Road Cycling Essentials

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Vonhelmet - Thank you for that reply, plenty to think about there. It is actually this model - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...707_langId_-1_categoryId_165710#detailedAttrs less than a year old.

As for how much I can stretch... I could probably find £600 but it does feel like a lot of money for a fat guy to wobble around the local country lanes on :p

If I was to go mail order (for some reason this makes me twitchy with a bike :o ) then this is very tempting - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-razor-road-bike-2014/rp-prod107022
 
lordrobs said:
Vonhelmet - Thank you for that reply, plenty to think about there. It is actually this model - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...707_langId_-1_categoryId_165710#detailedAttrs less than a year old.

As for how much I can stretch... I could probably find £600 but it does feel like a lot of money for a fat guy to wobble around the local country lanes on :p

If I was to go mail order (for some reason this makes me twitchy with a bike :o ) then this is very tempting - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-razor-road-bike-2014/rp-prod107022
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That Vitus is a good buy. Carbon fork, 16 speed gears with compact chainset, proper STI shifters, decent weight, £375. Definitely gets the thumbs up from me.
 
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Vonhelmet said:
That Vitus is a good buy. Carbon fork, 16 speed gears with compact chainset, proper STI shifters, decent weight, carbon fork, £375. Definitely gets the thumbs up from me.
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Thanks, I'd be much happier up to £400 than I would £600. Especially as I would like some SPD shoes and pedals in the not too distant future. If my MTB is anything to go by then if I get the purchase right I should be set for the next decade or so :p
 
lordrobs said:
Vonhelmet - Thank you for that reply, plenty to think about there. It is actually this model - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...707_langId_-1_categoryId_165710#detailedAttrs less than a year old.

As for how much I can stretch... I could probably find £600 but it does feel like a lot of money for a fat guy to wobble around the local country lanes on :p

If I was to go mail order (for some reason this makes me twitchy with a bike :o ) then this is very tempting - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-razor-road-bike-2014/rp-prod107022
Click to expand...

that vitus is not a bad buy at all :)

but if you're willing to go £600 I'd say get -;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

or -;

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-r-road-bike-2013-60087.html

these are good buys too -;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-wiggle-exclusive/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-speed-sora/

the reality is that the more you spend now the better the re-sale value will be :)

so even if you don't like it you'll have less problems selling.

end of day if you do get into it you'll have a mahoosive itch to upgrade the bike soon so getting something with tiagra is a good bet due to the fact that it's very close to 105 levels of shifting/feel and it's a good groupset.

as long as you can stand the uber-ugly crankset.

that planet X is a very good bike though.
 
Great Manchester Cycle on Sunday. I really need to get a very basic bike computer in time for our practice run on Saturday. Any recommendations? I only really need something to show my speed for this particular event but I need it quite quickly. I will probably end up buying a Garmin replacement at some point in the future.
 
FrenchTart said:
Great Manchester Cycle on Sunday. I really need to get a very basic bike computer in time for our practice run on Saturday. Any recommendations? I only really need something to show my speed for this particular event but I need it quite quickly. I will probably end up buying a Garmin replacement at some point in the future.
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I have a Sigma wired one going spare. One of the rubber band hooks on the fork magnet is broken, but you can fix it on with zip ties. Not sure how I'd get it to you though... Whereabouts in Manchester do you work?
 
grudas said:
that vitus is not a bad buy at all :)

but if you're willing to go £600 I'd say get -;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

or -;

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-r-road-bike-2013-60087.html

these are good buys too -;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-wiggle-exclusive/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-speed-sora/

the reality is that the more you spend now the better the re-sale value will be :)

so even if you don't like it you'll have less problems selling.

end of day if you do get into it you'll have a mahoosive itch to upgrade the bike soon so getting something with tiagra is a good bet due to the fact that it's very close to 105 levels of shifting/feel and it's a good groupset.

as long as you can stand the uber-ugly crankset.

that planet X is a very good bike though.
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Cheers Grudas, good to have options at different price levels. Basically I put away a certain amount every month plus any extras that come up (Quidco, lottery etc.) and at the moment I've got £520. It'll be around the £600 mark by the time I want to order (or need to order for the Planet-X). Whether I blow the whole lot on a bike or not I haven't decided yet :p
 
Vonhelmet said:
I have a Sigma wired one going spare. One of the rubber band hooks on the fork magnet is broken, but you can fix it on with zip ties. Not sure how I'd get it to you though... Whereabouts in Manchester do you work?
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Kilburn Building, University of Manchester. I could ride to somewhere to meet and thank you though :) How much would you want for it?

Edit: off to bed shortly so apologies if I don't reply tonight :)
 
Vonhelmet said:
I have a Sigma wired one going spare. One of the rubber band hooks on the fork magnet is broken, but you can fix it on with zip ties. Not sure how I'd get it to you though... Whereabouts in Manchester do you work?
Click to expand...

If that doesn't work out for you Decathlon do some decent wireless ones, I had their Count 8 before I got my Garmin and that worked pretty well. They're £19.99. Did have it all there as a spare in my box but loaned it out to someone last weekend or you'd have been welcome to try it.

From my experience on the GMC last year you'll not have a lot of time to be looking at your speed ;) there's a fair pack of NCC riders turning out for this on Sunday.
 
Gave my wheels a weigh this morning, these are with tyres, cassette and skewers.

Training power wheels front 1200g rear 1750g.

Zipp wheels front 800g rear 1200g.

Give or take 50g as the scales weren't super, could weigh at work accurately if I was that bothered.

Fingers crossed they are glued better this time, I was happier with the process anyway, will find out in a few days time.....
 
FrenchTart said:
Kilburn Building, University of Manchester. I could ride to somewhere to meet and thank you though :) How much would you want for it?

Edit: off to bed shortly so apologies if I don't reply tonight :)
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I work just by the Midland Hotel and the G-Mex, so I'm less than a mile from you. I could walk down to your place Thursday lunchtime maybe? That gives me a chance to check it over tomorrow night and make sure it's all there and working. Does that work for you?

You can get computers for buttons nowadays, so if you want to give me a fiver for it that'd be more than enough.
 
Vonhelmet said:
I work just by the Midland Hotel and the G-Mex, so I'm less than a mile from you. I could walk down to your place Thursday lunchtime maybe? That gives me a chance to check it over tomorrow night and make sure it's all there and working. Does that work for you?

You can get computers for buttons nowadays, so if you want to give me a fiver for it that'd be more than enough.
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Sounds great :) Let me know what sort of time you'll be about. I'll drop you my mobile number too (though reception can be spotty inside the building).

rogan said:
are you one of my lecturers?!?!
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Ah, no :) I'm in IT and work with (don't hate me) Blackboard.
 
Winter bike sold, track frame purchased:

2014-vigorellirosa.jpg
 
Nice, I really like Cinelli paintjobs.

So you are planning on riding it on the track or skidding it around the streets with no brakes? :)
 
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