Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jonny ///M said:
There is too many brands out there really and people will say you could get a carbon bike for that money but I don't fancy carbon as i'm daft and can crash :) my boss is on his 3rd F1 frame and 1 AR1 frame in just over 2 years through crashes.
Click to expand...

I'm still not convinced that carbon is easier to break than alu.
When carbon does break, it breaks dramatically but i think that with the same forces applied to aluminium, it would also make the frame unrideable.
There are a lot of videos on youtube that back this up.
 
I've saw the videos of the mavic wheels getting hit by hammers and being stood on. It is very strong but as soon as a force is applied where it's not supposed to be it can just go.

A local guy recently had his carbon bars just collapse comign down a descent! I'd rather not have that. I'm not saying alloy ones wouldn't break though.
 
touch said:
I'm still not convinced that carbon is easier to break than alu.
When carbon does break, it breaks dramatically but i think that with the same forces applied to aluminium, it would also make the frame unrideable.
There are a lot of videos on youtube that back this up.
Click to expand...

From what i've read/seen/experienced carbon is stronger when force is applied in the direction it is intended. Where carbon falls short is when forces are applied from a different angle from originally intended, so for example if i accidentally bashed a carbon frame against a bike rack, it's more likely to have its integrity compromised than aluminium. The bike racks at my school are obviously shared with students, i do not trust them to be super careful around my shiny carbon frame!

Also, maintenance on a alu frame scares me less :p
 
Aye pretty much what I've heard too. Don't know the truth in it but apparently a guy came off and fell onto the top tube of his bike which made in collapse. Must have balls of steel to be honest!

Another one was a guys chain coming off from big ring to small ring......straight between the frame/cranks which punctured it. Lucky he had it insured!
 
Got my shopping list!

1x Cannondale CAAD8 105 - £1050
1x Crud Roadracer MK2 - £27
1x Topeak Morph Mini Pump - £30
1x Abus Granite X-Plus - £84

Grand Total - £1192

I originally paid £950 for my bike, so that's a rather hefty mark-up.

Also probably going to try and wangle £50 to get it built at my LBS instead of at Halfords. Lets see if i manage this on Monday...
 
To be honest if i come out of it with just the bike i'm going to feel happy. It's £100 extra and it's not that horrible mess of a faulty bike i had before!
 
Streeteh said:
if i accidentally bashed a carbon frame against a bike rack, it's more likely to have its integrity compromised than aluminium.
Click to expand...

Its not made of cheese!
You would need to do a lot more than that to break it.
This video is a good example, ignore the first few tests and skip to the "hitting the frame against a concrete block" test at the end.
 
touch said:
Its not made of cheese!
You would need to do a lot more than that to break it.
This video is a good example, ignore the first few tests and skip to the "hitting the frame against a concrete block" test at the end.
Click to expand...

Lol, that's hilarious. I didn't realize carbon was that strong!

The maintenance part still scares me though :p
 
On my way back from work and can you believe coppers just stopped me to say why are you not on the cycle lane it's safer for you, this were around one of the bigger roundabouts which I've been around for 3 years!
I loled inside a bit. I replied am I doing something illegal officer? and off they went.

Sometimes I wonder what these people are up to, really...
 
Just looked to see where that was from, doesn't really count as I was ill and several times I almost got off my bike and fell asleep in the ditch at the side of the road :D
40 miles in 6h25 with only 4h30 moving time gives a clue how **** I was feeling.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94123029

I do have a several 2 hour+ climbs in race tracks through the Rockies and Appalachians all mountain biking though.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
My mate's Focus Cayo frame fell over when it was unbuilt and snapped the dropout. Never seen a metal frame (any kind of metal) do that.

Carbon's great for a "best" bike, if you like that sort of thing (personally i like steel and Ti) but for a knockabout day-to-day, commuting etc use bike, i'd get something else
 
fire_munki said:
quick pump question: anyone tried these: http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=68058&menuItemId=10834&eid=5134
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the exact one I bought for clipping to my frame.

Did the job (just) for a couple of months and will get you out of the poop on a ride out (pumped up to 80-90psi fine for me a couple of times after hitting massive pot holes).
Not used it since I've purchased the Joe Blow sport Floor pump and got both around 115psi mark now. Not had a puncture since. :D

Joe blow - 2 strokes
Air tool -200 strokes
;)

EDIT**
In fact that's the Mini pump and not just the "road frame" pump. :eek: double the strokes needed :D (mine was the road pump, bought from Leisure lakes)

SAM_0451.jpg
 
Last edited:
fire_munki said:
It was part of a bundle with saddle bag and cage which fitted my needs. But its no good if it can't do tires up to a nice 100psi.
Click to expand...

Get it and get the track pump from ALDI on thursday.
Pump up your tyres properly before you go out with the track pump and keep the small pump in your saddle bag to get you home if you puncture.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom