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Just listen to this:d
I am very excited about this revolutionary bicycle, and look forward to testing it. Look at all the gains – the same braking power, modulation and control, but with less weight, easier-to-remove wheels, no hydraulics, more compliant fork and no rotor-rubbing noises! Yes, there are a couple of downsides – it’s not ideal in the wet, and it can’t use the best shaped aerodynamic (carbon) rims. Still, could this oversized rotor concept be the next big thing in cycling?
Feast your eyes and your soul.
https://cyclingtips.com/2020/08/bikes-of-the-bunch-rob-englishs-english-road-bike/
Tis a thing of beauty for sure but I'm a disk convert I'm afraid. I like his upside down argument regarding rotors though.lol
Yep, the solution for poor brake setup is absolutely rim brakes which have never been known to rub, collect rubbish, catch on bent rims etc. (who the hell bends rotors on a road bike?)
I wouldn't trust a frame built by someone who can't align a caliper to a rotor.
I wouldn’t trust a frame built by someone who can’t align a caliper to a rotor.
Unless you’re being ironic, best stay out of threads you know nothing about.
Why are the pads so close to the rotor? In order to get the most mechanical leverage – a big movement at the lever equals a small movement at the pads. But why do we need that much leverage? Because the rotors are very small, so to be able to slow the much larger rotating mass of the wheel, we have to squeeze the rotor tightly.
Oh, good God. It's not the mass of the wheel that's the problem, it's the mass of the rider.
it’s not ideal in the wet
Yep, that's why disk brakes are here to stay.
It’s an80s road bike, which has been subjected to american bullshine marketing speak.
Poor thing.
Bloody looks good though.
It's beautiful.
For the record rim brakes wirk fine in the wet, it's carbon rims that are the problem.
😎
It’s an80s road bike, which has been subjected to american bullshine marketing speak.
Um... Rob English infact English.
He's also clearly taking the piss.
who the hell bends rotors on a road bike
I bend more rotors than rims! Usually all it takes is the usual '20 hard stops' to bed them in and hey presto, there will be a wobble somewhere.
Granted it's never usually enough to rub the pads, but once the pistons start getting a little bit sticky it can become apparent, nothing worse when you're on the rivet time trialling along a nice fast empty road with a constant 'ting, ting, ting' from your brakes...
I thought more folk would get he was joking. 🙂
It’s a bit clearer from his website:
https://www.englishcycles.com/custombikes/the-skinny-bike/
And if you have any doubts about his skills check out the folding gravel bike:
https://www.englishcycles.com/custombikes/bensons-650b-fgc/
He's undermined his own joke by actually making some valid points 😁
If we're doing beautiful rim brake gravel builds...
what's going on with the stem bar hood angles !!!!! arggh my ocd!!
oshvegas
He’s also clearly taking the piss.
Not sure how anyone could read that and not see that's it's all a bit of fun
I thought more folk would get he was joking.
And if you have any doubts about his skills
In my case, one has probably coloured the other rather more than it should. Caliper alignment (as opposed to frame alignment) is an easy end user job (because the frames are built properly, it's a pig when they're not).
My thinking he's being serious citing rub as a problem with discs puts me in mind of an electrician who can't change a bulb. One may in no way be an indication of their skills but I'm judgemental like that.
Pretty paint job on the folder and the folding aspect interests me.
Not sure how anyone could read that and not see that’s it’s all a bit of fun
Way too many nearly identical conversations with people who don't like change and are very serious in their criticism of road discs largely based on either their own ineptitude or having never actually wanted them to work. See most conversations about ebikes for a brilliant example. (or if you can find ye olde world equivalent, pneumatic tyres no doubt)
I like English bikes, I especially like his take on a folding bike (with rim or disc brakes)... Can't afford one.
But yeah discs are here to stay on drop barred bikes, everyone knows it. You don't need to defend discs TBH.
That doesn't mean rim braked bikes stopped being good too though.
Maybe all bikes are awesome?
Looks like an old piece of junk someone found rusting in a shed and painted pink.
when you’re on the rivet time trialling along a nice fast empty road with a constant ‘ting, ting, ting’ from your brakes…
You need to learn to time trial, if you're doing it properly all you can hear is pain and the sound of your heart thumping in your ears. And there's no commas between the tings because you're going too fast for commas - tingtingtingtingtingting....
You appear to be describing a recovery ride on a TT bike 😉
I’m with Dez, that’s just an old looking pink bike.
Custom bikes are personal things, this is really personal and so good for being that way. I love the fork/stem/tyre combo and rim brakes fit with those forks and tyres.
what’s going on with the stem bar hood angles !!!!! arggh my ocd!!
Seen a trad round bend bar on a current Pros bike or an 80s classic? It's not far off that. Personally I really like that kind of bar and hood junction angle and a round bend.
that’s just an old looking pink bike.
Which is of course the correct answer. In fact - if you were to throw one up in the air along with a 1970s Mercier and let them fall where they may... you’d stand a good chance of retrieving the wrong one and riding off none the wiser!
English:

Mercier:


I like the build not so much the bike.
EDIT nah actually I like it. But for a steel frame/ rim brakes etc I prefer a horizontal top tube.
I like this bike, It's exactly what a bike should be - simple, solid, durable. The skinny tubes should give an appropriate level of stiffness for most riders to actually appreciate. Impressive weight for something with such an aversion to the plasticky black stuff too. I'd have one, perhaps not in that colour though. Looks a bit like a more svelte Speedvagen.
when you’re on the rivet time trialling along a nice fast empty road with a constant ‘ting, ting, ting’ from your brakes…
better than the constant ting, ting, ting from your mechanical odometer.
I think it's a really handsome bike, it's got that whole hunch thing going on, like it's just waiting to go really fast. But then I think it'd be just as nice with discs.
I like this bike, It’s exactly what a bike should be – simple,
Simple?
The ahead set up is simple. Having bolts down at the fork instead of at the stem? Jeff off...
It’s a lovely bike aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. But I’m a 70’s kid 🙂