Road Cycling

@Junglist I would have a look at your 404s and check regularly to make sure your bearings aren't rusting. Seems like SRAM think its perfectly acceptable for bearings to rust up when you barely use the wheels in any bad weather and have only put 900km on them. Absolute joke.
 
Luckily I'm a fair weather cyclist so mine haven't been out in bad conditions but that is not OK! Can they be replaced easily enough?

I am a fair weather cyclist too which is why I am so annoyed. They have never been ridden in rain and rarely when the roads are wet and I only use a hose to clean my bike. Having done around 900km i'm ******.

You can service them yourself with the right tools but the rusting on mine has scored the axle as it seized enough to spin on the axle instead of the bearings.

SRAM didn't want to know and Sigma Sports basically said "its a bearing so if it gets ruined thats not the hubs fault" and "they are performance wheels so the seals aren't as strong as other wheels". Its BS. I have DT Swiss 240s on my MTB and they are fine after more mileage and less care/worse conditions. I would wager they are higher performance as well.

Thank god I didn't ride them through the winter or the hubs would be a write off.
 
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Just realised i left my bike in Spain, but didn't remove the saddle. I now have a bike in the shed here in the UK with no saddle!

I wasn't a huge fan of the one i was using, so might go for something narrower.
 
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!
Welcome back mate and well done on your ride!

It’s the headset split ring causing the wear Roady.

Rob has given me a quote already which is about 1/4 of the cost of a new fork.

I’ll probably get it done in a few weeks and refresh the headset bearings at the same time. It will just be at the back of my mind nagging me otherwise I think!
Seems a no-brainer for that price considering what it is. Too many 'what if's if you didn't get it sorted now you're very aware of it!

Hambini does headset bearings now, really useful chart on his site on sizings and such with ok prices. I messaged him with some unknowns and bits I wasn't sure of with mine (which should be fairly standard - Specialized) and he was helpful (as always) and even picked up from a poor photo a slight lip on the inner edge of my upper I'd have otherwise missed. Bearings completely unbranded and no markings at all on them, but they're a perfect fit and feel good quality. For all the undertainty I had on them, the various different info I'd read around online so many places over the years it was very much a case of 'I don't know for sure and get someone who does know' involved.

So, it was a good day, love the open roads and the atmosphere, but I will perhaps skip it next year.

Was it an underground train? They aren't allowed in the deep level tunnels. I didn't bother with the free stuff last year, didn't even top up my water, but would have this year if I had done it as it was much hotter. The start is why I didn't sign up this year, while I quickly forgot about it once moving, I didn't feel like going through it again this year.
It still baffles me that 'The Sportive' of the UK (seen to be the one to do that everyone knows about) is so badly organised and seems an utter mess... Every year.


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



Good choice, the Cannondale should be a better quality frame. They do look awesome and very good spec for the money so seeing more and more of them around...

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.
Probably easily done with Garmin Connect on the PC, unsure how 'cloud-y' Garmin are with their things these days.

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.
This. Also putting the FD into the little ring. So RD in highest and FD in lowest - the 2 'least sprung' for their mechanisms and least amount of tension for the cables so they don't stretch.

SRAM didn't want to know and Sigma Sports basically said "its a bearing so if it gets ruined thats not the hubs fault" and "they are performance wheels so the seals aren't as strong as other wheels". Its BS. I have DT Swiss 240s on my MTB and they are fine after more mileage and less care/worse conditions. I would wager they are higher performance as well.
Can confirm, the bearings in Zipp hubs are cheap. Not particularly low quality but not exactly premium branded bearings like you'd think for a premium wheel. They don't exactly come with much/any oil/grease in them so easily dry out and that could be the cause more than much real water ingress... Your hubs are likely the same hubs as in mine I think they're something like 176D? Found them easy to source NTN/FAG/etc bearings for and replaced them.
 
Can confirm, the bearings in Zipp hubs are cheap. Not particularly low quality but not exactly premium branded bearings like you'd think for a premium wheel. They don't exactly come with much/any oil/grease in them so easily dry out and that could be the cause more than much real water ingress... Your hubs are likely the same hubs as in mine I think they're something like 176D? Found them easy to source NTN/FAG/etc bearings for and replaced them.

Hubs are the ZR1 which in theory are a high end hub. Well, at least the price if you bought them separately suggests that but lets be fair, no one is buying zipp hubs if they are building a set of high end wheels.

