Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
I would like some advice from you lycra clad weirdo's.

Can I install hydaulic brake levers onto a drop bar? I.E Magura Marta's?

If so...what carbon drop bar should I get for my CX bike?
 
You can put normal levers on the top of the bars but its not a great solution.
I'v seen a couple of hydraulic levers for drop bars but as far as i know they are all custom made.

What about normal levers with cable discs?
 
This is what I am not sure on. I have a local offroad trail that is great fun on the CX bike that I can use on my way to/from work. But if I am late for work I can go all on the road and drop bars would be better overall. I know cable discs will work, but I don't wan't cable discs, and I have hydraulic discs on all my bikes. So I can swap between them in emergencies.

Do you have any links for the custom made jobs?
 
Just do an image search for hydraulic brakes on drop bars.
A lot seem to use a normal cable lever connected to a second butchered hydraulic lever around the stem area - seems very pointless to me. There are a couple of actual drop levers which have been converted to hydraulic. Remember that your cx tyres will be much thinner and wont have as much traction as your fat bikes so if your brakes are too powerful you'll lock up too easily.

I love drop bars now. Maybe because im more used to them from my road bike. It didnt take long to get used to riding off road with drops and now i'm a lot more comfortable on drops than flats.
 
I know all about over powerful brakes. I ran a 203mm Hope V2 rear with a 2.2tyre very briefly. lol

I guess I need to speak to my LBS and see if they can get me a hydraulic drop lever.
 
Yeah, it might be worth a try - it's not something that i know all that much about so there might be something out there.

Might be best to pick up a cheap set of cable discs and try out a drop bar first? No point getting hydraulic levers and carbon bars if you end up hating them.
 
weescott said:
I know all about over powerful brakes. I ran a 203mm Hope V2 rear with a 2.2tyre very briefly. lol

I guess I need to speak to my LBS and see if they can get me a hydraulic drop lever.
Click to expand...

Most you can get just now is mechanical lever to hydraulic converters. They were on bike radar.

Hope do this and TRP do their own version which looks nice aswell.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Not sure when your LBS will get their hands ont he hope one.
 
cannot belive how much the weathers change in the last week
so much so i have got the winter bike out of retirement and have given it a quick service and a new set of gatorskins, it will come out to play the first sign if the dreaded gritters
 
So I mounted a rather large curb the other day with some heavy shopping bags hanging of my handle bars and I now have a flat front tyre.

First flat tyre in a long long time as this bike has that kevlar re-enforcement and my last one had a self sealing inner tube.

Needless to say, I'm a bit rusty on how to do the whole thing.
Anyway, I went to remove the tyre, and it seems to me that there is no inner tube at all? It looks like just one whole sealed unit.

Is this normal these days? Or am I imagining things and just need to give it a bit more brute force.

For the record I have a halfords carrera subway bike.

Cheers people
 
It is possible to get tyres with internal inner tubes in a sealed unit, called tubular tyres. But it's very unlikely on that bike.
Also, if your sure that it was when you hit the curb that your tyre started going down, its even less likely that you have tubulars because its very difficult (impossible?) to puncture them by hitting a bump, you need something sharp to puncture them.

How are you trying to get it off? Do you have tyre levers?
 
Last edited:
Anyone here gone over to the continent to watch the pro races?
Thinking of driving over next year with the family and taking in Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. Don't particularly want to go as part of an organised tour so anyone got any tips?
TIA
 
Last edited:
IMO you'll be sweating with the leg warmers on anyway so waterproof is unnecessary. They're 'water resistant' (or at least water seems to mainly run off mine) so should be fine. I do go for waterproof gloves though. I have sealskinz.
 
touch said:
It is possible to get tyres with internal inner tubes in a sealed unit, called tubular tyres. But it's very unlikely on that bike.
Also, if your sure that it was when you hit the curb that your tyre started going down, its even less likely that you have tubulars because its very difficult (impossible?) to puncture them by hitting a bump, you need something sharp to puncture them.

How are you trying to get it off? Do you have tyre levers?
Click to expand...

Just using some brute force and a knife for leverage.

I'll try using some more force tomorrow.
 
InsomniaCalls said:
IMO you'll be sweating with the leg warmers on anyway so waterproof is unnecessary. They're 'water resistant' (or at least water seems to mainly run off mine) so should be fine. I do go for waterproof gloves though. I have sealskinz.
Click to expand...

Good shout, think I'm all set for winter now... Cost a lot more then I first thought (bike gear in general lol), but at least it'll last.

Went with;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sealskinz-ultra-grip-gloves/

and those cheaper leggings.
 
Last edited:
Saundie said:
...
Haven't ordered the pedals yet, but probably going to go for Shimano A530s as I'd like to be able to ride with normal shoes as well as SPDs as the mood takes me. It's frustrating the hell out of me that I can't ride it, but at least I finally have it :)
Click to expand...

There is a huge amount of choice for road cycling pedals today. It seems every component manufacturer has their own pedal system now.

I've tried a few and would recommend SPD-SL for a proper racing pedal. Excellent power transfer and stability, but not great for walking around in the cleats! The A530 is fine for easy clipping in and out. If you're feeling adventurous theres also Speedplay.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom