Do you talk to your bike?

Not only did I beg, plead, whine to my bike today - but I then apologized to him coz it was My fault after all. I was geared waaaaayyyyy to high to tackle the steep hill from a stop and was trying to get the gears shifted And keep pedalling And keep climbing and Allez balked and hung his chain up. Man was he mad!......now I'm on the bike trail begging with him, Pleading with him to Pleeeeeeeeease shift and Not embarrass me by making me get off the bike and shift him by hand!.......I even told him I KNEW it was my fault but plz just shift the gears and I Promised I would Never do that again. (which worked by the way, the chain dropped into the lower gears and I was able to keep climbing that hill!) so yeah - I talk to my bike. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

Not only did I beg, plead, whine to my bike today - but I then apologized to him coz it was My fault after all.

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Well, I'm glad you know who's boss! Say are those road brake lever gears alot more persnickity than what you use on your hybrid or mountain bikes? I'm a little afraid of them.

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Well, I'm glad you know who's boss! Say are those road brake lever gears alot more persnickity than what you use on your hybrid or mountain bikes? I'm a little afraid of them.

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oh yeah - definitely let them know whos boss in This house!..right up there with being boss of the cats, the dogs, and whatever else wanders in! (not!)

Road Brake Lever Gears??....not sure what you're asking me? The shifters are almost 10 yrs old and I tend to shift by sound so there are times when I "miss" the gear I'm aiming for or if I'm climbing sometimes I don't quite get it lined up and there is chatter until I feather the shifter some. But I wouldn't have him any other way! Still the original derailleur and shifters, just new cables!
If your talking about the brakes themselve - Allez has drop levers And center pulls. I can't reach the levers in the drops - my hands are too small. We had to update the brake pads because there wasn't any stopping power on the center pulls. We tried to change out the brakes completely but because he's French-made and older, he doesn't accept anything American or modern!! (picky lil guy ain't he?) The new brake pads work just fine and I've been playing with trying to reach the drop levers while riding the "hoods". (they're not real hoods but its where they would be if he could fit them! :) )
Is that what you were looking for??...

I'm sorry, Corsair! I was forgetting that Allez is vintage and, of course, you would keep his original brakes (grind 'em till you find 'em). I was thinking of those new type brakes housed under the brake levers. Nevermind - tell Allez I like him just the way he is!

STI levers... that's the "combo" you seem to be describing.

I have them on my bike. Took a couple of rides to get used to them (i kept reaching down to the where my old bikes levers were), but after that it was no biggie.

On a descent it's actually easier 'cause you don't have to take your hands off the bar to shift, thus better control at speed IMHO.

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Well, I'm glad you know who's boss! Say are those road brake lever gears alot more persnickity than what you use on your hybrid or mountain bikes? I'm a little afraid of them.

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I know what you mean ... I was certainly intimidated by the STI shifters on my first road bike but then everything about that fast little bike intimidated me until we became friends and then biking partners.

Like anything new it only takes a couple of times before you figure it out and a short time after that before it becomes second nature.

Unlike the move to clipless pedals - my 'mistakes' with the shifters did not come with the consequence of falling down :D

Thanks for the reassurance about the STI shifters. I pick up my new bike today and that's what it's got! (SO EXCITED!!!!)

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Thanks for the reassurance about the STI shifters. I pick up my new bike today and that's what it's got! (SO EXCITED!!!!)

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Any chance you'll post a photo????? :)

Blast it! My husband took the camera on a canoe trip this week! Here's a picture from the Marin website, which does NOT show off her blueberry blue paint very well. I got to ride her all of five minutes last night before returning to my appointed rounds. And it's going to rain today!!! Waaaaaa!

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Blast it! My husband took the camera on a canoe trip this week! Here's a picture from the Marin website, which does NOT show off her blueberry blue paint very well. I got to ride her all of five minutes last night before returning to my appointed rounds. And it's going to rain today!!! Waaaaaa!

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OOOOOO Nuthatch! She is gorgeous!! Hopefully the rain will clear out and you WON'T get the gusty winds we are suppose to have Friday and Saturday (not that I mind riding in the wind but 20 to 30 mph does make me pause). Anyway - she is a beauty!

Thanks, BC! 20 to 30 mph, eh? Let's hope they're lying - I gotta ride and I don't want to do it horizontally!! ;)