tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post5818079934272147468..comments2023-11-24T11:39:17.055-05:00Comments on The Blayleys: Pamela's Brevet Bike - Seven Axiom with S&S CouplersFixie Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12932022188247682078noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post-71558811764614536212014-04-17T22:22:13.586-04:002014-04-17T22:22:13.586-04:00I think your point about what bike you could use o...I think your point about what bike you could use on your first brevet remains intact, custom or not. I'm 12,000 miles into owner my custom bike and my tastes and riding are slowly changing. But I made the choice of what I wanted in custom after 20,000+ miles on an off the shelf sale item. I would not have wanted to spend the money without knowing what I liked and what I didn't.<br /><br />I'm happy to hear that you are out riding and on the road to recovery.<br />New England Bicyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609454624593868118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post-78845584669617611452014-04-15T23:05:50.174-04:002014-04-15T23:05:50.174-04:00Thanks Pamela. 650b is still an unknown for me. ...Thanks Pamela. 650b is still an unknown for me. My husband did a conversion, but on the cheap, and the 650b rim and tire choice is extremely limited and pricy. The only 650 tires I can get in the local bike shops are mountain bike ones mtb has really embraced 650b...which is a bit odd...Even in Vancouver with loads of hip bike shops have yet to get a handle on 650b. I had a surly lht with 26" tires and hated it. Years on mountain bikes because they were all the bike shops had put me off 26" forever! Lack of road tire options too. I guess 700 does have the most choice, but I think I would like slightly wider tires than my frame can handle.<br />I am also unsure if I can do drop bars. I am HOPEFULLY getting a vintage road bike soon that has drop bars and brifters. I will try them out, but if it gets too ridiculous(sky high stem), or the nerve damage in my hands mean I am too weak to manage the brake levers I may have to opt for something else. The salsa bars look promising as they go down to size 34 which I may actually need.Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post-70572434314968946762014-04-13T11:43:00.045-04:002014-04-13T11:43:00.045-04:00I do have all the measurements on file somewhere, ...I do have all the measurements on file somewhere, but I'm not sure posting them would provide much useful info, since they are so specific to me. As I mentioned in the previous article, you can get a customized fit w/o going to a full custom frame. A professional fitting should not be very expensive. Adjusting saddle height and fore/aft adds no cost. Changing out components like stem or handlebars should not be an outrageous expense. Armed with measurements and guidelines from the professional fitting, you should be able to determine if bikes you are researching will work. TCO will likely be an issue in smaller frame sizes with 700C wheels. Lovely Bicycle recently had a post about how to measure front center and determine what measurements YOU need. <br /><br />I do have 700C wheels on my two Sevens. This gives me the widest variety of tires from which to choose. Tire choice in 650C is extremely limited - I tried this years ago and was never happy. 26" will eliminate lots of issues with TCO and there are lots of tires, both smooth and knobbly in this size - and it's likely you can find tires in this size everywhere, just not necessarily high performance tires - still you can get home in an emergency. It can be harder to find high performance road tires in 26". As 650B has become more popular, there is a greater variety of tires in that size, but don't expect to find them in every bike shop. My Honey has 650B. The fatter tires I use on this bike along with the fenders push things our a bit. Fenders obviously add to spacing requirements as do bigger tires with regards to TCO<br /><br />Number of bikes? I've really whittled things down. At this stage I have three bikes in regular use, plus tandem. Fixie, Coupled Geared Bike and Dirt Road bike. I do still have my geared hill climb bike, my single speed mountain bike and my fixed commuter. Unless I go back to work, the commuter likely won't see much use. I've toyed with shipping it out to live with a friend for when I visit there. The other two are special occasion bikes - truly first world extravagances.<br /><br />I am starting to ride more, although it is a fraction of my normal routine. I am hoping that soon I can start regaining more strength and reducing pain so I can ride more regularly and extend the length of rides. It's in the plans. I just have to be patient and build back slowly. The improving weather conditions should help!Fixie Pixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12932022188247682078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post-90469348565754369192014-04-11T05:13:37.638-04:002014-04-11T05:13:37.638-04:00About handlebars I can’t think why many cyclists h...About handlebars I can’t think why many cyclists have too wide components, especially women. <br />Mine is similar to “Salsa Pro Road Small 2”, it’s a narrow race handlebars “BBB ergobar” which allows various positions on my “randonneur 650B”.<br />Despite advise provided by a seller I didn’t hesitate to mount a 38 cm center to center with small reach and drop.<br />Bending a little bit our arms is better for upper back and the neck.<br />Comfort depends also on other components like top tube length and saddle.<br />L.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739147624979162869.post-35883897584369936342014-04-06T16:44:25.173-04:002014-04-06T16:44:25.173-04:00Thank you! I do have to ask, how many bicycles do...Thank you! I do have to ask, how many bicycles do you still have?<br />Being a very small person myself I am curious about the measurements of your bikes described here. You look very comfortable in the photos I have seen from your blog and think that is what I am missing! Your back is straight, not hunched. I was very injured in a car accident 14 years ago and have not ridden with drop bars since. Part of it was fear that took over cycling where I was certain another accident was always imminent. Not safe in a car, but not so safe on a bike either. I felt unsafe on drops and was in so much pain that I could no longer ride distances I was used to. I assumed I could no longer ride drops because of the stretch and reach required. Ironically, I think upright riding has been worse because none of those bikes have fit properly either. The top tubes have been too long, raised handlebars made for unstable rides etc.. I got a touring bike that I could barely manage 70km on! I am nowhere near able to afford a custom or semi custom new bike. I struggle to afford second hand bikes! I would be really interested to know how you dealt with bicycles over the years to make them work for you.<br />Also, how do you feel about 700c wheels on such tiny frames? Can toe overlap be avoided? I am possibly going to buy a 46cm vintage bianchi that probably has toe overlap or something funny was done to fit 700c wheels on the frame. Is 650b better? Have you tried 650C?<br /> I have a beautiful vintage hand built by famous builder frame that was custom built for someone around my size. But the top tube is short, so I can actually reach the handlebars without grief! Sadly it has sat half built for about two years because I could not afford the parts and had surgery last year taking me off the bike for months anyway.<br />I am so glad you are riding!Heathernoreply@blogger.com