Road Cycling Essentials

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Robzere31 said:
I've always unclipped on the right side. Always felt natural for me.

On another note going to attempt to fit my SKS Mudguards this morning, looks a bit of a faf according to the video I watched but hopefully be worth it.
Must say the quality of them is excellent, much better than the crappy raceblades I had last year, which fell apart after a few rides.!
These look like they could last for years.
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Raceblade longs?
I have normal Raceblades on my winter bike and they have been ok (not perfect but better than not being there), although the rear has come loose at one of the points the guard slots through.

Was looking at the SKS Raceblade longs or the Crud Catcher mk2 to replace them with.
 
Right handed but always unclip left first, felt natural but i assume i learnt that the last time i was clipless many moons ago.

Re the merino baselayers, i use football type baselayers - are the merino ones better as i do find i get quite sweaty in the footy ones??
 
Merino is awesome, naturally wicks away moisture, doesn't smell, does a good job at keeping you warm when it's cold and cooling you down when it's warm.

Besides my bibs all my top half cycle clothing is either merino or a merino blend.
 
grudas said:
all im saying is that its not that cold yet, roads might look icy but i haven't really felt any difference yesterday :)
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It's pretty cold here.
Even winter bikes with wider tyres didnt cut it today. Our normal 'Group 1' ride ended up as a MTB ride instead.
20121202103530.jpg
 
Guys I'm trying to get rid of some buzzes and rattles from my commuter as it's doing my head in. One was an easy to fix loose light fitting, the other I can't seem to find.

If you stand by the bike, and just lift the front wheel off the ground a bit (with the back still on the ground) and drop it, there's an annoying buzz/rattle from the front end. Any ideas what it could be?
I've tightened the headset up, and that did nothing. I'm pretty sure it's not my crud mudguards rattling away but can't be certain.

Are there any common things to check?

Bit vague I know, but just thought I'd ask incase anyone else had anything similar.
 
Brrrrrrrr

bit chiliy at 8 o clock this morning !
after 30 mins, my face was cold, my fingers and toes started to feel the cold a bit too

when sun came out and on the way home, i did start to sweat a bit, the only thing that was a kittle cold was my feet
these BBB Arctic overshoes did a good job, if i was on the other ones i bought my feet wouldnt have stood a chance!
 
Shadowness said:
Guys I'm trying to get rid of some buzzes and rattles from my commuter as it's doing my head in. One was an easy to fix loose light fitting, the other I can't seem to find.

If you stand by the bike, and just lift the front wheel off the ground a bit (with the back still on the ground) and drop it, there's an annoying buzz/rattle from the front end. Any ideas what it could be?
I've tightened the headset up, and that did nothing. I'm pretty sure it's not my crud mudguards rattling away but can't be certain.

Are there any common things to check?

Bit vague I know, but just thought I'd ask incase anyone else had anything similar.
Click to expand...

Is your front quick release skewer tightened up properly?
 
Spec Me an Upgrade

Hi guys, I have a Specialized Allez Compact 2013 Road Bike and got my first puncture today, amazingly I have not yet bought any spare tubes/tyres.

Could you recommend me some good tyres (someone mentioned kevlar ones are good ?) and which spare tubes to get. I will be using these new tyres and having the existing ones as back ups.

Also after some nice brake pads, I have read a few posts back that the Kool Stop Salmons are a good bet ?

Looking to buy online, Evans,Wiggle are the only ones I'm aware of really.

:p

thanks for your help !
 
Shadowness said:
Guys I'm trying to get rid of some buzzes and rattles from my commuter as it's doing my head in. One was an easy to fix loose light fitting, the other I can't seem to find.

If you stand by the bike, and just lift the front wheel off the ground a bit (with the back still on the ground) and drop it, there's an annoying buzz/rattle from the front end. Any ideas what it could be?
I've tightened the headset up, and that did nothing. I'm pretty sure it's not my crud mudguards rattling away but can't be certain.

Are there any common things to check?

Bit vague I know, but just thought I'd ask incase anyone else had anything similar.
Click to expand...
Apologies if this is obvious to you but you did loosen off the stem bolts before tightening the headset? I've seen a few people not do this and essentially just tighten the cap onto the top of the stem leaving the whole headset loose.

Other than that recheck cables, its nearly always the cables!
 
rnickster said:
Hi guys, I have a Specialized Allez Compact 2013 Road Bike and got my first puncture today, amazingly I have not yet bought any spare tubes/tyres.

Could you recommend me some good tyres (someone mentioned kevlar ones are good ?) and which spare tubes to get. I will be using these new tyres and having the existing ones as back ups.

Also after some nice brake pads, I have read a few posts back that the Kool Stop Salmons are a good bet ?

Looking to buy online, Evans,Wiggle are the only ones I'm aware of really.

:p

thanks for your help !
Click to expand...

Firstly brake pads, salmons are good I use them, but expensive. I recently bought these for the missus: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45697

They're every bit as good in my opinion and very cheap.

Tyres, how much you looking to spend? Size? Bothered about weight? Are these just for winter?

Personally I'd go for 25c and if you want the best:
Conti 4 seasons - are probably one of the best tyre for all year round, but chuffing expensive.
Conti 4000s - again great tyres not as puncture resilient as above, probably a better summer tyre, but still good all year.
Conti gatorskins are a bit cheaper again, heavier but very puncture resistant.

But if you really hate punctures they're tyres like Schwalbe Durano plus, Bontrager Hardcases, Specalized Armadillos and slimular that are very very tough, just very heavy.

Standard conti butyl tubes are fine.
 
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Chaps, I just can't seem to get my head round 29" and 700C wheels. I rea that they are essentially the same size however 29er seems to be the new MTB phase.

Now, I'm looking at getting a fixed, replacing the front fork to have disc brakes. The On One Pompino has these wheels as standard: http://www.on-one.co.uk/imgs/products/900x650_constWH/WPWEIDP18_P4.jpg what would I need to do to get a disc brake on this wheel? Is it possible?
 
Shadowness said:
Guys I'm trying to get rid of some buzzes and rattles from my commuter as it's doing my head in. One was an easy to fix loose light fitting, the other I can't seem to find.

If you stand by the bike, and just lift the front wheel off the ground a bit (with the back still on the ground) and drop it, there's an annoying buzz/rattle from the front end. Any ideas what it could be?
I've tightened the headset up, and that did nothing. I'm pretty sure it's not my crud mudguards rattling away but can't be certain.

Are there any common things to check?

Bit vague I know, but just thought I'd ask incase anyone else had anything similar.
Click to expand...

I had a similar thing and found it was a combo of two things: the cables hitting the frame/handlebars, and internal cabling hitting the inside of the frame. The second one was fixed by pulling on the outside frame sections to make the inside cable taut. The first was fixed by strategically placed zip ties.
 
Bigsy said:
Firstly brake pads, salmons are good I use them, but expensive. I recently bought these for the missus: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45697

They're every bit as good in my opinion and very cheap.

Tyres, how much you looking to spend? Size? Bothered about weight? Are these just for winter?

Personally I'd go for 25c and if you want the best:
Conti 4 seasons - are probably one of the best tyre for all year round, but chuffing expensive.
Conti 4000s - again great tyres not as puncture resilient as above, probably a better summer tyre, but still good all year.
Conti gatorskins are a bit cheaper again, heavier but very puncture resistant.

But if you really hate punctures they're tyres like Schwalbe Durano plus, Bontrager Hardcases, Specalized Armadillos and slimular that are very very tough, just very heavy.

Standard conti butyl tubes are fine.
Click to expand...

Thankyou !

Cost - £20-30 ish
Size I think I will need 700c ?

my bike currently has
Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x25c

managed to repair it with some Zefal Selant Spray but not sure if it will hold/last ? :/

I'm not too in the know about weights but it cant be majorly different, I think I would rather have less punctures than be a bit lighter, my commute is only 6miles a day and even for longer rides at the weekend I think i'd rather be assured that I will have stronger tyres so Gatorskins sound good to me.

also thankyou for the brake pad alternative, those Kool ones are pricey!

*edit
christ I didn't realise tyres were 20-30 EACH !
 
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I've just realised I've lost a load of KOMs on Strava because some bugger left his GPS on when he was presumably picked up half way through a ride. So he's got an average speed of like 30-40+mph on each segment!

The outrage!! :(
 
Bigsy said:
Firstly brake pads, salmons are good I use them, but expensive. I recently bought these for the missus: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45697

They're every bit as good in my opinion and very cheap.

Tyres, how much you looking to spend? Size? Bothered about weight? Are these just for winter?

Personally I'd go for 25c and if you want the best:
Conti 4 seasons - are probably one of the best tyre for all year round, but chuffing expensive.
Conti 4000s - again great tyres not as puncture resilient as above, probably a better summer tyre, but still good all year.
Conti gatorskins are a bit cheaper again, heavier but very puncture resistant.

But if you really hate punctures they're tyres like Schwalbe Durano plus, Bontrager Hardcases, Specalized Armadillos and slimular that are very very tough, just very heavy.

Standard conti butyl tubes are fine.
Click to expand...

Probably a less well known tyre:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vredestein-fortezza-tricomp-folding-tyre/

I've been running Fortezza Quattro Tricomps (note not this exact tyre) on a winter bike and never had a puncture.
They seem to have a decently low weight along with the unquestionable puncture protection although not cheap but similar to any Conti's.
 
Shadowness said:
I've just realised I've lost a load of KOMs on Strava because some bugger left his GPS on when he was presumably picked up half way through a ride. So he's got an average speed of like 30-40+mph on each segment!

The outrage!! :(
Click to expand...

:(

thats the problem with these things, people can cheat
 
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