Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
Having had some time to think, I reckon I'm going to leave the Tiagra CAAD8.

However I have pretty much no idea what I'll get instead.

Bikes I've actually looked at and liked are the CAAD8 and Synapse 105s, a Trek 2.3 (which is lovely, full 105 including chainset and brakes), and the Allez but with the Allez you just have to spend too much on a bike considering what bits it's got on it, imo.

I think the Trek 2.3 is leading the way... it's a bit expensive but when I sat on the 2.5 (same frame and geometry etc) it fit just perfect. I'd originally dismissed it as too expensive, but I've been thinking it over and talking to mates, and I think they might have convinced me that spending a bit more to get a bike that feels perfect and has the right bits is worth it and I think they might be right.

I wish there was somewhere I could get to that stocked Felts as I'm really interested in them but I just don't really have any way to look at one or ride one or sit on one. The pricing on them is very good, but it looks like they're mostly sold out by this point.
 
Last edited:
Myself and some friends from work are planning a trip to the Alps next year. Flying into Geneva and spending 7 days or so riding around the area.

I'm having a dilemma with transport for my bike though. What do people recommend with regards to bike boxes\bags?

I've seen an £80 bag that looks ok, and a £150 box. Is the extra £70 worth it? Am I likely to find my bike in bits at the other end if I just use a bag?

Bag

Box

Has anyone used a bag or box before to transport their bike and has any recommendations? :)


PardonTheWait said:
Having had some time to think, I reckon I'm going to leave the Tiagra CAAD8.

However I have pretty much no idea what I'll get instead.
Click to expand...

Have you considered Cube's? They're well specced for the price.

Cube Attempt - Should be able to get it cheaper now as an end of season dealio.

Edit - Is the Trek 2.3 you're looking at a triple? If you're looking into getting into road cycling seriously I'd get a compact double personally.
 
Last edited:
I've been commuting on my Felt for a few months, Microshift and Sora parts. They work OK, functional but nothing special. The bottom bracket is dying so I used my old Ridgeback Genesis today, and was amazed at how slick and silent the 9-speed Tiagra kit on that bike is. Just lovely and positive to use. Go 105 if you definitely want 10 speed, otherwise Tiagra is a good quality kit.

I've got an SRAM Force groupset sitting in a box waiting for a carbon frame, but after today's experience, I might throw it on the Felt in the meantime.
 
Knackered. I got to the station this morning and found I'd left my ticket at home. Wallet at work. Argh! No choice but to ride home again, so double the distance for me today.

Wouldn't be so bad but the trains were also borked last night because of trespassing on the line. I managed to get out the train because we were partially in a station and they opened the doors. The buses outside were rammo so I put my trainers on at the bus stop and ran instead. Was only 6k, but to then have to jump on the bike and ride the last bit was a killer.

Hence, knackered :p
 
Jonny69 said:
Knackered. I got to the station this morning and found I'd left my ticket at home. Wallet at work. Argh! No choice but to ride home again, so double the distance for me today.

Wouldn't be so bad but the trains were also borked last night because of trespassing on the line. I managed to get out the train because we were partially in a station and they opened the doors. The buses outside were rammo so I put my trainers on at the bus stop and ran instead. Was only 6k, but to then have to jump on the bike and ride the last bit was a killer.

Hence, knackered :p
Click to expand...

Haha, damn good effort that man! Bet you feel great for doing it.

Before today's commute I hadn't cycled any distance for about 10 days for various reasons, so felt more than a bit sluggish. I reckon tonight on the way home is going to be a bit of a struggle!
 
Murf said:
Have you considered Cube's? They're well specced for the price.

Cube Attempt - Should be able to get it cheaper now as an end of season dealio.

Edit - Is the Trek 2.3 you're looking at a triple? If you're looking into getting into road cycling seriously I'd get a compact double personally.
Click to expand...

I have looked at the Cubes, the Attempt in particular.

The 2.3's a compact, don't need a triple round here, It's not mega hilly.

I'm really getting fed up with looking for bikes, because I want to get it on finance and it's the end of the year, it's a pain. Between needing to be 0% finance and in stock, there's hardly anything about. A fair few places don't do 0% on reduced bikes but 90% of their bikes are reduced! I think this time of year is a great time to be looking if you have ready cash but wanting finance has really cut down my options.

Add in sizes, and I'm pretty much ****ed and seriously considered earlier getting a £1350 Trek just because it's the only bloody thing I can actually have!

(I won't do it)

It looks like I might just keep an eye out until something comes around, or next year's bikes come out, which can't be long now.
 
Last edited:
Murf said:
Myself and some friends from work are planning a trip to the Alps next year. Flying into Geneva and spending 7 days or so riding around the area.

I'm having a dilemma with transport for my bike though. What do people recommend with regards to bike boxes\bags?

I've seen an £80 bag that looks ok, and a £150 box. Is the extra £70 worth it? Am I likely to find my bike in bits at the other end if I just use a bag?

Bag

Box

Has anyone used a bag or box before to transport their bike and has any recommendations? :)
Click to expand...
I have done a lot of travelling with bikes on planes and I have just used the cheaper variety of bag.
Remember you will have to lug the case about at both ends of the journey, maybe taxis, trains etc. The main thing with a padded case is to use some pipe lagging on the tubes, undo the rear mech, and anything else that might sustain damage. I would aways avoid anything that says 'expensive bike inside' ;)
 
PardonTheWait said:
I wish there was somewhere I could get to that stocked Felts as I'm really interested in them but I just don't really have any way to look at one or ride one or sit on one. The pricing on them is very good, but it looks like they're mostly sold out by this point.
Click to expand...

Where are you based?
 
Go with what feels best to you if you can afford it! I'd say you can't go wrong with the caad as I ride one but I also sell them...so I'm not biased!

Felt are also good but lower end stuff has the microshift which I would take shimano over and I chose to do that. Saddleback who supply Felt are a pain in the arse though and don't give a flying **** about dealers.
 
Quite new to road bikes, im considering getting some new wheels, especially as ive bumped the back one a bit on a pretty large pothole incident. What things do I need to look for when buying rims?
 
kicks66 said:
Quite new to road bikes, im considering getting some new wheels, especially as ive bumped the back one a bit on a pretty large pothole incident. What things do I need to look for when buying rims?
Click to expand...

Depends what you want from them really. The wheels I use the most are mavic open sport rims which are box rims for strength with 36 spokes and hope MTB derived hubs. Shouldn't have to worry about them on my commute or the 8k miles I put in a year. If they are mainly used for commuting then I'd get something similar.

I've also got Fulcrum Racing 1s which are slightly aero much lighter and have fewer spokes. I love them for weekend runs but they are delicate and aren't up to commuting or massive milage without much care and attention.

In short, get something strong with lots of spokes and not too heavy. How much are you looking to spend?
 
Jonny ///M said:
Go with what feels best to you if you can afford it! I'd say you can't go wrong with the caad as I ride one but I also sell them...so I'm not biased!

Felt are also good but lower end stuff has the microshift which I would take shimano over and I chose to do that. Saddleback who supply Felt are a pain in the arse though and don't give a flying **** about dealers.
Click to expand...

I've finally bitten the bullet - I've put a deposit down on a Trek 2.3 Compact which I'm going to go and collect this coming Friday from a place in Hampshire. Sounds silly but they're a clear £200 cheaper than anyone else. Worth the drive!

I sat on a 2.5 which is the same frame and pretty much everything, but Ultegra, and it fit me like a glove, felt great. Almost got Evans to order me in a 2.3 at £1100 but it was 8 days to get it in!

£899 for the 2.3 from this place, with full 105 including brakes and chainset. Pretty happy with that, hopefully nothing will go wrong. If it does I'm clearly not destined to have a new bike.
 
I'm in the same boat as you pardonthewait
looked at allez but didn't like it,
was thinking the sectur but didn't like the cost!
not sure what to do, cyclescheme isn't really worth it over a 0% finance.

PardonTheWait said:
I've finally bitten the bullet - I've put a deposit down on a Trek 2.3 Compact which I'm going to go and collect this coming Friday from a place in Hampshire. Sounds silly but they're a clear £200 cheaper than anyone else. Worth the drive!

I sat on a 2.5 which is the same frame and pretty much everything, but Ultegra, and it fit me like a glove, felt great. Almost got Evans to order me in a 2.3 at £1100 but it was 8 days to get it in!

£899 for the 2.3 from this place, with full 105 including brakes and chainset. Pretty happy with that, hopefully nothing will go wrong. If it does I'm clearly not destined to have a new bike.
Click to expand...
wow thats a bit of a steal! what place?
 
I thought so, the really established US brands like Cannondale, Specialized and Trek are the ones where bargains are hardest to find imo, and I wasn't looking for a trek in particular, I just really liked the 2.5 I sat on so looked at the 2.3 but felt it was a bit expensive. I would have got one at £1100 I reckon because I liked it so much and the components are good, but £899 is excellent imo.

www.pedalon.co.uk :)
 
Had my first go with my new clipless pedals today... fell off 5 minutes later :p I guess my clipless cherry has truly been popped! Bit of road rash near the knee and I'm sure I'll get a bruise on my bum where I fell but I can't wait to get stuck in again tomorrow and have a proper ride with them.

Onwards and upwards! :D
 
Got my first road bike last week, a Cannondale CAAD10. Its lovely to ride, and certainly puts away the miles. This is going to sound a little stupid, but coming from hardtail MTB, its feels quite delicate... I need someone to reassure me!

I'm not so worried about the (alloy) frame, but having never ridden a bike with a carbon fork, i'm worried about it cracking or damaging it internally. Some of the roads round here aren't that smooth, particularly when traffic forces you to ride close to the drains etc. I try to ride a smooth line, avoid speedbumps and obvious dips etc, but cant quite shake the thought that the fork could break and I'll go OTB on a busy road.

Am I right in thinking that the carbon forks (and the frame for that matter) are going to be pretty tough?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom