Road Cycling Essentials

touch · 12 Jul 2013 at 11:10

Darryl_1983 said:
It will be my first Road bike, so I'm also a little concerned with sizing but think a Large (58) should be ok. I'm 6'2'', think my inside leg measurement is between 33" and 34". I'm sure i've come across a sizing calculator on there website in the past, but cant find it at the minute.

I'm sligtly over 6foot and i ride a "L (58)" canyon. It fits me perfectly. However the geometry of my bike is much longer and lower than the roadlite.
My bike in size L (58), compared to a roadlite in the same size, has:
55cm seattube where the roadlite is 57cm
57cm top tube where the roadlite is 55cm

So, the bikes probably dont compare very well, but the canyon calculator worked for me.
You'll need to enter all of the sizes into the calculator again in the order process.

[Damien] · 12 Jul 2013 at 11:56

Darryl_1983 said:
Has anyone used the Cycle to work scheme to purchase a bike from Canyon? I fancy getting the Roadlite AL 6.0

My company have offered to set up a scheme if i want to purchase a bike with it.

It will be my first Road bike, so I'm also a little concerned with sizing but think a Large (58) should be ok. I'm 6'2'', think my inside leg measurement is between 33" and 34". I'm sure i've come across a sizing calculator on there website in the past, but cant find it at the minute.

You can't use the bike to work scheme to get a bike from a non-UK supplier like Canyon (you can from Ireland though afaik).

Jonny69 · 12 Jul 2013 at 12:23

Got in an epic commuter race last night on the way home. I caught this guy up on the bypass but he was riding along at a decent lick so I was happy to sit behind him. As usual, once he realised I was there he sped up and I just continued. I couldn't be bothered to push him along and I wasn't up for overtaking because it was Thursday night and I still had Friday to ride ahead of me.

So we were sitting at a set of lights and as the lights changed this other guy behind me (I didn't know he was there), clipped in but wearing trousers and a high end sports rucksack, jumped out the saddle and went past us both, then proceeded to go off like the clappers as best he could. I couldn't be bothered to get involved but the guy in front of me decided to race off with him and I caught them up after a few seconds and sat with them. Next set of lights we've got trouser man up front, the guy I'd been following in the middle and me at the back. Guy in front was clearly eggy and they were both eager to play the game. Lights went green, they both set off clipping in and clicking away at their gears and I shoved my foot in the toeclip and dragged up behind them. The guy in front of me went to overtake, got his front wheel level and trouser man jumped out the saddle and was flailing his bike around in a full sprint. This was too much for me, no cars coming (plus I needed my points back) and I nailed everything I had into my big gearing and tore past the pair of them, saddled, and spun off down the road at uncomfortable fixed gear rpms. So yeah, three abreast drag racing at 5:45pm on a Thursday. FUN

Darryl_1983 · 12 Jul 2013 at 12:36

[Damien];24599002 said:
You can't use the bike to work scheme to get a bike from a non-UK supplier like Canyon (you can from Ireland though afaik).

I'd seen conflicting info elsewhere, which is why i was asking if anyone had done it, or know of it being done. If that's the case that's fine. I'm still trying to weigh up what my best option is, has i'm not restricted to using the cycle to work scheme, would just be nice to save a little on the purchase, as i've got that option there.

I've also been looking at the Ribble bikes, mainly the winter trainer bike and the steel framed bike, but i'm a little lost with specing them up. I'd perfer either the new sora groupset or a tiagra groupset in 10 speed, with compact chainset. Wheels are probably the biggest question mark for me though, the special build bikes look good spec wise but the wheelset are limited, I think from what i've read previously that the Fulcrum Racing 7 would be the best budget set for my needs (commuting/longer weekend rides in all weather + 14-15 stone rider)?

Kona Zing on CRC cycles caught my eye this morning as a cheap alternative, but i'm thinking i'd probably soon be wanting to upgrade things like the wheels and possibly the drivetrain, which might get expensive. And i've not done any research into the quality of the frame and forks, I guess i just like the look of it.

I've only just decided that i want a road bike having contemplated replacing my commuter bike (mtb with rigid carbon fork and slick) last year, and i've not really research much. Budget wise i wouldn't really want to be spending much more than the Canyon at roughly £900 assuming i can get it on the C2W scheme. But ideally I'd be wanting to spend a little less than that as the misses isn't best pleased i'm wanting another bike, so the Ribble bikes at around £600-£700 are currently at the top of my list.

Anything else i should look at?

I guess i need to make sure that i can fit guards too, due to the commuting duties.

grudas · 12 Jul 2013 at 12:45

Jonny69 said:
Got in an epic commuter race last night on the way home. I caught this guy up on the bypass but he was riding along at a decent lick so I was happy to sit behind him. As usual, once he realised I was there he sped up and I just continued. I couldn't be bothered to push him along and I wasn't up for overtaking because it was Thursday night and I still had Friday to ride ahead of me.

So we were sitting at a set of lights and as the lights changed this other guy behind me (I didn't know he was there), clipped in but wearing trousers and a high end sports rucksack, jumped out the saddle and went past us both, then proceeded to go off like the clappers as best he could. I couldn't be bothered to get involved but the guy in front of me decided to race off with him and I caught them up after a few seconds and sat with them. Next set of lights we've got trouser man up front, the guy I'd been following in the middle and me at the back. Guy in front was clearly eggy and they were both eager to play the game. Lights went green, they both set off clipping in and clicking away at their gears and I shoved my foot in the toeclip and dragged up behind them. The guy in front of me went to overtake, got his front wheel level and trouser man jumped out the saddle and was flailing his bike around in a full sprint. This was too much for me, no cars coming (plus I needed my points back) and I nailed everything I had into my big gearing and tore past the pair of them, saddled, and spun off down the road at uncomfortable fixed gear rpms. So yeah, three abreast drag racing at 5:45pm on a Thursday. FUN

happens a lot on my way home..

start of jan i had a good race with one guy for like 2 miles we raced like crazy.. but at the same time stopped at redlights and so on! and then at the end of one hill we had a short chat and he gave me a pat on the back for keeping up/staying ahead of him lol, he was covered in lycra and i was in my burgundy jeans lol.

uniQ · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:08

Swapped the C50's out for the C24's ready for some hills and took them out for a quick spin to check gears/indexing etc. Forgot how awesome they really are. Almost makes me wan't to sell both and get an aero set as light as the C24's and just have one wheelset.

Jonny69 · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:24

grudas said:
happens a lot on my way home.. start of jan i had a good race with one guy for like 2 miles we raced like crazy.. but at the same time stopped at redlights and so on! and then at the end of one hill we had a short chat and he gave me a pat on the back for keeping up/staying ahead of him lol, he was covered in lycra and i was in my burgundy jeans lol.

That's awesome :cool:

There's not been that many fast cyclists on my route until the weather turned nice. There are a lot of guys out for scalps at the moment though, but a lot of them look like they're trying a bit too hard

PermaChanged · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:29

uniQ said:
Swapped the C50's out for the C24's ready for some hills and took them out for a quick spin to check gears/indexing etc. Forgot how awesome they really are. Almost makes me wan't to sell both and get an aero set as light as the C24's and just have one wheelset.

I would love a set of these - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mad-fiber-carbon-tubular-wheelset/

1085 grams for a 60/66mm wheelset - yes please! If only they looked a bit better!

Vonhelmet · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:36

[Damien];24599002 said:
You can't use the bike to work scheme to get a bike from a non-UK supplier like Canyon (you can from Ireland though afaik).

Darryl_1983 said:
I'd seen conflicting info elsewhere, which is why i was asking if anyone had done it, or know of it being done.

Full disclosure: I'm a tax adviser.

I can't see anything in the legislation of the HMRC guidance to say that you can't get a bike from an overseas supplier on the cycle to work scheme. The employer just has to provide a bike in some way. It doesn't say how or where from. They could steal it for all the legislation cares.

However... There may be non income tax related reasons why it may be undesirable for employers to provide bikes from overseas companies. That could be down to VAT/import duty, or consumer credit licenses, or any number of other things.

It's not a limitation of the scheme itself that I can see, though.

uniQ · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:39

Rusty_Noob said:
I would love a set of these - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mad-fiber-carbon-tubular-wheelset/

1085 grams for a 60/66mm wheelset - yes please! If only they looked a bit better!

Shame their tubs though. OK for race day but wouldn't fancy them as an every day wheelset.

e: If money was no object I would buy some 'Lightweight' clinchers. £3.4k and they come in at 1180g

topgun06 · 12 Jul 2013 at 13:52

Gaaa they're good looking wheels.

I'm starting to peruse the market for a replacement wheel set. Mine are getting pretty old and by looking at the braking surface, you can tell.

grudas · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:02

my front r501 is unable to hold up to london streets..

had my spokes go poof twice now.. rear is fine, i guess 20 spoke rims for london is not the best idea.

touch · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:12

uniQ said:
Shame their tubs though. OK for race day but wouldn't fancy them as an every day wheelset.

e: If money was no object I would buy some 'Lightweight' clinchers. £3.4k and they come in at 1180g

They are almost £1k more than the mad fibers. You could buy a brand new tub every time you puncture and still be better off.

PermaChanged · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:16

If I remember rightly Mad Fiber were developing a clincher version.

Edit: Looks like they already have, and their updated decals look nicer too! https://madfiber.com/clincher

Shamrock · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:16

The Lightweights look classy and the Mad Fibers look a bit chav.

What about Zipp 303s?

uniQ · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:17

It's not the price of tubs, it's the time/effort it takes to change/repair them compared to clinchers.

Hence:

OK for race day but wouldn't fancy them as an every day wheelset.

+

If money was no object

As I don't have any intention of spending that sort of money on some wheels.

uniQ · 12 Jul 2013 at 14:18

Haven't bought any cycling bits for "ages" so treated myself to these from the states

platypus · 12 Jul 2013 at 15:12

Ok I am all for the rules and what have you, along with frivilous purchases left right and centre but I don't match my shoes to my bike

.

uniQ · 12 Jul 2013 at 15:20

That's because you ride a Halfords special

ShiWarrior · 12 Jul 2013 at 17:13

hey guys, im back from France, and if u wanted to nosey, I've upload a couple of pics in the spoilers section

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