Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
BlackDragon said:
How does that bag prevent you from getting a sweaty back? Is it waterproof?
Click to expand...

The bag itself is arched, so it sits away from your back. You loose a little space, but it's still 15L. The part that makes contact with you is a mesh (can see it here), so it's much better airflow than a rucksack sat on your back. Doesn't eliminate sweaty back syndrome altogether, but much better than a traditional one.

Also has a foldaway waterproof cover that zips up underneath in its own little compartment.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;17287834 said:
Tube wheels are much lighter, the tyres have less rolling reistance and better grip. However, if you have a puncture you need to carry a whole spare tyre and they are difficult to patch yourself.

Obviously the opposites apply to clinchers. Most folks with tubs use clinchers for training and tubs for racing.

You could also look at tubeless clinchers which I've started to experiment with.
Click to expand...

Aah - I've seen Tubs before but didn't know that's what they were called. They also used to be known as 'Stitch Ups' right?

So Clinchers are the normal tyre type people would have fitted to mountain bikes etc?

How are you getting on with tubeless clinchers? Do they require special rims?
 
fluiduk said:
Agree on that, so I spent some time looking at reviews to make an informed decision.

Hopefully it will be a good decision, if not, lesson learnt, won't buy it again

On another note, I see you are in Manchester, do you belong to any of the cycling clubs? CTC Manchester, or Manchester Wheels? Looking to join one, bored of long rides on my tod ;)
Click to expand...

I'm not in Manchester atm, but I am with The Manchester Wheelers, and when I'm there I usually lead a fair amount of the Sat/Sun rides, usually hilly into the peaks or around cheshire flats to Tatton Park, it's a great club. Some rides are quick tho.

All rides usually start from The Gateway pub in Didsbury (Near pars wood complex on the A34), if you go to www.wheelers.org you'll fine a list of rides put on.
 
Be careful when cycling to work on your bikes. 2 weeks ago my brother had an accident, someone drove into him and now he has got fractured arm. The same week one of the guys I work with had an accident too, lady driver didn't see him on a mini roundabout.

I had an accident too when I was cycling from work many years ago (even though it was 50/50 fault), result broken thumb.



I feel safer now riding my motorbike as I can ride it in the middle of the road together with the traffic flow.
 
willhub said:
I'm not in Manchester atm, but I am with The Manchester Wheelers, and when I'm there I usually lead a fair amount of the Sat/Sun rides, usually hilly into the peaks or around cheshire flats to Tatton Park, it's a great club. Some rides are quick tho.

All rides usually start from The Gateway pub in Didsbury (Near pars wood complex on the A34), if you go to www.wheelers.org you'll fine a list of rides put on.
Click to expand...

Cool

I am going to go on the October Intro ride I think. Can't make any of the September ones.

Cheers
 
#Chri5# said:
Out on my evening loop (17 miles) tonight and I got chased by a dog from a farm. I think Cav' would have been impressed with the sprint!
Click to expand...

I really hate unleashed dogs when cycling, mountain biking especially.

I once had a couple of dogs chase me for ages in the woods. Felt one lock it's jaws around my ankle. I couldn't really get up enough speed, as one would keep running out in front of my front wheel and I thought I might hit it and go over the bars.

The owner was failing to control it and when I felt the bite, there was little I could really do other than to try and kick out at it. Eventually managed to go further enough from their owner that they gave up.


I then had another run in I remember with a woman whose dog was a long way from her. It was quite big and aggressive and wouldn't let me continue. As it was really snarling, I pulled my bike up onto the back wheel to put it between me and the dog.

When the woman had eventually got over, she was trying to tell the dog to calm down and act all friendly. I was like "You really need to keep a dog like that on a lead...". She said "Oh, he's fine... he just doesn't know what you are, that's all."

There's me thinking.... come on, what if I was a little kid out on a mountain bike ride with the family. Also, going from prior experience, I've already been attacked by dogs before when cycling, so I don't think it was unfair to ask the owner to keep a lead on when I had to defend myself with my bike.
 
My boss was saying the same thing earlier today. He was cycling back from the shop and two BFO dogs were in the B road and wouldn't let him past.

He's a racer so was fast enough to turn round the sprint but as you say what if it was some young kid or someone quite slow on bike!
 
[DOD]Asprilla;17321574 said:
They were going well for a couple of days and then I smashed the rims on some rutted cobbles. Been waiting for parts for five weeks.

You can convert normal rims, but specific rims are best. The specific rims can fit normal clinchers as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll stick to normal rims I think. Decent wheels are so expensive as well :(
 
fluiduk said:
So guess what I am saying is, 'buy cheap, buy twice'.

But again, I love my bike - it has rekindled my love with cycling, and I am glad I went with a lower specced bike initially. Allowed me to be sure I still liked cycling without spending $$$ on a carbon speed monster.
Click to expand...
This was my feeling on the matter when I got my "starter" bike a few months back. When I was researching bikes back then, I realised that throwing down £1k+ on a bike when I wasn't even sure if I'd get into it would be foolish. I went for a cheap hybrid with internal hub gears and disc brakes, the idea being that it would make a fine commuter in the event that I didn't enjoy cycling. At £350 it was the most expensive bike I'd ever owned, having always got awful ~£100 mountain bikes in the past. The hybrid has sparked a real desire to get out and ride, and so I really do crave a better bike to make the experience more pleasurable.

After doing some more research, I'm leaning towards spending a decent amount of money on an audax bike like the Thorn Mk3, which seems like pretty much the ideal bike for me. The hybrid will be used through the winter commutes, as there's not much that can really go wrong with it, and the audax bike will be used for longer day rides and some light touring - weekends mostly around the south of England. The only thing I think I would really like that I can't seem to find is an audax bike with internal hub gears; I really like the gears on my hybrid, being able to change gear while stationary is a godsend. Hopefully I'll be able to get one of the new Shimano Alfine 11s on an audax bike soon, to create my ideal bike. I am really looking forward to getting a decent bike :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom