Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Gawd, Lance looks positively pudgy compared to his Tour physique. He'll be thinning down a lot next few months.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Here's a photo of the start of the final sprint:

    image

    Mario Cipollini was hoping to win the sprint but Gord Fraser beat him out.

    -Frank P
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Way cool, he's an Ottawa boy!!
    Used to be connected to my local shop way back when I was there.

    Nicholas
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    That was odd timing about USPS announcing they were dropping sponsorship at the end of the season - right before the start of the Georgia tour.

    Maybe they were trying to make Lance mad so he'd be sure to win :-)

    Despite all the beach lazing, donut eating and romancing rumors over the winter, Lance must be on his program.

    Steve, Host
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Saw the review of the SVX in the Melbourne Age and thought of Mike (paisan). Somehow, I don't think the Age were impressed

    http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/news/general/2004/04/19/F- FXN9JOG7TD.html

    Cheers

    Graham
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    It begs the question whether one of the other current sponsors (e.g. Nike, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Subaru) will step up and become the primary sponsor.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Anyone else notice the aftermarket bike rack on the roof? I bet they have a lot more than the 150 lbs capacity up there! ;-)

    -juice
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    and the bikes would be low 20# each so it may not be much over 100 pounds. Then again, who knows what it's made of. It's interesting though.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Nice pic of Lance and the OB!

    Speaking (slightly) of bike racks, as someone who just got one, when you are traveling on the highway with the bikes how fast should you go? Is it safe to travel at highway (65mph) speeds, or do you recommend keeping it lower? I'm curious because in 2 weeks my wife and I are going up to Cape Cod for a few days, and I was thinking of taking the bikes.

    Thanks,
    Mark
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I'm sure there's a formal recommendation from the manufacturer, but I've driven over 10,000 miles with various bike racks at full on highway speeds with no problems whatsoever. Just remember to pay attention to "Maximum Height" signs. ;-)
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    I have a set of Thule bike racks and have had no problems doing 80 mph with 3 bikes on the roof. Double check the mounts before going anywhere. You may feel a little drag on exit ramps. Besides, going below 65 will get you run down!
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Thanks. BTW, I guess I should have clarified that I have the hitch mounted bike rack, rather than the roof rack. I'm too lazy to be lifting bikes onto the roof after going riding:-).

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have that hitch rack also, but I haven't really pushed speeds much more than 70-75 or so.

    But the Forester held up well on a 7 hour drive, with stuff on the rack and on the roof, too!

    -juice
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I'm not joking. For short drives it's not an issue, but on longer trips, be very careful of positioning. Coming back from Fruita Co last year we heard a funny BANG about 2 hours into the drive. Mystery was solved at the next gas stop. My friend had loaded the bikes and didn't take off my top tube pad. The give in the pad let my bike twist a little on the rack and put the tire right behind the exhaust. Tire, tube and rim strip were cooked to the rim.

    Forgot about that. I guess I shouldn't say "no problems whatsoever", but the bike was still held very securely, and I can't blame how fast we were going.

    Nicholas
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    because mine holds the bikes well above the exhaust. Unless that is you're stuck in rush hour traffic. Then I suppose the hot exhaust gasses could rise up and do bad things...

    -Frank P
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    for the SVX article. About average on the reviews that most people give em. It actually was technilogically way way ahead of the time in '92 with some features only coming to be in the early 2000s. Also they said it was the first subaru with an H6 which isn't true, the XT6 previously had a 2.7L H6 in '88

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Maybe the XT H-6 wasn't available in Australia, hence the wording in the article?

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    But IIRC it was available down-under.

    -mike
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Nicholas,

    Thanks for the heads up on the exhaust. I'll have to check where the wheel is in realtion to the exhaust- I believe it is above it, but I'll double check.

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't think the bikes are even close to the bumper or exhaust in this case, the rack mounts them pretty far away. I like that - no damage to the vehicle, not even a scratch.

    -juice
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    It is usually only a problem if the bike has a significant slope to the tope tube. My Turner does, so the bike rides quites tilted, with one wheel high and one low. Trouble happened with my Altima, so the exhaust positioning on the Subies may not be an issue at all. Still waiting for my hitch to arrive so I can use my rack.
    I had initially opted for the roof top carrier, but there were fit issues with my full-suspension bike and I was sorely disappointed by the security. It was stupid, there's a key to keep someone from loosening the clamp, but remove 2 allen keys and the clamp comes off the rack anyway. They use secure allen bolts on the cross members, why couldn't they at lease use them on the carrier bolts??
    I reckon the handling will be better for the hitch mount anyway, especially on gravel roads.

    Nicholas
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    now my salesguy is thinking it'll arrive next week, it's 'released to carrier' meaning it's ready for a rail or truck ride here. Cinco de Mayo is looking to be on target...

    -Brian
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    You will follow the break-in procedure.
    You will follow the break-in prodedure.
    You ... :-)

    -Dennis
  • ffsteve100ffsteve100 Member Posts: 5
    Just be sure you have the bike fastended down securely. The only problem I've had with my roof rack is not paying enough enough attention when securing the front forks. Although normal driving worked just fine, a u-turn in a potholed parking lot worked up enough side to side rocking to flip the bike out of the mount. It came to rest against the side of the car, secured only by the strap on the rear wheel.

    Fortunately, the only damage was to my pride, and the chainring shaped gauges in the side of the roof. The bike fork was totalled, though, and had to be replaced.

    But I'm still 100% for the roof rack. Here's an old picture.

    image

    Steve
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    I just received my second $100 Subaru Bucks award and am thinking of using them on a set of Subaru bike roof racks. Do people like them?

    Greg
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    I went with the Thule bars which I keep on most of the time. I just swap out the bike and ski racks.
  • ffsteve100ffsteve100 Member Posts: 5
    I have the Yakima system, with the Low Rider towers and round bars. Unfortunately, there seem to be no fittings available that will attach to the standard Subaru bars, so they're sitting useless in my garage. But the Low Riders let me install or remove the racks in less than 5 minutes, so I normally drive without any racks at all.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    as we've been going thru a bit of a rough time. Beth is home after having a lymph node removed from her neck/shoulder for study. Now comes the tense week waiting for the results. She has been sick for weeks, so you can guess what one of the possibilities being investigated is. Fingers crossed in NY....

    Steve
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    We're all with you guy... Keep your chin up. :)

    Bob
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Frank,
    I was wondering if our Georgia friends would get a chance to watch the action! Thanks for sharing!

    Warning rant on! What's up with the Tour DE Georgia anyway. We're in the U.S. for chrissakes! Call it what it is, the Tour OF Georgia and stop trying to be the American Tour de France. OK, rant off. ;-)

    I was tuned in to cyclingnews.com every day as they had online live updates. Well, as live as those Georgia mountains would allow the race radios to be anyway! ;-)

    Lance is right on track and will be VERY tough to beat this July. As for the replacement for USPS, I think it will likely be their "presenting" sponsor the Belgian flooring company Berry Floor who takes over, at least those are the rumors. I think it would be fabulous for an American company to take over. If there isn't then the U.S. won't have any Division I team representation which would be very sad.

    The other team using Subaru's is likely the TIAA-CREF development team that Jonathan Vaughters put together after retiring. They're based in Colorado hence the tie in to the John Elway dealership chain.

    I've used the fork mount roof racks for years with no trouble except maybe some exessive bug deaths (which is why I bought bike bra's). I have however seen bikes fly off of roofs when the fork mount is such that the bike is facing the rear of the vehicle.

    Cheers!
    -Ian

     p.s. This is my favorite pic from the Tour of Georgia... http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/apr04/georgia04/index.php?- id=stage5/B85F6827
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    I'll second that. You know we'll all be keeping you and your DW in our thoughts.

    -Ian
  • toboggantoboggan Member Posts: 283
    Our prayers are with Beth and you.

    MNSteve - 85+ today, 55 degrees tomorrow
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Prayers & Good wishes to you & your wife going your way Steve...
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Echoing the others...keeping your family in our thoughts Steve.

    -Brian
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    wishing for all good news ...
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Sendings prayers and best wishs for a positive result.

     Cheers Pat.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Keep us posted, we'll be thinking of you guys.

    Craig
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    another set of good wishes.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ian- I bet you're right about the TIAA-CREF team Subaru. I do recall seeing TIAA-CREF on cyclists' uniforms.

    Re Tour DE Georgia, it started out as the Tour de Trump in 89 and morphed into the Tour Dupont (which Lance won in 96 interestingly enough). Then it disappeared for a few years and has now just completed its second season as the Tour de Georgia. What I find odd is how the race has always been in the South which is one of the less bike-friendly areas of the country. I suppose because of the time of year the south provides a warm place to ride.

    -Frank P
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Our prayers to you, Beth, and your kids.

    Jim
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    We're thinking of you here in Baltimore, too!
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Steve,

    All the best wishes to you and Beth. Keep us posted how things go.

    Mark
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Ian/Frank P.:

    I don't know if I can handle a team TIAA-CREF /Subaru. My wife works for the company, and they really treat their employees with little respect. For that reason, I would suggest Subaru think it over.

    Mark
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Adding my good wishes and positive thoughts.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    That's news. TIAA-CREF has a great reputation for providing very low cost financial services.

    -Frank P
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    low cost has zero to do with employee treatment
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    I will second that. Morale at teh firm has gone down since new management took over last year. They have less people (after doing layoffs for the first time in the firms history) doing more work. And, they are told that while the work has to get done, try to do it without taking a cab at night, and with as little paid OT as possible. I know company's are out to make a $$, but it is getting bad. My wife hopes she gets laid off!
        On the brighter side, as my wife pointed out to me, it figures I would find out about her firm associated with Subaru:-)

    Mark
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Service Company whose employee with rockbottom morale offers NO service to their clientele; they just do the chores.

    -Dave
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    low cost has zero to do with employee treatment

    Oh absolutely and may in fact be part of the reason why morale is bad (if the profit margin is so slim that there's insufficient funds available to adequately compensate the employees). However, TIAA-CREF's reputation extends beyond the low cost but includes excellent customer service. Assuming that Mark's correct, you would expect to see that change since unhappy employees rarely make good employees.

    -Frank P
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