Tales from the Emporium

[NordieBoy]

Replaced the seat on the new pushy (Avanti Blade 1.0 in KTM orange) today.

Pulled the "Selle Italia Gel Flow Kevlar XC" that weighs about as much as an anorexic sandfly and mounted up my >20year old Selle Prima seat off my triathlon bike Oh wow.

I like this bike. I was never completely happy with my pure roadie Avanti (their first alloy frame). I would rather put skinny tyres on this one and race it than the road bike.

I've also been playing with the ergos of my mtb, wider bars, shorter and lower stem, lower tyre pressure, seat back a bit, and it's finally nice to ride too.

I've done more km's this month than in the last 13 years

The cam chain arrived for the TT today too.

My legs and lungs should be more ready for the next sunny Sunday on the TT

Well, that's the hope.

The legs will probably just be pre-knackered...

[NordieBoy]

Found out it's a 2006-7 Avanti Blade.
Stock apart from brake levers, brake booster, shifters, bars, seat, seat post, tyres, pedals...

Quite fun as a lightweight all-purpose bike.

The cheap Maxxis knobblies work well but finding the right pressure is a bit harder on a 38mm tyre than the 2.1" on the MTB.

35psi seems ok in the front and the online consensus was about 38psi in the rear...
At 40psi in the rear, I went over a cattle stop at about 35kph

Every cross bar on the cattle stop felt like it was hitting the rims...

Quickly pumped it up to 45psi. Moar betterer

I had to true the rear wheel when I got home

Disc brakes are nicer than mini-v's though

I can feel the fitness pouring in to my body

[NordieBoy]

Ok then.

55psi in the rear pinch-flats less than 45psi and doesn't flat-spot the rim

Half an hour to bike into the hills, an hour to walk home...

[madmartin]

try the ol pack your flattie with grass and sticks next time nordie

[NordieBoy]

try the ol pack your flattie with grass and sticks next time nordie

Tried that many years ago. Coincidentally, I'd punctured in about the same place heading down the Tantragee toward the golf course.
Didn't work. Just got lots of green juice coming out the bead...

A lot nicer to ride that track back then. More green, more river crossings, narrower tracks...


Oh, and 38mm tubes work better in 38mm tyres than 23mm tubes...

Who'd a thunk?

[NordieBoy]

After riding a cross bike, riding the same course on a MTB is like riding a DR650 around after trying a TT350...

My numbers say I was quicker over the 20km on the MTB but that's only 'cause I could ignore the rocks on the descents...
A lot more effort on the MTB.


Rode some gravel today on the DR. That felt good

The TT is still sitting on it's hydro stand, drained of oil, shiny clean, all ready for the cam chain fairy...

[madmartin]

wheel it round to Vin Nordie, takes about 2 mins

[NordieBoy]

wheel it round to Vin Nordie, takes about 2 mins

But then I'd have to ...shudder... pay someone...

I'd do it myself but then I'd be opening myself up to abuse from NordieBro if anything went wrong.

I'm prepared to wait

[NordieBoy]

Interesting (to me anyway )...

I rode the same loop today on the cross bike as yesterday on the mtb (home, Codgers, Tantragee, golf course, Maitai Walkway, home) and was 5% faster and used 8% less energy...

The mtb is much heavier but you don't have to avoid rocks to the same extent...

Now just need to find some laid back style mtb tracks to go crossing on...

Got some drop bars and STI shifters on the beastie now

[NordieBoy]

2006 Avanti Blade Fitness Bike


2006 Avanti Blade PsycoCross Bike

[dino3310]

Fitness... jeese you southern fellas are keen.
i combine my fitness training with a favourite hobbie too, i just walked to the supermarket to pick up my hobbie

[Night Falcon]

I beleive we should exercise the mind before the body...ergo the cross trainer was last used to prop up the 690 while the wheels were off getting new tyres and exercycle sits in the lounge as a coat hanger.

[dino3310]

are those cross trainers any good, i like the idea of working out in front of the telly and close to the fridge

[NordieBoy]

i just walked to the supermarket to pick up my hobbie

And she had beer!

[Woodman]

Fitness... jeese you southern fellas are keen.
i combine my fitness training with a favourite hobbie too, i just walked to the supermarket to pick up my hobbie

Egadz man!!! Was the Rheineck cheap? and by "cheap" I mean fcuken cheap