Recent content by hamster

You do see Cannondales used as winter commuters with masses of corrosion and blistering under the paint, but yours doesn't look like one of them.

Unusual bike! Looks rather nice. Check for: Frame cracks - typically around the bottom bracket and head tube junctions Does the seatpost move? Gritty or loose headset Bottom bracket play Rumbly wheel hubs Check that there are V-brake levers to match those (later I think) V-brakes. If the brakes...

I searched it because I had never come across such a rare beast before and wondered if it even existed! These guys list one: https://sscycleworks.com/components/derailleur-front-shimano-mountain.html

Quite. Unless you test with the same saddle, grips and tyres you won't have a clue what you are comparing. Ideally of course also the whole finishing kit! My singlespeed (Kona Kaboom) rides totally differently with different forks - swapping from triple butted P2 to Exotic carbon removed loads...

One other suggestion: Marin Pine Mountain. The last ones around 1999 were in Columbus Neuron and lovely to ride.

A Hypercracker (or NBT-2) is small and a good touring toolkit add-on.

Have you tried SJS Cycles?

I think you are taking the point about tube specs to a black and white extreme: you can make an aluminium frame that feels like steel, it just doesn't last very long. Similarly you can adjust the feel of a steel frame from over-stiff to compliant to flexy to wibbly by changing the tube...

I'd say you are basically right - there are a combination of characteristics that give a kind of box of limitations for any material. After all, you could make a frame from pasta, it's just that you would need very thick tubing. Each material has a different box, but they definitely overlap...

Well said. The tyres have much more effect than even the frame...starting with tyre pressure!

The stiffness issue is that indeed you could make an alu frame as flexy as a steel one - the problem is the different fatigue characteristics. Aluminium is entirely unlike steel in that it has a finite fatigue life regardless of the load. Steel has a limit below which it is effectively infinite...

My gravelly Dawes Edge XT, a real do anything bike that does nothing badly. Build thread here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/dawes-edge-xt-purists-look-away-it-has-drops.465985/

It's here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1998-orange-p7-tourer-atb.493153/page-6#post-3767761

Good day out on my Pacific Reach last week - had to take the car to a specialist and the Reach is ideal to throw in the back. Part of the ride was along the Bournemouth Seafront and the Castleman trailway. The Reach with 28mm gravel tyres is surprisingly comfortable on unsurfaced stuff. The...

Yep, SKS ones in dark colour, IIRC the wider variety (65mm?) with all fitting kit etc. Alternatively I would be happy to switch them over to offer a 55mm silver set. £22 posted. I'll do some photos.