Road Cycling Essentials

platypus · 6 Jun 2014 at 14:44

grudas said:
I know carbon is strong and it won't randomly break but if I crash which does happen on wet roads etc I don't want to mess my frame up which would be big bucks and quite a bit of time to replace.

I have had carbon bikes for the last...8ish years.

For commuting, riding, racing, sportives etc. I've also crashed a few times. No issues with Carbon at all.

Heck I suppose I shouldn't, my company is one of the biggest manufacturers of composite materials in the world

.

touch · 6 Jun 2014 at 14:48

As i said, i'm not going to bother arguing the benefits of carbon over aluminium when there's been so much discussion a few pages back.

As i also said, you should buy something that you are happy with - whether that is alu or carbon.

olv · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:04

They now do it with SRAM Rival for 999. That's an upgrade in my book

The1nonly1 · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:36

olv said:
They now do it with SRAM Rival for 999. That's an upgrade in my book

Is SRAM rival any good? I've never had SRAM before? Plus 11-32T seems a big jump between gears

FrenchTart · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:37

The1nonly1 said:
Is SRAM rival any good? I've never had SRAM before? Plus 11-32T seems a big jump between gears

As far as I've heard it's as good as or better than the equivalent Shimano components. It also doesn't have the same awkward/expensive tool requirements as Campag so...all in all...good stuff

syke · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:45

didn't realise the PX Carbon Pro was increased in price. Glad I impulse bought it when I did then

The1nonly1 · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:45

FrenchTart said:
As far as I've heard it's as good as or better than the equivalent Shimano components. It also doesn't have the same awkward/expensive tool requirements as Campag so...all in all...good stuff

Would the Rival be compared to the Shimano 105 components. I could just buy a new cassette anyway.

touch · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:47

The1nonly1 said:
Would the Rival be compared to the Shimano 105 components. I could just buy a new cassette anyway.

SRAM cassettes + chains are comppatible with shimano cassettes + chains.

The1nonly1 · 6 Jun 2014 at 15:52

touch said:
SRAM cassettes + chains are comppatible with shimano cassettes + chains.

Ok that helps. So i can put this Shimano 105 5700 10 Speed Cassette on the PX Pro Carbon SRAM Rival?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV13/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-rival-road-bike

platypus · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:07

syke said:
didn't realise the PX Carbon Pro was increased in price. Glad I impulse bought it when I did then

I can't understand why they've hiked it £200. Surely at the price point it was at they were taking in an awful lot of custom. Cycle to work, that magical £1,000 mark...

grudas · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:19

Tdf? That's the only thing I can think of..

FrenchTart · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:21

Aren't the build delays getting excessive at PX ATM? I'd guess that the price hike is to slow down demand for a product that can't be that profitable to make in the first place. Perhaps they will have a "sale" in a couple of months...

touch · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:27

Probably due to the introduction of the Rival version. most people would choose shimano over sram so if they price the sram bike at 1000 they can still get the cycle to work crowd but also make a bit more money from the people who are willing to pay more to get shimano over sram.

Vonhelmet · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:34

Or maybe we're at a point in the year when C2W applications are at a low enough level that you don't have to chase the £1k price mark.

Gribs · 6 Jun 2014 at 16:44

platypus said:
Wait wait wait wait. Are you suggesting I put mountain/xc bike pedals on a road bike? What's wrong with you?!

I use Shimano M540's on all my bikes. It means I can use any of my shoes with any bike. Carbon soled mtb shoes are plenty stiff enough to be comfortable for long road rides and mtb winter boots actual keep my feet warm and dry. Being able to walk comfortably in them is a big bonus too. I tried some of the spd touring pedals but they seemed like a waste of time. They looked slightly better but were no more comfortable and only single sided.

Gribs · 6 Jun 2014 at 17:08

grudas said:
now the ribble with ultegra 6800 is nice.. but is ultegra worth it over nicer IMO rose with 105?
.

Imo yes, I'd completely discounted Shimano equipped bikes after trying 105 but Ultegra is utterly lovely. This looks like a bit of a bargain though and the frames comfy though not overly stiff and current Tiagra is basically rebranded 105 anyway. It'd also leave enough in the budget for some nice wheels/tyres to use at the weekend.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/r...dition?part=SE14RIBEVOPROSUMMER&sub=conf_SERW

arknor · 6 Jun 2014 at 17:23

Just did my first proper ride on my new bike 36miles

I don't really ache at all like I feared I would and the only thing I've adjusted is the saddle height, I suspect I need the saddle slightly forwards though.

my average speed was slow as ever thanks to dog walkers and other cyclists etc taking advantage of the sunshine but I did get 16 personal best times on segments without really trying to.

slightly faster up the steep hills towards the end of my ride but I'm not sure if that's because the bike is about 6kg lighter or because I run out of gears quicker and get forced to ride harder up them unless I want to start walking lol

carbon fork seems to absorb most the rough stuff superbly as well much better than my crappy heavy suspension fork did :eek:

Still feels really weird trying to ride out of the saddle, most my upper body ends up over the bars unless I hang my ass back a bit.
is this normal?

Can't say the bike really feels too small though apart from when I stand up on it.

Vonhelmet · 6 Jun 2014 at 17:24

Gribs said:
Imo yes, I'd completely discounted Shimano equipped bikes after trying 105 but Ultegra is utterly lovely. This looks like a bit of a bargain though and the frames comfy though not overly stiff and current Tiagra is basically rebranded 105 anyway. It'd also leave enough in the budget for some nice wheels/tyres to use at the weekend.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/r...dition?part=SE14RIBEVOPROSUMMER&sub=conf_SERW

The only thing current Tiagra doesn't have that 105 does is under tape gear cable routing.

In related news, the paint is rubbing off my headtube where the gear cables run :mad:

zophiel · 6 Jun 2014 at 17:30

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-clear-patches/?sku=5360154222

Phantom Shadow · 6 Jun 2014 at 17:34

arknor said:
Just did my first proper ride on my new bike 36miles
I don't really ache at all like I feared I would and the only thing I've adjusted is the saddle height, I suspect I need the saddle slightly forwards though.

my average speed was slow as ever thanks to dog walkers and other cyclists etc taking advantage of the sunshine but I did get 16 personal best times on segments without really trying to.

slightly faster up the steep hills towards the end of my ride but I'm not sure if that's because the bike is about 6kg lighter or because I run out of gears quicker and get forced to ride harder up them unless I want to start walking lol

carbon fork seems to absorb most the rough stuff superbly as well much better than my crappy heavy suspension fork did

Still feels really weird trying to ride out of the saddle, most my upper body ends up over the bars unless I hang my ass back a bit.
is this normal?

Can't say the bike really feels too small though apart from when I stand up on it.

First thing I notice is the KOM, then I realise you're the only one on the leaderboard