New York November NYC Meet-Up

Our elevator was being repaired last Monday. To avoid having to carry my big heavy Dutch bike up 4 flights, I parked it in front of my building over night. Unfortunately they snipped the chain, and it is gone. Annoying, but it proves I should just stick to light bikes and shlep them.[/QUOTE]

As someone who had 2 bikes stolen the first year I lived in NJ, I understand your annoyance.
 
CNNY said:
In the video they looked as though they were pushing a broken down Harley to the nearest gas station. Presumably they could have ridden around the block as well.
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Christian,

Kinda reminds me of this joke of three dudes stuck in a locked room: one is drunk; another is tripping on Acid; and the third is stoned.

The drunk says, "I'm going to break down the door."

The guy on Acid says, "I'm going to float threw the keyhole."

The pothead says, "I don't want to leave."

Cyclecross racing is about fitness. These are really tough endurance athletes.

There is a new term called "Gravel Bike" which is in many ways a Cyclecross bike but not made specifically for racing, where a road bike is created purposely used both on road and off.

Way back when I created a "Gravel Bike" which is a road bike made with extra heavy training wheels. My racing wheels are built very lightly and are not so durable.

For me I avoid dismounting and carrying my bike AMAP, but riding down those steps with a rigid would have lots of entertainment value. I have ridden down a few steps, but as speed builds up things become unglued very fast. At the college campus of Stoneybrook SUNY doing three to 4 steps is pretty easy on a bike with front suspension both up and down, but with a rigid really great bike handling skills are required.

I knew this guy Pat who could do nose wheelies and hop around on the front tire like a po-go stick. Then there are these BMX'ers that on a mountain bike can "Jet-Hop." Pretty much clear a pole set up like a track and field high jump without clipless pedals, no ramp, and off of level ground.

Cal
 
I should sometime try a cyclocross or gravel bike. Anyhow I tend to go on urban roads, fire trails, or old rural cart trails that are basically gravel. A 29er MTB is convenient as it can go through most, but even hardtail it's a bit of a pig. My experience is that 12MPH is a comfy flat+asphalted cruise speed. 18MPH and the knobbies sound like evil fans. I recall a weekender discussion that 50km on MTB felt like 150 km on road bike.



I do like, the rather vertical posture of my 29er with riser bars. Found myself getting used to carrying a backpack with a couple cameras to shoot around.


When I'm out myself no records are set :D Stop a lot for photography.
 
Jorde,

Road bikes are great for longer distances. Not too hard an effort to cover 100 miles in 6 hours. Rate of speed on average about 16.66 MPH. If I go on a long ride, certainly on a road bike I will go faster and cover more distance than on a mountain bike.

Mountain bikes offer a level of comfort with fatter tires, suspensions smooth out road shocks, and a more upright position, but the penalties are overall higher weight, more rotational mass that requires higher levels of energy to spin, and a loss of efficiency.

My light weight (150 pounds) allows me to build lighter wheels, and titanium with its high strength to weight ratio allows me to have a mountain bike that offers the comfort of a mountain bike with some of the efficiencies of a road bike.

Understand a road bike will always be faster, more efficient, and offer the lightest weight build.

My Ti Basso road bike with my racing wheels likely is perhaps 17 pounds featuring 2x8 gearing and and Ti bottom bracket and Ti 8 speed cassette. These wheels would not last too long though on NYC streets. With my heavy wheels my road bike weighs 19 1/2 pounds. The wheels are bombproof. Jumping curbs is not a problem.

What is remarkable is I can have a 17 1/2 pound Ti IBIS as a single speed that basically is a mountain bike that weighs almost as little as a road bike. Also I can build this bike into a full blown mountain bike 1x11 with a 2.1 tire on the rear and 2.25 tire in the front and still have a bike under 20 pounds. If I keep the 1.5 wide and 1.35 wide Kojak slicks that are armored I could have an 18 3/4 pound gravel bike.

Because the wheels are of smaller diameter they are also stronger, so light wheels can be strong wheels.

What I don't like about the trend towards 29'ers is the weight and rotating mass. In practical use I don't often ride down stairs in the Bronx or have the need for suspension. Most I have ever used is just a suspension fork. Even then I just used elastomers to cut the initial shock/jolt and never relied on long travel or springs.

Because of my size and light weight I have the right body type for climbing, and 29'ers are not so well suited to exploit my innate advantage. Certainly a 29'er going downhill has its advantages, but for me climbing I'd rather be on a smaller lighter bike going up a hill.

Likely blessed that because of low body weight I can run low tire pressure for both traction and suspension. Back in the day I ran about 30 PSI, perhaps 32 the most depending on conditions. Only once or twice had pinch flats due to my low tire pressure.

What I love about cycling the most is that it is the study of physics in real time.

Cal
 
Prest_400 said:
I should sometime try a cyclocross or gravel bike.
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Jorde,

How about building a two-speed gravel bike. Pretty much all you need is a good gear for climbing off-road, and a general all rounder for on pavement.

Use a Paul Component "Melvin" which is a chain tensioner and just use a front deraileur with two chain rings. Saves some weigh.

Pretty much builds aerobic fitness as well as strength. Pretty much taking single speed and adopting it to be a bit more flexible.

Another way to frame it: buy a single speed bike and add a gear.

Cal
 
I'll try to catch you all in December. I have beaucoup projects and papers to do this weekend.

Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk
 
Phil_F_NM said:
I'll try to catch you all in December. I have beaucoup projects and papers to do this weekend.

Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk
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Phil,

This November Meet-Up was kinda bike centric. Only a handful showed up because the date was so last minute. All were biker dudes except Bob.

Did you know that Joe has mucho wheels and bikes? Did you know that Christian owns and maintains almost 100 bikes.

Cool update is that "Maggie" now wants to eventually move to Beacon so we can be an hour and 15 minute train ride from NYC. For biking this is ideal because of better air quality. Living in the lower Hudson Valley is ideal for me.

I was in my Public Storage this weekend. I located your 8-speed shifter levers. I decided to utilize limit the 11 speed XTR to a 1x11 on one bike, pretty much going 9 speed using Dura-Ace and Compact Drive with 9-speed XTR shifters, and lastly on my road bike keep it 8 speed Dura-Ace with 8-speed XTR trigger shifters and a straight bar.

Your data of how 10,11 and 12 speeds are fast wearing is well noted, and I kinda am use to and aware of these retro drivetrains and their durability.

Joe's comment on chain stretching was also well noted and I think using 3/16 inch chains used for 8-9 speed mitigates a lot of wear that is caused by the thinner chains.

You made me rethink and make a better decision for the longer term.

I have to say that Christian is looking mighty fit. He is now a skinny bitch like me. LOL.

Cal
 
WARNING: Snarky Joe has something sneaky going on involving LTM.

I wonder what Sneaky Joe has up his sleeve?

All I know is that I have mucho cool and rare LTM lenses. I also have the Tower 46/46 (Nicca 5L) that has the M3 style rear door and lever film advance.

Last year Joe displayed a rather smug look with his boxed Linhof time machine Tech V with matching Zeiss 135/2.8 Planar.

You suck Joe. LOL.

Why can't I own that camera? For spite I'm going to bring to the next Camera Beauty Pageant my beat-up Linhof 4x5 that I secured from Christian.

It is an early camera that was lovingly assembled from parts. Partly a Tech IV and partly a Tech V. The original real leather covering is well worn and displays a wonderful patina. This camera according to my forensics dates back to 1952.

You know what they say, "Don't trust the quiet ones."

Cal
 
Great seeing everybody yesterday and the Prints were great!. Will have to look into
the LTM camera's looks a bit interesting. It was really a Half Bike/Half Camera meet!
 
December meet-up

December meet-up

I've missed a whole lot of meetings. When is the December meeting? I will be out of town until December 20.
 
farras said:
I've missed a whole lot of meetings. When is the December meeting? I will be out of town until December 20.
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Farras,

Check the December thread. This is the November thread.

So far no one booked a Sunday in December though, so if you want to make it easy to attend pick a date.

The location will be the Rochard on Lex near 97th.

Cal
 
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