Soldato
They probably just do them finger-tight because 99% of people will take them off as soon as they get home anyway.
Looking to get my first Road Bike, any advice much appreciated!
- Thread starter ryryryan
- Start date
They probably just do them finger-tight because 99% of people will take them off as soon as they get home anyway.
You seem pretty annoyed about your reflector and it's really confusing me
Are you being genuine or is my sarcasm detector broken?
genuinely annoyed bit's fall off a new bike.
I rode about 1mile home from halfords.
then today I rode about 1/4th of a mile and noticed the reflector was a tiny bit loose and started to slip around the handlebar then I got to a poor condition tarmac path about 20-30seconds later reflector is gone apart from the bracket that's meant to hold it which become loose to.
the rear reflector was going the same way.
I know it's only a reflector it's just annoying it wasn't on proper and obviously if it happens you start to lose faith.
I don't have a torque wrench and don't want to spend 70+ quid on one and all the bolts in the frame are marked for what torque they should be.
I don't want to risk over tightening something so my only options is.
free 6 week service at halford or pay another LBS to check all my bike and the most reputable one in Newcastle which charges £50 for a standard service.
looking at the website they have a "Specialized Geometry Body Fit" for people who want an exact 100% fit. so I'm guessing they are a proper professional LBS with all the really good tools and expensive truing stands etc.
but at that price I might as well just buy a torque wrench
grr 3 free services in the first year.
I could have upped my budget by 400 if I wanted starting to wish I thoroughly read their website now...
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Jan 2006
- Posts
- 4,629
Good job they've got Advanced Level Cytech mechanics, they should be able fix your reflector no problems.
well halford only train 500 people a year to cytech lvl 1-2 so a big improvement.
I guess the odds are your halfords local branch might not even have anyone with cytech one that barely knows anything.
Maybe thats why some branchs have a bad rep and other ones can be pretty good
Soldato
My bad, yeah, Secteur, not Roubaix. Secteur is the aluminium version and the Roubaix is carbon.
A comfortable bike is a fast bike; the better the fit the more power you can put in and the more comfortable it is the more likely you are to ride it.
I'm no slower on my Scott CR1 than I was on my Cervelo S1.
The main reason I'm looking at the new model is for the better gear shifters. After having a little mess around in halfords with sora ones where you use your fingers, and 2300 where you use the thumb I much prefer the former.
Also some really great advice here guys. That Moser looked almost perfect if there was a size 53 or 54!! When I tried 54 in halfords it seemed alright, though 53 seemed a touch better. Hard to say though as i didn't get long on them, and was only around the store's tiny area upstairs.
Caporegime
How does his age determine what bike he gets?!
The Roubaix geometry makes for quite an upright position, so quite noob friendly I guess.
Soldato
but how does being 24 make him a noob? lol?!
Caporegime
Well, quite. That's the point. People dismiss the Roubaix as some sort of noob friendly kids bike, because it's quite upright, so obviously no self respecting cyclist should be seen dead on one. Apparently. So clearly at age 24 he should be on some back breaking race bike with a 4 foot saddle to bar drop.
Haha, I'm a noob yes, because I've never got on a road bike till yesterday!! Though indeed not because I'm 24.
I really want to just get it over and order a bike now, but I need to go to cardiff tomorrow to try sizes. Hope they have what I want in stock, otherwise more waiting!
I really want to just get it over and order a bike now, but I need to go to cardiff tomorrow to try sizes. Hope they have what I want in stock, otherwise more waiting!
Well I just took delivery of a secteur last week and I've so far been very happy. I had moved from hybrid bike in past and having tried out lots of different bikes the slightly more upright geometry I found much more comfortable. I was worried I was just picking what felt nearer my old bike, but it really is comfortable. I had always done longer rides 50-100 or so on my old bike and that's what I hope to still do on my new one but I do feel faster on this than my old one
How does his age determine what bike he gets?!
Being 24, you'd expect him to be more flexible, and less in need of a comfortable geometry than someone who is 48. That's what.
Soldato
It's reasonably likely, but it's by no means a given. What if someone has long legs and a short body, like me? Then they need a longer head tube to ensure the saddle / bar drop isn't extreme.
There are many reasons why a relaxed geometry would be favourable yet people seem eager to advise folks new to cycling that its 'wrong' with no consideration.
There are many reasons why a relaxed geometry would be favourable yet people seem eager to advise folks new to cycling that its 'wrong' with no consideration.
Soldato
And, as I said, a comfortable bike is a fast bike.
Someone once said 'it's not about the bike'. He was right, it was about the EPO and blood transfusions, but I'm not sure where you get the impression that the Secteur is a 'slow' bike, especially as you didn't discount the Defy which has very similar geometry.
If it was a Cervelo RS would you be saying it was 'slow'?
Someone once said 'it's not about the bike'. He was right, it was about the EPO and blood transfusions, but I'm not sure where you get the impression that the Secteur is a 'slow' bike, especially as you didn't discount the Defy which has very similar geometry.
If it was a Cervelo RS would you be saying it was 'slow'?
Soldato
Depends on the rider, that's the point. Better fit means you'll be quicker so you pick the bike that fits. If you've got a rider who is perfectly fitted to bike that leaves them low and aero vs a rider who is fitted to a more upright bike and they are both outputting the same power then the aggressive aero rider wins.
That's not the scenario here though, this is about the same rider on two different bikes; one aggressive and one not. It's impossible to say which is quicker based only on the geometry, you need the one that fits the best..
As I mentioned, I used to have an S1, they don't come much more aggressive than that but there is no difference between my times. I'm 176cm and my centre BB to saddle top is 765mm. On my S1 the saddle to bar drop was about 15cm; aero as fudge but not comfortable. I need a top bar of 545mm - 560mm and a minimum head tube of 150mm to be comfortable over any reasonable distance.
OP here in case anyone didn't realise xD
Interesting conversations here! Which will apply to my next question too.
SO... my budget has increased as my folks want to put £100 towards it as my xmas prezzie (they still do this and every year I ask for money as I'm not a big present kinda guy), so with that in mind I am now looking at the Ribble Sportive 7005 (good link dunker). It looks awesome, has the sora shifters and gears I want, a carbon fork and is now in my price range. The only debate to come is size.
I am 5' 10" with a leg size of 32 inches, dead on with both. I have tried a 54cm frame (the seat tube obv), and that seemed ideal. However, the bike only comes in 55cm or 52cm. I rang them up, and the guy suggested 55 in my situation as it will be more comfortable, seeing as I'm not looking to be competitive (other than with myself). He also said go for a 100mm stem, which will balance the fit more.
Do you agree? 55 for the more comfortable, or 52 for the speedier more aggressive stance, but slightly more uncomfortable?
I'm ordering within the next few hours, as I've waited far too long as it is. Any late advice is always appreciated.
Interesting conversations here! Which will apply to my next question too.
SO... my budget has increased as my folks want to put £100 towards it as my xmas prezzie (they still do this and every year I ask for money as I'm not a big present kinda guy), so with that in mind I am now looking at the Ribble Sportive 7005 (good link dunker). It looks awesome, has the sora shifters and gears I want, a carbon fork and is now in my price range. The only debate to come is size.
I am 5' 10" with a leg size of 32 inches, dead on with both. I have tried a 54cm frame (the seat tube obv), and that seemed ideal. However, the bike only comes in 55cm or 52cm. I rang them up, and the guy suggested 55 in my situation as it will be more comfortable, seeing as I'm not looking to be competitive (other than with myself). He also said go for a 100mm stem, which will balance the fit more.
Do you agree? 55 for the more comfortable, or 52 for the speedier more aggressive stance, but slightly more uncomfortable?
I'm ordering within the next few hours, as I've waited far too long as it is. Any late advice is always appreciated.