Road Cycling Essentials

Roady · 26 Feb 2015 at 17:13

PermaBanned said:
Or you could split the difference and get the Park Tools CC-3.2 for about £7.

grudas said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILVERLIN...428?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43ccacebb4

MEH

The Park tool one is the one I'd 'seen before', looks very similar to the Silverline one... I'd always go back to something physical like the measurement on those 2 than some tool which is going to break when shoved in my tool box with the rest of my gubbins like the one I linked on Wiggle but maybe that's just me, I need a man cave!

tedmaul said:
Would agree with most folk above - usually get around 3000 miles out of a chain. If you're getting only 700 miles or so then you appear to have put some stringy cheese on the bike rather than a chain i'd wager.

Or a paperchain? amirite?

Vonhelmet · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:17

Shamrock said:
My nitpicks

- white tape and saddle
- white conical spacer
- slam that stem!
- crank and valves not properly aligned for photo
- campag rims, shimano gruppo
- inconsistent tyre logo position

He could slam the stem and flip it and end up with about the same position, which would be pure vanity

daveski · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:54

Headwind home sucked.

Off topic, the hire car I've had to pick up after being in a small car crash last month also sucks.

Dunks · 26 Feb 2015 at 19:06

Mostly tailwind here

Heard my Garmin beep to tell me it was auto-switching off, woops, forgot to take it off pause!

DIABLO · 26 Feb 2015 at 19:11

PermaBanned said:
Although if you haven't been cleaning/lubing regularly it's probably about time to replace the chain and rear casette anyway. Chains only really last about 1000km, give or take, even when they are well looked after. You could get a chain wear indicator to make sure.

I dunno what you do with your chains but mine has done over 2200miles and not even 0.75% worn yet :confused:

PermaBanned · 26 Feb 2015 at 19:21

Lol, everyone's making such a big deal of this. Obviously there's a range but 1000km is the distance below which you can generally take it as a given that your chain isn't too worn. I dunno about "even" 0.75% though, a lot of people will replace at 0.5%.

FrenchTart · 26 Feb 2015 at 19:28

0.5% is definitely where you should replace but the vast majority of cheap chain tools incorrectly measure the wear as being more than it is so...

Shamrock · 26 Feb 2015 at 19:43

My Campag Chorus 11 chain on summer bike has seen 4300 dry miles and is at 0.5.

I won't be replacing until it's 0.75.

Riding in the dry makes a huge difference to chain life.

FrenchTart · 26 Feb 2015 at 20:19

Yup, being a fair weather rider makes all your bike components last longer

(just kidding)

Shamrock · 26 Feb 2015 at 20:40

It's a perfectly good argument for n+1! I need a winter bike so my nicer bike stays in pristine condition.

FrenchTart · 26 Feb 2015 at 20:47

Can't argue with that

Though you're reminded me about how impatient I am for the Chinese new year stuff to be over so I can buy some components. Argh

Derek W · 26 Feb 2015 at 20:51

The Rusty Bucket!

Well worn teeth on the second cog! :eek:

By the looks of things I'll probably replace everything there! As I've got the B'Twin Triban 300 bike by the looks of things it's easier to get the components from Decathlon although they take a week to deliver! :mad:

Just to be sure I take it I'll require the following :-

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/cassette-8-speed-12x32-id_8328485.html
This appears to be the only 8 speed cassette on offer so assume it's the right one

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/3-to-8-speed-bike-chain-id_8298688.html
3 to 8 bike chain

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/7-8-9s-road-bike-triple-chainset-id_2569409.html
This is what i have just now.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-tool-id_3320893.html

Looking into this to clean it

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-bike-and-chain-cleaning-kit/

Excellent review for it as well

"The wife had been bothering me a lot since she didn't like cleaning my bike with her toothbrush so I invested in this set. She's very happy with it and my bike is always spotless as well as the gear gives her more time to cook and clean the house."

Any alternatives to look at?

Thomas. PLease. · 26 Feb 2015 at 20:56

Swapped out my ageing 23mm GP4000s for some new 25mm GP4000s II's, seem to ride a little more comfortably, a fair bit more compliance, but they seem to roll ridiculously well. Could be placebo, but I honestly think it is way more than that. Only went out for a really easy spin, and was rolling along doing around 130w-150w at c.18mph which seemed way less that what it would usually take to hold that speed.

FrenchTart · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:21

@Derek W - I can't believe that chainset is £20. That's utterly ridiculously low amounts of money for a chainset.

I guess there's no point switching things on the Triban but I'm still kind of in awe that you can get things (however low-end) that cheaply :eek:

PermaBanned · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:21

Derek W said:
Any alternatives to look at?

You almost certainly won't need to replace your crankset. And those B'twin components aren't great for the price. It's a good opportunity to upgrade. I'd suggest something like this:

FrenchTart · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:25

He may need to replace one of his chain rings though and given the ridiculous cheapness It may be worth doing. Aside from that, completely agree with the alternative choices though.

