This past Saturday I had some free time and did some exploring w/ my "new" Bianchi Randonneur. I rode about 25 miles and only about 2 miles were on paved surfaces, the rest were split between gravel rail trails, some jeep trails and some single track Everywhere I pointed the bike it went w/out any issue, from riding through fields (tractor paths), to rutted jeep trails to some semi technical single track w/ a few decent climbs. All this on the OG 27" 1 1/4" tires. Coming down rough descents required some finesse and restraint (as opposed to my MTB w/ 26x2.0 knobbies) but it was a blast and the looks I got from MTB'ers were priceless. All in all a great way to kill a few hours during a hot summer afternoon. I think I might try some bar end shifters and something w/ a little more tread (my tires are very dry and slick). I love my new bike!!!!

Pics to follow when I figure out how to upload pics from my cell phone

I am happy to hear you are enjoying that beautiful Randonneur but remeber is is a road bike not a cross bike. that fork may not like alot of abouse.

Thanks for the reminder.... I was creeping along over any rough stuff and don't plan on doing a great deal of off-roading w/ her. I definitely do NOT want to injure her in any way. I want this relationship to last a very LONG time!

Here are two pictures. I don't know how to upload them from my phone to the real internet....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1127172606
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1127172606

How I get pictures from my phone is kinda complicated, but it works.
Save yourself as a contact. Add your email address.
Send pictures in a picture message to said email address.
Save to computer.
Upload to web album (Facebook, Photobucket, Picassa, Flickr)
Copy link in [img] [/img] brackets on here.
Voila.

Anyways. Sounds like a fun day. Nice pictures, too.
-Gene-

Nice, but you're supposed to use an old EF Schwinn as a klunker! I've been considering building up a road bike for the same purpose you have. As Gene says, sounds like fun!

Check out some of these Jobst Brandt photos on some trails in California with a road bike and 25c tires: https://www.bayareabikehub.com/rides/past_rides.htm

(Unfortunately, it looks like as the result of a transfer to a new server, the slideshows are now inoperable. They had some great photos.)

Any bike, anywhere! I love it! I say take it where you want to and if you break it, well at least the bike had a great life!

Yeah, to hell with the nay-sayers. Ride the **** out of that bike.


(I mean, hell, it's named for a bike sport that was around well before paved roads!)

I have a decent Raleigh Record that I should sell but I'm not sure if I'm going to. My wifes parents have a cottage about an hour away in a great riding area (rail trails, single track etc....) so perhaps I'll put that together for a do everything bike and keep it there. Hmmm I have a MTB triple that needs a new home