I’ve never snapped or bent any bottom bracket! I now feel totally inadequate and will no doubt develop a complex and require counciling!

Mine are set up pretty much like that, but as you correctly say it’s personal and dependent on bar profile. With the lower part horizontal the top bit behind the hoods slopes slightly downwards which feels good. See lots of bars/shifters pointing skywards but that just feels wrong to me.

Sorry Jamie, I took the figures from the link in your original post. On closer inspection I realise these are the TCR specs and the Defy’s are 10mm shorter in top tube length and 15mm taller in head tube. So yes, quite similar to the Spesh. although they are supposed to be more upright, shorter reach and more relaxed geometry.

I’ve got a ‘fixie’ but still wouldn’t ride like that!

Very impressed with the camera.
Somewhat less impressed with all that undertaking! 😮
Cycle lane or no cycle lane.

Hardly life threatening!
Open road, good visibility, plenty of time/space to take avoiding action, question claimed 30+ mph, only just nudged over line in the end.
Sorry.

Although Giant road frames look small due to the compact geometry they actually size up on the large side. The medium frame is longer in the top tube than both the Specialized frames you were considering last week.
I’m 5’11” and have both a med. and med/large Giant, but prefer to ride the medium even though they recommend the med/large for my height.
With an inside leg of 32″ the medium will be fine, but if you have a short torso, then the 555mm top tube may well feel a bit stretched.
Best advice would be to try and have a sit on one if possible.

There are a few Dahon’s plus others reduced here;

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/folding-bike-cp1.html

I ride regularly with a group of about 6 ‘buddies’,we are an unofficial club with a name, but no team kit, and of mixed ability and age. To tha casual observer we look like a bunch of mates and have even been known to socialise together.
However, in reality we are more akin to a dysfunctional pack of wolves, where the rules of the jungle apply and the weak and sick do not survive.
Mostly we hunt together but sometimes split into smaller raiding parties to explore different terrain.
Swadey, of this forum, was a member but, sadly, after the pack turned on him a few times now prefers to hunt alone, or with another pack.(Hello swadey 🙂 )

Top of bars at least 5″ lower than saddle on road bikes.
A bit less on the cx bike – around 3.5″

Any help?

Cable follows small groove.

I have bikes with double, triple and compacts on. Unless racing I much prefer the compact for general riding/training in hilly areas.

Rickmeister – Please tell me your decision to abandon a carbon frame is based on reliable evidence and not the random ramblings and opinions found on this forum!

Can’t say if those are the correct lengths as mine are the cheapo 575 carriers, sorry.
All the T-tracks are the same profile though, it’s just the lengths that vary.

You can get them here;

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbproduct_search.php?from_quicksearch=TRUE&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Search&keywords=T+track

However, I have also done exactly as Rusty Mac recommends above, cheap as chips and works a treat.
Not fallen to bits yet or damaged the track even after over 5 years regular use.
I dare say someone will be along shortly to highlight how dangerous this home brewed solution will be!

Pastcaring – no not trolling you Muppet! Stupid? well the jury’s still out on that one.
However, in over 25 years of riding offroad and road, I’ve not yet managed to break any major components whether they be carbon, titanium or aluminium! Although I have managed to break various bit of myself in the process! So feel suitably qualified to have an opinion.

Junkyard. OK. Fair comment.

But, hitting a pot hole at 50 mph downhill on Tarmac puts one hell of a jolt through the fuselage!

“I would rather not have it on a MTB tbh but would not object to it on a road bike.”

There is probably a lot more stress subjected to a road bike frame/forks on thin tyres and no suspension than your average MTB!

Often read posts on here about people breaking all manner of components whether it be carbon fibre, titanium or aluminium.
Do I think these materials are crap. No. I think the riders are crap and need to learn how to ride!

Have you tried the Cane Creek headset finder?

http://www.canecreek.com/headset-fit-finder

Mavic Ksyrium’s here with various tyres up to 35mm width.

Careful, davidtaylforth is a riding god who commutes to work at an easy 25 mph average speed!
🙂
davidtaylforth – Member
Depends how fit you are and how hilly it is and all that. But the thing I find with a road bike is its easy to keep a high top speed on the flats. If you dont have a head wind you’ll probably be able to zip along to work at 25mph.
POSTED 3 WEEKS AGO # REPORT-POST

Specialized sizing recommends;
52cm. 5′ 3″ – 5′ 6″
54cm. 5′ 6″ – 5′ 9″
Effective Top Tubes 537 and 548 respectively so you would probably be OK on either, although personally I would err on the smaller frame.
Only 11mm diff. in TT length so a 10mm shorter stem on the 54 will make them a similar size.

We run our own in house scheme, with no 3rd party facilitator such as Cyclescheme. We are able to purchase bikes direct from any cycle retailer, negotiate a discount, company buys bike and recoups cost through salary sacrifice.

Have you tried using gloves with gel pads to protect the ulnar nerve. Specialized gloves all have these pads.

A brace of commuter fixies;

Flat bars and bar ends

Bullhorn bars

A few riding buddies and myself are popping our audax cherry in April with a 100km Charnwood In The Spring ride.
Looks a bit tame though compared to the distances your doing. 🙁

Too late! Swadey beat me to it 🙂

I’m pretty sure mine say 116 psi max on the sidewalls!
Anyway usually between 90 to 110 psi depending on how much comfort I fancy. I’m around 75kg just to put it into context.

Topeak do a range of disk brake specific racks;

http://www.topeak.com/products/Tubular-Racks-MTX-Disc

You can get seat post clamps with rack mount eyes like these Electra ones;

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=37703

M-part also make them and are a bit cheaper. Also dependent on your seat tube dia. as only available in 28.6 and 31.8mm.

Don’t think the rear mech will cope with 11-28 unless it’s the latest 5700 series. 12-27 will be fine and give you a useful lower gear without any massive gaps in ratios.

Some classic comments in the blurb!

“slick handle bars”

“is delivered in single-gear but can also be used in fixed-gear or to free-wheel. “

“Each part is finely varnished, crafted and assembled. The manufacturers are well-known for their craftsmanship and attention to detail”

“Dimensions
Length 166cm
Height 98cm
Handbrake to saddle 79cm”

These Smart’s are cheap here;
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-polaris-7-lux-light-set-black-id53325.html
And for a bit more there are more powerful sets;
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart/lights-front-rear-sets-bcp1.html

I’ve always used Indespension, not that cheap, but less than half the cost quoted above;
http://www.indespension.co.uk/b2c/app/M00190

Smart front and rear set, good value here and very bright;

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-lunar-15-lux-light-set-id53324.html

Or even brighter front;

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-lunar-25-lux-light-set-white-id53322.html

Road bike for road rides every time, cx for racing only.
Road bike doesn’t implode in bad conditions, gets cleaned when dirty, and tyres stay on till worn out (michelin Pro 3’s).

What a great read.
I’ve even managed to be insulted on a thread I’ve not contributed to.
Middle aged. Ride a Specialized. Oops!

Topeak MTX range of beam racks take 9kg and can add side frames for panniers etc;

http://www.topeak.com/products/BeamRacks-MTX

“and before any corrects me the only way of fixing play in cup and cone wheels is to tighten them up until they dont go around. I know. I’ve tried.”

It’s a black art – you’ve either got it or you havn’t!

Still works here just as you say:

PS Is this a rouse to get lots of random piccies posted!