Road Cycling Essentials

[Draeger]

This website says you can run them at anything up to 80psi :-

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/64/dmr_moto_rt/dmr-moto-rt-tyre.html

Do they roll quite well on tarmac?.

 

[Temi_D]

Compared to the stock tyres that came with my bike, they are FAR better on tarmac. The rolling distance is much longer and the ride is quieter and much smoother

 

[oddjob62]

Got a pair of fixed/fixed Goldtec hubs. Gonna build up some winter wheels.

 

[Hamster]

To any of you who build wheels.
Which guide did you start with or did someone show you how it's done? I've seen some youtube videos which started with potential but seem to miss key elements.

 

[greengiant]

I like my Brooks B17 saddle! Very comfy once it gets broken in.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I like my Brooks B17 saddle! Very comfy once it gets broken in.

How many miles did it take to break in and how do they handle the wet? I'm considering one.

 

[oddjob62]

How many miles did it take to break in and how do they handle the wet? I'm considering one.

Mine's nice now after a couple of hundred, should keep improving though. Definitely avoid getting it wet and if you do, do not ride on it till it's thoroughly dry.

 

[oddjob62]

To any of you who build wheels.
Which guide did you start with or did someone show you how it's done? I've seen some youtube videos which started with potential but seem to miss key elements.

I just used youtube vids and some tips from this guy Arup who's a regular on lfgss http://www.yogarup.com/wheels/

My wheels are for FG so don't need to worry about the dish so it makes them a bit easier. Takes me a few hours to make, but it's nice having a bike that's COMPLETELY build by my own hands.

What elements are missing?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Mine's nice now after a couple of hundred, should keep improving though. Definitely avoid getting it wet and if you do, do not ride on it till it's thoroughly dry.

I'll have to take a pass then, I was think it would be good for the winter commter and although it's garaged all day and all evening there is still a change it won't try in time. Ah well.

 

[Hamster]

I just used youtube vids and some tips from this guy Arup who's a regular on lfgss http://www.yogarup.com/wheels/

My wheels are for FG so don't need to worry about the dish so it makes them a bit easier. Takes me a few hours to make, but it's nice having a bike that's COMPLETELY build by my own hands.

What elements are missing?

Ta for the reply
The video that i found on youtube didn't seem to have procedures missing, not that I was aware of, so 'elements' may not have been the best choice of word. The tutor was trying too hard to be a comedian, leaving crucial parts visually quite confusing when it could have easily been explained so much more clearly. I was also trying to follow it in a noisy workshop which isn't really the best environment to study this to be honest.

Thanks for the link to Arup's site; he looks like he knows what he's doing!!
Have you got any favourite videos that you have used that you don't mind sharing the links to please?

 

[greengiant]

How many miles did it take to break in and how do they handle the wet? I'm considering one.

Mine was pretty comfy out of the box, a lot more comfy 6 months later. Keep the leather well fed I bought a tin of brooks proofhide to feed the leather every 3 months or so. A small plastic bag keeps the saddle dry on wet cafe stops!

 

[oddjob62]

Have you got any favourite videos that you have used that you don't mind sharing the links to please?

Just remembered, when i did my first wheels I also bought this online book http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

It has pretty much everything you'd need to know about wheel building, unless you want to get onto the rather obscure lacing patterns like ********** or crows feet.

Only other thing i would mention is that i did buy a spoke tension meter, which made the job a LOT easier (and by the time i finish my 3rd set of wheels will have pretty much paid for itself already). I just do the basic lacing, tighten up to the required tension (checking with the meter), a bit of truing and the wheel is done. Not bothered with a truing stand, but the book above has blueprints for making your own. I just use an old frame with some cardboard taped in the right places.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Have you taken the Bryant out for a ride yet, [DOD]Asprilla?

Yes. Yes I have.

My god I love that bike. It's taken me 70-odd miles to get it set up correctly but it's great. Getting the belt tension is the hardest thing, especially as adjusting that throws of the gearing but once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of the proverbial.

The alfine itself is heavy and it's missing a bit at the top and bottom ends but it's quiet, smooth shifting and is fantastic for commuting.

The belt drive is brilliant as well; in combination with the alfine it kinda gives you that 'fixed gear direct connection' feeling. It's also completely silent aswell, the whole bike makes no noise at all (which was wicked cruising through Richmond Park in the fog tonight).

The frame is touring geometry so very comfortable although I'm finding the handlebars a little wide and am considering swapping the saddle for a Brooks B17. Also, the q-factor is a little wide, but adjusting my cleats should help with that.

So happy with it and it's just so easy to ride, even with a pair of full panniers on the back, although manhandling it through the pedestrian gates in the park is going to work the upper body somewhat!

 

[Hamster]

Just remembered, when i did my first wheels I also bought this online book http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

It has pretty much everything you'd need to know about wheel building, unless you want to get onto the rather obscure lacing patterns like ********** or crows feet.

Only other thing i would mention is that i did buy a spoke tension meter, which made the job a LOT easier (and by the time i finish my 3rd set of wheels will have pretty much paid for itself already). I just do the basic lacing, tighten up to the required tension (checking with the meter), a bit of truing and the wheel is done. Not bothered with a truing stand, but the book above has blueprints for making your own. I just use an old frame with some cardboard taped in the right places.

Cheers for that oddjob. I think someone at work has that book, I'll find out if i can 'borrow' it I think I need to practice lacing first and also get my head around calculating spoke lengths properly, then I'll move onto the tensioning and truing. I've just started truing a few wheels that have been lying around recently which has been OK but I know that I'm not really using the soundest methods.

 

[6thElement]

Got to love a sneaky quick 33mile ride at lunchtime

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Got to love a sneaky quick 33mile ride at lunchtime

I worked from home yesterday and didn't even manage to get out of the house

Anyway, I did manage to take some pictures of rht new commuter; just awaiting mudguards:

 

[platypus]

The commute is taking its burden at the moment, on top of all my other training. It's hard work at the moment, not sure I can keep going when it starts to get seriously cold!

 

[Saundie]

My god I love that bike...

Sounds (and looks) great - let me know when you're bored of it, I'll gladly take it off your hands

What gearing do you have on there? My Subway 8 has a 42/20T at the moment, I don't find myself wanting more at either end very often. I hit 29mph on the way home last night, and didn't feel as though I'd maxed it out, so to speak. Of course, my level of fitness pales in comparison to yours, so if your gearing is similar then I guess I can see why you'd find it lacking.

The most common remark I see from people using an Alfine for the first time is about the big jumps between gears. Is this something you've also found?

The commute is taking its burden at the moment, on top of all my other training. It's hard work at the moment, not sure I can keep going when it starts to get seriously cold!

Surely you'd rather give up the other training first, rather than abandon commuting?! I'm dreading the morning when I step out of my front door and realise that cycling to work isn't going to be safe.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Sounds (and looks) great - let me know when you're bored of it, I'll gladly take it off your hands

It's only mine for the winter, in the summer it becomes the property of Mrs A and I go back to using the Cervelo. I don't think I'll spend long enough on it to get bored...

What gearing do you have on there? My Subway 8 has a 42/20T at the moment, I don't find myself wanting more at either end very often. I hit 29mph on the way home last night, and didn't feel as though I'd maxed it out, so to speak. Of course, my level of fitness pales in comparison to yours, so if your gearing is similar then I guess I can see why you'd find it lacking.

The most common remark I see from people using an Alfine for the first time is about the big jumps between gears. Is this something you've also found?

It's 50/24 which is 55 gear inches compared to your 55.4 gear inches and yes, I am finding the gaps between the gears pretty big, particularly from 1-2 and 7-8.

I think it's a combination of these gaps and the weight that make me think it's lacking; my cadence is disrupted by the gear changes at the moment and so I find it difficult to really spin up. I've found that I'm cruising at 32-33kph which is about the same as the Cervelo, but it's harder work because the gear I want to be in is inbetween two steps. It's certainly going to build my quads over the winter (just as riding fixed did last year).

 

[platypus]

Surely you'd rather give up the other training first, rather than abandon commuting?! I'm dreading the morning when I step out of my front door and realise that cycling to work isn't going to be safe.

I would, but work may have forced my hand.

They've installed a bike "shelter" that does nothing to shelter the bikes from rain, and duly ordered from on high that all commuters (eg only me) must use this shelter. There is no way in hell I'm leaving my bike out in the rain.