Road Cycling Essentials

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 13:42

Jonny69 said:
Nope, stick with steel and get one in Reynolds 531 or Columbus special Italian. My Raleigh in 531 weighs 9.2kg with all its gears and my Bob Jackson in Columbus steel weighs just over 8kg in single-speed trim.

You can get lighter steel frames but the prices get silly

Really? Why is steel preferable?

Saundie · 24 Oct 2011 at 13:50

Aluminium is cheaper than steel, and has the advantage that it won't rust, but it tends to give a harsher ride than steel. Well made steel frames can be just as light and strong as cheaper aluminium frames, but tend to provide a smoother ride. They'll also have narrower tubes as a result of steel being more dense, so they can look much nicer, too. My commuter has a steel frame and comes in at ~11kg, but that's with a very heavy Shimano Alfine hub (1.5kg, much more than normal gears).

Jonny69, I've been meaning to ask you about that tiny wheeled 3 speed you've got. Do you know who made it?

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 13:56

Ah good to know - I've had a look at some of those 531 frames and they look pretty tidy. Could be a good call.

platypus · 24 Oct 2011 at 14:15

Yer I've got a gorgeous 531 peugot frame bicycle that needs a weekend of loving when I have time/can be arsed. I want to strip it down, coat it and convert it to fixed gear.

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:01

Came across this - lovely looking beastie

platypus · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:18

I want to spend a good bit of cash getting the whole thing done up properly, powder coating, sealing, the works. Turn out a nice retro Peugeot fixie.

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:37

A mate of mine got a Pug frame painted like an Eddy Mercx - turned out pretty mint.

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platypus · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:54

V nice. Any idea where he had it painted?

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:02

platypus said:
V nice. Any idea where he had it painted?

LOL yeah - Wellington NZ.

platypus · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:20

Ah...

I wouldn't mind Bob Jacksons but they're expensive.

Streeteh · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:22

Is it worth investing in some form of protection on the paintwork of a new bike? Will be aluminium frame so less prone to corrosion, but would still like it to look pretty. Don't have much to spend mind!

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:27

isn't it normally clear coated anyway?

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:28

platypus said:
Ah...

I wouldn't mind Bob Jacksons but they're expensive.

Jebus are they what!

Streeteh · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:31

SteveOBHave said:
isn't it normally clear coated anyway?

Don't have a clue!

I'm probably the most 'noobish' cyclist in this thread.

platypus · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:33

SteveOBHave said:
Jebus are they what!

eh?

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:35

platypus said:
eh?

expensive - Bob Jacksons...

Jonny69 · 24 Oct 2011 at 18:11

Saundie said:
Jonny69, I've been meaning to ask you about that tiny wheeled 3 speed you've got. Do you know who made it?

It's a 1966 Raleigh RSW. The 3-speed is a Sturmey Archer.

SteveOBHave said:
Came across this - lovely looking beastie

Nice looking bike; wouldn't mind building something like that at some point. Not sure about the crows feet spoke lacing though.

Saundie · 24 Oct 2011 at 18:54

Crikey, that bike is almost as old as you Jonny!

SteveOBHave · 24 Oct 2011 at 19:15

Jonny69 said:
Nice looking bike; wouldn't mind building something like that at some point. Not sure about the crows feet spoke lacing though.

Nah - as different as it is it's just asking for a collapsed wheel, especially that back one. But I love the bare metal/paint detailing.

Jonny ///M · 24 Oct 2011 at 20:10

PardonTheWait said:
That's impressive pace for that distance imo, with you saying you've not been further than 30 miles on your road bike yet

cheers mate.

I'm seeing my gf this Saturday so will be sober on the Sunday so I might get another run in,maybe even the same one.

Will take two bottles this time and gels from work.

I managed to keep up 17.5mph average up to 45 miles but the rain on the way back killed me.

I went Hamilton to Glasgow via rutherglen. Headed out past the secc along Dumbarton road, old Kilpatrick,along the a82 then a backroad into balloch. Decided id keep going so bit the a82 cycle path which was like a Scottish Paris roubaix so my speed fell. Hit the main road on the way back Doing 25mph in the rain from luss to balloch. That is what killed me I think!!

Road Cycling Essentials

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