migrantwing

Thank you! Yes, it's an aluminium frame. It weighs in at 8.5kg at stock, that's as light or even lighter than some carbon frames. My girlfriend bought it for me back in January 2012. It was a 2011 model so they knocked quite a bit of money off it and the added bonus of an extra 10% as it was my birthday. Lol! I got if for around £800 as opposed to the retail price of £1200. The newer model had a crappy paint job. Lol!

Ah, I see. We're invading you. Lol! I wanted to and was going to move Stateside around 2010, but it all backfired.

Haha! I know what you mean. Again, it's that less is more attitude with cyclists. More the fool them having to walk home

It's raining here, too, and foggy. England and its legendary weather, as I'm sure you recall

Wildrat

I kinda always liked the weather in England, except maybe the fog. Man, was it thick at times. I would walk outside and and I could not see the aircraft on the flightline. What I liked was once you got used to the weather you would ride, or do near about anything in the rain/drizzle.
I've been looking at economical bike computers, if there is such a thing. I have one on my mountain bike I can transfer but the thing is it's useless unless I have my glasses on. LOL I'm kinda looking at the Cateye Strada if I want cadence, or the Cateye Padrone. The Padrone has no cadence function but I would be able to read it without glasses. After Saturdays ride I don't know if I even need a computer, I just rode.
What do you use?

migrantwing

Haha! Yeah, the fog can get thick at times. The last few days the fog has been around from morning until night, getting more dense around 4pm onwards. In the early hours it's difficult to see more than 20 feet. I like riding when it's drizzling. Something very rewarding about it.

There are so many choices with bike computers nowadays. I'm looking for one that makes coffee when I get back home. LOL! I have a simple computer that records speed, distance, time, avg speed, max speed etc, then use an app on my phone that records the same data but also the route I have taken and elevation etc. I'd like a fancy gizmo such as a Garmin, but I'm not gonna spend 600 bucks on something like that.

Wildrat

I remember walking to work in the drizzle when in England. I just got used to it and carried on like any other day. Speaking of Garmin. I have an older one that does everything you mentioned. It does cadence but you have to buy the sensor. I mounted the Garmin on the bike for now. Garmin does not make the sensor anymore but it is still available. Garmin is way overpriced on their stuff! I am going for a ride today if the weather is clear. The new stem is shipped, it is suppose to be here Thursday supposedly.

migrantwing

LOL! Yep, you just gotta get on with it. When we do have a good Summer, it's hard to beat the beauty of the U.K...it's just that big 'if'.

You may be able to buy a universal sensor. I agree, Garmin stuff is stupidly expensive. Don't start me on the named cycling clothing companies! Who the hell would pay 300 bucks for a jersey? It really has become the new snobby sport, has cycling.

Talking of sensors, here's a link to a post I made on another bike forum. I lost the wheel magnet sensor for my bike computer. Quite interesting

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/btw.../#post-3886344


Hope the stem turns up on time. It's my girlfriend's Birthday today, I ordered some things online on Friday, paid premium delivery and the items haven't turned up. So annoyed.

Wildrat

I just got bake from a ride. I went 22 miles and my neck feels like it. I had cervical spine surgery in June and it's not allowing me to bend my neck to where it needs to be. I think I am going to add some spacers to the fork and see how it feels on the next ride. Overall the ride was pretty good. No issues with the bike to speak of.
I found a sensor and ordered it, of course it's expensive also.
Yes, riding clothes are insanely high, and it's all in a name. I do not care about looking GQ, so I get the best quality I can find for cheap, whether it be seconds, on sale, or just a decent deal.
Sorry to hear the delivery person has not showed up yet, maybe they have now.
I found a coffee shop on my route today, it is about halfway on the ride. I think I will ride today's route till my cycling muscles get stronger. I'll check that link out shortly.

I read the link about the magnets. I had to laugh a little. I read the fellas response to the sensor being flipped and was thinking that makes sense. ( Keep in mind I was an Aircraft electrician) then I read your response about either being brilliant or a load of crap. That's when I smiled. Oh Well time to get the stink off.

nhluhr

Big-Big+2 is actually another chain sizing method that Shimano recommends for various situations and what it means is you wrap the new chain around the big cog and big chainring (not thru the derailleur) and find the shortest it would feasibly link up around those and then add 2 links (2 inches) of chain. That 2 inches of chain is the amount the derailleur itself uses and the idea of this method is that you know for a fact the chain is not too short.

