Road Cycling Essentials

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InsomniaCalls said:
I find them similar to my Shimanos. I wear a 10 shoe, and bought 11 in these and they fit well.
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i bought a size in 45 thats 2 sizes bigger than the 43 i usually take, still too small, now a size 46 is on its way, i hope thats going to be ok



also bought a magicshine mj872 and mj818 rear combo, very impressed for the money, not as good as lupine etc but great value
 
Well the weather's taking a turn for the worse, and all I have is summer gear.

Any suggestions as to what I'd need in terms of jersey/leggings for the winter weather?

I'm trying not to break the bank as I already spent a small fortune on my new Cube and summer gear!
 
My winter ensemble:

Bib tights instead of shorts or add leg warmers to your shorts.
Waterproof/windproof gloves
waterproof/windproof jacket.
long sleeve base layer or add arm warmers to a short sleeve base layer.
possibly long sleeve jersey.
buff/skullcap.
waterproof overshoes.
boots.

Edit: Oh, and to my disgust I just fitted some Crud RoadRacer MK2s to my roadie. :(
 
Did my longest ride so far today, 41.07 miles. All on me own!

Completely in love with the new bike, really like it. Might do a couple of bits to adjust fit slightly, but it's great. Think my bum might need to get used to the saddle as well but I suppose I'll find out in the morning :D
 
Need a little advice, I'm currently riding a Hybrid but have decided it's time to get a road bike for next year to start doing longer distances (will still use the Hybrid during Winter months) but now seems to be a good time to buy with price reductions on the 2011 bikes before the 2012 models are available.

I've narrowed it down to 3:

Cannondale CAAD10 105
Giant TCR1
Forme Reflex

Compared to the Cannondale I can get the Giant for £100 less and the Forme for £100 more.

I definitely think the Cannondale is worth the extra over the Giant, but can't decide if I should go for the Carbon frame of the Forme rather than Aluminium? Are Carbon frames really that much more comfortable?

I did some research on the Forme bike and found out that the frames are made in Taiwan by the same company that makes Carbon frames for some of the top brands so quality sounds like it should be OK. My only other concern with the Forme are the One23 branded components which seemed lower quality and slighly heavier to me when compared to the equivalents on the other two bikes.
 
lh221 said:
Need a little advice, I'm currently riding a Hybrid but have decided it's time to get a road bike for next year to start doing longer distances (will still use the Hybrid during Winter months) but now seems to be a good time to buy with price reductions on the 2011 bikes before the 2012 models are available.

I've narrowed it down to 3:

Cannondale CAAD10 105
Giant TCR1
Forme Reflex

Compared to the Cannondale I can get the Giant for £100 less and the Forme for £100 more.

I definitely think the Cannondale is worth the extra over the Giant, but can't decide if I should go for the Carbon frame of the Forme rather than Aluminium? Are Carbon frames really that much more comfortable?

I did some research on the Forme bike and found out that the frames are made in Taiwan by the same company that makes Carbon frames for some of the top brands so quality sounds like it should be OK. My only other concern with the Forme are the One23 branded components which seemed lower quality and slighly heavier to me when compared to the equivalents on the other two bikes.
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I did some reading up on CAAD10s lately, and it definitely seems to be regarded as an outstanding alloy frame. I received a stern telling off on here the other day for not buying one!

You can get them for less than a grand at the moment if you can find one that fits you. Only reason I didn't get it is because the place that had it and would do it cheap for me was miles away and I'd never sat on one. I was seriously tempted though.

They are really tasty and I would personally be happier getting a top flight alloy bike than a carbon bike I wasn't quite sure about (which it seems the Forme is to you).
 
Finally back on the bike after 9 days off, the wind made it feel as though I was riding through cold treacle! I guess it's time to break out the mudguards and lights :(
 
cork-spotters said:
Any suggestions as to what I'd need in terms of jersey/leggings for the winter weather?
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In winter I ride in:
Long leggings, shorts over the top
Long sleeved running or cycling top (just thin cheapies)
Windproof featherlight smock (fluoro yellow Montane featherlight smock)
Windproof gloves (Gore Windstoppers)

I can't cycle in any more than that or I overheat, even when it's down near freezing. The most important part of that line-up is the windproof smock. Keeping the wind out is what stops you getting cold.
 
In winter I use a pair of leg warmers, full length bib tights, arm warmers, windproof long sleeved top, long sleeved cycling top, buff covering my neck, buff over my head under my helmet so the effect is that only my eyes are exposed (wear glasses ofc), two pairs of gloves.

I sweat a lot, but I'm warm :p.
 
When it gets really cold I also wear two pairs of socks (one thin, one merino wool) and yes overshoes. I feel the cold something rotten :(.
 
As I have mentioned (once or twice ;)) previously, it seems to be only my hands that suffer in the cold. So much so that I wear two pairs of gloves when it's really cold. Otherwise, my winter gear is pretty much the same as Johnny69's. It has to be close to freezing before I'll break out the leggings, though.
 
PardonTheWait said:
I would personally be happier getting a top flight alloy bike than a carbon bike I wasn't quite sure about (which it seems the Forme is to you).
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Thanks, I was thinking the same so I went for the CAAD10. Haven't taken it out for a ride yet though due to the strong winds, hopefully will later in the week.

Another question, is it sensible to take out separate insurance for an expensive road bike, and if so can anybody recommend any good insurers, or will home content insurance suffice?
 
Turns out this mountain bike I'm building has clearance for 700C wheels. The mudguard drillings are in fact caliper brake drillings. Damn. I could have saved myself a whole wad of $$$ and built a cross bike out of parts I already have here :(
 
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