First MM [Pedal] Bike Build: Shimano Fondriest

[Ginger]

For now - and by "now" I mean a couple weeks until I move indoors and to the gym. You can read about 'em here:

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They're not exactly $5,000 Zipps, but they're certainly a step above generic Open Pros.

[JackoliciousLegs]

geezus...

[Ginger]

I managed to get a 2.5 hour ride in on the wheels this weekend and I'm relatively pleased. While carbon hoops certainly have a damping characteristic that's unlike anything else I've ever ridden, they don't totally kill any sensation of the road passing beneath the bicycle. They were quick to spin up and maintained speed well (a couple quick hills on my training ride were completed in almost unmentionably easy fashion), but don't totally transform the bike into a time trial machine. Shame. I was feeling a little fatigued from some hard riding on the mountain bike the day before, though, so any more commentary will have to wait until I've gotten a little seat time.

Unfortunately, the back wheel didn't play nice with my dropouts. After coming to a stop and proceeding, my chain locked. I figured it was a shifting error, backed my pedal stroke, and tried again, still no dice. Since I was in the middle of the road, I dismounted and ran across. I made a quick check that the problem was fixed by spinning the pedals freely at the far side of the road. Everything seemed OK so I clipped in, went to pedal, and promptly fell over.

It seems that the rear quick release skewer had loosened (or was never tight enough?) and the caused the wheel to cock sideways. No big deal, except that it seems as if I hit the front wheel pretty hard on impact and gave it a nice hop in it's rotation. Major bummer. I got the brake cable loose enough to be able to keep riding, but I was miffed.

Unfortunately, the inboard spoke nipples meant that the tire and rimstrip had to come off for truing once I got home. I've got the hop almost completely gone. I'll have another go at it once I see how durable these things actually (people talk about using them for cyclocross, so I've got rather high expectations).

Nothing further to report - the bike still makes me happy!

[Ginger]

New addition:

Selle San Marco Regal Saddle in Richard Sachs red... a variant of this saddle has been used for nearly 30 years. Lots of saddle manufacturers have tried to push new technologies and designs, but this profile stuck around and remained popular. Recognizing what was going on, San Marco embraced the crowd and issued a new model from the old design, classing it up with the rivets.



The Fizik that was on the bike really didn't work out quite right for me, nor did the Prologo that was before that. This is a pretty significant departure frm both those styles, and may be close to the Selle Italia Nitrox that worked well for me for years (but was just a little too hard).



And a sneak peak of some new pieces (just in time, too!

[WRXtranceformed]

Do you find ur balls hurting quite a bit with a seat like that? Because I know I would smash mine into oblivion

[Ginger]

Saddles are all about finding what works with your anatomy... you wouldn't really know it, but most of the ergo, cutout, ballsaver, etc. saddles really suck a ton. They end up putting extra pressure right around the entire cut out area... awful. So, short answer, no ball smashing... but to cut the saddle sores (which happen around your taint) you've got to find what works with your bone & muscle structure down thurrr.

[Maengelito]

this quickly turned into one of the worst threads ever

[Ginger]

I hate you.

[Ginger]

I still hate you, Maeng.

But I've got a sneak peak. Big things are coming:

[.RJ]

Big things are coming:

1994 is coming back? Oooh I want a hypercolor shirt and a cell phone the size of my head :lol:

[Ginger]

'96, douchebag!

Sounds like you need a whole lot of denim and a Jansport.

Oh, and don't forget that discman for those long walks to the bus in your Reeboks!

[.RJ]

in your Reeboks!

Only if i can pump them up

[Maengelito]

I still hate you, Maeng.

lol, I you too Ginger

I had to google "Mavic Helium", how much lighter are those wheels than what you're rollin' on now?

[Ginger]

They're actually about a hundred grams heavier than the carbon Reynolds deals. But I've wanted those wheels since I was 16

(No really, I tried to buy a set when I was 16 and the guy I was going to buy them from sold them out from under me. I ended up with a set of tubulars that weren't as cool).

Heliums really aren't that stiff or light by today's standards. But when they were released in 1996 they were a revolutionary leap in thought. Nobody had released a wheel system before, opting to build lightweight race wheels from parts. They caught on pretty quickly, although they weren't necessarily superior. I guess they were easy (and bling red... although Mavic said black variants sold every bit as well).

Their use is undetermined right now...

Because of this:

[Ginger]

What is it?



That's a lot of tape.



Hmm.....

More comes off:

[Ginger]

BLING!



I've also wanted a Colnago since I was about 16. It wasn't as expensive as Colnagos tend to have a reputation for being (they're Italian, too)... but I won't stop anybody from believing it is This is a 2006 frame made from Columbus Airplane aluminum tubing. The head tube and down tube are shaped significantly, which I've trued to capture here:



What I've read says that this frame doesn't really ride like traditional aluminum frames (read: harsh, jittery, and abusive). For now it will be replacing the Serotta I showed on page one. It's quite light, so there's a possibility that in the future I'll hang a modern component group and fork from it.

And, as is a hallmark of Colnago's frame painters, the racer man on the top tube:

[.RJ]

Ghey.

That is all :lol:

[Maengelito]

BLING!

I think I just had a seizure

I've also wanted a Colnago since I was about 16.

It looks like you're still using the same sheets and bedding from when you were 16 too

[Mike]

what was wrong with the old frame? do you simply get more enjoyment out of building things up and tearing them down than you do actually riding them?

[Ginger]

what was wrong with the old frame?

Nothing. It's staying together. I put the Fondriest together with all new stuff (or used stuff that i bought specifically for the project). I've still got all the 'old' [which is actually an Ultegra/Dura-Ace mish mash of the same vintage] components from the Serotta).

do you simply get more enjoyment out of building things up ... than you do actually riding them?

Sometimes. I had to walk five miles half way through my last training ride. So, right now, I'm enthusiastic about putting this one together than I am about riding my others