Bike Build Journal

Rob Tunes

You will get to know your bike trainer well before it thaws, whether you're in Helena or Waukesha, though Waukesha has more lager options, I'd bet. Lacking that, go abuse a club's spinning cycle. Don't hesitate to schedule a 10K run here and there, get the aerobic threshold up, and maybe a criterium or two just for fun and to see what its like to go hard for 30 straight minutes.

If you get injured, hit the water if you can. Set periodic goals and start considering food and sleep as fuel. A cheap read is also the biking part of Dave Scott's Triathlon Training, can get on line for a couple bucks.

Good luck.

Climbing_Eben

Hey all!!

Today I inflated the tires and everything... assembled the rear cassette (Ultegra CS-6600 10spd), the brakes, the saddle and everything little. Just wanted to make sure the frame really fit me well so if I needed a change, I could buy it now. As of right now, the frame really seems to fit me well. I really lucked out here (cross your fingers, knock on wood). I must say, this bad machine is looking sharp.

I've got a quick question.... It appears that the headset on this particular bike is a threaded headset. I currently have a stem that is not for a threaded headset (so i've been told). I just want to know if there is an adapter out there to change from a threaded to an unthreaded headset without changing out the fork (as the aero carbon fork matches the paint scheme on the bike). I was also wondering what integrated vs. unintegrated headsets are. This subject has kind of baffled me lately, and I have no found much help in the literature. I'm sure my type of headset is slightly outdated.....

I promise that I will do all in my power to post some updated pics tonight. It's going to be tough though, I've got quite a bit of homework to do today. Thank you all for listening and helping me inch closer and closer to my dream. You all rock!


- Eben

P.S. Today, all of my classes were cancelled due to the more than 15 inches of snow on the ground outside.... How discouraging is that for some just itching to get on the bike..... I can feel the hills rolling beneath my tires... I can smell it!!! Winter...... Your time is done!!! I need to move out of Wisconsin!!!!

daveornee

http://www.performancebike.com/shop...le.cfm?SKU=1594

and others like that one.

Weather down heare near Chicago isn't great for riding either.
Integrated headsets are designed around special frame "bulges"; so you don't need to worry about them with you current bicycle.... and I don't think it is worth the trouble/limited availability/proprietary approach, etc. See what Chris King says:

http://www.chrisking.com/tech/int_h..._explain_2.html

__________________
David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

Climbing_Eben

Thanks Dave!
Do you think that adapter will work with my frame? I hope so! That would be a money saver! I'm originally from the Chicago "area"... Woodstock. My parents are down there right now braving the snow as well. If you get the chance to see any Midwestern Collegiate Cycling races... check it out!! You'll see me donning my Giant! Be able to see the product of all of your help!

Rob Tunes

What you want is a quill converter. Look at the photos of my purple and yellow Ironman at the Cycling Forums photo gallery, under Rob Tunes.

If you hit quill converter on eBay, you'll find a bunch. Try to find a light one, and the new ones are just as cheap as the used ones. Then, you just put your stem on that. The part of the quill that goes down into the threaded headset/fork is 22.2m, generally. You may want to measure to make sure. The top of the quill converter, or quill adapter, is bigger and will accept your stem no problem. As long as the stem also holds your bar, you're in cotton.

Sizes vary, but not always that much. Start at the quill, then look at your bars. You need to pick a stem that goes between the two. Newer bars are bigger in diameter at the clamp. I'd bet you need a quill size of 22.2, and the top will fit your stem no problem, then just bolt in your bar and keep on gettin' it.
78 degrees today, before the storm that messed up the rest of the south came through. I rode 21, but the "back 9" was small ring territory with headwinds of 20, gusting to 40. Good time to work on spinning, then grab a brew and watch UNC-Duke play with the orange ball.

Climbing_Eben

I found a quill converter and it was cheap and will work! Thanks a ton! I really didn't want to get one of those old stems... haha.

On to my next question.... Cycle computers. Right now I've got just a basic little treck computer for the bike I was riding last year (a 1974 Schwinn Continental that belonged to my dad in the 70's). What I am looking for is something that I can download onto my MacBook and graph some of my data. I'm looking at the Shimano Flightdeck System and that looks pretty cool. It's loaded with features and is fairly affordable. However, I am not sure if I can hook that up to my laptop. I know that the flight deck does not measure heart rate (what's up with that shimano?) so I will be getting a seperate heart rate monitor that I can download to my computer. Also, does anyone know of any good softwear that works with some of these computers?

If anyone has a good setup that they have used or have heard good reviews about, drop me a line and let me know. I need something that is somewhat affordable on a college student's income (so, in the range of free to $5) haha.

Thanks !
- Eben

Rob Tunes

I'm glad your quill converter worked out, though the elegant old school stems can really grow on you.

I can't tell you about cyclo-computers. I liked my Mavic wireless, with cadence, but took it off to avoid clutter. Performance used to sell a nice line of in-house, Axiom, I think, but stopped recently. They do clutter up a bike. I'd look at the software in the trainer section of Performance or Nashbar, because it uses the same parameters.

My recommendations are simple and there are only two:
1) Gather data from the controlled enviroment of a trainer, and learn to ride with a feel for your cadence and pace. You can still use a cyclo, but the raw data would be from trainer sessions.
2) Until you get really good, don't bother. Get fit, get the bike in shape, and you'll get fast. I went from a 42m to 30:36 10k, 14:48 5k, and 2:24 marathon by looking at the clock radio, bolting out the door, and looking at it when I got back. No splits, no measuring, no watch. It took about 2 years. Then, I paid attention to data. Sometimes, a journal will make you think more comprehensively about your workout or a variable than a graph.
3) (I lied). Watch the opening scenes in Last of the Mohicans. Get that feeling, feel like you're riding for your life. That's where you want to be.

We're all pulling for you. Now get out there and shovel that snow, I'm going for a ride! I may have to get my cheese mailed in since I left Wisconsin, but I'm riding in long jersey on Feb 9. NC does have a lager deficit, though.....

TheDarkLord

I will second Rob's opinion on data collection. Technology is useful, but you shouldn't become a slave to it. Here is an excerpt from an interview with some pros. The full interview is here if you are interested, although it is besides the point here.

<<<Missaglia: And even in terms of training and technology, things haven't necessarily improved exponentially. I, for example, am one of those riders who trains a lot on "feel", but you see young riders now who are completely lost without their heart-rate monitor or their SRM. I'm fairly sure those guys don't know their body as well as I know mine.

Savio: That's where technology goes mad. Heart-rate monitors are useful, but riders mustn't become dependent on them.

Missaglia: I've known riders who get dropped for no other reason than their heart-rate monitor tells them they're in the wrong zone.

Savio: A lot of the time it's probably best not to have a heart-rate monitor in races, from a psychological point of view...It's like everything in life: you need to find a balance.>>>

Rob Tunes

I used to know a guy who rode with us on 21-22 mph training rides with his panniers still on his Cannondale tourer. After a ride one day, a very patient man explained to him and I what cadence was. To this day, I'm still confused.

Climbing_Eben

Here are the pictures that I promised...... let me know what you think!

Rob Tunes

Very pretty bike, Eben. Continental makes some very sticky Attack+Force matched front/rear racing tires in yellow (see pic). Isn't it hard to steer without handlebars? A guy my age can't handle the difference between that big and small ring, I'd break an ankle for sure (really, I'd probably just tip over). Couldn't be much prettier, even with a Pink Floyd jersey on the wall, but that may be before your time. Looks like you're going great guns and the snow is helping the project along. Good job.

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Climbing_Eben

You've got to be kidding me!!!! As I was reading your post I was rolling UmmaGumma on my headphones!!! What are the chances?

The tires look excellent!!! I actually saw them today on a madone at a LBS. I'm gonna have to get me a pair next time money comes my way.... (could be awhile).

The temp. right now is -6.... -27 with the windchill. Definately not a great day for riding. I actually have ice on the inside of my windows. It is kinda nice though, I'd hate for it to warm up and thaw out and see my who team rolling on their nice 2007-2008 cervelos and treks while I'm sittin' on my old steely. Although I do have some fond memories with that 1974 conti. I just think it's too cold in wisconsin (and hilly) for steel.

Climbing_Eben

Got my bottle cages..... haha.

Rob Tunes

Remember, in Wisconsin, there's a deposit on them there bottles.
Oh, water............... Sorry, had that lager thing going.

I just saw on TV where they're using the same carbon fiber to make prosthetic limbs for our recent veterans.