Road Cycling Essentials

topgun06 · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:06

Dimple said:
Link please, I'm seeing several different ones.

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sh...-tyres/continental-gp-4000s-folding-tyre.html

I got mine from Merlin. Mine have been great so far. Also they cost less of the monies than Wiggle if you want 23c.

DIABLO · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:42

They last for a long time as well my set has done almost 2000 miles and the back still has 500 left in it and the front almost looks like new in terms of wear.

Ribble are a little cheaper at £27 for the 23mm if you spend £35

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...-continental-gp4000s-folding-tyre/conttyrf321

willems · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:52

anyone make any progress with lights? my winter bike has been delayed (ribble are busy) so havent sorted it yet.

im still looking at cree xml t6

ShiWarrior · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:03

Rusty_Noob said:
The 4000s is a great tyre, but not as puncture proof as a Gator Hardshell.

ill remember that when i come to change my tyres (when i eventually get a bike that is !)

Firestar_3x · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:08

ShiWarrior said:
ill remember that when i come to change my tyres (when i eventually get a bike that is !)

How's the search going?

ShiWarrior · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:14

Firestar_3x said:
How's the search going?

not bad mate, waiting for the cycling shop to txt me there stock of the 2013 Focus Izalco Pro 3.0, which is probabally what i will get now if poss

Vonhelmet · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:21

willems said:
anyone make any progress with lights? my winter bike has been delayed (ribble are busy) so havent sorted it yet.

im still looking at cree xml t6

I ordered an xm-l t6 based light on eBay the other day. £20 with 2 batteries, charger, mount and a rear light too. Only downside is it's coming direct from Hong Kong, so it'll be next winter by the time I get it.

Vonhelmet · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:25

I've just been out and done 14 and a bit miles in the dark with some rain showers and nasty headwinds. Still managed to average 16mph overall, which I'm proud of. I averaged 18.5mph on a nearly 3 mile segment, which was really against the wind. I think what spurred me on was that halfway along I overtook another cyclist and then didn't want to get overtaken by him so every time I saw his lights getting closer I sped up. He probably got the better deal, slipstreaming me, though!

I wore some of my new gear from Aldi - winter trousers and a winter jersey. They both seem pretty good. The trousers are warm and very wind proof, which is most welcome as some of my shorts are very draughty around the delicacies.

Vonhelmet · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:29

Rusty_Noob said:
The 4000s is a great tyre, but not as puncture proof as a Gator Hardshell.

I'm going to looking at tyres soon, as I'm hoping to save up for a new wheel set around my birthday next March, in time for the summer season. So far I've been looking at a Planet-X wheel set for about £150, so I'd probably be looking at another £50 or so for tyres and tubes if that's do-able. I can't be arsed with punctures, but equally I'm hoping lighter wheels will make my life easier so I don't want to undo that with heavy, resistant tyres...

Firestar_3x · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:31

ShiWarrior said:
not bad mate, waiting for the cycling shop to txt me there stock of the 2013 Focus Izalco Pro 3.0, which is probabally what i will get now if poss

Great choice, looks like a cracking bike

ShiWarrior · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:52

Firestar_3x said:
Great choice, looks like a cracking bike

hehe yeah

been bike of the year for the past 2 years, so i hope its as good as they say! but ive not ridden a road bike so i'll be amazed with it i guess lol

godinman · 1 Oct 2012 at 20:54

Well, got all of my gear ready for a 6:30 start, going to take a longer, but hopefully nicer route to work.

15 mile route, which will probably take the same amount of time as the 8 miler route as I wont have to stop for a heart attack halfway around!

RetiredGreyFox · 1 Oct 2012 at 21:16

Thanks for the advice but my bike is for 99% commuting and I want the best protection possible from punctures so I'm going for the Continental GatorHardshell.
They may be 10% heavier but I honestly don't think it will make the slightest bit of difference for me.

Any advice on inner tubes to go with them?

MikeHunt79 · 1 Oct 2012 at 21:37

Vonhelmet said:
I ordered an xm-l t6 based light on eBay the other day. £20 with 2 batteries, charger, mount and a rear light too. Only downside is it's coming direct from Hong Kong, so it'll be next winter by the time I get it.

I'm using one of those cree xml T6 lights right now, it's pretty bright especially on high mode. I've been doing speeds of around 20-30mph on unlit country lanes without issue, and it helps you spot the potholes before it's too late.

As for innertubes, I quite like schwalbe ones myself, they seem to need less topping up.

PermaChanged · 1 Oct 2012 at 21:57

After some advice please guys!

I've worn out all my drivetrain on my hybrid/commuter so want to change it all out (the chain rings are fine, cassette, chain and bottom bracket is what I want to replace).

My question is do I need to replace the whole bottom bracket or just the bearings in it?

Also what bottom bracket/bearings will I need for this bike?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/flight-02-disc-2010-hybrid-bike-ec023205#features

topgun06 · 2 Oct 2012 at 00:02

Dimple said:
Any advice on inner tubes to go with them?

An inner tube is an inner tube as far as I am aware. Whichever is cheapest. I use Conti Tubes.

Shamrock · 2 Oct 2012 at 00:11

Dimple said:
Any advice on inner tubes to go with them?

Latex tubes filled with helium should balance out the increased weight of the Gator Hardshells.

MikeHunt79 · 2 Oct 2012 at 00:48

Rusty_Noob said:
After some advice please guys!

I've worn out all my drivetrain on my hybrid/commuter so want to change it all out (the chain rings are fine, cassette, chain and bottom bracket is what I want to replace).

My question is do I need to replace the whole bottom bracket or just the bearings in it?

Also what bottom bracket/bearings will I need for this bike?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/flight-02-disc-2010-hybrid-bike-ec023205#features

I'm currently sorting out my drivetrain also, replacing pretty much everything as I'm not getting on with a 53t chainring up front.

The best thing to do is measure the width of the bottom bracket on your frame, but it will probably be 68mm wide with british thread.

I'm still waiting for my chain to arrive, so once that arrives I can tell you how well it works.

FWIW, I've gone for a Shimano square taper BB, Campy Mirage cranks with Middleburn 62t chainring, and at the back I've gone for a SRAM PC830 11-28 cassette, and a KMC chain, so I'm just hoping it will all work, sticking to a single brand would have been easier.

RetiredGreyFox · 2 Oct 2012 at 07:35

Shamrock said:
Latex tubes filled with helium should balance out the increased weight of the Gator Hardshells.

You're being a bit anal - 10% increase on something that weighs less than a small tomato.
Yes, I had the tyre and a small tomato in my hands.

Berger · 2 Oct 2012 at 07:55

MikeHunt79 said:
I'm currently sorting out my drivetrain also, replacing pretty much everything as I'm not getting on with a 53t chainring up front.

The best thing to do is measure the width of the bottom bracket on your frame, but it will probably be 68mm wide with british thread.

I'm still waiting for my chain to arrive, so once that arrives I can tell you how well it works.

FWIW, I've gone for a Shimano square taper BB, Campy Mirage cranks with Middleburn 62t chainring, and at the back I've gone for a SRAM PC830 11-28 cassette, and a KMC chain, so I'm just hoping it will all work, sticking to a single brand would have been easier.

62T?