I thought riding road bikes was all about pain and going as fast as possible, especially uphill? Where does having a 'nice' day come into it?
My main road "steed" is a heavy, old, cheap, full suspension mountain bike. With mudguards.
Not sure what sort of statement that is making. Perhaps that I'm an idiot. I care not.
Lots of very defensive (but amusing) replies from the minimalists.
You'll be telling me you shave your legs for aerodynamic reasons next.
🙂
I don't.
Why on earth would I want to go slow when I can go fast?
17lb, slammed stem, 23mm tyres, fag paper clearances 53/39 and 11-25. 1 in 4's are a pleasure, 1 in 3s, hurt, but that's [i]good[/i] . 45+mph descending awesome. If it doesn't go in my jersey pockets it doesn't get taken (water bottle excepted). Anything from 15 miles to 150 in a sitting.
The feeling of being directly connected to the tarmac as you climb. The purity of carving a perfect arc round a corner at 35mph
The only concession to weather is Crud Roadracers in the wet.
(I am considering a change to compact gearing, mainly 'cos it'll be lighter. Don't want to have too low a bottom end as I'll end up using it and being slower)
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/9299965210_92bfdb7d96_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/9299965210_92bfdb7d96_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/faNKDL ]Roadster-2072 (800 x 531)[/url]
[i]a roadie doesn't have a "nice day out in the hills", he has a brutal day out in the hills [s]with momentary pain induced euphoria[/s] [b]just him and the man with the hammer[/b][/i]
TFTFY.
Lots of [s]very defensive (but amusing)[/s] honest replies from [s]the minimalists[/s] those who aren't fat duffers or interested in touring.
FTFY
[i]But why would you want a pure racing bike for a nice day out in the hills?[/i]
Because you have an appointment to meet the man with the hammer.
The fact you do not realize this indicates that you are not a [i]roadie[/i] but in actual fact, you are a tourist, astride a bicycle.
EDIT:
And probably totting a European Posterior Man Satchel.
🙂
Touristists. 😛
I do value pain, guilt and suffering btw - I was brought up as a Catholic.
What the hell are you carrying that you need luggage? Everything I need for a 100 miler fits in the pockets in my jersey.
I am a realist but have three road bikes:
Road fixed: Steel frame, 69" gear, full mudguards, 10 kilos.
Road comfort - Giant Defy Advanced SL, compact gearing, 7 kilos.
Race - Giant Propel, aero wheels, race gearing 11/23, 8 kilos.
For a commuting and a rolling 100km, I'll take the fixed. For a fast 100mi and club runs, I'll take the Defy. For a race I take the Propel. None of them are slammed. None have posterior man satchels.
The Defy will take mudguards (Raceblade Longs). The fixed will take a proper rack. The race bike will take me.
Crud race guards are not mudguards they are idiot badges for your bike.
[i]Crud race guards are not mudguards they are idiot badges for your bike.[/i]
At last ! Now we're getting somewhere.
This appears to be in stark contrast to the last few years which saw a massive number of newer cyclists on wholly unsuitable, pretend racing bikes with silly gearing and no provision for luggage.
obvious troll is obvious, ridden my ‘handmade boutique expensive racing bike’ on long rides in all weathers (up to 100miles or just over) with no luggage apart from a tiny saddlebag with an extra tube when doing the tour of flanders. 24mm tyres, compact chainset and a 25t at the back. never felt the need for “luggage” when riding on a club run or just riding on my own.
just because you don't like it doesn’t mean its wrong.
[i] never felt the need for “luggage”[/i]
Your European Posterior Man Satchel [b]IS[/b] luggage and if your try, you should probably feel it swinging around under your saddle, a sign to all, in a similar way to the aforementioned crud race guard.
[i]just because you don't like it doesn’t mean its wrong.[/i]
No woman falls for that one, anymore !
To be fair MrSmith, I don't think you qualify as a "newer cyclist"
To be fair MrSmith, I don't think you qualify as a "newer cyclist"
i’m not, but i’m also not ready for a touring bike just yet. 😕
Your European Posterior Man Satchel IS luggage
it was only used once, i might have since thrown it away.
Whoo, someone actually read my op. 🙂
Funnier responses from those who didn't though.
[i]Your European Posterior Man Satchel IS luggage
it was only used once, i might have since thrown it away.[/i]
It which case you are forgiven, people make mistakes, but the great see the error of their ways and [i]"shape up"[/i].
Good lad !
😉
[i]Funnier responses from those who didn't though.[/i]
Please don't forget. This is the STW forum. Reading the OP or any subsequent post. [b]Is optional ![/b]
I think the OP has a point in a way. All out proper road bikes are great. I love them. Audacity bikes are great too. However there are a lot of people buying bikes for the first time that are being advised (or thinking that's what's best) to buy a lightweight speed machine then buying seatpost racks, huge saddle packs, crud guards etc to make the bike work how they actually want it to. Maybe take a waterproof or sandwiches or a lock. Unfortunately the bikes that are best for that aren't as sexy and you don't see Wiggins riding one so they aren't as common in the shops.