They have offered to have them looked at but basically they are suggesting that when that happens, SRAM will say "Hmmm, yes, oh yaaaa, that bearing and axle need replacing and charge me for it. Not sure whether I just get the tools I need and get a couple of spare bearings and do it myself.
 
Less oil/grease less resistance…

What sells wheels… speed, looks, sound, how it spins in the hand…

Not defending but that’s how it is!

If they are cartridge bearings then should be easy to replace.

I’ve never touched my DT Swiss hub wheels but have replaced my White Ind ones a few times on my winter/rain bike. Usually quick to do just take care pressing the new ones in.
 
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Probably easily done with Garmin Connect on the PC, unsure how 'cloud-y' Garmin are with their things these days.

It now seems to work. It doesn’t sync any route I have previously liked or saved. But every new route is. Living across. Slightly inconvenient, but not the end of the world. Between the Garmin list of user routes and strava should be fine for route finding.
 
Less oil/grease less resistance…

What sells wheels… speed, looks, sound, how it spins in the hand…

Not defending but that’s how it is!

If they are cartridge bearings then should be easy to replace.

I’ve never touched my DT Swiss hub wheels but have replaced my White Ind ones a few times on my winter/rain bike. Usually quick to do just take care pressing the new ones in.

Yeah, I have no issue servicing bikes I am just astonished that these have failed so quickly. Its just one of the bearings as well. The others are all buttery smooth so its clearly a sealing issue. The fact that it is basically a summer bike adds to that.

I think I am going to have to replace the axle as well because the seized bearing has rotated on it and scored it along with a score along the length when it was knocked out and I assume a bit of rust caught the axle as it was released.

They have said I can send it to SRAM and they might do it for free but its unlikely. Sending wheels is a faff, expensive and they would be gone for a few weeks which is annoying and people say that SRAM use junk bearings quite often so I would be worried of it happening again. Have ordered some new bearings but I just need to get the tools to remove/install bearings along with deciding if the axle needs replacing. Axle is ~£100 :eek:

did no one teach all the pandemic roadies to wave while i was gone?

(i'm back after 3 years on the sofa eating biscuits. It hurts.)

I find that about 75% of people wave. I think a lot of people are generally unfriendly or keep to themselves these days. I say hi to walkers and wave to everyone I meet coming the other way. Some people seem to purposely avoid eye contact. Especially walkers.
 
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Hubs are the ZR1 which in theory are a high end hub. Well, at least the price if you bought them separately suggests that but lets be fair, no one is buying zipp hubs if they are building a set of high end wheels.

They have offered to have them looked at but basically they are suggesting that when that happens, SRAM will say "Hmmm, yes, oh yaaaa, that bearing and axle need replacing and charge me for it. Not sure whether I just get the tools I need and get a couple of spare bearings and do it myself.

Tools can be a pain but once you have them it's very cost effective to change your own bearings. Where are the wheels from? When I pulled a spoke in my 30 course my LBS dealt with Zipp for me. Even saying they'd changed the bearings as it was asked (when I'd done them myself). Only complication was a replacement wheel coming with a Campag freehub as there was a much longer wait time for the Shimano one. Not a problem for me as I had a spare freehub. Took over a month for my old freehub to come back to me, but had my replacement wheel within 3 weeks!

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Enduro/ABEC3-6903-Wheel-Bearing-17x30x7-Single/5GDE £5 for an Enduro 6903
Various options on Hambini from £10-16 depending what you need - https://www.hambini.com/?s=6903&post_type=product

Looks like the last ones I bought from him where the full contacts, came out at £10 each in April 2020 and they where SKF as far as I recall (or FAG, I had wanted NTN but out of stock). Still in my winter wheels.

Less oil/grease less resistance…

What sells wheels… speed, looks, sound, how it spins in the hand…

Not defending but that’s how it is!
This!

Riders like 'clicky' freehubs these days. The louder the better. But all that means is they have far less grease, or none in them, so they wear faster as they're basically dried out. Kinda why I 'grease' my own (I use engine oil) and service them regularly. Retain that clicky feeling, but also using such a light oil it hasn't great staying power compared to a grease... But most 'standard' greases are generally too thick the amounts people use in a freehub so you go the wrong way... Silent freehub that sometimes doesn't engage lol

did no one teach all the pandemic roadies to wave while i was gone?

(i'm back after 3 years on the sofa eating biscuits. It hurts.)
Welcome back! Fatty! You've missed some fantastic summers - but good to see you returning! :D
 
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Tools can be a pain but once you have them it's very cost effective to change your own bearings. Where are the wheels from? When I pulled a spoke in my 30 course my LBS dealt with Zipp for me. Even saying they'd changed the bearings as it was asked (when I'd done them myself). Only complication was a replacement wheel coming with a Campag freehub as there was a much longer wait time for the Shimano one. Not a problem for me as I had a spare freehub. Took over a month for my old freehub to come back to me, but had my replacement wheel within 3 weeks!

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Enduro/ABEC3-6903-Wheel-Bearing-17x30x7-Single/5GDE £5 for an Enduro 6903
Various options on Hambini from £10-16 depending what you need - https://www.hambini.com/?s=6903&post_type=product

Looks like the last ones I bought from him where the full contacts, came out at £10 each in April 2020 and they where SKF as far as I recall (or FAG, I had wanted NTN but out of stock). Still in my winter wheels.

I've gone for the NTN ones from Hambini as there are suggestions that quite a few places have fake NTN bearings. Expensive but shouldn't need to replace them very often. Also bought a bearing press and the correct drifts along with a bearing knocker outer.

If it was an issue with damage to the wheel I don't think I would have had any issue with a warranty claim. Because its a ****** bearing though the automatic response is "lack of maintenance and bearing are replaceable items".

I will need to service the bearings at some point anyway and losing the wheel for god knows how many weeks + postage and potential repair bill makes it simply not worth it. Won't be giving SRAM any more of my money any time soon however.

Fingers crossed the damage to the axle isn't an issue. Don't fancy spending £100+ on a new one of those.
 
I find that about 75% of people wave. I think a lot of people are generally unfriendly or keep to themselves these days. I say hi to walkers and wave to everyone I meet coming the other way. Some people seem to purposely avoid eye contact. Especially walkers.
Yeah, I think it's definitely the majority will give you something, but sometimes it's very subtle like just a lifted finger from their bars. I think there are sometimes I don't like if I'm on a climb, feeling the pain, out the saddle... people coming the other way are often at speed too...
 
The birthday boy (60 today) wanted to do 20mph for 20 miles. Goal achieved with a 21.6mph average. I did 21.0 for 31 miles to get there and back. Picked up a KOM, 5th and 7th as part of it. Also nearly went into the side of a car that pulled out on me from a side road, rim brakes stopped quick enough to set off the Garmin incident detection, she was very apologetic at least.
 
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I've come down to two bikes:



The Giant can be had for £1650 elsewhere and I think Tredz will price match.

Apart from the Giant having a Carbon frame, are there any reasons to choose one over the other? I'm wanting a more comfortable bike, rather than out and out racing snake pace on the road.
 
I've come down to two bikes:



The Giant can be had for £1650 elsewhere and I think Tredz will price match.

Apart from the Giant having a Carbon frame, are there any reasons to choose one over the other? I'm wanting a more comfortable bike, rather than out and out racing snake pace on the road.

I've got a Revolt Advanced and it's comfortable on the road but I have got 45mm wide tyres on mine which will help a bit, imagine the 38's on that will still be much better than normal road bike widths.

It can handle lighter off road conditions quite well as well, been using mine plenty going on the Ridgeway and various other bridleways, farm tracks and forest roads.

They do have the option to change the wheelbase/geometry with a flip chip on the rear axle, the longer of the setups meant to be more stable and less twitchy. No idea if it is though as I just set mine long and left it there.
 
I've come down to two bikes:



The Giant can be had for £1650 elsewhere and I think Tredz will price match.

Apart from the Giant having a Carbon frame, are there any reasons to choose one over the other? I'm wanting a more comfortable bike, rather than out and out racing snake pace on the road.

Having looked at a few of the alloy Revolt models online, I'm not sure it's true in all cases, but the Revolt 1 2022 has clearance for 53mm tyres.
 
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So we went from last weekend I would set out with arm warmers on, to this weekend being sapped by 30°C heat...

Saturday I set out at 8am (19°) to do 65 miles. I have two coffee stops in that kind of ride. I took two bottles and refilled one at the second stop. From the last stop back to the car was only about 15 miles, but by that time it was around 12 noon and the heat was really rising. You don't feel it so much when you're actually moving, but it was a tough last segment as you feel so drained/sapped. I slept for an hour when I got home!

Sunday with my 'club' we intentionally kept it a short one of 40 miles, setting out at 8am again, but were back shortly after 11am, so it hadn't heated up too bad. We are all off to Girona in two weeks though and it's worried us a little as it could be even hotter then :cry:
 
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