Road Cycling

[Martynt74]

Riding home yesterday I hit a random bump in the road and heard a massive cracking noise. For sure thought I had killed my bike but everything seems to be all good. Nothing visible at least but now in the back of my mind it's going to fail on me mid ride one day

There goes @Junglist running back to Zwift


I've currently got about 4 cables on my desk as i try and charge everything ahead of Friday. I'd love to change my mindset to be more minimal. Currently have

2x Sram batteries (one in use and a backup, although shouldn't be needed)
Front light
Rear light
2x Head torch batteries
Garmin edge
Powerbank
Shokz headphones

Wouldn't be as bad if everything used the same cable. I bought a fancy swappable connector cable, which uses magnets to switch between lightning, usb c, micro usb, along with adaptors to switch from USB-C to garmin/Shokz. But not sure i actually trust them enough on the day and so i'll be packing 5 different cables!

 

[Junglist]

There goes @Junglist running back to Zwift

Hope not! Enjoying being back out in the sun. And seeing as my bike is the bike I use on Zwift if it were to break I'd be stuffed and would have no bike at all so nothing to use on Zwift

 

[mrk]

Bike has dispatched!

Edit*

Ordered tubeless muc-off conversion kit, they are more expensive than what I remember from my MTB kit, same stuff too. Also a set of lights and bookmarked a cheap trip computer after I decide if my phone is enough or I want something more affixed to the bike. Happy with the G-One tyres it comes with and the rims so no need to change anything at all really physically except maybe the saddle if it ends up being too uncomfy on longer rides.

And just to sanity check, 25mm tape width + about 80ml of sealant per wheel... valves are 60mm but that's standard anyway.

 

[fez]

Riding home yesterday I hit a random bump in the road and heard a massive cracking noise. For sure thought I had killed my bike but everything seems to be all good. Nothing visible at least but now in the back of my mind it's going to fail on me mid ride one day

Hmm, slightly concerning. Have you given everything a good flex and listened for crunching noises and looked in all the nooks and crannies on the bike. A cracking noise isn't usually a good noice when it comes to bikes.

 

[Junglist]

Hmm, slightly concerning. Have you given everything a good flex and listened for crunching noises and looked in all the nooks and crannies on the bike. A cracking noise isn't usually a good noice when it comes to bikes.

It was about 5km from home and everything felt fine riding back. My first thought was maybe it was my ali express saddle but that seems OK. i've tapped around the usual points with a coin and nothing sounds off but then again it's not like I'm a professional knowing what to look for. I may take out the saddle post and check that when I get home. At first I thought it may have been one of my wheels but they both looked OK and I figured if it was one of them they would've deflated right away.

Watch this space. If there are tears or I vanish from this thread indefinitely we'll know it was bad news

 

[Vandle]

Be worth looking into a proper bike fit if you are considering splashing out on a new bike. As a % cost of decent bike it's not very much imo.

I had a bloke come round to my house 3 weeks ago, brought his Retul bike fit kit with him, plus all his tools and wheel off trainer. https://www.pettys.cc/tom-petty-bike-fitting

Did my road bike, my gravel bike and then my static zwift bike all with the same measurements. Took off the bar tape and realigned the shifters to be in the right spot, lined up the cleats on 3 pairs of shoes (as I have 3 different sets of pedals) and then gave me a shopping list of bar, frame and crank sizes for when I purchase a new one. Cost the equivalent of 200 quid. Reaping the benefits already. Well worth it.

 

[Junglist]

Really not sure what that noise could've been. Everything sounds the way you'd expect it to sound. Took the seat post out and no cracks on that either. Wheels look normal. When I spin the front wheel I can't work out if there is a minor wobble or if it's just the decals on the wheel making it appear to wobble. I would've thought though any deformation with the wheel being tubeless would cause instant deflation though. Perhaps not but not sure what else it could be.

So I think everything is OK and maybe it was just a nasty pot hole that I hit which caused the noise to reverberate around the bike but on first and second check everything appears to be as it usually is.

Be worth looking into a proper bike fit if you are considering splashing out on a new bike. As a % cost of decent bike it's not very much imo.

I had a bloke come round to my house 3 weeks ago, brought his Retul bike fit kit with him, plus all his tools and wheel off trainer. https://www.pettys.cc/tom-petty-bike-fitting

Did my road bike, my gravel bike and then my static zwift bike all with the same measurements. Took off the bar tape and realigned the shifters to be in the right spot, lined up the cleats on 3 pairs of shoes (as I have 3 different sets of pedals) and then gave me a shopping list of bar, frame and crank sizes for when I purchase a new one. Cost the equivalent of 200 quid. Reaping the benefits already. Well worth it.

It's something I'll definitely consider closer to the time and before doing the final order

 

[UTmaniac]

Been using Google Gemini to try and agree on a bike size to order (not close. let me have fun). Can never tell if it's giving me correct information or just what it thinks I want to hear.

I'm 181.5cm tall, ~87cm inseam, with an arm span of 186cm (ape index of 1.025 - I'm all limbs)

My Canyon is a Medium and it feels ever so slightly too long. Gemini is adamant that a size 54. When I walked into Specialized the guy there said I'm a 54 without measuring me but lots of places online say 56.

What say you, OC hive-mind? Do I listen to the internet or give in to the AI/LLM overlords.

What Canyon model medium do you think is a bit big? Canyon have a rep for their frame sizes being bigger than you expect.

I'm ~177cm, ~82cm inseam, ~180cm arm span. My Cube Attain GTC is 388/610mm, my GT eGrade Bolt is 405/577mm reach/stack. Cube has 110mm stem, GT 90mm. Think both have 75mm reach bars.

You're taller than me, but I have a longer torso and you have longer arms, so I'd presume you need similar frame size to me.

 

[Junglist]

What Canyon model medium do you think is a bit big? Canyon have a rep for their frame sizes being bigger than you expect.

I'm ~177cm, ~82cm inseam, ~180cm arm span. My Cube Attain GTC is 388/610mm, my GT eGrade Bolt is 405/577mm reach/stack. Cube has 110mm stem, GT 90mm. Think both have 75mm reach bars.

You're taller than me, but I have a longer torso and you have longer arms, so I'd presume you need similar frame size to me.

It's a 2021 Ultimate. I've got the saddle pretty far forward on the post so it's fine but I just feel it's the tiniest bit too big. Nothing that I can't ride for a few hours on and it has not yet caused me any pain but just a gut feeling that if it was slightly, and I mean really slightly, shorter it would feel a bit nicer.

 

[UTmaniac]

It's a 2021 Ultimate. I've got the saddle pretty far forward on the post so it's fine but I just feel it's the tiniest bit too big. Nothing that I can't ride for a few hours on and it has not yet caused me any pain but just a gut feeling that if it was slightly, and I mean really slightly, shorter it would feel a bit nicer.

391/567mm reach/stack, quite racey geo.

Looks like it comes with a 100mm stem, have you tried a 90mm?

Looks like it comes with +/-10 degrees stem, +10 will reduce reach by ~10mm and raise bars by ~33mm according to http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/stem.php

30mm of spacers under the stem will reduce reach by ~10mm.

 

[Junglist]

I've got the CP10 cockpit so it's all in one. I think shortening by 10mm would be a bit too short. I'm just being really fussy, really. And seeing as the guy in Specialized, when I was looking at the Tarmac, was adamant I was better suited for a 54 it got me thinking if the Canyon was the tiniest bit too big. He was dead certain that the 56 of the Tarmac was going to be too long for me.

It's likely fine margins and I'm chasing something that doesn't exist. I can do 4 hours on the bike with no pain at all. Oddly, not sure how this works, it feels 'bigger' when I'm on the turbo than when i am outdoors riding for real.

 

[fez]

I've got the CP10 cockpit so it's all in one. I think shortening by 10mm would be a bit too short. I'm just being really fussy, really. And seeing as the guy in Specialized, when I was looking at the Tarmac, was adamant I was better suited for a 54 it got me thinking if the Canyon was the tiniest bit too big. He was dead certain that the 56 of the Tarmac was going to be too long for me.

I assume that due to your daddy long legs morphology, your torso is shorter than your average bear which obviously affects reach quite heavily. You have long a slight positive ape index (~1" right?) which isn't huge for a reach calculation but its something. I assume hes saying you should be on a 54cm frame because ultimately if you ignored your legs you would probably be about 5'9"/5'10" or thereabouts and a 54 would likely be the right size. I don't think that inseam comes into it massively beyond crank length and obviously the saddle to bars drop/slight reach increase you add when you put the saddle up.

It's likely fine margins and I'm chasing something that doesn't exist. I can do 4 hours on the bike with no pain at all. Oddly, not sure how this works, it feels 'bigger' when I'm on the turbo than when i am outdoors riding for real.

I think that the turbo is perhaps a good yardstick for a fit as you aren't as dynamic as when you're outside which means any issues with the fit are very quickly apparent in your comfort.

 

[grudas]

Tubeless bros, explain.. had my first puncture with a tubeless setup.

Air kept leaking out, tire wouldn’t seal, no sealant coming out.

So I stopped 10k from home, topped up.. in the next 4k is was low again.. so air leaking but sealant not coming out.

Made it home, topped up tire with a bigger pump to 38psi(45c gravel tires)

Heard the leak in quiet garage, span the wheel, instantly sealed up and sealant was visible on the outside of tire.

Explain why it wouldn’t seal when riding ? Not enough pressure? but enough for air to go? Not enough sealant inside? - 100ml I dropped in a 45c.

 

[Junglist]

I assume that due to your daddy long legs morphology, your torso is shorter than your average bear which obviously affects reach quite heavily. You have long a slight positive ape index (~1" right?) which isn't huge for a reach calculation but its something. I assume hes saying you should be on a 54cm frame because ultimately if you ignored your legs you would probably be about 5'9"/5'10" or thereabouts and a 54 would likely be the right size. I don't think that inseam comes into it massively beyond crank length and obviously the saddle to bars drop/slight reach increase you add when you put the saddle up.

Jesus. I think I actually am that picture Martyn posted. Just got my partner to actually measure me… I’m worse than I thought lol

Height: 181.5cm
Arm span… 194cm lol. That’s Ape index of 1.07 (+12.5cm) not the 1.025 I originally thought.
Inseam: 87cm
Torso: 45cm
Shoulders: 46cm

It has described me as: “You’re a pair of long legs, long arms and a small engine”.

 

[fez]

Tubeless bros, explain.. had my first puncture with a tubeless setup.

Air kept leaking out, tire wouldn’t seal, no sealant coming out.

So I stopped 10k from home, topped up.. in the next 4k is was low again.. so air leaking but sealant not coming out.

Made it home, topped up tire with a bigger pump to 38psi(45c gravel tires)

Heard the leak in quiet garage, span the wheel, instantly sealed up and sealant was visible on the outside of tire.

Explain why it wouldn’t seal when riding ? Not enough pressure? but enough for air to go? Not enough sealant inside? - 100ml I dropped in a 45c.

Thats very strange. Lower pressures are usually better for sealant as its not fired out of the hole at 100mph so it can clump better.

When you say topped up, do you mean with air? And 100ml in a 45c should be plenty but some tyres absorb more when they are new/first time sealant is added. When I am out and about and I get a puncture with sealant involved I stop, rotate the wheel by hand until the sealant does or doesn't do its job before I continue.

