Road Cycling Essentials

Jimbeam3678 · 12 Nov 2013 at 23:37

Vonhelmet said:
Judging by the Specialized website, the Allez uses Tektro brakes, which would have been my guess. I'll bet they're R540s. They take Shimano cartridges. If you've already got cartridges, pick up some Kool Stop Dura II inserts. If you've not got cartridges, get some from your LBS and then buy some Kool Stop Dura II inserts.

For replacing the rear caliper, you can probably pick up a like for like Tektro replacement online somewhere for very little, or you could replace both front and rear with, I don't know, Tiagra calipers for £40 or thereabouts.

So something like these would fit ?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kool-stop-dura-aceultegra105-pair-of-cartridge-inserts/

simply undue the screw and replace? I wonder my LBS seemed disinterested in doing it :confused:

Ive asked them 3 times and they made up some reasons very strange

Thank you very kindly Von helmet you always seems to help me much appreciated :-)

Vonhelmet · 12 Nov 2013 at 23:40

divaboy said:
So something like these would fit ?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kool-stop-dura-aceultegra105-pair-of-cartridge-inserts/

simply undue the screw and replace? I wonder my LBS seemed disinterested in doing it

Ive asked them 3 times and they made up some reasons very strange

Yep, those should be fine. Pop the wheel out, undo the tiny screw on the side of the cartridge, slide the pad out, pop the new one in, redo the tiny screw. You'll probably have to loosen off your brakes, as the pads will be thicker than the ones you've just removed.

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Nov 2013 at 07:51

platypus said:
Anyone got any experience of the Exposure Tracer rear light? I've had another Fibreflare fail and am thinking of going to something machined to a higher level.

Hmm or the Exposure Blaze Mk1. Looks a bit of a beast.

I have a TraceR on the Brompton. Fixes all the issues with the Exposure Flare and more. I chose it because you can't mount a light on a Brompton seat post and it has a handy saddle rail mount.

It's a great light.

ShiWarrior · 13 Nov 2013 at 08:03

Begbie said:
I really like that!

At 6ft, I'm guessing 58cm is going to be my best fit?

no, way too big
im 6'2 and ride a 56 road bikes, track bikes I tend to use 58

I should be on a 58 but because of my short reach its too big for me, I feel stretched so I use a 56

hope this helps

ShiWarrior · 13 Nov 2013 at 08:36

ive made my mind up

Item

Sku

Qty

Subtotal

Cateye Volt 1200 CA460EL1000RC 1 £125.00

Subtotal £125.00
Shipping & Handling £0.00
UK VAT (20%)
£20.83

Tax
£20.83
Grand Total £125.00

cheapest I found it, over at Pedal Pedal

platypus · 13 Nov 2013 at 08:54

Shamrock said:
First sub-5 degree commute tomorrow judging by the forecast.

Softshell weather!

I've been softshelling for a while, it really came into its own this morning though. Double socked though and stll had cold toes...under a toe thingy and overshoes. I was thinking it too early to get the Sidi boots out but maybe not

.

In other news took a knock to the head last night and am still dazed, not concussion or anything serious like that but saw stars for a good while and my head is definitely not 100% this morning.

uniQ · 13 Nov 2013 at 08:57

Hopefully knocked some sense in to you, and you'll get home later and slam dat stem

Vonhelmet · 13 Nov 2013 at 08:59

platypus said:
In other news took a knock to the head last night and am still dazed, not concussion or anything serious like that but saw stars for a good while and my head is definitely not 100% this morning.

Sure you shouldn't be going to a&e?

grudas · 13 Nov 2013 at 09:29

Shamrock said:
First sub-5 degree commute tomorrow judging by the forecast.

Softshell weather!

was quite a bit colder compared to other days.. but that pearl izumi jacket + shorts and t-shirt under it were fine.. full finger gloves this time tho!

platypus · 13 Nov 2013 at 09:31

Vonhelmet said:
Sure you shouldn't be going to a&e?

No I'm not 100% sure, but it feels a bit lame to be going to a&e for a knock on the head that dazed me a bit. I'll see how I go and maybe get a doctors appointment if I'm still a bit dazed in the morning. Cycling in today might have been a mistake (not that I'd be much better driving!).

uniQ said:
Hopefully knocked some sense in to you, and you'll get home later and slam dat stem

Never!

uniQ · 13 Nov 2013 at 09:38

Can't of been that bad then

olv · 13 Nov 2013 at 09:39

ShiWarrior said:
no, way too big
im 6'2 and ride a 56 road bikes, track bikes I tend to use 58

I should be on a 58 but because of my short reach its too big for me, I feel stretched so I use a 56

hope this helps

You can't say that. 56 is unusually small for someone your height. I'm 6' and ride 58cm frames as that's what the bike fit told me. It all depends on your proportions.

Shamrock · 13 Nov 2013 at 09:40

I was okay this morning with PX winter overtights, dhb windslam softshell gilet, PX merino arm warmers, s/s baselayer and merino belgian cap.

I tried my Craft split finger gloves for the first time properly and can honestly say they are a bit turd. Yeah they are quite warm, but I don't like the way they force me to hold my hoods and also the palm padding is carp so I had sore hands. They are to be demoted to non-cycling cold weather duties!

platypus · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:01

Shamrock said:
I tried my Craft split finger gloves for the first time properly and can honestly say they are a bit turd. Yeah they are quite warm, but I don't like the way they force me to hold my hoods and also the palm padding is carp so I had sore hands. They are to be demoted to non-cycling cold weather duties!

Castelli Estremo gloves!

uniQ · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:16

Ignore platy, he's not right in the head (wondering how long this can be milked for)

Specialized Sub Zero > *

Is what you want. You get used to the lobsters after a couple of rides.

grudas · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:18

no no what you want are 4.99 pair of aldi gloves.

Shamrock · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:23

^^ I've got £4.99 PX winter gloves and they are okay above 10C

Lobsters don't suit how I hold the hoods at all!

One More Solo · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:30

Shamrock said:
I was okay this morning with PX winter overtights, dhb windslam softshell gilet, PX merino arm warmers, s/s baselayer and merino belgian cap.

I tried my Craft split finger gloves for the first time properly and can honestly say they are a bit turd. Yeah they are quite warm, but I don't like the way they force me to hold my hoods and also the palm padding is carp so I had sore hands. They are to be demoted to non-cycling cold weather duties!

How are the PX overtights? Going to get some myself I think.

grudas · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:41

Shamrock said:
^^ I've got £4.99 PX winter gloves and they are okay above 10C

Lobsters don't suit how I hold the hoods at all!

I rode with thin-ish leather gloves thorough last winter.. those aldi ones are TOO much at this temp :/ I think I need half-finger-less gloves.. cut 2.5 fingers off a full glove and that'll do.. I hate operating brakes with gloves.

Shamrock · 13 Nov 2013 at 10:50

One More Solo said:
How are the PX overtights? Going to get some myself I think.

I highly recommend them. Fit is good, quality seems decent for the price and they kept me warm.

grudas said:
I rode with thin-ish leather gloves thorough last winter.. those aldi ones are TOO much at this temp :/ I think I need half-finger-less gloves.. cut 2.5 fingers off a full glove and that'll do.. I hate operating brakes with gloves.

We've been over this, not everyone has toasty fingers and a big e-Peen like you!