However, if you swap to a larger chainring or larger cassette and forget to check chain length, it is feasible that you could overtension the chain the first time you go big-big and this would cause damage. Likewise, the method you used (Big-Small, derailleur at 90 degrees) assumes everything you're using is within official specification - as in, not using a SS derailleur with a cassette that needs a GS, etc.

So both ways have tradeoffs and all that really means is you should check chain length whenever you swap drivetrain parts but what you have right now is perfectly done it appears.

Wildrat

Yep, it's working for sure. I have been on two rides and no issues with drivetrain. Shifting is great with the Shimano 105 (5800) setup. I tell ya with this 11 speed I never run out of gears, of course there are no mountains in Mobile. LOL We have some pretty tall bridges, but I am not upto tackling them yet, maybe in a couple of weeks. I need to get my stem height issue taken care of. At the moment I am using the entire fork tube because of my neck, maybe as it heals I will be able to cut the tube down but I will leave it for now.
I have not ridden with all these spacers yet. I had half that many and on my 22 mile ride today my neck began hurting because I could not lift it high enough to look down the road adequately. I just need to be comfortable on the bike without causin anymore damage. Doc said I could ride, I just don't think he knew what I had in mind. LOL He said I should walk a lot after surgery too, I don't think he had 9 miles of walking in mind. LOL So far my low back feels fine. I have had four surgeries on my lumbar and hips. I think considering I'm doing well, just not as well as I would like to be doing but then I am not in my 20's anymore. LOL
One thing that gets me is when I am out riding is the unfriendliness from the other cyclist. I mean some say hello, wave, nod, but a lot of them act like you don't exsist. In the 80's and 90's I never saw this, everyone was friendly even competitive cyclist had time to speak.
What has happened? Is it because I am wearing a t-shirt instead of a 100 dollar jersey? LOL The world has changed and not for the better.
Okay, I'm done whining. LOL

migrantwing

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you can sort the spacers/position so it doesn't hurt so much. Although, 22 miles after surgery a few months ago ain't bad goin', buddy

As I said before, cycling ahs become the new snob sport. It's the new golf. Everything is at a premium. I do the same as you, just buy decent quality stuff at low prices. There are a few German/European stores here called ALDI and LIDL. Over the years they've become better and better and now all the posh snobs that went to Sainsbury's and Waitrose etc all go to ALDI or LIDL. Haha! The qaulity of food is exellent and they have weekly specials such as DIY, Walking, Cooking and they also do Cyling specials. I got some bib shorts, socks, gloves, glasses etc for low prices and the stuff is very good. I think my whole cycle clothing came to less than 150 bucks, all in all over the years. I'd love some branded cycle clothing as some of it is brilliant, but I'm not gonna pay what they're asking.

Hahaha! Glad you found my 'brilliant or crap' comment funny. I always like to add a bit of humour into the world

migrantwing

Again, it's the snobbery now. I'm lucky that I live in quite a rural area, so most cyclists are friendly. I have had the odd occasion where someone has not acknowledged me or kinda half heartedly replied. I get it with passing people in the street more so than cyclists here, to be honest.

I agree about the world not changing for the better. One main reason I've never had kids. Who'd want them to grow up in this place?

Wildrat

Yep, just got back from another 22 mile ride, legs were a bit sore starting out. The extra spacers helped with the neck. I was just having to bend it back too far to see down the road. I adjusted the ISM seat a little forward also, it is feeling better. It's definitely an improvement over a standard seat. There is virtually no pressure on the man bits. I think I am going to go ahead and install the star nut and lock it down, also wrap the bars so there is a bit of padding instead of metal. I don't think I will ever be the cyclist I was when I was in my 20 and 30's but I am enjoying the ride for the most part, especially the part where I stop and get a small coffee and doughnut. LOL
Did your girlfriends presents show up?
Oh, I used to like going to Sainsbury's, but I think it was only a grocery store back then. I sure miss some of the food over there!

Wildrat

I think people are just scared of friendly people. They figure they want something. LOL Oh well, time for me to do something. I need to work on my Jeep but I have been putting it off. I have to replace the OPDA, it's the thing that took the place of the distributor. The car manufacturer did not make provision for the gear to get lubrication and it is wearing out very prematurely. It starts throwing engine codes. Maybe I'll do it today, maybe not. LOL

Wildrat

Received the 90mm stem and the garmin sensor for cadence. It's all installed and working. I tilted the bars up a bit so the hoods are tilted up a tad. I will ride tomorrow, rain permitting and see what it like. I'm thinking I could have gotten an 80mm stem but I will ride first and see how it is. If it is still too long another stem will have to wait. The stems are 25 bucks a pop, so I am tired of buying stems to play with. LOL Hopefully after tomorrows ride I can wrap the handlebars so I have a tiny bit of cushioning, more than bare metal gives anyway. LOL

migrantwing

Sounds like you're almost there with your position/comfort. A few more tweaks here and there over the next few rides and you'll be close to perfect (I say close to as I don't think there is such thing as the perfect fit. I'm forever tweaking stuff every few months.

You saying that you're never going to be the cyclist you were in your 20's and 30's...I'm 39, 40 in January and I'm nowhere as fit as I was 10 years ago, but crazily I have more endurance in me than I did then on a bike and can go a lot further. I'm pretty fast, too, so I think it's just a placebo effect with the age I'll happily do 25-30 miles on a ride, sometimes 50 miles. I want to get up to do 100 miles. It's hard to get motivated with the weather were having here at the moment, though. Heavy rain! I don't mind once I'm on the bike, as we both mentioned in an earlier post, it's just the getting out there when the weather sucks before you've even started.

LOL! I daren't hit a coffee stop. These days it takes so much motivation to continue after a sit down and a coffee. LOL!

Sainsbury's, among most other places here are like Walmart. They sell everything and anything nowadays.

Yes, thanks. The parcel turned up. It came from Holland, I thought it was coming from the UK, hence the few days it took to get here.

migrantwing

Oh, my friend, people are the bane of my life. I think as one gets older, the patience runs out quicker. I don't have many layers of skin left for people

Hope you got the Jeep sorted.

migrantwing

Good stuff!

Talking of stems. I have found that in the past, instead of getting a new stem, just move the saddle forward/back a few mm. Sometimes it can make a huge difference, sometimes not. Anything to save a few $'s

Bike Gremlin

Adjusting bars distance by moving saddle is wrong. Saddle is placed relative to the cranks, not the bars. Detailed explanation is here (among dozen other places, on this forum as well):

bike fitting

Wildrat

Yes, when I was there Sainsbury was just a grocery store. When I stop at the coffee shop I am only about 9 miles into the ride so I have not started yet. LOL Glad your stuff came for the girlfriend.

I went thru that stage with people now I pretty much ignore them. I don't give them a chance for my patience to run out anymore. I don't know if I have the Jeep sorted out or not. I replaced the Oil Pump Drive Assembly, and cam position sensor and it is running correctly now but this particular code/issue is on a timer in the computer and I don't know if enough driving has happened yet for it to go off. It's a pain in the butt. I still have the emission leak code but I am not overly concerned about that.

I got the new stem and rode yesterday, it is almost perfect now according to the book. I could go with an 80, and I may later. Setting up the ISM seat is annoying. The seat does feel much better than the regular seat as far as pressing on the man bits, but I am trying to dial it in. I just need to get the butt muscles used to it.

Thank You for the link I will take a look at it when I get back from my ride.

migrantwing

Whilst I value your input and the link, a few mm isn't gonna hurt. I'm not a pro rider. I think bike fit, whilst brilliant in its methods, can be way too far fetched. People moving their saddle up and down by 3mm and then saying 'Wow! What a difference' is complete crap. I'm 40 next year, I've been riding bikes for years, some frames that were way too big for me as a kid. It never mattered then, it doesn't matter now as long as you're in the ballpark.

Some people believe in KOPS. Some people prefer to sit back from KOPS a little, some more forward, some believe KOPS to be a myth, completely. Some people have dead level saddles, some nose up, some nose down. All bike fits and stuff you read online is, for the most part, a guideline. It's impossible for everyone to follow the rules to the T.

I know people who have paid big money for professional bike fits to then have the fitter 'break the rules' to fit him to the bike, so it can't be 100%, dead on, no questions asked.

migrantwing

Progression, eh! Hahaha! I hear ya. Thank you, sir.

Yeah, I'm kinda getting to that point with people. I've also been messed around with the last three jobs I've had. It seems to be the norm to be a crap human being nowadays.

