Did a Billato Brothers Century Today
11-05-16, 08:55 PM
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Did a Billato Brothers Century Today
Sometimes it's fun to just take out several of the old bikes for back to back rides. It helps show the differences between them. So today I decided to do a century on the three bikes I have that the frames were built by Billato. The first 31 miles was on the Giordana XL Super. An all-around good rider, light and responsive. This one is dialed in really well to me and very comfortable.
Then I swapped out to the Giordana Antares for another 31 miles. A bit heavier and not quite as comfortable. The old school Dura Ace 7400 hoods are not a happy place for your hands. And the current saddle on this is fine when riding it light for a fast pace but not so much when riding heavy and slower.
Finally I finished out the century with the Greg Lemond Venotux for another 42 miles. What can I say, this bike is just great for long distance riding. Of course it helps that it has a Brooks saddle, wonderful November Nimbus wheels and big, soft tires. Yet it's fast to accelerate and carries speed very well. The first generation brifters on this are so light to use and shift perfectly every time.
Of course it took me the first 60 miles to really get my legs going.
Yesterday was "80s day" and I did 3 different 25 mile laps on 3 of my 80s bikes. The Schwinn Prologue, the Orbea Cabestany, and the Trek 560 Pro Series. Yesterday's 75 miles was done at a very fast pace and my legs didn't want to play nice today for the longest time.
Then I swapped out to the Giordana Antares for another 31 miles. A bit heavier and not quite as comfortable. The old school Dura Ace 7400 hoods are not a happy place for your hands. And the current saddle on this is fine when riding it light for a fast pace but not so much when riding heavy and slower.
Finally I finished out the century with the Greg Lemond Venotux for another 42 miles. What can I say, this bike is just great for long distance riding. Of course it helps that it has a Brooks saddle, wonderful November Nimbus wheels and big, soft tires. Yet it's fast to accelerate and carries speed very well. The first generation brifters on this are so light to use and shift perfectly every time.
Of course it took me the first 60 miles to really get my legs going.
Yesterday was "80s day" and I did 3 different 25 mile laps on 3 of my 80s bikes. The Schwinn Prologue, the Orbea Cabestany, and the Trek 560 Pro Series. Yesterday's 75 miles was done at a very fast pace and my legs didn't want to play nice today for the longest time.
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11-05-16, 10:20 PM
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Sometimes it's fun to just take out several of the old bikes for back to back rides. It helps show the differences between them. So today I decided to do a century on the three bikes I have that the frames were built by Billato. The first 31 miles was on the Giordana XL Super. An all-around good rider, light and responsive. This one is dialed in really well to me and very comfortable.
Then I swapped out to the Giordana Antares for another 31 miles. A bit heavier and not quite as comfortable. The old school Dura Ace 7400 hoods are not a happy place for your hands. And the current saddle on this is fine when riding it light for a fast pace but not so much when riding heavy and slower.
Finally I finished out the century with the Greg Lemond Venotux for another 42 miles. What can I say, this bike is just great for long distance riding. Of course it helps that it has a Brooks saddle, wonderful November Nimbus wheels and big, soft tires. Yet it's fast to accelerate and carries speed very well. The first generation brifters on this are so light to use and shift perfectly every time.
Of course it took me the first 60 miles to really get my legs going.
Yesterday was "80s day" and I did 3 different 25 mile laps on 3 of my 80s bikes. The Schwinn Prologue, the Orbea Cabestany, and the Trek 560 Pro Series. Yesterday's 75 miles was done at a very fast pace and my legs didn't want to play nice today for the longest time.
Then I swapped out to the Giordana Antares for another 31 miles. A bit heavier and not quite as comfortable. The old school Dura Ace 7400 hoods are not a happy place for your hands. And the current saddle on this is fine when riding it light for a fast pace but not so much when riding heavy and slower.
Finally I finished out the century with the Greg Lemond Venotux for another 42 miles. What can I say, this bike is just great for long distance riding. Of course it helps that it has a Brooks saddle, wonderful November Nimbus wheels and big, soft tires. Yet it's fast to accelerate and carries speed very well. The first generation brifters on this are so light to use and shift perfectly every time.
Of course it took me the first 60 miles to really get my legs going.
Yesterday was "80s day" and I did 3 different 25 mile laps on 3 of my 80s bikes. The Schwinn Prologue, the Orbea Cabestany, and the Trek 560 Pro Series. Yesterday's 75 miles was done at a very fast pace and my legs didn't want to play nice today for the longest time.
Thanks for writing this up.
The 7400 hoods are on brakes or brifters? I'm considering building up a bike with 6400 brifters. Seems like there's a lot of ways to make them more comfy - - padding under wrap, position on bars . . .
11-06-16, 07:47 AM
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Brake levers, so they are quite narrow and pointy on top. I have small hands but these just don't feel that good under them. Was actually thinking I should "upgrade" to the TRP RRL SR brake lever set since they feel and work great.
Here's how those levers look on my Prologue. The hoods are a lot like the Campagnolo ones on my modern Athena groupsets.
And this is the best shot I have right now of the levers on the Antares.
Here's how those levers look on my Prologue. The hoods are a lot like the Campagnolo ones on my modern Athena groupsets.
And this is the best shot I have right now of the levers on the Antares.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
11-06-16, 07:50 AM
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Well done! That's about 3 weeks worth of mileage for me in 2 days!
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
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