Tips on carbon fiber WSD bikes?

Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 8:17 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 11:54 AM, Chalo Colina wrote:
That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable fact. If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.[...]

Er, suspension?


Do those Brooks saddles with the large coil springs count as suspension
or a comfy chair?

JS.

This is a cycling comfy chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/in/set-72157619269233805/.

On your home planet maybe.

JS.

On 1/3/2011 9:48 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 8:17 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 11:54 AM, Chalo Colina wrote:
That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable fact. If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.[...]

Er, suspension?


Do those Brooks saddles with the large coil springs count as suspension
or a comfy chair?

JS.

This is a cycling comfy chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/in/set-72157619269233805/.


On your home planet maybe.

JS.

Where have bicycle saddles been used except for bicycles? There is a
reason why seats (recumbent bicycle/trike and otherwise) are designed as
they are.

A recumbent bicycle seat is much more like something Cardinal Ximinez
would make you sit in until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at
11:00, than an upright bicycle saddle.

--
Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007
I am a vehicular cyclist.

Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 9:48 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 8:17 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 11:54 AM, Chalo Colina wrote:
That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable fact. If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.[...]

Er, suspension?


Do those Brooks saddles with the large coil springs count as suspension
or a comfy chair?

JS.

This is a cycling comfy chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/in/set-72157619269233805/.



On your home planet maybe.

JS.

Where have bicycle saddles been used except for bicycles?

http://www.thefind.com/office/info-bike-seat-stool

JS.

On Jan 3, 10:12*am, landotter wrote:
On Jan 3, 11:54*am, Chalo wrote:

I agree that the OP shouldn't get hung up on marketing details or
materials, but owning any bike that can't accommodate at least a 28mm
tire is just a stupid thing to do, even if you are a bantamweight.

Indeed. Even if the OP continues to use 23s, which are fine for her
small mass, there might be a temptation to go on a gravel road ride,
or do a wet brevet with fenders.

I ride gravel roads and trails all the time on 23s -- crappy float
over the loose stuff, but they work fine and don't puncture. I used
to race on 20mm tires, including the whole spring season with endless
rainy road races. Wider tires do have their uses, however.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scurvyknaves/5158947638/ I was going to
switch to my fatty tires this weekend for commuting, but I didn't get
around to it.-- Jay Beattie.

On 1/3/2011 10:13 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 9:48 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 8:17 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 11:54 AM, Chalo Colina wrote:
That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable fact. If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.[...]

Er, suspension?


Do those Brooks saddles with the large coil springs count as
suspension
or a comfy chair?

JS.

This is a cycling comfy chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/in/set-72157619269233805/.



On your home planet maybe.

JS.

Where have bicycle saddles been used except for bicycles?

http://www.thefind.com/office/info-bike-seat-stool

JS.

None of those are narrow enough to function the same way as a typical
road bike saddle.

--
Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007
I am a vehicular cyclist.

Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 10:13 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 9:48 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 8:17 PM, James StewarD wrote:
Tºm Shermªn™ °_° wrote:
On 1/3/2011 11:54 AM, Chalo Colina wrote:
That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable
fact. If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as
big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.[...]

Er, suspension?


Do those Brooks saddles with the large coil springs count as
suspension
or a comfy chair?

JS.

This is a cycling comfy chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/in/set-72157619269233805/.




On your home planet maybe.

JS.

Where have bicycle saddles been used except for bicycles?

http://www.thefind.com/office/info-bike-seat-stool

JS.

None of those are narrow enough to function the same way as a typical
road bike saddle.


That is because a typical road bike saddle is designed to support only a
fraction of the total body weight, the rest being supported by the hands
and feet.

However it is more typical of the saddles you might find on what some
describe as "comfort" bikes and gymnasium equipment (ugh).

JS.

Steve Freides wrote:

Chalo wrote:

Steve Freides wrote:

You've got a lot of assumptions in your thinking, e.g., wider tires
being a "major determinant of comfy riding."

That isn't just an assumption; it is observable, measurable fact. *If
you think there is any other factor besides bike fit that has as big
an effect on ride comfort as tire size and pressure, you are simply
mistaken.

Pneumatic tires' ride benefits were amply demonstrated as soon as they
came to market in 1890, and the relationship between tire size and
ride comfort has been well understood for over a century.

I agree that the OP shouldn't get hung up on marketing details or
materials, but owning any bike that can't accommodate at least a 28mm
tire is just a stupid thing to do, even if you are a bantamweight.

It is an observable, measurable fact about which you are providing
incomplete, misleading information. *Tire pressure makes a great deal of
difference, not tire size. *The main reason fatties like fat tires is so
that they can ride them at comfortably low pressures and not get pinch
flats. *Our OP weighs 118 lbs. and has no need for fat tires on a road
bike.

The OP can appreciate 28s if she rides on today's median quality
streets and wants her rims to hold up unharmed. Narrow tires run soft
can have acceptable compliance, but their suspension travel does not
increase just because the rider is shrimpy. That means your risk of
wheel damage becomes exponentially greater for any given desired ride
quality as you use a narrower tire.

Note for comparison that motor vehicles do not use shorter suspension
travel the less they weigh. They use suspension travel suitable to
their application, and the spring rate (analogous to tire pressure) is
matched to the vehicle weight and available travel.

She'll get lower rolling resistance, better ride quality, better
traction, increased wear life, and
superior flotation on loose surfaces with a wider tire. All these
benefits are quite independent of rider weight.

Chalo

In article
,
Dan O wrote:

On Jan 1, 11:43 am, "Jean" wrote:
I'm looking to replace my old road bike with a carbon fiber model. My
criteria a women's specific design...

Carbon fiber notwithstanding, have you seen:

http://sweetpeabicycles.com/

RS's gratuitous PlP quotation.

--
Michael Press

In article
,
Jay Beattie wrote:

On Jan 3, 10:28Â*am, Duane Hébert wrote:
On 1/3/2011 1:02 PM, Chalo wrote:

Jay Beattie wrote:

And as far as cost goes, high end steel goes for $2K-
$3K frame alone, which I think is ridiculous, no matter how magical
the Bohemian builder might be. Â*It's f****** metal fab!

If I ever get to the point where I will spend 3k on a frame, it would
probably be a steel lugged custom Marinoni. Â*Not likely soon.

http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/IndexEn.html

A $3k steel frame is a work of art (good or bad) that is specially
conceived for the user and unique in its details. Â*Just like if you're
buying jewelry or a gun, if you want something unique and handmade
from the best materials, you'll pay a surcharge for the privilege.

+1

A $3k carbon frame is a very expensive plastic waffle from a very
expensive mold.

I'm not sure I agree here but I'm not at the level where I would
appreciate the differences in a 3k carbon frame. Â*But I got a complete
bike for $2k that was cheaper than a similar steel bike.

A $3k aluminum frame, if there is one, is a practical joke.

+1

Except that it is not true. Tooling and machinery to make proprietary
hydroformed aluminum tubing are not cheap, nor are heat treating ovens/
tanks, TIG torches, etc. No lugs are used, but dynafiling, clean up
and all the other work associated with metal frames applies to
aluminum -- at least to a top-end aluminum frame. Not true of Nashbar
$90 frames, obviously.

The molds for CF are not cheap, assuming molds are used -- and the
materials are expensive and proprietary, including internal lugs, BB
shells, fiber weaves and orientation, etc., etc. Trek is spending
money on design and product development. Calfee and others make
custom CF which does not involve popping out waffles, but even some of
the waffles represent expensive and complicated (and proprietary)
processes.

In contrast, I can buy a box of 525 tubing and braze it up in adult ed
metal shop -- and since I am not like you and do not work in a shop,
that is where I go to fix my steel frames.

BTW,.I saw award winners at the hand-built bicycle show who had built
five or ten frames. File, file, file and make it pretty. God only
knows how long they will last. And yes, the TT maybe longer or
shorter by a couple of mms, and you can call that custom, but not
very. Most people do not need custom bikes -- not with the advent of
seat posts over 210mm and stems in a variety of lengths and rises. I
worked with a frame builder 30 years ago and worked on my own frames
and have a good idea of what it takes. I appreciate the artisan
aspect of the job -- but gawdamighty $4K for a Sachs frame? It's a
damn frame and not piping at a nuke plant. I would rather spend
$2,500 and go to Ashland for two weeks to make my own frame.
http://www.bikeschool.com/classes/fr...frame-building
I love Ashland -- great riding in the Siskiyous.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajmstudios/4498524566/
http://www.outdoorexposurephoto.com/...ges/16034.html
Stay at my brother-in-laws and still come home with a spare $1K. --

Setting the stem, seat post and saddle is done only
after the frame is exactly fitted. Compensating for bad
top tube length, bad seat tube length, bad seat tube
angle, bad chain stay length is hell on Earth. Get the
frame dimensions correct first.

Two people with the same height, weight, femur length,
inseam, arm length will not necessarily be fitted to
the same frame. There is room for custom frames, and
not only as an indulgence.

--
Michael Press

In article ,
Duane Hébert wrote:

On 1/3/2011 3:45 PM, Chalo wrote:
Duane Hébert wrote:

Jay Beattie wrote:

In contrast, I can buy a box of 525 tubing and braze it up in adult ed
metal shop -- and since I am not like you and do not work in a shop,
that is where I go to fix my steel frames.

Jay, are you replying to me or to Chalo? I suspect that he works in a
shop but I'm certain that I don'tg

Hey, maybe you should consider it! "Vélocipèdes Artisanales par
Maître Douain Hébert." Sounds expensive.

LOL. But I'm afraid that if it doesn't start with

int main() {

I'm going to be lost.

I am positive you meant to write int main(void) {

--
Michael Press