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Road Cycling Essentials

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Does anyone know of any good bike fitting places in the London/Essex area. I've had a quick measure up from a guy I know because of pain to the back of my neck. I'm 6'2 and ride a 58 cm frame, was using the 100mm 7 degree stem that was supplied with the bike but was measured to get an 80mm stem as I was stretching for the brake grips. I've done this but it has made no impression, plus I can now see the hub in front of the handle bar.
 
InsomniaCalls said:
I have these which were recommended last winter on here. Can't fault them but I was lucky enough to pick them up for ~£40 in Merlin's sale. Warm and waterproof and a handy spare pair for when my other shoes get an unexpected soaking too.

Edit: You can get them from Merlin now for about £40 - they're on quidco too.
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Thanks, InsomniaCalls, they did come up during my search but unfortunately they're not compatible with MTB SPDs, which is what I have got on all of my bikes; for that price I would have certainly given them a try!
 
Following the recent chat about cheapo Chinese bike lights on ebay... What do people make of this one? I'm tempted to pick up one or two to run in conjunction with my existing Cateye light.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Following the recent chat about cheapo Chinese bike lights on ebay... What do people make of this one? I'm tempted to pick up one or two to run in conjunction with my existing Cateye light.
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It runs on AAA so it wont be up to much, that seems to be the general rule - you need to be on much higher capacity li-ion batteries to get a good LED light.
 
fenderbass86 said:
Does anyone know of any good bike fitting places in the London/Essex area. I've had a quick measure up from a guy I know because of pain to the back of my neck. I'm 6'2 and ride a 58 cm frame, was using the 100mm 7 degree stem that was supplied with the bike but was measured to get an 80mm stem as I was stretching for the brake grips. I've done this but it has made no impression, plus I can now see the hub in front of the handle bar.
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Have you tried this?

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/fit-calculator/
 
Vonhelmet said:
Any tips for a bargain, or should I just skip back a few pages?
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I bought my lights last winter, so things may have moved on a bit now, but at the time the advice was to get a torch with an XML T6 led (just search "XML T6" on ebay, loads of stuff comes up). Get a bare torch and then go and buy the batteries and charger from this guy. His website is here and he has a good comparison of all the capacities of the batteries he sells.
 
I am looking at getting a new road bike and am keen to check out the Giant Defy 1 2013, but I can't conclude whether it has the capability to mount a pannier rack. I've checked the website and tried searching the net for more information but I can't seem to find anything. The photos don't show any mounting holes but they do on the Defy 2. Does anyone know off the top of their head whether I could mount pannier racks on this model?
 
Shimmyhill said:
This got recommended in the 'What LED Torch' thread in GD - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180963061540&var=480189064181#ht_10699wt_1214

You then need to add batteries and a charger.
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That's just rang a bell - my light isn't a Cree T6 or whatever I said it was, it's an XM-L like that. Mine's got a separate battery that connects by cable and a smaller bit that goes on the bar.

It was about that money and it's been great but the mount was crap. There are others at the same money that use a rubber band mount which is what I should have got and what I'd get if I bought again.

Either that or a torch style one - I don't know why but in my head it wouldn't be secure but I've never heard of anyone moaning that they fall off.

Light wise it's very good.
 
physichull said:
I am looking at getting a new road bike and am keen to check out the Giant Defy 1 2013, but I can't conclude whether it has the capability to mount a pannier rack. I've checked the website and tried searching the net for more information but I can't seem to find anything. The photos don't show any mounting holes but they do on the Defy 2. Does anyone know off the top of their head whether I could mount pannier racks on this model?
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The 2012 version of the Defy 1 had them, but it seems that they've removed them from the 2013 version. You'd have to use the p-clip method, or get something that mounts to the saddle instead (such as the Topeak beamrack system).
 
Saundie said:
The 2012 version of the Defy 1 had them, but it seems that they've removed them from the 2013 version. You'd have to use the p-clip method, or get something that mounts to the saddle instead (such as the Topeak beamrack system).
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Ahh! Thought so. I wouldn't be using the pannier rack much, but I'm going to do a Coast to Coast trip (St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay) and later in next year we are planning a touring trip in France next year where I would have to carry some gear on my bike (bits of tents, clothes etc) and so would need pannier racks on my new bike.

The P-Clip looks like the better solution to the problem (looks a little less cumbersome) but my doubts are as to whether it would be strong enough to cope with any weight.

Also, I'd assume that pannier racks on the Defy 1 would still attach to the rear wheel axle without further adaptions required?

I'm torn between getting the Defy 1 as its an outstanding piece of kit for its price range, or compromising on the bike components for one that has eyelets on it for rack mounts.
 
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physichull said:
Ahh! Thought so. I wouldn't be using the pannier rack much, but I'm going to do a Coast to Coast trip (St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay) and later in next year we are planning a touring trip in France next year where I would have to carry some gear on my bike (bits of tents, clothes etc) and so would need pannier racks on my new bike.

The P-Clip looks like the better solution to the problem (looks a little less cumbersome) but my doubts are as to whether it would be strong enough to cope with any weight.

I'm torn between getting the Defy 1 as its an outstanding piece of kit for its price range, or compromising on the bike components for one that has eyelets on it for rack mounts.
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I looked at both the Defy 1 and 2 (2012 models) before I bought my road bike. The defy 2 is maybe the better value, same frame just slightly lower spec on components. I was pretty much reccomended to go for the Defy 2 over the 1, and I did prefer the colours scheme on the 2 as well :)

I don't think the Defy 2 is that much of a compromise to be honest, it's a real nice bike.
 
OCDStevo said:
I looked at both the Defy 1 and 2 (2012 models) before I bought my road bike. The defy 2 is maybe the better value, same frame just slightly lower spec on components. I was pretty much reccomended to go for the Defy 2 over the 1, and I did prefer the colours scheme on the 2 as well :)

I don't think the Defy 2 is that much of a compromise to be honest, it's a real nice bike.
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Yeah you are probably right. A bit gutted that I didn't start looking earlier as the Defy 1 (2012) is hard to come by now as they have all been sold.
 
uniQ said:
Is £114 del (new) for a Bryton 35T w/ Heart + Cadence a good deal? May pick one up for someone if it is.
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Not sure what the T stands for but I got the bryton 35 with cad+hr for 160 and still think that is a bargain, if you can get it for 114 then i would have it in a heart beat.
 
I think the T just means it comes with the sensors rather than the basic 35E without which is also £75 del. Will probably grab one then cheers.
 
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