Road Cycling Essentials

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:37

Vonhelmet said:
Hnnnnnggggghhh.

Dat colour. Dem lugz.

Hetchins made beautiful bikes. It's one of my saved searches on ebay.

They usually have curly stays. Pinarello's design is nothing new.

http://www.hetchins.org/403.htm

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:37

platypus said:
Could get that for the L'Eroica!

I would dearly love to own an oooold steel Bianchi with ooooold Campagnolo gear on it.

InQ · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:37

Next Thursday I am going to Manchester Velodrome for a 1 hour session with some work collegues, has anyone been?
If so what i can expect in the hour eg do you just ride round or is it more structured than that?

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:39

InQ said:
Next Thursday I am going to Manchester Velodrome for a 1 hour session with some work collegues, has anyone been?
If so what i can expect in the hour eg do you just ride round or is it more structured than that?

I know Damien has ridden at the Manchester Velodrome.

Altaz · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:40

Vonhelmet said:
Is it for commuting or just general use? Or both? Have you got much experience on a road bike? Are you putting the full £1k towards the bike?

It for commuting and i plan to join a club as well. I currently have a hardtail but i have never commuted on it. My main goal is to prepare myself for a charity ride next year from Brussels to London.

I don't have to use the whole £1k, so anything under that amount is good. I've had a look at the Chris Hoy bike, but it seems some of the parts are not up to scratch. I was looking for something with the Shimano 105, but Evans doesn't have much choice in my price range. I was to go down a groupset, which would be next?

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:47

Altaz said:
It for commuting and i plan to join a club as well. I currently have a hardtail but i have never commuted on it. My main goal is to prepare myself for a charity ride next year from Brussels to London.

I don't have to use the whole £1k, so anything under that amount is good. I've had a look at the Chris Hoy bike, but it seems some of the parts are not up to scratch. I was looking for something with the Shimano 105, but Evans doesn't have much choice in my price range. I was to go down a groupset, which would be next?

Sora would be next down.

105 is very rare below £1000 from most manufacturers these days, unfortunately.

I'd looks at Specialized Allex, Bianchi Via Narone and Genesis Equilibrium.

The Genesis is my favourite out of those. I think it's just got a bit more character.

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:50

Altaz said:
It for commuting and i plan to join a club as well. I currently have a hardtail but i have never commuted on it. My main goal is to prepare myself for a charity ride next year from Brussels to London.

I don't have to use the whole £1k, so anything under that amount is good. I've had a look at the Chris Hoy bike, but it seems some of the parts are not up to scratch. I was looking for something with the Shimano 105, but Evans doesn't have much choice in my price range. I was to go down a groupset, which would be next?

Within Shimano, the next one down would be Tiagra, then Sora, then 2300, then Tourney. SRAM and Campagnolo groupsets are pretty much outside your price bracket, and Evans don't have much with those on anyway, so we'll not worry about that. You don't want Tourney or 2300. Sora 2013 is acceptable, but there's no reason to go for it. Tiagra is good entry level stuff, and Evans will have plenty with that on in your price bracket.

If you limit your price to £1k, there are quite a lot of good bikes available.

This looks a pretty good bet http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/sportif-11-compact-2014-road-bike-ec053263

This is a 2012 model with an unconventional frame, but it's well equipped: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/streetracer-sr01-105-triple-2012-road-bike-ec031072

Genesis Volant is very nice, but you're paying a premium for it coming off the back of the equilibrium that Asprilla has mentioned: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/streetracer-sr01-105-triple-2012-road-bike-ec031072

Cinelli with Campagnolo for under a grand http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cinelli/experience-veloce-2013-road-bike-ec046635

Disco Boy · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:54

Vonhelmet said:
65 year old bike, anyone?

Ugly as, can't you see the dork disk?

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:55

Vonhelmet said:
Genesis Volant is very nice, but you're paying a premium for it coming off the back of the equilibrium that Asprilla has mentioned: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/streetracer-sr01-105-triple-2012-road-bike-ec031072

I was going to suggest the Volant, but the Equilibrium is just a much better frame (steel v aluminium arguments start here).

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 11:59

[DOD]Asprilla;24869785 said:
I was going to suggest the Volant, but the Equilibrium is just a much better frame (steel v aluminium arguments start here).

Genuine question... Why better?

Altaz · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:01

Thanks for the help everyone, the Genesis looks like a winner, but i am worried about the extra weight of the steel frame.

Shamrock · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:04

The extra weight won't make any difference unless you have to carry your bike up stairs a lot.

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:07

I doubt it would be more than half a key heavier than a comparable aluminium bike. I wouldn't worry about it.

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:10

Vonhelmet said:
Genuine question... Why better?

Personal opinion. It's a very, very good steel frame and everyone I know with one wouldn't swap it for the world.

The Volante is not a standout aluminium frame.

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:13

Scratch my last; I didn't realise the Equilibrium 00 was a different frame to the 10 and 20. That's sneaky by Genesis.

The 00 is 520 steel whilst the 10 and 20 are 725.

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:15

[DOD]Asprilla;24869915 said:
Scratch my last; I didn't realise the Equilibrium 00 was a different frame to the 10 and 20. That's sneaky by Genesis.

The 00 is 520 steel whilst the 10 and 20 are 725.

Treachery!

Shamrock · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:20

My ride on Saturday showed me my Rose doesn't quite have "all day comfort", at least not for 10 hours in the saddle.

I think my reach to the hoods is slightly too long by a tiny amount compared to my other bikes but I'm not sure how I can reduce it.

- Moving the saddle forward isn't an option as it causes knee pain.
- Stem is 90mm so I don't fancy making it 80mm as it'll probably be too twitchy.
- Bars are 40cm, I could fit 38cm to decrease reach but my bars are £180 to replace!
- Saddle is at optimum height so I don't want to lower it.
- Not replacing the frame!

My question is would lowering my stem by swapping out my final spacer for a shorter one effectively reduce my reach to the hoods? I know it'd increase my saddle to bar drop, but I think it would also bring the hoods a bit closer?

grudas · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:21

chanjy said:
What a nutter grudas.. hilarious! That park is usually ok, right?

yup, never had problems.. bar shouting chavs, horny 11 year olds trying to chat you up as you cycle past and so on its not THAT bad.. pepper spray is something new for sure!

[DOD]Asprilla · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:23

Unless your hoods are higher than the saddle then surely lowering the stem on the steerer is just going to move the bars further away.

Can you flip the stem? That should move the bars up and reduce the distance.

Thomas. PLease. · 2 Sep 2013 at 12:25

Anyone see Fernando Alonso has just bought the Euskaltel cycling team, and is set to build a new team.