Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
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Always worth trying shoes on, the worst thing you could do is have poorly fitting shoes.
Merlin are close to you, just go up there and try them on.
Shimano have a good range at sub £100.
I’m in the market for a new bike as I’ll soon be moving house and will be looking to cycle to work. (4 miles each way and some long weekend rides for fitness)
My budget is around £500 and a friend at work recommended the Giant Defy 4 2011 as a good option as it can be had for around £430 at the moment. Does anyone here use a Defy bike as I’m interested in peoples opinions in this or any alternatives.
I'm a bit limited in my choices as I’m only 5'7" so need a small frame size. Most old models and sale bikes aren't available in small sizes.
My budget is around £500 and a friend at work recommended the Giant Defy 4 2011 as a good option as it can be had for around £430 at the moment. Does anyone here use a Defy bike as I’m interested in peoples opinions in this or any alternatives.
I'm a bit limited in my choices as I’m only 5'7" so need a small frame size. Most old models and sale bikes aren't available in small sizes.
I've been using a Defy 4 for a good 3 or so years and it's served me well. The wheels when I got mine were quite cheap but everything else was more than adequate and I have only now upgraded to a more expensive bike.
Man of Honour
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I've just bought some Shimano M064's for £53 and Shimano SPD 520s for £19 and they work a treat.
The bike is 15 days old today and they did say to come back because the gears would need setting up again after I've worn them in but it would be about 2 months.
It seems in my case that I did the main damage by not knowing how to use the gears.
I didn't realise it was so young, there is pretty much no chance of rust at that age, perhaps a kink in the cable is causing it to jam somewhere.
They are correct saying they would need setting up again, that is because the metal cable stretches and needs re calibrating.
However, cable stretch and the chain going off the top or bottom cog is completely different. That is set up using the limit screws which are independent to the cable so they are talking rubbish, if they are set up properly you can't make the chain fall off.
Associate
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I have a Defy 2 2012 and love it. Mind you it is my first road bike so I don't really have anything to compare it too.
Man of Honour
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They aren't talking rubbish because they don't know about it yet.
When I drop it off Saturday morning they will see straight away it isn't right.
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Steel is fine, but I wouldn't fancy riding ally forks on my local roads. The aluminium bikes I've ridden have been harsh as **** compared to my steel frames and my workmate's carbon Nelson.
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Yep. I never used to wear one but it feels very strange without it now. They have also saved the heads of two of my friends, so I tend to wear mine!
Personally I don't. And hate the fact I'm almost forced to wear them because of stupid drivers.
My main reason for not though is I hate the feeling it gives me, i don't feel open and relaxed when im cycling with a helmet on, commuting goes from a nice waking up breeze in the cool air to a sweaty race with cars up my arse
I always wear a helmet.
I crashed earlier this year and smashed my old one.
I landed on the back of my shoulder and didnt hit my head that hard really, but the helmet did its job and saved me from some extra bruises.
Even got 50% off the new one on crash replacement
I crashed earlier this year and smashed my old one.
I landed on the back of my shoulder and didnt hit my head that hard really, but the helmet did its job and saved me from some extra bruises.
Even got 50% off the new one on crash replacement
Soldato
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Without fail! A Giro Hex for commuting and a Kask Mojito for leisure riding.
I wouldn't ride without one. I wouldn't ride my motorbike without one and I wouldn't go without one in the course of my work ( firefighter ) so I absolutely fail to see any good reason not to wear one when cycling either on my road bike or my mountain bike. As for the usual sort of ridiculous 'but it's my right not to wear one - freedom of choice' argument that riders who refuse to wear one trot out whenever the subject is raised. It's just plain daft.
I'd be quite happy to see it made compulsory in the eyes of the law to ride with a helmet.
I'd be quite happy to see it made compulsory in the eyes of the law to ride with a helmet.
Soldato
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Same ^ I used to not wear one when I was younger as can probably be found in this thread somewhere.
I don't ride without one be it road bike, off road or commuting. The only times I hurt myself is when I least expect it. Last time I got concussion I was riding along a pavement on great western road to go for a train for work.
I don't ride without one be it road bike, off road or commuting. The only times I hurt myself is when I least expect it. Last time I got concussion I was riding along a pavement on great western road to go for a train for work.
Do you wear a helmet when you're driving, or maybe when you go to the pub? Both of these are more likely to result in a head injury than riding a bike.
Helmet compulsion is a very bad idea, as for the small amount of injuries it might save, more heath problems would be caused by the reduced numbers cycling. Cycling isn't dangerous and adding PPE requirements only makes it seem like it is to the general public.
For what it's worth I always use a helmet when mountain biking but if I'm out on the road or just having a pootle along the canal I don't bother.
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