Today I did my first ride in bib shorts! Finally no more numbness in the saddle area :p.

Dave

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d4916a701.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...410e75cce9.jpg

Haha I remember my first ride with bibs. Relevant:
https://media.giphy.com/media/ywfNVrRNrVhC0/giphy.gif

nice craftsmanship as per usual [MENTION=175049]mouse[/MENTION]

[MENTION=175049]mouse[/MENTION], you're doing a lot of cool stuff. I think it's great that you build stuff yourself instead of just buying everything off the shelf. I try to do the same, within the bounds of my skills and available equipment. It really makes the whole biking experience more rewarding, doesn't it?

Thank you sir!!

Thanks! You're absolutely right! For me, half the fun of cycling is making parts and building bikes! That's where you can really make them your own and express your personality. It's probably why I (and probably most everyone here) enjoy anything custom, be it bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc. It's fun to see and talk about what someone has done to their 'project'. It definitely makes bicycling more rewarding when you work on it yourself, and that can be on any level of wrenching!

I kinda want to do the same with a TT bike, spend a lot of time sourcing cheap parts and make a project out of the build. If something needs repair, all the better. I want to start by getting a proper fitting session with a fitter in LA who will give you a range of frame dimensions that will work for your body instead of a bike shop fitter where the whole experience will be tilted towards purchasing one of their off the shelf products.

The race wheels will be expensive/no way around that but the rest of the bike should be do-able for pennies on the dime compared to purchasing a new TT bike, which is prohibitively expensive for me.

See below for a link of a thread like that from the Road Racing forum. This guy picked up a free frame with chipped/cracked carbon fiber and went as far as repairing the carbon himself!

https://www.bikeforums.net/33-road-b...a-buildup.html

Heck yeah man! That's where its at. You totally should, I'd subscribe ;)

Ha! Well maybe 2019 is the year to do it, just gotta start with that fitting session and then I'm off to the races (pun intended)

That's the only way to go about it when you're moving to TT. Those bikes are weird. The riding position--and therefore the frame geometry and many of the components--are not like any other bike. But you already knew this, and that's why you want to do it right.

Yeah, I appreciate the advice though. What I know is from reading, talking to teammates who do TT, and volunteering at the local TT series around here. So I don't have any actual experience.

TT is a good time, much more low-key than mass start racing. No egos/attidues, low energy, everyone is just doing there own thing. At the Fiesta TT series I have literally started 13 year old girls on mountain bikes 30 seconds before state champs decked out with all the latest gear. It's a positive atmosphere and everyone gets cheered for.

I race 1-2 TT's per year as part of multi-day stage races, most notable Valley of the Sun in Southern Arizona. But I'm on my road bike which means that I am not at all in contention for the win of the stage, and therefore the overall. I'm there to race as a teammate and just experience it b/c stage races are a great experience. It's awesome to focus on nothing but bikes for three days with your buddies.

I've tooled around for 10 minutes at a time on TT bikes that belong to friends, and even with regular road kit and helmet those suckers MOVE. Once you turtle your head, drop your shoulders and get up towards threshold, the speed compared to a regular bike is astonishing and quite literally a blast.

All of that can vary quite greatly. A USA Cycling TT will be more formal in that it will be categorized by racing level (cat 1/2/3/4/5), gender, and age-grades. Sometimes that's it. Some local TT series (like the one in San Diego) aren't USAC sanctioned and have more interesting categories, like Merckx (no TT bikes allowed/drop bar only), tandem, and even TTT (3,4 or 5 man). Distances can vary as well but at San Diego they offer 20k (most popular) and a full 40k for those that are truly masochistic. Merckx could be the most interesting to you.

I'm not sure what the scene is like out in Az minus the VoS TT which is USAC and out in Phoenix. I'm not even sure if they let you register for the TT only versus the whole stage race which is expensive. Look into it and give it a whirl! It's all about personal improvements and personal bests. The best situation is you find a recurring series and each time you can try something a little different with equipment and pacing and see how it works for ya.

The Merckx sounds like my cup of tea indeed. I'll have to give the gentleman I mentioned before a buzz. He'd have more than enough information to throw at me for sure!

It is nice and sunny out today so I went for a short ride this morning to the local diner. My knee still feels funky but it's ok after getting warmed up.

I'm glad I got this townie rig rolling because chill is my top speed right now :D
https://i.imgur.com/ETmoN31.jpg

Looks great [MENTION=159729]hairnet[/MENTION]

I'm not familiar with brooks saddles, did you drill the holes yourself?

^^^ Strong like bull!

The ones with springs come with the holes punched and tied. It helps keep the sides of the saddle from flaring out and the saddle from sagging. I've done it for people with old B17s that were sagging and flaring, seems to help well enough.

I think the little 15t cog knew I would never use it on a bike if it came off so it fought me to stay on. lil' bugger! lol

That's cool, Makes sense. There are a lot of those tired, old, saggy saddles here in southern AZ. lol! I had a b17 years ago (only brooks I've personally owned) but I really liked the swift. My father is a skilled knife maker, and his sheaths are quite beautiful too. With his help I trimmed and conditioned my brooks b17 to mimic the swift. Wish I had that saddle still, not to use, but for the nostalgia of working with Dad.

Anywhoo, beautiful townie! Looks comfy and fun :thumb:

It's not just the springy ones. I have one on solid rails, with a relief cutout (I think it's an Imperial model), and it came with the holes and laces--three different colors!

Very cool. I want to try my hand at some knife making and I have gathered some of the necessary equipment to do it blacksmith style. I just need a good belt sander and probably a tempering oven.

I have seen people do that in the C&V forum. Do you think you can do it again? I have a new copper riveted B17 that could be given some style points with a trim :D