Excellent :)

I only rode a chopper once, back in the mid-seventies. I only managed 100 yards before falling off. I didn’t bother getting back on again!

My 2013 CdF. Sporting 28mm Panaracer TourGuard Plus.

Unfortunately I only managed about 4 miles on it today as my right knee is playing up. I might end up ditching the spd’s and going to flats.

Thanks for the replies folks, most appreciated.

On reflection, at the age of 53,doing no exercise then going for a 25 mile cycle, then doing nothing and then going for another 25+ mile cycle a fortnight later is probably not the best technique for getting bike fit! I’ve obviously been spurred on by all the tales of epic 70 mile plus efforts on here :). What actually is a realistic mileage for someone with job/family commitments who hasn’t ridden a drop bar bike for years?

Seriously, I think it was a cleat/panic moment which caused the original injury and I’m just aggravating it at the moment. I might try swopping back to flat pedals and toe clips and take things easy for a bit, as well as trying stretches etc mentioned in other posts.

here’s my CdF. Took it for a spin around salisbury yesterday. The roads were fine, however off road was a bit challenging!

coastkid – I’ve also got a blue 2013 CdF.

What’s the rear mudguard, is it also a Cyrca? I’ve currently borrowed the one I put on my old Kona Fire Mountain (1992) but it’s a little short!

solarider – thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Out of interest, which stem have you got, the rise looks higher than on my CdF and my back is telling me to change mine :)

Very nice build.

I’ve got a Genesis CdF (cheapie one with 9 speed Sora, not the full fat Croix de Fer) which I bought last year my first new bike in 22 years – and the first one with drop bars since the 70’s. Currently it’s got cyclecross tyres on it but it might evolve over time with lighter wheels, road tyres and sks mudguards so I can be more road orientated if I want to.

being a real cycling newbie, how much difference in handling is there between a Cx bike (or what the CdF actually is) and something like the Equilibrium?

This is my 1992 one with a few changes (girvin flexstem and Avid v-brakes). Undecided at the moment whether to keep it or change it for a roadbike or a 29er of some description.

jerrys was that keeping the standard rear mech. I’ve a CdF with the Tiagra 4600 rear mech and the 12-28 cassette but would prefer a 11-32 or 12-32 (I believe there is an Ultegra 12-32 avaliable) I’m pretty sure from what I’ve been able to find so far that it should work.

avdave2 – Yes it was the same mech. (I’ve got 9 sp Sora on mine) I took the bike to the LBS for it’s first free check up and they did it then. I’d ‘researched’ it and thought I was going to need a new (longer) cage and also a few extra links in the chain. In the end it was done with just a new chain. I’ve got a cunning plan to buy some lighter wheels, put road tyres on and use the 12-25 or a 12-27 with the original chain when I want it to be more road orientated. Not being a bike techie (yet) I don’t know how easy it is to swop chains like that. Maybe someone can tell me what I need?

cheers!

IainC – I might have to come back and try it again some time :). It’s a long way from salisbury though !

There’s a slight possibility I might be working for a week or so near Applecross in March/April. I’ve done the Bealach a couple of times in a car and on a motorbike – I believe it will be a bit harder if I try it on the CdF.

I’ve got the 2013 ‘baby’ CDF (i.e not the full fat Croix). Haven’t put mudguards on it yet, but with the stock Conti cyclecross tyres it certainly looks very tight at the front (back looks a bit better). I think I’ll go down Iain’s route and use swan guards until I can afford to change tyres (post xmas skint feeling !).

Slightly off mudguard topic – one thing I did do to the CdF was to change the rear sprocket from the standard 12-25 to an 11-32 until I get cycle fit!

Iain – I used to live in Lochgoilhead many years ago. It was a good climb out of the village on the old forestry road up to the Rest!

My ‘baby’ CdF i.e. the cheaper Sora one! started off with a 12-25 as standard, which I immediately changed to 12-27. It’s currently got an 11-32 on it which the LBS put on when I took it for it’s free check up. The rear mech is the same, but I ended up with a new slightly longer chain. If I ever get fit I might revert back to a smaller range on the back, but I’ll see how it goes for now.

Here’s my Kona (if I get the hang of posting pictures)

It’a a 1992 Fire Mountain which I’ve had from new, modded with V-brakes and a Girvin Flexstem. Dug it out from the back of the shed earlier this year after not riding bikes for years. Really wishing I had done it years ago! Since the photo was taken, I’ve replaced the cables ties securing the back brake cable to the toptube with a nice fancy cable stop.