Road Cycling Essentials

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Reason for looking at Specialized is my MTB's have been with them and have had no problems. Not really clued up on the road side of things, so I'm not even sure what makes to be looking at within the £6-700'ish budget. It'd only be used for general use, no races etc if that makes any difference! Do quite like Bianchi but can't quite get them into budget :p
 
Now's a time of year where there's bargains around, but a lot of bikes are running out of stock in the 2012 and if you're average height a lot will have disappeared already. The 52/54/56cm bikes are really slim pickings right now for 2012 bikes but what's there can be good and cheap which is lovely.

groupset wise, traditionally with Shimano you have the lower half - 2300, sora, tiagra, and the higher end, 105, ultegra, dura-ace.

With 2012 though Tiagra went 10 speed like 105 and above and if I was buying a bike now I wouldn't be busting my balls to get 105 over Tiagra personally.

I think if your budget is going up to £725ish I would 100% count 2300 out, and try, if possible, to get myself a bike with 10 speed Tiagra. However I've only been helping my dad look for a bike this year and he had a little more to play with.

Cycles UK though did have a Tiagra Synapse for I think £780? It was in a 54cm locally to me and if I was bike shopping right now I would have bit their arm off! Was too big for my dad though.
 
syke said:
Reason for looking at Specialized is my MTB's have been with them and have had no problems. Not really clued up on the road side of things, so I'm not even sure what makes to be looking at within the £6-700'ish budget. It'd only be used for general use, no races etc if that makes any difference! Do quite like Bianchi but can't quite get them into budget :p
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what frame size do you take mate as Pedal POwer are clearing out all of thier remaining 2012 Giant Defys at basically trade price + vat?

give them a phone on 01506 873123 and ask for Garry in the workshop ;)
 
There are still plenty of 2012 bikes to be had in most sizes as the sales have been pretty tepid. Expect some bigger discounts & the proper clearouts once Eurobike is over from the bigger brands.
 
I've the Secteur elite apex and it's a brilliant bike.

Have just ridden to work for the first time with SPDs
sadly I didn't go any faster :(
will have to give it 110% tomorrow on the way in!
 
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syke said:
The B'Twin posted on previous page. What are they like? Reading some great reviews for a bike at £300.
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Damn good mate. It's my first road bike so I can't really compare or give sound advice, however my friend who is on here and I went out for a 14 mile ride yesterday and I found it very good. Even he said the bike looks good and is of good build quality. For £300 you can't go wrong to be honest. All the reviews I have read say it beats some higher end models from other brands. Its worth going to Decathlon to try it out. :)
 
VeNT said:
I've the Secteur elite apex and it's a brilliant bike.

Have just ridden to work for the first time with SPDs
sadly I didn't go any faster :(
will have to give it 110% tomorrow on the way in!
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I wouldnt expect to see any speed difference straight off really, the major change is the 'feel'.

Yes, you will see power delivery increase...but that takes time and isnt a on/off thing.
 
yeah, need to change the way the're setup, feet are pointing inwards too much atm, only by a bit but I can feel it
 
kiteloopy said:
Yes, you will see power delivery increase...but that takes time and isnt a on/off thing.
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This.
The pedals themselves wont change anything. But they will allow you to change your pedalling technique, instead of just pushing down on the pedal when its at the front, try pushing it forward when its at the top, pulling it backwards when its at the bottom and pulling it up when its at the back.

Try unclipping one foot, hold it out to the side out of the way, and keep pedalling with just 1 foot on the pedal. That will give you an idea of what you can do (and is surprisingly difficult!)
 
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I noticed that SPD pedals made it twice as tough on my MTB, once I started using all my muscles, maybe I was just being lazy before I converted.

No road riding today, got home from work and the heavens opened. Took the MTB too work and back the past two days, its only a short ride uphill there and mostly downhill coming home. Better than nothing though.
 
Berger said:
I noticed that SPD pedals made it twice as tough on my MTB, once I started using all my muscles, maybe I was just being lazy before I converted.
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Yes, when you first swap, you wont be used to using any muscles other than your quads to push down hard on the pedals, so the other muscles you use with SPDs will get tired quickly.
 
VeNT said:
yeah, need to change the way the're setup, feet are pointing inwards too much atm, only by a bit but I can feel it
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Id get them sorted before you do too much more cycling. My left cleat was initially set up at a slight angle which caused me to suffer from chondromalacia. Once I got it sorted, the pain alleviated.
 
Bought a road bike 4 weeks ago, and since then have been having endless trouble with the front wheel.

I've replaced 6 inner tubes since buying the bike, each time they have blown within a matter of minutes even when the bike is left stationary.

I've since replaced the tyres, and checked the rim for debris, replaced the original rim tape with something better but still the tubes blow.

Each tube has blown in the same location, around the valve area yet I cannot see anything on the rim, tube or tyre which could be causing it.

Any ideas as it's starting to really annoy me.
 
MadMossy said:
Bought a road bike 4 weeks ago, and since then have been having endless trouble with the front wheel.

I've replaced 6 inner tubes since buying the bike, each time they have blown within a matter of minutes even when the bike is left stationary.

I've since replaced the tyres, and checked the rim for debris, replaced the original rim tape with something better but still the tubes blow.

Each tube has blown in the same location, around the valve area yet I cannot see anything on the rim, tube or tyre which could be causing it.

Any ideas as it's starting to really annoy me.
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before fitting the rim tape go right the way round the rim 2-3 times with electrical tape. go over the valve hole. before fitting the tube stab the valve hole open with a screwdriver, but dont trim the excess

this "tapes" the edges of the valve hole
 
syke said:
The B'Twin posted on previous page. What are they like? Reading some great reviews for a bike at £300.
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I've recently gone over the 1000 mile mark on mine, and I'd say it's a steal for the price. The initial decathlon setup was pants, but it has done me well and so far paid for itself in petrol saving :)

You may find you spin out going down hill in the top gear - I'm thinking of swapping the gears out for a 52 double, as I never use the lowest gears and often run out! But it has taken me a while to get to that point :)

The only other downside is that it doesn't have planner fixings on the stays, so if you want a pannier rack you'll need to use p-clips.
 
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