Road Cycling Essentials

[Jonny69]

Can I join in?
Picked myself up a new (old) road bike at the weekend. '94 Trek 2300 Carbon/Aluminium frame with Shimano 600 parts and newer Mavic rims.
It'd been sat in the owners garage for many many years so the derailleurs and indexing in the shifters wasn't working (assume the grease had dried up), but a liberal soaking in WD40 seems to have got them working again.

The current tyres are looking a little worn and 700x20C so maybe a bit thin? I was looking at Continental Ultra Sports in Lemon, anyone got any comments on them?

I have 20's on my fixie, they aren't for everyone and you have to keep them well pumped up or they'll pop on the slightest pothole. I worry a lot less about my 23's on the other bike. Anything with a kevlar band seems to be bulletproof. Can't comment on the Conti's but my Michelin Pro 3's (700x23c) are the only tyres I haven't punctured yet and they have by far the most miles and have been used on the most punishing rides, out of all my tyres.

Guys I'm getting back on my commuting hybrid now that things are calming down a bit weather-wise, and am after a light weight waterproof windproof hi-vis jacket...with a hood .

Budget - around £50...any recommendations gratefully received, if you can bring yourself to assist a hybrid-using fair-weather nonce such as myself .

Montaine featherlight smock is my weapon of choice. I actually went for a North Face torpedo jacket in the end as it is windproof but not completely waterproof. I sweat a lot and a waterproof one gets very sweaty on the inside when I ride. But for a waterproof I'd choose the Montaine. Can't remember if it has a hood...

 

[Jonny ///M]

I'd be going for the ultra gatorskins...basically a more durable ultra sport.

Most guys run them as a winter tyre so they will be fine all round for most people.

 

[One More Solo]

I'd be going for the ultra gatorskins...basically a more durable ultra sport.

Most guys run them as a winter tyre so they will be fine all round for most people.

Very puncture proof but the ride quality is pretty awful. Looking forward to warmer weather to try a new tyre.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Very puncture proof but the ride quality is pretty awful. Looking forward to warmer weather to try a new tyre.

You think so?

Have had guys say the levels of grip were pretty good and they are used to GP4000s, they sell like mad compared to any other tyre we've sold.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I found gatorskins to be made of cheese, not much better protection than my GP4000s'. I now swear by Durano S (not to be confused with Durano or Durano Plus).

 

[VeNT]

Pap ?
I'd rather have an Aluminium Allez or Secteur with Tiagra gear than a Carbon Boardman with 105 kit.

1. Specialized Customer Service is night and day better than Halfords
2. The Allez and Secteur bikes are both using the same frame geometry as the more upmarket Tarmac and Roubaix models. Both of which have many Tour and Classics wins to their names. So not exactly pap
3. Boardman is like the Skoda of the bike world. Probably an okay bike but comes with a rep of being the cheapest on the market.

In my opinion a Specialized Allez or Secteur is the only road bike to buy under £1k.

yeah but thats the thing, a sub 1k Allez/Secteur comes with either 2300s or SRAM Apex!
it's like saying yes I've bought a golf rather than the scoda but I can only afford a 1l engine!

 

[SDK^]

yeah but thats the thing, a sub 1k Allez/Secteur comes with either 2300s or SRAM Apex!
it's like saying yes I've bought a golf rather than the scoda but I can only afford a 1l engine!

Shimano Tiagra and Apex are both good enough on the £900-£1k bikes.
Anyway, you won't go any slower using 2300 over 105 - The engine is yourself

 

[VeNT]

yeah but why get Tiagra/Apex when you can get 105/RIVAL etc?

 

[bam0]

I have 20's on my fixie, they aren't for everyone and you have to keep them well pumped up or they'll pop on the slightest pothole. I worry a lot less about my 23's on the other bike. Anything with a kevlar band seems to be bulletproof. Can't comment on the Conti's but my Michelin Pro 3's (700x23c) are the only tyres I haven't punctured yet and they have by far the most miles and have been used on the most punishing rides, out of all my tyres.

Cool thanks, they do those Michelin Pro 3s in yellow too, not too bad a price either. I had a quick little ride on the 20s last night and they weren't as bad as I feared but they're fairly old so need replacing anyway.

Here's a pic of my bike;

Haven't quite got the front dereailleur setup right yet, and I found last night that the seat post doesn't want to move, at all, even with the bolt completely out. I left some wd40 round the edge but it doesn't seem to have made much difference yet. Any ideas? should I try applying more force by levering something into the seat rails to twist it out, or would trying to shock it by hitting the saddle with a rubber mallet be better?

 

[SDK^]

Cycling Plus magazine have done a drivetrain group test between Shimano 105, SRAM Apex and Compag Centaur.

The Apex set looks impressive, compared to 105 it's £30 cheaper, 600g lighter and upshifts & downshifts quicker. Best of all though is the ability to run a Compact front setup (50/34) and a 11-32 cassette on the back; Long steep climbs - no problem

 

[The Mad Rapper]

Pap ?
I'd rather have an Aluminium Allez or Secteur with Tiagra gear than a Carbon Boardman with 105 kit.

1. Specialized Customer Service is night and day better than Halfords
2. The Allez and Secteur bikes are both using the same frame geometry as the more upmarket Tarmac and Roubaix models. Both of which have many Tour and Classics wins to their names. So not exactly pap
3. Boardman is like the Skoda of the bike world. Probably an okay bike but comes with a rep of being the cheapest on the market.

In my opinion a Specialized Allez or Secteur is the only road bike to buy under £1k.

You could not be more wrong if you tried.

An alu Allez or Secteur with Tiagra is the equivalent of a Skoda in cycling. The only decent Specialized road bikes are the Tarmac SL3 and Roubaix SL3 - in other words, their very top end bikes. The rest are mediocre at best. I will never understand why they can't even spec out their medium and lower range bikes with a full gruppo - they always mix parts from the lower range.

A £1K Boardman, so the Team Carbon is better than any Specialized (less the Tarmac SL3 and Roubaix SL3) in every single way. The frame is superb, phenomenal value for money. The Ritchey finishing kit is a million miles better than the generic crap you get from Specialized. The geometry is designed by a racer for a racer. In short, it's just a better bike.

Buy it from Halfords and have your LBS set it up - perfect!

 

[The Mad Rapper]

Shimano Tiagra and Apex are both good enough on the £900-£1k bikes.
Anyway, you won't go any slower using 2300 over 105 - The engine is yourself

The gearing isn't the same. Anything below 105 has crap shifters as well.

 

[SDK^]

The frame is superb, phenomenal value for money.

My point was exactly that - I'd rather not ride a bike that was associated with value from a high street store with a not so good reputation. Your LBS isn't going to be responsible for replacing parts when they go wrong.

The geometry is designed by a racer for a racer.

Contador, Cancellara, Schleck and Cavendish (Specialized Team riders) know a bit about racing as well - I'm sure their feedback doesn't get wasted

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

The boardman gerometry is similar to the Tarmac because they are designed for the same thing. The roubaix and allez are excellent frames and offer a lot of value.

If I was spend a grand and the fit was right, I'd have a CAAD9.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

My point was exactly that - I'd rather not ride a bike that was associated with value from a high street store with a not so good reputation. Your LBS isn't going to be responsible for replacing parts when they go wrong.

With respect, you've spectacularly missed the point. The fact that it's amazing value for money is nothing but positive. The fact it's sold by Halfords isn't great - I wouldn't let the monkeys there loose on my bike - but your LBS will be more than happy to build it if you just order it in a box. If something breaks then just get it replaced under warranty, it's not rocket science.

Contador, Cancellara, Schleck and Cavendish (Specialized Team riders) know a bit about racing as well - I'm sure their feedback doesn't get wasted

Well Contador won't be riding anything for a year because he's banned. Andy Schleck and Fabian Cancellara are both members of a new team, Leopard Trek, and they ride the Trek Madone 6.9 SSL. Cav rides a modified version of the Tarmac and Roubaix.

But the point really is that the top end Specialized bikes have nothing in common with the rest of the range other than the name and the geometry. Don't kid yourself otherwise.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

If I was spend a grand and the fit was right, I'd have a CAAD9.

Or the CAAD 10 when it's released shortly. The Verenti Millook is an incredible machine for £1200 as well.

Personally, if I only had £1000 to spend, I'd buy something like a Ribble 7005 with full 105 and ride that until I could afford a proper bike.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I'll wait for the 10 to be proven. The 9, however, is one of the two best alu frames ever made, in my opinion. My feeling is that the Millook will be ok, but built to a budget.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

I'll wait for the 10 to be proven. The 9, however, is one of the two best alu frames ever made, in my opinion. My feeling is that the Millook will be ok, but built to a budget.

It's purpose built for UK Sportives. Decent SRAM gruppo, decent finishing kit - a smart choice.

The reviews for the CAAD 10 I've seen have all been great - a few comments about changes to the rear triangle though. The hour glass stays from the 9 have been redesigned, the new form is supposed to do the same job though.

I've just ordered a 2011 Super Six and a 2011 Synapse (both Ultegra) - love Cannondale. Amazing frames. Should get them in 2 weeks.

 

[SDK^]

I'm aware of the Pro team changes.

I'm not just liking Specialized for their bikes. They put money back into the sport by sponsoring teams, video producers, children's & charity events etc..
They also hold demo days/weekends all over the world.

Also if you currently want to buy a new Boardman bike you're stuck. Most of the 2010's are sold and the 2011 range hasn't even made the stores yet. Pretty much everyone else had them out August/September last year.

It's things like this which put me off.

But the point really is that the top end Specialized bikes have nothing in common with the rest of the range other than the name and the geometry. e.

Name and Geo - What else is there

 

[The Mad Rapper]

I'm not just liking Specialized for their bikes. They put money back into the sport by sponsoring teams, video producers, children's & charity events etc..

So does Chris Boardman. He's just sponsored a US Pro-Continental Team - United Healthcare. Remember, the companies are very different sizes, you can't compare oranges to apples. When CB has grown to the same size as Specialized then compare.

Name and Geo - What else is there

LMAO - is that a serious question?