Road Cycling Essentials

Jonny69 · 13 Nov 2011 at 09:34

Jonny69 said:
Louis Garneau Sotchi gloves yada yada... £45!!!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/louis-garneau/sotchi-glove-ec029805

Bit of a surprise this morning. I put a £23 chance bid on a new pair on eBay and won them. Unreasonable £4 postage charge added and I'm £18 better off than a pair in the shops. Looking at the seller's other items he looks like a bike shop serial thief employee. I don't normally approve of this.

Jamesbcd said:
Do 14T single speed freewheels in standard thread size exist? Can only find the smaller 29mm thread sizes on ebay.

Currently running 44/16 but want to change to 44/14 or even 44/15. Don't really want to fork out for 48/16 or 50/16!

Pretty sure you can only get them down to 16T. Anything smaller is the the BMX size, so your only option for fewer teeth is to go fixed. I feel your pain - 44/16 runs out quite quickly. If you're going to swap the chain ring, I'd strongly recommend going to a 52T though. I went for a 48 because it's all they did in that style, but it's limited my freewheel choices. 48/15 would be my ideal but, like you, I can't get a freewheel that size.

milgo · 13 Nov 2011 at 13:32

Just got back from a ride. It still surprises me how much pedestrians hate bikes. I follow the rules of the road and I am not one of those guys who steams through the park shouting "road hog" to the little kids wobbling about on their stabilizers.

I said excuse me to a family and the mother went in to one. Even when i trundle down the dedicated 2 way cycle paths I get disproving looks from all the people on foot. I just don't get how people can get so angry over trivial matters, when they are wrong anyway. Shouldn't take it personally I guess.

Fuzz · 13 Nov 2011 at 14:25

JEZUS..
Is it me or is there a sudden increase in utter retards driving around today.

The ride started off great this morning, clear blue skies, empty roads, buzzards circling for prey and lovely crisp air. It was a joy to be out.

Then the lemmings must have awoken late.
Over the later part of the morning I was pulled out on, cut in on, close overtaking, overtaking on blind crests and the icing on the cake that nearly saw me throw my bike through the ***** windscreen was coming up to a set of temporary (roadworks) traffic lights.
No one behind me and a dead straight bit of one lane left (other side coned off)
Lights go green and I set off.
3/4 of the way down there is traffic built up at the opposite end, a motorbike pulls up (round the other traffic) and stops momentarily at the (obviously red) light.
Then they change and the motorbike is off.
No problem with this as there is enough room for both of us.
What boiled my **** was the fact a row of cars followed him and the front car is giving me the Wayne Kerr sign from the driving seat.
Where exactly did he want me to go and what exactly did he want me to do about this I do not know but I sure as **** told him this in no uncertain terms.
Funny how as soon as I started remonstrating with the bloke all the other cars pulled over to one side and stopped.
Either they were still asleep and just followed the first car off the lights or they realised what a retarded move they were making..
So what was an enjoyable ride out this morning has left me in a rage.

FFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuu.

and breathe.

Jamesbcd · 13 Nov 2011 at 14:54

Jonny69 said:
Pretty sure you can only get them down to 16T. Anything smaller is the the BMX size, so your only option for fewer teeth is to go fixed. I feel your pain - 44/16 runs out quite quickly. If you're going to swap the chain ring, I'd strongly recommend going to a 52T though. I went for a 48 because it's all they did in that style, but it's limited my freewheel choices. 48/15 would be my ideal but, like you, I can't get a freewheel that size.

I like the sound of 52T. 52/16 would be more than enough top end and I'd have the choice of swapping to 17/18 with ease. Trouble is finding a cheap 52T chain ring with 130BCD that fits a 1/8 chain.

encephalopathy · 13 Nov 2011 at 17:20

big bang from the rear wheel today along a trail - think a piece of branch caught up in the back wheel and it has sheared off a spoke and the rear wheel is now well out of alignment in that portion of the wheel.
looks like i will have to pop into CRC and have them fix it - hoping it will not take too long as i tend to try and get out at least every other day to try and get my blood pressure down.....

Jonny ///M · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:16

Jamesbcd said:
I like the sound of 52T. 52/16 would be more than enough top end and I'd have the choice of swapping to 17/18 with ease. Trouble is finding a cheap 52T chain ring with 130BCD that fits a 1/8 chain.

Expensive http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products...ORIES_Components_-_Gears_-_Chainrings_-_Track

cheaper but a 51t

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...ral-Chainring-Track-1-8-130-Black/STROCHRI255

Cheaper again but 51t

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Chainrings-TA-Chainring-Track-1-8/TAAACHRI200

Jamesbcd · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:47

Jonny ///M said:
Expensive http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products...ORIES_Components_-_Gears_-_Chainrings_-_Track

cheaper but a 51t

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...ral-Chainring-Track-1-8-130-Black/STROCHRI255

Cheaper again but 51t

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Chainrings-TA-Chainring-Track-1-8/TAAACHRI200

Awesome, thanks! Been looking all day for a black chainring but found nothing but silvers. The Stronglight Zicral on Ribble looks decent. 51T out of stock though so might just order the 50T.

George Hincapie · 13 Nov 2011 at 21:57

Club run this morning. My first in 4 months. Thought I was Jens Voight and decided to pull on the front for 50 miles. Tired at the end, but finished OK - pleased with myself. Was great to be out on the bike again, beautiful weather as well - summer jersey was sufficient!

My sit bones have forgotten what my saddle is like though; I feel like I've been violated by a gorilla

Very tired. Off to bed - NN.

Jonny69 · 14 Nov 2011 at 13:29

Nothing in the post this morning

What has my life become, such that I am excited about a pair of gloves and a damn bike light

Participant · 14 Nov 2011 at 14:24

People with fibre flares...I have a pannier rack and a seat bag, meaning that my chain stay, seat stay and seat post are a bit busy. How flexible are these things? Do they bend to fit smaller spaces?

I want it on my frame not my clothes.

[DOD]Asprilla · 14 Nov 2011 at 14:40

They say 'do not bend' on the packaging.

TBH, I'd get something to fit the back of your rack like a Blackburn Mars 4. I have my flares on my rucksack.

Jonny69 · 14 Nov 2011 at 15:38

I noticed it said that on the unit, but then their advertising shows them bent over double on themselves. They will bend that far without breaking, so I have no idea why.

platypus · 14 Nov 2011 at 16:20

Robbie G said:
People with fibre flares...I have a pannier rack and a seat bag, meaning that my chain stay, seat stay and seat post are a bit busy. How flexible are these things? Do they bend to fit smaller spaces?

I want it on my frame not my clothes.

Sorry about lack of pic, my camera just seems to be *******. They are pretty flexible tbh, but I have mine on the two rear stays.

Participant · 14 Nov 2011 at 17:23

Cheers. Going to try cable tying it to my mudguard.

Streeteh · 14 Nov 2011 at 17:37

What's the best way to go about improving on my average speed? I cycle a measly four miles to work (not very flat though) and two months ago (when i first started cycling) it took me approx 23mins. This dropped very quickly and after about two weeks i was down to 19min, but it hasn't dropped even by a couple of seconds since then. I'm always between 19:00 flat and 19:30!

Saundie · 14 Nov 2011 at 17:59

Streeteh said:
What's the best way to go about improving on my average speed? I cycle a measly four miles to work (not very flat though) and two months ago (when i first started cycling) it took me approx 23mins

Don't slow down for anything, including traffic lights and junctions.

Streeteh · 14 Nov 2011 at 18:05

Saundie said:
Don't slow down for anything, including traffic lights and junctions.

I should have said, whilst adhering to all road safety rules, i'm a wuss

I just don't seem to be getting any fitter. I feel just as knackered every day and don't seem to be improving my time.

Participant · 14 Nov 2011 at 19:43

Streeteh, get out of the saddle and start sprinting up hills.

Streeteh · 14 Nov 2011 at 20:01

Robbie G said:
Streeteh, get out of the saddle and start sprinting up hills.

By this i assume you mean, stand up and peddle, as opposed to get off the bike and run

(which ironically, being a runner for a couple of years now, would probably be quicker). I do this on the two steepest hills, but will try doing so on some of the more shallow ones too.

I've just looked at some videos and it seems i've got my saddle WAY too low. I can touch the ground with my toes while on the saddle, but it looks like I should have it higher and shift off of it every time i need to stop. Sounds like a lot of hassle at traffic lights but better that than a leg injury due to a bad saddle height.

Fuzz · 14 Nov 2011 at 21:53

Uploaded two new videos to my "Fuzz944" youtube account.
Can't link due to my potty mouth (as per usual)
Come on then, give me some abuse about them.