Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
[DOD]Asprilla; did you get new wheels in the end? I did a search in this thread but couldn't find anything that suggested that you had.
 
So much rain just now that i'm already thinking about winter training. So I got myself some rollers:

20120718185642.jpg


OMG They are hard to ride!
Good fun though,
 
Wait, I think I found what I was looking for;

Black H Plus Son Archetype rims on black Chris King R45 hubs with black Sapim CX-Ray spokes (28/24) and black brass nipples.
Click to expand...

I couldn't see any mention of them after that, though. Did you get them in the end?
 
Hello road cyclists!

I am working on my fitness and have started getting back into cycling. I am a bit overweight, generally unfit and suffer with asthma, and after a few trips I can already feel my chest improving so I'm really keen to keep up cycling as it's the first exercise apart from football that I've found I actually enjoy.
I currently have a Claud Butler Urban 400 hybrid and have been using my girlfriend's budget Python hybrid (which is actually pretty nice to ride considering it's a budget bike)

I haven't ridden what I would call a "drop handlebar" since I was about 9 years old and I'm really keen to try a road bike out and see how I get on with one.

I know a lot of it is down to the individual, but if I was looking at the sub £500 range, what major players should I be considering?

I'd stretch over £500 a bit if I really had to but I'm not interested in second hand unless I could buy it from a trustworthy enthusiast rather than some random thief on Ebay.

Cheers!
 
The Specialized Allez is the most popular bike in that range but it's worth looking at the Boardman's at the moment too as they're currently in the sale and there's various 10% voucher codes floating about as well.
 
shadowcreaper said:
just been using canyons pps thing and it recons for my height 181.5 instem 34/35 i should be a 58, i thought maybe a 56.

what you recon, go with pps and 58?
Click to expand...

Canyon seem to use a weird way to size their bikes.

My bike, for example, is called a 'Large (58cm)' but the seat tube is only 55cm and the top tube is 57.5cm. So i have no idea why they say it's '58cm'.

For what it's worth, i am slightly taller than you (184cm) and my 58 fits me perfectly.
 
touch said:
So much rain just now that i'm already thinking about winter training. So I got myself some rollers:

OMG They are hard to ride!
Good fun though,
Click to expand...

Is there anything to help keep the bike upright or do you have to balance in the usual way? I would have thought that was harder when you're not actually going anywhere.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Is there anything to help keep the bike upright or do you have to balance in the usual way? I would have thought that was harder when you're not actually going anywhere.
Click to expand...

The gyroscopic effect of the wheels spinning keeps the bike upright (there is a connection between one of the rollers at the back and the front one to make the front wheel spin as well). Its more difficult to balance than road riding though because if you start to tip over, you cant turn into it much.
It feels a lot like trying to cycle exactly on a white line painted on the road or something.

I'm actually starting to get the hang of it now and it's not as bad as i first thought.
 
touch said:
So much rain just now that i'm already thinking about winter training. So I got myself some rollers:



OMG They are hard to ride!
Good fun though,
Click to expand...

I have a Tacx Flow turbo trainer which I have owned for about 2 years. I could count on one hand how many times I've actually used it. That's the thing about indoor training, it's either for you or it's not. I find it mind numbingly boring, I'd rather get out on the roads and put the miles in irrespective of the weather ( within reason of course ).

So rollers and turbo's are a 'no-no' for me, sadly. :cool:
 
Draeger said:
I have a Tacx Flow turbo trainer which I have owned for about 2 years. I could count on one hand how many times I've actually used it. That's the thing about indoor training, it's either for you or it's not. I find it mind numbingly boring, I'd rather get out on the roads and put the miles in irrespective of the weather ( within reason of course ).

So rollers and turbo's are a 'no-no' for me, sadly. :cool:
Click to expand...

Yep, i find it very boring also but i'v decided i'm going to force myself to do it this winter.
I dont particularly mind the rain, it's just the bad weather recently thats reminding me that winter is on it's way again and i need to get ready. I'll happily go out in rain+wind but i dont go out when it gets dark. I get home from work around 5:30-6 so come October/November time, it's already dark when i get home.
I have a spinning bike as well, so i can mix things up a little bit and hopefully keep interest a little longer.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom