Road Cycling Essentials

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nydryl said:
New tyre time. I currently use the cheap cheap Schwalbe Luganos and was considering a step up to a budget of around £50 for a pair. I'd thought about the GP4000S or would the Gatorskins, or anything else for that matter, be better? Also, is there likely to be a noticable difference between these more expensive tyres to the cheaper ones I use now?
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Michelin Pron Service Course tyres. Used 'em for years.
 
Well tonight's ride was short lived.

Had a roller session planned, got half way through and it was getting a lot harder than expected. I had a tough ride yesterday so thought perhaps was just feeling it a bit from that. Another 5 minutes and that was enough, had a look backwards and my rear tyres almost flat.....

I've been using the Park self adhesive patches, but they don't seem to last longer than a couple of months. Having the hole in the tube central in the patch, over time it lifts as the glue around it ages, then one edge will lift enough to let the air out and bingo, punctures back and the tubes duff as a sticky residue remains where the patch was.

I need some new tubes and patches, what others are worth trying. The parks would be good for an emergency on the road as there's no messing around with glue etc, but not a long term solution. I'm not flush enough to use a new tube each time!
 
Hmm Wiggle won't price match the Ultegra cassette because one of the competitors (I gave them a list of three) doesn't have it in stock. Oh well I shall order from CRC and trust they post it this week..

back to my earlier post though: any ideas if am I going to experience chain length issues with a 28t rear cog on a 111 link chain (shortened from 116 for a compact/12-25)?
 
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Berger said:
I need some new tubes and patches, what others are worth trying. The parks would be good for an emergency on the road as there's no messing around with glue etc, but not a long term solution. I'm not flush enough to use a new tube each time!
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Take a spare tube (or 2) with you each ride. Swap tubes when you puncture, fix punctured tubes when you get home and put them back in the pile of spares for next ride.

A quick road-side repair with a self-adhesive patch will never be as good as a proper repair when you have time to do it later at home, especially if it's raining or windy and blowing dust around.
 
platypus said:
Hmm Wiggle won't price match the Ultegra cassette because one of the competitors (I gave them a list of three) doesn't have it in stock. Oh well I shall order from CRC and trust they post it this week..

back to my earlier post though: any ideas if am I going to experience chain length issues with a 28t rear cog on a 111 link chain (shortened from 116 for a compact/12-25)?
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Depends how long your chainstays are and how much slack you left in it originally, surely? :p

Might be tight though as the 28t is a decent step up in size from the 25t.

New cassette should be changed with a new chain anyway right, to avoid premature wear of the cassette?
 
Sure I know but the 12-25 cassette and chain are pretty new as well, and I don't really want to be changing chain every time I change wheels. Humm. I really do want to try a 28 rear cog for the hills but if its going to be a pita I guess I'll need to get by on the 12-25.
 
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touch said:
Take a spare tube (or 2) with you each ride. Swap tubes when you puncture, fix punctured tubes when you get home and put them back in the pile of spares for next ride.

A quick road-side repair with a self-adhesive patch will never be as good as a proper repair when you have time to do it later at home, especially if it's raining or windy and blowing dust around.
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I take a spare tube with me, it makes sure I never get a flat when I'm out!
 
platypus said:
Sure I know but the 12-25 cassette and chain are pretty new as well, and I don't really want to be changing chain every time I change wheels. Humm. I really do want to try a 28 rear cog for the hills but if its going to be a pita I guess I'll need to get by on the 12-25.
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you'll be fine with a 28t cassette provided you remember not to shift onto the 28 when using the big ring.

Total chain length will not be a problem in the smaller ring. And if you're in a place where you need a 28, the big ring will have gone out the window some distance back....
 
What overshoes do people use? Last winter I used winter socks with toe covers but it wasn't really good enough for keeping my toes warm.

I swear every single overshoe has a review praising them for comfort, fit, warmth etc and then another slating them on the same points!
 
BBB Ultra Flex or BBB Arctic Conditions.

I also wear shoes half a size bigger in winter so that I can get Wooly Boolie socks on without restricting my circulation - if your shoes are tight then you get less blood in there and your feet get colder.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;24883448 said:
BBB Ultra Flex or BBB Arctic Conditions.

I also wear shoes half a size bigger in winter so that I can get Wooly Boolie socks on without restricting my circulation - if your shoes are tight then you get less blood in there and your feet get colder.
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I wear BBB artic overshoes, I tried some Louia? Garnouea ones first, they weren't as good as the BBB ones I got now much thicker
 
Wahey my new 6800 groupset has arrived... just in time for the end of summer :p

Should I put it on now and subject it to a winter of grit, or keep the old one until Spring? Do I have that much patience? :(
 
Saytan said:
you'll be fine with a 28t cassette provided you remember not to shift onto the 28 when using the big ring.

Total chain length will not be a problem in the smaller ring. And if you're in a place where you need a 28, the big ring will have gone out the window some distance back....
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Makes sense.

Shamrock said:
What overshoes do people use? Last winter I used winter socks with toe covers but it wasn't really good enough for keeping my toes warm.

I swear every single overshoe has a review praising them for comfort, fit, warmth etc and then another slating them on the same points!
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I have some Endura ones that are made of neoprene, takes ages for water to soak through but it does eventually. They've lasted three seasons but are now beginning to fall apart so will prob replace them this year. For the price (£15) can't fault them though.
 
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