Thomas. PLease. said:
Swapped out my ageing 23mm GP4000s for some new 25mm GP4000s II's, seem to ride a little more comfortably, a fair bit more compliance, but they seem to roll ridiculously well. Could be placebo, but I honestly think it is way more than that. Only went out for a really easy spin, and was rolling along doing around 130w-150w at c.18mph which seemed way less that what it would usually take to hold that speed.

130W - 150W @ 18mph seems crazy low wattage. Is that Strava's estimates? Have you entered your own and your bike weight correctly?

I've ridden on 23/25/28 a fair bit and I do think that 25mm is the way to go. Rolling resistance as you've said is great and the comfort of 25mm is nice. 28mm I found to be too bouncy and 23mm often a bit too hard. Different kinds of tyres across those experiences but the latest 23 and 25s I've used are pretty close in terms of models (Pro4 Endurance 25mm vs Pro4 Service Course Grip 23mm).

Thomas. PLease. · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:46

FrenchTart said:
He may need to replace one of his chain rings though and given the ridiculous cheapness It may be worth doing. Aside from that, completely agree with the alternative choices though.

130W - 150W @ 18mph seems crazy low wattage. Is that Strava's estimates? Have you entered your own and your bike weight correctly?

I've ridden on 23/25/28 a fair bit and I do think that 25mm is the way to go. Rolling resistance as you've said is great and the comfort of 25mm is nice. 28mm I found to be too bouncy and 23mm often a bit too hard. Different kinds of tyres across those experiences but the latest 23 and 25s I've used are pretty close in terms of models (Pro4 Endurance 25mm vs Pro4 Service Course Grip 23mm).

No thats on a P2M, yeah, will see how they go in a race this weekend, if they're ok can't see myself going back to 23's. Want to try latex tubes as well, see if there is anything to gain there.

Derek W · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:47

PermaBanned said:
You almost certainly won't need to replace your crankset. And those B'twin components aren't great for the price. It's a good opportunity to upgrade. I'd suggest something like this:

FrenchTart said:
He may need to replace one of his chain rings though and given the ridiculous cheapness It may be worth doing. Aside from that, completely agree with the alternative choices though.

The thought with the crankset is because a couple of the teeth on the middle cog were a bit worn and as FrenchTart says, its only 20quid! I'll check out the alternatives too. Thanks

Roady · 26 Feb 2015 at 21:54

Berger said:
You can buy it in the supermarket or shoot your own.

Pretenderized meat from being smashed by a car or truck no thanks! Would have only been there a few hours in this case but I'd rather not!

Suprised everyone missed this... But 'Bergers Roo Burgers' has a ring to it!

Derek W said:
The Rusty Bucket!

Well worn teeth on the second cog!

Doesn't look that bad to me, you may find a damn good scrub just how pristine a rusted chain can look! Teeth don't look that bad to me either as you said you'd done around 1000km and never cleaned it?! Looks very dry too... When did you last lube?

Derek W said:
Looking into this to clean it

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-bike-and-chain-cleaning-kit/

Ok set and price, but if you have a brush to use pickup a chain cleaner (cheaper than buying brushes for the hell of it) and some degreaser for using in the chain cleaner... Other people use lots of different things, some even use their own degreasers (WD40! :eek:

general consensus is if you're using it to degrease you should also grease/lube with it after every ride) and cleaning products (washing up liquid - careful it contains salt, causes rust!).

FrenchTart said:
@Derek W - I can't believe that chainset is £20. That's utterly ridiculously low amounts of money for a chainset.

Yup great price, but as Perma said:

PermaBanned said:
You almost certainly won't need to replace your crankset. And those B'twin components aren't great for the price. It's a good opportunity to upgrade. I'd suggest something like this:

You can upgrade the chain and cassette for around the same money!

FrenchTart said:
Pro4 Endurance 25mm

GIEF!

None of the pro4 E's, SC's or SC Grip's now listed on Wiggle in 25mm

Ride in to work this morning I felt strong after a rest day yesterday, did a semi 100 cadence drill on the latter slightly uphill part and got a great average speed - 16.5 mph.

Ride home this evening I still felt strong and there must have been a little tail wind. Cooler than earlier so I went 'TT mode' on a piece of my commute that is usually clogged with traffic (was clear) and has a nice fresh tarmac'd surface. Raced/left behind MTB redlight jumper who was an ass (I'm stopped at a cross roads waiting for a light change, he pulls up in front of me, blocking me) and another great average speed - 16.4mph.

Ride home took 15 mins - around the same time it takes me on a good day in the car. Result!

Dunks · 26 Feb 2015 at 22:03

Thomas. PLease. said:
No thats on a P2M, yeah, will see how they go in a race this weekend, if they're ok can't see myself going back to 23's. Want to try latex tubes as well, see if there is anything to gain there.

I'm pretty sure I've read some articles comparing 23's and 25's and the 25's seemed to roll better, plus I think all the pro's are using 25's now as well as standard.