Road Cycling Essentials

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Does £70-80 get me a good enough one? Would be nice to not see a 3 digit number at least.

Edit - I assume I need to also budget for a new rear wheel, turbo tyre and cassette?
 
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It saves so much hassle changing tyres every time if you have a spare wheel ready for turbo use.
You can get a super-cheap wheel off ebay for it. Doesnt really matter how straight it is or how much life is left in the braking surfaces. Get a new cassette though, an old one will wear out your chain, which will then knacker the cassette on your good wheel.
You dont need to use a specific turbo tyre. I just use old road tyres on mine. It chews through them quite fast and spits little bits of rubber all over the place, fine for me because it doesnt matter about the dirt and i have several old tyres ready for turbo use.
 
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saitrix said:
Does £70-80 get me a good enough one? Would be nice to not see a 3 digit number at least.

Edit - I assume I need to also budget for a new rear wheel, turbo tyre and cassette?
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You can get a second hand magnetic for as low as £50 which will be fine. If you want to get more serious then you're looking at £200 minimum for a decent fluid trainer. There's no need to do that if you're just looking to use it without a specific training plan in mind though.
 
Yeah I am not wanting to go really serious, I just want something to keep me ticking over in the winter months (too much of a pansy to be out in the cold and rain? :p ). Luckily a new cassette is only £10 as I have a 9 speed but yeah good point on the wheel, was only thinking new but 2nd hand is perfect and I also have a spare skewer. I don't have any spare tyres though so I guess a turbo tyre will be better value for money for me.

So between magnetic turbos what differentiates them? Is it how sturdy the frame is or does the working parts differ in quality a lot?

My local Decathlon has 3 different price range turbos out to try on my exact bike so I will have a go with a magnetic vs a fluid.
 
http://road.cc/content/news/133598-want-ride-faster-hunker-down-hoods

Interesting read^

I tend to cycle more with my forearms as flat as possible and with my fingers round the tops and front of the hoods, adopting more of a TT sort of position and feel like I can go faster.

The article actually states that your aero can be better doing that then going to the drops and ducking your head.
 
Itchytrigg said:
Before I hit the buy button, little help please?

Giant Defy 1

or

Felt Z85

Unless there is anything better in the same price bracket?
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I have the 2013 Defy 1 and its an excellent bike. You won't be disappointed. Can't speak for the Felt. There are some good Planet X bikes for that price range, but its all much of a muchness, so I don't think you'd be disappointed either way.
 
physichull said:
http://road.cc/content/news/133598-want-ride-faster-hunker-down-hoods

Interesting read^

I tend to cycle more with my forearms as flat as possible and with my fingers round the tops and front of the hoods, adopting more of a TT sort of position and feel like I can go faster.

The article actually states that your aero can be better doing that then going to the drops and ducking your head.
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that's funny, I was doing that on Wednesday, changing positions, and I felt that was best because your arms are nearer to where the Tri bars would be, on the drops they are further away, so the air hits your chest more
 
ShiWarrior said:
that's funny, I was doing that on Wednesday, changing positions, and I felt that was best because your arms are nearer to where the Tri bars would be, on the drops they are further away, so the air hits your chest more
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And, it feels like you are compressing your torso on the drops, not able to get the air into the lungs. Deffo agree, flat forearms and hands as far forward on the hoods is the way to be. Its still safe because you can still reach the brakes comfortably.
 
physichull said:
http://road.cc/content/news/133598-want-ride-faster-hunker-down-hoods

Interesting read^

I tend to cycle more with my forearms as flat as possible and with my fingers round the tops and front of the hoods, adopting more of a TT sort of position and feel like I can go faster.

The article actually states that your aero can be better doing that then going to the drops and ducking your head.
Click to expand...

I saw that the other day on (I think) BikeRadar and I tried it on my commute. Ended up with a PB (2nd overall) on a popular segment. The 25mph+ tailwind might have helped too though :D

It seems quite a comfortable position to me though, more so than using the drops.
 
I've never found using the drops comfortable. I've tried and tried, but I just don't feel it. When on a long, fast descent, I will most certainly use the drops, but that's only because I don't need to pedal, I just need to be more aero.
 
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