I dunno about the Gitane properly yet. I'm getting fitted tonight (Whoop!) and hopefully can convince LBS guy to let me have it early (off lay-buy). But the little test rides I've had on it were amazing compared to the old crate! I can't believe how much go the modern bikes have got, and relatively cheap too. The Tiagra one should be about $800-900 and is a good entry level sports-tourer in the same class as the old Bennet was. Mine is (mostly) 105 equipped and is in the $1500-1600 bracket. I think the frames are similar, just the groupset and other bits make the price difference.

My Bennet was set up for entry level racing. Full Suntour ARX equipped. I replaced dereilleurs with Campy Super Record, but some moron overtightened the front dereilleur's collar and it fatigued (replaced with Shimano Ultegra). I'm still using the original hubs and brake calipers! Bike has done about 80000 over the years (its 22 this year) but it's on its last legs. Soon to be retired to wet weather training.

Ooo MILFs.

Ah, a local. Just what I need. So is it worth me driving all the way from bathurst to have a look at
The Bike Shop?

Oh god yeah. Take Bells Line of Road, then navigate your way onto Wiseman's Ferry Road. Take the old road down into Woy Woy (turn right at the Shell Servo on Kariong Hill). About 5 hours of pure driving pleasure. Once you get to Woy Woy there's only desolation I'm afraid. And a few wild boar.

BUT If it's bike shops you are going to have a look at use yellowpages new map based search before you go. Click on 'Map-based Search' tab, enter Suburb: Woy Woy Business Type: Bike, then pick the right options. On the map you can hover over each shop to get details. Very cool.

OI......this isn't 'back of beyond' monthly ya know!

Sorry, I don't know anything about the Bicycle Store though. Every time I ride past it it's closed (4:30am )

Woy Woy is a nice, laid back little hamlet. Nice seafood at the co-op on brick wharf road.

Sorry, I was keeping within the tone of the thread by doing my best impersonation of the Leyland Brothers

Coool, a new guy that I can tell about my Cervelo......

It's red, it's steel, it's shiny.......

...only joshing....where the hell is Woy Woy anyway?

Where Spike Milligan lived, right before put on his gravestone: "told you I was sick"

Sorry....that's a bit old

Yeah, haven't punted anything up the bells line for probably 10 years. I heard it's all speed limited crap now though.

Damn, there's heaps of shops there about. Are they all good shops with a good range on the floor? Or are some better than others? Or are they all crap?

But yer a local?

4:30 hrm? Don't tell me you're one of those riders that buzz about in the early hours of the morning on their BMX's nicking things or busting stuff up? (Or do we only have them here? )

Don't mind those bloody Mexicans. They've been hanging around these seppos so long they're seeing the world like them. Actually, it wouldn't suprise me if they thought the seppos just lived in the next town along.

What's a Cervelo? Is that like a merkin?

....smells of fish & the back steps out when you sprint,.....we know, we know!

Hitchy

Howdy Lads. Me again. Weather's been awesome for the last 5 days. Went for a run/swim yesterday morning with a few triathlon hacks and can't move today. (must remember to NOT stop drinking beer abd do excercise while on holidays). Am suffering all over today.

Anyway, the good news is that we 'had' to stop half way round the state forest walking track to Hells Gate yesterday due to a photo shoot on the rocks below. Miss November was being photo'd and she took 35 minutes to take off ALL her clothes. Hhhhmmmm, almost Brazilian!! Also, I don't care if they weren't real! Bad news is that I didn't have the camera (due to running with the hacks) so can't send them to anyone.

I'll take the camera to Hastings street this afternoon and see if I can't get some pici's.

Pete

geezz wattsy...a real mate woulda sprinted back...got the camera & got some shots!......for your sins you are hereby sentenced to read every post to this thread for the last 2 weeks.....(that oughta make things shrink back to normal!)

hitchy

Miss November huh?? You'd have to just about rub one out right there if you stumbled across sh1t like that.....awesome!!!!

Has anyone seen Ultegra 10-speed on any bikes at their LBS yet?

My LBS told me today it would be around January by the time it arrives.

Shimano had it on their stand at the Melbourne Bikes show...but I aint actually seen it on a bike. even the bikes at the show that had Ultegra 10 in the 05 spec, didn't actually have it. I guess that means you wait!

Hitchy

Very similar, but made in Canada.

Can I just say, for the record, that I HATE carbon, think it's cheap looking SHÎT, and only SHEEP who have to ride what their heros are PAID TO RIDE and don't give a CRAP about fit, craftsmanship, or ride would ride it.

Oh, sorry, unless you're Hitchy ( mostly coz he could whup me on or off the bike, most likely )

All this talk 'should I buy carbon?' or will it 'magically dampen the ride?' or 'I'm too fat and slow to loose a pound off my arse, should I buy a Madone?' threads are making me barf my breakfast.

Anyway, I'll stop now. I feel an embarassing overreaction coming on

Hooray for Fridays.

I'm with you bro.

Reports from Interbike and the Melbourne trade show indicate that you will learn to love carbon (apparently). In fact Interbike was reported at wall to wall carbon.

I don't trust the stuff myself as it is only strong in the direction of the weave, but I have to place my trust in the manufacturers to get it right. BTW: RBR reported a couple of carbon items being recalled last month (handlebars and summint else).

I wonder how badsac is going on his road trip...

Hey Hitchy,
I'm new to this forum, but you seem to know what you're talking about. I'm just about to buy a bike, and i was checking out the under $700 thread, but thats most relevant to those Yanks. Here in Australia everything's a little different, and I think somewhat more expensive. Could you give me a hand in working out what would be a good bike to get? I'm after a road bike, under $1000. Cheers.