I like a fast road ride occasionally, and also like to put a rack and flat pedals and full guards on for a gentle tootle with my wife. The only bike that did this when I got mine that wasn't a full on tourer was a Kinesis Racelight which has been excellent and able to change with what I want to do.
Two road bikes.
One is my Boardman hybrid, 50/36 chainset matched to a 9speed 11-32 cassette gives me enough gears to get up most things. Has guard mounts, hydro disc brakes & 28mm tyres, probably a near perfect bike for touring.
The other is a lightweight carbon Dolan, expensive & light wheels (when they arrive) 23mm tyres, 50/34 compact with 10speed 11-28 cassette gives a good range of gears again. No mounts for guards or racks. Has a saddle bag with 2 tubes/CO2 inflator/tyre levers/multitool/patches.
Next weekend I'm doing my 2nd audax, the weekend after I'm doing a 2 day coast to coast from Barrow-in-Furness to Whitby.
Guess which bike I'm taking?
The Dolan is easily comfy enough for riding centuries, i can carry all i need in my jersey pockets & with the addition of a bar mounted bag i can carry enough kit to ride two days and sit in the pub in shorts & t-shirt at night. Toothbrush/contact lenses/charger for GPS/shorts/shirt/clean cycling shorts etc all easily fit in the bar bag.
Sorted.
Unfortunately the bikes that are best for that aren't as sexy and you don't see Wiggins riding one so they aren't as common in the shops.
I think that's why CX bikes are popular at the moment.
They are tourer/hybrids wearing sexy lipstick and a false moustache (or something).
(And I say that as a CX owner who commutes on it and has no intention of ever doing a CX race)
Have we covered Gravel Racers and Adventure Bikes yet?
Both and more
Al road race bike and nice weather fast bike
Stainless nice road bike
Lugged steel mudguards and dyno for winter/wet
Lugged steel mudguards discs and fixed for when it's really foul.
I have more than I need really.... If anyone wants a nice stainless road frame...
wearing sexy lipstick and a false moustache
You don't work in marketing do you Graham. : )
Uber light, no frills nor faff, expensive and creates jealousy everywhere I ride it, that's my Roadie that is. 😀
Never been a fan of pig iron coated in flappy tin foil.
My lightweight carbon bike with no mudguards is a blast and nice and quick, encouraging me to race my buddy and get fitter. I don't ride it in wet weather; for that I use the crosser with mudguards and discs and I enjoy that just as much.
As ever N+1 is the answer here.
Fast roadie - stiff alu frame, no eyelets, no bags, 23mm tyres, brilliant for summer days and when you want to hurt yourself. Comfy too, I'm riding 280 miles in a day on it over the summer.
Winter roadie - steel frame, disk brakes, guards, frame pump and saddle bag. When the rain and the wind comes this is the bike I reach for, it's not more comfortable than my fast roadie though as the position is the same (arse up, hands low, long stem).
Cargo bike - well, we all need to carry luggage some times...
Good troll BTW.
My "road bike" has fat tyres, proper mudguards, oh and wide riser bars and brakes that work. Lovely, makes me regret all the time and money I wasted on drop bar bikes. It still gets used for longer distances than many flash carbon racers I reckon.
Proper road bike is a TCR Composite, compact gearing, light enough for my mate with a much more expensive Madoné to say 'crikey that is light', comfortable, fast, no guards, 23mm tyres and a tiny under the saddle pouch with a tube, patches, and levers.
Other drop bar thingy is a Boardman CX Team, full guards, discs, 28mm tyres, ****in heavy in comparison, compact gears with a 11-32 out back and no where near as much fun to ride on the road, damn sight better off it mind
I have both.
The fast light one gets ridden when possible - its just a nicer ride.
as many above, why would i want to go slow?
Why must a heavy bike be slow ? By tht reckoning i should take my mtb out on the road
21lb vs 26lb.
Why must a heavy bike be slow ?
Watts per Kg - simple
Yeah i need to lose 2 stone before ill worry about 5lb on the bike 😉 bikes still not slow even if it is porky
Do fancy a propel though.
Riding my 42 lb commuter during the winter does mean my 26lb bike keeps up with the chaingang with the race team. Much to their surprise the first time out.
no doubt, and im no racing snake myself, but the same man on a lighter bike will be quicker
I'll tell you who the fantasists are. All you masochists running 23mm tyres, that's who. Even on 25s some of the roads up here will see you 'floating' at any kind of speed.
22mm on the front of mine - thats the only tub JE Jame had in stock though 🙁
Lifes too short to ride shit roads.
I run 22/24 combo and 22mm tubs on the tt bike. Only time ive wished for 25c was on my commute so i fitted some to my commuter bike
i done some (probably flawed) maths on this a while ago.
from memory: losing 1000g saves around 1 watt (when climbing)
I also did maths on this. It makes a lot more difference accelerating. So on say tight twisty singletrack (for an mtb) a lb is equivalent to 20 odd watts sprinting out of a corner.
I hired a 27lb road bike two years ago, this theory was borne out - it ride fine, I only noticed the weight when accelerating.
I too did some meths on this one bottle fine, two bottles and the world stops.
I don't have arthritis or lumbago yet grandad, so can ride a slammed race geometry bike and don't need a bag to carry any haemorrhoid cream in.