Road Cycling

[uv]

my personal preference is for compact/ergonomic mixes, but that's just it - personal preference. As Saytan says, you should try a few to see what you like.

 

[James07]

I was expecting around 2-3k from my shoes but they sure as hell exceeded my expectations! what pair should I get next, dhb ones are super uncomfortable I've got a brand new pair sitting there for the past 4 months.. pfth! sho...

I tried on some Shimano shoes in Halfords that fit beaut! Opted for some Giro Trebles instead nd regretted it slightly as they're very tight, I pop them on, pull the straps across but I wear them loose to stop pains. It's bursting on the outside of my left foot where my toe starts which is where I got my pain on long rides before adjusting my cleats.

I'm gonna try some more on this weekend and see what I like then keep an eye out for a deal in the next couple of months.

Weird question, what do people do with worn out bibs/shorts/jerseys ? In the bin/recycle/charity bin ?

I'd use mine on a turbo trainer when they start to wear out.

Thanks mate! It's funny, but playing with the limit screws is usually one of the first things that comes up in all the guides... so what am I looking at first then, a quick turn on the cable adjuster on the rear mech?

I adjust my barrel on a weekly/fortnightly basis, or if I take my rear wheel off for any reason.

Every month or so I get it up on the stand and index then properly too as eventually they become a pain.

I clean my cassette and chain monthly too so they get readjusted when I do that.

Simple as hell to do.

 

[FrenchTart]

@grudas

I can't comment on their longevity but my Sidi Dragons are incredibly comfortable. My friend has one of the cheaper SPD Sidis and he says they're good too. I've found them to be less narrow around the toes so I get far less rub on them compared to my older Shimano shoes (not sure of model).

 

[SoliD]

Am I really seeing 2-3k miles per pair of shoes? I've had my original Shimanos for 2.5 years and probably over 12000 miles, no signs of wear whatsoever?

 

[FrenchTart]

Am I really seeing 2-3k miles per pair of shoes? I've had my original Shimanos for 2.5 years and probably over 12000 miles, no signs of wear whatsoever?

My Shimanos are still going (I wouldn't say strong) after more miles than that even but they're pretty knackered by this point.

 

[janp]

My shimano R170 shoes lasted me over 6k miles. No sign of wear really. I only changed them as my feet had shrunk, so needed to go a size down.

I have some fairly cheap Bontrager's now, which are really comfortable, comfier than slippers!

 

[Saytan]

I have some fairly cheap Bontrager's now, which are really comfortable, comfier than slippers!

my bontrager road shoes with esoles are probably the most comfortable thing I've ever put on my feet. I broke them the other day by being a hamfisted goon though

 

[One More Solo]

Decided on my new wheels but need new handlebars as well (Was knocked off my bike last week) but have no idea what's decent and if I should go standard size or compact?

Currently ride a Giant Defy 3, can't say I had any issues with the bars, looking to spend upto 25-30 if anyone has any recommendations?

For day to day riding, I'd go with compact bars because I always set my bike position assuming I'll be riding on the hoods. This means the drops aren't a million miles away from where the hoods are and makes them a comfortable alternative option for long rides. I'm not a fan of ergo bars, I don't find the straight sections that comfortable but YMMV.

 

[Roady]

I wouldn't bother with ceramics for the price. My bosses didn't last very long on the k force chainset.

Various people say different things and I've even been told to clean them out and run them dry.

For your giant I'd just get a shimano pf bb or something like a hope.

I've been firmly steered away from ceramics now

If I'm looking at buying the tools to change my own BB bearings, any recommendations? Last time I looked the Parktool bearing removal tool was £40 and the BB installation tool was £56 (although this version is £26).

The bearings themselves, should I be looking elsewhere rather than wiggle? Options seem limited: FSA BB86 £26 or a £15 hope one I'm not 100% sure fits.

Right thread this time, treated myself to some new bars, Cinelli Ram XL. Yummy

Nice! Although they look huge & really thick?!

Thanks mate! It's funny, but playing with the limit screws is usually one of the first things that comes up in all the guides... so what am I looking at first then, a quick turn on the cable adjuster on the rear mech?

Limit screws are for min/max movement of the derailleur, only slightly linked to the shifting. Cable adjuster should have nobs on it so try it one bit (1/8th a turn or something), don't go winding it around loads if the indexing is only slightly out!

