Cycling (Road Bike) Thread

Wait until your body makes some more blood and you will get use to the altitude. it's normal because your body is basically anemic and will make more blood in the next coming month or so. And as far as brakes....just change them when they get low not sure what else to tell you. you can't really down shift on a bike

 

Here is my older cannondale road bike, in the past 2 months, i've lost nearly 40 lbs, and I am planning on using it to try to lose more (want to drop another 50-70). I believe it's fromt the mid 80s when they first started making the aluminum frames, or at least thats what I think.

I am planning on rebuilding the bike when I get home, it has old suntour down tube shifters and derailers, I figure you guys may be able to give me some advice on it.

I've got a budget of at the most 300 into it, the seat is already replaced (and the wraps). the tires are good, but the wheels are an outdated size

So, can I ask for advice on what I should do with it?

here is what I am currently planning on keeping on it:
seat and seat post (not seat in picture)
frame
fork

I will be getting cycling shoes so I will need pedals, and I dont want any downtube shifters...nearly killed myself already

thanks for the help

edit: I know that there is a chance that I would be better off getting a new bike, but the bike was my dad's before he died and would like to keep using it.

 

Wow great job loosing all that weight. Keep up the good work and u will loose the other 50-70 in no time.

 

thanks man, I hoping to keep about 10lbs a month up since I am starting school again, i'm hoping the bike will help with that. My goal is to be able to do century rides eventually.

scratch the original budget that I put up, I don't want to spend too much, but want a good bike in the end.

 

Wow that's awesome man! I wish I had more time to bike school and work are getting the better of my time and I learned my light isnt bright enough to see things at night (guess how I learned that one ) but with that being said:

does out dated wheels mean its hard to find tires? or they are just old and you want something new? if its the second one I would address the shifters because updating the wheels won't really matter if you hate having to reposition to shift

But check CL in your area. I found the shoes I posted on the lst page and got them today for 20$ I am sure there are parts floating out there. I am also on this forum which has helped me a ton and people rebuild classic bikes all the time.

 

Thanks man, I will check the forum out, if it is anything like here, i'll get plenty of help.

The tires for the wheels aren't hard to find, just not usually carried in stock so I have to order them from my LBS. I don't yet know what direction I'm gonna take the bike though. I'm either gonna keep it a 12 speed and upgrade it all or turn it into a single speed.

I lean towards the 12 speed. I suspect I will just end up changing all the components and then start riding.

I'm gonna have to start riding regardless though. All I know is that those down tube shifters have to go...nearly ate it because of them already

 

So what do you guys think about all this lance armstrong stuff? Do you think it was the right thing to do to strip him of everything? Do you think hes guilty of doping or what?

I am still on the fence. I know that say they have all kinds of evidence but never released it and he still have never failed a drug test. I dont think he should have been stripped of all his wins. I still think he is an incredible athlete.

 

Reminds me of the saints bounty scandle.

I think if they can't explain his achievements so they view it a 'super human' persay and no one can be that athletic.

I think if they are not willing to show its evidence and he has passed his drug tests then be is not guilty of anything.

But I have not really been following it to much, kind of busy with school and work

 

I say get new flight deck type shifters, pedals, maybe brakes & a reasonable wheelset and go more. Turning any bike into a single speed means it'll only get ridden here and there. Wind & terrain variations will keep most people from enjoying a single speed in most riding situations. There are exceptions but for the most part, any single speed bike I've owned got rode less often because you want to go faster or there's too much climbing or sand or mud & ended up riding a different geared bike more suited to the situation. If this is a 2nd bike or 14th bike then yeah, do it for the novelty of it but if you just have the one then I myself would update it reasonably or make it a single speed and buy a newer complete bike with features you want. Upgrading very many items will get you close to a full bike price quicker than you think, even doing the wrenching yourself. Just my .02 tho.............nice vintage Cannondale, btw.

 

Considering his entire team was caught doping and everyone else he rode against and the testimony's against him, and the evidence...Its hard to imagine he didnt dope. That being said I think it was a witch hunt by a dbag that was trying to make a name for himself and wasted a lot of tax payer money and hurt a huge charity.

Ive read a lot of stories where Lance has helped ppl with cancer, and ive read a lot where hes a big dbag. Either way with egos that big and so much money at stake, he pretty much has no choice to cheat. I just wish it wasnt the govt using tax payer money for this.

 

Picked up some pedals the other day, also off Craigslist

One thing I don't like about them is their weight balance, making them hang as they are.

I am guessing higher quality pedals are balanced better with that?

 

nope all Keo blade like pedals do that, should have got Speedplays

 

Eggbeaters can't do that..............they same same all the way around. Those in the pic may be balanced like that so the front of the pedal is always ready to catch the front of the cleat.

 

I got them for 20$ I guess I have no room to complain I have been interested in the egg beaters also or maybe double sided pedals (maybe being single sided is what really bugs me ) . when I wear these out I am definitely going to get a legit pair of pedals though and shoes.

On a side note, are cycling socks really needed with the shoes?

 

Got a 2010 Specialized Roubaix and freakin' love it!

 

Who doesn't love their bike

But anyone have experience with forte shifters? The only thing I don't love about my bike are the sora shifters

Thinking about picking up a set of these or maybe some nashbar ones if they work with a 3 speed crank.

 

The LBS had some great sales yesterday, and I picked up a Cannondale Teramo helmet for just about half off, a new Camelbak, and I decided to finally go clipless. Picked up some pedals and shoes. Just got home from my first ride being clipped in. Did 20 miles and I didn't fall over! It wasn't as big a difference as I thought it was going to be. I have however been practicing these last few weeks not getting off my platforms, or only taking one foot off just to get ready for when I did go clipless. I think that that practice really helped out as I felt confident out there today.

 

You only fall over at the most embarrassing times. When you come up to stop at an intersection make sure to get one foot out.

 

I think I'm one of the few people who tried clipless and then went pack to platforms. I fell once or twice getting used to them, no big deal, but the last straw for me was shifting to the small ring (I use a triple cause I'm old and slow) and the chain overshot the ring at the bottom of a pretty steep hill. Didn't get my foot out in time and took a pretty good spill. Of course, an old lady in a car was looking when it happened. I took them off when I got home. I never really did notice a big difference with them, I got caught up by all the talk about how much better they are. I guess after riding for over 50 years on platforms, I wasn't about to adjust.

 

Anyone know of any cyber monday deals on gear?