Road Cycling Essentials

touch · 15 Aug 2013 at 10:43

Did you tighten the top cap before you did the stem bolts?

daveski · 15 Aug 2013 at 10:54

Bought a single speed bike the other day. Got those bull horn style handle bars on it and I want some normal drop bars.

I'll need some new brake levers to do this, can I just buy any brake levers?

touch · 15 Aug 2013 at 10:58

Yep. Singlespeed levers are cheaper but STI levers will work fine without the gear cables in them.

rogan · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:00

One More Solo said:
Headset bearings could have gone if it's torqued up correctly?

Took delivery of my SRAM Force shifters today, I bloody love BR classifieds. Total Force groupset has cost me:

Shifters: £100
Brakes: £45
Chainset: £110 (actually new from Merlin)
Front Mech: £15

Just need a rear mech for £40~ and I'm set for £310!

how did you get that for that price on merlin???

daveski · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:00

touch said:
Yep. Singlespeed levers are cheaper but STI levers will work fine without the gear cables in them.

Cheers

[DOD]Asprilla · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:02

Provided the brakes are just standard callipers you should be able to get away with any drop levers.

Tektro, Cane Creek and SRAM do good ones. I've got the SRAm S500 levers on mine. They cost a bit more, but they are standard SRAM Apex levers with the shifting mechanism removed so I know they are very comfortable.

I had Tektro and Dia Compe ones befre but couldn't get on with them.

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:05

rogan said:
how did you get that for that price on merlin???

It was a clearance deal I think, they only had a handful of options at that price and luckily one was exactly what I wanted (GXP, 175mm, 54/30 rings).

remy87 · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:05

Heads up Lidl doing this kit next week.
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-7...our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=4983
Bargain!

[Damien] · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:13

[DOD]Asprilla;24771011 said:
Also, I though my bag was light today.

Made that mistake before...

Surprisingly comfy in work pants though.

rogan · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:25

One More Solo said:
It was a clearance deal I think, they only had a handful of options at that price and luckily one was exactly what I wanted (GXP, 175mm, 54/30 rings).

dam! i paid that much for a 2nd hand one of the same spec

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:25

[Damien];24771597 said:
Made that mistake before...

Surprisingly comfy in work pants though.

Just mind the zip. It was a once a week occurrence for me at least when I was commuting regularly. Ok in winter, not so much in summer.

touch · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:36

One More Solo said:
54/30 rings

Is that a typo? (or is it a triple with another gear in between?).
Never seen that setup before, i imagine it would be horrible for shifting with such a big gap.

[DOD]Asprilla · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:38

You can't shift that can you? I thought you could only have a 16t difference for front mech heights and rear mech tension.

platypus · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:39

touch said:
Did you tighten the top cap before you did the stem bolts?

No top cap last.

Berger · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:43

Had an awesome holiday, up in North Queensland, put a couple of kg on but nothing major. Been back at work this week, took my bike with me so had a couple of runs on the rollers, just 20km in an evening while watching the cricket.

Had a longer run planned for tonight but put my back out this morning and can hardly stand up straight now

Club championships this weekend, ill get thrashed but if I don't get dropped ill be happy.

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:48

touch said:
Is that a typo? (or is it a triple with another gear in between?).
Never seen that setup before, i imagine it would be horrible for shifting with such a big gap.

Sorry, should have read 50/34 obviously! Had a coffee now.

touch · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:50

platypus said:
No top cap last.

You need to do the top cap first.
If the stem bolts are tight the top cap will just tighten up against the stem rather than pressing everything down and loading the bearings.

[Damien] · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:55

Yep, top cap until there's no play (but no further), then tighten the stem.

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:56

Then remove the top cap to save that crucial 10g!

#Chri5# · 15 Aug 2013 at 11:59

Vonhelmet said:
Ooh, I've been wondering about something like that. I try to tell my mrs roughly where I'm headed but obviously back roads in the arse end of nowhere mean nothing to her, and who says my route won't change, so something like that would be useful.

Works a treat VH. I like to get out down the quiet county lanes, so trying to explain a 50 to 100km route is nigh-impossible. I set the Buddy Beacon to update every two minutes (it can be set to re-send beacons if there is no network coverage). Thus my girlfriend gets a breadcrumb trail to follow if I get a major mechanical or stuff myself in a hedge.

I've put the ViewRanger app on her phone as it's free and can use OSM mapping (I've bought a fair amount of 1:50k and 1:25k OS maps on my phone for VR). You can also check Buddy Beacons online here