Road Cycling Essentials

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[DOD]Asprilla;19733347 said:
That's what baby wipes were invented for.......

Almost.

:p

Got a Truvativ Elita compact chainset on the way, will be nice to try one of the external bottom bracket systems as most people say they are far stiffer than traditional BBs. Just need a new chain as my cassette is still in very good nick and I can't justify replacing it! Will be buying the KMC chainlinks to take the chain off the bike for cleaning, should make life far easier.
 
The problem with my commute is that during the summer it's generally ~30C most days and I have no changing room or shower available at the office.
I've never found it to be too bad, I just cycle a little slower. You don't need to ride everywhere at 20mph, after all. I get changed into my work clothes in the gents when I get to work, I find it helps with regard to comfort. Never felt the need to resort to baby wipes :)
 
Has anyone used chain tensioners before on a fixie with vertical dropouts? I saw Remy87 has. I'm thinking about this type...



...Gusset Bachelor. Mainly because it locks off using the derailleur mount and I'm worried about the chain tension pulling the tensioner in when I'm really on it. Something I should be worrying about or not?
 
...Gusset Bachelor. Mainly because it locks off using the derailleur mount and I'm worried about the chain tension pulling the tensioner in when I'm really on it. Something I should be worrying about or not?

Remember the greatest forces on the chain is round the top of the loop. The tensioner just takes up the slack that will exist at the bottom if you can't find a magic gear
 
I've never found it to be too bad, I just cycle a little slower. You don't need to ride everywhere at 20mph, after all. I get changed into my work clothes in the gents when I get to work, I find it helps with regard to comfort. Never felt the need to resort to baby wipes :)

Nah, i would have to stop riding in summer if i didn't have a shower at work.

Even a slow walk to the shops just now had me sweating.
 
Remember the greatest forces on the chain is round the top of the loop. The tensioner just takes up the slack that will exist at the bottom if you can't find a magic gear

If you use a fixed cassette then you can brake with the pedals, in this case the tension is on the bottom of the chain loop (where the tensioner is). They can easily be broken from the force, that one looks fairly chunky though, should be able to cope.
 
:p

Got a Truvativ Elita compact chainset on the way, will be nice to try one of the external bottom bracket systems as most people say they are far stiffer than traditional BBs. Just need a new chain as my cassette is still in very good nick and I can't justify replacing it! Will be buying the KMC chainlinks to take the chain off the bike for cleaning, should make life far easier.

I was looking at buying a KMC link for around £9 (shockingly high price) then saw that complete KMC X10 chains that include a missing link can be had for a shade over £15 delivered. No brainer for me!
 
I always thought that replaceable dropouts were made of cheese and wouldnt stand up to the force of a tensioner like that on them. But i guess they thought of that when they made the tensioers, so maybe it wont be as bad as i imagine.

Is there no other way to get it to work? (what about an eccentric BB?)
How bad is your tension? I have a vertical dropout fixed gear bike and the tension isnt quite right, there is a bit too much slack which is annoying but not enough to let the chain come off - so i can live with it.
 
You can get off centre BBs which can be rotated to take in the tension but it requires a custom BB case on the frame (bigger than normal). Sometimes vertical dropouts aren't totally vertical, moving the wheel a bit might take in some slack if you are lucky.
 
I was looking at buying a KMC link for around £9 (shockingly high price) then saw that complete KMC X10 chains that include a missing link can be had for a shade over £15 delivered. No brainer for me!

I like your thinking, especially when a Campagnolo chain is at least £25. Might give the KMC a go, thanks for the tip. :D
 
I like your thinking, especially when a Campagnolo chain is at least £25. Might give the KMC a go, thanks for the tip. :D

No worries :) I tend to find merlin cycles very cheap as they often buy bulk OEM chains and can pass the saving on. If you register a free VIP account with them, the price drops from £17.50 to £15.75. If you're into your quidco, they give 5% cashback (which I forgot about this time) so the X10 delivered is a few pennies under £15. I got mine today and weighed it at 275g just now which isn't a great deal more than more expensive chains, not in my book anyway.
 
I always thought that replaceable dropouts were made of cheese and wouldnt stand up to the force of a tensioner like that on them. But i guess they thought of that when they made the tensioners, so maybe it wont be as bad as i imagine.
The dropouts are vintage Campag ones on a high end TT frame from back in the day. They should be well up to the job.

Is there no other way to get it to work? (what about an eccentric BB?)
Ah, there's an idea...

You can get off centre BBs which can be rotated to take in the tension but it requires a custom BB case on the frame (bigger than normal). Sometimes vertical dropouts aren't totally vertical, moving the wheel a bit might take in some slack if you are lucky.
Damn :(

I haven't laced a chain onto it yet, so I don't actually know if I'll need the tensioner. The dropouts are completely vertical though, so there's no adjustment in them at all. If I get really really lucky it'll fit a chain, but I haven't got my fingers crossed or anything :p
 
Jonny, I use a tensioner that looks a lot like that on my MTB SS, with it pulling the chain down though as there's too much slack to have it pushing the chain up.
 
No worries :) I tend to find merlin cycles very cheap as they often buy bulk OEM chains and can pass the saving on. If you register a free VIP account with them, the price drops from £17.50 to £15.75. If you're into your quidco, they give 5% cashback (which I forgot about this time) so the X10 delivered is a few pennies under £15. I got mine today and weighed it at 275g just now which isn't a great deal more than more expensive chains, not in my book anyway.

Just ordered from there - thanks again. Not too worried about the weight, a chain is probably the last place you want to shave weight off. :eek: From what I've heard it performs as well if not better than Campy chains so I'm happy to save £10! :D
 
So apparently it turns out cycling to work this morning was a bad idea. I'm absolutely drenched. Worse than my need for a towel right now is how scary my brakes were about 87% of the way.
 
So apparently it turns out cycling to work this morning was a bad idea. I'm absolutely drenched. Worse than my need for a towel right now is how scary my brakes were about 87% of the way.
pffft man up :p
I rode to work this morning and also got soaked but still enjoyed it :)
 
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