Heathpack 

Benson has a blog?

BillyD

They raise up on their hind legs and just effortlessly spring over 6', like a gymnast. I have electric fence to 8' .... they don't eff with Mr BD's property anymore.

BillyD

I share that ethic.

3alarmer 

.. @rpenmanparker, a dark horse in the snark off, comes out of nowhere and challenges for the lead. It's been an amazing race so far folks. Now back to our studio.

BillyD

Post it any way you like and tell the critics to go punk themselves if they don't like it.


You go Benson!


You go Heathy!

3alarmer 

...they're just trying to get you to relax and let your guard down, then, whammo, your apple tree is browsed and your rose bushes are bare stubs.

Heathpack 

Planet of the Apes was ok. It was trying to be a little deep & philosophical, but I'm not sure how realistic that it when you're dealing with a movie about talking apes. Mr H is so supportive of my cycling insanity, however, that I'm ok with going to whatever movie has explosions. He really like explosions. Fine by me, I get a bike, he gets a movie with explosions, I think I've come out ahead.

I don't mind either about the $ question. If I got ripped off at least that will be a lesson learned. So I don't even care if people chime in that I got ripped off.

I paid $2500 for the bike, no saddle. It was supposed to include the seatpost but not the stem. However, I used my saddle & that extra BMC seatpost I have, so I didn't take the guys seatpost when I took the bike for the test ride. They also swapped out an 80mm stem for his 100mm. So I am just keeping that stem and he is keeping his seat post.

To remind yall of the details:
2013 Madone 4 series frame, purchased in Nov
2011 Bontrager XXX Lite wheels (LBS says nice enough wheels, not what they'd sell me now, but nice enough)
Panaracer Race A tires
Ultegra 6700 groupset, except the Rotor cranks (mismatched, looks a little weird)
IRD B2 Carbon bar.
I think that's the salient features.

To put together a similar bike through Trek now would be about $5500 and a 6 week wait, no discounts on special builds like this.

Mechanic at LBS said all in good shape, needs new brake pads and ideally tires (which I would have done anyway, I want 28mm tires on it). I may put shorter cranks on it, I'll have to see what fitter says, and I'm not sure the bar shape will work for me, the drops are lower than Im used to and I had some hand numbness on todays long descent, but I really like the shape of the tops, so maybe fitter can fiddle with rotating the bars or maybe I can learn to ride in lower drops. But to ride this bike & have fun requires very little. I was thinking I would change the gearing too but now I'm don't think I'm going to, at least not right away.

Hopefully I did not get majorly ripped off but I am fine with hearing feedback on this. I really like the kid who was selling it, so if I was ripped off, I will just tell myself that I was contributing to his college fund.

rpenmanparker 

Uh oh! Sorry man. I didn't mean to expose you. Carry on.

BillyD

So you stayed and inhaled deeply, right?

surgeonstone

lol, the things one endures for loved ones. Congrats on the bike , looks purty sweet.

rjones28 

I don't remember which way I wrap my bars. I'm going to say, "whatever it says on the back of the tape box".

BillyD

qft

patentcad

I realize I'm dead to most of you, but let's not forget who started this stupid friggin thread.

So I'm fatter, slower, and I'm not racing these days, but I'm still riding daily. My knee is still awful cranky. I had ridden like 18 days straight, my knee was feeling very arthritic (had Synvisc shots again 8 weeks ago). So I figure I'd rest a day or two and see how the knee responds. 2 days off, then today 32 reasonably hllly miles and the knee felt MUCH better. Synvisc often doesn't kick in so great until a couple of months have passed, so maybe the knee will improve.

Playing a lot. Getting good gig traction. Learned that old David Crosby song this weekend 'Guinevere' after seeing those old cranks play it in concert @ the Beacon last Friday. Show was so-so, but it had its moments, great sound. Inspired me to learn that song, which isn't easy, tricky alt tuning finger style stuff, but once you learn to play it you sound like a Windham Hill studio guitarist just because the guitar parts on the song are so beautiful. I'll play that song out within couple of weeks, have to practice it to death. But I have it in my fingers now. Gotta get used to singing/playing it next. That song will kill live. I have NEVER heard anyone cover that properly in nearly 40 years of hearing bar bands, so it should go over well. Bear in mind that our audience is an older crowd. They will know the song.

Anyway, hoping the knee calms down and I can ride better now. Like I said, felt MUCH better today. 2 gigs this week. That is all.

patentcad

Also, you can all eat me.

rjones28 

Nice rack.

LAJ

No sweat. Everyone knows I ride around the block, or straight to the coffee shop and back. It's not like I'm nationwide or anything, but I figured you would have figured it out by now.

BillyD

Tell Mr. H to come quick and see. This is your typical CF explosion.

rjones28 

Naturally.. https://bensonthedog.wordpress.com/t...lish-sheepdog/

... and a Facebook page of course https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBenson?fref=nf

RollCNY

I rode my single speed for today's group ride. It throws down a gauntlet to some of the other guys who refuse to be bested by an SS. It usually makes for a fun ride, as I don't like to be beaten by gear users. I find them to be shifty.

3alarmer 

...the makers are frustratingly noncommittal. The rationale for doing it the way LOP described is that, generally, in the drops
your hands have a tendency to roll outward, thus pulling on the tape exterior in a direction that tightens it rather than loosens.


But on the tops, the tendency is to roll it forward, so in order to be tightening it you need to reverse direction at the hoods.

Honestly, though, the best bar taping is always done over a layer of 3M two sided poster tape that you buy at Office Depot in rolls
and apply the bars as a preliminary step. And the best finishing tape by far is Super 88 vinyl electrician's tape, which might even
come in colors ( i forget).

LAJ

My guy can fix that.

rjones28 

We already knew that about @LAJ.

3alarmer 

...so you prefer your shiftless way of life ?

RollCNY

Edge of Tomorrow ​was surprisingly entertaining, if someone wants an explody movie.

3alarmer 

.
...Spike Jonez recent "Her", now on disc for those of us who have theater phobias. The concept is quite striking. No explody bits, though.