Road Cycling Essentials

[touch]

EDIT: Yeah I'm very happy with the carbones too, but I just wonder if these perform how they do and are considered "heavy" what would a set of sub-1400g 50mm carbon tubs perform like?

carbones are quite heavy, but i find them very fast on a flat road.
from what i remember of my 40mm carbon tubs (which i think were around 1300g), they were faster up steep hills and accelerating but felt like they were harder to keep at a good speed on flatter roads.

 

[Shamrock]

I think I should just put upgrading stuff out of my mind. I'm happy with the wheels I've got and until they break I shouldn't look at new ones!

I also keep toying with the idea of getting a new "better" commuter, but ultimately I'm not sure it's worth it since everything is trying to destroy you and your bike when commuting round Central London so having a nice bike for that seems a waste.

 

[touch]

I think I should just put upgrading stuff out of my mind. I'm happy with the wheels I've got and until they break I shouldn't look at new ones!

Best way to upgrade your wheels is to buy some cheap training wheels and keep your carbones for special events.
I use fulcrum 7s on my bike most of the time, makes my carbones feel amazing when i have been using the fulcrums for a while

 

[uniQ]

They said they should have the parts in 7-10 days, they said they would then contact me about sending my bike back to the UK service center for repair.

They were just going to send me the rear mech to fit myself, i didn't want to do that tho because of any future warranty issues, but also as the wheel, hanger and possibly chain are broken as well, they said send it back for them to do.

Shame about the wait time and a bit of a PITA. But good to know they're sorting it out and you don't have to ship back to Germany.

Currently watching EU shops for closeouts on current Dura-Ace stuff and found somewhere else advertising new DA-9000 group for £1.1k delivered. They also have 2012 Cosmic Carbones on clearance for £515 delivered. Tempting!

 

[Kimi]

Yea it is abit of a pain, ive lost some good time on it in nice weather, but my Boardman is a nice backup bike.

The reason i was thinking about getting some carbon wheels from China was as winter is coming im going to get a turbo trainer, and instead of changing tyre every time i would just swap out the wheels

 

[uniQ]

There are just so many opinions out there for both sides. Some people say they'd never go back to clinchers and that tubulars aren't a problem to work with. So confusing :S

EDIT: Yeah I'm very happy with the carbones too, but I just wonder if these perform how they do and are considered "heavy" what would a set of sub-1400g 50mm carbon tubs perform like?

Sub 1400g 50mm wheels are serious coin ie 2k+ Zipp's, Lightweight, Mad Fiber etc.

 

[touch]

Sub 1400g 50mm wheels are serious coin ie 2k+ Zipp's, Lightweight, Mad Fiber etc.

Planet X do 50mm carbon tubulars for £400 which weight 1421g

 

[Shamrock]

Wheelsmith do sub-1500g 50mm Gigantex carbon tubs or clinchers from £600-900 depending on spec.

 

[uniQ]

Planet X do 50mm carbon tubulars for £400 which weight 1421g

21g overweight!

 

[Shamrock]

Go for a #2 before going out!

 

[touch]

21g overweight!

You're not going to leave the Planet X stickers on them are you?

 

[PermaChanged]

Do Planet X just use stickers on their rims? That makes there Carbon Clinchers a bit more appealing to me! Either those or go for the R50 Tubulars, decisions decisions!

 

[George Hincapie]

I watched a bit of it last night, however I decided to stop when they started a bike test segment. What did you think of it?

Good mate, I liked it. Was interested to see that Rob Hayles only managed just over 400W on his ramp test. Enjoyed the climb of the Stelvio. That Irish presenter is a fit lad - managed it in 1 hr 37 mins.

 

[Russinating]

Just picked up my Boardman helmet. Took a while to get the strap buckles to sit flat against my face but it's great, much less bulkier than my old Giro one (although roughly the same weight).

No more mushroom head for me! Comparison:

Also came with a drawstring dust bag which will be very handy for swimming and stuffing general bike bits in!

 

[Kimi]

There is only one way you can really say this, but err

Nice helmet mate!

 

[topgun06]

Got a drawstring bag with my Kask. Comes in pretty useful!

 

[George Hincapie]

Got a drawstring bag with my Kask. Comes in pretty useful!

Yes, for storing your Kask between rides. Any other use is heinous

 

[ShiWarrior]

Personally I would take a good quality ALU frame over a cheap/budget Carbon frame.

are you saying the Boarman Team Carbon one is crap compared to the ALU one? i.e. i should go with the ALU one or pay even more and get the 2nd carbon one?

Add your card to quidco and get another 4.5% off

Yeah, i'll be using Quidco to get discount on brittish Cycling and then using quidco again to use the halfords cashback as well, thought it was only 3% though, i'll double check it

That or crash it xD

For an extra £300 the difference appears to be:

Carbon Frame (C) v ALU (A)
105 Brakeset (C) v. Tektro (A)
Fizik Arione Saddle (C) v. Boardman Saddle (A)
Marginally better tyres (C)
Weight diff Approx: 750g

what are the differences then? are shimano 105's better than Tektro? is the sadle better on the carbon one?


Thanks

 

[topgun06]

Gaaa the nights are beginning to roll in early! Sunset at half 7 tonight. That used to be the normal time I went out for an evening ride. But no more

Going to try the indoor trainer out tonight I think!

 

[Vonhelmet]

Gaaa the nights are beginning to roll in early! Sunset at half 7 tonight. That used to be the normal time I went out for an evening ride. But no more

Going to try the indoor trainer out tonight I think!

I know, it's peeing me off. I'm going to need a big light and some warm clothes to keep up my routine through the winter.