Road Cycling Essentials

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uniQ said:
Finish Line wet lube. You won't need to be degreasing/re-lubing on a weekly basis.
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You're right. You don't need to. I tend to do mine every three weeks to a month but then I'm pretty poor at maintaining my bikes as I find it easier to shell out for new chains, cassettes and chainrings.

I use Finish Line Wet and White Lightning Extreme Wet. They both still pick up massive quantities of road crud that gets turned into grinding paste and deposited all over your drivetrain. That crud won't be removed by putting more lube on, it will only be removed by degreasing and cleaning.

I've recently started cleaning my chain with baby wipes each Sunday before relubing. It's not ideal as a lot of grit and muck gets left in the chain links but its better than just leaving it.

Your chain and cassette should really be silver, as they were when first fitted. If they are black (like mine are at the moment) then that's grinding paste wearing your drivetrain away.
 
Do a lot of you have a winter hack bike?

I've been a mountain bike rider for a while and fancy a dabble into road riding but I'm stuck with the decision of whether I shouldn't buy a road bike just yet and I just get something like a cyclocross bike for over the winter to ride the roads with, then if I take to it, buy something more 'sportier' next summer.

But there's something in my head that just say's don't be stupid.... use the mountain bike for offroad and towpath riding and just buy a nice road bike....
 
[DOD]Asprilla;22841909 said:
I've recently started cleaning my chain with baby wipes
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Too much info Asprilla. :D

[DOD]Asprilla;22841909 said:
Your chain and cassette should really be silver, as they were when first fitted. If they are black (like mine are at the moment) then that's grinding paste wearing your drivetrain away.
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I disagree. Finish Line Wet Lube 'drys' quite dark. Such are the properties. The only way to keep it silver is to not lube or ride it and where's the fun in that?

But there's no need to do anything on a weekly/fortnightly regime unless you have OCD or just enjoy it. Just use a bit of common sense when you see crud building up it's time for a degrease/re-lube. Main point was with a decent wet lube such as Finish Line you *should be good for a few weeks without needing to think about it.
 
Arm warmers/Merino Jerseys, not rafa but rafa like (or torm etc)
where from?
there was a link a few weeks back but I can't find them, some UK retailer?
 
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[DOD]Asprilla;22832411 said:
25mm Durano Perfomance.

Watch me get a blow out on the way home....
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sadly they where 3x the price or I'd have gone for them! with any luck I'll be able to afford better ones next month.
 
rnickster said:
Hi guys, ok here in Manchester it is poring rain 24/7....... How should I go about maintaining my bike through the winter .... I have some GT 85 but not much else..... Should I wipe down my bike of water after each cycle so the frame is free of water ? :/ seems a bit over the top no ?. And if its going to be wet all winter should I be lubing up the chain on a weekly basis ? anything else im missing ?
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I use mine for commuting so I tend to leave it to dry inside the office at one end, and then after getting home, rinse all the loose stuff off with a pan of water, then bring it inside and give it a full dry off and wipe down.

I then wipe off the contaminated lube from the outside of the chain and add new wet lube as required. That should keep the need for a full degrease and relube to a minimum.

I'm trying to keep on top of things with this bike. With my MTB I was terrible for just letting my drivetrain disintegrate and just buying new parts once a year or so.


tonym said:
Do a lot of you have a winter hack bike?

I've been a mountain bike rider for a while and fancy a dabble into road riding but I'm stuck with the decision of whether I shouldn't buy a road bike just yet and I just get something like a cyclocross bike for over the winter to ride the roads with, then if I take to it, buy something more 'sportier' next summer..
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I've rode MTBs on the road for years and finally decided to get something a bit nippier. I ended up getting a cyclocross bike because some of the roads near me are terrible, and I'm not averse to hopping the odd kerb to get around traffic. Also the 32mm tyres I have fitted definitely help as I'm 15 stone and didn't fancy sitting on top of razor thin wheels. I'm pleasantly surprised how much a carbon fork copes with a bumpy surface too.
 
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On Saturday I will have my first experience of bib shorts - bought some cheap Hong Kong pro kit replica jobbies and they turned up today so I shall see what they are like.
 
I have a set of bib tights and they're so much more comfy than regular shorts. Going to ask for some half decent bib shorts for Christmas.

You got replica kit? What did you go for? You get it off eBay? What's the quality like?
 
Lopéz said:
On Saturday I will have my first experience of bib shorts - bought some cheap Hong Kong pro kit replica jobbies and they turned up today so I shall see what they are like.
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It's amazingggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

Today I was hella soaked but wearing the proper kit you don't really feel cold. You know you are a bit damp but not cold.

Windproof,bigshorts,bigtights,merino wool socks and my diluvio gloves kept me toasty. Shame I don't have overshoes since I gubbed mine :o
 
Lopéz said:
On Saturday I will have my first experience of bib shorts - bought some cheap Hong Kong pro kit replica jobbies and they turned up today so I shall see what they are like.
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The cheap chinese stuff isnt up to much really. I got the full HTC kit (bibshorts + top) a couple of years ago. Bad choice, as the shorts are white and see-through :(
The top is really bad, rubbish zip and a silly elastic bit sewn into the top of the pockets that digs into my back.
The shorts are not as bad, but still not very good compared to my other stuff (mainly giordana)
 
uniQ said:
Too much info Asprilla. :D



I disagree. Finish Line Wet Lube 'drys' quite dark. Such are the properties. The only way to keep it silver is to not lube or ride it and where's the fun in that?

But there's no need to do anything on a weekly/fortnightly regime unless you have OCD or just enjoy it. Just use a bit of common sense when you see crud building up it's time for a degrease/re-lube. Main point was with a decent wet lube such as Finish Line you *should be good for a few weeks without needing to think about it.
Click to expand...

Wet lube might dry quite dark by there shouldn't be enough to discolour the drivetrain. After applying you should wipe odd the excess so that hopefully all that's left is inside the chain joints rather than on the outside of the chain.
 
Hi all, I'm shortly going to get back into cycle commuting and will have a 17 mile round trip from the Jewellery Quarter to Solihull to contend with. I'm going to continue to use my trusty ridgeback hybrid.

Could you guys suggest some good shoes and clip pedals? I have a rack, what bag brands are good and waterproof? I'll be changing when I get there, but is staying dry in the midlands weather being too optimistic? Will I need overshoes?

Anything else that I'll need? I'm going to get the bike serviced before I start, check my puncture repair kits, get a bike tool and update my lights. I'm currently running schwalbe marathon plus tyres which have been good thus far.

Thanks!
 
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