Bike Forums

Go Back  Bike Forums > Search Forums
Reload this Page >

Search Results

Register
FAQ
Calendar
Today's Posts
Search
Vendor Directory
Notices
Search: Posts Made By: FirstSarnt
Showing results 1 to 40 of 40
Search took 0.01 seconds.
Forum: Tandem Cycling
11-25-18, 11:04 PM
Replies: 42
Views: 21,773
Posted By FirstSarnt

One more time

I will re-vivify this thread yet again. I picked up a very early Burley Duet (SN 0132, so I figure it's a 1989 or 1990 model) for next to nothing and I am doing a resto mod on it. It has spent most...
Forum: Touring
03-15-18, 09:46 AM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,548
Posted By FirstSarnt

I would arrive in SLO around 3:30, so I was...

I would arrive in SLO around 3:30, so I was planning to head south to the Pismo area and camp that first night. I've spent more time than I care to remember at Camp SLO since part of my military time...
Forum: Touring
03-13-18, 12:11 PM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,548
Posted By FirstSarnt

I'm doing that stretch for several reasons....

I'm doing that stretch for several reasons. First, I live in San Diego, so the one way trip ends at home without further travel required.

Second, I can take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to SLO...
Forum: Touring
03-12-18, 12:09 AM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,548
Posted By FirstSarnt

I'm going north to south. I can put my loaded...

I'm going north to south. I can put my loaded bike on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and take that to San Luis Obispo, then ride back from there.
Forum: Touring
03-12-18, 12:05 AM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,548
Posted By FirstSarnt

Thanks!

Thanks for all that. I looked at the three possible routes (Halcyon, Mesa View, and Los Berros/El Campo) near Oceano on Google Street View, and saw that the first two include steep, narrow stretches...
Forum: Touring
03-11-18, 04:02 PM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,548
Posted By FirstSarnt

Questions about PCH routing

I was looking for advice from those who do ride or have ridden the PCH in the southern half of California.

First, the ACA routing coming out of Grover Beach on Map 52 shows a big bump to the...
Forum: Touring
10-11-17, 10:46 PM
Replies: 12
Views: 1,507
Posted By FirstSarnt

Lucked out

I guess I was lucky. I had to make some adjustments to the fenders, but managed to squeeze them on. But I have no room left to spare, so future tires will have to be 37mm or narrower.

"Trial and...
Forum: Touring
10-07-17, 10:35 PM
Replies: 137
Views: 27,391
Posted By FirstSarnt

2017 short tour

Santa Barbara to Oceanside, CA, about 185 miles over four days in April. From the best (Santa Barbara to Pt. Mugu) to the worst (Pt. Mugu to Redondo Beach) in one trip, but all in all a wonderful...
Forum: Touring
10-07-17, 10:08 PM
Replies: 12
Views: 1,507
Posted By FirstSarnt

Mismarked or mismarketed tires

My Specialized Source Expert came with 700C x 30 tires, a weird size that only Specialized seems to use (they were even Specialized branded tires). I wanted a better touring tire for poad carrying...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-28-17, 09:27 PM
Replies: 27,218
Views: 3,195,741
Posted By FirstSarnt

Coast ride

Encinitas to San Diego on the ACA Pacific Coast route, 33 miles including that LOOONNNGGG hill at Torrey Pines. Second greatest ride ever (Santa Barbara to Oceanside was the best).
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
03-19-17, 10:15 PM
Replies: 27,218
Views: 3,195,741
Posted By FirstSarnt

23 miles

23 miles with a few steep hills, but mostly rolling, curving, partly shaded loveliness along a creek.
Forum: Touring
02-21-17, 01:38 AM
Replies: 42
Views: 3,956
Posted By FirstSarnt

Look at your complete drivetrain. My bike came...

Look at your complete drivetrain. My bike came new with a 48/34 double in front with 175mm crankarms and a 10-speed 11-32 cassette in back; the lowest gear inches with my 700C x 30 tires was 25.7. I...
Forum: Touring
02-21-17, 01:28 AM
Replies: 29
Views: 4,108
Posted By FirstSarnt

I've always run 175s because, well, that's what...

I've always run 175s because, well, that's what the bikes came with from the factory. When I replaced the factory 48/34 crankset on my touring bike with a 39/26 unit, though, I also opted for 180mm...
Forum: Touring
01-21-17, 11:34 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

I love those Park Tool videos and refer to them a...

