Road Cycling Essentials

[DOD]Asprilla · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:52

Pride comes before a fall; I show my bike off here and then I fall off. Leaving my office for the last time and as I roll out of the entrance and onto the main road (very slow as I'm just making my way to the central reservation) I catch my wheel in a drain cover and go straight over the bars.

No damage to me other than the ego but the lacquer on the shifters is scratched. Trip to halfords tomorrow then.

SDK^ · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:15

ooops, lucky you didn't do more damage to yourself or the bike.

Nice bike btw

Jonny ///M · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:20

Just went a wee run with Kieran whilst the weather is nice. Nice little 30 miles to get started.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr...sp=13&sz=14&via=2,3,4,6,7,8,10,12,13&t=h&z=12

kicks66 · 31 Jul 2011 at 00:38

Just picked up my Allez Elite, needing to get some extra stuff sorted for it.

Lock wise what do you recommend? Ive got an Abus cable lock but I guess I need a D-Lock as well. Ive seen the NY fahgettaboudit but it almost seems like thieves target this one as so many people use it and its so distinct, are there any other suggestions?

SDK^ · 31 Jul 2011 at 09:40

kicks66 said:
Just picked up my Allez Elite

Nice - the only thing I would consider changing is the saddle, I found it uncomfortable for anything over 30 miles.

I finally got my Allez Elite replacement yesterday after being run over in May and went for a steady 76 mile ride, finished in about 4 hours - the weather was awesome and was the ride.
I Went past two flying clubs with heli's, light aircraft and gliders all in the sky and rode past Global Gathering. One of the best rides ever.

willhub · 31 Jul 2011 at 10:30

Scubascorpion said:
I haven't even changed out of the big ring since I've had the bike.
It was only because the rear set wasn't adjusted correctly, that I checked and messed with the front, then thought WTF when it had three positions.
Mind you, it's been pretty flat where I've been so far. Might all change on Thursday eve though, going out with mate on one of his routes. :-/

well when you use the inner ring you don't want to be using the bottom 2-3 sprockets it'll stress the chain but on the 3rd one you'd probe get it rubbing on the Mech or big ring I find that. I find I can only get down the the 4th/3rd sprocket by using the trim on the front mech when in little ring.

[DOD]Asprilla · 31 Jul 2011 at 16:45

Updated picture of the Civia. Sorry for the poor quality, Mrs is away for the weekend and has taken the camera.

MTWest · 31 Jul 2011 at 17:16

Hey guys.

Reading this thread has inspired me to go dig out the old hybrid that's been left neglected in the garage!

After filling up the tyres and having a quick go, I gave the bike a once over only to find this:

Is this a problem?

willhub · 31 Jul 2011 at 17:18

Does front mech shift ok? If yes - not a problem.

Would not hurt to give it a clean tho.

Hamster · 31 Jul 2011 at 17:32

Clean it up, spray GT85 all over that area and leave it for a while then wipe off any excess. Take it for a ride and see if the mech is shifting OK.

Mr. Brightside · 31 Jul 2011 at 17:36

MTWest: I had the same problem with my Carrera Subway LTD earlier this year as it was left outside and not used much for a few weeks.

It wasn't just cosmetic on mine - the axle surrounded by the large return spring had seized, so that I could shift to larger chainrings OK but to shift down again I had to push the derailleur by hand, or subtley kick it inwards.

I took the whole front derailleur off the bike, stripped it down as much as I could (given that various screw heads were no longer usable) and left it to soak in GT85 overnight - having first of all removed the return spring, and made sure that the shift axis was immersed in the GT85 to let it soak in. Come morning it came off easily enough and I was able to clear the remaining crap out, put some grease on, and put it all back together - good as new, except for the scratches introduced by the brute force needed to get it apart.

(I did try periodically spraying GT85 on it over a few days with it on the bike but that wasn't enough.)

Phil99 · 31 Jul 2011 at 18:21

MTWest said:
Hey guys.

Reading this thread has inspired me to go dig out the old hybrid that's been left neglected in the garage!

After filling up the tyres and having a quick go, I gave the bike a once over only to find this:

https://img.skitch.com/20110731-b4ga7kc35nxsgrrsdjujtqeyqs.jpg[IMG]

Is this a problem?[/QUOTE]

As others have said, if it shifts fine it's not too much of a problem.

Not sure if it's the quality of the photo or not, but that chain looks quite bad, you may want to clean that up/replace it.

[DOD]Asprilla · 31 Jul 2011 at 22:37

I will never again give someone advice on their bike fit and set up.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12792808&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

SDK^ · 31 Jul 2011 at 22:56

An interesting riding position

[DOD]Asprilla · 31 Jul 2011 at 23:00

Yes, interesting. I would think that the first time you hit a pothole you lose the chance of having kids.

Jonny ///M · 1 Aug 2011 at 00:46

[DOD]Asprilla;19712999 said:
I will never again give someone advice on their bike fit and set up.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12792808&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

***Don't post images that contain swear words***

Hamster · 1 Aug 2011 at 00:57

Don't want to sound authoritarian in any way but changing the caption will probably save you from a short holiday

Hamster · 1 Aug 2011 at 01:34

kicks66 said:
ve seen the NY fahgettaboudit but it almost seems like thieves target this one as so many people use it and its so distinct

Do you have some more info on your comment on the NY lock? I would have thought that those NY locks would actually be more of a deterrent. I had the original 3000 which was recalled and replaced with the current version by Kryptonite as you could break into it with a biro! It would be interesting to read what made you come to that conclusion about the Fahgettaboudit.

willhub · 1 Aug 2011 at 10:20

[DOD]Asprilla;19712999 said:
I will never again give someone advice on their bike fit and set up.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12792808&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I guess they're just taking the **** right?

I'm amazed that he's able to ride on it, let alone do 100 miles hilly @ 19mph average!

apeZ · 1 Aug 2011 at 10:57

kicks66 said:
Just picked up my Allez Elite, needing to get some extra stuff sorted for it.

Lock wise what do you recommend? Ive got an Abus cable lock but I guess I need a D-Lock as well. Ive seen the NY fahgettaboudit but it almost seems like thieves target this one as so many people use it and its so distinct, are there any other suggestions?

I use a Kryptonite NY 3000 D-lock and Kryptoflex cable. Cable goes through both wheels and saddle, D-lock goes through the frame and rear wheel if possible.

Better safe than sorry imo.