Damn cars! Such a PITA.

I have a 90mm stem and I'm not sure which way I wanna go with it. Just wish the weather was better and I was more motivated to sort my position out. I don't have room at my apartment to do stuff inside, so it's all outside work for me. The two sheds I have (one plastic, one brick) don't have enough room for me to work on my bike inside, plus the fact that there's no lighting. It's only rented accommodation so I'm not gonna spend $$$'s fitting outdoor lighting etc. I have a race saddle on my bike, it's like a razor. LOL! I've tried a few Selle saddles and they seem to fit my butt OK. I just don't have the money to spend on new stuff for the bike, and it seems that every bike shop now wants to fit you for a bike, a saddle etc. I understand that everyone's butt and sit bones are different, and that I SHOULD be seeking 'professional' help with these things, but it's all $$$$. I never used to worry about stuff like that when I was a kid, so why worry now? If it feels OK, that's good enough for me, if it's what the industry says is right or wrong either way.

Seems to be a tad warmer there than here. Damn windy here today, too!

Bike Gremlin

It's not about KOPS. It's about saddle that fits the rider. Some prefer closer, some prefer further. "Rules" are just for orientation - each rider has a sweet spot, it's individual. And the longer one rides, the more a wrong fit can bother. While 3mm is not a lot, 5 mm is. Also, 3mm in the wrong direction, when one is at the limit of one's comfort, can also feel wrong.

That is why I believe that moving saddle to compensate for bars reach is doing it the wrong way. A different size stem is not too expensive.

Same goes for moving saddle lower to compensate for bars being to low and vice-versa.

Wildrat

Yes it is warmer but rain is expected today and the temps are going down some.
The ride today was not enjoyable. Lol My quads were sore. I made another adjustment to the seat and adjusted the cleat on my right shoe. The shifting was being pita also. When I got home I readjusted from scratch. So far I think the bike is winning the battle of wills. Lol I wanted to cut the ride short today but I kept going, slow but going. Oh well it's only been a week and 100 miles so in a couple more weeks I should be feeli g better. I need to stop thinking about the younger years. Lol

Wildrat

Took an anti inflammatory, my quads feel better. I think they are just sore from the riding. My seat height is good, it might even could come down a 1/2 inch. The rain is here, temps will be dropping, and I'll be liking it. The cooler temps not the rain. The garden likes the rain.

migrantwing

Just woke up. It looks like evening at nearly 11am. LOL! The sun is breaking through the clouds, but it's grey and wet. Only another 5 months of this left, at the very least. LOL!

Ah, the good ole quads. LOL! At least you kept going.

I've never adjusted my cleats. I set them in the position I want them but have the SHM56 cleats (I believe), the ones with a bit of float, so it allows for quite a bit of play. I could probably set them up better and what's seen as correct, but I've never had any issues. I've upped the tension release on the pedals a few times, I'm about 3/4 of the way up to the tightest setting. I may switch over to the other cleats, the one's with no float (SHM51?) and see how I do with them.

Ah, we all dream of younger years. LOL!

migrantwing

I used to get sore quads and a sore upper back/neck a lot when I got back into riding a decent distance (40 miles +) and the hills used to kill me. Now, I fly up hills and love them, even if I'm on a long ride and am tired.

My favourite cyclist is Marco Pantani and he was an incredible climber, maybe his influence has rubbed off on me, psychologically speaking.

Here's a tip for you, if you can take paracetamol or Ibruprofen without any health issues, drop one or two before a ride. It gives you a great plus. I'm guessing it thins the blood a little. I remember camping this past Summer and me and a friend went on a 50 miler. I had had one too many beers the night before and woke up feeling quite rough and hadn't slept too well, either. He woke me at 8am and I nearly told him that I wasn't going to go. I popped a couple Ibruprofen, had a coffee and I tell ya, it was the best ride I've ever had. I could have cycled forever. LOL! I've never cycled that well, even without a hangover and a good nights's sleep. LOL!

Talking of seat height, I may drop my seat half inch or so. I think I'm at the very maximum height without my hips rocking, which is the optimum, but I feel a tad lower and my control of the bike will be better. Every nowe and then I feel that it's just a little too high.

Same here. I just hope my Jalapeno plant survives without the sun. LOL! England is not the best place to grow Mexican plants

BTW thanks for the friend add.