Jesus. I think I actually am that picture Martyn posted. Just got my partner to actually measure me… I’m worse than I thought lol

Height: 181.5cm
Arm span… 194cm lol. That’s Ape index of 1.07 (+12.5cm) not the 1.025 I originally thought.
Inseam: 87cm
Torso: 45cm
Shoulders: 46cm

It has described me as: “You’re a pair of long legs, long arms and a small engine”.

Jesus man, you're designed for climbing not cycling!

In that case, I would think that you might be able to get away with a larger bike simply due to your mr tickle arms.

 

[Junglist]

Jesus man, you're designed for climbing not cycling!

In that case, I would think that you might be able to get away with a larger bike simply due to your mr tickle arms.

Yeah that’s what my partner said. She used to be a climbing instructor and said she now wants to take me climbing. Even though I already know I’ll be naff at it

 

[#Chri5#]

They are good though, but can be tricky to eat in Winter when they become like an ice block!

In Summer months they are much softer.

I tried eating an apple flavour Styrkr 50 bar at sub 5 degrees on Saturday and thought it was like trying to chew lumps off an ice cube. Marginally easier once the temperature got up to around 20 degrees later on but still much harder work than the choc chip flavour.

Kellogg's Rice Krispie Bars are easy to eat but a PITA to get out the fancy foil wrapping on the move (even with the trick of cutting the top off the wrapper with scissors before leaving home). Aldi own brand rice krispie bars are about the cheapest to buy and easy to unwrap, just not as many flavours to choose from.

I've mentioned them before, but if you want value then a box of 20 Ma Baker 90g flapjacks can be had for around £15

Ma Baker Mixed Fruit Giant Bars £14.95 at Dolphin Fitness

In Stock, Ma Baker Mixed Fruit Giant Bars 20 x 90g, Multi-Buy Discounts and Special Offers

www.dolphinfitness.co.uk

 

[fez]

Yeah that’s what my partner said. She used to be a climbing instructor and said she now wants to take me climbing. Even though I already know I’ll be naff at it

I thought you already did climbing for some reason. Not sure why. Its great fun btw and really good for fitness. I used to love doing it.

I still enjoy it and we usually go on holiday at least once a year to France with a bunch of friends to climb.

The arrival of the nippers unfortunately has sapped my free time so I didn't have time to go climbing as much as I would like and get out on the bike and being on the bike ticked a lot of boxes that climbing didn't. Getting outside, cardio, seeing the local area. I fundamentally enjoy it more as well.

 

[mrk]

As in bouldering? I've been climbing for almost 2 years now with mates. It's great for full body conditioning and builds an immense foundation that carries over into many areas of daily life and other workouts. I do no cardio as it's pointless for me due to a very fast resting metabolic rate anyway and my goals are for strength and lean muscle gains.

Cycling for me is purely fun and leisure/commute where appropriate.

 

[grudas]

Thats very strange. Lower pressures are usually better for sealant as its not fired out of the hole at 100mph so it can clump better.

When you say topped up, do you mean with air? And 100ml in a 45c should be plenty but some tyres absorb more when they are new/first time sealant is added. When I am out and about and I get a puncture with sealant involved I stop, rotate the wheel by hand until the sealant does or doesn't do its job before I continue.

Yea so my rear pressure dropped to a point where I felt the drag behind.. pumped up with my mini pump to what felt “ok” heard no leaks, span the wheel, checked for sealant etc, Nothing. Ignored it and carried on.. 4k later the rear was near flat again - 15psi. Nursed it back home, left over night, topped up with proper pump the next day and heard air coming out, span the wheel, sealant instantly sealed it and it’s good.

My first experience of a puncture on tubeless so I sorta expected :

Puncture
Ride
Sealant seals tire
Top up at home if needed

But it seemed to completely fail.. air exited but not sealant which makes no sense.

My thinking is :

Hole too small
Pressure with mini pump too low
Sealant never pushed through the hole