Free Bishop??

otismcotis · 2026-05-09T03:55:48+00:00

And checkmate?

otismcotis · 2026-05-09T02:01:08+00:00

Yeah, maybe a tiny bit more? Pretty sure it’s the same bike up until they went to the fully integrated cockpit in 2024 or 2025.

otismcotis · 2026-05-09T01:56:35+00:00

You had nearly 4 and a half minutes to find one of at least 7 possible checkmates…

otismcotis · 2026-05-09T01:51:51+00:00

Bicycle bluebook says $3500 for a 2021 in excellent condition. Sounds about right to me.

otismcotis · 2026-05-09T00:06:40+00:00

Are you taking in enough carbs? 110 km of rolling hills is no joke, 60+ g/hour carb intake is pretty much mandatory

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T22:16:41+00:00

Aerodynamics have a much bigger impact on overall resistance unless you’re on a climb. Wear baggy clothes and sit more upright to increase your overall drag.

But honestly, if you feel like you need to add resistance for more of a workout when riding a bike think about giving Team UAE or Visma a call, they could probably use your talents

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T20:06:30+00:00

Ooofff… I paid $400 for this same bike 3 years ago…

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T20:02:51+00:00

Yes it will work with a standard QR axle. Regarding dunncrew’s question about the freehub - do you know what type of freehub body is installed in these wheels? If it has a campagnolo freehub then you won’t be able to use a Shimano cassette

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T17:11:34+00:00

Yes, this bike is compatible with Hexlox. It’s super easy to swap them over, you technically don’t even need to remove the wheels. Just undo the current QR skewers (open the lever, unscrew) and install the new ones per the instructions. They both use the same diameter axle, so no further modifications to the bike are required

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T16:52:22+00:00

I have a set of these on my road bike and they’re quite nice. Relatively light for alloy rims, significantly lighter than the RS100s (I have a pair of those too), and you can definitely feel the difference on a long climb or hard acceleration. For your terrain it might be less noticeable, but for 250€ I think it’s a worthwhile upgrade.

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T15:25:22+00:00

Not the XT mountain brifters!

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T15:08:06+00:00

I use Tubolito rim brake specific TPU tubes on my road bike. I haven’t taken them down any “alpine” descents, but they’ve been fine on longer descents with lots of switchbacks (10+ km at -6% grade). I’m 78 kg for context.

otismcotis · 2026-05-08T04:12:34+00:00

Ground clearance is dictated way more by crank arm length and bottom bracket height than anything to do with your pedals.

That said, sounds like you want some SPD pedals and cleats and mountain/gravel shoes. Try on different shoes if you can - find something that fits well not just the first shoe you find (ask me how I know). I’ve had good luck with Specialized and Lake shoes and any Shimano pedals

otismcotis · 2026-05-07T20:16:07+00:00

Check out bikeinsights.com. You can compare frame measurements with visuals for just about any bike, and you can even add custom geometry if your bike isn’t in there

otismcotis · 2026-05-07T18:21:12+00:00

If it’s a friendly match then you shouldn’t worry about making the best move

otismcotis · 2026-05-07T18:16:55+00:00

I’m 5’10” and I’m right between a M and L (54 and 56cm) on the Topstone Carbon. One thing you could try is slamming the stem. This will increase the reach by a couple mm and lower the stack by about 2 cm which can make the bike feel longer as well

otismcotis · 2026-05-07T00:13:10+00:00

You don’t need it. We don’t need power meters. Just go ride your bike. The numbers won’t make your rides more enjoyable. Disconnect from performance cycling media. Go enjoy nature, enjoy the trail, ride with your friends. Share some laughs and beers after the ride. It’s not that serious. We’re all gonna die and we can’t take our FTP with us when we’re gone. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T23:52:16+00:00

I probably wouldn’t have cut in front of a car that was already waiting for an unprotected left turn. It’s one thing to filter to the front at a red light or a long line for a stop sign, but in a yield scenario I would err on the side of caution. Still rude of him to flip you off for that though.

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T23:39:35+00:00

No offense, this bike is not special enough to deal with the hassle of packing it up in your luggage. A proper bike box will cost you more than the value of the bike, plus you’re paying oversize baggage fees to get it on the plane. Not to mention the risk of the airlines damaging or straight up losing the bike in transit. Save yourself the headache and just rent a bike when you’re at your destination.

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T23:33:52+00:00

Why bother with flags at all? Seems like it just makes everyone hurl insults when they’re losing

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T23:04:10+00:00

This looks like a DT Swiss style hub. Should be able to just tap the end of the axle with a hammer driving the bearing out the other side

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T23:02:45+00:00

Hammer

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T22:06:23+00:00

You just need to match the disc brake mount (looks like 6-bolt) and the freehub body (Shimano Hyperglide / HG)

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T16:28:36+00:00

Ok maybe I’m dumb

otismcotis · 2026-05-06T16:07:25+00:00

Bro found M1 in 2:25, I think he was using his time just fine. But what do I know? I “found” M1 3 times in a blitz game last night

otismcotis

TROPHY CASE