Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Speaking of upgrades....

I added a couple things to my Coda Sport the last few weeks.

I "NEEDED" a new saddle. The San Marco that came on the bike wasn't cutting it. So I opted for a Brooks Imperial:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_2QFyxa2oiYA/TV3m2Ga7cPI/AAAAAAAAAHU/P4wg5LKAKxo/s512/IMG_20110217_222046.jpg

Although I've put just about all of the mile on this bike on my trainer, I decided that the flat bars just weren't for me! I looked at a bunch of different options and it came down to the trekking bars and the j-bar. The J-Bar would fit right into my stem, the trekking bars required a shim. After careful consideration, I went with the trekking bars. I'm really surprised how well my tape wrapping went. Although I did have to wrap the right side 3 times to get it where I liked it!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_2QFyxa2oiYA/TV3mywnp5CI/AAAAAAAAAHM/8RSOzAbVgcM/s912/IMG_20110217_222057.jpg

Then I remembered that my wife and I bought cheap Bell lights about 8 years ago when I thought we would enjoy mountain biking. So a quick trip to the rafeters in my garage and I managed to get the 2 headlights off the $100 Toys-R-Us bikes and one tail light. Funny thing, 1 headlight and the tail light still worked! I had to put new batteries and clean the contact points in the other head light... so I added them to the mix.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_2QFyxa2oiYA/TV3m1m45CeI/AAAAAAAAAHE/tWiN1z78b4Y/s912/IMG_20110217_222118.jpg

My Topeak Road Morph and second bottle cage should be here tomorrow, then I'm finished for a long while (at least on accessories.)

So far, I added Speedplay Light Action pedals, a Fizik seatpost and wedge, soon to be 2 bottle cages, a Topeak Road Morph pump, the trekking bars, a Cateye Strada Cadence, and salvaged lights. I also have a multi-tool, tube, and patch kit in the wedge.

I hope I get to see your beautiful bike when I move to SW PA this fall, Brad.

I hope I get to see your beautiful bike when I move to SW PA this fall, Brad.

That'd be awesome! Where are you moving?

Great pictures, it looks like you have been busy. :)

What colour option is the Brooks ?

As soon as my knee problems are solved and I can find a job and place to live out there.

B.Alive said "I've put just about all of the mile on this bike on my trainer"

Nice improvements. You have really personalized your bike.
Now it is time to go play in the street.

Enjoy your bike.

I am betting the brooks is the honey brown, with amazing highlights in the picture. I thought it was a gold lame saddle at first glance, which would be pretty sweet.

nice bike.

Great pictures, it looks like you have been busy.
What colour option is the Brooks ?


I am betting the brooks is the honey brown, with amazing highlights in the picture. I thought it was a gold lame saddle at first glance, which would be pretty sweet.

nice bike.

Thank you!

I ordered the "antique brown" from here: Bell's Bike Shop on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00467IU0U/ref=oss_product)

It's just a little darker than the honey. I was very stoked when I found it. I had all of this stuff in a cart on Nashbar (bars, tape, saddle, new helmet, Brooks cork end plugs, and saddle care package,) when my wife came in and asked if I needed anything from Amazon-she was ordering a few books. I looked up my list and found the brown. Nashbar only has black in the Imperial (and that's all Brooks shows on their site as well.) It really compliments the red bike.

I should note that I got my end of year bonus and spent a little on "The Coda" (as I affectionately call my bike.) It was accessories for The Coda or a Nook Color...

A man after my own heart, nice looking setup. I hope to meet up with you for a ride this year.

A man after my own heart, nice looking setup. I hope to meet up with you for a ride this year.

Nothing comes of hope. Make it happen. DO!

Very similar setup to what I have on my Schwinn World Street. I went with Brooks B17 in Honey, with Trekker bars and brown tape. It all complements the black frame very well. (darn, now I'll have to post pics)...

You have a very interesting shifter location. How do you like it?

OK... a couple of pics of Clyde's handlebar setup, and one to show his overall look.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_daoEPLJJ9jw/TV6mCmI4_yI/AAAAAAAAACo/cRMMo6jlp6c/s640/2011-02-18%2011.57.37.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_daoEPLJJ9jw/TV6l7_TeWOI/AAAAAAAAACg/CKGtaJHTqVU/s640/2011-02-18%2011.58.35.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_daoEPLJJ9jw/TV6l_lX24II/AAAAAAAAACk/SlYRQOyRNU8/s640/2011-02-18%2011.59.07.jpg

Thanks for detailing the upgrades to your Coda Sport - I have a 2009 Coda Comp, and I find it interesting that I found similar deficiencies and decided to change the same things you did, though my choices were a little different:

- Handlebars – I kept the stock ones and had the LBS add Ergon R2s (http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gr2-leichtbau) during their initial assembly. I think you made a better choice because even though I use the Coda primarily as a fitness bike for short/fast routes and on my trainer during the winter, I still have comfort issues with my hands after 12-15 miles, and I ended up buying a road bike this winter to accommodate my desire for longer rides.

