RFC

I know that many on this forum have ridden any number of different C&V bikes on long rides.

I am curious to see what modifications you have made for distance riding, compact cranks, etc. I am thinking about a new project.

Thanks

abarth

Define long ride? I don't do anything special to my bikes for century or one day ride, other than extra water and food. I will take a bike with compact crank if the ride has a few thousand feet of elevation gain though.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Chubby Tires for comfort and I make sure both water bottles are filled. Having a bailout gear helps keep me from walking, so I try to take something that's got a nice 30ish or less Gear Inches on the Low end


Most important for me seems to be consuming enough fuel while in the saddle. I just don't particularly like to snack on things.

auchencrow

I ride every day but I am not really inclined to take tremendously long road-trips, but if I did - this is the one I would load up: A 1985 Maruishi TA18 Tour Ace. It has a very supple ride, nice wide randonneur bars, and great brakes. - Oh ! - and Pasela Tour Guard Tires!

This is also the bike that taught me to appreciate Vetta saddles: It happens to be the OEM spec, but wasn't on the bike when I acquired it. I immediately went looking for a "better" saddle, and the guy must have thought I said "vetta" saddle.

beech333

What do you mean by "long distance?" Touring, long one day rides .. fast paced, slow paced...what? I'd take any of my bikes on one day rides, but the speed would dictate the bike.

lonesomesteve

I've only had my 1982 Trek 311 for three months, but it's done a 200k already and a few other rides over 50 miles. I made some changes to make it more comfortable/functional for me on long rides. Some of the changes were made after I took this picture...

- Selle San Marco Regal saddle (in the picture it's wearing a Brooks B17 Imperial which wasn't working for me)
- Nitto "Noodle" handlebars (pictured here with the original SR bars that were a bit too narrow)
- Panaracer Pasela 27x1 1/4 tires
- Tektro brake levers (way more comfortable for me than the stock Dia-compe levers)
- Weinmann centerpull brakes (I like the feel of centerpulls a lot better than the stock Dia-compes in the picture)
- I added bosses for two bottle cages using good ol' Rivnuts (also added after the photo)

I'm using the stock drive train and find it just fine for hilly long rides (but then I do a lot of 200ks on a single speed, so I'm not too fussy about my cadence).

91MF

i just today received the frame and fork[thanks holiday76!] that i planned to build up as my long rides bike.

joaquin helped me unwrap.





1994 giant cadex ALR1. its pretty light.
it will be getting a full 2x7 105SC group. downtube shifted, of course.
i'll be using the indestructible/heavy deep v setup BOW[my LBS] built for me +two years ago and is still lazers.
im thinking i might need a slightly longer stem than the deda on there now.
black bartape/white hoods, because.
black post? i have but i put that scratched up titanium one on there because i was trying to offset the weight of the wheels. it doesnt want to really snug up tho. im afraid to tighten the integrated clamp any more than it is.
this build is all parts bin, i only need to go get some cables and housing.



probably not everyone on heres 'cup of tea' [1994, aluminum] but im excited. i'll post a finished pic when its done.

triplebutted

Vintage for me needs to go 70's and under. 80's and above, I've ridden lots of bikes since '82. Lots. So when I see it, I'm ummm, "hey, I used to ride that". So it isn't much of a vintage for me. More like "I wonder what I did with that bike....."

Man, those are some thick tires on that Maruchi!

That Cadex is bad ass. My kids were growing up in the 90's so I missed a lot of those early 90's bikes.

91MF

yea im a youngster. i was in 9th grade when the cadex was new. i was into skateboarding so all this stuff is new to me.

RFC

Interesting that you are looking to a vintagish carbon. I have to say that among my C&Vish bikes, my 92 Trek 2300 set up with a compact crank, 9-speed, and bar ends is the best long ride. BTW, what is a good source for 7-speed cassettes?

91MF

actually the ALR1 is an aluminum frame, you are thinking of the CFR series.
i have a CFM MTB frame but i'm giving it to a co-worker as he already has one. two is always better than one.
i love those treks and the specialized epics. people are too afraid of old carbon. seriously, if you dont take it off jumps you will be fine.
good source for 7-speed cassettes? online? i dunno. i have 4 NOS HGs in boxes in the basement. i scored them from a local bike shop.

Bianchigirll 

my Celeste Proto is the only bike in my current lineup that have done rides close to and over 100mi on. at the timeit still had the Chorus RD and retrofriction shifters, and gel turbo. I did long 80 to 100 mi group rides and a few solo 100milers on it.

jan nikolajsen 

Up to a century, plus/minus, I can use any of my rides (which are all pre 85'ish), but beyond that? My experience here is limited, although I must believe that the 'randonneur' inspired bikes are the ticket. With this I mean longer wheelbase, raised handlebars, luggage and bottle mods, etc.

I would also focus on less techy, simpler and more fool proof components, such as friction shifting, toe clips, loose ball BB's. But I would definitely use a cassette hub.

This is what I'm working on these days:

afilado

What a great looking kid. I love it!

J

mickey85

My vintage touring bike:


'84ish Nishiki Riviera GT. Completely original except B17, Bell Streetster tires (soon to be swapped for 27" Paselas), and temporary bar tape. As-is, I'd have few reservations about taking it from one end of the state to the other, but would appreciate another gear or two (it's a 3X5 now, would love to make it a 3X6 or 7).


'89 Fuji Palisade. This is my all-day long distance bike. Weinmann single-walled rear wheel, Shimano HG 6 speed freewheel, Shimano Tourney derailers front and rear (new-style), Suntour, friction/6/7 speed shifters (set to friction), Dia Compe brake levers, Araya front wheel, Shimano 175mm crankset wearing 28X36X48 rings, Brooks B17N, and Alongha dual pull calipers. The only thing stock on it is the frame, headset, bars, and stem. It's set up for all-day comfort, but the B17 has yet to break in and is killing my back. Thus, it's currently on the trainer. It's now rocking Cheng Shin 27X1-1/8 tires, as I can't fit any wider under fenders, but I'm wanting to go with Pasela 1-1/8 tires for the summer riding season.


Last but certainly not least:


Going fenderless here, but now rocking PB hybrid fenders, we have a 93ish Univega Activa Trail, sporting the original wheels, bars, and stem. Dia Compe brake levers, Shimano cantilevers (though I'm wanting to go with V-brakes and Tektro V-brake levers). Suntour ratcheting bar-end shifters, Kenda 700X38 tires, and mostly stock Suntour XCM drivetrain, with the exception of the triple. I pulled the threading out of the drive side, and swapped the whole deal out with a cheapy crankset from an X-mart brand Mountain Bike. Think it was a Mongoose... Anyway, it's last ride (which ate the original freewheel, BTW), was about 70 miles on paved/dirt roads, fire trails, swamp, etc. So I guess this is my LD cyclocross bike?

Oh yeah, and in May, I'm taking this guy 80 miles over two days:


Probably not very long distance, but for a 40lb English 3 speed, it seems a rather herculean task to undergo at once. Next year, I'll probably be taking the Lenton Tourist to the Pepin, assuming I can get the fork straightened...

RobbieTunes

This bike will do the Blue Ridge Parkway, 469 miles in 8 days. '92 PDG Paramount, OS Series 2 (frame only)

Thanks to bigbossman, it is now wearing a 75mm black Cinelli stem and zero-setback CF post.

Other than that, it is Bontrager cranked, new Tiagra 3x9 with less than 5 miles on the wheelset, tires, or drivetrain.



Uh, and 2 bottle cages. I'm going to use a larger seat bag and backpack the rest.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

will you sleep in a room or carry a tent?

rat fink

This is my long distance bike:

rat fink

Good to see you are still getting some use of the Series 2, Robbie!

RFC

Robbie, I was waiting to see the Paramount. I would love to ride the Blueridge. I road a great deal in Chapel Hill during the two years I was there on my 82' black and red Univega Via Sport.

redxj

83' Nishiki Seral formerly touring bike turned randonneur:

shorthanded

that can't seriously be your saddle/bar setup, can it?

rat fink

It can.

Peter_B

My Mondia on a five day credit card tour from SF Bay area, across the central valley and up Sonora Pass (shown here) and then south and across Tioga Pass and back to SF bay area...

DRietz

This is my long distance bike. It isn't necessarily C&V, but it is Tange Prestige and it has some pretty legendary components (Mavic SSC Classics):


It has rack and fender mounts for when I feel like I don't need to race around everywhere.