Road Cycling

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physichull said:
Yeah, I'm thinking of getting a track frame and flip flop wheels so I can decide day to day which setup I'd prefer. Thinking maybe the aluminium Dolan frames and some cheap flip flop wheels (can't seem to find a good selection online though?). Self build probably and then ride it to work.
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Built up a Dolan FXE a couple of months ago using wheels from my last SS. The frame is pretty nice, stiff where it matters and fairly light. Looks like normal reach brakes would work on it, deffo the front, I've got long reach on atm but the blocks half way up in the sliders.

I'll try and get a pic of it up
 
DanF said:
Built up a Dolan FXE a couple of months ago using wheels from my last SS. The frame is pretty nice, stiff where it matters and fairly light. Looks like normal reach brakes would work on it, deffo the front, I've got long reach on atm but the blocks half way up in the sliders.

I'll try and get a pic of it up
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Thanks that would be great and sounds pretty close to what I am actually after building.
 
physichull said:
With single speed/fixie, what are the legal requirements for brakes? If any? For the fixie, do I just need a front bake and for a single speed do I need both front and back?
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Law is worded something like this: any bike with a saddle higher than 65cm from the ground needs two braking methods, one on each wheel. So that stops you using two brakes on only one wheel, but the fixed gear at the back counts as a braking method. I would NOT recommend riding a freewheeling SS because, as I've said before, I had a brake cable snap on me once and nearly ended up coasting out onto a busy roundabout with no way to stop...

Berger said:
Are all chainring bolts equal....

I have a set of Praxis Works chain rings that I bought off a Facebook forum brand new for 1/3rd the price from a shop!

I'm wondering if my Rotor bolts will be the same as the Praxis ones....
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Not all the same, I found out the hard way. They come in slightly different thicknesses to suit thicker/thinner/multiple chainrings.
 
Just finished my first 'bigger' outing on the road bike, 32km of Copenhagen which as you can imagine is mostly traffic lights until you get out of the city. Coming back via the coast meant a strong headwind that knocked my average speed in half, but certainly getting the bug for doing longer rides, but the temperature wont be so friendly for much longer!
 
janp said:
Roady, have you had your sit bones measured?
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Yup I've had them measured, they were 'normal' and I can't recall the actual measurement (the fit I had done was just on my bike so not given measurements... Then again it was free so I can't complain too much!) ;)

I'm sure they'd be ok with me getting them measured as they have the seat pad thingy just sat on the side in the shop!

FrenchTart said:
Looks good but I refuse to purchase anything from a website that has such an obnoxious sign-up screen.
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It's annoying, but have to admit they're no worse than any other for marketing spam emails.

FrenchTart said:
Grabbing personal data/tracking in that way is really unacceptable to me.

I know it's not a big deal to click the 'login with facebook' or whatever button but it's enough of a reason for me to not be willing to give that company any money.
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I avoid 'Login with Facebook' like the plague as I know how flippant and insecure Facebook are with our confidential information. I made a point of setting up an account on sportpursuit with an gmail address I don't use on any 'social' type of media (but I use it for most of my online shopping). I have an old 'spam' email address (old domain I'm reluctant to release) I sign up for most spammy things if I'm unsure about them - any mail sent there hits a couple of filters before eventually being blackholed.

I did initially start off with 'unique' email addresses at my domain so I could tell the websites which shared my email address with 3rd parties, but so many did it (and the bane of having a catchall mailbox once the domain gets onto some spam lists) I soon stopped! :rolleyes:

tedmaul said:
My other pet hate along there is the way the cycle lane will just disappear as you approach a junction
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There's a couple around here that 'cyclists' don't use because of this. The only cyclists you see on them are the 'helmetless-randomly-steering-pavement-raider' type. The grief/comments I occasionally get (even from people I work with) are usually met by me explaining the road is a safer place to be than the cycle lane!

Jono said:
I'm thinking I need a proper commuter/touring bike with proper mudguards and pannier rack... but I'm also thinking this will weigh at least 14 metric tons.
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Nope. Obviously the more you spend the lighter it'll be... Many of them with discs, mudguards and panniers for not much over 10kg. One 'benefit' of going for a commuter/tourer can be a really relaxed geometry but you quite often are paying a premium compared to a race/endurance bike which you can find with pannier/mudguard mounts and probably a better groupset for similar money. Horses for courses.
 
Weight doesn't matter so much on a commuter. If you've got a rucksack of whatever then you're already carrying extra weight, and traffic is likely to mean you're not going at race pace anyway.

Besides, commuting on a heavier bike is good training for when you get back on your Sunday best bike.
 
I quite like commuting on my shiny bike (though with all the commuting it's not quite so shiny any more) :p

I guess it depends on how much you commute, how many commutes after work turn into longer rides and how much weekend riding you do but for me the idea of having to maintain two bikes as much as I maintain just this one isn't something that does it for me.
 
I quite like my old clunker for commuting, it's definitely slower and the 23mm tyres are not ideal (only way to get mudguards on there) but it does make riding the nicer bike feel like a bit of a treat. Plus, it's always amusing when people on fancy bikes try and race you.

Usually if I'm going to go for a long ride after work I'll ride my nice bike in as our bike parking is very secure, though I appreciate some people don't have that option.
 
One More Solo said:
I quite like my old clunker for commuting, it's definitely slower and the 23mm tyres are not ideal (only way to get mudguards on there) but it does make riding the nicer bike feel like a bit of a treat. Plus, it's always amusing when people on fancy bikes try and race you.

Usually if I'm going to go for a long ride after work I'll ride my nice bike in as our bike parking is very secure, though I appreciate some people don't have that option.
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This is why I want to get some rusty metal paint to stick on my carbon frame. Maybe some kind of super light-weight basket for the front too :p
 
One More Solo said:
I quite like my old clunker for commuting, it's definitely slower and the 23mm tyres are not ideal (only way to get mudguards on there) but it does make riding the nicer bike feel like a bit of a treat. Plus, it's always amusing when people on fancy bikes try and race you.

Usually if I'm going to go for a long ride after work I'll ride my nice bike in as our bike parking is very secure, though I appreciate some people don't have that option.
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I just love that! :) like the best thing ever! someone over-takes me on their shinny carbon with carbon wheels all that only for me to zoom past them a second later ;) :D
 
FrenchTart said:
I quite like commuting on my shiny bike (though with all the commuting it's not quite so shiny any more) :p
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Same, I consider a high percentage (40-50%?) of my riding (on average) is commuting so I feel I wouldn't gain much by riding a slower bike for it and then only having the 'good bike' for weekends/summer. I'd probably lose some enjoyment I get from riding, which is the last thing I want! :rolleyes:

Obviously much of the home maintenance will be on the commuter and I think without loving the bike it wouldn't get as much care...!

I'm more likely to buy a new/upgrade bike for the commuter (better guard clearance & discs) and then relegate the Defy to summer/weekend duties. I would then longer term replace it with more of a summer bike... I guess until now I've upgraded bikes (hybrid->cheap road->good road) rather than having different ones for different things.

Paul: Replacement Ebay Northwave boots arrived, 90% happy with them (reserving the last 10% until I've actually ridden in them) so I'll take some pics of my size 43's for you.
 
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Jono said:
How is it/does it compare to anything else you've ridden?
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Coming from an undersized Boardman Comp it feels marvellous :p

In all seriousness, its a very comfy ride and I'm more than happy with it overall.

I've got the hydraulic version, photo in the bike thread :)
 
Roady said:
Same, I consider a high percentage (40-50%?) of my riding (on average) is commuting so I feel I wouldn't gain much by riding a slower bike for it and then only having the 'good bike' for weekends/summer. I'd probably lose some enjoyment I get from riding, which is the last thing I want! :rolleyes:

Obviously much of the home maintenance will be on the commuter and I think without loving the bike it wouldn't get as much care...!

I'm more likely to buy a new/upgrade bike for the commuter (better guard clearance & discs) and then relegate the Defy to summer/weekend duties. I would then longer term replace it with more of a summer bike... I guess until now I've upgraded bikes (hybrid->cheap road->good road) rather than having different ones for different things.

Paul: Replacement Ebay Northwave boots arrived, 90% happy with them (reserving the last 10% until I've actually ridden in them) so I'll take some pics of my size 43's for you.
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Well here's my thinking...
I was going to get a new nice weather bike, carbon, discs... etc. and then relegate my current bike to being a winter one.

But the reason I don't want to ride mine so much in less than ideal conditions are actually multiple reasons
  • It doesn't have proper mudguard mounts
  • I can't fit a decent pannier system to it
  • The mudguards that would fit, are almost entirely awful
  • Brakes are still not amazing when it's wet
  • I just upgraded the wheels and I can't use them on new bike if it had discs

I don't NEED a carbon frame... or do I? Probably :D
My alu frame is regarded (or was) as pretty much the best alu frame out there (CAAD10). I don't know if I'd get on much better with a lighter bike, this one isn't exactly uncomfortable to ride, but then I've never known comfort to compare it to. I'd probably get a carbon Synapse disc effort.

I'd quite like to commute to work, in comfort. So that means not getting overly wet (decent / full mudguards a must) and grubby, possible to carry things not in a rucksack - i don't like wearing them when riding - MTB camelbak type thing is ok, but I sweat like a MF.

I probably wouldn't be rushing to work, due to not wanting to arrive a sweaty heap.
Maybe I should buy a commuter steed/proper touring bike and ride that in all weather, with nice comfy 28mm tyres on it or something... and just go on my current bike when it's nice again.

I dunno. I think I'll fit my poxy mudflaps tonight and go for a ride once it's stopped raining.
 
Roady said:
How did you find the switch from Shimano to SRAM? Did you find you needed any extra tools for home/basic maintenance?
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I had the older spec 105 previously so not a great comparison but SRAM feels great to me.

I tend to steer clear of servicing other than the basics so can't comment on that :)
 
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