Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
I finally had enough today. Two weeks on public transport has driven me insane. I'm back on two wheels whether it shags my knee or not. I REALLY enjoyed my ride this morning!

I'll pay for physio over having to get the ****ing tram one more time :mad:
 
platypus said:
Quick advice please people:

Yay or nay? Trying to find reviews.
Click to expand...

Sorry - just seen this.

It depends what view you wish to take. I have ITM components on my Ribble Winter Trainer and they are fine. Was this for a bike build? If so, then I'd accept it on the basis that you may be waiting months for them to get new stock. You can try and source the Deda part you wanted elsewhere, and eBay the ITM?

Normally I would say just wait until they have stock, but who knows how long that may be? You could ask them I suppose then make a decision? If they say a few weeks, then that's OK, but if it's months then that's not really acceptable.

*Edit* Just looked on the internet - that is the same ITM stem that they put on my Winter Trainer. It's fine, but it was swapped for a shorter one when I went for my bike fit.
 
Last edited:
Thanks to all those who helped me out when I asked about cycling GPS devices, I took delivery of the Garmin 705 today. Loaded it up with OpenStreetMap data but only gone for a short ride so far, quite impressed.

I've tried Garmin Connect and MapMyRide so far. MapMyRide seems pretty good but I can't get the time series data to display. Looking at the forums apparently it only works in certain versions of Firefox? Does it work for anyone else and if so which browser/version are you using? Garmin Connect seems pretty decent though so it's no big deal if MapMyRide doesn't work for a whole.
 
I use the Garmin software Training Centre to store all my data, I just upload to Garmin Connect for the stuff I think is worth sharing.
 
Anyone here familiar with Thorn bikes? I'm still on a quest to find a good touring bike and although the Thorn Sherpa is a little more than I wanted to pay, it seems to actually be well thought out with no compromises. 26" handbuilt wheels, V-brakes, steel frame, 22-32-44 crankset (why other tourers don't have this as standard, I don't know...) and quality components to name a few.

I emailed them and asked about it, and apparently there's currently a 5-6 week lead time, which is annoying as I was planning to use the Easter break to get going. Also, their base in Somerset is a bit too far for me to go to try one out, but they have a good return policy if I'm not entirely satisfied. Saundie - I think you mentioned you took a look at these bikes but were put off by the price, what did you think of them?

SJS cycles also have a used Sherpa (7 years old or so) on eBay at the moment, in my size, so I'm keeping a close eye on that too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160562365673#ht_4998wt_905
 
Last edited:
apeZ said:
Anyone here familiar with Thorn bikes? I'm still on a quest to find a good touring bike and although the Thorn Sherpa is a little more than I wanted to pay, it seems to actually be well thought out with no compromises. 26" handbuilt wheels, V-brakes, steel frame, 22-32-44 crankset (why other tourers don't have this as standard, I don't know...) and quality components to name a few.

I emailed them and asked about it, and apparently there's currently a 5-6 week lead time, which is annoying as I was planning to use the Easter break to get going. Also, their base in Somerset is a bit too far for me to go to try one out, but they have a good return policy if I'm not entirely satisfied. Saundie - I think you mentioned you took a look at these bikes but were put off by the price, what did you think of them?

SJS cycles also have a used Sherpa (7 years old or so) on eBay at the moment, in my size, so I'm keeping a close eye on that too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160562365673#ht_4998wt_905
Click to expand...

Rather than focus on their own product, Thorn **** off their competitors - not the sort of company I'd want to buy from.

Had you considered buying a frame and components and having your LBS put it all together for you? One of the best touring frames is the Surly Long Haul Trucker - have a look and see what you think.
 
Velo Rapide said:
Rather than focus on their own product, Thorn **** off their competitors - not the sort of company I'd want to buy from.
Click to expand...

Really? I wasn't aware of that. Any examples?

Had you considered buying a frame and components and having your LBS put it all together for you? One of the best touring frames is the Surly Long Haul Trucker - have a look and see what you think.
Click to expand...

I have, and my LBS have that frame actually. Maybe I should pop down for a chat with them. The stock configuration is this, and costs £1000:

