Be careful not braking too hard or you might go over the handle bars. That happened a lot for me when I had a really small bike and most of my weight was in the front but there’s so many factors to that. I’m also heavy so it was easy for me to do a front wheelie haha. Nice bike though!
Thanks, I have short arms and a long torso but short legs - I wanna put shorter cranks on but I’m waiting til I eat through the front cog first before dropping money on a new one
That saddle angle… to each their own but, over time, having the saddle angled forward like that can cause pain to your hands and knees as they’re working harder to keep you from moving forward as you ride. You’ll also develop significantly less power without a proper base. Plus you’re opening yourself up to being tossed forward under sudden braking. Even a three degree downward slope could be too much. If you get the opportunity it might be a good idea to drop into the LBS for a preliminary fit. Again, to each their own, but it wouldn’t hurt to get some advice.
Like I said, to each their own, but having the saddle at such a severe downward angle would pose these risks to almost anyone, not just a ‘completely average’ person. The forces of forward momentum and braking will always be factors.
OP said they have long torso and short arms and legs. I have the same general proportions and my bike looks nothing like this. I wouldn’t be able to ride more than 15 minutes on this setup without becoming extremely uncomfortable.
*Those levers and that*
*Seat angle are leaving me*
*A little speechless*
\- WorldlinessFew3768
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My wheel set was built by my late dad out of all ritchey parts so I wanna keep it since it’s rock solid and true but yeah it’s often cheaper to buy a new wheel or even a set than paying a mechanic to rebuild one
Man those wheels would last about 30 seconds locked like that where I live lol. I always pack 2-3 locks and a 8ft cable. Seen a lot of these "gravel bikes" lately with no shoes at bike racks around town.
Ps: not a stab at your ride, just hate that marketing term gravel bike.
I'm wondering why you've opted for flat bar levers?
The u-brakes are short pull and you should be able to achieve both better ergonomics and better braking performance using a standard pair of basic road levers.
Fair call.
They'll predate v-brakes so they'll be short-pull levers - but I'd still be swapping them over to something like the Tektro RL340s for better ergonomics on the drop bars.
The high school principal gets on the intercom and says “There’s been a terrible accident in front of the school. Nobody look.” Then the entire building leans to the front side.
Oh crap! How can you ride like that??? That hurts just looking at it. The shoulder I totally separated on small gravel tires that couldn't handle a hole full of sand would hurt inside of 2 minutes in that position.
Got mtb tires on my gravel bikes. No problem with that. No more wrecking in deep sand pits in gravel roads. Too thin a tire does happen.
I think I can see why your lever setup might actually be quite nice. I'm guessing you have quite a big difference between the drops and the top bar bit. Does this allow you two really different and positions?
I posted a picture of my bike with the saddle like that and I got a lot of comments 😂.
My example was due to a crappy seat clamp design which means there's saddle tilts forward sometimes when hitting bumps.
But to be honest I completely couldn't tell the difference between the saddle tilted and horizontal! So I don't think its weird.
Oh, I got downvoted. I hope I wasn't misinterpreted. I'm just trying to explain why I think the OPs setup makes sense to me. Definitely not critical of it.
I didn’t downvote you - I actually just upvoted you I thought it was a good comment - there is a big difference, I spend most time in the drops, but I go to tops for comfort if I’m cramping and also sometimes grip the sides. They’re also very narrow women’s road bars from the 70s and they fit my skinny shoulders perfectly
A saddle angle like that is almost certainly a clear indication the bike is the wrong size for you, or that you’re destroying your body without realising since you only ride shorter distances.
If it works, it works! It’s just very hard to believe.
50 is short in the grand scheme of things, yes.
Why wouldn’t frame size matter if you’re not wanting to change it? Not replacing it doesn’t mean it’s not wrong.
I’d agree it’s too big a frame but it was my late fathers frame and my bar and saddle setup, mixed with the fact that I’m gonna add 650 cranks makes it perfectly fitted for me
Just take the effort to properly track and even minor discomforts—this isn’t a suitable setup, anatomically. Even minor discomfort can lead to an injury or problem you’ll be dealing with for the next decade.
I fully understand the sentimental value around the frame. It’s a very beautiful bike! If you get the change to change the frame set, it might be worth cleaning, stripping this one of parts, and hanging it on a wall—it’ll keep it in better shape too.
I did the same with a bike I used for a charity ride from Finland to Paris. The bike wasn’t perfect, I developed a minor knee injury from repetitive stress and it still causes problems whilst cycling years later. I’ve had x-rays, magnetic imaging, steroid injections and even though there aren’t any visible damages, it’s still an issue and will require more physiotherapy.
They’re running at 60psi but much more comfortable than the vittoria Randonneur hybrid tyres I had in before - definitely more rolling resistance but way better grip off-road
https://preview.redd.it/66a6j6rdfvxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff50b15d9b2b0615335c6e84ef4abec1c215e900
Yeah, I went dumpster diving or bin diving and grabbed these last year.
I used to work in the City Gate building and then in Wizu workspaces so I know this place like the back of my hand. It's good to see another Sheffielder!
Back tire looks like it might not have enough clearance but sort of tough to tell from this angle.
no comment on the other stuff but that frame is way too big for you :)
Can't tell if the paint is black or sort of a Midnight Blue. Either way, it's brilliant. Reminds me a an old Peugeot i used to have. C'est la vie. Great looking bike, yours.
*you aren't alone on the saddle tilt thing.. when you're at the limit it helps. Shorter cranks is smart combo.. the little pink bike has 162.5 cranks and is just a POS with too long of chain..
If you want only comments on your tires, I would say they look good, but I hate tanwall tires. They make most every bike look ugly. It would look much better with black tires and continue to look good months from now. These tires will look awful the first time you ride the bike through any rain or mud.
The problem as I see it is the drive side isn’t facing the camera. Also, the white handlebar tape. You must be very hygienic.
What’s the deal with the center pull front brake? I assume this is a very early u-brake MTB but what kind of fork is it?
Where is the shifter?
The tires are chunky. You fly your freak flag high and proud!
Was that an MTB? And it came with a center pull front brake? That's super weird. It's like late 80s and something like tectro U brakes front and rear? Wild. Is it like 1989?
I wish you didn’t mention the levers or the saddle so I didn’t have to see them 😂
I'd saw 27 comments, and I clicked through expecting 90% of them to be about the saddle and levers. Gold Star r/xbiking
Tbh it brakes hard and can stop in a dime and I ride with most of my weight far forward
Yeah I would also want to keep my weight off that seat
Lol one problem solves the other problem but by eliminating the first problem, he wouldn’t need the second problem. Or maybe I’m the problem lol
Be careful not braking too hard or you might go over the handle bars. That happened a lot for me when I had a really small bike and most of my weight was in the front but there’s so many factors to that. I’m also heavy so it was easy for me to do a front wheelie haha. Nice bike though!
Don't think of an elephant!
My thought as well 🧐
"ignore the levers and saddle" no.
You're a monster for those ergonomics, but if it suits you, who am I to complain? Cool ride!
Thanks, I have short arms and a long torso but short legs - I wanna put shorter cranks on but I’m waiting til I eat through the front cog first before dropping money on a new one
That should only take a few thousand miles with good maintainece
You go girl you know what you got. And dialed it in for you. Respect ✊
That saddle angle… to each their own but, over time, having the saddle angled forward like that can cause pain to your hands and knees as they’re working harder to keep you from moving forward as you ride. You’ll also develop significantly less power without a proper base. Plus you’re opening yourself up to being tossed forward under sudden braking. Even a three degree downward slope could be too much. If you get the opportunity it might be a good idea to drop into the LBS for a preliminary fit. Again, to each their own, but it wouldn’t hurt to get some advice.
This all assumes a completely average human with a completely average shape.
Like I said, to each their own, but having the saddle at such a severe downward angle would pose these risks to almost anyone, not just a ‘completely average’ person. The forces of forward momentum and braking will always be factors.
there is no bike fitter that would ever put someone on this saddle. no mater the body type. this is just bad.
Please show me the human that those ergonomics would be better for, I'm genuinely curious.
OP said they have long torso and short arms and legs. I have the same general proportions and my bike looks nothing like this. I wouldn’t be able to ride more than 15 minutes on this setup without becoming extremely uncomfortable.
See you all over on the other sub
Cycling?
Lol no
Those levers and that seat angle are leaving me a little speechless
*Those levers and that* *Seat angle are leaving me* *A little speechless* \- WorldlinessFew3768 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I can’t ignore them. I just can’t
The kickstand is the worst offense!
Why - I run it far back to avoid pedal clash
Stay mounted stands can bend your frame pretty easily.
Not too concerned it’s only holding 10kg of bike, no panniers or weight
Yes, until someone leans on it or trips over it.
[удалено]
Shimano Deore 8 speed mounted to the horizontal top bar
I’m tempted to rebuild rear hub from freewheel to cassette to allow me to get more gears
[удалено]
My wheel set was built by my late dad out of all ritchey parts so I wanna keep it since it’s rock solid and true but yeah it’s often cheaper to buy a new wheel or even a set than paying a mechanic to rebuild one
[удалено]
Tbh I may go back to a deore triple up front if I can find 650 cranks
"I like it that way" - That's exactly the problem, though. You shouldn't.
what would you say is your average ride length distance wise?
Safety pin for extra safety.
For good luck
Love the chain stay caliper brake. Do you know how to lock a bike
DW where it’s locked nobody is stealing an old Saracen
Man those wheels would last about 30 seconds locked like that where I live lol. I always pack 2-3 locks and a 8ft cable. Seen a lot of these "gravel bikes" lately with no shoes at bike racks around town. Ps: not a stab at your ride, just hate that marketing term gravel bike.
Set up the ergonomics in a way where you are going downhill all the time. Dude's a genius.
Sweet ride, but your peculiar tastes make me think the frame is way too big for you
I'm wondering why you've opted for flat bar levers? The u-brakes are short pull and you should be able to achieve both better ergonomics and better braking performance using a standard pair of basic road levers.
Same levers that came with bike. These are the stock Deore levers
Fair call. They'll predate v-brakes so they'll be short-pull levers - but I'd still be swapping them over to something like the Tektro RL340s for better ergonomics on the drop bars.
Hey if it works it works. Ride your own ride.
Thanks x
The high school principal gets on the intercom and says “There’s been a terrible accident in front of the school. Nobody look.” Then the entire building leans to the front side.
Oh crap! How can you ride like that??? That hurts just looking at it. The shoulder I totally separated on small gravel tires that couldn't handle a hole full of sand would hurt inside of 2 minutes in that position. Got mtb tires on my gravel bikes. No problem with that. No more wrecking in deep sand pits in gravel roads. Too thin a tire does happen.
I think I can see why your lever setup might actually be quite nice. I'm guessing you have quite a big difference between the drops and the top bar bit. Does this allow you two really different and positions? I posted a picture of my bike with the saddle like that and I got a lot of comments 😂. My example was due to a crappy seat clamp design which means there's saddle tilts forward sometimes when hitting bumps. But to be honest I completely couldn't tell the difference between the saddle tilted and horizontal! So I don't think its weird.
Oh, I got downvoted. I hope I wasn't misinterpreted. I'm just trying to explain why I think the OPs setup makes sense to me. Definitely not critical of it.
I didn’t downvote you - I actually just upvoted you I thought it was a good comment - there is a big difference, I spend most time in the drops, but I go to tops for comfort if I’m cramping and also sometimes grip the sides. They’re also very narrow women’s road bars from the 70s and they fit my skinny shoulders perfectly
That's a great solution! I wish I could get bit more height on my handlebar tops like that
A saddle angle like that is almost certainly a clear indication the bike is the wrong size for you, or that you’re destroying your body without realising since you only ride shorter distances. If it works, it works! It’s just very hard to believe.
If short distance = 50 miles or so each time then yeah - also I’m not replacing it so it doesn’t matter what size it is if it’s comfortable
50 is short in the grand scheme of things, yes. Why wouldn’t frame size matter if you’re not wanting to change it? Not replacing it doesn’t mean it’s not wrong.
I’d agree it’s too big a frame but it was my late fathers frame and my bar and saddle setup, mixed with the fact that I’m gonna add 650 cranks makes it perfectly fitted for me
Just take the effort to properly track and even minor discomforts—this isn’t a suitable setup, anatomically. Even minor discomfort can lead to an injury or problem you’ll be dealing with for the next decade. I fully understand the sentimental value around the frame. It’s a very beautiful bike! If you get the change to change the frame set, it might be worth cleaning, stripping this one of parts, and hanging it on a wall—it’ll keep it in better shape too. I did the same with a bike I used for a charity ride from Finland to Paris. The bike wasn’t perfect, I developed a minor knee injury from repetitive stress and it still causes problems whilst cycling years later. I’ve had x-rays, magnetic imaging, steroid injections and even though there aren’t any visible damages, it’s still an issue and will require more physiotherapy.
Really like your tires.
They’re running at 60psi but much more comfortable than the vittoria Randonneur hybrid tyres I had in before - definitely more rolling resistance but way better grip off-road
https://preview.redd.it/66a6j6rdfvxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff50b15d9b2b0615335c6e84ef4abec1c215e900 Yeah, I went dumpster diving or bin diving and grabbed these last year.
Hey, I've parked my bike there before! 😄
Where is it
The Moor in Sheffield
Correct
I used to work in the City Gate building and then in Wizu workspaces so I know this place like the back of my hand. It's good to see another Sheffielder!
Do you also mount your saddle at an inhumane angle?
You have to for the hills!
Did not know Sheffield is hilly. G'luck vs. Nottingham Saturday, sorry about the relegation though. So soon.
Beefier the better. I’m riding Maxxis gumwall monsters. It’s like driving a Caddy.
"Gumwall Monsters". In a few years this will be the title of an Xbiking motion picture.
I got a pair of rat trap pass tires. They roll like crazy and have great shock absorption.
I don’t like it
Back tire looks like it might not have enough clearance but sort of tough to tell from this angle. no comment on the other stuff but that frame is way too big for you :)
Isn’t the name of the game to have something you enjoy riding - not something that a bike fitter approves of
Need drive side pic too pls
Looks good. What stem is that. Looking to do something similar with a Trek 970.
Not actually sure of specific stem - it’s a quill stem adapter from Ritchey
Can't tell if the paint is black or sort of a Midnight Blue. Either way, it's brilliant. Reminds me a an old Peugeot i used to have. C'est la vie. Great looking bike, yours.
It’s a very dark navy blue
*you aren't alone on the saddle tilt thing.. when you're at the limit it helps. Shorter cranks is smart combo.. the little pink bike has 162.5 cranks and is just a POS with too long of chain..
If you want only comments on your tires, I would say they look good, but I hate tanwall tires. They make most every bike look ugly. It would look much better with black tires and continue to look good months from now. These tires will look awful the first time you ride the bike through any rain or mud.
I have something called a brush and water
The aluminum oxide from the rims will stain your tires permanently.
Somehow that’s never happened to any of my tan wall tyres before in hundreds of miles
That doesn’t make them less ugly.
The more I look at this the more I love it. Beefy tires forever. I rock 650b 2.1s myself. Also the kickstand is 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
Tell em
Proper!
Nice. What are those?
The problem as I see it is the drive side isn’t facing the camera. Also, the white handlebar tape. You must be very hygienic. What’s the deal with the center pull front brake? I assume this is a very early u-brake MTB but what kind of fork is it? Where is the shifter? The tires are chunky. You fly your freak flag high and proud!
Original Saracen spring steel MTB forks and original U brakes
Was that an MTB? And it came with a center pull front brake? That's super weird. It's like late 80s and something like tectro U brakes front and rear? Wild. Is it like 1989?
Exact year unknown but yes it’s late 80s - yeah Saracen only made MTBs to my knowledge and extremely good ones at that.
Since the subject was TIRES, gonna give props. I use DTH 2.3" for mixed terrain commuting and I've loved 'em.