View Profile: vvill - Washington Area Bike Forum

09-28-2016, 06:47 PM

vvill replied to a thread Source of Maltodextrin in General Discussion

The cost of buying foods that don't even taste good kind of gets to me too when I think of it as just calories - I much prefer being able to ride on...

33 replies | 848 view(s)

09-28-2016, 09:31 AM

vvill replied to a thread while we're talking tires...good compromise between gravel and slick? in Bikes & Equipment

I think it makes sense that if a lower pressure wider tire is faster on imperfect flat roads because of reduced energy loss from 'bouncing', you're...

121 replies | 10991 view(s)

09-23-2016, 08:52 AM

vvill replied to a thread Today's Drivetrains: Who Are The Good Makers in Bikes & Equipment

For touring, etc. I would go with Shimano just for more universal serviceability, and durability. SRAM is probably fine too but I think there's a few...

14 replies | 487 view(s)

09-22-2016, 08:12 AM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

Yeah those things are definitely beyond casual retrogrouch. I specifically mentioned only the tires. I was "liek, whut?!" when I read about the...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-22-2016, 07:02 AM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

I have a lot of respect for Jan Heine and enjoy reading his stuff (and Bicycle Quarterly in general). I would love to try some Compass tires - only...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-21-2016, 05:49 PM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

HIGH-PERFORMANCE PARTS for REAL-WORLD RIDING we're all riding in the fake world. with lo-fi parts.

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-20-2016, 08:57 PM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

Agreed on not needing a top end like that. I also ran 34-30 at HBR (and Mountains of Misery actually). In both cases it was sufficient, but not...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-19-2016, 07:24 PM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

Ah, okay. Yeah for touring maybe not the best but I also would choose differently for touring. And if I were going with a wide range cassette I'd...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-19-2016, 07:06 PM

vvill replied to a thread Chain Keeps Dropping While Not Moving in Maintenance

My guess would be the front derailleur. Maybe try propping the bike against the wall, and back pedal slowly using your hands to see where it's...

26 replies | 796 view(s)

09-19-2016, 10:51 AM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

What are the other problems? (Genuinely curious - I haven't run anything larger than a 30t on road / 36t on MTB cassette.) I do like the 5-bolt...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-19-2016, 09:45 AM

vvill replied to a thread C&O: Gravel bike, XC Mountain Bike, or Cyclocross bike? in General Discussion

Raleigh Tamland (steel)/Roker (carbon) are gravel bikes are both have 72.5-77.5mm BB drop. (For reference, my Kona and Raleigh CX bikes are both...

36 replies | 2320 view(s)

09-17-2016, 05:07 PM

vvill replied to a thread Disaster at the Beginning of the W&OD in Crashes, Close Calls and Incidents

Really sorry to hear that. I had a similar incident going downhill on the Custis into Rosslyn when I was new to road biking. My front tire actually...

16 replies | 982 view(s)

09-17-2016, 10:52 AM

vvill replied to a thread What Does A R. Herse Crankset Give The Buyer? in Bikes & Equipment

It's mostly style points for money, although being able to run down to a 24T (assuming your front derailleur can handle that) is unusual. Getting...

41 replies | 1566 view(s)

09-14-2016, 08:28 PM

vvill replied to a thread Good Books On Training? in General Discussion

Same. The gist of it all is: ride harder than you currently do. Doing that 2-3x per week is fine. Give your body time to recover and adapt to...

11 replies | 965 view(s)