- Saddle – I went with my favorite WTB Laser V that I’ve had on my mountain bike for many years.

- Seatpost – I went with Thomson Elite setback because I had a hard time getting the seat far back enough to get my kneecaps centered over the pedals, and I was horrified with the awful suspension one that was stock - It had a left-to-right float of about 2 cm!

- Brakes – Being a clyde (~235lbs.), I found that after a couple of scary downhills the Avid Single Digit 3s that came with it just weren’t going to cut it – so I upgraded to Single Digit 7s and I feel much more secure when braking. I believe yours came with Tektros, have you had any problems?

- Breakages – Mine came with Xero wheels and their cheap skewers broke within a month. Also, the QR seatpost collar didn’t last very long (a terrible idea that should never be implemented), and being a clyde I always had seatpost drift because of that worthless collar. Even worse, because it applies it's pressure asymmetrically from one side, and I had to clamp it as hard as I could in my attempts to prevent drift, it threw the seat tube out of round and I didn’t realize it so I kept measuring incorrectly and twice ordered the wrong size replacement collar. I finally had to call Jamis to get the right size. I ended up getting this IRD Sting Ray (http://www.interlocracing.com/seatclamps.html) that I highly recommend for any clyde out there with a drift problem.

- I originally put Speedplays LAs on mine too, but I didn’t like them – too much float made it feel like my pedal strokes were way too inefficient, and I had the feeling that I was eventually going to regret having the business end of the clamping mechanism bolted to bottom of my feet. Like the first time I have to stop and make a repair on a soft shoulder. I changed over to Eggbeaters (which I have on my mtn. bike) and I haven’t looked back.

About the only thing left to upgrade are the sad excuse for wheels that came with it (Xero Shawla 220s). After that I think this terrific Coda steel frame bike will last me for many years – and I wish you many years of enjoyable riding with yours.

How difficult was it to swap out the bars? My shop quoted me 170 and tax to put Nashbar trekking bars on, with trigger shifters and brakes. I'm tempted to do it myself - I have the bars already.

How difficult was it to swap out the bars? My shop quoted me 170 and tax to put Nashbar trekking bars on, with trigger shifters and brakes. I'm tempted to do it myself - I have the bars already.

What kind of bars are you removing? Trekker bars use MTB brakes and shifters, so if you're transitioning from road drop bars, you're going to have to buy new brakes/shifters. If that's the case, then the price range sounds about right.

Otherwise, I'd suggest googling up directions on how to apply bar tape, and just do it yourself.

By the way... if you're shifting from drop bars, what're you going to do with the old bar and shifters?

You have a very interesting shifter location. How do you like it?

Well, I'm unwrapping the bars and moving the shifters to the lower flats tonight! Don't like them up there at all!

What kind of bars are you removing? Trekker bars use MTB brakes and shifters, so if you're transitioning from road drop bars, you're going to have to buy new brakes/shifters. If that's the case, then the price range sounds about right.

Otherwise, I'd suggest googling up directions on how to apply bar tape, and just do it yourself.


Yup!

The bars were bolt off and bolt on. I went from a flat bar, so I removed the grips, the shifters, and brake levers from the flat bar. Then I removed the 4 bolts from the stem, removed the bar, (my stem is for a 31.8 mm bar) added the shims to the trekking bar, tightened the stem bolts, adjusted the bar side to side and up and down for comfort, torqued the stem bolts, put the shifters and levers on, taped, and rode.

You can find a lot of great videos on how to tape bars online. Not that hard to do actually.

What kind of bars are you removing? Trekker bars use MTB brakes and shifters, so if you're transitioning from road drop bars, you're going to have to buy new brakes/shifters. If that's the case, then the price range sounds about right.

Otherwise, I'd suggest googling up directions on how to apply bar tape, and just do it yourself.

By the way... if you're shifting from drop bars, what're you going to do with the old bar and shifters?

I'll sell the old parts. Unless you wanna swap or something.