Notices
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling Do you enjoy centuries, double centuries, brevets, randonnees, and 24-hour time trials? Share ride reports, and exchange training, equipment, and nutrition information specific to long distance cycling. This isn't for tours, this is for endurance events cycling

Your century bicycle(s)

Old 02-19-07, 01:23 PM
  #26  
Machka 
In Real Life
Thread Starter
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Machak is 49.5 cm (just the right size) and weighs 27 lbs with racks and fenders.


By comparison, my Giants were/are 50 cm, and weigh about 25 lbs ... and the Venture is 57 cm and weighs about 40 lbs. I did my first half dozen or so centuries on that Venture, plus thousands of kilometers of touring, commuting, and other riding ... despite the fact that it is WAY too big for me. I've done around a dozen centuries, and my first 200K brevet, on the Mongoose, which weighs in at 40 lbs as well ... it wasn't bad, just a little slow.
Machka is offline  
Old 02-19-07, 04:42 PM
  #27  
thebulls
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,009

Bikes: SOMA Grand Randonneur, Gunnar Sport converted to 650B, Rivendell Rambouillet, '82 Trek 728, '84 Trek 610, '85 Trek 500, C'Dale F600, Burley Duet, Lotus Legend

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
'72 Peugot UO8
'79 Lotus Legend
'01 Novara Gran Fondo (my current randonneuring bike)
thebulls is offline  
Old 02-19-07, 05:56 PM
  #28  
sch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Mountain Brook. AL
Posts: 4,002
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 303 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 136 Times in 104 Posts
Unless really really hilly I prefer to use the bent: Rotator Ti Pursuit. It is far more
comfortable and not enough slower to make me want to switch. I do ride a DF
bike on certain group rides. The Cheaha Challenge has cerca 10kft of climbing,
but I skipped about 2500 of this by omitting the central 12miles of the 102 and
doing only 89mi. That is the R side pix. The other pix is from the Leaves of
Lincoln century in south central Tn, very scenic century.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Cheaha Challenge May 7 06.jpg (36.9 KB, 1026 views)
sch is offline  
Old 02-19-07, 06:10 PM
  #29  
brunop
hell's angels h/q e3st ny
 
brunop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: boston area/morningside heights manhattan
Posts: 1,582

Bikes: surly steamroller, independent fabrication titanium club racer, iro jamie roy--44/16, independent fabrication steel crown jewel--47/17, surly karate. monkey (rohloff speed hub), unicycle

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts


stripped for nice weather if makes a great all around machine.




i always gotta give dap to bmike for his beautiful IF whip as it is my whip's twin! (virtually identical but mine has hammered fenders for a little extra bling and i rock the IF team color decals cuz i'm down with the IF crew. thems my homies as i live about a quarter mile away from the IF world headquarters!) i just don't know how to post pics!! but that ti club racer is ALL DAT for rollin' off some miles (or kilometers for our canadian friends!!!!
brunop is offline  
Old 02-19-07, 09:54 PM
  #30  
Bacciagalupe
Professional Fuss-Budget
 
Bacciagalupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,494
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 14 Posts
Edited: I used a Xootr Swift on my last century.



Aluminum frame, bar-ends, SPD pedals, an added water bottle cage. I doubt I'd do another century on it though.

Last edited by Bacciagalupe; 05-13-07 at 04:57 PM.
Bacciagalupe is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 01:37 PM
  #31  
Zonker
Senior Member
 
Zonker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts


No centuries yet, as it is brand new! Waterford RST-22, made to measure. Now, assuming I will have more comfort, am thinking of trying some brevets, as well. A century was all I could take before on my titanium, race oriented bike.
Zonker is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 02:16 PM
  #32  
bmike
Bye Bye
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Gone gone gone
Posts: 3,677
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Zonker


No centuries yet, as it is brand new! Waterford RST-22, made to measure. Now, assuming I will have more comfort, am thinking of trying some brevets, as well. A century was all I could take before on my titanium, race oriented bike.
How tall are you!?
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
bmike is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 02:31 PM
  #33  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Originally Posted by Machka
Machak is 49.5 cm (just the right size) and weighs 27 lbs with racks and fenders.


By comparison, my Giants were/are 50 cm, and weigh about 25 lbs ... and the Venture is 57 cm and weighs about 40 lbs. I did my first half dozen or so centuries on that Venture, plus thousands of kilometers of touring, commuting, and other riding ... despite the fact that it is WAY too big for me. I've done around a dozen centuries, and my first 200K brevet, on the Mongoose, which weighs in at 40 lbs as well ... it wasn't bad, just a little slow.
What type and size tires does Machak Have?
All my bikes that are too big for me give a more comfortable ride.
2manybikes is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 02:43 PM
  #34  
Zonker
Senior Member
 
Zonker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bmike
How tall are you!?
6'3". It does look pretty tall, especially with the 20mm head tube extension. I think the seat tube is 62cm.
Zonker is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 02:49 PM
  #35  
brunop
hell's angels h/q e3st ny
 
brunop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: boston area/morningside heights manhattan
Posts: 1,582

Bikes: surly steamroller, independent fabrication titanium club racer, iro jamie roy--44/16, independent fabrication steel crown jewel--47/17, surly karate. monkey (rohloff speed hub), unicycle

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
hey zonk! what happened to the rivendell SS? didn't you have one. duder! i dig the waterford!! nice!!
brunop is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 03:24 PM
  #36  
Zonker
Senior Member
 
Zonker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by brunop
hey zonk! what happened to the rivendell SS? didn't you have one. duder! i dig the waterford!! nice!!
I did indeed have a Rivendell Quickbeam, but sold it...it just wasn't working for a 46 year old with two surgeries on each knee. I did enjoy the Rivendell experience, however...and started thinking about a lugged steel bike with more gears. I considered their Rambouillet (wasn't crazy about the blue, green ones were not expected til mid-year). Then they debuted the A. Homer Hilsen...I'm not too crazy about the name or the decals, but saw they were being made for them by Waterford. So, I went surfing, and then called them. Found I could get a made to measure frame for not much more than the A.H.H. and any color I wanted (British Racing Green). Ended up buying the Nitto bits (seatpost, handlebar, and stem) as well as the tires and cork wrap from Rivendell. Thanks for the kind words!
Zonker is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 04:56 PM
  #37  
lemurhouse
carpe napum
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 381
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've ridden this frame for 22 years and with several different build configurations. I've got fancier bikes but this is still the one I like best for long rides.

lemurhouse is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 05:28 PM
  #38  
Cyclaholic
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
 
Cyclaholic's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: all the way down under
Posts: 4,276

Bikes: several

Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1589 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times in 365 Posts
A few days ago a couple of friends and I had nothing much to do so on the spur of the moment we decided to go for a quick century. At the end of it I wished I had my lights and another 5 hours free because I was ready for another one.... if I were single and no kids, I would have

I know most of you would look at this bike thinking how uncomfortable it must be for long distance. the frame is extremely stiff, its a very agressive riding position, and it has no cargo carrying capacity at all - not even water bottle cages!. Yes true, but as they say, whatever works for you, and this bike with my 100oz hydration pack I find works great for me.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
caad9_1.JPG (92.7 KB, 1643 views)
__________________
"Surely one can love his own country without becoming hopelessly lost in an all-consuming flame of narrow-minded nationalism" - Fred Birchmore
Cyclaholic is offline  
Likes For Cyclaholic:
Old 02-20-07, 08:21 PM
  #39  
bmike
Bye Bye
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Gone gone gone
Posts: 3,677
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by lemurhouse
I've ridden this frame for 22 years and with several different build configurations. I've got fancier bikes but this is still the one I like best for long rides.

That's classy.
What frame is under there?
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
bmike is offline  
Old 02-20-07, 08:37 PM
  #40  
Machka 
In Real Life
Thread Starter
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
What type and size tires does Machak Have?
All my bikes that are too big for me give a more comfortable ride.
Machak's tires are 700x25s. I could have gotten the smaller size (650s?) but I opted to go for the full size ones because tires for that size are more common. But the problem with those wheels is that they take up so much room ... I can't use wider tires.

Actually it's the same story for the entire bicycle. Machak is very compact, and everything just fits with no extra room!

Sounds like you need a new bicycle!!

.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
M17_1.jpg (35.5 KB, 1392 views)
Machka is offline  
Old 02-21-07, 08:08 AM
  #41  
lemurhouse
carpe napum
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 381
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks. Its a Trek 600 from 1985. Its not fancy, but has Reynolds 531 steel and a nice geometry. Too flexy for racing but very comfy and stable. It was starting to develop some some rust so I had it powdercoated a couple of years ago. I removed most of the braze-ons at the same time.
lemurhouse is offline  
Old 02-21-07, 10:20 AM
  #42  
zowie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: US
Posts: 841
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Zonker
I did indeed have a Rivendell Quickbeam, but sold it...it just wasn't working for a 46 year old with two surgeries on each knee. I did enjoy the Rivendell experience, however...and started thinking about a lugged steel bike with more gears. I considered their Rambouillet (wasn't crazy about the blue, green ones were not expected til mid-year). Then they debuted the A. Homer Hilsen...I'm not too crazy about the name or the decals, but saw they were being made for them by Waterford. So, I went surfing, and then called them. Found I could get a made to measure frame for not much more than the A.H.H. and any color I wanted (British Racing Green). Ended up buying the Nitto bits (seatpost, handlebar, and stem) as well as the tires and cork wrap from Rivendell. Thanks for the kind words!
"A. Homer Hilsen" really is a horrendous name for a bike.
zowie is offline  
Old 02-22-07, 01:48 PM
  #43  
Zonker
Senior Member
 
Zonker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by zowie
"A. Homer Hilsen" really is a horrendous name for a bike.
They wanted to call it the "Honus Wagner" but could not come to terms with the trademark people that own the copyright.
Zonker is offline  
Old 02-22-07, 04:01 PM
  #44  
fastturtle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 47°N, 7°E
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by atomship47
(...)
so how do you know if a particular bike is going to be comfortable on a century if you've never tried it? also, how does relaxed vs. aggressive geometry enter into the picture? some of the bikes pictured appear to be set up for more aggressive riding.
Personnally I am not clear yet how "aggressive" a position I prefer. I have ridden quite a few centuries on bikes where the handlebars were a few cm lower than the saddle, a setup I would qualify as "rather aggressive". I have recently bought a dedicated randonneur bike which is less so, with bars almost level with the saddle. I am not actually sure I prefer this more relaxed position. It could be that because my hands are higher I put more weight on them, it is hard to explain. It could also be that the manufacturer (despite his great reputation and undisputed experience) laid the cables in an inadequate location along the bar, meaning that my hands don't rest on the nice flat surface that is normally provided by Campagnolo levers. One of these days I will probably try redo the cable routing and taping - I hate that - and see if it improves.
One advantage of these highish bars is that I can ride on the drops without feeling too cramped.
fastturtle is offline  
Old 02-23-07, 12:53 PM
  #45  
dmitri926
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 60
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts


mercier aquila from BD 700$. Last summer, ~10 centuries including 3 in a row all the way to canada
dmitri926 is offline  
Old 02-24-07, 09:12 AM
  #46  
Dewbert
Mettle to the Pedals
 
Dewbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 710

Bikes: Giant Cypress hyrbrid, Giant OCR2, Giant OCRc2, Giant Suede (wife's)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
OCR2 and OCRc2 (not at the same time!)
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
wades road bike.jpg (61.7 KB, 1128 views)
Dewbert is offline  
Old 02-24-07, 10:30 AM
  #47  
knobster
.
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Posts: 3,981

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix Comp, Soma ES

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My first century was done on a Trek Pilot 5.0. Very nice riding bike but sold it because I wanted a more durable frame. Another bike I have been riding long distances on is my '93 Trek 520. Very stable and enjoyable ride. Heavy as hell though. I think with the fenders and rack it is like 34 lbs. My newest build is a Eddy Merckx Titanium AX. It's a light one at 17 lbs and doesn't take fenders or racks, but damn it's fast. Very comfortable over the long distances. Will be doing a majority of my centuries on this bike this year.

Question: My Eddy Merckx has a compact double (50/36) with a 13/26 cassette. I haven't ridden it on any long rides yet or over any large hills. Most of the centuries that I've got planned are mountain centuries this year. Does this gearing make sense? I've also got a triple (53/42/28) that I could put on, but because of the bottom bracket the granny can only be used on the large cog on the cassette. I loved the 520 gearing (48/36/22) (12/34), I could climb anything on it.

Eddy Merckx


Trek 520


Trek Pilot 5.0 (regret selling this)
knobster is offline  
Old 02-24-07, 10:48 AM
  #48  
rule
Senior Member
 
rule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wylie, Texas
Posts: 1,922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
2004 Specialized Roubaix Pro on Shimano R540 wheels...rides like butta.
__________________
rule is offline  
Old 02-24-07, 03:35 PM
  #49  
stapfam
Time for a change.
 
stapfam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913

Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Have done imperial centuries on my current three bikes. The Tandem and MTB have been offroad and the Giant SCR and the MTB have been on the road. Can't compare the three bikes as the routes are different but If it was a road ride- then the Giant with no suspension, thin saddle and harsh aluminium frame has been the easiest on the body. Then again- On or Offroad- I would not give up my Thudbuster Suspension post and wide saddle on the Tandem.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Bianchi.jpg (41.3 KB, 1080 views)
File Type: jpg
giant.JPG (71.0 KB, 1129 views)
File Type: jpg
tandem 003.jpg (50.5 KB, 1031 views)
File Type: jpg
thudb.jpg (68.3 KB, 1051 views)
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.


Spike Milligan
stapfam is offline  
Old 02-24-07, 03:48 PM
  #50  
stapfam
Time for a change.
 
stapfam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913

Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by knobster
Question: My Eddy Merckx has a compact double (50/36) with a 13/26 cassette. I haven't ridden it on any long rides yet or over any large hills. Most of the centuries that I've got planned are mountain centuries this year. Does this gearing make sense? I've also got a triple (53/42/28) that I could put on, but because of the bottom bracket the granny can only be used on the large cog on the cassette. I loved the 520 gearing (48/36/22) (12/34), I could climb anything on it.
Depends on you and the mountains but Can you change the rear cassette to something lower? I know of a regular century rider on hilly routes that use a double compact crankset, and he has changed his rear cassette to a 12/34. This did require a long cage rear derailler so adding to the expense but a couple of centuries a month is his norm.

My Giant has a triple and on our hills I would not contemplate any thing else but When I do road rides on the MTB I have a crankset of 44/32/22 and I can assure you that I do use the lowest gear of 22/32 at some point. So why is it that on the same hills on the road bike- I can sail up hills in 30/26? I think it is a mental thing- It starts hurting so change down- but when you run out of gears- you have to put up with the pain.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.


Spike Milligan
stapfam is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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.