Road Cycling Essentials

Participant · 13 Mar 2012 at 16:15

Thanks. If it's the bearings I might just upgrade the wheels (assuming the bearings are even serviceable on ALX300s?).

londonbairn · 13 Mar 2012 at 16:27

Not sure, would you do them yourself or go to a bike store?

If so might be worth just buying a new set. I find myself commuting on a cheap set of Shimano R500s, they are built like a tank, only cost me £70 or so. In the time I have had them, I've been hit by cars twice, and they have kept true with no problems.

I used to commute on Fulcrum Racing 5s. Got loads of other wheelsets, some I wouldnt dare commute on (e.g. Dura Ace C24s and C50s)

Jonny ///M · 13 Mar 2012 at 18:11

It would be worth checking the bearings out anyway, would be a cheap fix and leave you with spare wheels if you ever needed it.

I have an R500 on the back and it's kept true really well compared to the stock wheel, not the stiffest but I'm not looking for that. The freehub body was slipping like mad on the way home there though

I fancy getting some aksiums or RS30s in the summer I think. I said that months ago on here aswell!

Hamster · 13 Mar 2012 at 18:34

Robbie G said:
Thanks. If it's the bearings I might just upgrade the wheels (assuming the bearings are even serviceable on ALX300s?).

Don't feel that you have to change wheels if it happens to be just the bearings as it's not a big job to service the hub. Unless of course you just fancy a new set!

Saytan · 13 Mar 2012 at 18:44

how many around these parts still use lovely handbuilt wheels? the modern predominance of factory wheels saddens me a bit

Jonny ///M · 13 Mar 2012 at 19:05

Saytan said:
how many around these parts still use lovely handbuilt wheels? the modern predominance of factory wheels saddens me a bit

A lot of guys still do use handbuilt for training wheels and such.

Apparently the likes of high end shimano can be tracked back to a single wheel builder within the wheel factory so they are pretty much handbuilt yeah?

Saytan · 13 Mar 2012 at 19:09

a good hub will outlast a rim many many times over though.

edit: and yes, if you are racing to the nth degree, i'm sure plenty of factory wheelsets are great for performance. But plenty of recreational riders are being sucked in when their wallets would be better served by some open pros on 105s

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Mar 2012 at 19:49

Saytan said:
how many around these parts still use lovely handbuilt wheels? the modern predominance of factory wheels saddens me a bit

Ive got hand finished wheels for commuting: Mavic Open Pros on Hope Pro 3 Mono hubs with 32 spokes. Bullet proof.

I've also got Fulcrum Racing One Two-Way Fits and Reynolds Assaults for the weekends. If I get the chance then I'll be replacing the Fulcrums with Stans ZTRAlphas on Chris King hubs with 24 Sapim X-Rays on the front (radial) and 28 on the back (2 cross). They will be about 1250g and will be as smooth as butter.

I should have got them in the first place rather than the Fulcrums, but the Fulcrums were the easy option.

Participant · 13 Mar 2012 at 20:09

rafster said:
Not sure, would you do them yourself or go to a bike store?

If so might be worth just buying a new set. I find myself commuting on a cheap set of Shimano R500s, they are built like a tank, only cost me £70 or so. In the time I have had them, I've been hit by cars twice, and they have kept true with no problems.

I used to commute on Fulcrum Racing 5s. Got loads of other wheelsets, some I wouldnt dare commute on (e.g. Dura Ace C24s and C50s)

Bike store, I know nothing about bike wheels.

Jonny ///M said:
It would be worth checking the bearings out anyway, would be a cheap fix and leave you with spare wheels if you ever needed it.

Hamster said:
Don't feel that you have to change wheels if it happens to be just the bearings as it's not a big job to service the hub. Unless of course you just fancy a new set!

Cheers, will bear these comments in mind.

My uncle has just suggested that I might have over-tightened the quick release nut!! Thinking about it this seems a distinct possibility as I could barely close the lever. Just how tight are the levers meant to be?

Jonny ///M · 13 Mar 2012 at 20:12

Most I wind tight until the start to get tight as the lever becomes parallel with the axle itself. Then just a gentle push in is enough.

DIABLO · 13 Mar 2012 at 20:17

Robbie G said:
Castelli Prologo HD in black / white / cyan if anyone's interested. First jersey and very comfy it is too. Particularly loving the pockets on the back including one zipped for keys etc., glad to have ditched the saddle bag. Seems pretty well made.

£50 or so from Wiggle, probably available elsewhere cheaper.

What size did you order and what size are you normally? I'm thinking about getting this jersey only thing that puts me off a bit is that it reminds me of a Starfleet uniform

Participant · 13 Mar 2012 at 20:47

Jonny ///M said:
Most I wind tight until the start to get tight as the lever becomes parallel with the axle itself. Then just a gentle push in is enough.

Oops!

DIABLO said:
What size did you order and what size are you normally? I'm thinking about getting this jersey only thing that puts me off a bit is that it reminds me of a Starfleet uniform

Ordered XL, normally L, could have gotten away with L I think. My vital stats are (cm) waist 92 hips 104 chest 103.

And great, thanks, you ruined my fantasy that I look awesome in my new jersey

.

Fuzz · 13 Mar 2012 at 20:52

There ya go, not fast at all really..

Edit*
Ah yes, family forum. Turn the sound off, it'll be fine.

DIABLO · 13 Mar 2012 at 21:05

Might wanna put a warning about the swearing

Jonny ///M · 13 Mar 2012 at 21:06

I'd have been on the smooth tarmac to be fair

Fuzz · 13 Mar 2012 at 21:12

Jonny ///M said:
I'd have been on the smooth tarmac to be fair

First time in the wet.. I've done it a thousand times before in the dry and never fell off.
Guess I'll be staying off that bit of tarmac from now on.

DIABLO · 13 Mar 2012 at 21:34

Robbie G said:
Oops!

Ordered XL, normally L, could have gotten away with L I think. My vital stats are (cm) waist 92 hips 104 chest 103.

And great, thanks, you ruined my fantasy that I look awesome in my new jersey .

Cheers

Russinating · 13 Mar 2012 at 22:43

Fuzz said:
There ya go, not fast at all really..

Edit*
Ah yes, family forum. Turn the sound off, it'll be fine.

Wow, not fast at all! Like you say, bad bit of mac + wet = bad. Although I'm pretty sure I've been over worst tarmac in worse conditions and the worst that's happened is my back end has gone out a bit.

Jonny ///M · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:10

To be fair within the first week on my road bike I slid off on a mini roundabout going quite slow.

That was fun riding the rest of the way to work.

I seem to turn into an idiot on the bike for some reason, I want to go flat out

Hamster · 13 Mar 2012 at 23:43

I can also vouch for a fantastic ability of falling of when riding slow. Apart from my early clipless escapades my best was a broken arm when riding less than 5mph turning on loose gravel. I did ride on for a few miles thinking it was bruised then somehow got the bike into the boot of the car and drive to A&E. First thing the doctor asked me was how much I had been drinking (???)