Road Cycling Essentials

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The one I hit was cunningly disguised with a Bobby Charlton comb over of grass. Otherwise I'd have Danny Macaskill double back flipped over it or something... Honest :)
 
Scum scum scum!!! Left my bike locked up like I do near the gym.. Came back everything looked fine till I unlocked it! Some low life tried to steal my back wheel but failed because it's locked up with frame and front wheel.. So what he/they did is rip the rear skewer Out ant take it! Leaving me strangled unable to go anywhere!! My little brother cycled home, ripped my old skewer out of my old wheel set and brought it over to me! Are there any 'lockable' skewers available??
 
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grudas said:
Scum scum scum!!! Left my bike locked up like I do near the gym.. Came back everything looked fine till I unlocked it! Some low life tried to steal my back wheel but failed because it's locked up with frame and front wheel.. So what he/they did is rip the rear skewer Out ant take it! Leaving me strangled unable to go anywhere!! My little brother cycled home, ripped my old skewer out of my old wheel set and brought it over to me! Are there any 'lockable' skewers available??
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Any of the hex key ones are better than quick releases. Unless you're racing, I'd seriously recommend everyone bins quick releases because they're just a bike thief's wet dream. You can also get ones with 5-sided keys to deter anyone carrying hex keys.
 
Jonny69 said:
Any of the hex key ones are better than quick releases. Unless you're racing, I'd seriously recommend everyone bins quick releases because they're just a bike thief's wet dream. You can also get ones with 5-sided keys to deter anyone carrying hex keys.
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got any links to the 5 sided ones? :) thanks.
 
arknor said:
Out of curiosity and semi on the subject of bike thieves.

Is it just newcastle or does every cities bike racks seem to contain bikes where someone has jumped on one of the wheels bending them completely out of shape?

There seems to be a bike like that every time I goto the city centre and sometimes they seem to have just been abandoned by the owners and stay there for weeks
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I imagine if you leave a bike overnight in the open for more than a couple of nights, or maybe even just for one night, it's going to get destroyed. There was a singlespeed that I walk past that get the chain stolen and the brake cables cut a while back, which then stayed chain up for a week or so, presumably until the owner figured a way to get it home without riding it. And then there was an old hybrid type thing just near my office that got stripped down to the frame before being removed.
 
arknor said:
Out of curiosity and semi on the subject of bike thieves.

Is it just newcastle or does every cities bike racks seem to contain bikes where someone has jumped on one of the wheels bending them completely out of shape?

There seems to be a bike like that every time I goto the city centre and sometimes they seem to have just been abandoned by the owners and stay there for weeks
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I regularly see bikes that have had their wheels stomped or something. Mine had the boot put in a couple of times when I used to park it up at Croydon. I'd come back to find spokes broken where it had been kicked. It's just passing scumbags, but the sad reality is at East Croydon it probably would have more likely been some sad vindictive commuter with a bee in his or her bonnet.

grudas said:
got any links to the 5 sided ones? :) thanks.
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Just eBay links because I'm being lazy and check around for th eprices because these are just examples:

5-sided ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ETC-Cycle...ls-and-Seat-/251138193700?hash=item3a7900b924

These Hublox ones look pretty secure at £20 too: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Delta-Hub...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3f25311764

Do a search for security skewers and you'll get loads turn up :)
 
Jonny69 said:
I regularly see bikes that have had their wheels stomped or something. Mine had the boot put in a couple of times when I used to park it up at Croydon. I'd come back to find spokes broken where it had been kicked. It's just passing scumbags, but the sad reality is at East Croydon it probably would have more likely been some sad vindictive commuter with a bee in his or her bonnet.


Just eBay links because I'm being lazy and check around for th eprices because these are just examples:

5-sided ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ETC-Cycle...ls-and-Seat-/251138193700?hash=item3a7900b924

These Hublox ones look pretty secure at £20 too: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Delta-Hub...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3f25311764

Do a search for security skewers and you'll get loads turn up :)
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thanks! was searching for the wrong thing, those delta one's look alright :o
 
So, all being well I'll be picking up a new road frame this autumn, with a view to getting the bike built in time for the start of summer 2014. I'm eying the 7046 aluminium sportive frame from Ribble, as that fits with what I discussed with the chap when I had my bike fit.

Where else should I be looking for frames in the £2-400 price bracket? Besides just heading into an LBS and seeing what they've got. I know there's Planet X, but the fitter didn't think their geometries would be great for me.

Also, when the time comes, how am I best using the "me" geometry info that I've got from my fit to figure out what "bike" geometry is good for me? Which figures are key? I know some can be fiddled with by adjusting the parts on the bike, but which ones really play into what size frame I get? Presumably bottom bracket to saddle is going to be key, and saddle to bars. What else?
 
Important measurements for me are:

1) Centre of BB to saddle top
2) Saddle tip to stem plate
3) Saddle to bar drop

If you know what they should be then you should be able to adjust the bike to be just right.

Seat tube angle will have an impact, particularly on weight distribution between bum / hands but this can be mitigated moving the saddle back / forwards and changing stem.
 
InQ said:
This is apparently a bit of a bugger:- http://app.strava.com/segments/773857

Smidge less avg grade than the Rake but over double the length.
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11 mins is my record up there, not done it or anything near that for well over year now. I need to get back on it! http://app.strava.com/activities/9175229#166741153

It's 5 mins away from where I live & work, great training hill. Should organise a ride out if a few want to give it a go. I'm terrible, stopped on there many many times but it feels so good to get it in one go and keep going.
 
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