Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
FrenchTart said:
A few of us are looking to cycle London to Paris this year (or possibly the reverse). Has anyone done it before and/or have tips?

http://london2paris.co.uk/routes/3-day-cycle-routes/

I would kind of prefer to take the chunnel rather than the ferry given some of the annoyances I've heard about with ferries and cyclists. Price would also be somewhat lower too. So far I've not found much info for routes involving the chunnel though.
Click to expand...

A group of 8 of us did London-newhaven-Dieppe-Paris last summer. It was great fun, set off on Friday after work, took the overnight ferry and ended up in Paris Saturday afternoon. Really enjoyed it, minus the obscene number of punctures gatorskins caused us!
 
SkodaMart said:
Why are Specialized Allez bikes around the £400 mark second hand?

Nothing from any other manufacturer represents such value.

I'm kicking myself about my 2004 Cannondale CAAD5 now, cracking frame, hand made in the USA.

Second hand Treks for example are at least £200 more with the same groupset.
Click to expand...

Boardman Team Carbon with SRAM Rival from 2009-10, circa £500-600 on ebay.
I'm riding my wifes Allez at the moment but the Boardman is better, had a couple of them over the years.
 
olv said:
A group of 8 of us did London-newhaven-Dieppe-Paris last summer. It was great fun, set off on Friday after work, took the overnight ferry and ended up in Paris Saturday afternoon. Really enjoyed it, minus the obscene number of punctures gatorskins caused us!
Click to expand...

Hmm..kind of worrying as I'm on gatorskins :p

edit: I think we'll be taking it a fair bit slower too. Some of us cycle quite a bit but others don't cycle much at all and tbh I don't want to absolutely kill myself on the first long distance cycle I do.
 
InQ said:
Boardman Team Carbon with SRAM Rival from 2009-10, circa £500-600 on ebay.
I'm riding my wifes Allez at the moment but the Boardman is better, had a couple of them over the years.
Click to expand...

definitely don't want a carbon bike thanks.

I should really get the Specialized secteur but the groupset is awful on them.
 
I ran Panaracer Passelas through winter years ago, they held up well.

I wouldn't use any tyre without puncture protection.
 
I wanted to get the gatorskin hardshells rather than regular but I've been a bit anal about trying to keep my bike under 10kg weight. I should probably just let that go :p
 
I find gatorskins to be pretty decent (first pair ~4k), so much so I bought a second pair that have probably seen 2k miles now without punctures.
 
Help!

Secteur or Allez?

My heart says Allez my head and back say Secteur!

Wheelbase is very short on Allez with a 74 degree head angle = razor sharp handling.

Secteur is more a fast tourer/audax with a longer wheelbase and slacker head angle 72 degrees.
 
SkodaMart said:
Help!

Secteur or Allez?

My heart says Allez my head and back say Secteur!

Wheelbase is very short on Allez with a 74 degree head angle = razor sharp handling.

Secteur is more a fast tourer/audax with a longer wheelbase and slacker head angle 72 degrees.
Click to expand...

I bought the secteur equivalent in carbon
got a fit done, and now It looks more like the allez lol


IMAG0157_zpsb77a96fd.jpg
 
Looks awesome!
You do still have the benefits of the elastomers and longer wheelbase/slacker angles.

74 head is hardcore
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ShiWarrior said:
I love it

not been out since I've been fitted, but when It was stock, I love it mate, and I wouldn't change it, such a great bike
Click to expand...

I've had a spinal fusion op, I really think it's probably the bike for me.

Keep us updated with how your fit went, looks very racy.
 
SkodaMart said:
I've had a spinal fusion op, I really think it's probably the bike for me.

Keep us updated with how your fit went, looks very racy.
Click to expand...

in that case, i would speak to a fitter, if you get fitted on there device and tell them about your spinal fusion

you can call them up at any time your looking for a bike, and they will tell you what's best suited to you

its worth having a chat with a fitter even if you don't get a bike fit done


https://www.retul.com/find-a-fitter/#/United Kingdom
 
ShiWarrior said:
in that case, i would speak to a fitter, if you get fitted on there device and tell them about your spinal fusion

you can call them up at any time your looking for a bike, and they will tell you what's best suited to you

its worth having a chat with a fitter even if you don't get a bike fit done


https://www.retul.com/find-a-fitter/#/United Kingdom
Click to expand...

Thanks for that.

Can't wait to hear how you like your bike.
you have absolutely nothing to loose as should you find it too racy, it's a simple job to raise the bars a bit.
 
SkodaMart said:
Thanks for that.

Can't wait to hear how you like your bike.
you have absolutely nothing to loose as should you find it too racy, it's a simple job to raise the bars a bit.
Click to expand...

thanks

well, he changed the stem from 100mm to 130mm. lowered it, and moved my saddle up and back lol

That bike wont be hitting the roads anytime soon, I wont use it in this weather, I use my CX bike at the moment
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom