Re-thinking my strategy, changing priorities
#26
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No, but I'm still interested in what TransitBiker eventually gets. And I get why he wants another bike.
If my coworker traded bikes with me, he'd still ride a lot faster than me. I thought I made it clear that I understood that in my earlier posts, but, whatever. Anyway, he'd be faster but he'd also be less happy with my bike compared to his road bikes. Being happy with your ride is what it's all about - well, that's how I see it anyway.
If my coworker traded bikes with me, he'd still ride a lot faster than me. I thought I made it clear that I understood that in my earlier posts, but, whatever. Anyway, he'd be faster but he'd also be less happy with my bike compared to his road bikes. Being happy with your ride is what it's all about - well, that's how I see it anyway.
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Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
#27
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#28
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I have both the standard, and premium Nexus 8. The premium shifts noticeably better under load, and has less drag in the lower gears at higher loads.
Standard,
Premium
Allfine
Last edited by kickstart; 10-22-15 at 10:29 AM.
#29
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My Trek 720 commuter (finished build two weeks ago) has an XLC trekking bar, and MKS Lambda pedals - great combination. I find that I have at least six distinct hand positions on the trekking bar:
1. upright narrow.
2. upright wide.
3. outside back.
4. outside middle
5. outside front corner.
6. front crouched.
It did take a bit of tweaking to get the bars comfortable for me; I dropped the stem 30mm from my first position, then tilted the front of the bars down about 15mm, which resulted in the back section being at the original height, and the front much lower.
I have dual brake levers on the trekking bar, so that I can brake from the front or the back - use two sets of Tektro RL720 cross levers or similar. Use a road style brake cable (pear shaped end), the levers on back side terminate the cable.
I am currently set up with friction lever shifters, planning on changing the rear to trigger.
#30
contiuniously variable
Thread Starter
I'm not putting a new hub on the breezer. I can't change the crank length due to torque input limits on the n360. I'm thinking of getting a trekking bike with road drivetrain and disc brakes, minimal but still able to hold fenders.
- Andy
- Andy
#31
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Based on what's been said on this thread, I don't blame you for not seeing any incentive in replacing your N360 with a new hub. The N380, while looking like a nice big upgrade from my non-premium Nexus 8, would give you only 0.1 improvement in overdrive. Alfine 11 is a stinker.
#32
contiuniously variable
Thread Starter
Based on what's been said on this thread, I don't blame you for not seeing any incentive in replacing your N360 with a new hub. The N380, while looking like a nice big upgrade from my non-premium Nexus 8, would give you only 0.1 improvement in overdrive. Alfine 11 is a stinker.
My watts of input at pedal are going to be far more with a belt & gear hub or cassette vs the N360.
Gear hubs can be a PITA. I need a chain case & probably 2x7 cassette plus grippy pegged low profile light weight pedals hooked to longer cranks and a frame meant to be used on higher speed distance cruises. The Fuji touring looks like what I want.. For everything else I can save up for a beltway elite & have my 3 blades in the Swiss army bike roster.
- Andy
#33
contiuniously variable
Thread Starter
I just found that ASI has refreshed their 3 flagship brands (SE, Fuji, Breezer). The touring is no longer available. Also, the tripel no longer has a coaster brake, which means I'd have to lay out money for a new 3 speed coaster hub + cost of installation.
This means a few things:
1. tripel is now low priority but still a long term consideration once funds for bike + hub are obtained.
2. No more fuji touring, which means i need to keep an eye out for a similar offering from ASI.
3 this is new Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | NICHIBEI COLLECTION | SAGRES and may be something i get instead of some totally dedicated road thing, though the frame may be too small
4. i need to take a look over everything and see what my options are and the price points.
- Andy
This means a few things:
1. tripel is now low priority but still a long term consideration once funds for bike + hub are obtained.
2. No more fuji touring, which means i need to keep an eye out for a similar offering from ASI.
3 this is new Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | NICHIBEI COLLECTION | SAGRES and may be something i get instead of some totally dedicated road thing, though the frame may be too small
4. i need to take a look over everything and see what my options are and the price points.
- Andy
#34
contiuniously variable
Thread Starter
Well, i FOUND the fuji toruing, it was moved!
Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | CROSS TERRAIN | TOURING
I would like discs, but not sure if the fork would work with such.... i'm just so done with rim brakes. More trouble than they are worth.
- Andy
Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | CROSS TERRAIN | TOURING
I would like discs, but not sure if the fork would work with such.... i'm just so done with rim brakes. More trouble than they are worth.
- Andy
#35
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My thought is this: if i ever get a trike/something to pull the kids with in a trailer, I'd get the N380.
My watts of input at pedal are going to be far more with a belt & gear hub or cassette vs the N360.
Gear hubs can be a PITA. I need a chain case & probably 2x7 cassette plus grippy pegged low profile light weight pedals hooked to longer cranks and a frame meant to be used on higher speed distance cruises. The Fuji touring looks like what I want.. For everything else I can save up for a beltway elite & have my 3 blades in the Swiss army bike roster.
- Andy
My watts of input at pedal are going to be far more with a belt & gear hub or cassette vs the N360.
