Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bulls give you more positioning options and are generally more comfortable.

Those States look nice. Read a review on Pez and they seem a pretty solid company using decent kit. Really like the look of the one you linked to.

The Cooper I linked to is a better frame material though (Reynolds 520 as opposed to 4130) and so is probably lighter.
 
I got soaked through to the skin this morning and was truly miserable at the end of my ride, not helped by some atrocious driving along the way. Then, while locking my bike in the peeing rain, I glanced up and saw the miserable faces packed in one of the Croydon trams and remembered why I chose to ride in cold driving rain over staying dry by taking the tram :p
 
[DOD]Asprilla;22844221 said:
Bulls give you more positioning options and are generally more comfortable.

Those States look nice. Read a review on Pez and they seem a pretty solid company using decent kit. Really like the look of the one you linked to.

The Cooper I linked to is a better frame material though (Reynolds 520 as opposed to 4130) and so is probably lighter.
Click to expand...

Good point RE: frame. I prefer the looks of the State Bicycle compared to the Cooper Sebring. State don't do cycle to work scheme though unfortunately :( whereas Evans do and they stock the Cooper.

Decision decisions... any others to throw in to the mix?
 
THE RAIN HAS STOPPED.

Think I'll try to go out tonight. I normally go out twice in the week, but obviously the Monday ride was written off. Might try to get a slightly longer one in tonight, though it will be in the cold and dark...
 
Lead_Head said:
Decision decisions... any others to throw in to the mix?
Click to expand...

I've currently got a Charge Sink S/S which has flat bars. I was looking to upgrade it but I now think it's better to just ride it until it dies.

I was looking at these fixies:
Condor Potenza
Dolan Pre-Cursa (fitted with front brake)
Pearson "Once More Unto The Breach"
Genesis Flyer
Specialized Langster
 
Shamrock said:
I've currently got a Charge Sink S/S which has flat bars. I was looking to upgrade it but I now think it's better to just ride it until it dies.

I was looking at these fixies:
Condor Potenza
Dolan Pre-Cursa (fitted with front brake)
Pearson "Once More Unto The Breach"
Genesis Flyer
Specialized Langster
Click to expand...

These are all fairly decent choices for a cheap fixed gear, however the likes of state bicycle co are not!
 
Lead_Head said:
Good point RE: frame. I prefer the looks of the State Bicycle compared to the Cooper Sebring. State don't do cycle to work scheme though unfortunately :( whereas Evans do and they stock the Cooper.

Decision decisions... any others to throw in to the mix?
Click to expand...

Trust me when i say the state bicycle co won't look nice long, the paint chips easy, any colouring on the wheels quickly fade, and the parts are cheap. it also weighs a tone of bricks
 
They are all around the same price as the State though. :s

EDIT: clearly misunderstood your point. You are saying the State isn't a good buy?
 
tom_nieto said:
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!
Click to expand...

I live in the Jewellry Quarter and work in Solihull too, you don't work at land rover do you?

I wear the shimano R087 shoes with the R540 pedals and they've worked a treat for me.
 
Last edited:
Went out on my Ribble this morning, a 15km run ive done many times on the MTB - first time on a roadie and knocked 7 mins off my best time and was held up behind a tractor on a hill (he had to pull in to let cars past so i literally stopped twice).

I'm sold on road bikes, utterly amazing difference - seemed so much less effort and i felt far fresher at the end of the ride (i know its a small one but bigger planned for friday)
 
It's absolutely ****ing torrential at the moment, I want to go cycling. :(

I guess I'd have a shower when I get back, and wash my cycling stuff anyway, so the rain shouldn't really impact on me going out, it may however do so...humm.
 
[Damien];22842511 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the reply, yeah, I'm leaning towards a steel cyclocross (Genesis Croix De Fer), but there's just something that is making me think I should get a road bike. The MTB's in getting serviced at the moment at a local Cube dealer, so I might have a word with them and see what they say.
 
No, weights not my issue (I'm not the one that's 15st, that was the replier, I'm 12st), i'm more concerned about riding it in the wet of winter than anything else.


Most people I know have mountain bikes, there's just one roadie who rather unhelpfully has crosslight and a colnago CLX.... His only advice so far as been to 'ditch the mountain bike, they're for kids, buy a proper bike.....'
 
Parts will generally wear faster in the wet and dirt, as long as you do proper maintenance it shouldn't stop you going out. Wear proper clothes and it can be good fun :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom