The All Things Cycling Thread

#1,301
#1,301
Velo Vol said:
Another option in that area, especially on weekday mornings, when the traffic isn't so bad: do the Old Walland Highway from Maryville to Townsend. Through Townsend on 321. Then inside the park, you can go right up and around Cades Cove, or left along the creek for a few miles. You can go all the way to the Sugarlands Visitor Center (and beyond) but you'll have a mile or two climb coming back.
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My sis in law lives in Maryville. I might try that next time we to to visit her.
 
#1,304
#1,304
49/67. I was in the top 10 for most of the first lap, but crashed hard several times and got run into a tree near the end. Super fun time and I was able to go from near the back to 3rd at the mass start.
 
#1,306
#1,306
Velo Vol said:
If I crashed more than once in one day, I might hang it up.
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I crashed on my warm up ride screwing around. Raced on a swollen knee. It's now the size of a grapefruit and hurts extremely bad. It was some pretty wet conditions, so nearly everyone went down at some point. There's a tough area that you have to go through sand then climb a hill. I hit the hill in 10th place and lost all momentum for the climb in the sand. Ended up losing all traction and slid back down the hill. I was passed by about 20 riders at that point.
 
#1,307
#1,307
I bent my seatpost at some point during the race, too. Last time I buy any Origin8 product. Guess I'll upgrade to a Thomson Ti Masterpiece.
 
#1,309
#1,309
VOLatile said:
I bent my seatpost at some point during the race, too. Last time I buy any Origin8 product. Guess I'll upgrade to a Thomson Ti Masterpiece.
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I have Thompson Elite on both my mtbs and love them. Used to have Race Face Carbon Fiber till I snapped it twice. No fun riding 4-5 miles back to the car with a broken seatpost.
 
#1,310
#1,310
tri_vol said:
I have Thompson Elite on both my mtbs and love them. Used to have Race Face Carbon Fiber till I snapped it twice. No fun riding 4-5 miles back to the car with a broken seatpost.
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I'll never run carbon fiber anything on a mountain bike, I'm just too big. Titanium with be lightweight but strong. Plus, I like the canvas bags that Thomson products come in. They're also made in the US. The rails on my saddle are completely fine, though. I'll try to get a photo of the bent post tomorrow. I may try going clipless for a practice run and now that I have a pair of pedals I can use. Just need shoes. I had trouble staying on my pedals once my shoes got muddy.

Forgot to mention that some jackass ran right into me at the start of the race because he couldn't get clipped in. I could have been first into the turn if it had not been for him or the two BMX kids that held me up. At least I didn't cause any accidents myself.

I've decided I'm going to race the entire IMBA circuit this year with a buddy. He took 8th today and 1st in his age group. His first gold medal of any kind at 46. He offered to drive if I came along to race.
 
#1,312
#1,312
Velo Vol said:
Nice.

What's the deal with the price of those? Seems it has increased 10-20% in just the past year.
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Price of oil has risen that much. Cost has gone up, too. What tires do you prefer to run? I'm riding Vittoria Rubino Pros in orange right now on my Felt, but I'm considering a change to Conti 4000s.
 
#1,313
#1,313
Oil cost almost this much last year and even more in 2008, so that explanation has problems.

I've been on the Continental GP 4000s the last few years. It's a nice all-around tire.

I did toy with the idea of ordering Michelin Carbons, which I previously used, when I saw them for $30 recently.
 
#1,314
#1,314
VOLatile said:
I'll never run carbon fiber anything on a mountain bike, I'm just too big. Titanium with be lightweight but strong. Plus, I like the canvas bags that Thomson products come in. They're also made in the US. The rails on my saddle are completely fine, though. I'll try to get a photo of the bent post tomorrow. I may try going clipless for a practice run and now that I have a pair of pedals I can use. Just need shoes. I had trouble staying on my pedals once my shoes got muddy.
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Figured weight was my issue, especially with a seatpost. My full suspension has carbon handlebars & never had a problem with them. You will never go back to platforms after riding clipless.
 
#1,315
#1,315
tri_vol said:
Figured weight was my issue, especially with a seatpost. My full suspension has carbon handlebars & never had a problem with them. You will never go back to platforms after riding clipless.
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Most of your weight isn't situated over the handlebars, though. A full suspension wouldn't let you bend a seatpost, either. I think my Xmas present to myself this year will be a Felt Edict or Virtue full suspension. There were some pretty sweet Niner rigids out there yesterday.
 
#1,316
#1,316
Velo Vol said:
Oil cost almost this much last year and even more in 2008, so that explanation has problems.

I've been on the Continental GP 4000s the last few years. It's a nice all-around tire.

I did toy with the idea of ordering Michelin Carbons, which I previously used, when I saw them for $30 recently.
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Huh. I have no idea about the price increase then. Is it just Continental tires that you noticed a price increase on or all of them?
 
#1,317
#1,317
VOLatile said:
Is it just Continental tires that you noticed a price increase on or all of them?
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That's the main type that I've been paying attention to.

So last year at PBK I got a couple for ~ $32/each, and this year it seems the best deal they've been running is ~ $37/each, if you buy six, which isn't exactly cheap.
 
#1,319
#1,319
New frame has shipped. Cannot wait to get it. I have a ton of ideas for it. I cleared my credit line at the shop. Once I get my nous.gain bike fork, I'll start building this up. Can't decide whether I want to go with a touring bike or a city bike. Guess we'll see when it gets in. I'm leaning towards a city bike, as I'd rather have a steel frame for touring.

Get it sandblasted and anodized white. Orange bars, carbon fork, Avid mechanical disc brakes, orange deep-v's laced to XT hubs, Shimano Deore front and rear derailleurs and shifters, white Origin8 seatpost, WTB saddle, white tires, Origin8 ProFormUL pedals that are currently on my mountain bike.

I think I'm going to run Speedplay Frog pedals on my mountain bike, then their Szyzr pedals when they're finally released. Lol.
 
#1,320
#1,320
Rode by the post office earlier. They have assembled the tent where they have a tax return drop off. Earlier today I saw a stat that > 20% of return filers now use paper returns.

In a related development, there were a handful of people standing out holding signs of support for the post office.
 
#1,322
#1,322
I tried to find the exact figure. One site had different numbers than I saw earlier on TV. It's apparently close to 20% one way or the other.

I went by the post office again. There's was two police cars routing traffic in one direction, but no special turning lane like I had seen in prior years. Much of the excitement is gone.

That reminds me, I still need to send my return.
 
#1,323
#1,323
Also on the way home. I was riding here, trying to merge over from the turning lane to the road.

Google Maps

For no reason, an idiot passenger yells out the window as the car is driving by. The car then swings across the traffic lanes and makes a left turn at the light after it already turned red. So they made this dangerous maneuverer just to have the thrill of yelling at me.

Really wish a police officer had been sitting there and nailed them.
 
#1,324
#1,324
Velo Vol said:
Also on the way home. I was riding here, trying to merge over from the turning lane to the road.

Google Maps

For no reason, an idiot passenger yells out the window as the car is driving by. The car then swings across the traffic lanes and makes a left turn at the light after it already turned red. So they made this dangerous maneuverer just to have the thrill of yelling at me.

Really wish a police officer had been sitting there and nailed them.
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You should start wearing a helmet cam. Catch the idiots and turn them in.

After doing some research today, I really want a Felt Virtue Elite...

VIRTUE_ELITE_USA_2012_small.jpg


For what I can get it for, it'll only take me 2 months of not eating, drinking, driving, or spending any money... I'll need a second job, too. I fear I may be too heavy for it, too. But hell, it's one hot bike. And of course, I'd have to swap all of the parts from Sram to Shimano.
 
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