McBTC

Harvard Medical school says we should keep doing what it is we already like to do... bicycle endurance training– e.g.,

https://www.health.harvard.edu/stayi...om-father-time

willie2323

really funny stuff, have been cycling most all my life, yesterday just took ownership of my first single speed. I am very excited to give er a go in this newer technology (to me). At 71 I love all phases of cycling except on the street solo. spend most of my time at high aerobic levels on local canals (still very competitive) or on T100 locally (Phoenix area). Am thinking the SS will improve my dynamic range (good grunt work as well as spinning) for all my cycling. I still build my own bikes and love the newer technology.
cycle on everyone!
cheers,
willie

RonH

Welcome to the old folks hideout willie. Glad you joined us.

McBTC

Apparently, cycling geezer jocks are have a greater interest in tomorrow's weather than most other folks...

OldTryGuy

Welcome willie, an interesting read on reasoning behind your new SS adventures. Good luck

I on the other hand approaching age 68 care not to dive into the SS experience. I don't need another thought process layer, i.e.-multi tasking, required to prevent injuries. Solo is fine with me as I head out between 12:01AM-3:00AM often as I did today at 12:15AM to begin 101 mile jaunt.

willie2323

Thank you Ron, hadnt realized that was my first post in this forum till it posted, shoulda done an intro. I do love cycling for a couple of reasons as we all know in this post, as we age there are not a lot of exercises we can still do that we can take to anerobic levels and I still love to compete.
Hey ol triguy, thanx for your comment. Wow, impressive century riding consistently. Yea on the "solo" riding. The emphasis in my post was staying off the streets unless on a sanctioned ride which has good traffic control.
Most of my bikes are not very light in fact I have never weighed them till I got this fixie put together. Road bike is an ol trek 1000 coming in at 27lbs, hardtail mtn bike is as well 27lbs and my full suspension mtn bike is an even 30lbs. This single speed is at 24lbs right now which is not very light but then I dont really care, just another interesting fact . I am anxious to get it out on our local canal just to see how the gearing works. Prior to this SS on my canal runs I was riding my hardtail all the time in only one gear (44/14). This SS came with 46/16 gearing which puts my gearinches slightly less at the same cadence. Since it is a tad lighter and especially the spinning (tires) weight, I expect to change the rear sprocket to 15 which will put my gearinches slightly more than my hardtail. Just good ol fun.
cheers,
willie

RonH

Ok, I did it. I pulled the trigger today. Lynskey is having a huge sale and I've been looking at their bikes for a few weeks so I couldn't pass up the savings. Got a 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro road bike. Traded-in the Cannondale on it. Yes, they take trade-ins.
I upgraded to Ultegra 8000.
I'm keeping the wheels from the Cannondale and swapping them for the Mavic Aksium wheels that are stock on the bike. I'll be flipping the stem too. I'll post pics when I get it. You'll have to be happy with this for now.

DGoodrow

Congratulations Ron. This is going to be a terrific bike for you. I only hope your "Trusty Litespeed" doesn't get jealous.

McBTC

Sweet... compact gearing, 11 spd?

RonH

It won't get jealous. They're cousins.

RonH

I asked for the 52/36 (since the 8000 series doesn't come with 53/39) and a 12-25 cassette.

qcpmsame 

Excellent choice Ron, even though you did violate a rule, its N+1, not N-1+1

Bill

RonH

Thanks Bill. I did the N+1 a few years ago and had 3 bikes. Somehow the 3rd bike just got neglected, so .....

The Cannondale was light and comfortable enough but it never really fit right. I had a fitting when I got the bike and was continually making little tweaks (comparing measurements to the Litespeed) but at the end of the day I just wasn't happy with it. Some days I'd do a ride and come home with some cramping. Never had that when I did the same ride on the Litespeed.
FYI: I compared all the frame angles and dimensions from the Litespeed manual with the Cannondale dimensions and angles and then compared the dimensions and angles with the Lynskey. The Litespeed and Lynskey are VERY close. The Cannondale was not nearly as close.

qcpmsame 

If it works best for you Ron, its what you should do, titanium has a unique ride charcteristic to it. Depending on the alloy and how it is formed internally, it can range from super stiff to very compliant, and everything in between. Your 'Dale was racing geometry and lay up so it would be stiff, the Litespeed is what I understand to be endurance designed and built. Glad to hear you are transferring those wheels to the Litespeed, smart move.

I need a envy smilie right now, that would be a super grail/last bike. Post lots of pics when you have the time please.

Bill

RonH

My Litespeed will be 17 yeas old next month. It has a tear drop shaped top tube and down tube. It is 3/2 titanium.
The Lynskey has a helix top tube and seat stays (according to what I read on the site). Not sure about the other tubes. The top, down and seat tubes are 6/4 titanium but the rest is 3/2 I believe.

The Litespeed is traditional/classical geometry with a perfectly horizontal top tube.

They're still having the sale if you want one.

DowneasTTer

All I can say is NICE. Looking forward to seeing it on the Withlacoochee.!!

Wildwood 

Between you and @jppe, this Forum seems to be on a roll, Lynskey Roll. Different disciplines but.......

Just sayin, it's an exquisite choice.
One recco - Sell both wheelsets and get some nice tubulars (i ride Al rims) with supple tires. Night and Day. Don't like glue?, they got tape now.

RonH

I just got this from Lynskey.

"Hi Ron

An order you recently placed on our website has had its status changed.

The status of order #XXXX is now Frame size is not in stock. This is not a problem. We are happy to build one just for you. Average wait time is 4 weeks."

Four weeks?? Ok. It's worth the wait.

McBTC

I guess that means you can expect to get Lynskey's 30 year anniversary dropouts.

JanMM

They said it is not a problem. No problem, right?

Suza

I'm new to this group, but have been hanging out at the hybrid bike forum as I progressed through the painful process of choosing a new bike. I'm not new to bikes, but since retiring in 2012, my husband and I have gradually reintroduced cycling back into our lifestyle. As someone said a few years back, cycling is a great way to maintain or even improve cardiovascular health.


I have been riding a Specialized Crossroads Sport for about 5 years. We bike probably 50/50 pavement/trails. Our trail riding is mostly smooth, flat off-road and multi-purpose trails as well as some beginner level technical single track. Up till now, our riding has been mostly an element of our RV adventures, but I have since added some fitness riding and intend to participate in a few organized charity/group rides.


While my CR hybrid bike has been sufficient enough for the riding we do, I have become disenchanted with the performance of its rim brakes riding in wet weather and off-road. Several weeks ago I began looking for something similar, but with disc brakes and, since I'm getting something new, a better range of gears for hills. Oh, and 2x chain rings. Long story short, I spent today at my LBS and ended up ordering a Specialized Women's Rockhopper Pro. Note: I stay with Specialized because, 1. they build good bikes; we have had several and are very happy with them 2. that is the brand our favorite of two LBS in our area exclusively sells. In a few weeks I will be entering into a new phase of senior biking.


Thinking my new bike and I might not fit into the Hybrid Bikes forum, I looked around for another. I fear the Mountain Bike forum might be a bit out of my age group and cycling genre while the Road Bike forum might be a bit inappropriate since I haven't ridden drop bars since my college years when I had a Schwinn Continental 10-speed. (I honestly tried riding my daughter-in-law's drop bar cyclocross bike and discovered, all else aside, bifocals just don't mix with those handlebars


So, here I am on this Fifty Plus (50+) forum, where I hope to be a worthy contributor.


As an introduction, let me say I am a laid back sort of cyclist; my objective, aside from recreation and enjoyment of the outdoors, is to stay healthy, fit and active well into my senior years. I guess you can say I don't intend to give up doing the things I enjoy strictly because of limits the aging process puts on my body. Everyone in the over-fifty category understands what I'm saying.


I'll be back when I my bike arrives and share details of this transition. In the meantime, here is a link where you can check out my new ride


https://www.specialized.com/us/en/wo...=240166-129253


Got it!!! (couldn't get the image to work so here's a link)

https://i1365.photobucket.com/albums/...psi2m19zog.jpg

RonH

Welcome to the old folks hangout. Good looking bike.

DougG

Suza, I thought I recognized you from the Crosstrail thread -- that's what I ride as my "trail bike." I use it main on paved and unpaved rail-trails, with an occasional true off-road excursion. Welcome to the forum!

Mister Blister

Anyone here preparing to ride a century?

Climb14er

I turned 65 in November, yeah Medicare, Adios expensive Obamacare. Still ride my 2007 Waterford 2007 RS33 with carbon front fork, Campy Record, full Ritchey. Great custom fit and ride. Been riding since I was very young. Early Raleigh 3 speed. One major injury, fractured T12 and L2 2012. Recovered, still have pain. Love riding.