The Official DMF Bicycle Thread

[iRam]

 

[Randimus Maximus]

I just signed up for the Southern Colorado Tour de Cure with a few of my co-workers.

It's an 86 mile course that has 6,100' of elevation gain.

Course map is here: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/24452876

If you'd like to help out with my fundraising effort, you may do so here: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/ColoradoArea?px=4730373&pg=personal&fr_id=7690

[cbartlett419]

Hey guys and gals! Thanks for the inquries and Diva that was really a sweet things to say! Sorry for not posting up this weekend but as you can imagine we spent the whole of the weekend getting me all setup on my new bike and riding!

Here's a pic taken the day that I took my new steed home:



I found out that it is slightly different (in a good way) than as listed by Felt because the bike shop was able to choose at the time of ordering it if they wanted things changed. So while it still retains the 11/25 rear cassette, it fortunately has a compact crank on the front. I also swapped out the stock bars for some Deda bars that are better fit to my shoulder width and added some nice carbon pedals to help keep the weight down.

Maureen was such a sweetie and was so understanding that I spent much of the weekend either riding or getting things that I needed for my bike. She surprised me with the gift of a new wireless cycling computer that displays/tracks speed and cadence as well as other useful data and is really easy to use not to mention small and out of the way from interfering with the flow my bike.

Although we had some potentially crappy weather on Saturday, I was jonesing so badly for a ride on Sunday that I braved the 34 degree weather, the 15mph winds, and was able to put in 50 miles. It was great! It was so cold that overnight we actually got snow!! The mountains around northern Phoenix were all snow covered and it was quite a beautiful sight to see. I only wish I had taken the camera with me!!!

Anyway, it was a fantastic weekend! I want to thank you all for your input regarding my questions last week! Hopefully we'll meet on the road someday!  

I love being a Felt dealer, they take care of the people that buy their product...is that the F85??

[triangleforge]

I'm thinking motorpace training could take on a whole different meaning with this crew:

Team Elbowz Motorpacing

[Monster Dave]

I love being a Felt dealer, they take care of the people that buy their product...is that the F85??

There's just something about the Felt bikes that I was really drawn to when deciding which to buy. Really though, I have to say that what I really love about thier bikes (especially the F Series) are all the subtle elements that make their frame designs so uniquely different as well as the overall quality and craftsmanship of the high modulous carbon fiber weave.

I really love my new F5.  

I'm thinking motorpace training could take on a whole different meaning with this crew:

Team Elbowz Motorpacing

So...that guy just leaves a $10k bike laying in his front yard on it's side.....

[cokey]

 http://www.break.com/index/epic-bmx-ride-in-chili-2015648

[bryant8]

Dave, congrats on the new bicycle!  I bet you're clicking miles away every chance you get. 

Ben Spies (or at least his bikes do) drops by my LBS in Dallas every now and then.

[Monster Dave]

Dave, congrats on the new bicycle!  I bet you're clicking miles away every chance you get.  

Ben Spies (or at least his bikes do) drops by my LBS in Dallas every now and then.

Thanks! You bet I am! I had to take a day off after riding 4 days in a row my legs felt like rubber!! I forgot how challenging it is getting my 'road legs' back after a 2 month hiatus!!

[Monster Dave]

Ok, so I need some insight from those of you who've been riding for a while regarding my new ride. As I'm sure you know, I purchased a new bike about 2 weeks ago, a significant jump from the bike that I came off from riding, but I'm really feeling a little at odds with it right now because I feel like I'm slower on the new one.

My last bike was an aluminum frame, 2009 GT-R series 4 bike, 8spd road bike. The new one is full Carbon, 2010 Felt F5, 10spd. I've not made any changes (aside from getting the Deda bars) to my new F5. It came with Mavic XP22 wheels with Felt hubs and on the GT-R, I had removed the generic wheels and put a Forte Titan front wheel and a Mavic Aksium on the rear (bladed spoke wheels). Gearing is different between the two and I don't really know the impact that that would have when you actually have more gears...

They are 2 very different bikes, but the new wireless computer that I'm using on my new one is showing slower speeds than my wired one on my old bike. The differences there lie mainly in the wired/wireless setup, but the sensor now is on the rear wheel as opposed to the front.

On flats, my new bike is 2-3mph faster overall, climbing feels slower, but really my overall averages are displaying 2-3mph slower than my GT-R....the other thing is that at 20mph and above, it feels really good, but under that it seems to be a bit of a dog - why is that??

Shouldn't a bike that's at least 7lbs lighter be faster?? I'm getting frustrated especially since this wasn't a cheap purchase!! I do love the bike, but I'm not sure where the problem is - if the computer is off, I'll be pissed for thinking it was the bike!!  

Any ideas??

[fastwin]

Ride faster! Maybe it's just the difference in the computers. Just like speedos on bikes can be way off of actual ground speed. I don't know, just an obvious guess that you probably already thought of. If you ride with someone who also uses a 'puter you can ride along together and read off your indicated speeds to each other. The "dog feeling" at slower speeds may just be your perception and it being a new bike. I would think in reality it would be a little bit faster all around given similar gearing. I know I have bikes that climb better than others but don't notice any real road speed difference. That also could be because of me having it set up 2-3% different and the actual difference in the bike. I'm just rambling here, I'll stop. I'd try my riding buddy test and see. It's free and easy to do.

[Monster Dave]

Ride faster! Maybe it's just the difference in the computers. Just like speedos on bikes can be way off of actual ground speed. I don't know, just an obvious guess that you probably already thought of. If you ride with someone who also uses a 'puter you can ride along together and read off your indicated speeds to each other. The "dog feeling" at slower speeds may just be your perception and it being a new bike. I would think in reality it would be a little bit faster all around given similar gearing. I know I have bikes that climb better than others but don't notice any real road speed difference. That also could be because of me having it set up 2-3% different and the actual difference in the bike. I'm just rambling here, I'll stop. I'd try my riding buddy test and see. It's free and easy to do.

I usually ride alone but I may have an opportunity this weekend to do a comparison....it's just frustrating...

[DW]

I usually ride alone but I may have an opportunity this weekend to do a comparison....it's just frustrating...

Dumb question: Have you programmed the new computer to your wheel diameter?  Was the old one programmed right? if your old one was set up for a smaller diameter than actual, it was lying to you. Same could be true on the new one. It should come with instructions to program to the right size.

[fastwin]

Good point. I think mine only gave you the choice of 26" mtn bike or 700C road sizes. But it's several years old and the news ones probably also wash your car and do dishes!

[Monster Dave]

That's a good point/question. I'll double check on that after work to make sure that it's set correctly. When I setup the unit I thought that the instructions noted that it was set by default to the standard road wheel size.

I also spoke with the guy at the bike shop and he noted that my other wheels may actually spin better than what came on my bike and that I should swap the wheels and test it - that's easy enough to do - just need to swap the cassette.

Regardless, something is really not right and it's driving me a little insane!

[fastwin]

If it's a 54cm frame you should dump that piece of shit Felt on me for 1/2 price and just be done with it!