Road Cycling Essentials

FrenchTart · 24 May 2014 at 18:55

Well..that was truly hideous. I think I was a bit hungover and my legs were a bit pwn'd from earlier riding this week but the thing that really topped it all off was the hideous rain whilst going up the A53 to Buxton. So bad that as soon as I got the the descent into Buxton proper I had to go super slow too.

We were meant to do a little more climbing and go home via Glossop but, utterly drenched and demoralized, we caught the train back to Manchester.

http://www.strava.com/activities/144952975

The one bright side of it all is that I'm quite sure I won't struggle much with the first leg of London to Paris and I'm also going to be far more ruthless about what I'll be taking with me. So much extra weight carried today that wasn't really needed. Made those hills all the more fun.

SoliD · 24 May 2014 at 19:36

oli collett said:
Day 1 of the tour of Wessex:
https://www.strava.com/activities/145005902

Probably the worst day I've had on the bike. Horrendous weather, it just poured all day and I spent the entire ride drenched! The elevation on Garmin is wrong, water must have screwed the pressure sensor as there was more like 2500m ascent

Tomorrow is further but supposedly a little easier, but more importantly dry. Bracing myself for punctures though as there will be no end of stones washed into the road

Jesus, 175bpm average heart rate! Sounds awful, and similar to my TdF ride the other week. Hope the conditions are better for you tomorrow!

VeNT · 24 May 2014 at 20:20

Torn my bar tape!
What mat black bar tape does everyone recommend?
BTW if you're feeling fruity, planet x have twin packs of punkpink tyres for £40 ish

[DOD]Asprilla · 24 May 2014 at 20:35

InQ said:
They look good but i think they might be a bit susceptible to side winds which isnt ideal.
Trying to find out some 'real world' weights for the wheel....
tbh it would make more sense just using the Zonda's and selling the RS11 it would come with as default.
Or selling all and going with some handbuilts...hmmmm.

If you are looking to spend that sort of money consider the Zonda's, about the best price/performance off the peg wheelset there is.
Or go handbuilt, Cycleclinic do some nice wheels, go for Miche hubs which are cheap and robust and easy to service. Not the lightest hub but doesnt matter so much, the rim/spokes will make the difference to on the road feel. Might be an idea to go with 23mm wide rims for extra comfort?

Cycleclinic options

eg Velocity A23
http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk/Whe...ocity_A23_wheelset/velocity_a23_wheelset.html

Or the H Plus Son Archetypes rims (he sells on ebay as well, infact best looking at his wheelsets on ebay).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handbuilt...cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=&hash=item68d8767013

I've got both A23 and Archetype based wheelsets and I'd pick the Archetypes every day of the week.

Wonderful rims.

The coloured brake tracks will wear to silver, so if this bothers you pick the silver coloured ones.

rogan · 24 May 2014 at 20:55

another +1 for archetypes

oli collett · 24 May 2014 at 20:55

SoliD said:
Jesus, 175bpm average heart rate! Sounds awful, and similar to my TdF ride the other week. Hope the conditions are better for you tomorrow!

No that's low for me, struggled to get my hr up given the conditions. LTHR is around 190, max 210ish

[DOD]Asprilla · 24 May 2014 at 21:03

Ok, I need some baggies.

I have a reason though. I'm doing the Brompton World Champs later this year and you aren't allowed to wear Lycra. I need something cheap as they will only be worn once.

Anyone give me any pointers?

Vonhelmet · 24 May 2014 at 21:07

[DOD]Asprilla;26351019 said:
I've got both A23 and Archetype based wheelsets and I'd pick the Archetypes every day of the week.

Wonderful rims.

The coloured brake tracks will wear to silver, so if this bothers you pick the silver coloured ones.

Are £300 wheels overkill on a £600 bike? I mean, obviously I can keep them for whatever bike I get next, but in the short term?

[DOD]Asprilla · 24 May 2014 at 21:21

Vonhelmet said:
Are £300 wheels overkill on a £600 bike? I mean, obviously I can keep them for whatever bike I get next, but in the short term?

I'm sure you could get something for less than that if you asked a good builder.

Thecyclecling is, by all accounts, an excellent builder who should be able to come up with something closer to your budget.

grudas · 24 May 2014 at 21:44

Vonhelmet said:
Are £300 wheels overkill on a £600 bike? I mean, obviously I can keep them for whatever bike I get next, but in the short term?

I wouldn't say so... my £300 triban runs on £150 wheels ;D

so it works out the same haha, why are you buying new wheels tho?

DIABLO · 24 May 2014 at 22:33

VeNT said:
Torn my bar tape!
What mat black bar tape does everyone recommend?
BTW if you're feeling fruity, planet x have twin packs of punkpink tyres for £40 ish

The Fizik black soft touch bar tape is nice.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fizik-performance-handlebar-tape/

rogan · 24 May 2014 at 22:53

FIzik Perofrmance for me too, love it.

InQ · 24 May 2014 at 23:01

I bought some Fizik Performance Soft Touch Bar Tape a year ago, not as nice as a lot of others to put on as there is no stretch in it.

Zipp and PRO i've used recently, both nice.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/zipp-service-course-handlebar-tape/
http://www.highonbikes.com/pro-pu-sl-road-bike-handlebar-tape.html

PRO are a Shimano company btw.

Vonhelmet · 24 May 2014 at 23:07

grudas said:
I wouldn't say so... my £300 triban runs on £150 wheels ;D

so it works out the same haha, why are you buying new wheels tho?

My new bike came with R501s, which aren't spectacular. I've half a mind to put the handbuilt Mavic Opensports from my old bike on there.

IC3 · 24 May 2014 at 23:43

Yes, I've managed to pump my tyres to 120PSI, used my whole body to push the pump to that pressure. Cut my hand when trying to take off the thing from the valve, the pump is okay though.

P.S Strangely when I pumped my mums bike to 40PSI everything went smoothly, but again taking the the thing from the valve didn't go with an ease...

Fuzz · 25 May 2014 at 00:09

Get yourself a joe blow II. Brilliant bit of kit.

Phantom Shadow · 25 May 2014 at 00:48

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSP105/planet-x-stealth-shimano-105-time-trial-bike

How can you put stealth in the name of that.... 'thing'.

grudas · 25 May 2014 at 01:00

Vonhelmet said:
My new bike came with R501s, which aren't spectacular. I've half a mind to put the handbuilt Mavic Opensports from my old bike on there.

If I was you I'd just kill the 501's before getting anything

you won't notice much if any difference after buying a new wheel set. - unless you spend good money on it, IMO of course

NotAGolf · 25 May 2014 at 03:14

Managed my first century today

Slightly further afield than normal and on a borrowed bike. My only saving grace was that it was as flat as a pancake.

http://www.strava.com/activities/145141280

Shamrock · 25 May 2014 at 07:14

Phantom Shadow said:
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSP105/planet-x-stealth-shimano-105-time-trial-bike

How can you put stealth in the name of that.... 'thing'.

I've been eyeing up a pink stealth for a while now. I think it looks great.