Lava, Napping

[Nanci]

This is a picture of Lava taking a nap at 3-State 3-Mountain. It shows a way to attach a small frame pump on a small frame. I wish I could get two bottles on there, but I just don't know where. I have the small Topeak trunk bag on, with my rain jacket on the top of it. (My knickers and Bolero are inside.) You can see the taillight I leave on all the time, and the two mounts for the two additional taillights I use at night also on the seat stays. She has a Bento Box on the top tube, and an aerobag in between the aerobars. I carry stuff I don't want to get pounded by the top tube, like my cell phone and camera, in there. The little red seat bag holds tools and tubes and a spare truck key- stuff I barely ever have to get to. The trunk bag slides off the rack easily. There's a cable lock around the seatpost, but I've never needed it, and it's wearing the paint. Still, if I ever do need to lock her up, I want to be able to.

[Brandi]

There's no pictures?

[Nanci]

Sorry, it froze up, then I realized I hadn't attached the pic, but then it was a duplicate!

[Nanci]

Trying again...

[maillotpois]

What a lazy bike!! :p

Hey I really like the Rando sticker you have on her! I only got the bumper sticker with my membership. :( And my car's too dirty to put the bumper sticker on yet!

[Brina]

beautiful - bet she looks even better in action

[Nanci]

I like to think she shows that you don't need to spend a million dollars on a bike (even though you'd like to!) and still be able to do whatever you want to.

She turned 4000 on that ride, but I was too busy ascending Suck Creek Mountain to notice...

Nanci

[Popoki_Nui]

Awww....they're so cute when they're napping, aren't they? :D

[brok]

Pretty bike:) I am curious, have you had any trouble using the seat post rack on a carbon seat post? I had heard that you weren't supposed to use one, but I would love to be able to. Any thoughts??

[Nanci]

No, the rack manufacturer says not to use it on a carbon seatpost. So do as they say, not as I do. I put inner tube under mine, the theory being the seatpost will be protected. And the rack itself has a limit of 20 or 25 pounds, and I don't over load it. Most of the time I doubt if I have five pounds of stuff in there.

I'm sure someone can explain why it's ok to have carbon cranks, with pedals, and carbon bars, with a stem, and a carbon seatpost, with a seat, but it's not ok to have a rack _on_ the seatpost. But I've put several thousand miles on it with that set up and haven't had a problem yet, and I guess if I do- then I'll switch to an aluminium post.

[Running Mommy]

ahhhh.. she sure is cute there taing a little nappy poo..:p
All i could think of when i was looking at the pic was "man she's seen alot of miles"... But none the worse for wear, thats for sure!:D

[DrBee]

I don't think it would be possible for you to fit much more on there! But she does look great after all those miles :)

[Lise]

What a beautiful bike. I appreciate the ability to carry "stuff", and you've done it most compactly. Nice. :) L.

[brok]

I am tempted to use my seatpost rack on my carbon post and take a chance also. I wouldn't need to carry anything heavy, I just need a place to carry more than will fit in my under the seat bag. Maybe I should buy an aluminum seatpost for the times I want to use the rack. Just thinking out loud:confused:

[Dianyla]

I was contemplating switching out my carbon post for a titanium one. That one would definitely have no problems with supporting a trunk rack.

The main deal with carbon fiber is that it's only strong in specific directions. It can be shattered or splintered with side impact, and the trunk rack exerts considerable sideways force on the post.

[Nanci]

So, how is a rack on a seatpost different than a stem on handlebars???

[Dianyla]

So, how is a rack on a seatpost different than a stem on handlebars???
The sideways direction of the force is the same. I imagine if you really hammered on your handlebars you could snap them, too. But also consider the force exerted by the long lever of a trunk rack - longer lever = more torque.

[Bad JuJu]

Nanci--re: fitting another bottle cage on the frame. You might try putting the pump behind the seat tube--looks like you've got some room there--and then you may have the space for a bottle cage on the front of the seat tube, up high to avoid the downtube water bottle. This is the setup I have on my bike, which has a small (sub 19") frame and it works quite well. I can also attach a third bottle cage under the downtube if I need it--I have an extreme fear of running out of water.:o

[li10up]

Nice looking bike. I love the color. I thought laying a bike with the derailler on the ground was a no-no though???

[Tri Girl]

I thought laying a bike with the derailler on the ground was a no-no though???

:) That's the first thing I thought of when I saw that picture (well, after admiring the beauty of the bike). My DH would flip if I laid my bike down that way- he's a real cycling nut. "Anything but the derailleur..." :eek:

[Nanci]

Yeah, that's probably not the best. She lays down a lot, but it's usually on the other side. I don't remember why I did that.

Nanci

[withm]

I just spent 2 hrs last night trying to fit that same pump on to my bike. I have water bottle cages on both the seat tube and the down tube. So put the pump on top tube, but then thought better make sure water bottles fit. Could not clear the pump for either one! Took it back off and put old pump back on.... grrrr.

Maybe the Topeak mini morph would fit?

Got it at Performance, now have to mail it back. double grrrrr :(

off to Cycle Across Maryland tomorrow :) :) :)

[DebW]

Yeah, that's probably not the best. She lays down a lot, but it's usually on the other side. I don't remember why I did that.

Nanci

So we could admire all 3 of her chainrings, of course. :)

[Trek420]

Nanci "She lays down a lot, but it's usually on the other side. I don't remember why I did that."

maybe her back hurt napping so she rolled over to stretch? ;)

[TsPoet]

She turned 4000 on that ride, but I was too busy ascending Suck Creek Mountain to notice...

Nanci

No one else has commented, so I'm afraid I'm the unusual one, not you. But, she lookse totally new. 4000 miles! Not a scratch, bright paint :rolleyes: ... Do you take extra good care of her, or is the photo touched up?