Road Cycling Essentials

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Schwalbe Marathon Winter, but only if you have 37mm tyre clearance.

Otherwise, slicks. Given the width of a bike tyre you'd need to be doing about 180kph before you aquaplaned. Slicks offer the biggest contact patch for any given tyre width and consequently the most grip. You only need tread if you are going off road.

Softer rubber will give better grip but will wear quicker and puncture more often.

This winter I'll mainly be running 700x25 Schwalbe Durano Peformance on the commuter. Not decided what to put on the CaadCX9 but I've got a pair of 28x700 Conti Gatorskins, some 35x700 Schwalbe Marathon Winters and I'll probably get some proper CX tyres like Racing Ralphs.

Edit; just realised that the 28x700s I have are the same Conti Gator Hardshells you've linked to.
 
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So summer has been and gone and I got hardly any use out of my road bike. Its my first proper bike so had high hopes for getting into it. Had the busiest summer imaginable and would like to get some winter use out of my bike now.

At the moment I have Lights, short sleeve jersey and bib shorts. Apart from that I have nothing else cycling orientated. I have some base layers from football which I can use.

OcUK : Help me spend some money so I can get out on my bike this winter.
 
mr tommo said:
At the moment I have Lights, short sleeve jersey and bib shorts. Apart from that I have nothing else cycling orientated. I have some base layers from football which I can use.

OcUK : Help me spend some money so I can get out on my bike this winter.
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I would suggest:
Arm Warmers
Leg warmers (you might still need some thicker longs if shorts + warmers are not enough)
overshoes
gloves
waterproof jacket

(assuming you have a helmet + glasses)
 
Showboat said:
Anyone able to offer any advice on winter tyres? Saw a guy in work who had a plate in his elbow after coming off his bike and it's made me think twice.
I want something with max grip, dont care about comfort and speed!

I saw this:
http://www.cyclingactive.com/bikesgear/7-of-the-best-premium-winter-tyres
But one of the tyres they suggest looks like it would just aquaplane all over the joint in the wet!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=49762
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Any bicycle tyre will slip on black ice or smooth wet steel. (Except for the marathon winter which has metal studs on it, these are quickly ripped out if not used on snow and ice mind). Asprilla is spot regarding aquaplaning and best grip on road with slicks.
 
touch said:
I would suggest:
Arm Warmers
Leg warmers (you might still need some thicker longs if shorts + warmers are not enough)
overshoes
gloves
waterproof jacket

(assuming you have a helmet + glasses)
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Yeah sorry forgot to say I have Helmet & Glasses.

Would these be ok? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-vaeon-roubaix-arm-and-leg-warmer-bundle/?pr=1341/

Im guessing they turn the shorts into full legth rather than 3/4 lengths?

Are the overshoes just for waterproofing?

[DOD]Asprilla;23058915 said:
Soft shell jacket, shoe covers, full finger gloves and some padless bib tights should cover you.

What's your budget?
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To be honest my budget is as little as possible as its just a bit of a hobby at the moment to keep fit, but don't want the weather to be an excuse to not go out for an early morning ride before work.

What sort of gloves would you recoomend on a budget? Are the liner style enough on these cold mornings?
 
Overshoes keep your feet warm as well as dry. Cycle shoes tend to be vented to keep your feet cool; great in summer but crap in winter.

Leg warmers are good for now, when its cool, but when it gets cold you'll want something thicker than Lycra shorts covering your Crown Jewels.
 
mr tommo said:
Would these be ok? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-vaeon-roubaix-arm-and-leg-warmer-bundle/?pr=1341/
Im guessing they turn the shorts into full legth rather than 3/4 lengths?
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Yep. You might find that on colder days the tops of your legs get cold (the warmers are quite thick and will be warmer than your thin lycra shorts). But this is a much cheaper and more versatile way to do things (its easy to take warmers off if you get too hot, or stuff them in your pocket if your not sure if you'll need them or not)

mr tommo said:
Are the overshoes just for waterproofing?
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Overshoes will keep your feet warm by blocking out the wind. Most are neoprene so are not actually waterproof (although i find that even waterproof overshoes get wet inside because water runs down your legs).

mr tommo said:
What sort of gloves would you recoomend on a budget? Are the liner style enough on these cold mornings?
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Have a look at PlanetX, they had a bundle of summer, autumn and winter gloves + overshoes for £30 last week. I got a set and they seem quite well made (but sized a little small)
 
[DOD]Asprilla;23059104 said:
Leg warmers are good for now, when its cool, but when it gets cold you'll want something thicker than Lycra shorts covering your Crown Jewels.
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Trouble with that is you start to get rubbing with multiple layers..

Oh lawdy I'm so excited for my new job. I can start talking about lycra again.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;23059104 said:
Overshoes keep your feet warm as well as dry. Cycle shoes tend to be vented to keep your feet cool; great in summer but crap in winter.

Leg warmers are good for now, when its cool, but when it gets cold you'll want something thicker than Lycra shorts covering your Crown Jewels.
Click to expand...

I actually haven't got any cycle shoes at the moment and only the cheapo pedals from halfords that came with my bike. Halford Carerra TDF. Guess I could just stick on a pair of shorts on top or 3/4 sports trousers if thats the case. I think I will go for that bundle unless I can find something cheaper. :)

touch said:
Yep. You might find that on colder days the tops of your legs get cold (the warmers are quite thick and will be warmer than your thin lycra shorts). But this is a much cheaper and more versatile way to do things (its easy to take warmers off if you get too hot, or stuff them in your pocket if your not sure if you'll need them or not)


Overshoes will keep your feet warm by blocking out the wind. Most are neoprene so are not actually waterproof (although i find that even waterproof overshoes get wet inside because water runs down your legs).


Have a look at PlanetX, they had a bundle of summer, autumn and winter gloves + overshoes for £30 last week. I got a set and they seem quite well made (but sized a little small)
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Thanks - http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/ZXPXWINT/planet_x_4_seasons_bundle

Looks like a good deal. Haven't got the mits in my size but can't say I've ever felt the need for fingerless gloves so far.
 
Just had a chat with my Step Dad (about turbo trainers) who is a professional swimming coach and has family members who are keen cyclists are and some of which are proffesionals (retired now) and he said to me the best thing to do first is try out rollers and the fixed ones, but he seems to think the rollers are much better becuase they are true to road and will give you more confidence and balance and teqnique

so the first thing i will do now is try and find a shop that will let me try out both, ive emailed the shop where i got my bike from as I think they probabally will.

and when i do get one, hes going to help me with my training, cant wait!
 
Dimple said:
I still can't believe how many MTB's are on the roads with no lights and black clothing - insane.
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yeah stupid, i rode once from central london to tottenham - ~9 miles in darkness with no lights(my own fault forgot them at home) god that was scary! :] i can't believe some people do this everyday! with no lights no high vis clothing nothing.. idiots! i bet 90% of them are responsible for the deaths on roads..
 
For any other blind cyclists who don't use contacts and can't afford prescription Oakleys...

I received my Bollé Vortex glasses with prescription Rx inserts today.

I've only used them on the commute back in the dark so far, but first impressions are they work great. Peripheral vision is slightly odd due to the curvature of the lenses, however, it is still far better than relying on my eyesight alone.

Price was £150 for the glasses with photochromatic "rose gun" lens, clear lens and prescription Rx optical insert.

bolle.jpg
 
Im a bit thick here, those lenses look cool

i wear Glasses (tried contacts and i hated them) so what are they exactly? A while ago i was looking for sunglasses that people wear when they cycle but i cant wear any :(
 
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