"Nice Bike" - Photos and Stories about our bicycles

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
I am definately going to get the Carlton expertly repainted this winter, but have concluded that nothing could be nicer than the original colour scheme even if all the transfers may no longer be had.

If your lovely bike was mine George, I'd take it nowhere else but Argos in Bristol...superb renovations (paintwork)...they may even have old Carlton decals.

George's Carlton above is stunning.

Nice Look there Svetty...what event was that?

quote:

Originally posted by Mat Cork:

Nice Look there Svetty...what event was that?

White Rose Challenge last summer - climb up towards Malham Moor with Penyghent in the background

Dear Matt,

Bristol is a manageable distance so I will investigate this! My old Carlton actually has seen a fair bit of competitive use and being bundled in the backs of vans and things so has a few scars, but nothing that spoils its way of going.

The friend of mine, who gave it me for mothing, was ordered to get it out of the garage by his wife, as it was taking up space - take it to the tip in other words ...

I mentioned finding a derelict BSA which was even a bit larger, and my friend said that I should definately not bid on it, but have tha Carlton for a present! That was at New Year.

The forks were badly loosing chrome and were quite seriously corroded at the top where they join the steering tube. I managed to get the shop who sold the bike all those years ago to get me a new fork [not quite the same, but still nice], as I could see no point in sorting out a corroded fork, and the new fork is well painted in black enamel which tempted me to consider painting the whole bike in black except the for the magnolia of the sterring tube.

That would not be right I think now. I will get the new forks painted in the same Carlton green as the frame. I am no enthusiast of chrome, so that can be incorrectly green - no worries.

I am gettig used to the Raleigh a bit. What is certain is that when the Carlton comes out again with new tyres and a restored livery, it will seem bliss!

I reckon my friend will be pleased when he sees it done out nicely!

ATB from George

PS: The first picture of it in January.



Also I am thinking of giving it a better bar than the current straight one. I am blind enough that I cannot ride looking over my glasses, so the very low position lent by the drop bar caused me to change. But there is a nice stylish halfway house. Called a Great North Road bar, as still used on the Pashley Guv'ner, which is a retro-machine in every sense [a recreation of a path racer] except the gears, but a more comfortable bar than a straight one, and one that has a certain stylish appeal too. Of course I have kept the old fork and handle bar so that eventually the antique can be reassemeblled as intended, after I am gone!

quote:

Originally posted by Svetty:
White Rose Challenge last summer - climb up towards Malham Moor with Penyghent in the background

I did that the year before S...very unpleasant memories of Langbar (?s) at the end. Lovely ride...not easy though.

Good luck George. Argos really are very good. I agree, I've never really like chrome.

George, you can keep the current `race` bar by buying new glasses. Like Dennis Taylor has for example..

This is my sunday best bike...nothing too flash but I just love the way it rides. It's a dutch titanium frame with Campag kit on it. It's a lovely blend of stiffness and comfort and has understated classical looks (imo). I took all the stickers off, since I'm odd like that.

Apologies for the lycra attire.

quote:

Originally posted by Mat Cork:
This is my sunday best bike...nothing too flash but I just love the way it rides. It's a dutch titanium frame with Campag kit on it. It's a lovely blend of stiffness and comfort and has understated classical looks (imo). I took all the stickers off, since I'm odd like that.

Apologies for the lycra attire.

How do you find the Eurus wheelset? That's what I'm running.

A dutch titanium frame? Which brand if I may ask?

It's nothing exotic musfed, just a Van Nicholas Chinook. I like stiff frames, but I also like the zing of ti and steel. The Chinook is a very stiff frame for ti...so it s perfect for me.

I love the Eurus W. I've had them for three years now and they're still spot on...they do seem quick. I've just fitted some Tufo tyres which are like a cross between tubs and clinchers and they really seem to fly now. The wife's a triathlete and get's lots of freebie wheels to use...I like the Zipps (especially the 303s), but truth be told...I've found nothing better than the Eurus for all round use. I'd like to see how the Shamal Ultra's would feel.

Humm, have not noticed before that are also bicycle relate threads in the forum. Nice. Have few bikes myself including On One Ti 29er SS, Surly CC SS, Mercier Special Tour de France and also Pelago Bristol for everyday commuting.

The weather have been really nice here for cx-style trips lately. Ground and tracks are frozen but no snow yet. Monday did 2h quickie and yesterday evening did 4h trip in the woods mostly riding small roads and fast singletracks. Really awesome thing to do with decent lights..

quote:

Van Nicholas Chinook

Nice, never heard of the brand but really like titanium as a material for frames.

My first bike was a Benotto with Campagnolo Grand sport.
(pic from the internet)

Until I decided to ride the Marmotte couple of years ago and could'nt get any new gears for that old Campie group. I needed them to get over the mountains of the Marmotte.
So I bought a new second hand bike, a Giant with a slooping frame, the "Once" edition. Not the prettiest of bikes but I finished the Marmotte with it.
The new Giants are really nice though.

My BMC. Because you can NEVER have too much carbon or titanium.

Here is my latest addition as of last week - Kona Major Jake. For commuting and longer distance road stuff (basically anywhere I don't want to use my mountain bike).

Lovely piece of kit but I am terrified of the 450g forks!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Occean:
Here is my latest addition as of last week - Kona Major Jake. For commuting and longer distance road stuff (basically anywhere I don't want to use my mountain bike).

Lovely piece of kit but I am terrified of the 450g forks!!!

A buddy of mine had one of these. Great bike. Very versatile.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]]

My lovely Parlee Z1c custom. Perfect fit, silky ride. Carbon fibre with a smidge of titanium!

Here are the same custom fitting measurements applied to a nice simple lightweight steel frame. With mudguards this is my all-weather bike. Heck of a lot cheaper than the Parlee but still a very nice ride.

Getting a good bike fitting is the best money I ever spent on cycling kit.

...and here is my new MTB frame which just got built up a few weeks ago. Replaced a (bent) Santa Cruz Blur XC. It feels pretty similar, perhaps a tiny bit stiffer. Nice paint job I think-although mine has a deep layer of muck over it now.

It has a bit of carbon fibre-it must be good!

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
[IMG:left] [/IMG]]

My lovely Parlee Z1c custom. Perfect fit, silky ride. Carbon fibre with a smidge of titanium!

Very, very nice ride. Is it Record? I'm lucky to be quite "average" in size and fit easily onto standard sizes (I also don't think I'm super-fussy about position - I've never had an injury from cycling). But there is something about getting a "custom" that makes it special, though. I did this once for a guitar, and though it was standard specs, it was made to order - just for me.

Record cranks and Chorus mechs/levers. All works very sweetly.

I'm kinda average size and build but a custom fit really does feel special. Partly psychology I'm sure but I've never felt the desire to tweak anything in my position after the bike was set up; unlike other bikes I've owned. I just feel 'right' on it.

The guys at Parlee (and the UK agent Bespoke Cycling) really work to make your bike how you want. I asked for a 'nice dark red' colour panels but they insisted I sent them a sample or colour code. In the end I posted them a bit of the bar tape and they matched that perfectly.

The overall finish is marvellous and the unidirectional carbon has an almost holographic quality, especially in direct sunlight. Impossible to capture on a photo.

Bruce

There's some 555 kit on here...BMC, Parlee and a custom Burls...all lovely.

My neighbour rides a BMC ex-Phonak team issue bike once owned by somebody called Denis Bertolini...it turns some heads.

There's a definite Campy element to this forum...wonder if it's a naim thing?

My previous bike. A Dura-Ace Trek 5500. During a ride through the Pyrenees. I have been riding there every year for the past 4 years now.

For daily use I bought myself a second hand Gazelle Scooterbike. "Bike of the year" in Holland in 2003. It's a short, sturdy heavy bike, 4 gears and it has a suspension in the middle and in the fork for driving through town dealing with boardwalks etc.

I've been having some days off recently and cycling from home quite a bit.

Yesterday was great. Up with the dawn, some great winter sunshine and plenty of hilly miles covered on the virtually traffic free lanes of the Forest of Bowland. The day was enlivened by wildlife too, I counted the following; Sparrowhawk, Tawny owl, Kestrel, Buzzard, Kingfisher (twice), Heron, Hare and Roe deer. All things I see fairly often but rarely all on the same ride.

It was like Walt Disney out there!

Everything that makes a day off good. I also added the traditional puncture plus indulged in a heart-attack-in-a-bun in a nice rural cafe.

Bruce

Somehow I just have not used to the new style carbon frames or these modern hydroformed tubes. I prefer more traditional look in the bikes. Naturally YMMV but still..

Here are the two of my main rides.





Everyday I also use my Pelago Bristol. I do not have pic about that one, but it's classic style commuter..

A very nice selection of elegant bikes. You obviously don't live anywhere too hilly!