Dec 2009
Design Update - Logo Sorted!
28/12/09 17:44 In: Bike Tart Musings
Phew, finally got the coding right to make my logo sit where I want it!
Hope you like the look of it folks...
Hope you like the look of it folks...
0 Comments
Design Update - Excuse Pathetic Logo!
28/12/09 08:29 In: Bike Tart Musings
Hi All,
An attempt at running a smoother, slicker, more modifiable site here - using RapidWeaver on the Mac instead of iWeb so that I can have more control over my web pages. Not sure if this theme will stay so it’ll be good to know your thoughts. Hopefully the ‘Comments’ links are working properly, otherwise please email me from the link at the bottom of the page.
I’m having a few issues sorting a full width logo along with the Always Riding ad that I usually run, but hope to have these sorted ASAP! In the meantime, please excuse the teeny tiny logo up there ^^ and I hope you enjoy the new layout!
Cheers,
Bike Tart
An attempt at running a smoother, slicker, more modifiable site here - using RapidWeaver on the Mac instead of iWeb so that I can have more control over my web pages. Not sure if this theme will stay so it’ll be good to know your thoughts. Hopefully the ‘Comments’ links are working properly, otherwise please email me from the link at the bottom of the page.
I’m having a few issues sorting a full width logo along with the Always Riding ad that I usually run, but hope to have these sorted ASAP! In the meantime, please excuse the teeny tiny logo up there ^^ and I hope you enjoy the new layout!
Cheers,
Bike Tart
Learning
27/12/09 17:54 In: Bike Tart Musings
Yesterday was race day. Yesterday was a school day. Bike Tart learnt good.
It wasn’t a tough race, not too fast, I didn’t bury myself spending too long on the front the way I usually do and I finished fresh. BUT, I didn’t finish in the points. Bugger. Still a 4th Cat then...
So what did I learn? Well, I learnt that communication goes a long way. Or more to the point if you tell people you’re coming through they seem to just let you through (in the 4th Cats at least). I learnt that I can go from one end of the field to the other in half a lap, even if I didn’t quite make it to the front. I learnt that actually I can wind it up pretty quick for a sprint (even if it was quickly curtailed by the backlog of ploughing into the rear of the 3rd Cat peleton, damn it). And yes, I (finally) learnt to peel off the front rather than sit there and work!
So what will I do differently next time? Not a lot. And I’m not saying much more than that anyway - people might be reading.
I can feel a result coming on though...
It wasn’t a tough race, not too fast, I didn’t bury myself spending too long on the front the way I usually do and I finished fresh. BUT, I didn’t finish in the points. Bugger. Still a 4th Cat then...
So what did I learn? Well, I learnt that communication goes a long way. Or more to the point if you tell people you’re coming through they seem to just let you through (in the 4th Cats at least). I learnt that I can go from one end of the field to the other in half a lap, even if I didn’t quite make it to the front. I learnt that actually I can wind it up pretty quick for a sprint (even if it was quickly curtailed by the backlog of ploughing into the rear of the 3rd Cat peleton, damn it). And yes, I (finally) learnt to peel off the front rather than sit there and work!
So what will I do differently next time? Not a lot. And I’m not saying much more than that anyway - people might be reading.
I can feel a result coming on though...
Morvélo Love
This is a shameless plug for a bunch of people that I don’t know but whom I like a lot - a simple but effective logo, a love of cycling and a passion to combine the two in a cycle clothing brand, they’ve created a company that any cyclist would struggle not to connect with.
Morvélo is a name I have come across via Twitter - people I follow know and follow Morvélo, and I believe it is Oli at Morvélo who handles their Twittererering...
Anyway, along with doing some very cool T-shirts, having a very nice Morvélo kit design arriving soon and selling The Ride journal and some very cool Morvélo branded Exposure lights, they also strike a chord with me in that they are lovers and purveyors of all things cycling, be it road, MTB, track, ‘cross, BMX... the list goes on. Ok so I only really ride road and do the occasional MTB ride these days, but I do appreciate all things bike (even when my mate Jimbo posts up BMX videos I can’t help but gawp!).
As they say on their site: “It’s all about the ride”. Amen to that.
Morvélo - clothing for those that love to ride. Check them out.
Morvélo is a name I have come across via Twitter - people I follow know and follow Morvélo, and I believe it is Oli at Morvélo who handles their Twittererering...
Anyway, along with doing some very cool T-shirts, having a very nice Morvélo kit design arriving soon and selling The Ride journal and some very cool Morvélo branded Exposure lights, they also strike a chord with me in that they are lovers and purveyors of all things cycling, be it road, MTB, track, ‘cross, BMX... the list goes on. Ok so I only really ride road and do the occasional MTB ride these days, but I do appreciate all things bike (even when my mate Jimbo posts up BMX videos I can’t help but gawp!).
As they say on their site: “It’s all about the ride”. Amen to that.
Morvélo - clothing for those that love to ride. Check them out.
Challenges
27/12/09 17:53 In: Bike Tart Musings
I'm struggling with training motivation at the moment - it's a combination of a bit of a lull in my enthusiasm levels, a blip on my mojo chart and a basic need to 'HTFU'.
Two things have helped me realise what it is I need to do to get myself through this low ebb: Firstly, a friend has signed up for London to Paris (L2P). Having never even done a sportive before she's about to attempt three... On consecutive days... Each totalling roughly one hundred miles. Secondly, another mate suggested that maybe sportives aren't enough for me anymore and I need to enter something bigger...
You see, it's all about the challenge.
To tie in with my recent comment about getting back to 'reportage' I thought I'd take a very brief look into a few challenges, see what the score is and give my plucky readers something to peruse (maybe with a view to considering some of them yourself). In the process I just might come across the challenge that will snap me out of this fugg, kick me into gear and make me so sh*t scared that I won't be able to complete it that my 2010 ride season whoops the ass of any riding year previous - and given how good 2009 was, that is quite a challenge in itself.
And so to start - let’s go with T-Bag’s L2P adventure. Closed roads, support crew, some seriously famous names from the cycling world - why wouldn’t you want to do this?! This is a ‘definitely one day’ for me, but seeing as 2010 is already fully booked it’ll have to wait for now anyway. Regardless, I reckon T-Bag is going to have a cracking time, I’m jealous.
Next up, the Tour des Cols. A mate of mine tackled this earlier this year and it has to be said it sounds like a great ride, or rather a great three days of riding. Ranging from 125km to 150km none of the days are exactly ‘short’ and sound like they’re far from easy! There’s some cracking and famous climbs noted in the itinerary and if the weather is good then the views and the riding will be spectacular. This one is definitely tempting it has to be said.
I’ve previously touched on the Cent Col Challenge so I won’t dwell on that too much, except to say that one day I’d love to have a crack. 2010 is not the year for me though!
The Vatternrunden is a big ride, but I don’t see it as being beyond the realms of reality, even with my current fitness levels. Sure, 300km is quite a distance. But given that it’s around a lake much of it is fairly flat - exactly where I’m at my best. In fact the only way to make it a real challenge would be to attempt the new ‘sub-9’ format. It would, however, be a massive achievement regardless of how quickly you did it. Not many people can lay claim to ticking off 300km in one hit!
Les Cingles du Ventoux is my ‘must-do’ event. I really think 2010 is the year for me to spend some time getting to know The Giant of Provence and to tackle this 136km, 4500m beast of a ride - and remember that 4500m comes in just 3 ascents! I’m hoping to set this up for around early-to-mid September close to my birthday and combine the Cingles as a part of a week-long holiday. Just to put it into perspective, “cingle” is French for screwball...
And finally comes the Tour of Wessex. Currently billed as the UK’s only multi-stage sportive, this is becoming a definite favourite as a 2010 target. well over five hundred kilometers in three days of riding (or just over a hundred miles a day for the imperial-inclined amongst us) sounds like the kind of challenge I might need to give me a kick up the arse and get me out... Anyone else fancy it?
Clearly there are plenty of other challenges in the cycling calendar, and numerous sportives that provide a decent challenge on their own. String a few of those together like I did in 2009 and you’ve got yourself a year of decent riding. I just think I need to push it that little bit further in 2010 and one of the three day tours is looking like a good option...
Talking of challenges - I unexpectedly ended up in the pub this evening and now need to get to work tomorrow without a hangover. Oops...
Two things have helped me realise what it is I need to do to get myself through this low ebb: Firstly, a friend has signed up for London to Paris (L2P). Having never even done a sportive before she's about to attempt three... On consecutive days... Each totalling roughly one hundred miles. Secondly, another mate suggested that maybe sportives aren't enough for me anymore and I need to enter something bigger...
You see, it's all about the challenge.
To tie in with my recent comment about getting back to 'reportage' I thought I'd take a very brief look into a few challenges, see what the score is and give my plucky readers something to peruse (maybe with a view to considering some of them yourself). In the process I just might come across the challenge that will snap me out of this fugg, kick me into gear and make me so sh*t scared that I won't be able to complete it that my 2010 ride season whoops the ass of any riding year previous - and given how good 2009 was, that is quite a challenge in itself.
And so to start - let’s go with T-Bag’s L2P adventure. Closed roads, support crew, some seriously famous names from the cycling world - why wouldn’t you want to do this?! This is a ‘definitely one day’ for me, but seeing as 2010 is already fully booked it’ll have to wait for now anyway. Regardless, I reckon T-Bag is going to have a cracking time, I’m jealous.
Next up, the Tour des Cols. A mate of mine tackled this earlier this year and it has to be said it sounds like a great ride, or rather a great three days of riding. Ranging from 125km to 150km none of the days are exactly ‘short’ and sound like they’re far from easy! There’s some cracking and famous climbs noted in the itinerary and if the weather is good then the views and the riding will be spectacular. This one is definitely tempting it has to be said.
I’ve previously touched on the Cent Col Challenge so I won’t dwell on that too much, except to say that one day I’d love to have a crack. 2010 is not the year for me though!
The Vatternrunden is a big ride, but I don’t see it as being beyond the realms of reality, even with my current fitness levels. Sure, 300km is quite a distance. But given that it’s around a lake much of it is fairly flat - exactly where I’m at my best. In fact the only way to make it a real challenge would be to attempt the new ‘sub-9’ format. It would, however, be a massive achievement regardless of how quickly you did it. Not many people can lay claim to ticking off 300km in one hit!
Les Cingles du Ventoux is my ‘must-do’ event. I really think 2010 is the year for me to spend some time getting to know The Giant of Provence and to tackle this 136km, 4500m beast of a ride - and remember that 4500m comes in just 3 ascents! I’m hoping to set this up for around early-to-mid September close to my birthday and combine the Cingles as a part of a week-long holiday. Just to put it into perspective, “cingle” is French for screwball...
And finally comes the Tour of Wessex. Currently billed as the UK’s only multi-stage sportive, this is becoming a definite favourite as a 2010 target. well over five hundred kilometers in three days of riding (or just over a hundred miles a day for the imperial-inclined amongst us) sounds like the kind of challenge I might need to give me a kick up the arse and get me out... Anyone else fancy it?
Clearly there are plenty of other challenges in the cycling calendar, and numerous sportives that provide a decent challenge on their own. String a few of those together like I did in 2009 and you’ve got yourself a year of decent riding. I just think I need to push it that little bit further in 2010 and one of the three day tours is looking like a good option...
Talking of challenges - I unexpectedly ended up in the pub this evening and now need to get to work tomorrow without a hangover. Oops...
