It looks sweet. I thought you were a triathlonist or triathlonete (or whatever you call them) or a time-trialist with your setup. Don't get discouraged just because everybody on this forums hates. I don't drive a nice car, but I can appreciate a nice car -> the new Nissan GTR (discuss). I don't have a nice bike, but can appreciate a nice one.

your bike is perfect...


for this forum in that it gives everyone an opportunity to abuse someone for their foolishness. for trying way too hard and failing. for claiming to not care what random internet people think but starting a thread. for that colored chain, and not having enough skill and/or confidence to ride with proper foot retention. for compiling an array of expensive components into a suspect eyesore. and for cheapo vanity tires. etc.

yes perfect. thank you

52/16 single speed with no rear brake and platforms as a commuter? You ride on "real ****ty roads" so you buy a set of cheap 700x23 tires and put them on a tri bike? This is what you've learned in 20+ years of cycling?

Good call on pulling the hipster card though. It's like totally the ultimate comeback when you don't have a goddamn clue what you're doing.

I strongly disagree. The point is that you should learn to use BOTH front and rear brakes properly and use them accordingly depending on the situation and how the bike reacts to braking input.

As for just having a front brake, yes it can be used to the point that the rear brake is rendered ineffective but even if you never use the rear it's good to have as a backup in case the front fails for some unforseen reason.

Sweatypants... nice bike, by the way, even though I'd add a rear brake or turn it into a fixie just for piece of mind.

thanks man. i appriciate it.

nobody said the word commuter anywhere. its not my fault you A) can't read, and B) have little itty bitty weak girl legs under your girls jeans and you can't press down on a big boy gear. i spent 95% of my time in 53/17 and 53/15 on the 9 speed, so i picked a similar gear ratio. that's not rocket science. i don't need to ride a 46/18 when i can leg press 650lbs. i like a workout since its used in place of running which i also already mentioned. nice try tho. i need a rear brake for no part of any ride i do. platform issue was already address, nice reading again. as was the low tpi lasting longer on ****ty pavement, nice reading AGAIN. your mommy must be proud of you doing so swell.



and thanks bass, i know where you're coming from. i also know that on a sportbike the rear brake adds about 6% if that to overall braking power, and i also race motorbikes and cars, and i understand the benefit of trail braking into a turn with the rear brake to help rotate and control angle of attack relative to an apex, and i do no sort of biking remotely close to dragging knees around a turn at 80mph. but, i do understand your position, just don't think i'll need it is all.

i dunno why people associate clipless pedals with bike control. rather its just the opposite, otherwise your feet would lock onto the pegs of a motorcycle too, but wait... gasp! your feet shift while turning... what a revelation!

man this thread got ****ty really fast.

for the record, I don't think your bike is ugly, at all. If I didn't know it was a single speed, I would like it a lot more. And I don't believe I said anything about having more control in a turn, the reason behind my "adding a rear brake" is for the "oh sh1t" factor. I have heard of front brake failing so to me, it just seems to add another safety factor.

Like I said, the colors look good, I have a black/red/white fetish too. Red/Black combo is my favorite color scheme. Maybe not the white tires, but the fork and frame match well, very eye pleasing. I considered the same fork for my road build, but gave up due to its weight. The only thing I can think of that adds a little "zing" would be a pair of Ksyrium ES. The red spoke should do well with the frame and fork.

Have you considered a white saddle?

I still think it can be improved on, coughfixedcough.

edit: I really hope you're fast. "cause if I saw you riding down the street on that, you can bet I'd come up and see just "how fast" you are. Although given your choice of gears, I hope I'm on my geared bike.

it's the Hummer of single speeds

hahahaha yea. what i wouldn't give for some ES's. they cost new almost what i paid for this entire setup tho, i will have to hold in that department. but i do agree the hubs and spokes would be a nice touch. i was thinking about disassembling the wheels to get or paint the spokes red, but i didn't wanna mess up true wheels and go thru all that.

and as the saddle... i really truly did consider it. i had to give up tho. i went thru 4 saddles until i found one that was really comfortable for me. and sadly its not offered in white to the best of my knowledge, i think only the girls version that comes on some women's madone bikes is the only version in white of this saddle.

fixed... well... hahaha not really my thing at this present time, maybe some day.

i dunno how fast i am... but i push hard my entire ride usually. who knows.

Reading through this thread makes me realize why the mods always threaten to shut down this forum.

To the OP: How do you like the T2-Cobras? I was looking to get a set but don't know if the $100 prem over the Aluminum T2-Wings is worth it.

IMHO, a tall HS spacer (like the one below) and a zero deg rise stem would make the bike look a little better.

i'm thinking zero degree as well. i'ma ride it a bit first tho. i snatched this one off the kona, so it wasn't matched up with the headtube angle or anything first. worst comes to worst i'll just sell the Thomson and get the exact same one in zero degree and eat the $15 loss on it being used or whatever.

and as far as the Cobra bullhorns... they basically have the same shape as the alum T2 ones which coincidentally the guy i sold my Ultegra crank and carbon wheels too just got for his Litespeed build. honestly... these feel like they are 1/3rd the weight of the alum ones. its very noticeable in your hand. his cost him like $60 at a LBS cause he didnt wanna wait. i got mine new for $100. So if you can find a deal, i think the carbon ones are worth it.

i just want to see you "jump" off your bike when you sense danger... lol

people that are afraid to ride clipless, or even clips, are not cyclists and belong on hybrids and cruisers w/ tassles. NUT THE **** UP.

WIN

I have to admit that I was starting to feel bad for sweatypants cause everyone was picking on him. I forgot where I was.

Foot retention

Seriously, I rode in toe clips for about a year or so before switching to clipless, and during that year I never had any problems with toe clips. Now that I'm clipless I have to say that I find it even EASIER to get my feet off the pedals. You had might as well throw some reflectors onto your spokes to match those platforms.

maybe i'll throw some random cards and flyers in there so i can be fixie-fantastic. zzzzzap!

you don't have to feel bad, its a bunch of feeble dorks acting internet tough. i'm hardly losing sleep over it. bored at work... passing the time here, atleast it gives me something to read.

people that ride clipless are too uncoordinated to keep their feet on the pedals without an aid. you're from idaho dmo... life must be sad enough as it is, i don't wanna make you feel any worse so i'll stop.

not acting internet tough, just pointing out your douchiness, i'd do the same thing if you were standing right here next to me..

as far as being from Idaho, wouldnt give it up for anything, Ive been to dc and seen what it has to offer.. in fact I can bet I've been more places in the last year than you have in your life.. and yet I still come back here. i am happy though, that you would rather you stay on that side of the country where you belong... maybe you could fly tedd shredd out there and you guys could ride together.. he took his front brake off too!

That must be why all professional and most amateur cyclists use clipless, right?

You don't happen to own a kitana, do you?

ive been listening to boston for the past hour.

A couple comments. First, I'll side with you on the gear ratios. I rode 52/16 singlespeed with platforms for 2 years as my commuter at school. Some of the steepest hills got me pretty winded but it wasn't much of a problem. 650lbs is a lot to leg press so I'd say that you're fine. Plus it sounds like you wont be taking this bike on many 60 mile rides.

Many people ride singlespeed with only a front brake. I've done so for probably 5k miles without an incident where the one brake wasn't sufficient. My possible luck and stupidity doesn't OK your own but you've got my vote.

I believe your argument citing motorcycles as evidence against the control offered by clipless pedals is flawed. I have not ridden a motorcycle so correct me if I'm wrong. First, many modern clipless pedals offer varying degrees of float so you can in fact turn your feet if you feel that will aid you in turning. Second, much of the mass in a motorcycle/cyclist is concentrated in the motorcycle, whereas the bicyclist makes up the majority of the mass when on a bicycle. (especially with a 15.6 lb bike like yours.) This changes the physics of the turn. Because it is so light, the bicycle requires the positive connection found with clipless pedals. Third, while you may be able to press your legs against the body of the motorcycle to aid in control, this is more difficult with a bicycle so you are relying on your shoe/pedal connection more, especially when out of the saddle. Fourth, it is often desireable to continue pedaling while turning or maneuvering so while not using clipless on the stationary pegs of a motorcycle may be fine it is not fine when you are pushing hard on a moving pedal. Your feet are more likely to slip off at undesireable moments, precipitating injury.

Please do not believe that riding clipless is dangerous or for the uncoordinated. Doing so would be foolish. I'm not going to argue the point any more but I will refer you to the search function for the forums. Many new riders post on BF with the same misguided notions about foot retention and they have been answered thoroughly hundreds of times.

Also, you made another dumb reference to fixie hipsters. Lashing out wildly when you are criticized only makes your position seem more untenable and you yourself seem incompetent. I'm sorry for being biting, but this is the internet after all.

You should join dcfixed.com as you are in the city.

I can't tell if you completely missed the sarcasm in his post or not.

Was just wondering what you weigh - it puts the strength in perspective. I don't doubt you, if you ride that gear then you're fit, there really isn't a discussion.

I'm just curious.

I can legpress around 900 - but I also weigh 280 so it's not as impressive as it would be if I weighed 180. I need every little bit of strength to haul my fat ass up a hill

Pat Robertson can leg press 2000lbs, you guys are weak.

Bike looks great!

I love the color scheme and matching components!
Keep it up

Dude you ****ing suck. Great story, you *****ed your way into a really ****ing expensive bike that sucks.

Your a silly little Pokemon. Go shoot sparks somewhere else.