might be the ticket without having to change the durailers or shifters.

Ok, so lower gears are in order. A compact double *MAY* work. Typically, these are double cranks with a 110mm bolt circle (like older mountain bike cranks on the outside {outer/middle** chainrings), however, a standard "road double" front derailler may not be able to handle the chainring difference smoothly (they're designed for a closer jump between rings, and are optimized for around a 52/53 big chainring diameter)

There are still a number of ways getting lower gears.


Road triple (these are typically 52/39/30 if I recall correctly) and possibly a new front derailler)
Bigger Range in the rear. It looks like there may be a 6 cog freewheel on the back, around 25 tooth max. You MAY be able to get a seven speed freewheel on the back. Depending on how the rear derailler could handle it, you may be able to go to a 28 tooth freewheel in the back without any bad effects, but again, these are guesses from what I'm seeing it the photos.
A "treking triple" and possibly a new bottom bracket, and front derailler. These are typically 48/36/26 (aka early mtb cranks) with a square taper, but the taper is going to be a shimano taper, and not a campy, which does make a difference. Front derailler because of the range of rings it would need to shift over. Another tact, which I have personally used is using a sugino xd300 (which is 46/36/26) and replacing the top chainring with a 48 will work fine (aside from the front derailler, of course).


I could go on, but you'd have to fly me out to look at things, give recommendations, and take a wrench to appropriate places ;) . But seriously, if you need help with getting lower gears on it, let me know. There are always options!

And, btw, nice bike! Give it a bath, and put on a coat of wax, and enjoy your smile reflecting back at you! :D

That is flat out gorgeous!

NIce ride! I think you'll like that better than your klein.

HMM you need the front gearing that's on the Klein. Would you consider combining the two bikes.

I thought about that, but the stuff on the bike now is better than the 105, and I want to mess with it as little as possible. They're both 7 speeds, so I think* it's doable. I like the 105 group... I'm seriously thinking of taking it off the Klein and keeping it and just selling the frame. But I don't know if I want to put it on the Mondonico.... I may save it for something else... I'd like to do a complete build up for my next challenge, including the wheels.