Road Cycling Essentials

[One More Solo]

We usually use the pins with 10 speed but you can get the quicklinks for campag. KMC do the missing links for £10 rrp(for two).

Like this http://www.dotbike.com/productsP372.aspx

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=A0309

Thanks guys. I know these links always state "do not reuse or you may die" (much like the manual to a Campagnolo chain which warns of your impending doom if you do not use their £150 tool to fit it) - but are they reusable in practice and how many times?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I've never had one fail on me, but I tend to loose them in the garage, the garden or the dark in the middle of no-where long before I would expect them to fail.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Ditto with the above. Used to have my sram one apart quite often on my mountain bike.

 

[SDK^]

Even if it is accurate, I'd be surprised to see a 900ft ascent hill near Birmingham

On a straight path it's 36 miles from B'ham, plus comparatively it's not steep - Cat 4 climb.

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/27605354#climbs

 

[UltimateBadger]

Does anyone know where I can buy Boardman accessories from? Halfords have a limited supply compared to what's on offer on the Boardman website.

Check on the popular auction site mate - I have just ordered a computer, a pump and a bottle cage from there. All Boardman, all brand new and all significantly cheaper than Halfords.

 

[6thElement]

Ditto with the above. Used to have my sram one apart quite often on my mountain bike.

SRAM 9 speed powerlinks can be removed no problem, the 10 speed powerlocks are supposed to be a fit once and done.

I think the 10 speed KMC can be reused for Shimano/SRAM, not sure about Campag.

 

[Jonny69]

I only find cheap chains mangle the links if you open them more than once. Chances of you hitting the same link twice are quite slim though.

 

[VaderDSL]

I currently have some MTB SPDs on my road bike but really not keen on them (on my MTB they're great though).

Is it worth me spending extra on the carbon sole for stiffness?

 

[remy87]

Today fitted
Profile Design Airwing Bullhorn
Cane Creek 200TT
Might need a slightly thicker bar tapes other than that it runs like a dream.

 

[SDK^]

I currently have some MTB SPDs on my road bike but really not keen on them (on my MTB they're great though).

Is it worth me spending extra on the carbon sole for stiffness?

I have both Carbon (Specialized Pro) and plastic sole (Specialized Sport) MTB shoes which I use for MTB and road riding.
I feel the stiffness advantage of carbon is minimal but the lighter weight feels significant, especially over long distances.

 

[VaderDSL]

Cheers SDK^ it's mainly the stiffness difference I'm interested in. Might pop into Evans at some point and try the two out.

 

[willhub]

On a straight path it's 36 miles from B'ham, plus comparatively it's not steep - Cat 4 climb.

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/27605354#climbs

Any idea where it is on Google Streetview?

 

[Russinating]

First day using a helmet cam and a pedestrian steps out in front of me from between two cars. Sorry for the crap view, first day so didn't really know where to place the camera.

Find this happens so much and I've had way more problems with pedestrians than motorists.

 

[Jonny69]

Got nicely t-boned by a Mercedes on the way to work yesterday.

Sorry to hear that. People seem to have been taking stupid pills this week because I've seen some shocking driving compared to normal.

First day using a helmet cam and a pedestrian steps out in front of me from between two cars. Sorry for the crap view, first day so didn't really know where to place the camera.

[youtubez5SdhC05EPU[/youtube]

Find this happens so much and I've had way more problems with pedestrians than motorists.

Try and look a bit further ahead and ride further away from the parked cars. You clearly know what your hazards are and you need to look out for them more than anything. It should also stop cars from trying to squeeze past when there isn't really enough space to do so safely if you're a bit further out. You can yield when you see there's enough space for a car to pass. Pedestrians also don't seem to mind if you yell "MIND!" if you can see them about to step out and they haven't seen you.

 

[TreeTops]

Any idea where it is on Google Streetview?

Have a search for Fish Hill, Broadway. You should think of it more as the gateway to the Cotswolds rather than near Birmingham.

As SDK has said, it isn't a sharp climb (like you find in the Peak District), just laborious. It certainly doesn't have the scenery to make you feel like your climbing like, say, the A9 (Pass of Drumochter), A93 (Glenshee) or A939 (Lecht) in Scotland.

 

[Russinating]

Try and look a bit further ahead and ride further away from the parked cars. You clearly know what your hazards are and you need to look out for them more than anything. It should also stop cars from trying to squeeze past when there isn't really enough space to do so safely if you're a bit further out. You can yield when you see there's enough space for a car to pass. Pedestrians also don't seem to mind if you yell "MIND!" if you can see them about to step out and they haven't seen you.

The camera angle isn't very wide but I was actually a good meter or so away from the parked cars. The camera's also looking further down than I was but I had rain coming in horizontally so couldn't look up as much as usual. Aside from that he was like a ninja dressed all in black and I genuinely didn't see him at all .

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Anyone here done the Dragon Ride before?

I ride a lot, but London is pretty devoid of hills. I'm going to be doind some training rides in the Surrey Hills and I'll probably be changing my cassette from an 11-23 to a 12-28, but that doesn't solve the fact that I'm on a double, not a compact.

Am I going to be a quivering mass of failure halfway up a welsh hill?

 

[Josh P]

Today fitted
Profile Design Airwing Bullhorn
Cane Creek 200TT
Might need a slightly thicker bar tapes other than that it runs like a dream.

That looks like a lovely bike, just the sort of thing I'm after - could you give a few more details?

 

[remy87]

That looks like a lovely bike, just the sort of thing I'm after - could you give a few more details?

Glad you liked it. It came with dropbars 44cm which I felt was too wide and I never use drops anyways and I found this a lot nicer
switched to those ones at 40cm

Factory spec:
FrameKona Cromoly Butted
Forks Kona Retro Road
FSA Tempo 42T
Bottom Bracket
FSA
Freewheel Dicta LMA-8 (16T) and Dicta LMA-7 (16T)
Headset FSA
Stem Kona Road
Handlebars Kona Road
Brakes Tektro R538
Tektro RL340
Rims Freedom Tunnel Top
Front Hub Kona Rat Pack
Rear Hub Kona Rat Pack Flip-Flop
Spokes Sandvik Stainless 14g
Tyres Continental Ultrasport 700x28c (came with Maxxis Detonator 700x28c)
Saddle Kona Retro Road
Seatpost Kona Thumb w/offset

Bike itself can be changed to fixed or freewheel.

edit: oh and link http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m14b0s180p7986

 

[Josh P]

Thanks, given me a lot to think about. I primarily ride around town so drops aren't really practical, but I don't like having just flat bars when out on longer rides. Do you ride it fixed or freewheel?

When I first saw the picture, I spent quite a while looking for the 'Bullwing Airhorn', glad I cleared that one up in the end...