"facw" (facw)
05/25/2020 at 11:39 • Filed to: bikelopnik, Bike, bikes
3
19|
"facw" (facw)
05/25/2020 at 11:39 • Filed to: bikelopnik, Bike, bikes | 3
| 19 |
Photo from ad because I’m too lazy to take a better one
I was jealous of everyone else getting new rides recently so I bought this Ridley Noah carbon road bike (year unknown) . Super light (at least by my standards). Some wear, but it seems pretty superficial. Ugly URL on the seat stays (no idea if they put that on everything or if it is because this was apparently originally purchased at a discount for a charity event, so maybe they wanted to get some extra promotion in), but the price felt pretty good based on what I was seeing on Craiglist, so I can live with it .
Only mechanical issue I’ve seen thus far is that the rear brakes were apparently adjusted in the “open” position, so closing them locks the rear wheel. Shouldn’t be a big deal to loosen them. Certainly in vastly better shape than my last cycling purchase: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Sadly today seems to be a crappy day weather wise, but maybe I’ll take it out for an inaugural ride tomorrow (I did do a quick test ride before buying).
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> facw
05/25/2020 at 12:09 |
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That’s a campy group too! Should be a good bike. The gearing looks pretty race oriented, I wouldn’t want that on any steep hills. Also those proprietary seat posts are dumb and bike companies should feel bad about them.
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facw
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/25/2020 at 12:17 |
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Yep. Thankfully (?) I am out of shape enough that steep hills are no fun regardless, but nothing around here is so steep it would be horrible if I can actually get back into proper riding shape this summer.
I’ll admit the Campagnolo stuff was a little worrying to me in the sense that they always seem to be a little less “standard” than Shimano/SRAM, if nothing else probably requiring some extra tools to work on, but I’m sure I can deal with it if something comes up.
Chariotoflove
> facw
05/25/2020 at 12:24 |
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Great purchase!
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facw
> Chariotoflove
05/25/2020 at 12:32 |
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Out of curiosity, what style machine do you ride these days? When I was out riding last weekend I saw I guy on a really wild recumbent hand trike, basically lying flat on his back. N o idea how he could see where he was going at all, but at least he had pretty optimal aero while doing it.
VincentMalamute-Kim
> facw
05/25/2020 at 12:51 |
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You mention back pain in your recumbent post. Did you get that sorted? No issues with back pain on a standard bike.
I’m v
ery curious what you did
because my
back is really limiting me on longer
rides. Not my legs or lungs.
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Chariotoflove
> facw
05/25/2020 at 12:53 |
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I ride an FRH-1 built by a small builder in Portland. It has an adjustable seat angle, but even at the farthest back, you’re still not lying flat like a bunch of those other racing machines the younger hyper- jocks like to ride. I tried those, and it’s great when a head wind comes at you, but for general riding on streets and in parks, it just doesn’t feel safe.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> facw
05/25/2020 at 12:56 |
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Very nice. You’ll definitely need new tools. I got full Campy on the bike I got 20 years ago because that was what I could not afford when I was young.
M
ost importantly Campy is prettiest. But
I can’t push the
Campy race gearing in Colorado.
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facw
> VincentMalamute-Kim
05/25/2020 at 12:58 |
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Back is doing ok at the moment, knock on wood. Shoulder is still limiting me, but I’m hopeful it will continue to improve as I rehab.
Biggest issue I have with the trike is that it is so slow up hills. Not a problem on the bike path, but I feel unsafe on the roads at times. Presumably if I keep riding and get in better shape I can get it faster, though it’s shocking how much slower it is than my conventional bike. It does feel really damn fast downhill, though honestly I’m not sure if that’s a good thing either, feels a bit twitchy, so I’m often on the brakes a bit for downhill segments.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> facw
05/25/2020 at 13:01 |
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What did you do to get your back pain to go away? Or was it a temporary injury?
Didn’t know that about trikes - maybe it’s like tandems (
but different physics)
- f
ast as f!!! on flats and very slow on uphills.
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facw
> VincentMalamute-Kim
05/25/2020 at 13:08 |
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My back pain is (mostly) related to a nkylosing spondylitis, so I don’t have any awesome remedies (besides $1000/week injections of Enbrel). Otherwise it’s just hope for the best...
This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
> facw
05/25/2020 at 13:12 |
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Nice bike!
I would electrify that ‘bent. Really want a tadpole as well, preferably with sus pens ion, but those prices.
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Chariotoflove
> VincentMalamute-Kim
05/25/2020 at 13:28 |
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I miss the days when it was that gorgeous polished aluminum. Now it’s all carbon, and yeah I know it’s lighter and all, but still...
Nom De Plume
> facw
05/25/2020 at 13:33 |
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I would first off like to thank you for not posting that photo showing the seat of your recumbent again. Instantly recalled asking for it to be scrubbed from that post and internet the first time.
I hope by seat cleaning complete you did in fact mean cleansed with fire and spread the ashes far and wide.
New b ike is a 2011 Ridley Noah RS with almost none of the original parts. Not sure what spec they brought over for the US market. Campy may be original. Giant branded stem for example is certainly not. Unfortunately that URL on seat stay is under the clearcoat. I’m sure they caught hell for that.
Overall looks to be a good solid choice. I’ll add the caveat you should go over the entire frame and fork looking for cracks on any used carbon bike (before purchase). They don’t have the infinite lifespan of steel. I did mean solid choice, so it probably is fine. Seriously though, check it over with a fine toothed comb.
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facw
> Nom De Plume
05/25/2020 at 13:40 |
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Yeah, I looked over it pretty closely. The worst of the frame looked to be some wear on the left chain stay, but it felt shallow, and seemed serviceable, and didn’t hear or feel anything weird when I was riding it, so hopefully I’m good in that regard. Didn’t see any other suspect areas.
In any event, with regards to the trike seat, you will be happy to know that while it looked much better coming out of the wash, it was quite brittle, and the small tear in it starting enlarging right away, so I replaced it with new one.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> facw
05/25/2020 at 13:45 |
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Unless you are pulling the cranks or cassette you won’t need any campy specific tools. I bet you could coax a 26 or 27 root cassette on there with the short cage derailure. I gather you have figured out the brake release button is on the shifter not the brake. Nifty way they do it.
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facw
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/25/2020 at 13:50 |
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Yeah, glad I checked how to release the brakes before I bought it, since I needed to take the front wheel off to get it in my car... Seems like a good system (at least when you have it in the right position before adjusting the brakes).
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Nom De Plume
> facw
05/25/2020 at 14:16 |
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Good to hear you knew what to look for. A few scratches just add character. Hope you enjoy the first real ride on it tomorrow. Betting it will feel like a rocket ship if you’ve never owned a carbon road bike before.
I’m glad that disgusting piece of fabric left your possession!
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> facw
05/27/2020 at 22:24 |
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oh man, sorry to hear that. Mine is just getting old/degenerative and I’m hoping some stretches will help.
re: “Enbrel” - pretty cool -
I hadn’t been aware of drugs to treat AS. Wow -
TNF
Inhibitor -
very high tech.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> Chariotoflove
05/27/2020 at 22:29 |
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Completely agree. I finally retired my 1981 Raleigh Competition for a more comfortable modern bike last week.