Gear hubs can be a PITA. I need a chain case & probably 2x7 cassette plus grippy pegged low profile light weight pedals hooked to longer cranks and a frame meant to be used on higher speed distance cruises. The Fuji touring looks like what I want.. For everything else I can save up for a beltway elite & have my 3 blades in the Swiss army bike roster.
- Andy
Still keeping my Breezer for shopping duty and after-work activity duty (well, any scenario which calls for my bike to be locked outside for more than 10 min.).
Looks like you're going N+1 too, haha (+1 being some sort of road bike, touring or not).
#36
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Well you CAN, just not a meaningful amount for a commute. Aero wheels, frame, tight kit/skinsuit, low crr tires. Getting your cabling neatly and minimally done. But finishing in 55 minutes instead of 60 while commuting just isn't that big a deal to me. (especially when it'll take you 5 minutes longer to get out of the door and into then into work attire on arrival).
E-bikes will help even more and are probably cheaper than going the aero route.
But if I'm spending that sort of money on transportation, I might as well just buy a large cc scooter or used ~250cc motorcycle.
#37
Senior Member
Well, i FOUND the fuji toruing, it was moved!
Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | CROSS TERRAIN | TOURING
I would like discs, but not sure if the fork would work with such.... i'm just so done with rim brakes. More trouble than they are worth.
- Andy
Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | CROSS TERRAIN | TOURING
I would like discs, but not sure if the fork would work with such.... i'm just so done with rim brakes. More trouble than they are worth.
- Andy
The Fui front fork will not work with disc brakes. You're on your own there....I don't particularly want them.
Last edited by gregjones; 12-30-15 at 02:52 PM. Reason: HUKD ON FONIKS FAILD
#38
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In my case, buying the road bike was more about buying a fun riding experience than "buying speed". I do a decent enough job of scheduling my commute rides so that I get to work at a reasonable time - so getting there "faster" was irrelevant to me.
I still enjoy riding my utility bike too, but the handling and all that is different.
I still enjoy riding my utility bike too, but the handling and all that is different.
#39
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@TransitBiker - I was in the same boat as you this Summer. I ended up getting a Bianchi Volpe Disc. Increased my average speed from 12mph to 16mph and it's much more fun to ride than my Trek Allant. Drop bars make a huge difference on windy days, and the disc brakes are fantastic in the wet.
#40
contiuniously variable
Thread Starter
I've always thought that the Fuji Touring bike is one of the best values in that style of bike. I am now using a 48/36/26 crankset with an 8sp 13-34 cassette. The same that the Fuji uses except the top end. I like it a lot. I have 9sp bar ends that I'm running friction with the 8sp in anticipation of just getting the 11-34 9sp cassette. I like the set-up enough that I've quit looking at other gearing options.
The Fui front fork will not work with disc brakes. You're on your own there....I don't particularly want them.
The Fui front fork will not work with disc brakes. You're on your own there....I don't particularly want them.
@TransitBiker - I was in the same boat as you this Summer. I ended up getting a Bianchi Volpe Disc. Increased my average speed from 12mph to 16mph and it's much more fun to ride than my Trek Allant. Drop bars make a huge difference on windy days, and the disc brakes are fantastic in the wet.
- Andy
#41
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in what way are rim brakes more trouble than they are worth for you? Just curious. I like disks and think they are great in many respects, but I know their performance advantage is usually much overstated. I think that Fuji looks pretty great for what you are asking for. I definitely dig ditching the gear hub type city bike, beyond that it's a pretty big world full of stuff. And us cyclists that overthink everything and spend our nights talking about minor upgrades online will usually never be fully content, always looking for something that next step better or different.
Surly's Disc Trucker might be worth looking at. Not sure price comparisons and such, but they're fine bikes.
Disc Trucker | Bikes | Surly Bikes
I dig them as a company, and their frames will usually fit fatter tires than many big brand bikes that are comparable, which is always a plus for me.
Surly's Disc Trucker might be worth looking at. Not sure price comparisons and such, but they're fine bikes.
Disc Trucker | Bikes | Surly Bikes
I dig them as a company, and their frames will usually fit fatter tires than many big brand bikes that are comparable, which is always a plus for me.
#42
Full Member
I have dual brake levers on the trekking bar, so that I can brake from the front or the back - use two sets of Tektro RL720 cross levers or similar. Use a road style brake cable (pear shaped end), the levers on back side terminate the cable.
I am currently set up with friction lever shifters, planning on changing the rear to trigger.
I am currently set up with friction lever shifters, planning on changing the rear to trigger.
#45
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Thanks for sharing the great pics. I'm getting more seriously into biking for the first time right now, so I'm pretty new it. I think that setup you have is pretty much what I want. I have no experience working on bicycles, but I have a lot of mechanical experience otherwise. I've got a few books on bicycle maintenance that look pretty good and should help me through it. I just bought my first bike for touring, and of course this will be my first build/customization of a bike. The bars on my bike feel strange and I don't think they're going to work out for me, but I think those trekking bars with the dual brake-lever setup will be perfect.