patentcad

You'll have to dance, I'm in the band.

AlanS

I joined bike forum in the early Paleolithic Era, a scary and prehistoric time before the iPhone had been invented. The last time I poked my head in here, Mitt Romney was cementing a wonderful report with poor and middle class America. I’ve put about 70K on my DA Roubaix Pro during that period.

Upon sticking my head back in here, it’s comforting to know that absolutely *nothing* has changed on BF.

Since I’m hoping to ride my bike until age 103, I’m actually more interested in the pros/cons of TKR than whether I should upgrade to DI2 and disc brakes. Let us know if the TKR is a success.

patentcad

I'm 56.95 years old, 9.5 weeks post op on this TKR, started riding 2+ weeks ago, I have 250 miles on the TKR so far, including two ascents up Mt. Doom. My knee surgeon laughs the other day and says to me 'don't worry you're ahead of the curve on this'. A total knee replacement is a huge operation, but I did have about the best knee surgeon on the planet (in the 80s and 90s he did all the NY Giants/Jets major knee operations, he was the go-to guy) and I am in relatively good shape compared to most TKR patients.

So it's going great. Hoping to be riding relatively normally by early to mid November, at which point I'll consider myself recovered from the surgery. I'm about 80%+ of the way there now. The hard part is over. It was painful and it was tough, but it was easier than I anticipated. I have some experience in this regard, this was my third knee operation, in 1989 I and my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed, which is also a major knee surgery. I think this TKR may have been easier than that, which really has surprised me. Feels great all things considered. I think by Xmas it will feel like a normal knee. After only two months it is already getting there.

Bostic

A 50/34 crankset finally?

Save the money from the off road bike to feed your music habit.

patentcad

Anyway, buying some more bike crap always sparks my interest in cycling, that's why I do it every now and then. I have never had buyer's remorse in the past, I buy new stuff, it gets me motivated, I ride my bike more, I feel that it worked and I'm a happier camper. That has worked now for over a decade (I'm going on more recent memory here, I've been cycling daily for the better part of 25 years).

I've been doing this for a long time and this has always worked for me.

patentcad

I don't need any music gear, I'm set. I may someday go 50/34, but my guess is that's a long way off. I can get 53/39 to work fine, I'll have 11-25 on one set of wheels, then a more climbing oriented set with a 12-28 cassette.

B. Carfree

You trust your memory at your advanced age? Maybe you better put some post-it notes around to keep things straight.

patentcad

The IRS actuarial tables tell me I have 27 years left to live. As a Mets fan, that seem interminably long.

Reynolds 

I couldn't ride that bike even if I could afford it, I can't stand crosschaining.

ls01

Lets be honest, at his age post it notes are his memory.

B. Carfree

Not nearly as long as it is for a Raiders fan. At least the Mets occasionally win a game.

patentcad

Um, you can't cross chain on a bike with a single chainring in the front fredly. The gear ratios on the setup I'll have 38 in the front (stock is 32) and 10-42 in the rear will be about 22 inches on the granny side and 98 inches for the stiffest gear. That means you probably spin out on the bike @ about 23-25 mph. I ride it alone on the road and woods, that works. I figure a 22 inch gear gets me up almost all the stuff I'd actually consider climbing. No dropped/jammed front derailleur chain issues, super light, simple, that's why the pros are going that way. I was hesitant at first, but when I thought about it, I figured I'd swap the stock 32 front chain ring with a 38 and that will work fine for what I plan on riding with this bicycle. The more I thought about it, the more the simplicity appealed to me.

A 19.5 lb CF hardtail with a great front fork that you can lock out in stages with a thumbswitch with a simple 1 x 11 gear set up? Sounds great. I just wonder if the gear ratios on that 10-42 cogset will be spaced too wide for me. We'll find out.

10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36-42

With a 38 front chainring, I'll spend an awful lot of time on the flats in the six cogs 12-14-16-18-21-24, and those are spaced pretty evenly, so my guess is that it works great. Those front chainrings are a snap to swap out (a couple of bolts, no derailleur adjustments needed), so I may have a 36 and/or a 34 in the garage to substitute for rides where different gearing is preferable. Bike comes with a 32 stock, so I'll start with that and the 38 I buy.

halfspeed

Bob Dylan already did.

halfspeed

thump55

What does sleeping with my girlfriend have to do with your knee recovery?

a77impala

After seeing the gearing on that bike even my head is spinning!!
Post your average cadence!

Reynolds 

Of course that's a great setup - I was just being jealous.

banerjek

And you can always pop on that cassette with the 42 tooth from your other rig if that's not enough. You're well on your way to a wheel that requires no spokes.

banerjek

It was value engineered out -- you also get some savings from eliminating the FD, another ring, and the cable connecting them.

bikecrate

Whoa, for a second there I thought the tires were named Thunder Butt.

merlinextraligh

achoo's reference was a joke. It's impossible to be on BF for 5 years, accumulate 4300 posts, and not know who PCad is, even if you try.

JamesInSJ

I took the whole thread as a light hearted joke, and the subject was good enough for me to check it out and join in. :-)