Adding a front disc to a road bike !! And Now Hydro!

[MichaelB]

Scrounge a pair of second hand tyres from an LBS and fit them before you return

And a used chain, pair of discs and some greasy paws for the handlebar tape.

Won't get away with a dodgy receipt. Customs knows quite a bit about what is released when and the value. Remember, they have internet too !!!

Enjoy the holiday and a writeup please

[Ross]

:roll: Yes, not covered in mud obviously, but some signs to show that it's not fresh out a box.

Doesn't have to be covered in mud for AQIS to get all hot and bothered. I took my road bike o/s a couple of years ago and rode for a week around only on sealed roads in dry weather and coming back through customs they were chatting me about it being dirty. It was cleaner than 99% of bikes I see.

[MichaelB]

Almost made it to the top of the list : (from CN poll re Best innovation in 2011)

Best Tech Innovation
1 Pedal-based power meters 8,205 (37.9%)
2 Disc brakes for 'cross and road bikes 5,149 (23.8%)
3 Hydraulic shifting 2,349 (10.9%)
4 FSA BB386 Evo bottom bracket standard 1,310 (6.1%)
5 Long-travel 29ers 1,224 (5.7%)
6 Ridley Noah FB integrated brake calipers 974 (4.5%)
7 Selle Italia Monolink saddle/seatpost interface 846 (3.9%)
8 Specialized/Fox Racing ShoxAutoSag rear shocks 676 (3.1%)
9 142x12mm thru-axle rear dropouts 612 (2.8%)
10 Slack-angled cross-country mountain bikes 289 (1.3%)


In my mind though, are the Pedal based meters not yet available in retail, so really shouldn't be considered ? Particularly the Vector one ?

Also intereswting was the Hydraulic shifting system being made by Acros.

Hmmmm, hydro shifters and brakes YUMMY

[koen]

Is that innovation or expensovation

[MichaelB]

Is that innovation or expensovation

Qeh ?

[Mulger bill]

Creating more complex and potentially less reliable bikes and components (or anything) more as a means of boosting the corporate bottom line than due to any real need among users...

[MichaelB]

Creating more complex and potentially less reliable bikes and components (or anything) more as a means of boosting the corporate bottom line than due to any real need among users...

So does that apply to all things like gearing, carbon usage etc - so we should go back to plain steel single speed bikes ...

Meh, just because it is out there, doesn't mean you HAVE to use it/buy it.

[Nobody]

Creating more complex and potentially less reliable bikes and components (or anything) more as a means of boosting the corporate bottom line than due to any real need among users...

So does that apply to all things like gearing, carbon usage etc - so we should go back to plain steel single speed bikes ...

Meh, just because it is out there, doesn't mean you HAVE to use it/buy it.

Since we are OT anyway. I went from carbon back to steel. I have a CrMo, an Al and a plain steel (mainly Hi-Ten) bike. Going back to steel wouldn't be a bad thing as it would be better for the environment. Even when they recycle CF, it just ends up as more CF products with shorter fibres.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/s ... koff-32346

[Mulger bill]

No argument Michael, it applies to just about everything in a consumerist society. Do we really need 3D TVs? It's not that long since flatscreens became common.

[MichaelB]

No argument Michael, it applies to just about everything in a consumerist society. Do we really need 3D TVs? It's not that long since flatscreens became common.

No, and I aint getting one. I hate 99% of 3D movies, as they don't add enough to the experience of paying extra and wering uncomfortable glasses (I don't wear glasses). The ONLY 3D movie I liked, and really it's a 4D one, was at Hong Kong Disneyland where the out of screen action was quite prominent, vs many of the 'just adding a bit of depth' types that you see at the moment.

Now, back on topic.

To reply to a query from eeksil

Do you ever feel like your hands are going to slide off the top of the hoods when braking hard? I get that feeling on rim brakes sometimes

Nope, but then I have my levers sitting up a bit. I can see the type of issue that you mention with the levers that Hangdog98 uses or when the levers are set pretty flat.

Had to do some pretty quick stops from the hoods, but haven't had that issue yet.

The braking I was doing is 90% from the middle finger only, with the index finger just there and doing bugger all.

Just clicked over 2,000km on the Kona the other night

[Crittski]

Teaser shot!

[MichaelB]

Teaser shot!

More please !
I want more

[giwi2]

is that a Volagi Liscio???? There is a pretty comprehensive review of that bike in the November edition of Road Bike Action magazine. Got good reviews by the looks of it.

They commented that it was "not for the Racer Crown but exceedingly well suited for the intended market" From the article i gathered this particular model is aimed at long distance riding and has unusual seat stay design aimed at making for a comfortable ride.

[MichaelB]

is that a Volagi Liscio???? There is a pretty comprehensive review of that bike in the November edition of Road Bike Action magazine. Got good reviews by the looks of it.

They commented that it was "not for the Racer Crown but exceedingly well suited for the intended market" From the article i gathered this particular model is aimed at long distance riding and has unusual seat stay design aimed at making for a comfortable ride.

Got it in one.

Haven't seen the review in the RBA, but I'm on one when they come to Oz hopefully next year.

[rkelsen]

Do we really need 3D TVs?

No, and I aint getting one.

But they're the way of the future! You don't have to put up with 1950's technology any more.

[Nate]

Well i'm in the process of getting parts to convert my single speed to disc front!
Tried searching for "better brakes on single speed" *cough*.... LOL

Should be around $350-400 - as i'm not sourcing everything myself cheaply

[MichaelB]

Well i'm in the process of getting parts to convert my single speed to disc front!
Tried searching for "better brakes on single speed" *cough*.... LOL

Should be around $350-400 - as i'm not sourcing everything myself cheaply

Still have the forks, wheel (Veloicty A23 on Magura (DT Swiss) hub 32 3x), disc and caliper ready to go (the setup that I used on the Argon18) if you want a bargain .....

All ready and waiting to go

Ahhh doo you a speshial price, meester, cheep !!!!

[MichaelB]

Seems the abilities of disc in cross are gaining support Excerpt below from Johnson, taking the second win for a disc equipped cross bike (Cannondale).


The choice seemed to pay off with his second win of the season and for the disc-equipped bikes. And while, he admits that the brakes are impressive, but he doesn't want to openly share more. "I can't tell you much for publication, other than, I don't think discs are just for muddy hilly courses," said Johnson.

It's the thin end of the wedge !!!!

[Nobody]

I read the article thinking the second win with discs might be aided by an aero advantage as it was a very fast course. Those wide cantis don't look too aero to me. Although, more likely, he was just the fastest on that day. Time and testing will tell. Llikely in 10 years time, no-one will be using cantis for pro competition anymore and those that remember back will wonder why they ever did.

[Ross]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/ ... onews-post

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/disc-br ... ns-opinion

[baabaa]

Thanks for that Ross.
Funny, after close to 4 years with discs on a dropbar and I am thinking 2012 will be the year of moving from 160 to 140 rotors.
Came that close to buying some f & r 140s two weeks back and now I dont know why it has taken me so long to give it a go.

[toolonglegs]

He probably won because he is finally coming into form after a very slow start to the season... And some of the other big guns were not there.
I don't think we will see a proliferation in discs till one of the big 3 offer up a light weight hydraulic option ( talk of it mid next year ) ... 2 to 3 pounds extra weight on a cx bike is a lot for these guys. Powers has the option of running discs as well with focus but hasn't done so yet. And in sloppy old Europe none of the top guys are trying them yet.
Maybe next year.

[MichaelB]

That second article linked by Ross is interesting, and need to read in full later (when back at work ) and also the comments, so that is great and thanks for that.

I'm still keen to see what the next iteration of the STI's bring re Hydraulics.

The weight argument still keeps coming up. but it's all still guesstimates rather than a true actual comparison. I don't think it's a few pounds, more like 2 max (from my experience).

[cobba]

Hydraulic Brifter: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/784231-EDCO-road-brifters-with-hydraulic-brake-plumbing

Home made job: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=128156&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=19

[rkelsen]

The weight argument still keeps coming up.

Because it is relevant, and of utmost importance in racing. 2 pounds makes no difference to a commuter like you or me, but in a race that sort of weight is a handicap.