Which bike should I take this time?
 

Okay, here's your chance to speak up!

We will soon be heading off to Acadia Natl Park and will take the tandem plus one of my solo bikes. The question is, which one? I'll probably ride at least one long day, 2 loops around the Park Loop Road (each loop 1200ft climbing, 16miles) plus a run up Cadillac Mt (1000ft, 3 miles up and one awesome ride down). I've done that run on the Raleigh, the Bianchi, and last year on the Masi. I'm tempted to take the Centurion this year. It's a bit heavier than the Bianchi or the Masi, but has a deeper low gear IIRC, and a 72.5mm crank which makes a 28T cog feel like a 29T.

I've decided that the priorities are different for this run than for most road riding. For example, the light feeling of the Masi doesn't mean as much as it would on, say, a ride of 75+ road miles. The pavement is perfection smooth so a soft ride isn't important. Climbing ability is essential. Stability at speed is essential. Oh, and did I mention brakes? The turns are sweeping, never tight.

But when you get down to the bottom of the brass tacks, the real issue is all about style. :thumb:

What say you? Justify your answer!

Take the blue one. I like blue.

+1

I would take the Masi.

I would push it and see what the bike feels like on those "sweeping" turns at speed.

Get on it a bit. :)

Ride the carriage roads on 23's....

You've got to take the Centurian Jim. Just think of how the colors will clash with the foliage!

was there just a few weeks ago. lotta ppl on bikes, thought i should have brought mine too.
could be some fall leaves beginning there already. enjoy!

the sunset i took from the top of Cadillac Mt.
http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws...0ae904d4_7.jpg

Beautiful, orangeology!

Jim, a trip up that mountain is a great "baptism" for any new build, so take the centurion:)

Agreed!

Top

Ironman, a baptism by fire for your latest acquisition. I'd take it just to have comparison reference.
The sporting nature of the Centurion, and the slightly lower gearing show provide a satisfying experience.

Okay, that settles it. It must be the C!

I checked the Centurion's gearing and it turns out (1) my memory isn't quite what it was, and (B) the gears aren't quite what I thought. The Centurion runs 39T front and 32T rear, not the 34T I thought I remembered. Which means they aren't so different from all my other bikes.

34/28
42/34
39/32

And in any case, that crank makes the 32 seem like only a 32.4, not so different and proof that I can be a dolt occasionally. :o

Orange, that's a great pic!

And shelby, I could run the carriage roads on the Masi's 23s, and then go Bang! That would be me falling. Or a tire popping. Or it might go Bang! Bang! which would be a tire popping followed by me falling. :bike2:

In homage to the upcoming fall colors I did take the Centurion. A report is here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...3#post16084773

However there wasn't much fall foliage just yet. It was a great trip!

Pics or it didn't happen!

(What are the crank arm lengths of the other bikes?)

There are pics over in that other thread. But if you insist...

Also the other cranks are 170, and this should have said 172.5. What's 100mm between friends? Or between feet, for that matter? :D

FWIW, I did use that 53T chainring. Biggest gear in the stable.

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/...Bar_Harbor.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/...ar_the_top.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/...at_the_top.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/..._and_water.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/...Eagle_Lake.jpg