Road Cycling Essentials

The1nonly1 · 16 May 2014 at 19:10

New Bike time and i've been looking at these 3. All carbon with at least Shimano 105 or better groupset. Which is the best option? (I prefer the Planet X and Ribble Gran Fondo to the Moser.)

Planet X Pro Carbon - £999.99
Moser Bikes 111 105 – £858.99
Ribble Gran Fondo Shimano - £1022.90

Or is their something better. Looking to pay no more than £1000 (apart from the Ribble Bike). Forks don't have to be carbon but I would prefer it.

FrenchTart · 16 May 2014 at 19:27

Pretty hard to argue with the PX Pro Carbon at that price point to be honest...

Vonhelmet · 16 May 2014 at 19:44

The Gran Fondo is a very nice frame, though.

grudas · 16 May 2014 at 19:45

Nothing better than PX at that price.. I'm getting one soon

I've looked and looked and looked and I guess the closest I could get for performance/price is one of the ROSE bikes.. But PX still has a better group set!

The1nonly1 · 16 May 2014 at 19:56

Vonhelmet said:
The Gran Fondo is a very nice frame, though.

It's definitely the best looking one out of all 3

The1nonly1 · 16 May 2014 at 19:56

grudas said:
Nothing better than PX at that price.. I'm getting one soon I've looked and looked and looked and I guess the closest I could get for performance/price is one of the ROSE bikes.. But PX still has a better group set!

Yes the groupset swings in its favour.

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 May 2014 at 20:08

divaboy said:
£560 all in with tyres fitted and they swapped the cassette over for me. Can get them cheaper online but like to support local shops and I like the fact I can pop over there and they'll do various maintenance on my bike for free/cheap

Cheers for the top tip with the pump! 25 ml as a top up say every 3 months?

How much do you use for a new tyre?

25ml for a new tyre.

Just have the tyre off and empty it and top it up again. It coagulates on the inside if the tyre, like a clot, so it's worth cleaning out every so often.

ShiWarrior · 16 May 2014 at 20:14

The1nonly1 said:
It's definitely the best looking one out of all 3

for sure !

Derek W · 16 May 2014 at 21:12

Fairly flat run for me this evening but i think I'm improving, slowly but surely!

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sadd...-MK2A5qM_g&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=ltm&z=13&lci=bike

google says 1hr 5 mins I took just under 1hr and a half. Longest run to date (thats not saying much though) Half way through my legs were ready to give up but got a second wind to do the return to Brechin.

EDIT

Will be on Strava on Monday when my gps arrives!

Phantom Shadow · 16 May 2014 at 21:20

Having a lot of creaking noises coming from the bike. Sounds like it is coming from around the bottom bracket. Seems to not make much noise when cruising along, some noise when putting the power down and very noise when out of the saddle. I've made sure all crank bolts are tight, and that there is no play in the headset incase it was that from pulling on the handlebars when out of the saddle. Still makes a lot of noise.

Not sure what else it could be? Not a clicking or rubbing noise, sounds like the frame creaking.

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 May 2014 at 21:22

For those setting PRs round RP at the moment, this might make some interesting reading:

http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html

What's particularly interesting is that losing 200g off the bike will save 1s.

Calpol · 16 May 2014 at 21:24

Phantom Shadow said:
Having a lot of creaking noises coming from the bike. Sounds like it is coming from around the bottom bracket. Seems to not make much noise when cruising along, some noise when putting the power down and very noise when out of the saddle. I've made sure all crank bolts are tight, and that there is no play in the headset incase it was that from pulling on the handlebars when out of the saddle. Still makes a lot of noise.

Not sure what else it could be? Not a clicking or rubbing noise, sounds like the frame creaking.

Check your pedals are tight in the cranks. Give them a quick spray with wd40. Do this before you start messing with the bottom bracket.

Shamrock · 16 May 2014 at 21:26

[DOD]Asprilla;26315901 said:
For those setting PRs round RP at the moment, this might make some interesting reading:

http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html

What's particularly interesting is that losing 200g off the bike will save 1s.

My trick this morning to save minutes was to reduce aerodynamic drag by hiding behind a rider capable of a solo 51min 3-lap challenge. It worked fantastically.

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 May 2014 at 21:30

Shamrock said:
My trick this morning to save minutes was to reduce aerodynamic drag by hiding behind a rider capable of a solo 51min 3-lap challenge. It worked fantastically.

That would work.

Vonhelmet · 16 May 2014 at 21:39

[DOD]Asprilla;26315901 said:
For those setting PRs round RP at the moment, this might make some interesting reading:

http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html

What's particularly interesting is that losing 200g off the bike will save 1s.

So, based on that, given that I weigh about 75Kg, and can probably push out 200W at best, I should put in a time of about 22 minutes.

Perhaps I'll try that when I come to London in August.

InQ · 16 May 2014 at 21:39

Some new goodies fitted today;

Veloflex Corsa 25c (212g & 218g)

Koolstop Salmon

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 May 2014 at 21:51

Good tyres. Not the most puncture proof, but they roll so sweetly.

I'm rolling on them myself at the moment.

#Chri5# · 16 May 2014 at 22:07

Phantom Shadow said:
Having a lot of creaking noises coming from the bike. Sounds like it is coming from around the bottom bracket. Seems to not make much noise when cruising along, some noise when putting the power down and very noise when out of the saddle. I've made sure all crank bolts are tight, and that there is no play in the headset incase it was that from pulling on the handlebars when out of the saddle. Still makes a lot of noise.

Not sure what else it could be? Not a clicking or rubbing noise, sounds like the frame creaking.

I've had that before on my PX and I solved by stripping off the chainset, whip the BB cups out, cleaning, re-greasing and re-fitting.

Derek W · 16 May 2014 at 22:15

quick question, do you guys have 'rest' days to help you recover or is it pretty much you're at a level where cycling ridiculous distances everyday doesn't matter?

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 May 2014 at 22:21

At the moment, weekends are my rest days as family commitments mean I only manage my commutes.

In other news, Strava estimates my FTP at bang on 300w and from what I've read it's pretty accurate. Happy with that.