Shifting Focus
27/12/09 17:52 In: Bike Tart Musings
Now that 'The Project' has gone through it's remarkably quick inception, iterations and deliverance, and consequently that my own deliberations regarding fit, finish, cost, material, will they / won't they are resolved (for now at least) it is time to get this site back to a level of reportage regarding the goings on in the cycling world beyond my own little world. 'Hot or Not?' needs some new blood, and I've not offered up enough dribble fodder to 'Kahuna Tingles' recently so it's time to get back on the case...
Handling each in turn, a comment from a mate of mine has led me to deal with my latest 'Hot or Not?' update as a debate on Compact Vs Traditional on roadie frames. Which gets you all flustered or makes you wish a particular bike was produced using the other method?! Comment accordingly, and I'll try to keep a running tally.
As for 'Kahuna Tingles', I have to proudly display my own new bike on this one I'm afraid! Exotic? Not quite. But I think it's one of the nicest bikes I've ever built, and there's a fair few of them to choose from! The theme is Ti and black anodising (ok, I know I said I'd move on from my own little world, but it is a lovely bike!).
I'm hoping to find a better method of handling 'Pull My Finger' as that's had limited take-up. If anyone knows of an HTML form that I can easily add there please let me know - I'd like it to work so that people can email me via the form, then I will keep you updated on the kind of notes I get, and hopefully such things will appear in relevant locations on the site in future. Interact and tell me what you want!
Now can someone make Sunday arrive a bit quicker so I can give this new bike of mine a decent test please?!
Handling each in turn, a comment from a mate of mine has led me to deal with my latest 'Hot or Not?' update as a debate on Compact Vs Traditional on roadie frames. Which gets you all flustered or makes you wish a particular bike was produced using the other method?! Comment accordingly, and I'll try to keep a running tally.
As for 'Kahuna Tingles', I have to proudly display my own new bike on this one I'm afraid! Exotic? Not quite. But I think it's one of the nicest bikes I've ever built, and there's a fair few of them to choose from! The theme is Ti and black anodising (ok, I know I said I'd move on from my own little world, but it is a lovely bike!).
I'm hoping to find a better method of handling 'Pull My Finger' as that's had limited take-up. If anyone knows of an HTML form that I can easily add there please let me know - I'd like it to work so that people can email me via the form, then I will keep you updated on the kind of notes I get, and hopefully such things will appear in relevant locations on the site in future. Interact and tell me what you want!
Now can someone make Sunday arrive a bit quicker so I can give this new bike of mine a decent test please?!
The Project - Done.
That didn’t take long did it?!
Already had a little run on the rollers - first impressions are that it’s a great fit. The slightly longer 175mm cranks (previously ran 172.5mm) seem to enable a smoother pedal stroke, the bars and levers don’t need tilting back at a silly angle to make it feel comfortable, I’m back to running a 110mm stem “because I can” and my saddle to bar drop is down to a much more manageable 95mm or so from almost 120mm, also with a slightly shorter reach.
I have to say it’s also probably the nicest looking bike I’ve built in a very long time, if not ever, and that’s why it’s going to be my next ‘Kahuna Tingle’!
Already had a little run on the rollers - first impressions are that it’s a great fit. The slightly longer 175mm cranks (previously ran 172.5mm) seem to enable a smoother pedal stroke, the bars and levers don’t need tilting back at a silly angle to make it feel comfortable, I’m back to running a 110mm stem “because I can” and my saddle to bar drop is down to a much more manageable 95mm or so from almost 120mm, also with a slightly shorter reach.
I have to say it’s also probably the nicest looking bike I’ve built in a very long time, if not ever, and that’s why it’s going to be my next ‘Kahuna Tingle’!
Playing In The Mud
27/12/09 17:50 In: Bike Tart Musings
Earlier today Bike Tart went back to his roots and got down and dirty on a mountain bike.
I’ve been back in my home town of Worthing this weekend and a couple of weeks ago had agreed to hook up with Jimbo, Godfather of Sussex MTB for a spin on the mountain bikes.
Despite the weather report looking pretty grim for the weekend it turned out alright for us this morning and a good selection of singletrack at Swinley Forest was duly nailed. I’ll be honest, at times I sent it like a proper roadie gayer (braking mid-berm, WTF?!) but I also found myself railing some stuff and handling the bike (a Scott Spark 30 borrowed from Quest Adventure) better than I ever did back when mountain biking was all I did.
Turns out this road stuff has had more benefits than I realised!
I’ve been back in my home town of Worthing this weekend and a couple of weeks ago had agreed to hook up with Jimbo, Godfather of Sussex MTB for a spin on the mountain bikes.
Despite the weather report looking pretty grim for the weekend it turned out alright for us this morning and a good selection of singletrack at Swinley Forest was duly nailed. I’ll be honest, at times I sent it like a proper roadie gayer (braking mid-berm, WTF?!) but I also found myself railing some stuff and handling the bike (a Scott Spark 30 borrowed from Quest Adventure) better than I ever did back when mountain biking was all I did.
Turns out this road stuff has had more benefits than I realised!
The Project - Method In My Madness
27/12/09 17:48 In: Bike Tart Musings
First things first - I’m not trying to justify anything. I bought the Lynskey on a whim, that much I’m not denying. But there was a thought process involved...
As most of you are aware I was about to rush head-long into a custom build. Realisation dawned that I’ve not tried enough bikes and that although I like the geometry on my Cannondales it’s not quite right - it’s certainly nothing to base a custom build on.
So I need to test more bikes, see how different positions make me feel, understand what materials and setups I like. All very well, but what’s the sense in testing a bike somewhere other than where you know best, or testing a bike that’s the wrong size or not setup exactly how you like it? All that’ll tell you is vaguely how the frame might handle - it won’t give you any valuable feedback regarding how ‘right’ that frame might be for you. To do that it needs to be the right size, the right setup and ridden on familiar roads so that the only variables are you current bike and the bike you’re testing.
I can’t do this. I have no car to collect bikes from a shop, bring them back to my place to set them up right, ride them places that I know well enough to ignore any other external forces coming in to play and get them back to said shop in a reasonable timeframe. And shops close to me don’t have the kinds of bike I’d like to test.
I like my current position on my Cannondale. BUT, I know the top tube is too long because I prefer to run a longer stem and I can’t. I know the headtube is too short because I’m already running 45mm of spacers, and often feel like I could do with being just a little bit higher up - only the fork is cut so there’s no way of getting any higher without flipping the stem... Like that’s ever gonna happen on a bike of mine!
The geometry on the Lynskey R330 is similar to the Cannondale for the most part - the angles are the same but the top tube is just slightly shorter. The biggest difference is that the head tube is 20mm longer (well, 50mm once you take the Chris King headset into the equation). This means I can run it with a slightly longer stem at the same height as my current setup. Better already. It also means that I can leave the forks a little longer and run the front end a little higher if I want to. Everything else (including the reach and my all important saddle position) can stay exactly as-is.
In short, this means I can spend time making sure I’m getting my position exactly right on it.
Ok so it might not be my ‘ideal’ frame necessarily, but it does help that it is in it’s own right a very good frame from an extremely reputable bike building family, and that I got it at a respectable price. In fact in the Lynskey range there’s only two of their bikes that come above it - the R430 and the Helix. As standard both of these are too race-focused in their geometry, although Lynskey do offer a custom option should I fall in love with the brand from this little acquisition. It also carries a little bit of the Helix bloodline as the seat stays are formed with the Helix twist - a very neat touch.
So, it was a crazy purchase - that much I don’t doubt. It won’t allow me to test different materials and it won’t give me experience of bikes from different brands or help me decide whether or not I really need BB30. But getting my position right is the biggest benefit of going custom, and with this I can get that exactly right.
Luckily it will make for a cracking bike that’ll last forever too... as if that matters with me and my bike buying habits!
As most of you are aware I was about to rush head-long into a custom build. Realisation dawned that I’ve not tried enough bikes and that although I like the geometry on my Cannondales it’s not quite right - it’s certainly nothing to base a custom build on.
So I need to test more bikes, see how different positions make me feel, understand what materials and setups I like. All very well, but what’s the sense in testing a bike somewhere other than where you know best, or testing a bike that’s the wrong size or not setup exactly how you like it? All that’ll tell you is vaguely how the frame might handle - it won’t give you any valuable feedback regarding how ‘right’ that frame might be for you. To do that it needs to be the right size, the right setup and ridden on familiar roads so that the only variables are you current bike and the bike you’re testing.
I can’t do this. I have no car to collect bikes from a shop, bring them back to my place to set them up right, ride them places that I know well enough to ignore any other external forces coming in to play and get them back to said shop in a reasonable timeframe. And shops close to me don’t have the kinds of bike I’d like to test.
I like my current position on my Cannondale. BUT, I know the top tube is too long because I prefer to run a longer stem and I can’t. I know the headtube is too short because I’m already running 45mm of spacers, and often feel like I could do with being just a little bit higher up - only the fork is cut so there’s no way of getting any higher without flipping the stem... Like that’s ever gonna happen on a bike of mine!
The geometry on the Lynskey R330 is similar to the Cannondale for the most part - the angles are the same but the top tube is just slightly shorter. The biggest difference is that the head tube is 20mm longer (well, 50mm once you take the Chris King headset into the equation). This means I can run it with a slightly longer stem at the same height as my current setup. Better already. It also means that I can leave the forks a little longer and run the front end a little higher if I want to. Everything else (including the reach and my all important saddle position) can stay exactly as-is.
In short, this means I can spend time making sure I’m getting my position exactly right on it.
Ok so it might not be my ‘ideal’ frame necessarily, but it does help that it is in it’s own right a very good frame from an extremely reputable bike building family, and that I got it at a respectable price. In fact in the Lynskey range there’s only two of their bikes that come above it - the R430 and the Helix. As standard both of these are too race-focused in their geometry, although Lynskey do offer a custom option should I fall in love with the brand from this little acquisition. It also carries a little bit of the Helix bloodline as the seat stays are formed with the Helix twist - a very neat touch.
So, it was a crazy purchase - that much I don’t doubt. It won’t allow me to test different materials and it won’t give me experience of bikes from different brands or help me decide whether or not I really need BB30. But getting my position right is the biggest benefit of going custom, and with this I can get that exactly right.
Luckily it will make for a cracking bike that’ll last forever too... as if that matters with me and my bike buying habits!
The Project - Confession Time...
27/12/09 17:48 In: Bike Tart Musings
See that, up there in that pic? You know, that Lynskey R330 frame and those Chris King and Rotor bits? I ordered those the other day. There’s some Thomson kit coming too.
That’s my new bike. Oops.
Meh.
The Project - PANIC!!
27/12/09 17:47 In: Bike Tart Musings
Right, time to take a step back, breathe deep, count to ten and get my damn head straight...
So, recently I was ready to splash £1800 on a previously extremely expensive second hand custom built bike that wasn’t built for me. I had a sleepless night, realised how crazy I was being and decided in a mad panic that I should immediately kick off my own custom build. Barry at Bespoke was called, IF’s offerings were discussed and a fitting session was setup.
Things then got confusing.
When Barry and I spoke about the SSR Vs the XS a few thoughts came to mind for me - I wanted the XS so very badly, but it’s extreme price was just such a hurdle. The SSR seemed like such a good buy, and it’s classic lines and steel construction were really appealing... but it just wasn’t the XS.
I asked a few questions of IF to determine whether or not any subtle changes could be made to the XS to really make it mine - they were only partially accommodating. Cue doubt. Cue taking that step back, deep breath and counting to ten. Cue an unexpected thought: “I’m not ready for this yet”.
Nobody was ready for that!!
I need to ride more bikes, need to try more setups, need to test different geometries. I need to know for sure that the XS really is the right bike to be spending that kind of money on. It needs to be my dream bike for more reasons than just looks. It needs to be the bike I always wanted it to be. It needs to be the bike I’ve waited for - it doesn’t need to be the bike I rushed into just because I was in a mad panic and loved the look of it so much... and then regretted not spending more time on other bikes to get it 100% right.
All of this has given me a real desire for change so something definitely is going to happen, and very soon. The SystemSix is already sold. The CAAD9 is already up for sale (yes, the one I’ve waited so long for, and the one I bought an Si SL chainset for nigh-on seven hundred quid to go on, the one that’s not even arrived yet). Something new will be along shortly, to fulfil my desire for change, to try those different setups and different geometries.
Cue outrageous impulse purchase... Or rather purchases. *ahem*
(by the way, if you’re interested in the CAAD9 and Si SL chainset do drop me a line - biketart@me.com, cheers!)
So, recently I was ready to splash £1800 on a previously extremely expensive second hand custom built bike that wasn’t built for me. I had a sleepless night, realised how crazy I was being and decided in a mad panic that I should immediately kick off my own custom build. Barry at Bespoke was called, IF’s offerings were discussed and a fitting session was setup.
Things then got confusing.
When Barry and I spoke about the SSR Vs the XS a few thoughts came to mind for me - I wanted the XS so very badly, but it’s extreme price was just such a hurdle. The SSR seemed like such a good buy, and it’s classic lines and steel construction were really appealing... but it just wasn’t the XS.
I asked a few questions of IF to determine whether or not any subtle changes could be made to the XS to really make it mine - they were only partially accommodating. Cue doubt. Cue taking that step back, deep breath and counting to ten. Cue an unexpected thought: “I’m not ready for this yet”.
Nobody was ready for that!!
I need to ride more bikes, need to try more setups, need to test different geometries. I need to know for sure that the XS really is the right bike to be spending that kind of money on. It needs to be my dream bike for more reasons than just looks. It needs to be the bike I always wanted it to be. It needs to be the bike I’ve waited for - it doesn’t need to be the bike I rushed into just because I was in a mad panic and loved the look of it so much... and then regretted not spending more time on other bikes to get it 100% right.
All of this has given me a real desire for change so something definitely is going to happen, and very soon. The SystemSix is already sold. The CAAD9 is already up for sale (yes, the one I’ve waited so long for, and the one I bought an Si SL chainset for nigh-on seven hundred quid to go on, the one that’s not even arrived yet). Something new will be along shortly, to fulfil my desire for change, to try those different setups and different geometries.
Cue outrageous impulse purchase... Or rather purchases. *ahem*
(by the way, if you’re interested in the CAAD9 and Si SL chainset do drop me a line - biketart@me.com, cheers!)
The Project - Still Deciding
27/12/09 17:46 In: Bike Tart Musings
Well, even after this post on here the other night I still can’t make my mind up...
I’m now even more confused though - I asked the question of whether or not the rear carbon wishbone of the XS could be replaced with Ti twin stays. For me this would have finished it off, made it my own and probably sealed the deal. IF have responded to say that they can do this, but they’d also need to replace the carbon seat tube with a Ti one or it’s going to cost me more money.
And this is where it all starts to bug me a bit.
I can’t over-simplify the process - I don’t know how to build a bike frame. But (as if I haven’t emphasised it enough) the XS is £4.5k. Doing what they’re suggesting in removing the carbon from the seat tube and basically having an all Ti back end will still cost me £4.5k... Fine, except that basically means that it’s costing me £1600 to have two carbon tubes added to the £2900 Ti Crown Jewel. Not happening. Brain Rourke will build me a 953 frame and supply an Easton EC90SL fork with headset to boot for that money!
And that means I feel a bit like I’m being forced to take the ‘standard’ XS just to get my money’s worth from it. That’s wrong - it’s a custom bike so I should be having exactly what I want. This isn’t a pop at IF by the way, they will build what I want and the way I want it. But the damn thing’s pricey enough as it is!
So now my nagging fear that it might not quite live up to the expectation I have of a £4.5k spend is coupled with a nagging “yeah but I can’t afford to have it the way I want it” and a “I wonder how it would have ridden if I had got the Ti rear end”. Bugger.
I wonder if I can add Ti to the Corvid...
I’m now even more confused though - I asked the question of whether or not the rear carbon wishbone of the XS could be replaced with Ti twin stays. For me this would have finished it off, made it my own and probably sealed the deal. IF have responded to say that they can do this, but they’d also need to replace the carbon seat tube with a Ti one or it’s going to cost me more money.
And this is where it all starts to bug me a bit.
I can’t over-simplify the process - I don’t know how to build a bike frame. But (as if I haven’t emphasised it enough) the XS is £4.5k. Doing what they’re suggesting in removing the carbon from the seat tube and basically having an all Ti back end will still cost me £4.5k... Fine, except that basically means that it’s costing me £1600 to have two carbon tubes added to the £2900 Ti Crown Jewel. Not happening. Brain Rourke will build me a 953 frame and supply an Easton EC90SL fork with headset to boot for that money!
And that means I feel a bit like I’m being forced to take the ‘standard’ XS just to get my money’s worth from it. That’s wrong - it’s a custom bike so I should be having exactly what I want. This isn’t a pop at IF by the way, they will build what I want and the way I want it. But the damn thing’s pricey enough as it is!
So now my nagging fear that it might not quite live up to the expectation I have of a £4.5k spend is coupled with a nagging “yeah but I can’t afford to have it the way I want it” and a “I wonder how it would have ridden if I had got the Ti rear end”. Bugger.
I wonder if I can add Ti to the Corvid...
The Project - Already Changed
27/12/09 17:45 In: Bike Tart Musings
Good lord, change my mind more often than I change my pants... (yes, often twice a day before you ask, and not for reasons of soiling... anyhoo...!!)
So I had the opportunity for a second hand Parlee Z1 SL and had agreed to take it on. A £4.7k frame for £1.8k seemed like too good an opportunity to miss... Except I had a sleepless night thinking about how much money I was about to spend on something that had been designed and built for someone else. I couldn’t do it and bailed. Apologies to Neil who i was going to buy it from, although he did have someone else lined up for it so hopefully he was still able to shift it on at a decent price...
Getting cold feet has done me a favour though - I made the decision that it is time to set the wheels in motion and get myself something built. Something that is “mine all mine, mwaaaahahahahahaaaaaa”. Or something like that.
So, I’ve just got off the phone with Barry at Bespoke Cycling to have a chat about two of Independent Fabrications’ finest creations - the innovative yet classic ‘steel is real’ SSR and the frankly exotic, overpriced but stunningly beautiful XS.
I’ll be honest, despite the £1.8k difference in the two frames (which, remember, is the same amount that I was going to pay for a second hand Parlee!) I just cannot decide which to go for.
I absolutely LOVE the XS... but it’s £4.5k. OUCH. And the only justified reason to go with that is that I slightly favour the look of it over the SSR.
The SSR is £2.7k, which is still an incredible amount of money to spend on a bike, but it’s a whole set of VERY nice wheels less than the XS. In fact if I were to use my current Dura-Ace tubs for the SSR I could buy everything else I need for it for less than the XS frame alone would cost (I already have the brakes and saddle).
I really do think the XS is just one step too far. What if I were to stump up for it on the basis that it’s slightly better looking only to be underwhelmed by it? The flipside being what if I were to go for the SSR only to still want the XS, and end up spending out on the XS anyway? The SSR would then become the most expensive winter bike I’ll ever own that’s for sure!
It’s a tough choice.
And then there’s the decision to make regarding colour scheme... sweet mother of god...
So I had the opportunity for a second hand Parlee Z1 SL and had agreed to take it on. A £4.7k frame for £1.8k seemed like too good an opportunity to miss... Except I had a sleepless night thinking about how much money I was about to spend on something that had been designed and built for someone else. I couldn’t do it and bailed. Apologies to Neil who i was going to buy it from, although he did have someone else lined up for it so hopefully he was still able to shift it on at a decent price...
Getting cold feet has done me a favour though - I made the decision that it is time to set the wheels in motion and get myself something built. Something that is “mine all mine, mwaaaahahahahahaaaaaa”. Or something like that.
So, I’ve just got off the phone with Barry at Bespoke Cycling to have a chat about two of Independent Fabrications’ finest creations - the innovative yet classic ‘steel is real’ SSR and the frankly exotic, overpriced but stunningly beautiful XS.
I’ll be honest, despite the £1.8k difference in the two frames (which, remember, is the same amount that I was going to pay for a second hand Parlee!) I just cannot decide which to go for.
I absolutely LOVE the XS... but it’s £4.5k. OUCH. And the only justified reason to go with that is that I slightly favour the look of it over the SSR.
The SSR is £2.7k, which is still an incredible amount of money to spend on a bike, but it’s a whole set of VERY nice wheels less than the XS. In fact if I were to use my current Dura-Ace tubs for the SSR I could buy everything else I need for it for less than the XS frame alone would cost (I already have the brakes and saddle).
I really do think the XS is just one step too far. What if I were to stump up for it on the basis that it’s slightly better looking only to be underwhelmed by it? The flipside being what if I were to go for the SSR only to still want the XS, and end up spending out on the XS anyway? The SSR would then become the most expensive winter bike I’ll ever own that’s for sure!
It’s a tough choice.
And then there’s the decision to make regarding colour scheme... sweet mother of god...
The Project
27/12/09 17:45 In: Bike Tart Musings
Watch this space my good people - I think I might be about to agree a deal on something really quite special...
It’s going to have to be a project as it categorically WILL NOT be used in grim weather and I can’t afford to get it finished before Christmas as it deserves to be lavished with some SERIOUS kit. That, and the fact that the cranks I want for it aren’t released until the new year... damn it.
I feel less guilty about getting the K1 saddle now!
It’s going to have to be a project as it categorically WILL NOT be used in grim weather and I can’t afford to get it finished before Christmas as it deserves to be lavished with some SERIOUS kit. That, and the fact that the cranks I want for it aren’t released until the new year... damn it.
I feel less guilty about getting the K1 saddle now!
Running?? Shutup...
27/12/09 17:44 In: Bike Tart Musings
Yup, it’s true - this past weekend Bike Tart took up running.
Stop laughing, I mean it.
It’s been on my mind for various reasons, but the main one being a bit of cross-training to help with the cycling - a spot of ‘body shock’ to wake up and activate different leg muscles as well as giving a different stimulus to those muscles that I use daily on the bike.
And then there’s the fact that cycling can be a bit of a faff sometimes...
I live really close to Richmond Park and spend a lot of time in there on the bike. This can get a bit tedious as you end up learning the lap inside out, and frankly getting a bit bored of going round and round. There’s also the odd evening where I want a workout but could do with just squeezing in something short and sweet - by the time I’ve got kitted up to ride, checked the bike over, filled a water bottle, done a lap, come home and offloaded everything you’re looking at 45mins all in. Which equates to over an hour when you add a shower and change into the equation...
So running is a quicker alternative. Because I’m not ‘run fit’ I only need 20mins for a decent workout, and at the moment after that little stint my legs ache more than a 200km bike ride!
Don’t worry though folks, I don’t think I could ever love running enough to take it up as anything serious, and I certainly won’t be entering any running events - it’d all be too much of a distraction from the bikes...
Besides, the prospect of riding and thinking “I should be running to train for that event”? No ta.
Stop laughing, I mean it.
It’s been on my mind for various reasons, but the main one being a bit of cross-training to help with the cycling - a spot of ‘body shock’ to wake up and activate different leg muscles as well as giving a different stimulus to those muscles that I use daily on the bike.
And then there’s the fact that cycling can be a bit of a faff sometimes...
I live really close to Richmond Park and spend a lot of time in there on the bike. This can get a bit tedious as you end up learning the lap inside out, and frankly getting a bit bored of going round and round. There’s also the odd evening where I want a workout but could do with just squeezing in something short and sweet - by the time I’ve got kitted up to ride, checked the bike over, filled a water bottle, done a lap, come home and offloaded everything you’re looking at 45mins all in. Which equates to over an hour when you add a shower and change into the equation...
So running is a quicker alternative. Because I’m not ‘run fit’ I only need 20mins for a decent workout, and at the moment after that little stint my legs ache more than a 200km bike ride!
Don’t worry though folks, I don’t think I could ever love running enough to take it up as anything serious, and I certainly won’t be entering any running events - it’d all be too much of a distraction from the bikes...
Besides, the prospect of riding and thinking “I should be running to train for that event”? No ta.
The Ride Journal III
Right folks, trust me on this one - on Monday 9th November get yourself over to http://www.theridejournal.com/index.html and buy yourself a copy of The Ride Journal volume three. If the first and second volumes were anything to go by it will be an awesome read.
This is proper coffee table stuff, but manages to combine all the quality, artistry and panache of Rouleur with a broad spectrum of bike-related articles, ultimately resulting in a read that will keep you engrossed for a good while.
Don’t deny yourselves. Believe me, you won’t regret it...
This is proper coffee table stuff, but manages to combine all the quality, artistry and panache of Rouleur with a broad spectrum of bike-related articles, ultimately resulting in a read that will keep you engrossed for a good while.
Don’t deny yourselves. Believe me, you won’t regret it...
eBay Accident
Ok so this is WAAAAY OTT, quite possibly out-doing some of my own most extreme stupid / crazy / unnecessary purchases, but I’ve lusted after one for AGES...
It was on fleaBay on a ‘Buy It Now or Best Offer’ - a few glasses of red later I stuck in an offer thinking “this’ll never get accepted”. It did. So I am now the proud owner of a Fizik K1 saddle. Oops.
Still, whilst working out to around £1.35 per gram, the retail is about 65p per gram more than that so I don’t think I did too badly... Pah! Whatever!!
It was on fleaBay on a ‘Buy It Now or Best Offer’ - a few glasses of red later I stuck in an offer thinking “this’ll never get accepted”. It did. So I am now the proud owner of a Fizik K1 saddle. Oops.
Still, whilst working out to around £1.35 per gram, the retail is about 65p per gram more than that so I don’t think I did too badly... Pah! Whatever!!
Back To My Roots
27/12/09 17:41 In: Bike Tart Musings
A little over a year ago a random group of roadies gathered together at Richmond Gate in Richmond Park and headed out for a steady bimble around the lanes of Surrey. ‘RPCC’ as it would thereafter become affectionately known was born.
In recent times it’s been a bit tricky getting myself along to the ‘normal’ RPCC rides - the end of the summer (and the start of autumn) was full of ‘hoonfest’ Sunday rides, the last sportives of the year and a race at Hillingdon. On the weekend just gone I managed to get myself along. It was a Sunday, but it was still an ‘old school’ RPCC ride.
It was good to be back. It was good to see some of the ‘older’ (if such a term can be used for a group barely a year old) faces, some regular faces and some new faces - just like how it always used to be.
Here’s hoping for more of the same over the winter...
In recent times it’s been a bit tricky getting myself along to the ‘normal’ RPCC rides - the end of the summer (and the start of autumn) was full of ‘hoonfest’ Sunday rides, the last sportives of the year and a race at Hillingdon. On the weekend just gone I managed to get myself along. It was a Sunday, but it was still an ‘old school’ RPCC ride.
It was good to be back. It was good to see some of the ‘older’ (if such a term can be used for a group barely a year old) faces, some regular faces and some new faces - just like how it always used to be.
Here’s hoping for more of the same over the winter...
Como a Go-Go
27/12/09 17:38 In: Bike Tart Musings | Pro Cycling
Once again, my apologies for the quiet around these parts - Bike Tart went away on business and then buggered off on holiday...
... To watch the Giro di Lombardia - LUSH!
And of course to do some riding. Except that Bike Tart also managed to come down with Man Flu(TM) rendering himself completely incapable of riding a bike on the Sunday - which basically meant that he took his bike out to Italy to ride once. Oops.
But it was a great ride, and we did see the pro peleton flying up the Ghisallo climb to the sound of the bells from the Madonna del Ghisallo church ringing out. It was an awesome sight, and we were able to get right up close. I have some video footage which will be posted just as soon as I can work out how to edit it so that it’s not in portrait... ahem, I repeat: oops.
Alas, the four days were over as soon as they’d begun, but a good time was had by all despite it being a little nippy (and despite my man flu)! I’m now desperately trying to justify another holiday away with the bike as soon as I possibly can!
There’s also a little part of me that now loves Italy so much I want a bike with Super Record...
... To watch the Giro di Lombardia - LUSH!
And of course to do some riding. Except that Bike Tart also managed to come down with Man Flu(TM) rendering himself completely incapable of riding a bike on the Sunday - which basically meant that he took his bike out to Italy to ride once. Oops.
But it was a great ride, and we did see the pro peleton flying up the Ghisallo climb to the sound of the bells from the Madonna del Ghisallo church ringing out. It was an awesome sight, and we were able to get right up close. I have some video footage which will be posted just as soon as I can work out how to edit it so that it’s not in portrait... ahem, I repeat: oops.
Alas, the four days were over as soon as they’d begun, but a good time was had by all despite it being a little nippy (and despite my man flu)! I’m now desperately trying to justify another holiday away with the bike as soon as I possibly can!
There’s also a little part of me that now loves Italy so much I want a bike with Super Record...
What A Week...
27/12/09 17:36 In: Bike Tart Musings
I never knew not riding could tire me out so much...
This week Bike Tart has been moving house (well, flat to be precise). It’s probably... no, definitely been the most tiring 5 days of my life. I truly am knackered, and I’ve not even ridden, not once. Pah!
It was an AWFUL choice of week to not be able to update my blog - Interbike has been running wild on the other side of the pond and I’ve barely been able to even sneak a peek! My broadband arrives tomorrow (5 days late, damn Virgin Media...) so I’ll have a proper chance to trawl through all of the wonderous delights that were on show ASAP. May I offer my most humble apologies for the lack of dribble fodder on display in this little corner of the world wide ether...
For now, I have perched my tidy little ass (ok, I’m lying) in a coffee shop on the Upper Richmond Road, still feeling the buzz of a fast paced nailing through the Surrey lanes this morning, to announce my return to regular brain fart activity imminently. I’ve missed updating this site and hopefully you have missed my updates too...?!
This week Bike Tart has been moving house (well, flat to be precise). It’s probably... no, definitely been the most tiring 5 days of my life. I truly am knackered, and I’ve not even ridden, not once. Pah!
It was an AWFUL choice of week to not be able to update my blog - Interbike has been running wild on the other side of the pond and I’ve barely been able to even sneak a peek! My broadband arrives tomorrow (5 days late, damn Virgin Media...) so I’ll have a proper chance to trawl through all of the wonderous delights that were on show ASAP. May I offer my most humble apologies for the lack of dribble fodder on display in this little corner of the world wide ether...
For now, I have perched my tidy little ass (ok, I’m lying) in a coffee shop on the Upper Richmond Road, still feeling the buzz of a fast paced nailing through the Surrey lanes this morning, to announce my return to regular brain fart activity imminently. I’ve missed updating this site and hopefully you have missed my updates too...?!
Interbike In a Jiffy
So, finally Bike Tart has had a chance to do some Interbike catch up - here’s my pick of the interesting a beautiful from last week... No apologies for the blatant use of VeloNews for all of the links here, but I had a limited window to get this sorted!
First up, Reynolds have redesigned the carbon clincher with their 92.2 rim (catchy name guys... not). Could this allow carbon clincher weights to drop and eliminate the heat build-up issues associated with them on long descents? Be nice to think so. Obviously the wheel guys also had their super-lush RZR on show which appeared one of the first Brain Fart articles.
Although not one for the roadie clan, Cannondale where in attendance showing that they continue to be one of the most innovative of the big gun bike brands with their new electronically damped ‘Simon’ suspension fork. Five years of development have seen this grow to the very respectful 4lb weight and 130mm travel shown at the Expo - and the murmerings seem to hold it in high regard.
DT Swiss are also jumping on the new wheel band wagon with a set of MTB and a set of road wheels, both using their new ‘Tricon’ technology. Intriguing idea, but it’s complexity reminds me of the Mavic R-SYS debacle...
In other news from the show, CamelBak have a digital meter that calculates how much water you have left in your CamelBak bladder (which just screams of marketing desperation!), Storck have a seriously fast looking new TT bike and Time have some new pedals on show - to be honest, from the quick trawl I’ve done I think there’s little extra to report since Eurobike...
Bike Tart’s favourite? MetriGear’s new Speedplay pedal-mounted power meter. Yup, a boring old power meter that does nothing but spit out numbers... but HOW WELL THOUGHT OUT??!! And I just happen to run Speedplays on my bike, which helps.
I’m running out of time so I’ll have to let you read up on it from MetriGear’s own site, but I reckon if this hits production I’ll be getting one loaded in to my pedals - even if it does cost me the earth!!
First up, Reynolds have redesigned the carbon clincher with their 92.2 rim (catchy name guys... not). Could this allow carbon clincher weights to drop and eliminate the heat build-up issues associated with them on long descents? Be nice to think so. Obviously the wheel guys also had their super-lush RZR on show which appeared one of the first Brain Fart articles.
Although not one for the roadie clan, Cannondale where in attendance showing that they continue to be one of the most innovative of the big gun bike brands with their new electronically damped ‘Simon’ suspension fork. Five years of development have seen this grow to the very respectful 4lb weight and 130mm travel shown at the Expo - and the murmerings seem to hold it in high regard.
DT Swiss are also jumping on the new wheel band wagon with a set of MTB and a set of road wheels, both using their new ‘Tricon’ technology. Intriguing idea, but it’s complexity reminds me of the Mavic R-SYS debacle...
In other news from the show, CamelBak have a digital meter that calculates how much water you have left in your CamelBak bladder (which just screams of marketing desperation!), Storck have a seriously fast looking new TT bike and Time have some new pedals on show - to be honest, from the quick trawl I’ve done I think there’s little extra to report since Eurobike...
Bike Tart’s favourite? MetriGear’s new Speedplay pedal-mounted power meter. Yup, a boring old power meter that does nothing but spit out numbers... but HOW WELL THOUGHT OUT??!! And I just happen to run Speedplays on my bike, which helps.
I’m running out of time so I’ll have to let you read up on it from MetriGear’s own site, but I reckon if this hits production I’ll be getting one loaded in to my pedals - even if it does cost me the earth!!