Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
The jumps between the wider cassette are so frustrating, in reality you probably never use the 50-11 and with the gaps from introducing an 11-32 you're probably best sticking with a 50 34 unless you can push an 11-28, but people all ride differently so you may prefer it.
I definitely didn't crash a bike on Sunday while wearing flip flops. It was an XS bike about 3 sizes too small for me and I either slipped off the pedal or caught the tyre with my flip flop. Many a cut and bruise to show for itI've got scar on my shin and calf from the only MTB'ing I've done. From Pedal gouges which then got grime in them!Flat pedals after many years of road clipless ruined my legs more than the actual riding haha
Soldato
- Joined
- 21 Mar 2013
- Posts
- 3,032
- Location
- Lincolnshire
So i was cycling on the isle of wight this morning, 25 miles into my 64 mile route, I managed to destroy my front derailleur. Old guy in a Volvo was taking aaaaages to accelerate up a hill in Ventnor, so i went to overtake him; evidently putting too much force through and a horrible noise later I checked to see that the derailleur had come into contact with my chain rings. I'd also lost half a link of the chain. Nearest cycle shop that was open was 4 miles away and I'd re-bent the derailleur cage away from the chain rings, so i tried to limp the bike to the shop using only the lowest gear and effort i could. Shortly after, another horrible noise and i think the chain got caught somewhere, the rear derailleur/mech was shorn into two pieces :sad:
Chain i know I can easily repair by just taking a link out, and rear mech is without a doubt a replacement. But, can anyone tell me what's actually happened with the front? Have i just...bent it well out of place?
I've never done any kind of maintenance like this on the bike before but i think I'll at least give it a go replacing these parts. They're sat in my ChainReaction basket as we speak for around £50, but now i've just been thinking if I should/could be changing other parts, ie, my crankset and rear cassette. I used to cycle a lot with a mate who had 2 rings on the front, rather than the 3 i have. Bike is entirely standard with Shimano Sora all round; 50/39/30 chain set, 9 speed 12-25t rear cassette. There's no reason for changing, it's just a 'while i'm doing stuff' :tongue:
Annoyingly, i was looking at the bike on the train on the way home, tyres are looking a bit dated too; it seems like the rubber is a little cracked on the sidewalls :sad:Expensive day!
Chain i know I can easily repair by just taking a link out, and rear mech is without a doubt a replacement. But, can anyone tell me what's actually happened with the front? Have i just...bent it well out of place?
I've never done any kind of maintenance like this on the bike before but i think I'll at least give it a go replacing these parts. They're sat in my ChainReaction basket as we speak for around £50, but now i've just been thinking if I should/could be changing other parts, ie, my crankset and rear cassette. I used to cycle a lot with a mate who had 2 rings on the front, rather than the 3 i have. Bike is entirely standard with Shimano Sora all round; 50/39/30 chain set, 9 speed 12-25t rear cassette. There's no reason for changing, it's just a 'while i'm doing stuff' :tongue:
Annoyingly, i was looking at the bike on the train on the way home, tyres are looking a bit dated too; it seems like the rubber is a little cracked on the sidewalls :sad:Expensive day!
Soldato
- Joined
- 8 Jan 2007
- Posts
- 3,317
- Location
- Cognac, France
The chain got caught and pulled down on the front derailleur snapping the little ledge that the chain runs over. Need a new front derailleur by the looks of it.
Not too expensive, depending on the groupset.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5700-10-speed-front-derailleur-d-braze/
Check your spokes too, may have bent or loosened a few.
Not too expensive, depending on the groupset.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5700-10-speed-front-derailleur-d-braze/
Check your spokes too, may have bent or loosened a few.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2006
- Posts
- 4,470
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Your drive chain looks terribly dirty too, might be a possible reason why it got caught it the chain can't move very freely.
Decided today was as good a day as any to ride the south downs... Got up to 38c according to my garmin, up until about midday it was about 22 and then just rocketed from there, unlike myself who slowly died in the afternoon sun. The moments in the shade were so welcome but few and far between. !
Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 9,534
- Location
- Southampton, hopefully not too hot, or too cold
There's very few significant stretches of tree cover on the lanes I know up there, off the top of my head...
Sailor's Lane climb
White Way climb
Bat 'n' Ball climb
Station Lane(?) on edge of Meonstoke
Baybridge Lane climb
Longwood Dean Lane (partial, also has lovely smooth tarmac)
But besides the above, you're often so exposed up there to the elements, you go through water at a crazy rate.
I'm aiming to head out first thing tomorrow to make up a bit for not riding the road bike since Tuesday, bit of leg fatigue as excuse but also this heat, been sleeping badly and not being ready to head out before 0700.
Sailor's Lane climb
White Way climb
Bat 'n' Ball climb
Station Lane(?) on edge of Meonstoke
Baybridge Lane climb
Longwood Dean Lane (partial, also has lovely smooth tarmac)
But besides the above, you're often so exposed up there to the elements, you go through water at a crazy rate.
I'm aiming to head out first thing tomorrow to make up a bit for not riding the road bike since Tuesday, bit of leg fatigue as excuse but also this heat, been sleeping badly and not being ready to head out before 0700.
Was pretty warm when I rode some of it last year but nowhere near this warm. Great effort to do that today. I bet you were glad for the numerous water taps!
Missed 2 or 3 of them as I very rarely stop and just couldn't find them where I thought they were. Just wanted to finish!
My riding has been sporadic due to work but been out with the fast bunch the last two weekends.
Felt a lot better this weekend & have a bit of a kick coming back too, not the fastest up the shorter hills but can keep that power high and pull the gaps back on the mid/long ones.
Who knows it might help me on the TT.
No idea on power but 4+ hours at 150bpm+ average is some work.
Felt a lot better this weekend & have a bit of a kick coming back too, not the fastest up the shorter hills but can keep that power high and pull the gaps back on the mid/long ones.
Who knows it might help me on the TT.
No idea on power but 4+ hours at 150bpm+ average is some work.
Firstly, big kudos to @Thomas. PLease. for another RPTT Road Bike win. That's 2 now?! Good stuff!
Myself, I had the opportunity of an attempt at Gospel pass as my first 'volume' type ride after these several weeks of illness only commuting. Although it conspired to be on the hottest afternoon of the year so far... I thought 'why not'! Don't know until you try it...!
https://www.strava.com/activities/2490818389
Failed badly! Didn't even get 50% of the way before blowing myself up twice. But whenever I was moving slowly/stopped it was an utter furnace - well into 30 degrees+ with very little breeze. Annoyingly it was tack wood which finished me, think it's the steepest ramp up there, but with constant gradient before and afterwards I think I made the right choice to turn around. Still great to get out and ride, chose to ride home too as knew getting a good 30 miles+ in the legs is really what I needed. Put a few sustained aero/TT type efforts in holding speed on the way back, but a lump on the way home (Tin Hill) really finished me. Was running so empty I nearly called for a lift 3-4 miles from home! 
You're obviously not hunting out some climbs like some of us are, go do it - you've 40-50% more power than most and weigh like 40% less than us!
I blew myself up twice on saturday but lets blame the heat and my lack of fitness rather than my gearing. Changing gearing means spending serious money! But I do think a sub-compact suits me best on this bike for this type of riding, regardless of fitness... Just need to to bear it in mind when changing things. I think when lacking a bit of fitness, then hitting steep stuff is not ideal - as I don't have the condition to sit at threshold to grind it out in 39*32 - 50 rpm @400W is just not sustainable when already deep into threshold!
*hides*
Expensive, but not as expensive with those changes you're thinking of making as you'll be changing shifters too (to move from 9 speed), they're one of the most expensive parts (and yours are not broken!).
When I died at tack wood, it was still over 30 degrees 600ft higher up. I sat on a pull in to eat/drink/recover, couldn't stay any longer as started to attract horse flies and their biting was starting to hurt more than my legs!
Myself, I had the opportunity of an attempt at Gospel pass as my first 'volume' type ride after these several weeks of illness only commuting. Although it conspired to be on the hottest afternoon of the year so far... I thought 'why not'! Don't know until you try it...!
https://www.strava.com/activities/2490818389
Failed badly!
Didn't even get 50% of the way before blowing myself up twice. But whenever I was moving slowly/stopped it was an utter furnace - well into 30 degrees+ with very little breeze. Annoyingly it was tack wood which finished me, think it's the steepest ramp up there, but with constant gradient before and afterwards I think I made the right choice to turn around. Still great to get out and ride, chose to ride home too as knew getting a good 30 miles+ in the legs is really what I needed. Put a few sustained aero/TT type efforts in holding speed on the way back, but a lump on the way home (Tin Hill) really finished me. Was running so empty I nearly called for a lift 3-4 miles from home! Fairly sure Shimano do those larger rings, certainly in DA but drawing a bit of a blank finding them for Ultegra. Surely they do the same!?
You're obviously not hunting out some climbs like some of us are, go do it - you've 40-50% more power than most and weigh like 40% less than us!
I blew myself up twice on saturday but lets blame the heat and my lack of fitness rather than my gearing. Changing gearing means spending serious money! But I do think a sub-compact suits me best on this bike for this type of riding, regardless of fitness... Just need to to bear it in mind when changing things. I think when lacking a bit of fitness, then hitting steep stuff is not ideal - as I don't have the condition to sit at threshold to grind it out in 39*32 - 50 rpm @400W is just not sustainable when already deep into threshold!
Really only using 2 speeds when commuting!? Pushing a huge gear when setting off/sat in traffic? My commute is fairly traffic free, but still has several stop-starts and I'd say although I big ring it I still use quite a range of my 11-32 cassette.
Haha, you've only yourself to blame. Does Liam know you borrowed his bike?I definitely didn't crash a bike on Sunday while wearing flip flops. It was an XS bike about 3 sizes too small for me and I either slipped off the pedal or caught the tyre with my flip flop. Many a cut and bruise to show for it
*hides*
Was scorchio here too - I stupidly thought heading out to climb something steep would find cooler air... Just meant out of the breeze I utterly melted when moving slowly. When I stopped a couple of times it was unbearable - had to keep moving (no matter how slowly) to keep cool!
Crazy price, with still no integrated bars. Really bugs me on these top of the range hydraulic disc frames - didn't used to bug me on rims!
Ouch, expensive day, but at least you're ok as it didn't happen on a fast descent and throw the RD into your wheel!
Expensive, but not as expensive with those changes you're thinking of making as you'll be changing shifters too (to move from 9 speed), they're one of the most expensive parts (and yours are not broken!).
Damn, 'only' got up to 36 degrees here. But that was stopped in the sun at Drovers Cycles before Gospel. Took a while for the ELEMNT to really drop temperature though, even with some mixed shade on the lanes afterwards.
When I died at tack wood, it was still over 30 degrees 600ft higher up. I sat on a pull in to eat/drink/recover, couldn't stay any longer as started to attract horse flies and their biting was starting to hurt more than my legs!
Last edited:
but yes it was warm at the weekend!Anyone (jonnym) got any recommendations for a bearing press set. Got a big old bar for my bottom brackets and headsets but want something for wheel hubs that's a bit more accurate. Seen the park tools but it's a bit expensive,wondering if there is a cheaper alternative.
I got the wheels manufacturing set from Amazon which does wheel bearings. Looks like its gone up in price a bit since i got mine https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wheels-Man...41&s=gateway&sprefix=wheels+m,aps,344&sr=8-16
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2004
- Posts
- 10,648
We use the Park one which makes life pretty easy for most things.
Can't say I've never used a QR skewer with a stack of old same size/same ID bearing to guide bearings in...(the kit actually comes with one for wheels where the big tool can't fit through)
Wheels Manufacturing stuff is on point though so if it's cheaper then do that.
Decided to do my tester route to see where I'm at for a race on Sunday, it's not an exact copy of my last run as I took an extension to the cemetery climb but still ended up 10 minutes quicker than last time.
The main climb https://www.strava.com/activities/2495941889/segments/62813146744 I was 30s faster than my best time but riding with power I've only managed 10:45 @ 335w https://www.strava.com/activities/1473515342#36721932216 so must be sitting at 350w give or take. It was a westerly wind so no help there
Hitting this https://www.strava.com/segments/615850 about 15 miles into the race then two other hills further on after it