The Official DMF Bicycle Thread

[somegirl]

I like that Pubhopper.

[DW]

I'd post a pic of my Specialized Epic, but it is currently packed in two seperate suitcases  ready to leave for Singapore tomorrow!  I'll be there for 30 days.  I'll just miss a 12 hour race May 28th, but will get to participate in the Singapore Bike Hash and several group rides with co-workers.  The best part - Waiting for me upon my return will be a shiny new SID Team fork, Stans ZTR wheelset, and Avid Elixer CR brakes!!!   Couldn't swing a new bike, but these will be some much needed upgrades to push this one through till next year. 

[somegirl]

I'd post a pic of my Specialized Epic, but it is currently packed in two seperate suitcases  ready to leave for Singapore tomorrow!  I'll be there for 30 days.  I'll just miss a 12 hour race May 28th, but will get to participate in the Singapore Bike Hash and several group rides with co-workers.  The best part - Waiting for me upon my return will be a shiny new SID Team fork, Stans ZTR wheelset, and Avid Elixer CR brakes!!!   Couldn't swing a new bike, but these will be some much needed upgrades to push this one through till next year. 

Have fun and take pictures!  I've done several rides around Singapore and into Malaysia and back, both with a rental road bike and also with my folder.

Is the 12-hour race to see how many times you can get around the island in that time?

[pennyrobber]

Wait, I think i found it - is it a Nirve Classic, and you've swapped out to white tires and removed the brakes (and added a sweet headlight)?

Exactly. The tires are Felt quick bricks and the headlight is just a nirve piece.

 

Coaster brake? 

Yup, coaster brake is all you need.

[DW]

Is the 12-hour race to see how many times you can get around the island in that time?

That was exactly what I thought, but no.  Apparently there is a new trail out in the Tampines area they have built for when Singapore hosts the youth olympics.  I am going to ride the place, but would be surprised to see it really long or technical.  The last bike hash I did in Feb though covered about 12 miles of mixed urban/jungle/woods riding.  You'd be surprised what you can find around Singapore with the right trail guides. 

The other off-road places I rode last time were Bukit Temah nature preserve and Pulua Ubin.  They have really been working on the park connector routes now also.  Paved bike paths that you can take for pretty good distance while not having to dodge taxi's.

[stateprez]

The best part - Waiting for me upon my return will be a shiny new SID Team fork, Stans ZTR wheelset, and Avid Elixer CR brakes!!!   Couldn't swing a new bike, but these will be some much needed upgrades to push this one through till next year. 

Got my Stan's 355 I9's about a month ago.  Really light, and stiff, but not the best if you're anal about having them perfectly true.  Surprisingly, they do hold pressure better than the Shimano and Mavic tubeless wheels I had.

[DW]

I rode the Singapore bike hash #395 yesterday. Great fun, but good grief it is hot and humid over here.  I had ridden #392 back in February. These two rides are not up, but several others are on you tube. Google "Singapore bike hash".  Pretty good time and very diverse group of riders.

[Monster Dave]

Hey guys, if anyone's looking to blend your Ducati love with cycling check out this jersey by Bianchi:



Here are the shorts to go with it:

[erkishhorde]

Out of curiosity, how hard and how expensive would you say it would be to try and change an old 10spd steel frame Shwinn into an 18spd?

[DW]

Well, after getting back from my trip, I decided that the Epic was about worn out.  Drove up to Ohio yesterday and came home with this!

 

I haven't had it out on a trail yet,  but that will be taken care of this weekend.  So far it looks like it will be one sweet ride!  It weighed in with a set of Kenda Nevegals right at 25.2lbs. I rode around the neighborhood yesterday just getting all the little details and adjustments sorted out.  

BTW, for AWESOME pricing check out bikerbob.com.  Call him direct, he has a lot more inventory than his website shows.  You really wouldn't believe how little this ride cost me.  I took a few parts off the Epic, showed up at his shop, left for home a few hours later.  If it hadn't started pouring down rain we could have taken it down the trail right out his front door and broken everything in right away.

[kopfjäger]

Nice.  Beautiful bike, except it has too many gears. SS rule.   

[somegirl]

Nice DW!

[DW]

Nice.  Beautiful bike, except it has too many gears. SS rule.   

If it makes you feel better, on my second ride I lowsided at a pretty good clip and took out the rear derailleur...  Front end tucked while cranked over on a downhill turn.  Now I know just how Stoner feels.  Funny part was, the guy I bought the frame from wanted to sell me a new one and I turned him down since it was still functional.  My theory is that every rear derailleur is living on borrowed time.  As long as they are still functional, you use them.  When you tie them into a pretzel, bash them on a rock, or dig a trough down the trail while sliding on your side (my preferred approach in this instance) THEN you replace them.  I'll be at my local bike shop tomorrow, cash in hand!

It rides awesome though!  So much better than my old Epic in every way.  Even climbs better!

[ducrider45]

 Until this past weekend I had a 1999 Schwinn Homegrown 4 Banger All Mountain.
 I recently was also reunited with an old Schwinn S-20 that I had bought new in 1998. 
I loved both bikes. The S-20 was my first nice bike. I road the crap out of it and over the years it never failed me. I jumped on the chance to buy it back. I paid a lot to get it back considering it had been stripped of all useful parts. My plan was to sell the 4 Banger to pay for the S-20 build. I thought this was a bit backwards, so I looked at all of my options. All of them included selling the 4 Banger. I just never ride it.
I mentioned to a co-worker that I was looking to sell my 15" 4 banger and he offered $600 as long as it fit his girlfriend and she liked the bike. I was waiting to hear back from him when I saw a random add on the internet for a 1998 Schwinn Homegrown Factory Suspension XT (Bass Boat Orange). This was my dream bike! The add was current as well! That never happens. I emailed the guy about the add. He wanted $600 for it, but it had to be cash only and local pick up only. he also said that he was going to sell it to first person that showed up with cash. This was an issue. I live in Maryland and the bike was in Denver CO. It just so happens that I have a 2nd or 3rd cousin in the Denver area. I looked him up on Facebook and sent him the story, asking him for help. He said that he would help.
I still had to sell my 4 Banger. I called up my friend and asked him if I could bring the bike down to him and see if his girlfriend wanted it. I drove the bike down to Richmond VA late Saturday afternoon. She test road the bike and bought it on the spot! I drove back home and got in at midnight. I had emailed my cousin and asked him how I should send him the cash? He informed me that he was visiting his parents in Gettysburg PA and that I could drop it off if I could get there by 7am Sunday. He was flying back to Denver in the morning. I took a nap and got up at 5am to drive up to Gettysburg. I pulled in at 6:56am gave him the cash, said hello/ goodbye and thank you.
It is now Tuesday and I got a text from him saying that he picked up the bike at 7:30am and that it is as advertized and in great shape. He will be shipping it to me later this week. I called him to thank him once again. I cant wait! It has been a crazy few days, but it should be worth it.

[eltristo]

What I'm piecing together in my living room: (semi-derby from the local thread)