Road Cycling Essentials

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Picked this up last week off ebay for £350, a Trek 1.1. The chap has had it since april and fell of it and never went out on it again, a few scratches here and there but a very good winter bike for me.

I've Managed 200 mile this week on it, coming from a specialised hardrock with road tyers this bike is a dream.



I've added saddle bag, pedals, saddle, bottle cages, and computer.
 
Bike - Giant Defy 2 2012 model.

don't want to seem like i'm spamming the forum and struggling on these points - mudguards and lights.

i want lights bright enough for people to see me (big, wide LED rear light i can attach onto bottom of seat ideally or rucksack and a bright LED front light for the morning rides to work).

i gather the stock giant mudguards are the ones to go for as they are a special fitment or something!?
 
Road cycling essentials?

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:D
 
helpimcrap said:
Bike - Giant Defy 2 2012 model.

i gather the stock giant mudguards are the ones to go for as they are a special fitment or something!?
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I suggested the Giant mudguards because I knew that they would fit your Defy, not because I believed them to be the best option for you. Something like a Blackburn Mars 4.0 or a Cateye TL-LD610 would be sufficient to allow other road users to see you. As for the front light, it depends on whether you want it to see by, or just to help you be seen.

MisChief said:
Road cycling essentials?

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:D
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Let's see, MisChief; chunky, knobbly tyres, crap dual suspension and comedy saddle angle. That's no road bike, my friend :D
 
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Managed 50k today on my Boardman Comp in just over 2.5hrs. Pretty slow but I appear to have quite good endurance which is nice but I need to get that average speed well above 20k to be happy. Just a pain my chain fell off twice today and I keep getting stuck at ruddy traffic lights :p
 
Saundie said:
I suggested the Giant mudguards because I knew that they would fit your Defy, not because I believed them to be the best option for you. Something like a Blackburn Mars 4.0 or a Cateye TL-LD610 would be sufficient to allow other road users to see you. As for the front light, it depends on whether you want it to see by, or just to help you be seen.
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ok , cheers will have a look into them. :) managed 15mile today and it didn't rain. still finding out how to ride it and what hurts/doesn't hurt. Shop very kindly did some modifications for me (cyclocross brakes) to help with my duff arm.:)

mainly to allow others to see me although if it is that dark i need it on i'll need to be able to see as well lol.
 
MisChief said:
Road cycling essentials?
Mens Cycling Suit[IMG]
:D[/QUOTE]
I got one of those, it's actually really good considering it only cost a tenner. Pad is not the most comfortable but they are fleece lined and very warm. It's been put away for just now actually because it's not cold enough for it yet.


On the topic of winter, my fixie is nearly ready to ride again. The [URL="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqUOKogE33PUkh17BO!1%28UYvyg~~_12.JPG"]horrific orange[/URL] has been removed and it's now nude steel. I didnt like the look of it when it was a bare frame but now that its built up i really like it :D

[img]http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg849/scaled.php?server=849&filename=cimg3045e.jpg&res=medium
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Specialized McLaren Venge prices launched, available in very limited numbers from October.
I so want one of these awesome machines.

Bike : £12,000

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Frame : £5,000

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Finally got the specialized allez(will put up a few pics later), looking at getting a decent light set for it budget is around £50-£100 but can stretch if it's worth it. Also looking for recommendations on mud gaurds for when the weather gets worse.

First time using a road bike and the difference is huge compared to a relatively cheap MTB from halfords.
 
Aman said:
looking at getting a decent light set for it budget is around £50-£100 but can stretch if it's worth it. .
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What do you mean by 'decent' and what will you be using them for (ie what kind of journeys etc).

Thinking of signing up to The Exmoor Beast 200km sportive in October. Anyone else signed up or did it last year?
 
Russinating said:
What do you mean by 'decent' and what will you be using them for (ie what kind of journeys etc).

Thinking of signing up to The Exmoor Beast 200km sportive in October. Anyone else signed up or did it last year?
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Good enough so i can feel confident cycling in unlit areas, my journey just now is mostly in lit areas but this will probably be changing soon + as i cycle more at weekends/after work etc.
 
Lights are becoming a popular topic now that its getting dark.
This post in the big bike thread has all the info you need.

The dealextreme website that he talks about now has a uk warehouse so some items are available with much quicker shipping (their shipping from china takes 3-4 weeks usually). They have different order numbers for the same item at different warehouses, so check which ones you are buying (but not everything is available from the uk yet)
 
See my post in the big bike thread about lights. Here is mine

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Managed to snap another spoke in my rear wheel so that's the wheel getting binned. Was looking at cheap RS30s before from ribble but I think open pros/105 hubs will be better through the winter and the roads that I commute on. Does anywhere sell them handbuilt online? I'll probably buy in the hub and rim at trade+vat and get gow at wheelcraft to build em but it's a mean trek to there.

Just to add....I think it's ******* terrible what these light companies charge for terrible lights. I had polaris lunar 15 lights that were 'ok' but better than what most commuters I see using. £46 for that privelage is stupid when these lights can be had for the same prices - even if the qaulity isn't quite perfect.
 
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Harry Rowland. He'll see you right.

He's one of the best wheel builders in the UK. He can have a short waiting list but if you give him a ring he'll chat about what you need and you can order straight away.

An alternative could be Hope RS-Mono Pro3s. Hand finished by Hope (tensioned, etc) they are Hopes MTB derived hubs on Open pros with 32 ACI spokes. 105s are good hubs but for coping with UK weather I'd go with the Hopes. Be aware that the Hope hubs buzz quite loudly though.

As for the Magicshine you've got, just make sure you keep pointing it at the ground. So many 'tards ride round Richmond Park blinding everyone in their path with those things. Having got sick of replacing my lights every year I've invested in an Exposure Flash / Flare combination. Very bright, very small and very good. So far I'm impressed.
 
This is now in service. Brakes plumbed in and gearing sorted. Nice period nylon saddle. Total weight just a shade over 8kg...

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rogan said:
picked up the raleigh bike 'thing'
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Ha! That's pretty cool. I'd agree that it's worth more than £30. If it rides nicely then ride it. Don't worry about the value - it's probably the least likely bike on campus to get stolen.
 
Loving the lug work on that Bob Jackson! I so wish I was the right shape for square builds :(

Edit; I'd invest in some proper bar end levers so you don't have that front brake cable doing whatever it's doing. Now I've noticed it, it's the only thing I can look at.
 
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