Associate
- Joined
- 21 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 1,714
The vans rhysel stuff looks good. Hadn’t been aware of the clothing gear before so will see if I can go to a stop today as there is a big shop 10 minutes from where I am working today.
Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
Yeah I think they have done it at the right time as well. Chinese brands have kind of been accepted into the mainstream for the most part and people are much more willing to consider brands outside of the "classic" big boys. They have created a cracking bike by all accounts and blown the competition out of the water on pricing. I would happily buy one of their top end Van Rhysel road bikes and be happy that I wasn't on a "second tier" frameset like I would feel with any of the chinese brands.
If I hadn't just got a new TCR frameset I would probably have got one of these.
If I hadn't just got a new TCR frameset I would probably have got one of these.
I mean the Uno X team are using a Taiwanese brand, Dare. So I think it'll be a matter of time until they rival the western brands. But I expect when they do, they'll price accordingly as to not appear 'cheap'.
Edit: My ignorant racist self said Chinese when they're actually from Taiwan. Which I think Meridia are also from? So nothing new to see here other than my own ignorance
Edit: My ignorant racist self said Chinese when they're actually from Taiwan. Which I think Meridia are also from? So nothing new to see here other than my own ignorance
Last edited:
The whole frame manufacturing/development world in bikes is a little strange. As far as I understand it, the big brands design the framesets, create the moulds and layup and then pass that off to Chinese/Taiwanese factories (don't want to be racist like Junglist!) who then assemble the frames for them. There is the idea of open moulds which anything can use and what the Chinese brands tend to use for their own brands. They have the expertise for assembly but not so much in the actual design/conceptualising of new framesets. Either that or there isn't enough money in it for them until they start making a name for themselves and can sell to the Western market.
As to rivalling the Western brands, it was interesting watching the LTWOO stuff all unfolding. People were giving Shimano/SRAM so much crap about how overpriced they were and how LTWOO were going to steal their lunch with aggressive pricing and very similar performance. Turns out, 105 Di2 wasn't much more than LTWOOs offering once all said and done and you didn't have anything like the backing, service network or support you get with Shimano.
People massively underestimate the running costs of operating globally with proper support, distribution and local availability of spares and parts. Suddenly you aren't charging "from China" prices, you are charging 80-90% of the Western brand pricing for something perceived as still second tier.
So you're comparing Decathlon shorts to Assos, without considering everything in between...?!
Like comparing a Focus to a Lamborghini Aventador...
Pretty horrendous but also totally expected... The majority of drivers these days are so self centred and ignorant of any 'obstructions' which (may or may not) slow them down they will try their damnedest to get past/through them with no consideration about what lies beyond. Other cars, lamp posts, cycle lanes, pedestrians, speed limits and us on our bikes are all things to be avoided/ignored if they can so they can make as much progress as possible into the next few feet of road, then they look for the next 'target'.
Yeah pretty close, funny story... Found rust on the knuckle of my right glove from the trailer brushing me. That's how close it was and why you can see me 'wobble'. At least half of the comments were about me riding too close to the curb/verge - which I totally get, At the time it had recently been resurfaced so there was a nice smooth patch there. Also a fairly wide and busy 'trunk' road which is normally wide and open enough for cars to easily pull off the same manoeuvre the tractor tried. Didn't catch it on my camera, but I actually got run off the road around 4 months later around 1 mile away, different tractor but always thought it was the same driver as a very similar incident - overtaking when it wasn't clear to do so, then cutting back across my line around a corner towing something. The second time he was towing a 'bailer' - I could hear it alongside then realised what it was and where I was - there was a protruding wheel right behind me. I bailed/dived into a grass verge at the roadside to avoid it!
Here's one I forgot to upload. Did it last week but as over 30 days (from January 19th) then they can't prosecute so can't do anything - https://youtu.be/7hpJ80S9Txc
Bargain & result! Have sent it to someone at work as been badgering her about getting a helmet/better helmet. Even bought her one in the Evans (or was it Merlin) sales, then someone else ended up with it as she didn't like it!Not sure if anyone is in the market, but i seem to have lost my bike helmet (don't ask) went to look for the sizing of my old helmet on Wiggle and it's reduced to a fiver!
dhb R3.0 Road Helmet | Wiggle
Buy your dhb R3.0 Road Helmet from our Helmets range at Wiggle. £5.00. Free delivery available.www.wiggle.com
Well worth it as a spare!
Oh definitely. Also one of the reasons I've continued to go ahead with the Tarmac SL7 idea... Just a few compromises/unknowns with others. Buying 'middle tier' (SL7 Comp/Expert) gets the same frame as the Pro with a bit heavier paint on it (in the regions of 80-120g) and the components (alloy wheels & 105) to basically 2/3 the cost (£4k vs 6k) and half as much as the S-Works (9k) which is another 150g lighter. So <300g 'saving' between £4k vs 9k of bike. Much of that easily offset by changing wheels and then upgrade the groupset to Ultegra (from 105di2) when it comes time to replace components...
Last edited:
So you're comparing Decathlon shorts to Assos, without considering everything in between...?!
Just a tad lol. I have a fair few bibs from the big brands (Rapha, LeCol, Assos, Castelli and Gore) yet I always reach for the Assos ones. But sadly both pairs are starting to get a bit beaten up and the thought of some cheaper Decathalon ones is tempting. If I feel pain in my butt I'll remember the extra pennies in my account lol
Its quite ridiculous that there is a 30 day limit on these thing. Thats really not very much time. Loads of people have had issue with the police basically saying "sorry, took too long to process it all and 107 days has passed". Dangerous driving shouldn't have a limitation or it should be at least a year. I don't care if you can't remember the incident. If you can't say who was driving then give everyone insured on the car the points and a fine. Maybe the police and policy makers should be forced to ride on our roads for a few months a year just to remind them what ***** we share the roads with.
My bartape needed doing so I took it as a chance to match my shoes and a jersey
Vanity makes me faster
Though I feel I did a pretty naff job of the tape itself
You massive tart!
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2006
- Posts
- 4,473
- Location
- Gloucestershire
lol!
I was jokingly looking at apparel to match my new black and gold coloured bike. I remembered those Peter Sagan edition black/gold shoes! Bit too bling I think though.
I was jokingly looking at apparel to match my new black and gold coloured bike. I remembered those Peter Sagan edition black/gold shoes! Bit too bling I think though.
I can’t even argue or deny itYou massive tart!
So far I've set up tubeless, changed a chain and changed a saddle. Think I got quite a bit more to learn
Seeing as a new bike is a way off, I'm quite glad. I thought I was dead set on a Tarmac but starting to think if I would enjoy a, or something similar to, an Aethos more. It's not like I would benefit from the aero with the speeds I ride at but I expect I'd notice a lightweight bike more
Last edited:
Oh I fully believe that if a RTC or whatever it is took place then there wouldn't be a '30 day limit', but certainly something like this for alerting a driver and sending a 'reminder' is a different thing. As is offering a driving improvement course as an alternative to points on a licence. They're all different things/processes relating back to a singular capture of an event on a camera.
I'm totally with you about Dangerous driving and the whole policy side of things. The Police are not really to blame - they need the pressure, staff, time, equipment and funds to enforce the rules and policies already in place. As in my mind they're not even doing that - also not held to account for not doing it, but that really lies with Government and policies.
Actually looks good! It's a skill worth learning, but really one for patience and practice. One good thing with patterned tape is it'll hide some of the slight discrepancies with wrapping. Plain/smooth tape doesn't!
Not really sure as went through this myself - reading around anything will tell you the 'aero bike is faster', certainly for UK riding. Really the weight difference once you're looking between Tarmac and Aethos without going S-Works/top end is negligible. So you're down to 'ride quality' - very hard to judge without riding them yourself as it's so rider specific.
I've a lightweight small friend (54-57kg) who owns an S-Works SL6, SL7, Aethos and a new Pinarello Dogma S (with Lightweight Meilenstein!)... Without going into how much of a snob she is with bikes - she loves the SL7 and Dogma S the most, says they're 'do everything' bikes, which also excel uphill. She prefers rolling roads and going fast than specifically hunting long/steep climbs. But she doesn't rate the Aethos (hardly rides it!), which might be because she's lightweight preferring the stiffer frames to ride out the saddle?! She does live part of the year in southern Portugal (Volta ao Algarve is around her 'home' roads - the end parts of stage 2 went past her house Foia and Monchique) so does know what she's talking about for longer and steep climbs. Maybe less steep gradients like the Alps the Aethos might be more suited or for a heavier rider - with more seated climbing.
Maybe I'm in a minority, but I don't find my 10-11kg Diverge 'slow' uphill. Yes I know a 7-8kg bike is going to be 'faster', but when 75% or more of my riding the climbs are no more than a few minutes long the Tarmac should suit me better... Maybe?! Can't afford both, or to go for the lighter Tarmac anyway!
Last edited:
Jeez, is she looking to adopt a 34 year old son?
I mean the weight of the Aethos isn't all that special on its own. The Pro is only a 100/200g less than a Canyon Ultimate SLX with DA/Di2 yet costs only £200 or so less. Though as I already have an Ultimate I don't really want to get another one. Not because I dislike the bike but because it wouldn't feel like a new bike. Though saying that I'm sure it would feel like a new bike.
Basically I have no idea what I want and 99% of my purchase will be based upon my tarty appeal of how a bike looks
I mean the weight of the Aethos isn't all that special on its own. The Pro is only a 100/200g less than a Canyon Ultimate SLX with DA/Di2 yet costs only £200 or so less. Though as I already have an Ultimate I don't really want to get another one. Not because I dislike the bike but because it wouldn't feel like a new bike. Though saying that I'm sure it would feel like a new bike.
Basically I have no idea what I want and 99% of my purchase will be based upon my tarty appeal of how a bike looks
The thing with this sort of issue is that you could very easily pay for the staff you need through the fines. I really don't give a damn if people don't like it. Its a bit like speed cameras. I would happily have them hidden. Validating a video of a close pass or dangerous driving shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. Even if you were being generous and called it 30 minutes, the fines would more than cover the extra staffing required. It would very quickly deter bad drivers as well because they would either be banned or drive more safely for fear of actually being caught.
Totally agree with you. If anything the fines should be 'higher' with maybe not as many points/convictions dished out (bear with me) if it meant more 'incidents' of bad driving being 'punished' in some way (with a fine rather than points).
My thinking for less points/courts being dished out - is there are so many 'cases' of bad driving now which have loopholes for drivers getting out of the courts summons. A whole industry of lawyers getting motorists out of convictions and therefore getting out of fines imposed by the same. If there where 'police fines' without the need to be solid enough with evidence to convict a driver in court of a conviction/points it might work better. We'd see more fines and higher values so drivers consider it a 'bad thing to do' rather than figuring 'they can't convict me for that'. The funds then being available into the local forces for enforcing better driving (& other Police 'duties' which relate), with hopefully an improvement to driving standards and better behaviour on the roads. There doesn't need to be more drivers banned from hitting the required points to lose their licences to improve the majority of bad driving on the roads, as the majority of drivers are good 90% of the time so won't ever reach the threshold. But more incentive not to drive aggressively should actually make the roads a safer place to be, increasing that 90 to 98%.
We're already doing something similar for speeding - with automated cameras everywhere accruing a bunch of funding (annoys me this doesn't go to those upholding the 'law'!). There's still Police manually 'catching' drivers doing stupid speeds with a focused area using handheld equipment, but much of the time the 'soft' penalties of someone doing 50 in a 40 which are 'not worth' Policing directly with boots on the ground are captured by automated cameras. The driver just getting a fine and no points, so an easier 'conviction' and therefore probably more of a deterrent to the average driver...!
Rant over!
Last edited:
Now this won't surprise anyone, other than about how slow i am, but yesterday i went to ride out on the bike only to fly down the initial hill and realise the batteries in my shifters were showing as dead. I then had to walk back up the hill pushing the bike and i figured rather than messing around with it, i'd just go out on my mtb.
Today after i was all setup i thought i'd go back out and do the same loop on my road bike.
MTB Ride
www.strava.com
Road Bike Ride
Few interesting points
Today after i was all setup i thought i'd go back out and do the same loop on my road bike.
MTB Ride
Lunch Mountain Bike Ride | Strava
View Martyn Thompson's mountainbikeride on March 6, 2024 | Strava
www.strava.com
Road Bike Ride
Few interesting points
- I was only around 10% faster on my road bike. Considering the MTB has 2.5" knobbly tyres and high gearing to avoid being able to get much speed in. It was a little windier today, but not enough that i'd expect it would make a difference. MTB is around 14kg vs 7.5kg of my road bike
- The Max speed is actually very close. This will be on a downhill, but i'd have thought the lower gearing and being able to actually "pedal" on the descents, along with a more aero position would make a bigger difference
- My road bike has a power meter which recorded an average power of 201W. The Strava estimated average power on the MTB is 121W. This likely shows that i'm fat and Strava doesn't realise how much effort i have to put in to still go slow
- Strava relative effort was 41 today vs 54 yesterday suggesting today was easier. I did try my best to not "race" to provide a reasonable comparison, but both felt similar
Last edited:
New Bike makes you faster!!
My bartape needed doing so I took it as a chance to match my shoes and a jersey
Vanity makes me faster
Though I feel I did a pretty naff job of the tape itself
your friend must be female equivalent of one of my mates - wouldbt surprised that he weights the same as her LOL -
just ordered new Pinio Dogma F ...
so has sl7, aethos, some BMS, lightweight Canyon, now this, and 2 wattbikes - his and his mrs house ...
what a horrible life some have ehh......
Are you offering to buy me one
I'm more than happy to start a gofundme
I love my daughter but when I look at nursery fee's I wonder why I didn't just get the snip to begin with
Last edited: