Road Cycling Essentials

Mr Jones · 28 Jun 2013 at 17:34

Z e e b R a a said:
Edit; Recommendations for a jersey/jacket? I'm having to use that pack thing to carry my phone to use strava.

I wear an Endura FS260
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/endura/fs260-pro-short-sleeve-jersey-ec033395

And when it's a little chilly, I have the long sleeve version which is not OoS.

Very comfortable, with zippable pocket where I store my phone (Nokia Lumia 920, so any phone smaller than that fits in the pocket comfortably).

If you don't want that pack thing, why not get a saddle bag?

Vonhelmet · 28 Jun 2013 at 17:36

Really hoping it stops raining by tomorrow morning... It should stop by about 9pm. Fingers crossed.

daveski · 28 Jun 2013 at 17:41

I'm hoping the same, tonights commute was crappy.

Jonny69 · 28 Jun 2013 at 18:10

Calling Murf!

CALLING MURF!

Your CCCP cycling jersey - how tall are you and what size did you get fella?

platypus · 28 Jun 2013 at 18:50

Hmm I'm trying to adjust my front derailleur, but turning the L/H screws is having zero effect. Any ideas?

[Damien] · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:21

platypus said:
Hmm I'm trying to adjust my front derailleur, but turning the L/H screws is having zero effect. Any ideas?

Unless you're trying to stop the derailleur from going too far either way then I'm not sure why you're adjusting those. Surely adjusting the position the derailleur is in at a particular setting on shifter is down to the cable.

Have you tried using the barrel adjustors and/or setting the cable length where it attaches to the derailleur itself?

platypus · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:23

Well the derailleur is too close to the chain on the top chainring. Doesn't adjusting the top limit screw move it millimetres?

Vonhelmet · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:28

You should be able to use the H screw to move the dérailleur out a bit, yeah.

[Damien] · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:29

platypus said:
Well the derailleur is too close to the chain on the top chainring. Doesn't adjusting the top limit screw move it millimetres?

No, it only sets the outer limits, same as on the rear one. If it's too far towards the frame on the big ring and tightening the cable does nothing, then yeah, it's the limit screw. If you're just trying to trim the derailleur so it doesn't rub the chain but the limit screw isn't preventing it from moving, then it's definitely the cable.

Z e e b R a a · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:40

Mr Jones said:
If you don't want that pack thing, why not get a saddle bag?

Thought about a fizik bag now i got the arione but hate the look of them aha. And i could do with a jersey to carry a tube and stuff. Currently just wear a hoodie.

platypus said:
Hmm I'm trying to adjust my front derailleur, but turning the L/H screws is having zero effect. Any ideas?

what needs adjusting? The hi and low screws are just limiter screws so you dont over/under shift offof the chainset. It also has to be on the highest or lowest sprocket while using the appropriate limiter screw otherwise it appears to do nothing.

Z e e b R a a · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:42

Also, as long as the chain isnt rubbing the front mech its fine.

Mr Jones · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:55

Z e e b R a a said:
Thought about a fizik bag now i got the arione but hate the look of them aha. And i could do with a jersey to carry a tube and stuff. Currently just wear a hoodie.

Definitely get a Jersey, wearing a hoddie for a long ride, you must be mafting by the end!

BTW, I won't give up my saddle bag for aesthetic reasons. It's brilliant for carrying tools, tubes, repair kit, plaster and even KFC wet wipes when out on a long run.

Couple of weeks back, I fell and grazed my knee. Saddle bag of essentials to the rescue.

platypus · 28 Jun 2013 at 19:59

Ye the chain is rubbing the front mech with the chain on certain sprockets.

touch · 28 Jun 2013 at 20:15

The limit screws will only make a difference if the derailleur is on the limit. If its not moving up far enough because the cable is too slack, then adjusting the screws wont change anything.

Move the derailleur up (big ring) as far as you can with the shifter, when it's as far as it will go, give the cable a tug with your finger. Does the derailleur move? If it moves further, the cable is too slack. If it doesnt move, it's resting on the limit screw. See if you can find a manual online to make sure you're turning the right screw in the right direction. Loosen the upper limit screw a few turns and try tugging the cable again.

6thElement · 28 Jun 2013 at 23:26

It won't move it if the cable is already too tight.

InQ · 28 Jun 2013 at 23:28

5 weeks off the bike (enforced!) so my first spin out tomorrow in a while, will be interesting to see how slow/knackered i am!
Going to take it easy and do 20 miles or so and not too much climbing (~1000ft).

Just heard a friend of mine went into the back of a stationary police car this morning (wasnt looking where he was going!) when it was stopped in a dashed cycle lane (think it had pulled someone over, you wouldnt park on the road it was stopped).
He went through the back window but luckily "only" got away with a broken wrist, hole in his knee from the handlebar end apparently (ops on both tomorrow) and some cuts and bruises.
Cop car had a big dent in the back and his carbon Boardman which he has had a week (Cycle to work scheme, not sure he has insured it) is apparently snapped in half!

Thought it was odd on Strava that his ride didnt quite reach work and disappeared back in the opposite direction onto the Mway and ended in town but i didnt zoom in so didnt realise it ended at the hospital!! (he left his iphone on, guess uploading hos ride wasnt the first thing on his mind when in the back of the cop car!).

Think i'll take it easy tomorrow.... :eek:

touch · 28 Jun 2013 at 23:44

6thElement said:
It won't move it if the cable is already too tight.

He said that the derailleur was too close to the chain when he was the top ring. So it wont be because the cable is too tight, that would only happen in the bottom ring.
(unless you can get a 'rapid-rise' front derailleur? I'v never seen one of those though.)

[DOD]Asprilla · 28 Jun 2013 at 23:53

Can any of you mancunian types tell me the best way to ride from Manchester Piccadilly to Media City?

One More Solo · 29 Jun 2013 at 00:06

I don't think there's going to be a particularly pleasant way to do it. I've ridden out the A57 in that direction and it's not that bad with some cycle paths along the way. I expect the traffic will be fairly slow moving in the morning but can't say for sure.

Someone might have a better suggestion.

Jonny ///M · 29 Jun 2013 at 00:10

Best thing to do is just start from scratch with the gears because the L screw may appear to do nothing as it's being held by the cable tension and the H screw may appear to do nothing as the mech lacks the tension to push against it.

Take the cable out the equation, make sure the mech is parallel to the chainring, a few mm above the chainring and whilst in 1st gear at the back/small ring up front use the L screw to set the mech cage to be about 1mm away from the chain and make sure it isn't rubbing.

Pull the cable hand tight and clamp it up, go to your smallest cog on the back and pull the cable through by hand to see how it goes up to the big ring. If it doesn't then wind the H screw out 1/4 turn at a time. Once you do that then shift it using the lever and see how it is now. As touch said if you can pull the wire and the mech moves then you'll most likely need more tension on the cable using the adjuster on the frame/in line adjuster.

When in the big ring and small cog at the back you're looking for that 1mm clearance between the mech cage and chain.

If your chain has came off during a bad shift it's possible to have bent the out plate out a bit so make sure it all looks in line.

Edit: If it's rubbing whilst on the small ring and any of the smallest 3 cogs at the back that is normal. Same for biggest ring up front with the top 3 easy gears at the back. You have a small trim function build in to the shifter if you move the shifter a small amount you will feel it.

Road Cycling Essentials

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