JohnKScott

Congrats on the bike & keep riding.

I started out with a flat bar road bike too about 5 months ago. Have ridden it farther and faster than I thought I would by this point. I already want drops...

Some day

Congrats again!

okra dictum

Yes, Tech Pan is gone now, I'm sorry to say. It was never a favorite film of mine, but it had its uses. I have about four rolls left in 120 format and a couple of 35mm rolls in my freezer, but no 4x5 or 8x10.

I mostly shoot Efke PL100 that I rate at 50 typically, although I'll sometimes use Ilford HP5+ for greater speed. Bergger 200 and Kodak Tri-X are films I use sometimes as well. I shoot Fuji Astia 100 in 4x5 when I want color.

I like the idea of an LF cycling-themed gallery Tom. I have five LF cameras, two 8x10, two 4x5, and an 8x20, although only three are suitable for field use (one of each format). None of them are light in weight, though. Since I'm not a backpacker I've never worried too much about the weight and bulk of the gear. But now that I'm cycling, I plan to put together a lightweight 4x5 kit. This should be fun too!

okra dictum

Thank you John. I managed a five mile ride this morning, so I'm feeling pretty good about that.

I'll probably try bar ends as several people suggested when I grow dissatisfied with my flat-bar grip options.

fastdogs

I know what you are talking about. I just started getting into bike riding about a month ago, I'd been doing the elliptical every night but the weather is so nice right now I wanted to be outside. I splurged on a new folding bike, and carry it to work every day. If I don't ride at lunchtime (20-45 minutes), I stop off at a park on the way to pick up my son and ride. At work, I can only manage about 3-4 miles because it's all hills. At the park, the most I've done is seven miles (today), but I'm pretty proud of myself if I do 4 or 5 on most days. I plug along at a steady 10-12 mph (a guy on a hybrid flew by me today like I was standing still). On the hills at work, I'm barely moving as I crest some of them. But I'm riding every day and loving it. I just ride in my street clothes- I don't have much time for lunch so I rush out, get the bike out of the back of my car, and I'm gone. Really a high point in my day!! So keep at it, you are already ahead of me because I need a class in maintenance and tire changing.
vickie

Trolley Guy

Congratulations on your new bike, the 7.7 FX is a very nice bike. I started with an inexpensive x-mart Mongoose hybrid for the first 3 months. I just got a Trek 1000 road bike two days ago and am getting familiar with it. As far as cameras go, I take my Canon 20D with a 28-80 zoom in a backpack with me lots of times. You can get some nice shots that you just don't see when driving around in a car.
Good luck with your new bike, you're going to love it. In no time at all, you will be racking up the miles with smiles.

tpelle

Welcome to the forum, okra! I understand fully what you mean. I'm almost 55 years old, and 260 or so pounds, and Type-2 diabetic. I started riding in April or May on an old 10-speed steelie road bike, and picked up a Trek 820 mountain bike for free through an airline frequent flyer program.

When I started, I mapped out a four mile loop around my neighborhood, but because of where I live it included some hills. At first I couldn't make it all the way around without having to stop and rest, and had to push the bike up some of the hills. After a couple of weeks I was going all the way around without stopping, climbing in higher gears, and buying cycling clothes! Now I have a slightly-under-15 mile route I ride which include some very long and steep hills, and I'm looking for ways to increase my distance even further.

In June I decided I really didn't like my mountain bike for the use to which I was putting it, so I started looking for a new road bike. I ended up with a Surly Long Haul Trucker because it's steel, has a traditional-geometry frame (compact geometry frames leave too much exposed seatpost for my liking), made to haul heavy loads, and mountain bike gearing. Here's a pic:



I originally ordered a "complete" but Surly was sold out. My LBS then ordered a frame/fork and built it themselves. Worked out good for me, as they knew I was only going to use it as a road bike, no touring, so they set it up with 700 x 28 tires. I was a little apprehensive of the bar-end shifters, but I knew I didn't want brifters (too fiddly, always out of adjustment), so I went with 'em. Turns out that the bar-end shifters are great! I absolutely LOVE this bike.

I've kept the mountain bike, and am actually converting it to a "winter" bike. So far I've added lights and fenders. The headlight is a Cateye EL300 - seems pretty bright, but I haven't ridden at night with it yet. If it's not bright enough I'll probably rig a maglight C or D cell flashlight some way and try that.

Tom Stormcrowe

You mean my tech pan stock is now a diminishing resource? I only have three rolls left!

By the way, I typo'd in my earlier post, I meant to type ISO 1000, not 100. I love the huge enlargements you can get without grain breakdown with the film.

Wogster

Yes, techpan is no more, however, there are some other films that may be just as useful. However some of them may require special chemicals and processing, but home film processing is easy, and requires a very small investment in equipment (under $100).

I you like B&W in general there is Ilford's traditional line, PanF (50ISO), FP4 (125ISO), and HP5 (400ISO), there is there T-Grain Delta line in 100 and 400ISO, and XP2 (400ISO) which uses C41 processing, same as colour film, works very well if you scan your film to digital. Low end labs like Wallyworld probably will screw up the colour balance on prints, giving them a toned appearance, because it doesn't have the orange mask.

Then there are the old school films, using formulas from years gone by, most of these come from Eastern Europe, examples are brands like Efke and Foma.

Then there are films like Bluefire Police, it's made in Canada, and requires a special developer, so it's strictly for home processing, and comes in 35mm only.

Other then the Ilford products, and I have used all of them at one time or another, I haven't used Efke, Foma or Bluefire, so I can't comment on how good they might be. I haven't shot anything on Kodak film since about 1978, except for the occasional roll of colour film. I tend to like textures and shadow details in photos, so I often shoot for shadow detail rather then colour, which then has colour getting in the way of what I actually want, so I then digitally remove the colour, as that usually works better for me. Well, I am off on a ride, debating about taking the Canon or not, I think I will

okra dictum

tpelle, that's a beautiful bike. Every time I see a Surly LHT, I just stare at it and yearn for one. I don't know what it is about that bike. Maybe it just has classic style and good lines.

I'm not so fond of the either of the colors currently offered by Surly for the LHT. I emailed them and learned that they don't plan to change the colors soon, so I'm guessing the 2008 will be offered in the same colors. Therefore, I'm considering buying the blue frame (or an unpainted one if it is possible) and having it custom powdercoated. Surly sells a decal set for all the logos and writing. Right now I'm thinking my LHT frame will be a bright lemony yellow or a more subdued but still lively metallic orange pearl. I'll probably go with the yellow, as it's my favorite color. I think either would be almost as fast as a red bike.

Aussie_Girl87

Welcome to cycling and the forum and congratulations on your new bike, im sure you will have many years of fun.

JumboRider

I love my Big Steal Blue Surly. I wish I would have gone with the drop bars, but I will remedy that in the future.

Nightcap

Congrats on the bike and welcome to the club!

I'm still getting used to the clipless "feet belts". Last weekend, I straddled my bike on the sidewalk outside my home, brought my shoe down on the left pedal and heard that satisfying little "click", and was about to push off when a little old lady walking her dog suddenly appeared beside me. I must have been so intent on lining up my shoe and the pedal that I didn't notice her approach. "Excuse me," I said, halting in my tracks, then realizing that the bike was tilting over to the left and that foot was securely attached!

Fortunately, I was saved from looking like a complete drooling idiot by my front fence...

Enjoy yourself!