Comments on: Bikeography

By: Old Retro

Old Retro — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:45:26 +0000

If I had a bike like that I’d be putting my name down for the Tour de France as well, no matter how much suffering it entails!

By: Dan O

Dan O — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:02:01 +0000

Being semi old school guy – I wanted to poo poo carbon bikes. After test riding various bikes, carbon included, yup – wound up with one. There’s something about the ride quality that I totally dig. It feels super smooth, super light, and super stiff where it needs to be. It is the wonder material.

Sure, we’ve all seen examples of exploded carbon frames. Impacts like that would have wasted any frame – and dumped you on the ground anyway. As for long term use, probably won’t last as long as a steel bike. Even so, I know people riding 10+ year old Trek carbon frames without any issues. And if carbon is that fragile and doesn’t last – there’s a few zillion people out there on carbon forks. Almost everything comes with a carbon fork now.

A Trek Madone was mentioned in your post. I almost bought one after several long test rides – nice bike. Really nice bike. I wound up with a Ibis Silk Carbon instead – it’s great, I love it.

Even with the carbon mania – there are steel, Ti, and even aluminum frames that also ride insanely well. It all depends on the builder skills and fit. Steel does have a history and cool vibe to it though.

When I ride my older steel bikes – they feel great. But I’ll take the carbon bike hands down when possible. After spending much time on the carbon road bike, I really want to try a carbon hardtail mountain bike. Light, stiff where it needs to, and that carbon damping quality. Add some tubeless wheels, Fox fork – yes please.

Even after saying all that. If the Brinks truck crashed into my house allowing unlimited funds for a road bike – I’d probably wind up with a custom steel frame and fork. Add in Campy Chorus or Record. The carbon parts on the steel frame look cool to me. A mix of old and new.

Oh yeah – that is a great picture of Sean Kelly. Further proof that bike doesn’t really matter after all. That dude could rip your head off on a Huffy. Check out those legs. Incredible.

By: frank

frank — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:54:24 +0000

@Marko Absolutely. Consider it done. I've never been to the Giro, but I've been to the Tour twice and I know Brett has been all over the place following races. Also, Jim was recently at the Vuelta.

By: Marko

Marko — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:34:27 +0000

@Velominati

Someone do a post about cyclo-tourism. Not travelling by bicycle but travelling to spectate bicycle racing and doing some riding. I’m inching ever closer to going to Italy in May to travel and I’d like to take in a couple stages of the Giro.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:41:47 +0000

@john I can hear him say it, "Fook yer clipless pedals, ya wee lassies! Give me my toestraps and get me a fookin' Guiness!"

By: john

john — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:05:24 +0000

@frank Alright Frank. He is a massive douche. Love that photo of Kelly. At the height of his powers no one could match him, tough as nails.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:00:58 +0000

@Marko Have you seen "It Might Get Loud"? The Edge is a douche. Now, Jack White and Jimmy Page. Those are some slingers.

By: john

john — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:55:01 +0000

@Marko Can I get a carbon frame first? Wait until they get the bugs out, yuk yuk, yuk

By: john

john — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:52:33 +0000

@Marko
Thanks Marko, The Bella, in it’s heyday preceded digital photography(you kids might not understand this concept) so I have to hammer some photos into a digital format because it was fucking beautiful. Maybe I can find some in the internet tubes…..

And why would I slag Vitus? If Kelly didn’t break it it must have been tough, he broke all the strongmen who tried to beat him. Still, they didn’t last long on the market, something else came along like formed and welded Aluminum frames.

The Edge……he is lame. There, I said it. I don’t own any U2 ablums! I’m out.

By: john

john — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:46:02 +0000

@frank F, I do enjoy my steel bike, up to a point. It's fun to train on the steel bike during the week then change to the good bike on the weekend, makes ya feel like The Killa on some sweet sweet Pot Belge.