Road racing bikes bikes?

[cafe latte]

Finally managed to get out for a very short spin today, probably no more than 3km. I must be one of the most unfit people on VE, I have had 3 strokes, my knee is shot and I am in the process of giving up smoking, I also weigh about 18st. Having the saddle a bit too high added to my discomfort and am set to adjust it shortly, it also looks from the picture that the saddle is tilted up and will sort that out too.

The bike seems to be coping admirably and aside from a few spoke twangs on the front wheel, I had it trued yesterday, all seems well.

Both the bike and I are going to be a work in progress and have taken a shot of the bike before, I have added new pedals and saddle due to the junk that was on it. There is one glaring mistake in the picture and I only noticed after I got back from my short ride.

The point is you got out there and are doing it well done! Next time it will be a bit more and you can slowly build up. It is important to get you bike set up correctly especially with you knee, my local bike shop told me a good rule of thumb is to have your seat at belt height when standing next to the bike. Your seat does seem to be pointing up too which wont be comfortable either. I found the first 2 days quite painful on the butt but yesterday really was not a problem so after a few short trips things will get easier, but take it steady.
Nice looking bike too, I quite like the purple
Regards
CL

[satanfriendly]

Great to hear you got it together 13. Take it easy easy, enjoy and
Like we chatted on the phone before you know it will all come together nicely.

In Spain on the motorbike at the moment and trying to figure out whether 2 hours solid on the push bike or 700 miles in one day in 40 C is the more physical torture.

[13oots2]

SF, I think 2 hrs in the saddle of either would be the end of me. How's the trip going? Hope you have some Chris Spedding on your iPod.

Was actually up to about 5km today and when I got home had 2 flights of stairs to climb, am ashamed to say my legs had turned to jelly and carrying the bike I thought I would have to stop halfway

[cafe latte]

SF, I think 2 hrs in the saddle of either would be the end of me. How's the trip going? Hope you have some Chris Spedding on your iPod.

Was actually up to about 5km today and when I got home had 2 flights of stairs to climb, am ashamed to say my legs had turned to jelly and carrying the bike I thought I would have to stop halfway

Well done! I would stick at your 5 kms for a while though until it gets easier. I am doing the same every night right now and my legs are improving every night but I think it is going to take another week or so before i extend the trip. I think carrying that bike 2 flights of stairs must be worth a few Km extra
Have fun and take it easy.
Regards
Chris

[13oots2]

Gave my bike a good going over today as I discovered the front wheel was almost seized up, all running smoothly now liberal amounts of grease have been applied to strategic points( between my ears worked a treat). Might have been an idea to do it before I went for a couple of spins on it.

The frame is definitely double butted, very light and much stiffer than my old 531 Competition tubing, I discovered the way to tell if it’s double butted is to “ring” the tubes with a finger nail, the tone changes where the walls get thicker. The frame has chrome plated Campagnolo dropouts and very short lugs, due to the lightness and stiffness am beginning to wonder if it might even be 753. Apparently it was common practice to use very short lugs with 753 to stop overheating the tubes when brazing. Also I am convinced that the bike is far more responsive than my old 531C and has better acceleration due to the stiffness. Wish there was a way to tell for certain what tubing it is but Campag dropouts are a sign of a very good frame, they didn’t waste them on junk frames.

Next step is to lose weight and build myself up some new wheels or just shell out and buy some reasonable ones, will then gradually replace parts as I go and eventually get the frame resprayed and finished by Argos.

[cafe latte]

Gave my bike a good going over today as I discovered the front wheel was almost seized up, all running smoothly now liberal amounts of grease have been applied to strategic points( between my ears worked a treat). Might have been an idea to do it before I went for a couple of spins on it.

The frame is definitely double butted, very light and much stiffer than my old 531 Competition tubing, I discovered the way to tell if it’s double butted is to “ring” the tubes with a finger nail, the tone changes where the walls get thicker. The frame has chrome plated Campagnolo dropouts and very short lugs, due to the lightness and stiffness am beginning to wonder if it might even be 753. Apparently it was common practice to use very short lugs with 753 to stop overheating the tubes when brazing. Also I am convinced that the bike is far more responsive than my old 531C and has better acceleration due to the stiffness. Wish there was a way to tell for certain what tubing it is but Campag dropouts are a sign of a very good frame, they didn’t waste them on junk frames.

Next step is to lose weight and build myself up some new wheels or just shell out and buy some reasonable ones, will then gradually replace parts as I go and eventually get the frame resprayed and finished by Argos.

I dont know, but i am sure someone will, how old is your bike?
What colour are you going to do it this time? I think maybe i should check my wheels too on the borrowed bike now you mention it as it cant be right I need to pedel down hill. I also found out why am not comfortable on it over the weekend, I decided to raise the saddle a bit more and then when I was lining it up so it was straght I realised it was twisted and sagged on one side. I initially thought the saddle was metal as it is so hard but it is actually plastic covered with colapsed foam and plastic. Anyway what has happened at some point is the bike had been left in the tropical sun and it has melted one side of the saddle. I need to replace it before i use it anymore as there is such a twist it wont be doing my back any good as i cant sit straght and my iffy back is part of the reason I started doing this. If I get time I will go into town today and get a saddle.
Regards
CL

[13oots2]

Judging by the components I would guess the bike to be from the early 80's, the Campag gear is a dead give away. Not too sure on colour yet but am going to keep the chrome plating.

I don't think the wheels are a problem on your bike, it seems more to me that it is a geographic issue, being on the underside of the planet you have to pedal downhill and roll up The trick to greasing the bearings is to only partially undo the cone on one side and use the axle to hold the bearings in, slop some grease in then gently pull the axle through to the other side without loosing your balls

Sound like that saddle of yours is a nightmare and needs to be replaced straight away. I had the opposite problem with the original one that was on this bike, it was about 5 inches thick with springs and gel padding, I much prefer the razor blade approach.

[Rob998]

I much prefer the razor blade approach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnJk6bkjgko

[cafe latte]

I much prefer the razor blade approach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnJk6bkjgko

I was just talking about this advert yesterday!!
Regards
CL

[MARRA]

I see that Argos are still in business if your frame has a number stamped on the gracket maybe they could tell you what tubing its made from.Are you sending it back to them for respray.I can recommend Mercian cycles in Derby who do a first class respray.

[awty]

Are you mad???
People will run you down. Especially be wary of utes with more than a pair of spot lights.

Go walking instead, better exercise and much safer, only have to worry about the snakes and Cassowaries.

[davidsss]

Time those Queensland drivers learned to share the road I think.

DS

[cafe latte]

Are you mad???
People will run you down. Especially be wary of utes with more than a pair of spot lights.

Go walking instead, better exercise and much safer, only have to worry about the snakes and Cassowaries.

Up here in Ravenshoe (highest town in Queensland) most of the drivers are very considerate as most people know you as we are a small town. The biggest danger is the trucks going out west and back, but again most originate from the company in town and i know a few of the drivers and they always give you lots of room. All the same it can be an experience to say the least when these things pass . I go out now around 430pm as most of the drivers are already were they are going especially those coming from the west so my side of the road is truck free and the road had about a meter and a half of tarmac beond the white line which is were I ride. After 5km I turn off the main highway onto the Millstream estate which is a very quiet rural area so here it is perfectly safe, the biggest danger is meeting someone you know and getting stuck in a long conversation. Last ride a friend waved me into his block, so I stopped, anywat him and another friend were trying to fit a deck on a mower, but both with fat stubby ands could not reach the bolt.... My ride got unterupted with a bit of spannering
Still enjoying my rides and will be ordering my new bike today
Regards
CL

[13oots2]

What did you eventually settle on and what is the colour scheme? That's far more important than specs, whatever you decided on I hope that you are more than satisfied with the new beast, I am sure the saddle is going to be pure pleasure after what you have been using.

Did another 5km yesterday and got back to the dreaded stairs, was really pleased with myself as my legs seemed pretty good. Am also happy that I don't gasp for air on the short rides, until 4 days ago was a 25 a day roll-up man. Am off out again in a bit and may push for a little more, will see what the wind is like this afternoon, it was a bit drafty yesterday, good for the Olympic sailing down in Weymouth but not so good for my legs.

Spoke to Reynolds yesterday and they asked me to email some photos of various parts of the frame to see if they can positively identify the tubing for me.