Road Cycling

[platypus]

Has anyone got any thoughts on look keo pedals? I have SPD pedals on my commuter and winter bikes, and I have SPD-SL on my summer bike. I'm looking at getting bepro power meter pedals for my better bike, which are look keo compatible. Is there anything I should be aware of? Do people find them better or worse in use than SPD-SL? What's cleat life like?

Cleat life is absolutely fine if you treat them well, make sure to get the rubber gripped ones as they help with slippy surfaces, and get the plastic cleat covers and use them walking anywhere and the cleats last ages. Its a bit of a faff but stick them in your pocket when cycling and its not exactly hard.

As for the pedals themselves I would never go back to SPDs, the only other pedals I want to try are speedplay because of the reputed greatness for knees, but even for someone who likes spending loads of money they're expensive, and I'm very happy with my carbon keo 2s.

 

[oli collett]

On the pedal front, I'm a little annoyed this morning. Went to take the ultimate out this morning as it was raining, thought I'd have some better stopping power. It has dura ace pedals on. I have the vector 2s on the aeroad.
Cleats look like they should be fine... nope. I'm there in the raining ****ing about like an idiot until I realise they clearly don't fit.

So, do I need to have different cleats for every damn bike? I have mavic / time cleats on my MTBs, and trainer, Vectors and Dura Aces... so 3 shoes, 3 sets of cleats?
Do any cleats fit both vectors and shimano's?

You've now got an ultimate as well????

 

[janp]

Hi guys, haven't been on here for ages, hope everyone's well?

Just after a little technical advice on a new bicycle that I picked up from Evans on Friday.
I made the fatal mistake of not checking the gears before taking it home. I'm unable to use the largest sprocket on the rear cassette, I get to the second largest but when I push the gear lever it doesn't click anymore (i.e as if I've reached the end).

I'm pretty useless at the mechanical side of bikes, but I'm wondering if it's something I might be able to fix myself. I'm not local to the bike shop (over an hr away by car), and don't drive. So hoping I won't need to return it.

Can anybody offer any advice please, is it worth fiddling with the limit screws?

 

[randomshenans]

Just wants adjusting on the rear by the sounds of it. There are plenty of youtube vids

 

[janp]

Just wants adjusting on the rear by the sounds of it. There are plenty of youtube vids

I've checked a few out, but I'm not sure if I'm to use the barrel adjuster or the limit screws. The gears that do work are smooth, so I'm assuming limit screws, but I don't know for sure, and I'm a little nervous about breaking something.

 

[touch]

I get to the second largest but when I push the gear lever it doesn't click anymore (i.e as if I've reached the end).

There's 2 ways I can see this happening:

1- Does it shift smoothly up the other gears. So 1 click = 1 shift every time but there are no more clicks when you get to the second last sprocket.
This would be an alignment issue and wont be fixed by changing limit screws. (Basically, everything is offset down 1 sprocket and you need to tighten the cable to set it to the correct position)

2- It shifts up to the second last sprocket then doesnt go any further. You'll get 1 click in this gear and no shift happens then you've run out of clicks.
This could be alignment or limit screws.

 

[PermaBanned]

Best to do limit screws when adjusting the cable tension by hand, then indexing. Just to be safe. But if it's a new bike the shop should really do this for you if you take it back. What bike did you get?

 

[Vonhelmet]

Get it into the biggest cog you can, then turn the pedals and pull gently on the cable by hand where it travels under the downtube. Don't pull too hard, just enough to see what happens next. If you pull it and it moves to the biggest cog, it's an indexing/alignment issue and you can fix it with the barrel adjuster. If you pull it and it doesn't move, then it's a limit screw issue. If you pull it and the mech goes into the spokes and destroys the mech and/or spokes, then it was both a limit screw issue and an indexing/alignment issue, but you've now got bigger problems than that to worry about.

 

[Going to Cali]

Try by using your thumb to push the mech and see if it will go in to the largest sprocket, if it will then it's cable tension. If there's no more travel you need to adjust your high limit.

To adjust your rear:

1) Remove all cable tension by shifting in to the smallest cog at the rear
2) Release the cable from the cable clamp
3) Screw in the barrel adjust all the way, then loosen one full turn
4) Check your limit screws. These control how far in and out the mech can travel. Start with the low, the jockey wheel ought to be aligned with the casette sprocket. To check the high limit you want to turn the pedals and push the rear mech to make it go through the gears. It should be able to reach the largest sprocket. Adjust accordingly.
5) Once you have the limits, return the chain to the smallest sprocket. Pull the cable tight by hand and attach.
6) Attempt to shift up and down the cassette. If the gear won't change, adjust using your barrel adjuster.

There are plenty of videos on youtube that show this process.

 

[Lethal`]

So I did the Velothon Wales on Sunday as my first sportive. Quite good fun! The weather looked okay to start so I went out in pretty much summer gear besides knee warmers and a waterproof jacket in my pocket. First 40 miles or so pretty flat with a tailwind for the most part… really busy (I was in the pen with 1600 riders setting off) so not easy to maintain anything above 15-16mph without squishing past riders on the right - lots of people were fighting their way through but I figured I’d remain social and ride with workmates. Got to the first feed station, absolutely jam packed and we all regrouped before setting off again. About 5 mins later biblical rain with some hail started and I whipped out the jacket and caught up with a workmate. Lost him somewhere before The Tumble.

The Tumble - quite a nice climb! 5km or so of 8-9% avg gradient but far too many riders on it. I found it tough to try and maintain a rhythm as you had to keep waiting for riders to move out the way and weave about a little. Then a friendly cattle grid halfway up I lost back wheel traction, fortunately it persevered and I didn’t come a cropper but it sounded like riders behind me did. 1300th or so on Strava and 200ish for the day so relatively happy with that considering the number of riders on it! I waited at the top for at 15-20mins hoping to spot some workmates come up but in the end I was getting cold so I just carried on and did the last half of the ride myself.

Caerphilly mountain was pretty damn tough… very steep in places, my 32 cog wasn’t working and I really wished for it… 50rpm or so for the most part and again trying to get past riders and maintain pace. I was glad to reach the top of that one! 2037th/11407 riders on Strava and 730th/6190 for the day so again fairly happy with the time there. I wish I had known how long it goes on for though! Then it was all downhill besides a few bumps towards the end. A couple of sketchy sections due to the rain but good fun. I was a bit disappointed not to find any groups to tag onto and save a bit of energy but still managed to average about 20mph for the last 30 miles or so.

Lessons learnt:

• Fix my 32 cog before starting the ride
• Pick an earlier start pen if I do it again so there are less riders in front
• Rider etiquette is pretty poor… not many people check before moving right.
• Motorbikes may decide to stop in the middle of the road without much indication (thanks to the other cyclist that quickly signalled move left!)
• Sheep may run across the road in front of my path.
• As much as I may hate my Garmin… I didn’t have to drop it down the portaloo at the end!

It was funny seeing a couple of tandems trying it out and one guy on a mountain bike with a Giro Air Attack helmet with visor and road pedals/shoes… perhaps his road bike broke and the mountain bike was all he had available :/

Finish line video:

I had a sketchy moment right at the finish line… The guy in front of me appeared to be staying put behind another rider while I stayed right of him to pass. Suddenly he started moving right squishing me into the barrier. I tried to brake but it was all potholey so brakes did very little. Then I looked up and saw the photographer kneeling at the side… quickly stepped on the gas and moved past him. I was shouting “On your right!” and heard spectators making shock noises “Ahhhhh! Oooh!” etc. I feel like I should have anticipated his movement better but also would have been nice if he had a look first. At least we didn’t actually crash at the finish line! The photographer better have got a good photo of me!

https://www.strava.com/activities/584220988

Edit: in fact looking at it again he may have even just moved right for the photo opp as it looks like he had room ahead of him

 

[DanF]

that's a funny profile, 85km of almost flat then a 400m climb

 

[Lethal`]

that's a funny profile, 85km of almost flat then a 400m climb

Yep! I think it caught a lot of people out. There was only really two hills but nice to have a long one for a change... probably the second biggest hill I've climbed, first being Col De Femenia in Mallorca.

 

[FrenchTart]

Yeah..that elevation graph

Very impressive work Lethal'...and nice speed too

 

[SoliD]

first being Col De Femenia in Mallorca.

A mere lump

 

[Lethal`]

Yeah..that elevation graph

Very impressive work Lethal'...and nice speed too

Thanks! I must have really added on the speed after The Tumble as I think before that I remember seeing 15mph on my Garmin.

A mere lump

Aha. I was completely clueless going up it and it was about 2 months after (last September) I got my first road bike. I had escaped for a day from a family holiday on the other side of the island and borrowed a bike thinking of doing Sa Calobra.. Guy at the bike shop recommended Cap De Formentor as the weather wasn't looking great for the mountains so did that then thought I'd head towards Sa Calobra and see what the time is / if I think I can make it. Saw the Col De Femenia summit sign and only went a little bit further before turning back. Good climb that... smooth roads and not too bad of a gradient!

 

[SoliD]

Aha. I was completely clueless going up it and it was about 2 months after (last September) I got my first road bike. I had escaped for a day from a family holiday on the other side of the island and borrowed a bike thinking of doing Sa Calobra.. Guy at the bike shop recommended Cap De Formentor as the weather wasn't looking great for the mountains so did that then thought I'd head towards Sa Calobra and see what the time is / if I think I can make it. Saw the Col De Femenia summit sign and only went a little bit further before turning back. Good climb that... smooth roads and not too bad of a gradient!

Yeah its quite a nice one, but always heed the warnings of locals! Going up Sa Calobre when its 2c at the top is horrible!

 

[Lethal`]

Yeah its quite a nice one, but always heed the warnings of locals! Going up Sa Calobre when its 2c at the top is horrible!

I'm going to have to go out for a proper cycling trip there... only good aspect of the island in my opinion. The Southwestern side seemed more British than London!

 

[alexisonfire]

Good ride after work tonight, weather was forecasted for heavy rain but the sun poked out so thought it would be rude not to! Got to the top of Town Ln to be greated with some rain in the distance and a lovely rainbow Managed to beat another set goal for this month up a climb, so i guess its time to set some new ones for June!

 

[dod]

Slight panic with my sportive ride coming up... neither pair of my summer bibs are particularly comfortable.

What can I get for up to £50 notes? For perspective my other ones are a pair of Dare2B shorts and a pair of On One £10 specials from the sale

I'd happily do 100 miles in my Boardman bib tights from a comfort point of view but they are way too warm for June.

Sport Pursuit have a flash sale of bib shorts on just now, picked up a pair of Rivalo Honister for £50.
http://road.cc/content/review/165704-rivelo-honister-bib-shorts

 

[lordrobs]

Sport Pursuit have a flash sale of bib shorts on just now, picked up a pair of Rivalo Honister for £50.
http://road.cc/content/review/165704-rivelo-honister-bib-shorts

Took a bit of a punt on a pair of Rivelo bibs. Might be a while to get here though (maybe too late for my sportive) so I will most likely grab another pair so I can cycle a couple of decent pairs and keep my current ones for short evening rides.

I struggled to find a bad review when they were being looked at in the £125 price bracket so I thought for £50 I wasn't going to get anything much better.