Monster’s diary

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Hey TM, since the only thing I have ridden on lately is gravel, that would get my vote. Is that the same as we call mountain biking? I have only seen you talk about street riding, do you ever mountain bike? Utah is a kind of mountain bikers mecca, canyonlands, the mountains, etc, but I would guess Australia has a lot of mountain biking options too, maybe more than we do.

My new bike is the first I have had with only a rear derailleur, 12 speeds. It seems adequate to me, and simpler than have a front and back. But I am certainly not one to be offering you advice on that.

My bikes have all been red or black, but no real color preferences here. Go for the tassels though!

No matter what you decide it sounds like you'll have a good project for your "rest".
 
Ow! I've only just caught up with your hamstring injury - sympathies, and best wishes for its healing. How long do you think it will take to get thoroughly back to top form?

About your bike revamp project: would you need a gravel bike to ride in (for example) Belair National Park? Would that be the sort of ride you'd enjoy? In terms of colour - grey with red sounds suave, but so does aluminium with black accents. :)
 
alligatorob said:
Hey TM, since the only thing I have ridden on lately is gravel, that would get my vote. Is that the same as we call mountain biking? I have only seen you talk about street riding, do you ever mountain bike? Utah is a kind of mountain bikers mecca, canyonlands, the mountains, etc, but I would guess Australia has a lot of mountain biking options too, maybe more than we do.

My new bike is the first I have had with only a rear derailleur, 12 speeds. It seems adequate to me, and simpler than have a front and back. But I am certainly not one to be offering you advice on that.

My bikes have all been red or black, but no real color preferences here. Go for the tassels though!

No matter what you decide it sounds like you'll have a good project for your "rest".
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Haha. Think I’ll leave the tassels!

I don’t ride off road no. A gravel bike is kinda a cross between road and an “old school” mountain bike. Its essentially a road bike with drop bars and wider tyres. No suspension like most modern mountain bikes. They’re designed for gravel paths but still fast on the road.

when I was a youngster I lived very close to an old quarry on the beach front and used to ride down the single track on my mountain bike. I’d never do it now though. I visited the old quarry a few months ago and looked at the track. Can’t believe I once had the balls to do it. It’s at most 3 foot wide with rocks jutting out, steep and big hole in the ground (quarry) on one side and cliff to the beach on the other. Falling off would not end well.

hang gliders launch off the top and there have been a few deaths because people have been caught in down drafts and landed on the rocks.
 
aiminglow said:
Ow! I've only just caught up with your hamstring injury - sympathies, and best wishes for its healing. How long do you think it will take to get thoroughly back to top form?

About your bike revamp project: would you need a gravel bike to ride in (for example) Belair National Park? Would that be the sort of ride you'd enjoy? In terms of colour - grey with red sounds suave, but so does aluminium with black accents. :)
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thanks (Amy is it?)

I went for a ride this morning. It was a little tender but overall pretty good. A few more weeks without over stressing it and I should be good. I might have a quick play with the saddle height. I think that may have dropped slightly.

i think I’ll do gunmetal great with red accents. I’ve got some gold leaf aground here somewhere so I might (depending how it turns out) put my signature on the head tube in goldleaf.
 
The bike is looking good.

It doesn't escape me that your "lunch ride" of 20 km takes you about the same amount of time as my ~4 or 5 km ride takes. Not that I am unhappy with mine, but it makes yours all the more impressive.

Thanks for your posts on my diary, your encouragement is really appreciated.

I always pictured you as the fit cyclist from the beginning. I went back and read some of your early posts and I see it was not always so. So far as I can tell you lost over 60 lbs, and started exercising with a walk around the block before you started cycling. That is impressive and gives me some hope. You are probably younger than I, and you were not as overweight, but I can certainly see some parallels in our stories. Keep up the amazing work!!

I can't imagine that I'll ever get to where you are, but I can imagine heading that direction. And trying is probably good enough.
 
alligatorob said:
I always pictured you as the fit cyclist from the beginning. I went back and read some of your early posts and I see it was not always so. So far as I can tell you lost over 60 lbs, and started exercising with a walk around the block before you started cycling. That is impressive and gives me some hope. You are probably younger than I, and you were not as overweight, but I can certainly see some parallels in our stories. Keep up the amazing work!!

I can't imagine that I'll ever get to where you are, but I can imagine heading that direction. And trying is probably good enough.
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Hey Rob,

when I was younger I was very fit. I played a lot of sport and although I was never interested in cycling as a sport (still not) I used to ride long distances for fun. That all fell away and life got away from me in my mid twenties when work really ramped up. It took a long time for me to prioritise health over work.

we all need to be very careful not to compare our results with anyone else’s. That “lunch ride” of mine was on completely flat bitumen terrain with basically no wind on a road bike. You’re riding a mountain bike on gravel up hill. You’d be wishing for a miracle to go faster. Pace doesn’t matter though. It’s intensity and form that matter. Keep pushing yourself (while allowing yourself recovery time) and you’ll be amazed where you end up.

just remember success begets success.

oh and yes; I’m 35 so considerably younger :p
 
Update ...

I THINK I’ve decided on a colour scheme for the bike but I’ll let it be unveiled but by bit.

here’s where we’re at now. It’s only primer so it’s not the final colour. I’ve decided to polish the aluminium in the rear drop outs (no that’s not them polished. They’ll be like mirrors but I’ll leave that til very last. and paint the rest. F7443342-A034-4B9E-A9FB-4E0B983C741B.jpegC768CA70-007E-41C9-8D59-309AD958E3B6.jpeg
 
Still not the end colour but the black base coat is on. Just need to cure then ill rub it back and apply the first coat of colour base ... I’m getting off topic here but don’t despair there’ll be no action on the painting front for a couple of days.
A29A14AD-AC88-4432-BD58-278301F98700.jpeg76A01CDE-FC4D-4A3E-AB3F-28806143D7D0.jpeg
 
I'm enjoying following this process through, step by step, and looking forward to seeing the glossy black and the mirror finish. :)
 
Thanks for responding, and I know you are comparison to others has its limitations. But knowing someone is doing something well can provide inspiration, you do that pretty well.
Truffle Monster said:
I’m 35 so considerably younger :p
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I am surprised, some how I had envisioned you as older. One thing I have learned here is when it comes to our discussions age is of little importance, less than I used to think anyway. In normal day to day society where we see each other I think most people carry age prejudices, it is kind of refreshing to be in a place where that doesn't seem to happen.

Great bike pictures, I always enjoy watching someone else work! You are a real artist, keep on posting pictures!
 
alligatorob said:
I am surprised, some how I had envisioned you as older. One thing I have learned here is when it comes to our discussions age is of little importance, less than I used to think anyway. In normal day to day society where we see each other I think most people carry age prejudices, it is kind of refreshing to be in a place where that doesn't seem to happen.
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:iagree: I think we have a good thing happening in this forum.
 
I re read the instructions on the paint I’m using and it turns out I could move faster on the coats than I thought so I’ve applied the next coat ...

No your eyes are not deceiving you. It’s red now ... whatever am I doing? Mwahahaha 6ABAD754-3025-422D-861E-1656C9D6B2B6.jpeg
 
Hahaha I had an ah sh*t moment just now.

I applied the special paint effect I was planning for the bike. It didn’t work properly despite it working perfectly on my test piece ...

...

...

I have now started stripping all the paint and I’ll have to start from bare metal again because I didn’t think first and I used enamel paint. The effect I want to do needs to be applied to water based not oil based paint!
 
Truffle Monster said:
started stripping all the paint and I’ll have to start from bare metal again because I didn’t think first and I used enamel paint. The effect I want to do needs to be applied to water based not oil based paint!
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No!

In the end I am sure it will be worth in, but having to start over is no fun. Enjoying watching the process!
 
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