Road Cycling

[Lopéz]

When I moved to Austria this was the last thing I threw into the removals van.

I recently took it out of my storage unit, fitted new inner tubes, new Continentals, a new saddle (it's a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow) which I'm not sold on yet, and took it for a 2 hour round trip up and down the Danube this weekend (not pictured, obviously!) Even got sunburn for my efforts.

I paid 520 quid for the bike in 2012, and it's been great value for money. It's a bit of a mechanical bitsa (9 speed Sora, Microshift shifters, FSA crank) but I've kept it in fairly good condition and it still looks good today I think. It's lovely and smooth to ride, responsive, light enough for me.

I really wish it had discs though - I rode it back to back with my Orbea gravel bike recently, and nearly sailed straight through a junction - the difference in stopping power is immense.
I could sell it and replace it, but a modern replacement would cost a good amount, and the bike itself at this age is effectively worthless so I think I'll just keep it.

At the moment I'm mostly commuting on it, 80km a week.

 

[AndyCr15]

I could sell it and replace it

I don't think you're supposed to do it like that. I believe the idea is to accumulate as many bikes as possible

 

[Lopéz]

I don't think you're supposed to do it like that. I believe the idea is to accumulate as many bikes as possible

I know, but the wife has an issue with the n+1 formula To her it's unfathomable someone would even want 2 bikes, let alone more

I want one of these, and she a) thought anyone who spends 6 grand on a bicycle needs to be put in a mental hospital and b) said "haven't you already got a blue bike?"

 

[Martynt74]

Anything i should do with a bike before leaving it for ~6 months?

I've decided to leave my bike here to make moving in the future easier. I've still got my other road bike at home and a hardtail, so bringing it back would be transporting 4 bikes in November which isn't do-able. At least 3 fit on my bike rack!

I've removed the SRAM derailier batteries, and given the chain etc a clean and spray with degreaser. Should i do anything else? It'll be left in a garage so should be a fairly constant temperature.

 

[labbby]

At one point there was a group of 300+ or so. Mentally tough looking for people coming up on left, right and the guy in front. Got a bit boring so I kept finding myself off the back chatting to a mate and then we did mini efforts back into that group. After the stop mostly just my group of mates and a few that tagged on here and there.. same average speed but a lot higher effort

Saw some crashes too.. one guy look badly hurt with motorbike support in attendance around 50 miles in. On the A12 on the way out a guy managed to flip in front of me and somehow everyone avoided him. I suspect his front wheel got caught in a rut/long pothole.

Saw a friends medal from that.. I would have given it back

Are you doing Cambridge this Sunday ?

 

[Martynt74]

I know, but the wife has an issue with the n+1 formula To her it's unfathomable someone would even want 2 bikes, let alone more

I want one of these, and she a) thought anyone who spends 6 grand on a bicycle needs to be put in a mental hospital and b) said "haven't you already got a blue bike?"

This is one of the situations you need to convert to GBP 5 grand sounds slightly better

My wife pretty much said similar when i built my new one and yet still have the old one sat in the shed. In my defense, it is for sale, just don't think it's appealing as it's not a named brand, yet high enough spec to warrant a reasonable price. I'll probably part it out and see how that goes. Either that or bring it to Spain as i reckon it'd sell better here as rim brakes still seem really popular given the weather.

 

[fez]

This is one of the situations you need to convert to GBP 5 grand sounds slightly better

My wife pretty much said similar when i built my new one and yet still have the old one sat in the shed. In my defense, it is for sale, just don't think it's appealing as it's not a named brand, yet high enough spec to warrant a reasonable price. I'll probably part it out and see how that goes. Either that or bring it to Spain as i reckon it'd sell better here as rim brakes still seem really popular given the weather.

"One bike for sale £17,000"

"I just have no idea why its not selling love"

 

[Martynt74]

"One bike for sale £17,000"

"I just have no idea why its not selling love"

Haha it’s not quite that bad. It’s only up for £800 and has full R8000 Ultegra groupset and crank power meter, carbon wheels and frame etc. Weighs about 7kg

Downsides seem to be it’s a rim brake bike and the frame/wheels are by Ican who are a Chinese frame builder.

I did have it on eBay but it went under reserve at 430 and I think the groupset etc alone wouldn’t be much under that!

 

[Nutty_Death]

Need a second opinion.
I'm looking to replace my winter/cummuter bike with something slightly more modern. Whilst searching for second hand offerings,I impulse purchased a Cannondale SystemSix frame...
I'm thinking of swapping my Ribble Endurance SL Disc with it and swapping the Ultegra di2 groupset over. I think once I've sold the Ribble frame it will have cost me around £400.
What are people's thoughts?

On one hand I prefer the look of the Cannondale but on the other, the Ribble is absolutely fine as my summer bike...

 

[Nutty_Death]

Need a second opinion.
I'm looking to replace my winter/cummuter bike with something slightly more modern. Whilst searching for second hand offerings,I impulse purchased a Cannondale SystemSix frame...
I'm thinking of swapping my Ribble Endurance SL Disc with it and swapping the Ultegra di2 groupset over. I think once I've sold the Ribble frame it will have cost me around £400.
What are people's thoughts?

On one hand I prefer the look of the Cannondale but on the other, the Ribble is absolutely fine as my summer bike...

Tried the wheels on... I'm going to keep it.

 

[PikeyPriest]

I went for the new 840 Garmin gps, which will come next week. Unfortunately the reduced price on the 1040 ended before my birthday and hard to justify at the higher price.

I have tried using Garmin Connect and it seems ok. Apparently my strava routes should import, but I can’t get anything to come across at all. Is this a bug/crappy software/user error? Is it best to just use a PC/laptop when it arrives rather than the IOS app. I had hoped that strava routes would sync easily, but it doesn’t look to be the case using mobile only unless I’m missing something.

 

[fez]

I went for the new 840 Garmin gps, which will come next week. Unfortunately the reduced price on the 1040 ended before my birthday and hard to justify at the higher price.

I have tried using Garmin Connect and it seems ok. Apparently my strava routes should import, but I can’t get anything to come across at all. Is this a bug/crappy software/user error? Is it best to just use a PC/laptop when it arrives rather than the IOS app. I had hoped that strava routes would sync easily, but it doesn’t look to be the case using mobile only unless I’m missing something.

I have had all sorts of issues with Garmin syncing but plenty of people have zero issues with exactly or almost exactly the same hardware (iPhone and 830).

 

[AndyCr15]

Still quite chilly when you set out. Left the house at 8am yesterday with arm warmers and felt really quite cold. Finally the sun came out around 10am and warmed things up... could be the same this morning I suspect. I can't believe it's June and it's still a little chilly for just s/s jerseys (well, in the early hours)

 

[Trifid]

I've been doing early evening rides in short sleeves recently. Hopefully it isn't too cold out now, as I'm about to head out!

 

[One More Solo]

Anything i should do with a bike before leaving it for ~6 months?

I've decided to leave my bike here to make moving in the future easier. I've still got my other road bike at home and a hardtail, so bringing it back would be transporting 4 bikes in November which isn't do-able. At least 3 fit on my bike rack!

I've removed the SRAM derailier batteries, and given the chain etc a clean and spray with degreaser. Should i do anything else? It'll be left in a garage so should be a fairly constant temperature.

Make sure the chain is lubed. I’ve never had great experiences leaving bikes for an extended period as stuff will rust but at worst it should be a new chain and cassette.

 

[Martynt74]

Make sure the chain is lubed. I’ve never had great experiences leaving bikes for an extended period as stuff will rust but at worst it should be a new chain and cassette.

Cheers. It’s a fairly new chain/cassette from March and mainly only ridden in the dry of Spain.
I sprayed it with GT85 which I’m hoping will be enough. It’s staying in Spain and only over the summer till around October.

 

[UTmaniac]

Cheers. It’s a fairly new chain/cassette from March and mainly only ridden in the dry of Spain.
I sprayed it with GT85 which I’m hoping will be enough. It’s staying in Spain and only over the summer till around October.

I presume it still applies to modern drivetrains, but they used to say leave your rear mech in a small sprocket when leaving bike for a while untouched, to take strain off the mech spring.

 

[fez]

Having some issues with my zipp 303 firecrests and the rear hub. Its suddenly started binding quite a lot when the rear thru axel is tightened up to spec. Anyone else had this issue? I have taken it apart as far as I can without getting too serious and all bearings and seals seem in the right place and have plenty of grease on them. Bearings run smoothly. Never used to do this.

Turns out one of the bearings is rusted and needs replacing which is taking the **** somewhat as they only have about 900km on them and the only water they see is from a hose occasionally and some water on the road. I never go out when its really wet either.

 

[ChrisD.]

Haven't been out on my bike since a mad man with a hockey stick attacked me in 2020 sometime (no jokes!).

Looking to get into it again and I also need a new bike. Need is a strong word, but I have the cycle to work scheme and it's a good way to lower my tax liability. As such, I'm looking for suggestions for a new bike from Tredz, up to £2k please?

 

[lordrobs]

I've been out of the cycling game pretty much since my boy was born nearly 2 years ago (bar a few rides I managed to sneak in) but I'm having a last ditch attempt to get myself back into a routine for both my physical and mental health. Seemingly forever ago I signed up to a 100 mile closed road sportive... then Covid happened and it was postponed, then postponed again, then when the even finally happened last year I didn't feel like I was up to the challenge so I deferred my entry. Well, that ride is now happening in 18 days so even though I'm probably less prepared than I was 12 months ago it is now or never!

I've done a few cold winter morning rides around 20 or so miles which felt like hard work but then again, those types of rides always do! The last month has been pretty much dedicated to moving house so now I'm on a strict routine to get some 25 - 30 mile solid rides in as preparation for the tour of Cambridgeshire on the 4th June.

Even my last minute prep didn't go to plan with both my wife and boy being ill on the week before. So I went in fully expecting to bail out at the route split (37 miles in) and do the 66 mile route instead of re-looping a section and racking up the full 100... and that is exactly what I did!

The guys I was was hoping to tag along with were way beyond my pace (averaging nearly 19mph in the first few miles) so discretion being the better part of valour I eased off and did my own thing.

Still, a good ride out all in all and pretty good pace for me at the moment - https://www.strava.com/activities/9201372286

Interesting seeing the machinery people are riding, I seem to be in a shrinking minority still riding aluminium!

Next purchase will be a new saddle though for sure. I've done many 100 mile rides on my current one but I seem to be getting fairly consistent saddle pain and numbness of the unmentionables after as little as 20 miles now which is ruining my enjoyment. I'll start off with the sitting on a piece of cardboard method and if that doesn't result in a saddle that feels better I'll have to see if there is a somewhere with a big selection of saddles to try out... or some kind of sit bone measuring device!