Originally Posted by
mrrabbit
There must be a secret desire to ban "Fred's" and "Fatties" from road bikes here...
I mean seriously...suggestions for a touring bike? What is wrong with helping a guy out in making a lightweight road racing bike feasible?
Geesh!
90% of my ride buddies - on the few occasions I go out for an all day ride - are "fatties" - who just so happen to love nice road bikes and a fast decent downhill after they've earned the hill.
One owns a couple dozen rode bikes including Gios, Miele, Poliaghi, and the GT's from the mid-90s. His Poliaghi is his favorite ride, the Gios the nicest to look at...most are Super Record or newer Record equipped. The key for him is to go with double-walled double-eyeleted rims with 14/15/14 or straight 14 spokes - with myself doing the builds and getting the tension right. 32 holes works just fine.
Try to be a little more encouraging folks...
=8-)
x2! It helps to know how to ride "lightly", or unweight the proper wheel before impact though. I agree that you can have light and durable and be a clyde, but the wheel gestapo will tell you no way! You can only ride heavy 36h wheels. Your budies wheels will last because a competent human put the time into them to make sure they were right before they were ridden.