Peep Jousters: The Original Peep Warriors (Page 36)

It all started like this. I bought this from my brother for a few quid. In the last week I've replaced gear levers & cables myself. It's a Triple 43/32/22t Seven gear freewheel 11-28t.

My neighbour (now cycling buddy) saw me going out on it. He presented me with a map, highlighting about eight climbs. "Try doing these", he suggested. So one day I did. Couldn't get up three climbs & had to push. 7 hours later with about 55 miles done (bonked as well) I reported back. He laughed. "I didn't mean all at once!". I still haven't forgiven him.

So I'd got the bug. I need a bike. So I couldn't get up some hills, (they were steep CHR15, and still are, before you start calling me a wimp) with a 22-28 easiest gear, a ratio of 1 to 0.78 (one turn of pedals to 3/4 turn back wheel i.e. very, very easy on flat). Looked around & was more interested in getting the gear ratio as close as possible to the above, than anything else.

Bought this. Claud Butler (piffing heavyweight) triple. 52/42/30t 14-28t. Ratio of easiest gear 1 to 1.07. I freaked. It's a harder bottom gear, but I kept away from the mega climbs for a while & didn't try eight in a row (learnt my lesson). Use this as a winter/training bike now. Sora 7 speed. Have replaced front wheel(front hub exploded with all ball bearings disappearing on a descent - scary), back axle broke & replaced twice, spokes snapped twice on rear wheel, so replaced both wheels with a set of Mavic Aksiums. Also replaced bottom bracket, brake pads (numerous times), saddle (after a 30+mph smash into a grassy bank covered with gorse), just recabled throughout & retaped handlebars.

Leslie, where I used to have to go in the bottom gear I use the 3rd or 4th now, or use the 1st gear with the middle ring (depending whether I've got the backpack on )

Didn't take me long to want a better one. Within 12 months I got myself this. Looked at Treks, Spec's, & was seriously contemplating a Giant when I saw an article in a mag. about the Flandria. Went on the website & you could basically build it up from certain options that were available. Just the job. Choice of four frames, any Campag or Shimano groupset , better wheels than were on ready made bikes, etc, etc. I took a long journey up to see the guy who was putting them together (just a one man outfit in a small unit), was very impressed & ordered one. My spec's. Aluminium frame with carbon forks & stays. Ultegra groupset, compact double 50/34t 12-27t 10 speed cassette. Easiest ratio is now 1 to 1.26. Can be hard graft on some hills but legs are getting stronger. If riding on flat I usually find myself in the Big ring. Who knows it may be that I can grow into a double sometime. What have I had to replace? Nothing. But see last comment.

One tiny bit of advice guys. Wash them down with a sponge with soapy water. I got a little too aggressive with the Muck Off type cleaner & hosepipe with No.2 bike. Knocked the gease out of the wheelhub, headset & bottom bracket. So some of the problems were of my own making.

Sorry to prattle on.

And just incase any of you are interested in browsing the website

I have learned more today about bikes than I have ever thought possible!  Just don't quiz me, still in the uptake mode!  My bike is a 30/42/52 with 9 gears on the rear derailleur.  It is a Cannondale Synapse Women's bike. 

Here's a picture of it on my CycleOps trainer (pardon the messy garage!):

While I am it, here is my mountain bike.  Cheap as it is, it's been with me for many years over many miles:

And here are my kids' rides:

Ugh, the garage project is dying for intervention.  It always looks so much worse in photos!!!!! 

You mean these legs can get stronger?   

Seriously, THANK YOU ALL for the bike/gear info!!!!

Hey Peeps,

I was looking at our logs to see if there was unreported rides to add to the spreadsheet. In comparing the totals on our spreadsheet to the totals on our logs and found some errors of overstatement. By correcting them we've lost a bit of ground. Please double check everything and let me know if I botched it!

Including today (for those of you in western time zones) we have 5 days left in the challenge. Let's all hit our goals (or die trying ) 

Washington State, that's where!  You'd be able to see all of us Pacific Northwest Girls.  Pick up Chr15 and come on over, and the rest of jousters should come as well.  We will have an official team meeting/party!    And I chopped the hair off recently....sorry!  15+ yrs of long hair, had to make a change.  The legs are still attached, though. 

Sorry, I've just got to get this off my chest. Three gold medals & two World records by the GB team at the World Track Cycling Championships today. Woo Hoo! Just bring on the Olympics.

Anyone got the cash for one of those beauties?