Road Cycling

Asprilla · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:35

grudas said:
anything like that worth doing around london? I'd like to cycle to the start line first ha

might be a good way to get my self out for some rides during summer!

You could do the Compact 50 from Cobham. Twice.

It's 4900ft in 56 miles.

Roady · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:40

Thanks for the pointers guys.

Bit more info: I only get it when putting power through the pedals and it is consistent with pedal strokes and not wheel. Pedalling left footed only it is less pronounced, right footed only is noticeably worse.

physichull said:
Is your rear wheel true? That can cause creaking and strange noises.

Looks like it, no pad rubbing and can hold my brake <1mm from the rim and it spins multiple times freely.

FrenchTart said:
Tried tightening your pedals?

Got them as tight in the cranks as I can, checked them again last night along with checking all the other screws on them are tight.

tedmaul said:
Checked the bolts on your bottle cages?

Checked the little bolt that goes around the bottom of each valve and holds it against the wheel rim?

Bikes are weird - you can be absolutely convinced a noise is coming from one area when it's actually another.

Checked bottle cages last night (actually removed, cleaned and refitted).

Checked the valve nuts as check them as part of my weekly checking of tyres/grip/pressures.

touch said:
The crank arm pulls out with the whole axle through the middle. You can give it a tap with a rubber mallet or similar on the bit sticking out where you removed the other arm if you need to.
The BB is a sealed bearing unit, you wont be able to get at the bearings.

Don't think I've got the tools or knowledge to quite do that yet!

touch said:
Other common things which can cause creaks:
-pedal threads (as mentioned above) take pedals off, clean up threads and grease them.
-chainring bolts. clean, grease, tighten properly.
-seatpost. Take it out and clean it and the clamp. Lightly grease using the correct type of grease depending on seatpost material + frame material.
-headset. strip, clean, grease, make sure it's tight.
-derailleur hanger. take it off and make sure no dirt between it and frame. clean bolt threads.

Pedals and chainrings are done. Good shout about the seatpost and saddle rails will check them at lunchtime... There seems to be no play in my headset and I cleaned all around the front and rear derailleurs. Actually checked all bolts and tightened the ones holding the front to the frame.

I probably need to get a torque wrench for some of the things I've done by hand (seatpost, derailleur hanger, chainring bolts) but they're stupid money for a good one. Am I 'safe' getting a cheapy £30 one? Anyone have any other recommendations?

James07 said:
Anyone tried the Wiggle Bibs? They're only £29.99 which looks good to me!

Which bibs? I own Active, Flashlight and Shard's.

platypus · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:42

I'm considering picking up one of these: http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/rd-7-road-disc/dorset/

Seems decently specced and well reviewed, but has anyone got any experience of Whyte? Bear in mind that this is to kick start a "refurb" of my stable, replace my commuter with this, and later in the year look at purchasing a new road bike.

James07 said:
Anyone tried the Wiggle Bibs? They're only £29.99 which looks good to me!

I trust wiggle for many things, but clothing is not one of them.

FrenchTart · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:44

platypus said:
I'm considering picking up one of these: http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/rd-7-road-disc/dorset/

Seems decently specced and well reviewed, but has anyone got any experience of Whyte?

I trust wiggle for many things, but clothing is not one of them.

A fair bit. I've spent a lot of time researching Whyte bikes and helped a friend set up his Whyte Suffolk.

I'd personally spend the extra £200 and get the Suffolk btw. 105 5800 and Hy/Rd brakes are a massive upgrade for the comparatively small amount of money.

platypus · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:46

Glad I asked then, because I'm not clued up on disc brakes. Really not bothered about the groupset on a commuter, but you're right the 105 is considerably better.

Trouble now is finding a dealer that I can get too when I'm over in August..

FrenchTart · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:51

platypus said:
Glad I asked then, because I'm not clued up on disc brakes. Really not bothered about the groupset on a commuter, but you're right the 105 is considerably better.

Trouble now is finding a dealer that I can get too when I'm over in August..

If you wanted to go a bit higher and get something even better spec (proper hydraulic discs, ultegra) then the Canyon Inflite AL 9.0 is around £1400 also. I guess that's a bit much for a commuter though if you're planning to get a full-on road bike.

One thing with the Hy/Rds is that when you get the bike they are almost guaranteed to be set up incorrectly. If you do end up getting them be sure to check the technical bulletin on this page for info on how to properly set them up. It's not hard but until not that long ago the information wasn't really out there and in my experience a lot of bike shops don't seem to have updated their info.

http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?productid=1198&catid=206

edit: Whereabouts in the UK will you be in August?

Roady · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:51

PermaBanned said:
Link for the lazy: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/news/10829.php

Thanks for that! (I'm one of the lazy ones)

James07 said:
I have a new challenge now though!
http://app.strava.com/activities/270020980

Do it!

FrenchTart said:
Anyhow. Another draftee this morning but this guy said hello and after half a mile took position ahead and offered to let me draft him for a bit. Much more reasonable

Much better, makes up for yesterdays!

Vonhelmet said:
My neighbour's left me a voicemail saying someone was parked up over the road in a van this morning and reckons they might have been casing my new asgard bike box. So now I get to worry about it getting broken into...

Did he not note down the registration?

platypus said:
I'm considering picking up one of these: http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/rd-7-road-disc/dorset/

Seems decently specced and well reviewed, but has anyone got any experience of Whyte? Bear in mind that this is to kick start a "refurb" of my stable, replace my commuter with this, and later in the year look at purchasing a new road bike.

I trust wiggle for many things, but clothing is not one of them.

The Whyte Suffolk reviews very well so I'd expect the same from others including the Dorset... Very nice bike and spec for the money!

I've been far more impressed by DHB clothing than Altura, Sportful, Castelli and Northwave even without taking the much cheaper prices into account...

SoliD · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:54

platypus said:
Glad I asked then, because I'm not clued up on disc brakes. Really not bothered about the groupset on a commuter, but you're right the 105 is considerably better.

Trouble now is finding a dealer that I can get too when I'm over in August..

£1250 for Pinnacle Arkose 4, 105 5800, and full hydraulics!

PermaBanned · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:55

I would expect a lot better than Sora for £1k. Can get some similarly specced Charge, Genesis and even Revolution bikes for a lot less than that.

Also why wouldn't you trust Wiggle clothing? dhb stuff is generally quite well regarded.

FrenchTart · 18 Mar 2015 at 08:55

SoliD said:
£1250 for Pinnacle Arkose 4, 105 5800, and full hydraulics!

Good shout. I keep forgetting about those Pinnacle offerings - they weren't about when I made my bike purchasing decisions a while back.

daveski · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:13

Sorry I keep coming into this thread only to ask for opinions but I'm new to this buying a bike in bits thing.

I have some carbon handle bars that I don't want to use with the new frame as you're not supposed to put aero bars on them. Does anyone have any alloy handlebar recommendations for around £100?

FrenchTart · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:17

daveski said:
Sorry I keep coming into this thread only to ask for opinions but I'm new to this buying a bike in bits thing.

I have some carbon handle bars that I don't want to use with the new frame as you're not supposed to put aero bars on them. Does anyone have any alloy handlebar recommendations for around £100?

Probably someone else is better qualified for this but I've been eyeing up these for my new bike:

http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/compo...ger-race-lite-aero-drop-vr-cf-handlebar-p6223

Shamrock · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:22

daveski said:
Sorry I keep coming into this thread only to ask for opinions but I'm new to this buying a bike in bits thing.

I have some carbon handle bars that I don't want to use with the new frame as you're not supposed to put aero bars on them. Does anyone have any alloy handlebar recommendations for around £100?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deda-zero100-black-handlebar/

matching stem

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deda-zero100-performance-stem/

platypus · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:24

FrenchTart said:
If you wanted to go a bit higher and get something even better spec (proper hydraulic discs, ultegra) then the Canyon Inflite AL 9.0 is around £1400 also. I guess that's a bit much for a commuter though if you're planning to get a full-on road bike.

One thing with the Hy/Rds is that when you get the bike they are almost guaranteed to be set up incorrectly. If you do end up getting them be sure to check the technical bulletin on this page for info on how to properly set them up. It's not hard but until not that long ago the information wasn't really out there and in my experience a lot of bike shops don't seem to have updated their info.

http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?productid=1198&catid=206

Awesome cheers. Yes I think the Canyon is a little overkill. I wonder if that Suffolk is a new model? I'd bookmarked the Dorset a while back and just revisited it now as I'm looking through favourites of bikes I want to buy...

edit: Whereabouts in the UK will you be in August?

Not sure where I'm staying but it will be SE, I have a place in the RideLondon.

Shamrock · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:29

platypus said:
Not sure where I'm staying but it will be SE, I have a place in the RideLondon.

Bloody foreigners! Come over here and take our sportive places! :mad:

platypus · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:35

Shamrock said:
Bloody foreigners! Come over here and take our sportive places!

Worse, I didn't even know I'd entered :eek:

!

FrenchTart · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:36

platypus said:
Awesome cheers. Yes I think the Canyon is a little overkill. I wonder if that Suffolk is a new model? I'd bookmarked the Dorset a while back and just revisited it now as I'm looking through favourites of bikes I want to buy...

Not sure where I'm staying but it will be SE, I have a place in the RideLondon.

Ah...I can't help with SE

The 2014 model Suffolk was a fair bit worse, yeah. The 2015 model came out towards the end of last year iirc.

daveski · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:37

Are you sure you've got a place and it's not someone trying to lure you back into the country?

daveski · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:38

Also if anyone has a grand and is after a new bike this looks like a bargain.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40090&t=13014581

I would be buying this if I hadn't ordered that Propel.

P.s this bike is nothing to do with me, buyer beware etc etc

grudas · 18 Mar 2015 at 09:46

Asprilla said:
You could do the Compact 50 from Cobham. Twice.

It's 4900ft in 56 miles.

wonder If I got the nerves for that much climbing?! any rides that you're doing this summer?

commute on SS was interesting! fast bike once you get going but getting of the line takes some work.