Code: 
Frame: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double butted. TIG-welded
Fork: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% CroMoly, lugged and brazed. 1-1/8" threadless steerer
Seatpost Clamp: Surly Stainless, Natural Silver
Shift Levers: Shimano Bar-end, SL-BS77 9-speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra, FD-4403 triple
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT, RD-M761 SGS long cage
Crankset: Andel, Forged arms, Silver. Aluminum rings, 110mm BCD, 48-36-26t
Bottom Bracket: Shimano, UN53. 68x110mm
Cassette: Shimano Deore, CS-HG53. 9-speed. 11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34t
Chain: SRAM, PC971 9-speed
Headset: Ritchey Logic Comp, 1-1/8" threadless, w/ 40mm spacers. Black
Stem: Kalloy, 1-1/8" threadless. Forged. 26.0mm clamp. Silver
Handlebars: PMT, Aluminum. Silver
Handlebar Wrap: Co-Union Cork Mix, Black
Brake Levers: Tektro, R200A
Brakes: Tektro Oryx cantilever, #992. Silver
Cable: Hanger, front Tektro, #1271A with noodle. Silver
Cable: Hanger, rear N/A,
Pedals: NOT INCLUDED
Seatpost: Kalloy SP-342, 27.2 x 300mm. Silver
Saddle: WTB SST, Steel rails. Black
Extras: Clear chainstay protector. Die extruded cables with anti-rattle donuts.
 Shimano XT, HU-M770. 36h. Silver
Spokes: DT Swiss, 14g stainless. Silver
Rims: Alex Adventurer, 36h. Black w/ eyelets
Tires: WTB Slickasaurus, 26 x 1.5", Black wall. 42-62cm frames
Tyres: Continental Travel Contact, 700c x 37mm, Black wall. 56-62cm frame
Tubes: Cheng Shin, 700c x 35 or 26 x 1.5"

Alternatively, I could (and I really want to!) build it up from scratch. This might be a more expensive route though. There's a list of suggested components here:

http://tullios.blogspot.com/2006/05/suggested-touring-bicycle-component.html

but I'm not sure if that is outdated yet or not. My LBS can make wheels, but I have no idea how much they cost. Everyone I've talked to about touring has emphasised a good frame and hand-built wheels so I really don't want to skimp in these areas.
 
apeZ said:
Really? I wasn't aware of that. Any examples?
Click to expand...

There was a thread about it on the Bike Radar forums, which is where I read about it. Their forums went down last month and all the old posts are gone, so I can't provide a link, sorry.

The component list you provided for the built Surly looks fine to me. £1000 is nothing to spend on a bike, especially one as bomb proof as this ;)
 
apeZ said:
Anyone here familiar with Thorn bikes? I'm still on a quest to find a good touring bike and although the Thorn Sherpa is a little more than I wanted to pay, it seems to actually be well thought out with no compromises. 26" handbuilt wheels, V-brakes, steel frame, 22-32-44 crankset (why other tourers don't have this as standard, I don't know...) and quality components to name a few.

I emailed them and asked about it, and apparently there's currently a 5-6 week lead time, which is annoying as I was planning to use the Easter break to get going. Also, their base in Somerset is a bit too far for me to go to try one out, but they have a good return policy if I'm not entirely satisfied. Saundie - I think you mentioned you took a look at these bikes but were put off by the price, what did you think of them?

SJS cycles also have a used Sherpa (7 years old or so) on eBay at the moment, in my size, so I'm keeping a close eye on that too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160562365673#ht_4998wt_905
Click to expand...
Thorn come up often when touring bicycles are mentioned, so I did take a look at the Rohloff-equip Raven Sport Tour. Unfortunately they start at £1800, which is a lot of money to spend on something that was merely aspirational at the time. If I was a serious touring enthusiast then I'm sure it'd be well worth the expenditure. As for the Sherpa; I mentioned it early last month, and Velo Rapide rubbished it as being too heavy for what it is. I've never ridden one so I cannot really hold an opinion either way. I can only go on what I read online, which is pretty much always positive.

If I were in your position, I would probably go for the LHT. I'm assuming that this spec matches the one that you posted, in which case you could easily get the LHT and all your touring accessories for less than the starting price of the Sherpa (£1250).
 
Saundie said:
If I were in your position, I would probably go for the LHT. I'm assuming that this spec matches the one that you posted, in which case you could easily get the LHT and all your touring accessories for less than the starting price of the Sherpa (£1250).
Click to expand...

And the frame is bomb proof. If you have a look on the Surly web site there's an owners photo board - people travel all over the world with the LHT.
 
Evens have the Kona Sutra for £850, and given my penchant (bordering on obsession) towards disc brakes, I'd be tempted to go for it over the LHT. Especially considering the fact that you've already shown an appreciation for the Kona, and also the fact that it's pretty much ready to go (just add pedals!). There's also the Jamis Aurora, which got a good review from road.cc as a potentially faster/lighter option.

Thankfully it's not me looking at buying one of these, because trying to decide between then would drive me crazy ;)
 
Thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it. I just want to make sure I get it right, as putting down £1k or so is not something I do often!

Saundie said:
Thorn come up often when touring bicycles are mentioned, so I did take a look at the Rohloff-equip Raven Sport Tour. Unfortunately they start at £1800, which is a lot of money to spend on something that was merely aspirational at the time. If I was a serious touring enthusiast then I'm sure it'd be well worth the expenditure. As for the Sherpa; I mentioned it early last month, and Velo Rapide rubbished it as being too heavy for what it is. I've never ridden one so I cannot really hold an opinion either way. I can only go on what I read online, which is pretty much always positive.
Click to expand...

I think Rohloff is something we all aspire for! Given that this bike is going to be my 'entry' into touring, it makes no sense to go all the way at the start. If I consider a world tour or something and I don't feel that my current bike is up to it, maybe I'll take another look.

If I were in your position, I would probably go for the LHT. I'm assuming that this spec matches the one that you posted, in which case you could easily get the LHT and all your touring accessories for less than the starting price of the Sherpa (£1250).
Click to expand...

This is most likely what I'm going to do. It makes more sense economically. I sent off an email to my LBS and they have some LHTs to test ride, so I'll pop down in 2 weeks or so (going on holiday soon, so makes no sense to buy right now) and see what they are like. Their basic spec, as I said, is £1000 which is a bit more than it costs online. However, if I can negotiate with them to change a few parts (better tires, adding V-brakes) and the price is reasonable I might opt for them. They are also the only LBS in my area, so I'd feel a bit guilty if I bought it online then took it to them for repairs etc. I'll see what they say. Also, I trust them to size me up properly and make the right adjustments, I'm just hoping that they don't try and charge me for every little thing... if its a £1000 bike on paper and another £200-300 to fit, test, blah blah, I would be fuming.

Velo Rapide said:
And the frame is bomb proof. If you have a look on the Surly web site there's an owners photo board - people travel all over the world with the LHT.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the LHT has a fantastic reputation and I see it on crazyguyonabike journals often, so even if it is considered 'entry level', it must be pretty good!

Saundie said:
Evens have the Kona Sutra for £850, and given my penchant (bordering on obsession) towards disc brakes, I'd be tempted to go for it over the LHT. Especially considering the fact that you've already shown an appreciation for the Kona, and also the fact that it's pretty much ready to go (just add pedals!). There's also the Jamis Aurora, which got a good review from road.cc as a potentially faster/lighter option.
Click to expand...

mm, I've ummed and aahed over the Sutra quite a bit, but I don't feel comfortable buying it without a test ride. Evans have a 28 day return though, so I guess it's still an option. I think I really need to see and ride these bikes in the flesh, it's okay to look at specs and reviews but a bike is quite a personal thing.

Thankfully it's not me looking at buying one of these, because trying to decide between then would drive me crazy ;)
Click to expand...

Tell me about it :/ I have several forum classifieds bookmarked in case a good deal pops up and I'm finding myself spending more and more time researching. I read a really nice quote on a forum earlier, someone said 'I'm so glad I didn't join these forums before I bought my touring bike' and I sympathise entirely! :D
 
Last edited:
What do you guys think of this?

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12768750&sid=863e6537074c0a92a3af1c3fb80dfa68

Alum frame, but tubus front/rear racks, full pannier set... pretty much complete.

Brakes and chainset/rear cassette may need upgrading as they are geared a bit on the higher side. Some people are questioning the reliability of 10 speed. Any thoughts? I can't find too much information about these bikes online.

Would prefer 26" wheels too, but meh. And I don't know if 58cm is too big (I'm 176cm tall).

edit: seller appears to be in Newcastle, bit too far!
 
Last edited:
apeZ said:
What do you guys think of this?

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12768750&sid=863e6537074c0a92a3af1c3fb80dfa68

Alum frame, but tubus front/rear racks, full pannier set... pretty much complete.

Brakes and chainset/rear cassette may need upgrading as they are geared a bit on the higher side. Some people are questioning the reliability of 10 speed. Any thoughts? I can't find too much information about these bikes online.

Would prefer 26" wheels too, but meh. And I don't know if 58cm is too big (I'm 176cm tall).

edit: seller appears to be in Newcastle, bit too far!
Click to expand...
The crankset on the 105 triple is 50-39-30T, assuming it's got the largest ranged 105 cassette of 11-28, that gives you a range of ~26.5 to 113 gear inches. Not too bad as long as you're not planning on carrying 40kg of gear up through the Dales or something of that ilk. As for sizing, I'm 175cm and a 58cm frame would be way too big for me, but then I do have abnormally short legs (28" inside leg). Having purchased more than one bike without trying it first, I can say with confidence that it's a bad idea. You should try it out before you pay anything.

I'd stick with the LHT, personally! :)

As a bit of an aside, have any of you guys gone through periods of disaffection towards cycling? I've had the past four days off work and not felt any inclination to do any riding. Usually I'd at least go for a few hours on Sunday morning, but I really couldn't be bothered with it today. If you have become jaded with cycling in the past, how did you get past it? I suppose it probably doesn't help that none of my bikes are especially comfortable. Perhaps I should just man up and go and get a proper fitting?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom