BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Ken rode when I did it 2 years ago on a setup with 26" wheels, slicks, and an internal 3 speed hub or some wacky thing that broke on him like 50 miles into the ride.

He caught up with a bunch of us later, and then it ended up being the two of us for a long time, then we lost each other on the 3rd day. He thought I had beat him the whole way into Philly but we ended up crossing paths and not seeing each other.

He made it to Philly around 5pm or so Sunday and I didn't come in until 11:15 because I was so beat I just didn't give a shit anymore and pretty much limped all the way into town, and took many many breaks along the way to enjoy myself.

I was going to ride that with my own mountain bike running slicks and clamp these really wide aerobars I have to the handlebars and really look foolish LOL... But I found this cannondale touring bike on Craigslist the week before the race and rebuilt it a few days before the race (which was the main reason I was so exhausted). Other than a 2 mile test ride, the 400 mile ride was my first experience on that bike and my positioning was off, and it took me awhile to get the right handlebar combo I liked, and seat position worked out later on.

I absolutely love my Cannondale touring bike though for rides like this... with 3 bottle cages, and a Camelbak... front and rear rack-mounts, and cantilever brakes, (and you can run a triple crank on it, but I have switched to a double since)...

I can go about 10 hours before having to make a water stop if I really wanted to. I only ran into one instance where I had no water and that was because I was using my large backpack and the water pouch is a pain to cram back in when full. This time I am using my regular camelbak and keeping it filled when we approach the more rural areas where the water and snack stops are several hours apart.

If you bring your MTB, you will get up every hill with no problem, but absolutely make sure you have a triple with a large chainring or I will just be a blur when I come flying by in my aerobars down the other side of the hill MUAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA...

My strategery is a lot different than everyone else's and my excessive weight works in my favor with my technique LOL...

My $0.002? If you're comfortable on what you've got, and it's mechanically sound, I'd say roll with it. For a serious distance ride, comfort (or at least lack of serious damage to your body!) matters more than eking out every last bit of efficiency.

Personally, I wouldn't want to experiment with a new bike for a 600K ride, unless I had the time to punch out at least a couple of 200-300K shakedowns in advance. Stuff that doesn't bother you at all in the first 75 miles may turn into a big problem after the second century ticks over...

All of this is an overly long-winded way of saying that any bike can work, as long as it can carry you and your gear; go with what works for you.

"Stuff that doesn't bother you at all in the first 75 miles may turn into a big problem after the second century ticks over..."

WORD... It was in the Breezewood tunnels that my "first ride on this bike" started to take its toll on me. My knees hurt for 3 months after that ride...

I might have been faster overall on my mountain bike with knobby tires than I was on the touring bike. But now 2 years later I think I have my touring bike set up much better sans the saddle.

The slight loss in efficiency the 26 vs 700c wheel will be pretty low on your list of things that will be important to you. Things that are more important

Keeping your hands, feet and crotch from getting numb.

Not getting sick form eating crap food for every meal.

Your knees and how much they hurt and how long they will continue to do so after the ride.

Not getting hit at night.

How often you will apply lubricant to your neither regions.

I concur... Riding a mountain bike with a triple crank in the granny gear uphill is still faster than walking no matter how many grams you saved by using the Flite saddle vs. the Brooks... Etc.

Didn't nick's Ross that he pulled out of the dumpster and won the race with the first year cost him like $20 in parts? Not to mention he spent $1.69 in total funds to win the race LMFAO...

You don't need a $5,000 bike to win this thing LOL!!!

CAAD 2/F900...Pittsburgh here we come...

http://sanaandterry.com/cannondale/year/1997/1997.pdf

page 19...

track bike no brakes all the way.

A fixie would be awesome to go flying down some mountain passes... Especially when getting chased by a dog!

I feel sorry for any dog that thinks he is going to bite someone's ankle riding a fixie.

I want to see someone do this on a beach cruiser...