Steve Whitlatch 

I just want to see some pictures.

philbob57

How'd it go?

Man, IMO Sheridan Road between Winnetka Road and Lake Cook is like a washboard with rusted out holes all over it ....

(signed) phil(45/42, 14-26)bob57

big chainring 

Ok, lots of replys.

Went out this morning. Rode with the OYL(On Your Left) club. But I didn't go with the 55 ring. My Nouvo Record derailleur couldn't take up the chain slack with the additional chain I needed. Stayed with the 50. Trying to get my chain to stop slipping in the 14 tooth cog which I needed on several occasions. May look into abother derailleur like a Campy Rally so I could use the 55.

For those that know the route up Sheridan road, most if it has been repaved and is in great condition. The Ravines section is off limits to cyclists. Has been fir many years now.

So I stayed with the club till their turn around point, Old School Forest Preserve, for those that know the northern burbs. Good ride. They picked it up on the return trip and I couldn't keep pace. Rode with another group going south, the Pony Shop/ Plaza something or other.

I do like the horns on the helmet suggestion. Maybe next week.

One thing I notice is my Universal side pulls are really lame. The braking of those in the group is so much quicker. I gotta look into some different brakes, or pads.

On a more somber note, on my return trip I saw a large group, older guys 60-70 year olds I think. They were sprawled out on the side of the road. One guy was bleeding from his head. Police were just arriving when I passed. Really puts a scare in you.

Road Fan

Wow, that would be my age group! When I regularly used Sheridan it was 1969 thru about 1973, high school and college. Ravines were still open to cycles at that point - I loved them! What town is that Old School forest preserve in? I don't think it had that name in my day, or it is pretty far up from Deerpath Road (Lake Forest College). That was my usual turn-around.

Just googled it, I see it's up in Libertyville - farther north than my rides BITD!

philbob57

I think the NR rear derailleur was designed for half-step gearing, something like 55-52/51/50. Just sayin'.... :-)

Sheridan repaved? That sounds great! The Ravines ... I do not think kindly about the people who made that decision. (I think Kenilworth's (was Winnetkan) decision-makers are a pretty low bunch, too, for removing the bike lane on their part of Sheridan.)

I've got a set of Universal 68s that I plan on trying to sell starting in December, in hopes of getting interest from the Eroica folks. Maybe we can coordinate. There was a set of Modolo calipers and levers and Superbe calipers on Chicago Craigslist yesterday, IIRC. I imagine Campys are available on ebay.

And don't forget, people like me are highly impressed by people who can spin a 50/14....

jamesdak 

Or go with what I have on the Tourmelet. A 53/34 Wickwerks chainring. The 34 for climbing these steep Utah mountains and the 53 when you just need to really move. With their ramp technology it works with the standard FD just fine and shifts like a dream. I'm not even going to exaggerate, this thing will go from the 34 to 53 before I can get done pushing the lever, it truly is a sweet piece of tech.

plonz 

I've enjoyed reading this thread and hearing about someone else being brave enough to take their vintage bike out with the hammerheads.

I do this on occasion but friction shifting with 6 speeds is a distinct disadvantage in a fast group. When I do manage to stay in contact with the group, I find a 53 ring and 13 cog to be enough for the inevitable 30mph surge. If they happen to hit 32+ though I run out of gear for my output. I'd be concerned about a 55 ring screwing up my cadence in the mid range cogs.

If you stick with this riding group, I see a retro mod build in your future. 10 speed 53/12 and you'll have no issue surviving the sprints.

Steve Whitlatch 

A thread without pictures is like peanut butter with no jelly.

big chainring 

Looks like another nice morning tomorrow. I'll take some pics.

clubman 

I used Chorus ergo 8 speed 53/39, 12-26 back in my glory-days group rides,. The 'A' riders would drop us pack-fill after an hour but it was a blast trying to hang-in as we rolled through beautiful King township north of Toronto. No serious climbing, just a few hours of anaerobic punishment, lapped wheels and interesting memories. The 'Doughnut' ride was and maybe still is the litmus test for TO weekend warriors.

Getting old sucks.

plonz 

I'll thread jack a tick here..

Two of the stronger riders on our weekly shop ride are 63 and 65. One is an absolute monster and can still school the Cat 4/5 youngsters. For a while we had a guy riding with us who was 72! As you might expect, he usually fell off the pace but could still "limp" it in at 18+.

All these guys are true inspirations for people like me just now reaching "old age".

due ruote 

https://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-10-21/news/8703190456_1_ravine-cheap-thrills-bike

Re the ravines. A better solution would have been to close it to car traffic. Just sayin.

crank_addict

Thanks for that trip down memory lane Early 80's would occasionally meet with a few and ride Sheridan from Lake Bluff to the city and back. Early Sat. AM and the roads were light traveled of cars. Never recall of it being an issue. The ravines were a highlight, pretty to fly through. BTW: Acquired a Colnago from Alberto's. Good days~

rhm

The big chainring on my Fuji "The Finest" is 56t, and it's fine since I'm almost always in the small chainring anyway, a 42t. My top gear, 56/14, is the same as 52/13 or 48/12 or 44/11.

A "modern" bike with Campy Chorus 11 speed gear might well have an 11-27 cassette and 34-50 compact crank, for a much higher top gear than my old Fuji.

Of course, these ratios may sound insane, but really they're only insane if you use them, and I usually don't.

big chainring 

Turned out to be not such a nice morning. Threatening to rain. Got out for a quick 20 miles before it started to pour.

Got my chain to sit still on the 14 tooth cog. I moved the rear wheel back in the dropout to get more chain wrap. Had to put a washer on the axle, drive side, to give the chain a little room so it wouldn't hit the seatstay. Stays put now. Nice to have the 50 by 14 but I could use some higher gear. That 55 may make its way back on the bike. Gotta find a compatible rear derailleur that can take up the extra chain.

Pictures next week.

thinktubes 

A pic of the "forbidden fruit" from Sunday's ride for the outta-towners. Didn't take a bite...

crank_addict

Speaking of Sheridan Road.

Was in the waiting room at the docs yesterday, spotted this magazine and inspirational article. Quite an Ironman!

George Bayly cannot quit. ?I can accept failure,? he says, ?but I can?t accept not trying.? At 74 years-old, the Lake Forest resident and business executive still works.

iab

30+ on Sheridan?

Nice.

crank_addict

Big_chainring is in training chasing records



Behold, the 150 mph bicycle

blowout at 150!

crank_addict

qcpmsame 

The sawmill called, they want their blade back....

Bill

1simplexnut

whats with that fork ? is it backwards ? eek

rootboy 

Trakhak

Standard fork for a stayer bike.

Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog - Stayers

qcpmsame 

Wasn't that Stayer fork supposed to allow them to tuck in closer to a derny (motorcycle) as it was pacing them?

Edit: never mind, I should have red the link first, it explains everything clearly. Dumbass move of the early morning here.