Took the new bike for a ride today. Fark it was slow. Bloody squishies. Should have bought another roadie.

oh no!! really? Surely they'd swap it for something else

Bought it at a VIP night where they were giving 20% off everything in the store. At the time they had a track bike in there as well, but that went pretty fast. Not that there's anywhere really to ride a track bike out here except around one of the cricket grounds. Still, don't think there'd be much chance of getting another bargain if I did swap it.

I think I'll wait until I get to poke it down a rocky dirt track to pass final judgement. But the things slow as buggery on the tar, that's for sure. That wont help when I'm trying to tour around NZ on the thing.

Still, I've never ridden a bike I didn't think went ordinary on first acquaintances. Takes a while for me to work into them. That's why I think it's bullshat when everyone spews out "ride the farking thing" when people ask questions about potential ownership of bikes. They all suck for a start.

ah well, you can always change the tyres to 'slicker' ones

Already put the slicks on from my old thing. Should help a bit. Lockout works okay to but doesn't lock it out completely, so lose a bit there as well. Rigid fork will help when I go touring.

Lot more comfy than the Roubaix at least.

Saccy, here is what you do to a mountain bike to make riding it more palatable Just gotta get some slightly skinnier tyres.....

lol. It's a giant as well. On second thoughts, some drops might make her a better touring rig. Something to keep in mind.

ooh, not bad.

is that a Rolls seat?

saccy, NZ should have plenty of dirt roads, you'll be glad you bought it once you start hitting crappy roads. Plus the MTB upright position will be comfy on long hauls.

won't you need wheels, and a seat, maybe some bars on that Cinelli for the "good days" ?

It certainly looks nicer than the other thing. Where's your Boony sticker?

PShaw, CCO-MTB dates are coming out on the site, first race is listed... and I cannot make it.

MEN

'A' Grade 4 Laps
'B' Grade 3 Laps
'C' Grade 2 Laps
'D' Grade 2 Laps

Round 1 February 5
7 km track

It is, a really really old one.

Ah, now I understand. But it only takes a few minutes to cook a steak on the barbie. Cooking for one does suck though. Local takeaways normally get a hammering when those occasions arise.

Yup, and 30 minutes to prepare the bloody thing, and 10 minutes cleaning afterwards. That kind of timewasting is best left to moments when you have a couple of mates around and plentiful amounts of beer on hand

My brother had one of those on his Ti Merckx until just recently. Changed it to an Arione after trying mine out. I think he got sick of everyone hanging it on him about the "old skool" Rolls.

Had a ripper cruise down the highway this morning.

Got stuck behind one of those Hi-Ace taxis. Man they suck. Literally. And the dude was driving super smooth so I got a nice 60kmh ride for just over 8 kays. I love days like that

What is this cleaning of which you speak? Isn't that done while warming up the BBQ next time you use it? Unless you have gone to the trouble of marinating the meat etc I suppose, that means serious mess.

Cleaning is one of the most important aspects of cooking a BBQ. If done well it will mean that all the last minute meal preparation hassles and fuss are left to the womenfolk (god bless 'em). I've been known to take over 30 mins to clean the barby, especially if the cricket's on and the beer is cold.

found this great citrus barbie de-greaser at Bunnings last week....spray on, sip a coldie, rinse off on the grass with hose.

Brilliant.

mmmmmbeer...

Probably works just as well on your bike at 20% of the cost of stuff you buy at the LBS

Unless of course you live in Sydney's eastern subs. You get the water police around after someone rings and dobs you in for turning on the hose.

Yeah, they're not much into a bit of hose action of late

Expat's all over this one...

https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/168541-sometimes-there-nothing-you-can-do-close-call.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/168810-those-ss-fg-guys.html

Oh geez.