If you've not needed to remove the gear cable then don't do so, you're just adjusting to take a small amount of stretch out of the cable that's come from use.

I tried on some Shimano shoes in Halfords that fit beaut! Opted for some Giro Trebles instead nd regretted it slightly as they're very tight, I pop them on, pull the straps across but I wear them loose to stop pains. It's bursting on the outside of my left foot where my toe starts which is where I got my pain on long rides before adjusting my cleats.

<snip>
Every month or so I get it up on the stand and index then properly too as eventually they become a pain.

I clean my cassette and chain monthly too so they get readjusted when I do that.

Shimano shoes are a good fit on me too, my pair of XC30's are doing well (3000+ miles) and are comfortable, more recently the flex in the uppers has started to cause me some foot pain (along with cleat adjustments) after long rides. I really need stiffer shoes next year and will be moving to SPD-SL. Probably Sidi, as they're damn good looking shoes!

Cassette similar to me although I wipe down and relube my chain weekly!

 

[grudas]

I've been firmly steered away from ceramics now

If I'm looking at buying the tools to change my own BB bearings, any recommendations? Last time I looked the Parktool bearing removal tool was £40 and the BB installation tool was £56 (although this version is £26).

The bearings themselves, should I be looking elsewhere rather than wiggle? Options seem limited: FSA BB86 £26 or a £15 hope one I'm not 100% sure fits.

wouldn't it be cheaper to just, buy a quality BB?

 

[grudas]

@grudas

I can't comment on their longevity but my Sidi Dragons are incredibly comfortable. My friend has one of the cheaper SPD Sidis and he says they're good too. I've found them to be less narrow around the toes so I get far less rub on them compared to my older Shimano shoes (not sure of model).

yeah I've been looking at sidis too! found my shimanos really comfy tbh! it's funny seeing my sock over the hole now should I just ride them till the sole falls off?

nearly 2mph off!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/368646117/overview
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/865017539

:|

 

[One More Solo]

I've been firmly steered away from ceramics now

If I'm looking at buying the tools to change my own BB bearings, any recommendations? Last time I looked the Parktool bearing removal tool was £40 and the BB installation tool was £56 (although this version is £26).

The bearings themselves, should I be looking elsewhere rather than wiggle? Options seem limited: FSA BB86 £26 or a £15 hope one I'm not 100% sure fits.

Remind me what chainset and BB you've got again? I think that Hope bearing is a replacement bearing for Hope's bottom brackets rather than a replacement bearing for BB86/92 so not much use to you.

I've read that for pressfit bottom brackets you're better off with something with plastic cups as these will conform to your bottom bracket shell better than a metal one. Manufacturing tolerances aren't great so the plastic gives the shell some error room. Makes sense, even though you'd think metal was the obvious choice.

 

[FrenchTart]

yeah I've been looking at sidis too! found my shimanos really comfy tbh! it's funny seeing my sock over the hole now should I just ride them till the sole falls off?

nearly 2mph off!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/368646117/overview
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/865017539

:|

I can't see the Garmin Connect link as we're not Garmin BFFs

I can't believe how knackered my legs have been all week after the weekend's cycling. I've not ridden much and I've really been struggling to put out any power.

 

[rnickster]

Hi guys, got a new job (yay), 2 weeks holiday before I start, maybe 1 week from 7th > 12th and potentially might be able to do something like Mallorca with some bike riding.

Would be going with my dad (he is kindly paying, but not cycling) so needs to be all inclusive a nice hotel in a good location near some bike rental shops (but am looking into taking my own bike).

I know its been mentioned a lot on here but can people recommend some nice places to stay so I can check them out on tripadvisor/sites for availability and price. Any help / advice greatly appreciated.

p.s. Manchester commuters.....was like cycling through a swimming pool on my way into to work today!!! mental

 

[Roady]

wouldn't it be cheaper to just, buy a quality BB?

Is it? How much harder is it to change the whole BB and any different tools needed? Don't see the BB86 mentioned as coming with bearings though...?

yeah I've been looking at sidis too! found my shimanos really comfy tbh! it's funny seeing my sock over the hole now should I just ride them till the sole falls off?

Tape over the hole? Gaffer! Or maybe glue some old tyre inner tube over/under it? Black socks?

Then again that takes effort, have you fixed that puncture yet slacker?!

Remind me what chainset and BB you've got again? I think that Hope bearing is a replacement bearing for Hope's bottom brackets rather than a replacement bearing for BB86/92 so not much use to you.

I've read that for pressfit bottom brackets you're better off with something with plastic cups as these will conform to your bottom bracket shell better than a metal one. Manufacturing tolerances aren't great so the plastic gives the shell some error room. Makes sense, even though you'd think metal was the obvious choice.

FSA Gossamer pro although as the rest of it is now 105 (I changed my brake calipers from Tektro to 105 after a problem) I'm thinking to change my BB & eventually cranks to Shimano/105.

I can't see the Garmin Connect link as we're not Garmin BFFs

I can't believe how knackered my legs have been all week after the weekend's cycling. I've not ridden much and I've really been struggling to put out any power.

You did two imperials and you're not Steve Abraham.

 

[James07]

Am I really seeing 2-3k miles per pair of shoes? I've had my original Shimanos for 2.5 years and probably over 12000 miles, no signs of wear whatsoever?

These were only £30 and I had my cleats set up wrong for most of the mileage I've done lol

I need some decent ones after these die, gonna keep pushing them though! What shoes do you all use?

I've been firmly steered away from ceramics now

Shimano shoes are a good fit on me too, my pair of XC30's are doing well (3000+ miles) and are comfortable, more recently the flex in the uppers has started to cause me some foot pain (along with cleat adjustments) after long rides. I really need stiffer shoes next year and will be moving to SPD-SL. Probably Sidi, as they're damn good looking shoes!

Cassette similar to me although I wipe down and relube my chain weekly!

Good, dont get ceramics lol.

Might look at the ones you've got! I need some to last longer than mine have.

Remind me what chainset and BB you've got again?

He's running 105 on a Defy 1

 

[One More Solo]

Is it? How much harder is it to change the whole BB and any different tools needed? Don't see the BB86 mentioned as coming with bearings though...?

On the assumption that you've got a Shimano BB in there at the moment, the bearings aren't really replaceable as far as I know. You need to replace the whole assembly and the BB you've linked to includes bearings.

You will need a tool to remove the old BB and press in the new one. Depending on how well installed the old one was, you can tap it out using a rubber mallet and some sort of long blunt implement. That's not a manufacturer approved method though so don't blame me if you break anything. There are various tools for removing pressfit bottom brackets but they are relatively expensive. Park Tools make one called the BBT 90.

A press like this will make life much easier putting the bearings back in; http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWHSP/jobsworth-headset-frame-cup-press-(also-bb-press)

That's what annoys me about pressfit BBs, the tools are so expensive that you probably have to switch about 4 before you break even vs what an LBS would charge. Don't know what your LBS is like but all of mine wanted the bike for a couple of days to do a BB switch that takes 30 minutes at very most so for me the cost was worth it.

 

[grudas]

I can't see the Garmin Connect link as we're not Garmin BFFs

I can't believe how knackered my legs have been all week after the weekend's cycling. I've not ridden much and I've really been struggling to put out any power.

whoop, changed the perms lol.

Is it? How much harder is it to change the whole BB and any different tools needed? Don't see the BB86 mentioned as coming with bearings though...?



Tape over the hole? Gaffer! Or maybe glue some old tyre inner tube over/under it? Black socks?

Then again that takes effort, have you fixed that puncture yet slacker?!

tbh I'd buy a quality BB, get the bike to lbs and get it installed/swapped ! BB#s normally last for AGES if they're good quality, jeez my bro's BB is on like 8k+ miles not a squeek, never greased/rebuilt either and it's just a cheapo 12quid 4 tapper

 

[One More Solo]

With pressfit BBs, the issue is not the BB itself but the tolerances to which the frame is built. If the frame is a proper interference fit, you will get loads of life out of the BB. If it's not then life will be reduced accordingly.

 

[topgun06]

Hi guys, got a new job (yay), 2 weeks holiday before I start, maybe 1 week from 7th > 12th and potentially might be able to do something like Mallorca with some bike riding.

Would be going with my dad (he is kindly paying, but not cycling) so needs to be all inclusive a nice hotel in a good location near some bike rental shops (but am looking into taking my own bike).

I know its been mentioned a lot on here but can people recommend some nice places to stay so I can check them out on tripadvisor/sites for availability and price. Any help / advice greatly appreciated.

p.s. Manchester commuters.....was like cycling through a swimming pool on my way into to work today!!! mental

Check out Pollensa Park Spa Hotel.