[ponchera]

@Greenbelt 7632 wrote:

It’s hard to ask for heavy-load commuting performance in a racing bike, but we do want everything, don’t we?

yep, we want everything, i do photography as a hobby and same goes for that, I’m still waiting for an f/1.4 12mm-400mm lens to come out for under $1k

[ponchera]

@RESTONTODC 7636 wrote:

ponchera, Which brake are you using most of time? Front or Back?

Just to slow down, say down a hill when I chicken out when i go above 20mph or as i’m approaching joggers, rear. when i get to an intersection slow it rear and then gun the front to actually stop on the mark.

the rear by itself is pretty useless, i just keep rolling, good enough to slow but not stopping where I need to stop.

[ponchera]

Dirt! AHH that now makes sense my friend. that’s the sesame street explanation i was looking for. I went back and read the original question from RestonToDc and now i understand what he’s asking. You put enough info where i can start googling up specific stuff to learn more about. thanks!

So basically my CX cranks will do to get around all the trails in dc and commute from EFC to dc. If i decide to roll with roadies once i’m actually in shape and can handle it, i need skinny tires and if i’m climbing long hills, may need to swap crank as well or i’ll be left in the dust right? but i should be able to ride say out to dulles or leesburg on the W&O and not have issues because of my crankset.. correct?

EDIT: I looked up a review for the CAADX to verify what crankset I have,
http://road.cc/content/review/28545-cannondale-caadx-105

“When it comes to components, the clue’s in the name of the CAADX 105 – the general theme is Shimano’s 10spd 105 groupset, with some tweaks around the edges. The most obvious departure is the chainset. Shimano doesn’t offer a chainset that’ll fit the Cannondale’s BB30 bottom bracket shell directly, so an FSA Gossamer 36/46 setup goes in instead. No complaints there – the actual arms don’t have the monster stiffness to match up to the 30mm spindle, but BB30 is a highly future-proof setup so come upgrade time you’ve got the choice of, well, everything.”

question, what’s the 30mm spindle and the BB30, when/why would i feel that it needs upgrading?

[ponchera]

thanks for the input on my bike. i’m a pretty happy with it but you did hit the one point that even my ignorant self noticed. braking. I told the LBS when i purchased it that i felt they were deficient, they adjusted, sent me on my way. I came back a week later to get them looked at again as it seemed like the cables were a bit loose and pads were rubbing on the rim at an angle and not making full contact. They again adjusted. I read a post over at BikeForums where someone was also pissed, recommended ditching the pads and putting some Kool Stop salmons on at minimum. That poster went on to replace the entire canti system for some other system, i forget what it was, i asked for some details but haven’t heard back. I may just ask you nice folks here for some guidance. I purchased the salmons but have been reluctant to go to LBS since they told me the original ones are fine and I don’t need to replace them, also don’t want to pay i bet some silly high rate to have a couple screws removed.

Any ways. thanks for input and I don’t want to high jack this thread. I’ll probably open a new one once i research how to change the break pads if I have any questions.

(BTW, i’m still curious to understand what 46/36 vs 53/39 vs 50/34 all means… )

[ponchera]

hey everyone, i’m new here (first post). I’m also new to cycling world, just started this month. I’m trying to learn more about bikes and the different sports but one thing has always confused me, which is this entire conversation.

I try to follow along and google about all these ##/## but i end up more confused. anyone have a sesame street explanation or link? i tried reading sheldon brown’s page:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gain.html

but that made things worse.. …

I bought a 2011 Cannondale CAADX 105 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/road/cyclocross/2011-cyclocross-caadx/2011-caadx-105 )
i’m not even sure what ##/## i have and what it’s limitations are, i’d love to know more about what i have (hopefully the answer is, its sucks). I bought it cause it was the only Cyclo i could find in the area in stock and my size.

I know I can now climb up the trail in rosslyn (custis?) without passing out in the first 100ft.
(I had a cheap MTB, that thing sucked, it was like pedaling a tank).

thanks for the patience.

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