I have Avid Bb7's (cable) on a mountain bike and a road bike. They come in with different actuation cams to work with the typical pull of mountain levers or road levers. Both work great.

 

Yup. Quite the transformation.

 

I still own only aluminum bikes and the ones that go in the dirt have disc, poverty wheels as well.

 

This is going to hurt. Do I want a 50/34 for this trip?
San Marcos 140k | Strava Route

 

Maybe. That Fulton Ranch climb looks rough.

 

Yes, no, probably, no way.

What is your threshold wattage and weight?
Nothing steep sustained for more than 100m. No long grades at all. What grades there are, present themselves early in the ride when you are still fresh. I would think you could muscle a 53/39 & 12-23 even if you're fat.

 

Thanks. I'm going down there with a 12-25 and 12-28. I'm a super weak climber.

 

I wanted to try a shorter stem.

Easton Haven - It's magnesium, weighs 158g exactly, stiff, very stout and beefy looking and I love the CNC finish and color. Wont stick to most dental work. Plus it was reduced to $35. Now as I'm plodding down the road staring at the bar I'll have some artwork to look at.....


[IMG][/IMG]


A true weenie would have went with a $100 or more, 125gram or less stem. That 33grams to me is training weight, and the price for beauty.

 

No way would that be necessary man. If my fat *** can climb Alba road (A Long Brutal Ascent) in Santa Cruz on a 52/39,12/24 then you can handle that .3 mile long 13% grade.

 

Strava Segment | Alba Road

lol, **** that.

 

Indeed.

While I'd like a set of discs on my MTB, what's the big deal? I've got great control with quality rim brakes, and can get thrown over the bars easily with too much front pressure.. And can easily modulate a "stoppie"

 

 

I don't know why, but I find myself using more rear brake than front. I just never find myself needing to brake that hard. That being said, I don't ride much downtown with parked cars and traffic either.


I rode my carbon giant on some loose gravel road this weekend on my way into my cottage, it was aweful.

I can totally relate on wanting a specific wheel and tire for that... I was thinking all the time that it was only going to be a few seconds before either my tire shreds, tube pops or my rim becomes jello.

That being said, Im using a 23c front tire and a 25c rear tire. Climbing the loose gravel hills was impossible, so I was walking up them and there was lots of loose stones up to the size of a fist to dodge on the way down.

 

that alba road climb seems brutal. would not ride up... would love to gravity down it though.

 

Soon:

 

The North Georgia 6-Gap century has IIRC (2) Cat 2 climbs and (1) Cat 1 climb. These are official UCI categories as Tour duPont used these roads. I'll tell you, Cat 1 is tough stuff. There is a rest stop on the organized, annual ride that is 1 mile from the summit and one at the summit. I was like, "why the extra rest stop?" Well, I found out. The Cat 1 is the 3rd climb of the day.

I've done the ride 3 times, and the last two was prepared enough to not make that stop, but the first time, I made good use of it.

I've ridden it with a 39 / 29, and also with a triple that is 30 / 25.

I never want to see a HC climb.

 

lol

 

too much angry cat mis-spellings. lol

 

At the top of Alba just as I crested it:

Isabelle: Good job! How was that?

Me: That was a big hill.

 

Any velodrome experience lurking in here? There's a track in the south bay that offers a beginner's class on Saturday mornings. I've been considering taking the front brake off the fixed gear and trying it out. Tips, thoughts, suggestions, "first time" stories?