New gear tested

First rides with my new bikepacking gear. It was time to test the Restrap saddle bag. 

Previous post here. Would it swing around, or fall off? I say fall off because the front straps were a little short for the aero seat post on my Le Vita road bike.

I didn't want to go too far so I rode 22 miles of a mixed surface route that included some bumpy off road sections.

the sunlight from a different angle and no tree cover makes this pic look much colder

        

 

There are plenty of reviews for it, so I didn't expect any problems. I only filled it to about three quarters; and it didn't move about when I stood up on the pedals for the hills. The only concern was my rear light; the loop is too wide. When I stopped to take the second picture it was just about to fall off. I moved it to the drybag strap which appears to be a better fit in my case.

Today it was the road bike, this time to meet Matt in Westerham. All of the other bikes had minimal luggage. When the mudguards are left behind in the garage, it'll give a bit more room above the wheel.

It looks a bit like a sports car with a roof box. I think it's more "sporty" than a rack and bag combo though.

Nothing worked loose, in fact I didn't really notice it. 

Roll on the summer adventures.

Touring gear

My new bike doesn't have mudguard mounts, so I can't attach the rack I've used in the past.

 

There are many solutions. Some are racks that connect to a modified axle, or clamp to the frame. They also need a separate bag. It adds to the cost and weight. Another option is a setup that attaches to the seat post and saddle rails. Overall cheaper and lighter they don't hold as much and may be prone to swaying from side to side.

I went for the latter with the new bike. I only had a change of cycling clothing, something to wear off the bike and the the various cables and chargers for my electronics.

The new setup is from Restrap, it holds fourteen litres. Initial impressions are that, as you can see, it sits very close to road bike wheel. The website does say I need more space under the saddle. Hopefully it won't sag so much that it touches the tyre. One of the straps that wrap around the seat post isn't long enough, it being an aero shape. Should be okay though. No problems with the Kona.

Having the opening at one end means packing needs a little more thought. The other bag is top loading, so I can get to anything easily. With this type I have what I might need during the day packed last. At the end of the ride I remove the bag by undoing one clip. Much easier than unthreading the multiple straps from the rack. And the holder comes off quickly too; the rack needs tools. 

The Kona has new handlebars. The bar bag didn't fit on the old one; the cables and hoses get in the way. The extra section on the front gave me lots of room. I also wanted them flatter so these were perfect. I'm not sure if I'll need to trim them, so for now there is a bit sticking out from the grips. It'll need a new saddle too.

The rack was used last year to Cornwall and with panniers in 2011 for Paris and along the South Downs Way in 2012. I packed way too much in those early days, although it did include a full size camera and a mini tripod.  

my setup for the ride to Cornwall in 2022

panniers for Paris in 2011, it looked the same for 2012 except for much more mud

I'll get out for a test ride when the roads are more conducive to outdoor riding. Hopefully that won't be too long. 

New bike, first impressions.

I picked up my new bike during a really cold period in Dec. Way too icy to risk riding. Link to that post. So I had to walk past it to the turbo trainer for a whole week. Each time wondering if the weather would improve by the weekend.

The sparkly iridescent midnight holographic colour scheme as it's called looks good. It should be even better in full sunlight. It got lots of complements from the club. Depending on the angle of light you can see purple, green and blue; maybe more will show themselves as the days get brighter.

From the first few yards it felt efficient; that's the best word for it. The bike reacts to every input much more keenly. It accelerates and climbs more easily; cornering feels more stable. 

It's lighter so that will account for some of the improvement, the frame is stiffer and it's more aerodynamic. The geometry is more race focused, which gives the cornering the extra sharpness. But it's not too extreme, even quite strong sidewinds don't throw it off line. I can feel road imperfections more acutely, not so much I dread riding it.

The roads were wet, with some big puddles; at one point the road was flooded to a depth of around a foot. Having disc brakes really paid dividends over the rim brakes of my previous road bike.

I know it's only the first sixty miles; but it's already delivered what I'd hoped it would. I can't wait to attack the time trials next year, and go touring on it. 

It's really lifted my spirits, and restored my mojo.

New bike day

My last brand new bike was a Raleigh Chopper.

Since then bikes have been secondhand. My brother gave me a Peugeot mountain bike, which was replaced with a two year old Kona Blast. Next was a very old Carrera road bike. I bought the Giant Defy in May 2019, it's now ten years old.

Over the years my priorities have changed: I want to compete in time trials, ride faster and further, and have better brakes. While making the latest steed faster, this years carbon wheels have been a slight backwards step as far as stopping is concerned, especially in the wet. 

I have been saving a long time for this purchase. I sold most of my photography gear to fund it as well. It wasn't getting used and was loosing value as technology improved. I still have a small digital camera and lenses that will work with Nikon film cameras so I haven't severed all links with that hobby. Hiring equipment is easy should the need arise.

I'm not sure how much value the Defy has, the wheels are still worth a fair bit. I should think someone from my club will buy them.

The new bike is a fairly custom build, because I had some specific parts in mind. Standard sizing from a mainstream manufacturer would have supplied handlebars that were too wide, and the price point would have compromised on the type of wheels I wanted. I avoided additional purchases and having to sell the unused parts. I was also able to tweak other parts of the bike to improve the fit. The stem, it joins the handlebars to the forks, comes in many lengths. Ross had a few for me to try.

This whole process is another reason to consider your local bike shop. It's not always cheaper to buy online or from a chain store. I don't expect any problems, but if there are I'm not reliant on support over the phone or email. He is just a very short walk from my house.

The frame is from LavitaVelo the wheels are from Hunt, both UK based. The rest is from the usual suspects. Ross at Ross Cycles spec'd it after we chatted about what I wanted.

He also took pictures at various stages of the build. Another option only open to you if using a bespoke or local bike shop. 

to slam or not to slam

 

When I've ridden it for a few miles we can alter the handlebar and saddle height. Swap the stem as well if needed.

bike nearly finished

I haven't ridden it yet; way too icy outside. A review will follow.