Bicycling

Finally got tired of riding a crappy hybrid and hitting the wall at 70-80km. I upgraded to a real bike yesterday, my very first time buying a road bike actually. My friend, who's a bike expert told me to go used since you can find barely used bikes for half the price and with better components. I tried a few and decided to go with an alu as a first bike...you know to ease myself in. But I got the chance to try a few carbon (Cervelo S2 comes to mind) and I was impressed. I know what I will get next when I upgrade.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to really ride it yet as I don't have a pump for the presta valves.

Trek 2.1 2011

fifey_sl said:

That looks to me like a trashed frame, aluminum doesn't like being stressed. If that was steel, I'd say it's still rideable but with Alu I wouldn't risk it.

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I agree with fifey on that one. I had an aluminum frame for my previous bike before I took a massive spill and flew over my handlebar. I went the titanium route after that.

And I definitely don't do music in the ears because I like hearing my surroundings. However, the one bud in makes sense and I would totally dig it.

Ao: I don't use Strava. I barely even use Mapmyride but I'll try and get on it. ;-p

You guys should do a trip out to the Bay area and stay in my downstairs and we'll show you the rides in Marin county. ;-p I know Leadsalad (IIRC?) lives out here.

AL isn't safe after a dent like that is the conventional wisdom.

Typical, well pissed off. Taking it to a frame repair place this week, will see what he has to say. It's insured on house insurance but still a complete pain in the arse

Don't think you can repair AL.

jooka_sl said:

seems like the guy who hit you should be replacing it?

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Well, noone on bikes in uk has insurance for this type of thing and although I could sue him in small claims court I just figured it was more effort than its worth, it would take an age and chances are I would never see a penny. Knowing my luck if we'd exchanged details I'd end up being sued myself so I just went my own way after I had picked myself up. Now if it had been a car they would have been insured so I'd sue them.

Spoke to frame repair guy on phone and he said no way to repair, im actually an aerospace engineer myself so am not totally clueless and it wasn't really news, but like everything, always ask an expert and you can always hope My thinking was as down tube is tension rather than compression a lack of a crack reduces the risk of fatigue failure. Top tube in compression is likely to buckle once dented so absolutely it would be fucked. I hoped at least give me a few weeks grace before I throw cash at a new frame, but being realistic and erring on side of cautiin I know its fit for trash.

Chances are it will be an insurance job, looked at frame crash replament from cannondale but its not exactly a bargain price. Not like I will be riding it until at leastthde wheel is straightened anyway.

Sounds like time for carbon frame and new wheels.

I'm more biased to titanium. ;-p

Carbon probably cheaper, but yeah do it! Of course then he's hanging his 105 or whatever came off the AL on a Ti frame, so might as well build a full custom Ti ride. Which he should do, I've decided that's the best way to spend his money.

Just get a Krampus.

Famm_sl said:

I've decided that's the best way to spend his money.

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Now if only my wife thought the same way

Ive also got the kryptonite new york D lock, with a kryptonite kryptoflex cable to run through the front wheel from the D. I had one of those combination lock cables and my mtb was stolen, thief was caught on camera and cut through the cable faster than I could put in the combination. Luckily the police got him the same day and I got the bike back, d lock was purchased immediately. Its bloody heavy though, can easily wheelie all the way home with it in my backpack.

Ao-_sl said:

It's worth it, because the locks don't really age away. It's basically a single-time purchase forever.

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The lock mechanism will eventually get rusty and seize/fall out but that's with heavy daily use. A Ulock mini is the way to go for sure though, any cable lock is a joke and waste of money. If you are locking up in downtown/high theft areas, a cable or tamper proof skewers are necessary too.