Road Cycling Essentials

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Grudas, quality of that video isn't that bad at all !

I hate to be clipped in going around London that's for sure !
and those small gaps you get through ! :eek:


is the speedo linked to your Garmin or does it have its own GPS?
 
topgun06 said:
I have a steerer tube bolt plug dooferlike that. You need to be careful that it doesn't start pulling itself out of the steerer tube as your tighten up the top cap. But also be careful not to over tighten the plug, especially if you have a carbon steerer tube.

You will need to tighten it up to specs as per the guide at the bottom of this link: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/star-fangled-nut-installation
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Thanks...

touch said:
Should be an expanding bung.
Possibly tightens with a hex around the top of the thread for the top cap.
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... And thanks. Both been very helpful.

I ended up hitting it with a hammer and then it all nipped up fine, sorted.

I don't think I ever posted my new bike. The secure bike shed at my building was broken into the other month and they cracked my frame whilst trying to pry off the lock with a crowbar. This left it unusable. So in a hurry I managed to get a new Felt F6 sourced from wiggle on the cycle to work scheme. £799 for a good carbon frame and full tiagra seemed like good value. I'll likely replace the group set and wheels in the summer but it's been a good replacement so far.

dpOeoca.jpg
 
Something amazing happened tonight

I put TWO rear lights on my bike, one flashing, the other constant, and every single car/van etc. that over took me, gave me a WIDE birth !!

that doesn't normally happen ! I guess they must think I'm a crap cyclist ! lol
 
Roady said:
Just watched it, christ it made me jump when it seemed like he stopped (like he saw you) then carried on after you'd committed to not stopping! I've had several similar - drivers react like they've seen you, yet their actions show otherwise! :(

There's an external mic you can get if you want to record your commentary in future! ;)



That's very useful thanks, 720p@30fps will probably be more than enough for me, I'm intending on getting another battery for it (when I can find them for under £20+!) but I'm guessing the 7hrs42 would be 3 days boarding footage for me providing I stop/start it (so 3 charges of the existing battery).

Did you go for Class10 cards or think there's no need? I've not played with mine yet (have a couple of class10 16gb's I'll be using but will prob pickup a 32 also)



Like this?


;):D
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Battery life isinly three hours though, isn't it? Makes the storage capacity a bit academic if that's the case.
 
http://www.safer-beds.org/rmwebport...-840a-4a37-9211-044ea099a255&email=-1&web=-1"

Passed this incident this morning. Must have happened just as I left my house. A fast dual carriageway that's busy at commuter times, unlit. I never would cycle up it and only ever use a quieter stretch and then the path. About two weeks ago I saw someone cycling up there before it was light and said to my self that it was stupid as they were not even using lights. Tragically today it may be that bloke has paid the price. Awful.
 
Its legal and all that, but I would never advocate to anyone to ride on dual carriageways like that. It makes me cringe when I see people time trialling on them in events. Crazy.
 
helpimcrap said:
I'm cycling London to Paris for Scope next year, been invited to go cycling in Germany and hopefully cycling in the Pyrenees (been asked if I'm interested so 50/50!).

I borrowed my uncles bike bag but thinking I'll need to buy one. Can't afford hundreds of pounds, and it's only for a Defy 2.

What do people recommend?
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Anyone?
 
ShiWarrior said:
Grudas, quality of that video isn't that bad at all !

I hate to be clipped in going around London that's for sure !
and those small gaps you get through ! :eek:


is the speedo linked to your Garmin or does it have its own GPS?
Click to expand...

I do like the quality! :) not a problem at all and I was quite worried after reading some reviews about low-light performance etc!

yeah it can be tricky! especially around traffic, but I guess I just got used to uncliping as soon as I touch my brake lever haha..

it's from the garmin, the overlay(speedo, track etc) are from the GPX file that you can pull from garmin or manually upload(select from file browser - which ever device I assume) it pulls the data from GPX and creates an over-lay over the video.

simple to use but can be a bit tricky to get right(not difficult just takes a few tries)

overall I'm very happy with it!

Asprilla said:
Battery life isinly three hours though, isn't it? Makes the storage capacity a bit academic if that's the case.
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close, 2.5 hours -; http://www.dcrainmaker.com/images/2013/12/Action-Camera-Battery-Depletion-Tests_thumb.jpg

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/12/garmin-depth-review.html

:) it comes with an SD card so it's really up to you, in my case 32 gb would last ~2 days
 
helpimcrap said:
Anyone?
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Depends, do you want it for going on a bus / other transport or are you trusting it to airline baggage monkeys?

If it's the latter then I'd only go with a hardcase; your might only be thinking about the value of your bike but you've got to think about the value of the events as well. Turing up in the Pyrenees and finding your bike bent would be terrible.

I'd either rent a BikeBoxAlan or, and I can't believe I'm saying this, Canyon Bike Shuttle is less than half the price. Might be worth looking on ebay for a second had BBA.

Edit; there are rental outfits on eBay offering Bike Box Alan for as little as £4 per day. I'd do that.
 
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physichull said:
Its legal and all that, but I would never advocate to anyone to ride on dual carriageways like that. It makes me cringe when I see people time trialling on them in events. Crazy.
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Probably safer to TT on these big roads than some of the TTs least you rarely get cars coming round you then slowing stopping or not expecting someone to be riding a bike at 30mph.
 
physichull said:
They were the Giant PR-2 stock tyres, but I actually thought they were very good. But, like I said, it could be all in my head, but I definitely don't have the confidence that I had with my old tyres at the moment.
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PR-2's here as well, although mine is a 2015 so they might be different?