I love those Park Tool videos and refer to them a lot. I liked their series on bottom brackets, which helped you determine what type of BB you had and guided you to the right series of videos. I...
Forum: Touring
01-15-17, 10:38 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

The large ring is ever so slightly outboard,...

The large ring is ever so slightly outboard, about 2mm, of where the old one was (as is the crankarm, thus the Q), and the smaller rings mean the derailleur was moved down quite a bit. I just need to...
Forum: Touring
01-15-17, 12:08 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

So that's done. New crank is in and working...

So that's done. New crank is in and working perfectly. Can't wait to spin that ultra low low on a hill under load, though I still need to microadjust the shifter cable because of a slightly wider Q...
Forum: Touring
01-13-17, 11:11 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

One thing I learned from all of you is to stop...

One thing I learned from all of you is to stop fearing the newer stuff. I was rebuilding the old cone and cup bearing units decades ago, so modern cartridge systems should be a lot easier. And there...
Forum: Touring
01-12-17, 10:29 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

I just don't trust myself to not strip or break...

I just don't trust myself to not strip or break something by overtorqueing it, something I've done too many times to count. I found one for $10 at Harbor Freight Tools, and as soon as the bearing cup...
Forum: Touring
01-05-17, 11:53 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

I think this new crank will end up that way...

I think this new crank will end up that way because of the relatively low big ring. With my current 48/34 I tend to use almost every combination and shift a lot as my rides are up and down a lot and...
Forum: Touring
01-05-17, 11:45 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

Humor

Reminds me of something I saw in a journal on Crazy Guy. Dude was selling his bike and got an e-mail.

Q: "How low can you go on the bike?"
A: "About 2 mph. Slower than that and I fall over."
Forum: Touring
01-05-17, 09:59 AM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

"A more mature gentleman with upgraded padding" -...

"A more mature gentleman with upgraded padding" - thank you for that. Sure beats being described as a "fat old man."

The crank is going back and I'm getting what I want. I don't really have any...
Forum: Touring
01-04-17, 10:29 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

The 39/26 was exactly what I wanted, and finding...

The 39/26 was exactly what I wanted, and finding it at that price was a fringe benefit, so I was disappointed when the 42/28 arrived instead. It's not about the money - MSRP on the X.7 is about a...
Forum: Touring
01-04-17, 04:36 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 2,818
Posted By FirstSarnt

Wrong crankset sent - keep or not?

I got a killer deal on a SRAM X7 crankset, discounted to $60 because the packaging, and only the packaging, was damaged. It was supposed to have 39/26 rings and 180mm crankarms, but they sent me a...
Forum: Hybrid Bicycles
07-26-16, 09:19 PM
Replies: 11
Views: 2,003
Posted By FirstSarnt

I use a Wellgo dual-sided pedal...

I use a Wellgo dual-sided pedal (https://www.amazon.com/Wellgo-Shimano-Compatible-Multi-Function-Mountain/dp/B00E7UZBNA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1469589420&sr=8-8&keywords=wellgo+pedal) that I'm very...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-26-16, 11:11 PM
Replies: 3,611
Views: 1,007,620
Posted By FirstSarnt

I have a 2005 Marin Argenta for the road and a...

I have a 2005 Marin Argenta for the road and a 2007 Jamis Dakar XCR Comp for the dirt, but this one is my current favorite. 2014 Specialized Source Expert Disc, in his case set up for short tours.
...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-24-16, 10:20 AM
Replies: 81
Views: 32,750
Posted By FirstSarnt

I think going tot he 36 in back is the best, most...

I think going tot he 36 in back is the best, most cost effective solution. Right now my lowest combo gives me about 28.5 gear inches, and going to the 36 would drop that to about 25. I like the 48/34...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-24-16, 10:15 AM
Replies: 60
Views: 5,081
Posted By FirstSarnt

I think the bottom line for me is that like you I...

I think the bottom line for me is that like you I prefer solo riding. I ride at my own pace and can pay attention to the world around me without distractions and can stop and go as I please. On the...
Forum: Touring
05-24-16, 10:02 AM
Replies: 356
Views: 401,307
Posted By FirstSarnt

I've just started touring, so for now I'm using a...

