| Author | Message | ||
     Aesquire |
We're 2 wheel nuts, and almost all of us started on Bicycles. Some still ride, and I thought a nifty bicycle thread would be a nice topic. I've got an old Austro-Daimler Olympian, Reynolds 531 tubing, 74 deg. parallel frame. ( originally Campy Super Record, now very mixed parts ) Also a Specialized Stump Jumper, from the steel frame, full suspension days. Finally a Stowe Rhino. Phase 3 Cycles, local builder, Out of business. http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-3645 57.html http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/stowe/ It's a 700c bike with Mt. bike brake bosses, fillet brazed, equipped with Suntour Microdrive, ( sorta the last of the prime Suntour gear ) Rockshock seat post, Flex Stem. Custom paint job, "Vermont Cammo". ( Cow ) Geared to climb, aero rims, faster than a mt. bike until the terrain gets extreeem, consider it the ancestor of the "29's". ( which take wider tires on the same diameter rims ) Pictures to follow. I was inspired to start the thread by this.... http://www.woodysfenders.com/store/index.php?main_ page=index&cPath=9 Weirdly reasonable wooden fenders that kick over into art. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
My wife keeps trying to get me to go cycling with her, but it's pure torture for me. Both physically & mentally it's a pain in the arse. I've tried various different saddles & have come to the conclusion that it's my arse that's at fault. Also as a professional driver & motorcycle rider, it scares the crap out of me to be so exposed, & even more so with my nearest & dearest next to me who doesn't see the danger that I do. I can't relax & enjoy the experience at all. Those wooden fenders though, that's so cool it's icy. | ||
| Patches |
Mr_grumpy have you tried tractor supply?  | ||
| Patches |
Something else to look at.  | ||
| Aesquire |
Mr Grumpy, I understand. The 3 ( 5 ) points of contact with the bike, feet, hands, butt, are the "sore spots" for any rider, and the pain moves from one to the other by the minute. I suggest a saddle with a wide enough back section so that your "sit bones" part of the pelvis has some padding, and a slot or groove down the middle to take pressure off the nerves behind the male tender bits. Pressure on those nerves can cause temporary, or even permanent loss of function in your reproductive organs. Just telling you to "suck it up" and harden your butt for riding is silly. People tell me that too, and %^&$ them! Pain is pain, and wincing your way through the lovely landscape, and the rest of the day is no way to encourage exercise. I've had good luck with Terry Saddles, designed by a women bike designer, locally, they are made in China and Italy ( depending on year and model ) and she has men's saddles as well as women's. The ladies models have a wider back part, to accommodate the wider hip bones. http://www.terrybicycles.com/Saddles The Terry Women's bikes, btw, have geometries designed around women. Women tend to have shorter torsos and longer legs than men. So a bike with the right seat tube length for guys and "normal" proportions makes the top tube too long and the reach to the handlebars too long. Simply shortening the top tube is a fail, since the riders toes ( and toe clips ) overlap the front wheel so that turning at slow speed you kick the front wheel. That can mess up your line, cause accidents, and ruin your ride. Traditionally, Women are just told to suck it up and get used to it, but Georgina Terry instead changes the Geometry, and on some models Wheel sizes to make it fit properly. Some models have a 24" front wheel and 700c rear, and the long legged ladies love it. ( makes me feel cramped and weird, but It's not Supposed to fit me, and that's like complaining that women's underwear doesn't give my bits the breathing room I prefer. Duh. ) So if you are female, or have a lady friend you ride with, consider Terry's designs. Another thing about saddles, wide comfy ones are great for a very very short distance. Then you get chafing problems as your thighs rub past the wide parts, especially the saddle nose. Skinny saddles are far better than wide for longer rides, but absolutely require either a long break in ( toughening of the riders butt ) or a featherweight. The older you get, the less padding under the sit bones, the less tolerance for sitting on a plank. Some folk will tell you, you need a classic Brooks leather saddle, which suspends your weight on a leather shape that, they assure you, will act like a hammock and be the most comfortable ever. For a tiny number of people, and a well cared for properly broken in saddle & matching butt ( they form to each others shape after a while. Perhaps a long painful while ) A Brooks saddle works. The younger and lighter the better. For adults? Seriously? If you haven't been using one since the Carter Administration, I bet it introduces new levels of agony. | ||
| Mnrider |
I've have a Brooks B17 narrow on my Gary Fisher touring bike for 3 years and it's still pretty dang hard. Maybe I should have gotten the wide but I didn't want the extra weight.It's getting better all the time and they make lots of different models.It's cool to look at and super durable though. (Message edited by mnrider on October 14, 2013) | ||
| Sifo |
Speaking of saddles of unusual size, here's my Santa Cruz Bullit just after the rebuild from it's broken frame. 38 pound freeride/downhill build.  And in action...  | ||
| Xdigitalx |
 http://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/4077570659.html | ||
| Sifo |
 | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Why? just Why? | ||
| Uncle |
And it has performance like a real Harley too! | ||
| Patches |
 | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Giant OCR One, stock Shimano 105 triple groupo with a nashbar saddle I found I like. Old double butted chromoly tubed KHS FZ Comp mountain bike runs the same seat, mixed XT/LX group with Bontrager XC wheels. Used to have a mag 21 shock on it, but the seals were toast so I turned it back into a rigid. They are both much better bikes than my current riding level justifies, I keep telling myself I need to ride more. | ||
| Aesquire |
I keep telling myself I need to ride more. Ditto.   | ||
| Azxb9r |
My Pivot Mach 5.7  | ||
| Azxb9r |
My old Titus Supermoto  | ||
| Azxb9r |
My wifes Maverick ML-7  | ||
| Patches |
Here is one for you. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9c3_1382059583 |
