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Old 20th October 2007   #701
Soweto888
 
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asm, I dunno if you're superhuman. There are certain signs to look out for: a preference for tights over 3/4s is where it usually begins. Wearing a cape in the rain's a dead giveaway too.
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Old 20th October 2007   #702
stompy
 
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When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #703
Platini
 
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Quote:
kowalski:
Quote:
RPM:if Tom Waits had a bike, it would be fixed.
If he had a bike, he'd sell it to by alcohol.
He gave up the booze years ago, when he met Kathleen Brennan, who was to become, and remains, his wife.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #704
dogsballs
 
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Quote:
stompy:When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.
thats a good explanation. going brakeless is the next step in getting in touch with the bike.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #705
Object
 
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Quote:
dogsballs:
Quote:
stompy:When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.
thats a good explanation. going brakeless is the next step in getting in touch with the bike.
Word. It's not for everyone, I'll admit that much, but it does make you feel even more connected to your bike. It's nice to keep things minimal.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #706
joe_b
i had never ridden fixed before i bought a converted road bike with a flip flop hub
thinking i could just ride singlespeed if i didnt like fixed.
i have never used the freewheel and fixed is definately the better way.
i think i convinced myself i would like and then found i actually did if that makes any sense?
as for brakeless, i did it for a week because i did not have a brake lever and then stuck a front one on.
its good to have it for safety but i think i may ditch it one day.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #707
photoben
 
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^^^^and that's coming from someone who lives in a city full of hills!
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Old 22nd October 2007   #708
hippy
 
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No, a clipless pedal system is the next step to feeling more connected with your bike and then after that, riding hundreds of kilometres is the next step to feeling connected with your bike.

Removing your brakes doesn't connect you to anything, it just gives you less levers to play with.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #709
mr_tom
 
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Was in Brussels at the weekend: Eddy Merckx bike pr0n
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Old 22nd October 2007   #710
phasergunalex
 
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This is my newly completed Graham Weigh. It used to belong to Chris Hoy don't ya know! The frame has been sprayed since though, as it was a bit tatty when i got hold of it, plus i managed to get some original decals from Graham Weigh Cycles. Nice. I know some might scold me for respraying an ex Chris Hoy frame, but if it had his name on the top tube i would have left it...but it didn't, so i thought i'd get it looking exactly how i wanted! So there ;)



Everyone needs "SpokeSparx". Yep.
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Old 22nd October 2007   #711
dogsballs
 
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quite a bit of the folding stuff been poured into that beauty :O
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Old 22nd October 2007   #712
retrorider
its a beauty......lucky git
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Old 22nd October 2007   #713
andypancake
 
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Looking good Alex!! When do you depart?
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Old 22nd October 2007   #714
phasergunalex
 
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Ah har, yes....my departure. I'm flying to Buenos Aires on the 31st; Halloween...will be a spooky flight! So unfortunately i'm not gonna get to ride this tart for another year, as it'll be sitting alone in a storage unit, feeling sorry for itself. Shame. Maybe i'll do the ultimate sad rider thing and put it's picture in my wallet! Hehe. Or maybe not, that's going too far!

Oh, Andy...i've got those CXP30 tub wheels i mentioned ages ago...there's some pix at the end of the 'trade' thread. Spread the word if poss to see if anyone needs 'em! Cheers duder!
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Old 22nd October 2007   #715
adoubletap
 
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Old 22nd October 2007   #716
31t®um
 
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STEEP!!!
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Old 24th October 2007   #717
dogsballs
 
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Old 24th October 2007   #718
Hovis Brown
 
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Quote:
adoubletap:
that is a VERY large chainring.
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Old 24th October 2007   #719
Soweto888
 
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Clearly not the steed of a spinner. Or a human.
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Old 24th October 2007   #720
Turd Fergurson
its one of those optical illusions. it only looks big!
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Old 24th October 2007   #721
architectom
http://www.glorycycles.com/ahwiboop.html
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Old 24th October 2007   #722
adoubletap
 
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Quote:
that is a VERY large chainring.
I think a serrated bin lid and drawing pin epoxied to a drive train could give the same gear inches for much less £
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Old 24th October 2007   #723
aidan
 
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Quote:
adoubletap:
Quote:
that is a VERY large chainring.
I think a serrated bin lid and drawing pin epoxied to a drive train could give the same gear inches for much less £
im sure they already tried that...
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Old 25th October 2007   #724
Todd
 
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;-)
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Old 25th October 2007   #725
tynan
 
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Quote:
phasergunalex:
Is that Dura Ace red, or is that some reflection/lens aberration ???
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Old 25th October 2007   #726
TheBrick(Tommy)
 
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Quote:
Hovis Brown:
Quote:
adoubletap:
that is a VERY large chainring.
but the rider is always going downhill so it's prob only equivalent to 75 or so gear inches
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Old 25th October 2007   #727
Soweto888
 
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Never mind the Dura Ace hubs, what about the rims, eh? It looks like they've been soaked in pigs' blood or something equally sticky. What are they, Alex? I reckon they look good with the green frame. Those piggies didn't die in vain. Any chance of a photo away from that pink wall, though?
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Old 26th October 2007   #728
tynan
 
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Old 26th October 2007   #729
tynan
 
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Quote:
Soweto888: Any chance of a photo away from that pink wall, though?
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1079/p1030023ejb1.jpg

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Old 26th October 2007   #730
eyebrows
 
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Quote:
dogsballs:
What the hell is that? and how do you put wheels on it?
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Old 26th October 2007   #731
rusty
 
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The rear dropouts will connect to those two holes in the stays. Bolt on dropouts.
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Old 26th October 2007   #732
hippy
 
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Monkey is irreplaceable!
Unlike those dropouts.
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Old 26th October 2007   #733
architectom
the black one does not really do it for me....did I say that.
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Old 26th October 2007   #734
badtmy
 
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Here's a gentleman who took 'bike porn' a little too literally:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xm