I've just started touring, so for now I'm using a pair of small rear panniers (Bushwhacker Moab) , a trunk bag over those (Bushwhacker Mesa), and a small handlebar bag from Topeak. Once I get into...
Forum: Commuting
05-22-16, 08:25 AM
Replies: 99
Views: 9,188
Posted By FirstSarnt

Of course I do. the problem occurs when I argue...

Of course I do. the problem occurs when I argue with myself, then lose the argument.
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-22-16, 08:23 AM
Replies: 81
Views: 32,750
Posted By FirstSarnt

My Specialized Source Expert has a 2 x 10 setup,...

My Specialized Source Expert has a 2 x 10 setup, 48/34 in front and 11-32 in back. I'm starting to tour with it, so that adds 20-30 pounds of stuff to the bike and my 215 pound bulk. My road and...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-19-16, 07:02 PM
Replies: 289
Views: 25,074
Posted By FirstSarnt

For me clipless works. My feet are always in the...

For me clipless works. My feet are always in the right place on the pedal for power application, I can bunny hop the bike over obstacles, I can apply power through all 360 degrees of my pedal stroke...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-19-16, 08:01 AM
Replies: 3,858
Sticky 65-85+ Thread
Views: 681,366
Posted By FirstSarnt

I hear ya, dude, though I didn't take the long...

I hear ya, dude, though I didn't take the long hiatus from riding. I'll be 66 in a few months, and my knees have never been able to tolerate running. My short but frequent and strenuous rides have...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-19-16, 07:47 AM
Replies: 289
Views: 25,074
Posted By FirstSarnt

I have no idea why you insist on arguing with all...

I have no idea why you insist on arguing with all of us. I gave my opinion of how hydraulic discs on my heavy loaded bikes and clipless pedals perform for me; it was not a technical argument. If you...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-19-16, 12:06 AM
Replies: 27,218
Views: 3,195,741
Posted By FirstSarnt

Trained for an upcoming 80 miler with a mostly...

Trained for an upcoming 80 miler with a mostly full load (small rear panniers, trunk box, and handlebar bag, all filled as they will be on the bigger trip) on a hilly 25-mile course, and felt like a...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-18-16, 11:55 PM
Replies: 289
Views: 25,074
Posted By FirstSarnt

I've had mountain bikes with v-brakes and with...

I've had mountain bikes with v-brakes and with discs and have discs on my commuter/tourer, and there's no comparison for me. Hydraulic discs stop me much more quickly, stay dry and effective when I...
Forum: Touring
05-16-16, 12:08 AM
Replies: 356
Views: 401,307
Posted By FirstSarnt

Though I have three bikes, generally my ride of...

Though I have three bikes, generally my ride of choice is a 2014 Specialized Source Expert Disc. Aluminum, 2 X 10 SRAM Apex drive rain, Supernova dynamo hub, hydraulic discs, Specialized house brand...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-15-16, 11:42 PM
Replies: 60
Views: 5,081
Posted By FirstSarnt

I usually prefer to ride alone, though I'll...

I usually prefer to ride alone, though I'll occasionally find myself alongside someone for a while. The biggest problem for me is that when I do meet someone who offers to let me join them on a...
Forum: Fifty Plus (50+)
05-15-16, 11:26 PM
Replies: 22
Views: 1,870
Posted By FirstSarnt

I will not be too old until I depart this mortal...

I will not be too old until I depart this mortal coil. I rarely see people my age (65) when I ride, though I do encounter a lot of 50-ish whippersnappers on their $6,000 custom fitted full-carbon...
Forum: Introductions
05-15-16, 11:09 PM
Replies: 3
Views: 315
Posted By FirstSarnt

Maybe some day

Funny you should bring that up. I got the Specialized last year for commuting and short tours, but I've started reading a bunch of the journals on CGOAB and the bug has bitten me. I want to start...
Forum: Introductions
05-15-16, 10:35 PM
Replies: 3
Views: 315
Posted By FirstSarnt

Old Newbie

So, hello fellow lovers of two-wheeled transportation. I'm a 65-year-old retired Army First Sergeant who has ridden pretty much his entire life. I have three aluminum bikes - a Specialized Source...
Showing results 1 to 40 of 40


 
Forum Jump

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.