Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
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It's small, it's a 20.5" - but bear in mind it's a TT frame so probably supposed to be low at the front with aero bars on it and a long seatpost like I ride it.[DOD]Asprilla;22865818 said:
![[Damien]](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Well thanks for the GPS ideas guys, but I went for the Garmin Edge 500 in the end.
I bought the standard one without HRM/sensors though, for about £170 from Evans.
I found out while setting it up, that the front part of the casing that has text on it with power/light, start/stop etc was upside down. So you'd have to press what the unit said was lap/reset, to actually turn it on.
I took it back, but they were out of stock on the standard version. Rather than get a refund I said I'd take the one with both sensors if they'd split the difference and call it £200.
I bought the standard one without HRM/sensors though, for about £170 from Evans.
I found out while setting it up, that the front part of the casing that has text on it with power/light, start/stop etc was upside down. So you'd have to press what the unit said was lap/reset, to actually turn it on.
I took it back, but they were out of stock on the standard version. Rather than get a refund I said I'd take the one with both sensors if they'd split the difference and call it £200.
Definitely. I noticed that the power button on the unit wasn't in the same place as on the pictures when I first got it but I thought it was those that were wrong, not the actual unit. I did unscrew it to see if I could just flip the relevant part but the front panel is one way fitting, but it's the outer bezel that was stuck on wrong.
Still, it meant I got some cash off of what I was originally considering buying anyway so it's all good.
They did offer me the red version with the premium HRM strap for £225 (before I pointed out that there was one of the standard ones with both sensors there) but I'm not paying an extra £25 quid for a different HRM strap.
Soldato
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Urgh, I'm useless at hills, hate headwinds and seemed to get stuck at every bloody single red light in South East London today, oh and then tower bridge closed on me to let some ruddy Brazilian naval ship out. Here's hoping for better next weekend...
Soldato
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I just did my first commute home on the road bike, smashed my best MTB time by 7+ mins 
I can not believe how much faster the road bike is, was concerned i would spend the money and not get much difference but im blown away!
Bit concerned about my heart rate 183 average and 203 max - as im 34 im sure it should be vastly lower, im blaming the technology as im not dead as yet
I can not believe how much faster the road bike is, was concerned i would spend the money and not get much difference but im blown away!
Bit concerned about my heart rate 183 average and 203 max - as im 34 im sure it should be vastly lower, im blaming the technology as im not dead as yet
I just did my first commute home on the road bike, smashed my best MTB time by 7+ mins
I can not believe how much faster the road bike is, was concerned i would spend the money and not get much difference but im blown away!
Bit concerned about my heart rate 183 average and 203 max - as im 34 im sure it should be vastly lower, im blaming the technology as im not dead as yet
I have similar figures and it concerned me too but I don't think it's too much to worry about, the 220 minus age is just a generic formula. I do tend to keep out of the 200's unless I am doing intervals though.
Don
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I got a good pump that i have attached to the frame, i use it on my MTB at the moment (but its designed for road goes upto 160 psi) and it inflates quick enough, dont think its a double pump though
Soldato
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It'll say it's good for 160 psi but you'll struggle to get past 100 with even the best mini pump.
Don
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Soldato
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Even the very best mini pumps are complete toilet next to a track pump. Once you get close to 100psi it just gets silly with a mini pump and I definitely wouldn't want to do it unless I had to - i.e getting a puncture when out.
Track pump is 100% essential purchase imo.
really? that sucks
A Micropump is only really suitable for emergencies. Because of the amount of time and effort to pump a tyre up to 100psi is considerable, plus i think the pump would wear out quite quick if you kept using for keeping the tyre at the correct pressure.
Someone once told me that the only reason to carry a minipump when out riding is to give you something to exercise your arm with whilst waiting for the wife to come and pick you up in the car. 
If anyone is in the market for a superb quality trackpump that doesn't break the bank, check out the Revolution Track Pump Pro from Edinburgh Bike Co-op. I've yet to use a better one:-
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-air-track-pump-pro
If anyone is in the market for a superb quality trackpump that doesn't break the bank, check out the Revolution Track Pump Pro from Edinburgh Bike Co-op. I've yet to use a better one:-
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-air-track-pump-pro
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Soldato
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I use a Barbieri Microbo CO2 inflator when I'm out. I've only had to use it once but it did the job and got me home - really tiny too.
I forget how much I paid but it was very little, cartridges are quite cheap as well if bought in 10/20 packs from eBay.
The other time I got a puncture I couldn't be arsed so I phoned my mum.
I forget how much I paid but it was very little, cartridges are quite cheap as well if bought in 10/20 packs from eBay.
The other time I got a puncture I couldn't be arsed so I phoned my mum.
I was actually just thinking of asking for some recommendations for a CO2 inflator.
I tend to stick a normal mini-pump in a jersey pocket for when I'm out on my Road Bike for emergencies. Using strong puncture resistant tyres, I've not had to resort to using it very often. I'm planning on entering a couple of Sportives in a few weeks time, which made me realise that if I did puncture, messing about with a pump which won't even reach the correct inflation would be a huge waste of time.
It would also be useful on my mountain bike, as despite the lower pressures, I run tubeless which requires high pressure to create a seal to get the tyre on.
I tend to stick a normal mini-pump in a jersey pocket for when I'm out on my Road Bike for emergencies. Using strong puncture resistant tyres, I've not had to resort to using it very often. I'm planning on entering a couple of Sportives in a few weeks time, which made me realise that if I did puncture, messing about with a pump which won't even reach the correct inflation would be a huge waste of time.
It would also be useful on my mountain bike, as despite the lower pressures, I run tubeless which requires high pressure to create a seal to get the tyre on.
M-part CO2 pump is very good as it screws onto the valve and has its own valve to control flow. It's also one of, if not the cheapest CO2 pumps you can buy:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/17178/MPart-Micro-CO2--Pump--inc--2-Cartridges-.html
Parker now want a minimum £30 order for free delivery so I don't doubt you could find it somewhere cheaper including delivery.
-edit- here a bit more but free delivery:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.M-Part-Micro-Co2-Pump-Including-2-X-16-gram-Cartridges_35410.htm
£1 cheaper:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0037SGK...de=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B0037SGKBA
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I'm impressed with this Edge 500. It's way more accurate than my phone (obviously). Got a couple of PR's on my commute which I'm happy about now that it's being recorded correctly.
I averaged 19mph this morning which in morning traffic I don't reckon is too bad, considering I'm 15st and love cake.
The calories burned on Strava (728) aren't matching what the Edge/Garmin Connect says (568) but I'm not too fussed about that. Strange though - http://app.strava.com/runs/23672342
I averaged 19mph this morning which in morning traffic I don't reckon is too bad, considering I'm 15st and love cake.
The calories burned on Strava (728) aren't matching what the Edge/Garmin Connect says (568) but I'm not too fussed about that. Strange though - http://app.strava.com/runs/23672342
Thanks for this, just grabbed one. I took my mini pump back because it was almost impossible to get a decent PSI using it - bought myself a track pump and one of these for carrying with me.
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