I've been riding my bike so damn much and I feel the best I've ever felt in my adult life.

We also have a PRF Strava Club.
https://www.strava.com/clubs/prf2wheels

Personally, I went to Hawaii in January of 2020, gravel bike, and rode some volcanic roads. It was any eye opener. Since then I did a total bike-flip. I went from a go fast carbon road bike and an aluminum road/commuter bike to a carbon gravel bike (Salsa Warbird) and a steel commuter/all-road/randonneur bike (All City Space Horse).

Basically, I need something to be obsessed with and I've lost my taste for guitar tinkering ever since my day job became playing with guitar gear.

So, in short, BIKES!

May I join this fine club?
(I also joined the Strava group, but I always forget to open the app to register my activity. )
Please tell me about your bike outfit for heavy rain. I have one of those ridiculous ponchos but I tested it last week and seems the most useless thing in this world. I arrived with both my knees and forearms completely drenched.

oZZma wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 10:55 am May I join this fine club?
(I also joined the Strava group, but I always forget to open the app to register my activity. )
Please tell me about your bike outfit for heavy rain. I have one of those ridiculous ponchos but I tested it last week and seems the most useless thing in this world. I arrived with both my knees and forearms completely drenched.

My rain protection is called "moving to Los Angeles".

I have a collapsing waterproof jacket. When I lived in Oakland, I had some cheap rain overpants and a waterproof cycling raincoat. The main problem was that it didn't breathe and if I was riding too hard I'd be soaked from sweat.

My other trick was that I kept a towel and change of clothes at work. If I showed up wet I could quickly change clothes. Then, at the end of the day, I'd change back into my gross clothes and leave the work clothes at work.

Ben

I bought a bike last week, first one I've owned in over a decade. Getting back on and riding for the first in the nice weather was so euphoric, no idea why I'd ever stopped riding. Bike is nothing too fancy, Fuji of some sort, but I'm loving it so far. I realized I've also never ridden a bike that actually fit me, so that's been nice.

I'm still scared shitless as far as riding it on busy streets, so I mostly try to stick to residential streets and parks and stuff.

mrcancelled wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 12:18 pm I'm still scared shitless as far as riding it on busy streets, so I mostly try to stick to residential streets and parks and stuff.

Me too... I'm trying to use cycle lanes as much as possible but out of 8,5 km to get to work, 4 are on the street, 2 of which are quite scary.

benadrian wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 11:59 am

oZZma wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 10:55 am May I join this fine club?
(I also joined the Strava group, but I always forget to open the app to register my activity. )
Please tell me about your bike outfit for heavy rain. I have one of those ridiculous ponchos but I tested it last week and seems the most useless thing in this world. I arrived with both my knees and forearms completely drenched.

My rain protection is called "moving to Los Angeles".

I have a collapsing waterproof jacket. When I lived in Oakland, I had some cheap rain overpants and a waterproof cycling raincoat. The main problem was that it didn't breathe and if I was riding too hard I'd be soaked from sweat.

My other trick was that I kept a towel and change of clothes at work. If I showed up wet I could quickly change clothes. Then, at the end of the day, I'd change back into my gross clothes and leave the work clothes at work.

Ben

Thanks
Unluckily we don't have lockers to leave stuff at work so I think I'm gonna try the overpants...

My bike is starting to show its age- it's a steel Bianchi Castro Valley. A bit of rust, the components are old and not great, especially the brakes. I have no idea what I want next. A titanium thing would be sweet, but probably out of my price range. I do mostly 30 to 100+ mile rides, a little bit of touring with panniers. Looking to spend 600 to 1000. Lightweight would be cool, but I generally put thick-as-fuck Schwalbes on there so I never have to worry about flats, and that negates most of the weight saving components. So many options. I'm looking at an older carbon bike. Would require some adapters to put a rack on it. Has anyone done this before?

If anyone in or around chicago is selling something nice in the 58-60cm range, let me know.

jeff fox wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 2:38 pm My bike is starting to show its age- it's a steel Bianchi Castro Valley. A bit of rust, the components are old and not great, especially the brakes. I have no idea what I want next. A titanium thing would be sweet, but probably out of my price range. I do mostly 30 to 100+ mile rides, a little bit of touring with panniers. Looking to spend 600 to 1000. Lightweight would be cool, but I generally put thick-as-fuck Schwalbes on there so I never have to worry about flats, and that negates most of the weight saving components. So many options. I'm looking at an older carbon bike. Would require some adapters to put a rack on it. Has anyone done this before?

If anyone in or around chicago is selling something nice in the 58-60cm range, let me know.

Putting a rack and panniers on a road-specific carbon bike is probably a bad idea on a couple levels.
1. They're generally designed for the loads and stresses of a rider, but not much else. the carbon is made to be stiff in certain directions and thin and flexible in other directions. I can envision the loads putting stress on area that wouldn't be stressed when only a rider is on the bike.
2. up until recently, most carbon road bikes had a maximum tire width of something like 28mm... maybe even less. I've been moving to wider tires, even on my go-fast bikes. Both of my rides have 38mm tires and I am so in love with it.

Having said that, there are some carbon bikes designed for loads and a more rough use case. This has only really happened in the last 4-5 years or so. I've been loving the shit out of my Salsa Warbird, which is a lightweight gravel race bike that can also handle loaded, self supported rides; touring or racing. I do things on this that I'd be very afraid to try on my former carbon, road-only bike.

If you want durability and functionality, you can't go wrong with a Surly or All-City steel frame bike.

You might also look for a slightly older cyclocross race bike.

Cheers!

38mm! whoa! When I said thick, mine are 28's. So I should be fine on most frames. Intrigued by the carbon cyclocross idea. Not really a multiple bikes guy so I'd probably want something that can do most things.

jeff fox wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 12:01 pm 38mm! whoa! When I said thick, mine are 28's. So I should be fine on most frames. Intrigued by the carbon cyclocross idea. Not really a multiple bikes guy so I'd probably want something that can do most things.

As always, I'm happy to chat about nerdy bike and music gear stuff.

38mm tires at like 35-40 PSI are great. It just soaks up most everything. This is the bike I ride most everywhere now; road, trails, etc.
When I need to carry a load, get takeout, or leave my biked locked up and out of sight, this is my tool for the job. Between these two bikes and working from home, I might use my car once or twice a week now. So good.

benadrian wrote:


Putting a rack and panniers on a road-specific carbon bike is probably a bad idea on a couple levels.
1. They're generally designed for the loads and stresses of a rider, but not much else. the carbon is made to be stiff in certain directions and thin and flexible in other directions. I can envision the loads putting stress on area that wouldn't be stressed when only a rider is on the bike.

a friend's friend died this way no more than 1 month ago (carbon frame broke in 2 for no "apparent" reason)