Road Cycling Essentials

George Hincapie · 18 Oct 2011 at 13:35

platypus said:
I'm a northerner .

Awwwww! /hug

platypus · 18 Oct 2011 at 13:38

[DOD]Asprilla;20337037 said:
Although I'm feeling colder than last year, which I'm putting down to lost body fat I guess I've still got a way to go until I reach your level!

Oddly enough since I fractured my ankle I've lost 4 KGs, something I couldn't do when I tried to cut for racing season earlier in the year..I might have a body fat test done to see what % I'm at.

George Hincapie said:
Awwwww! /hug

Born and bred on the pennines. Now I'm a southern softy /cry.

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Oct 2011 at 13:39

George Hincapie said:
God's country. Going back there to visit my family at Christmas

My folks are retired and going away for Christmas, but I'm going up at the end of November for my daughter's birthday. I only get back up there once or twice a year these days; it's just too far to drive with kids.

platypus · 18 Oct 2011 at 13:42

Leave the kids

?

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Oct 2011 at 13:44

platypus said:
Leave the kids ?

Social services tend to frown on leaving 22 month olds to care for themselves, even if you leave a litter tray, a bowl of food and some water.

Russinating · 18 Oct 2011 at 14:09

platypus said:
Let me know how you get on with the jacket, seems like something I'd be interested in.

Will do. I tried it on in Evans and really liked it but it's £88 there. Personally wouldn't buy a jacket online without having tried it on beforehand.

George Hincapie · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:35

Cadel is happy with the 2012 TdF route. TT ahoy!

Russinating · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:48

[DOD]Asprilla;20336819 said:
Well, I would have got the Roubaix Pace leg warmers over the lycra ones. I've just ordered the DHB Pace Roubaix Knee Warmers to use instead of my ShuttVR lycra ones. The lycra is ok at the moment but once it gets a little colder the Roubaix will be needed to stop the knees from creaking. Course, once we get into Dec I'll have the super roubaix bib tights on until the end of Jan.

I barely do any winter cycling so hopefully they'll hold up. My commmute is only 3 miles a day and the main reason I've bought all the stuff is for my 100km sportive in 2 weeks.

I wore shorts for the whole of last winter and my legs didn't really get that cold; I think they're quite hardy (and hairy)

.

Appelhanns · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:20

My latest project as it stands...

Where do you boys look for second hand stuff? Currently watching BikeRadar and road.cc for shifters but there's not much going around.

Streeteh · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:53

George Hincapie said:
Indeed. Buy it boxed, then take it to your LBS for a fit and set up.

How much is a reasonable price for a LBS to do this?

Hamster · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:59

Streeteh said:
How much is a reasonable price for a LBS to do this?

Guesstimated times:
It should be:
Fitting of one wheel (2 minutes)
Fitting the headset properly and adjusting (5 minutes)
Pedals on (2 minutes)
Putting the saddle on correctly and adjusting it to suit you (5 minutes)

Depends where you go but i would have thought £20 is reasonable.

(Gears and brakes should already have been set up but they may charge a bit more if they need adjusting)

Streeteh · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:08

Just £20?! I was expecting more in the £100 range. This is certainly something i'll consider as i'm getting a boardman, just waiting for my bloomin employer to sort out cycle2work.

Appelhanns · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:14

I think £20 would be a bargain, I would expect that you'll get charged £30/35ish.

Hamster · 18 Oct 2011 at 18:49

The only thing that's not easy to do yourself without basic tools is fitting on the bars. For that to be done properly, a torque wrench is needed. On reflection, £20 does seem a little too reasonable, especially if they're going to include a full check of the bike and make small adjustments if required.

Appelhanns · 18 Oct 2011 at 19:00

Hamster said:
The only thing that's not easy to do yourself without basic tools is fitting on the bars. For that to be done properly, a torque wrench is needed. On reflection, £20 does seem a little too reasonable, especially if they're going to include a full check of the bike and make small adjustments if required.

If you're talking about having the bars torqued up and things done properly, then I would think having the headset pressed in and the pedals torqued up would come under that as well?

One More Solo · 18 Oct 2011 at 19:48

platypus said:
Oh yeah. 3 layers on top actually.

(Only) 1 Pair of socks, roubaix leg warmers, full length bib tights, base layer, ls cycling top, wind proof cycling jacket, windproof gloves, buff, cap, helmet.

How do your arms not get cold? I can barely wear a gillet in Spring, let alone at this time of year. And gillet + arm warmers leaves a gap, doesn't it?

Don't worry, I was in similar kit this morning. I can handle the cold but not first thing in the morning.

My usual winter kit is

Buff
Base layer
Fleece (now replaced with L/S merino jersey)
Windproof jacket
Merino glove liners
Windproof gloves
Full length bib tights
Wool socks
Overshoes

I hate winter because it takes so bloody long to get dressed!

Streeteh · 18 Oct 2011 at 20:11

Osian said:
I think £20 would be a bargain, I would expect that you'll get charged £30/35ish.

Meh, would still stretch to that if it ensures a better build. I don't trust Halfords at all.

Jonny ///M · 18 Oct 2011 at 21:18

£20 is very cheap. Id expect around double that especially if you want them to adjust bars,stem height and sizing you properly on it.

To expand on that I say its good value because as a shop once we touch the bike we are the ones they come back to. If the gears go out they come back,wheel a little buckled same again and if they don't know how to use gears and claim it shouldn't rub in 39 - 12 we're the ones that get the phone call and having to teach them how to.use gears. This is even after the gears are ran through on the stand,cross chaining/trimming explained and asking if they have any other questions.

Appelhanns · 18 Oct 2011 at 21:32

Hamster said:
The only thing that's not easy to do yourself without basic tools is fitting on the bars. For that to be done properly, a torque wrench is needed. On reflection, £20 does seem a little too reasonable, especially if they're going to include a full check of the bike and make small adjustments if required.

If you're talking about having the bars torqued up and things done properly, then I would think having the headset pressed in and the pedals torqued up would come under that as well?

6thElement · 18 Oct 2011 at 21:35

Tempted to update my frame and groupset, I've been on my current frame and SRAM Force since 2007.

It's replacement frame and new Force groupset would cost just under £1000...