I've had two back wheel 'wiggles' when cornering - one was a metal drain cover and the other one was probably leaves/dirt. I've hand the back wheel 'spin' (wheelspin!) when I push down when pulling off on wet tarmac. Considering I ride the same route commuting and have probably had the same wiggles, but in 8 months worth of riding you expect a few. But to have 2 wiggles in 4 rides makes me think they have much less grip than my P4E's. Some of this will be the much lighter frame, certainly while pushing off!

You're right about it being a confidence thing - now I've got it in my head they have less grip I'm cornering slower and noticing everything! But I'll happy to take them off and swap with my P4E's, I'll save the PR-2's for spring/summer! :)

helpimcrap said:
I borrowed my uncles bike bag but thinking I'll need to buy one. Can't afford hundreds of pounds, and it's only for a Defy 2.

What do people recommend?
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If you're happy with your uncles see if he wants to sell it (he might be looking at newer ones for xmas!?), or look for one the same? Don't planetx do one too?

grudas said:
:) it comes with an SD card so it's really up to you, in my case 32 gb would last ~2 days
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Mine didn't come with a microSD! :o

physichull said:
Its legal and all that, but I would never advocate to anyone to ride on dual carriageways like that. It makes me cringe when I see people time trialling on them in events. Crazy.
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SoliD said:
Probably safer to TT on these big roads than some of the TTs least you rarely get cars coming round you then slowing stopping or not expecting someone to be riding a bike at 30mph.
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A lot of it is really down to the roads. There are quiet & wide single carriageways. There are busy and narrow dual carriageways. You'd hope the organisers of any TT's would know the roads very well and had chosen with that in mind!

grudas said:
you can hear the bang as the thing hits my bars.. lolworthy!
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Hahaha! I've had a squirrel run across oncoming traffic towards me, stop, then carry on running across my path. It must have gone between my wheels/feet as I should have hit it - I saw it get to the pavement on my left!
 
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Roady said:
Mine didn't come with a microSD! :o




Hahaha! I've had a squirrel run across oncoming traffic towards me, stop, then carry on running across my path. It must have gone between my wheels/feet as I should have hit it - I saw it get to the pavement on my left!
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woop, I meant an SD card slot, yeah mine didn't have one either - a bit of a boo since the 32gb ones cost like 10quid.

oh I've hit pigeons before lol, this was just a little bang the worst one was running the thing over on my BMX! 3 or so years ago!
 
Letter in this morning saying they have run out of lights and have ordered more stock from the Pro Cycling subscription - at least they are keep people abreast of the situation and it should arrive within 28 days.
 
BennyC said:
I’m looking at getting in to Road Cycling in the new year. It’s been a few years since I was last on two wheels (and I had an engine between my legs then :p).

The main reasoning for getting a road bike is to use with a Turbo trainer for HIIT work in addition to weightlifting/powerlifting, though it has the upside of allowing me to get out and about and involved in a new hobby too.

I’m trying a friends this weekend to see if I actually get on with it as a form of HIIT first but would be interested to know if there’s a particular time of year that would be best to look for a used road bike? I expect to get more bang for buck buying used.

In addition to the usual places like eBay, Gumtree, preloved I’ve also come across onceridden & bikesoup. Is there anywhere else worth looking? (in addition to any local shops)

I'll come back with a budget when I am certain, from my limited reading an aluminum frame and carbon forks should be on the list and I *think* (based on Wiggle's guide) a 56cm frame should be the sweetspot for me at 5'10 with a 30" leg.
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So I got on with my friends well last weekend and I'm off to view/pick up a Boardman Comp Pro this evening.

If anybody else could let me know if there is anything major I am overlooking in my 'inspection' or of any inherent issues with this particular brand/model I would be grateful.

  • I plan to give it a good visual inspection, check the frame for cracks/twists/dents, signs of rust, any other anomalies etc.
  • Check the groupset over for condition, wear and functionality (all gears etc).
  • Check the wheels are true, for spoke slack/breaks and that the bearings are not shot
  • Check the chain for excess wear/slack and condition
  • Headset/forks for play/rattle within the frame and that they are symmetrical
  • Inspect brake pads, cables, bite etc
  • Check the bottom bracket for play
  • Pedals aren't a concern as they will be replaced

I will of course ride it too but if there is a 'must do/check' I've forgotten please say. :)
 
BennyC said:
So I got on with my friends well last weekend and I'm off to view/pick up a Boardman Comp Pro this evening.

If anybody else could let me know if there is anything major I am overlooking in my 'inspection' or of any inherent issues with this particular brand/model I would be grateful.

  • I plan to give it a good visual inspection, check the frame for cracks/twists/dents, signs of rust, any other anomalies etc.
  • Check the groupset over for condition, wear and functionality (all gears etc).
  • Check the wheels are true, for spoke slack/breaks and that the bearings are not shot
  • Check the chain for excess wear/slack and condition
  • Headset/forks for play/rattle within the frame and that they are symmetrical
  • Inspect brake pads, cables, bite etc
  • Check the bottom bracket for play
  • Pedals aren't a concern as they will be replaced

I will of course ride it too but if there is a 'must do/check' I've forgotten please say. :)
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That all looks sensible. The one thing I would say is that the Comp Pro is carbon so the frame won't rust, but it could be carrying unseen damage if it's been crashed. Short of getting the frame x-rayed you'll just have to give it a good look over and then you're going on trust, really.
 
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