Road Cycling

[Roady]

Long overdue EPIC reply post incoming...

I've been busy and feeling good on the bike, but unfortunately the busy side of it hasn't really meant any increase in any mileage with the good weather... Yet!

Had my Jab#1 last Tuesday (Astra Zeneca). Felt pretty ropey Wednesday so opted out of riding any of the week. Was actually feeling pretty good by Thursday and I would say fully recovered Saturday when I headed out with the club. Did a couple of commutes the friday & a parcel pickup to get some miles back in. Probably the longest I've gone without riding (6 days) for a while! Picked up a saddle sore on that ride as it was quite a rough one, but still went out for a little solo loop on the bank holiday. Actually choosing a flat one to get more miles and speed into my legs, felt good!

Got soaked yesterday 3 times... Really muggy one here - 21 degrees and rain is a really different sensation after so long of just cold temperatures... Dare I say it though, I enjoyed it?! Maybe that's just the continued bounce back from jab and the fresher legs...

Just keep riding until the sun comes back out and dries you!

Doesn't work! Wet chamois and feet never really dry out and they're the most miserable...!

After my debacle of a 3 man tyre change on my sportive, what do you folk recommend tyre wise these days ?

Why so bad? Another Tubeless 'nightmare'?! Heard a few of them but I'm still a convert... Tight tyre and combination with rim accounts for so many issues. The Hutchinson Fusions I had on my Zipps where an utter nightmare, but a good tyre on the Fulcrums they're now on... As the Specialized Roubaix Pro are good fit on the Zipps. Both tight but not '3 person to remove' tight. I came very close with having to cut the Hutchinsons from the Zipps to get them off! Took me a month and 3-4 attempts to get them off.

Hi all,

Long time no see, but im still out riding my Specialised Allez Elite now and then, alongside my friend who has just gotten into road biking on a VERY heavy Sora spec Carrera.

<snip>

However recently (as of today) a friend of a friend has offered me up the following:

Ribble Gran Fondo (I think its a 2016 Frame)
From what i can tell in the pics, its a 105 groupset (5700 groupset with hollowtech front chainrings, i think FC-5750?)
Wheels are the trusty Campag Zondas

Above for £600

Any advice on what you think is worthwhile? Also what a good second hand price to my friend would be for my current bike?

We have a second trip to Elan Valley in the calendar for this year, so my friend is really keen to get something lighter as his bike is SUPER heavy, and now he knows he enjoys it he is keen to get something a bit more suitable.

To me the price for that Ribble although high is not too bad, I've seen similar spec's selling for over £1k. But just because that's where the market is these days - for most of us not buying in the epidemic we can easily say they're over-priced. I could've sold my Diverge (I paid £1750 for 5 years ago) for £3000 last summer...

But really it depends down to you how much you're willing to part with your 'known & trusted workhorse' with the risk of buying another just to help your friend out. If it where me I'd keep it while shopping around myself, only considering to 'release' it until I had sourced and ridden a new bike a bunch of times to prove I was happy rather than committing to something or feeling forced to do it. It's your money and your bike at the end of the day - he might luck out and get a bargain somewhere, or he may not. Equally you could end up with the 'worst' bike while he's cruising around on yours while you're staring daggers into the back of his head hating him chasing his wheel...!

Elan will be fun regardless of what you/he is riding, providing they're reliable for you. Did you cycle the 'Elan Trail' or just a tour of the dams last time? I can't quite recall - long overdue doing something like that myself considering I'm 'local'.

I’m still procrastinating on wheels!
<snip>

My third option is just bank the money towards a new disc brake bike in 2-3 years time, but that might be the thick end of 5k to buy an equivalent spec bike to what I have and I don’t think I could bring myself to spend that much!

Think you made the right choice and you'll be happy with them mate. Well known and good brand, although don't see many of them around now like I used to...!

Hopefully in a couple of years time the bike market will have 'recovered' and we'll be getting actual value for our hard earned...!

Fitted new cleats. Will I get more than 3 rides until one of the yellow bits falls off....

Maybe just bias confirmation, but they seem to be a lot worse than they used to be for doing this!

I had them fall off before I'd even stood on the cleats! Rubbish! The dark grey bits on Keo grip cleats are just as bad... But they don't fall off, just 'move' and jam in the interface when you're trying to clip in... I've considered getting some kinda epoxy and 'doctoring' them but never quite got that bad...

I did buy the 'non-grip' version and stuck them on my commuting shoes. They're certainly harder wearing but they're so damn slippy like ice skates, even without wet surfaces! Deadly. Still trying to wear them out before I break my leg. Unsure which will happen first!

Had to google that one. Hoagie

A few weeks ago when I learnt a mate was driving SW I thought cool... can I get a lift and ride back to London with a big tailwind? Of course.. it didn't turn out that way. Headwind instead

One of those rides where after half way you just want to be home. I was fed up of the wind and some of the rain I got caught in earlier. Kinda nice roads but just wanted it done. Wish I could have said I enjoyed it!

Brutal ride mate and kudos on such an epic! Going well for that distance and speed with the winds. Also had to google Hoagie... Just a warm/cold ham salad 'footlong'. Quite disappointed!

Anyone ever had chain marking on cassette?



This cassette has been fitted since I got the bike new. Pulled it off to clean it and to my surprise it wasn't very tight at all. I probably should have checked when I first got it but never thought to.

Yup, have that on nearly all of mine. Goes black with the grime usually.

As of yet I've never found a reliable way to measure wear on cassettes. Anywhere I've read (or asked at the LBS) they said 'oh you know, they skip', but I don't think I've EVER got any of mine to that stage. Even my other halfs where 1 cog the teeth had turned quite 'shark' like didn't skip, just wouldn't really index very tidily/easily...

I guess I would be considered quite a "larger" rider by virtue of Gym training 3 times a week (stronglifts roughly 90kg bodyweight 6.1 feet tall, not fat just well built) so I'm never going to keep up with the slender smaller framed riders unless I really switched up my training over a long period of time, which us unlikely to happen.

Choose flat routes and you'll fly, you'll have the power to get some serious momentum with that training and your bodyweight. You'll never be aero, or 'fast up climbs', but you'll have a massive engine to output short bursts up ramps/kickers as well as sustaining quite high wattage on the flats which will translate to speed. Rolling terrain, no, but flat, yes.

Not a great ride this morning... Set off not sure if I was over the 2nd jab side effects, legs felt a little jelly like, but thought I would just keep it a low steady ride and see how things go. Headed out to favourite local coffee and cake shop. About 2 miles out (so about 15½ miles in) I got a rear flat. Oh well, not the end of the world. Taking off the rear wheel though and something fell off the middle of the wheel... then the cassette basically started sliding off?! As I lifted the casette off, I could see a circular cavern, with a couple of broken bits of plastic in. If I put the cassette (with hub still inside it I think) back on, it would spin freely in both directions.

So... Uber ordered and off home I want Have dropped the wheel off at LBS. I do have a spare bike and spare wheels for that matter, so shouldn't sideline me... although tbh I felt so crap when I was sat in the Uber, maybe it was for the best that the ride had been cut short. Perhaps I'll rest a few more days to recover from the jab.

Sounds like the endcap came off and then the cassette pulled the freehub off the wheel. What fell out was likely your freehub pawls and spring(s), so without those in there the freehub has nothing to 'bite' so easily turns either way!

It’s two weeks tomorrow since I had mine so a fair recovery as if I had come down with an actual cold or flu.

Wow, quite glad mine was a day (or 2 or 3). Maybe I'm still recovering now, or if I'd ridden earlier I might have felt worse. Still now 10 days after my jab about to do the first hard/deep Zwift session (WTRL TTT).

Any recommendations for a phone holding solution? I have a Quad Lock which works pretty well (bar the rubber o ring on the holder fading away on one) but expecting a new phone today. However QL don't make a case for it (Poco F3) so I had a look at their universal version which is basically the locking mechanism and 3M tape. This won't work on most phone cases severely limiting my choice in case. So I might have to consider alternatives .

Quadlock here, wouldn't consider anything else. Maybe you could glue the universal adaptor things they do with 3M tape onto a cheapy case - or even screw it on for piece of mind. At least until Quad do a case for yours.

 

[AndyCr15]

Any recommendations for a phone holding solution?

You wont like it, but my recommendation is to get a cheap 2nd hand Wahoo unit. For a while I had my phone on my handlebars, but I always had that feeling it would break off and bounce down the road The battery drain of tracking a cycle means you can't ride for long too.

 

[Shoeyuk]

I just got the wahoo element bolt v2 and it’s working well. You may find some places selling the v1 unit a little cheaper, I ended up buying new as eBay prices were fairly high.

 

[doodah]

Quadlock here, wouldn't consider anything else. Maybe you could glue the universal adaptor things they do with 3M tape onto a cheapy case - or even screw it on for piece of mind. At least until Quad do a case for yours.

Been a right dunce. Didn't consider getting the awkward/crappy case I don't like and use that just for cycling (which is essentially what I do now with my Note 9 QL case).

 

[Lethal`]

As of yet I've never found a reliable way to measure wear on cassettes. Anywhere I've read (or asked at the LBS) they said 'oh you know, they skip', but I don't think I've EVER got any of mine to that stage. Even my other halfs where 1 cog the teeth had turned quite 'shark' like didn't skip, just wouldn't really index very tidily/easily...

I achieved this last night. Changed chain other day (not the cassette pictured. other bike). Took out for first ride yesterday and noticed skipping in middle of cassette. Then uhh.. the chain came off at a junction and I didn't really realise until I pulled out.. Chain jammed up in chainrings and I really struggled to remove it. Checked multi tool and no T30. Eventually managed to pull it out otherwise I'd have had a 2.5 mile walk or have to call an Uber.

 

[Musty Pie]

Hey Roady,

Pretty much hit the nail on the head!

Another good bike came up for him and we went out to see it last night in central London £550: Cannondale caad12 2018 tiagra spec with FSA crankset.

It was basically brand new the bloke rode it once and it sat in his spare room in his flat.

We did a loop around Ellan Valley last time I'll try link it later. Will probably do the exact same this time as we loved it.

 

[Berger]

Hey Roady,

Pretty much hit the nail on the head!

Another good bike came up for him and we went out to see it last night in central London £550: Cannondale caad12 2018 tiagra spec with FSA crankset.

It was basically brand new the bloke rode it once and it sat in his spare room in his flat.

We did a loop around Ellan Valley last time I'll try link it later. Will probably do the exact same this time as we loved it.

Sounds like the one to go for!

My wheels turned up today (FFWD F6R FCC) so given the nice weather would have been rude not to ride them!

Weighed them, within 10g on factory quoted weight.

Removed the tubeless valve stems and fitted 28mm GP5000 none tubeless with Conti tubes and schwalbe extenders (more on that later). One lever needed just to finish getting the tyres on. Pumped to ~75psi and they measure up at 28mm.

Stuck them on my bike and had quite a bit of adjustment to do for the brakes, wider and getting them centred, move the pads down a bit. They come with Swissstop which I assume are just their black prince pads I’ve used before.

Onto the ride, first 100m few pings as the spokes all seat and tension themselves. Apart from that, nice quiet freehub, way quieter than the previous generation DT240.

I’d love to say they added 3kmph to my speed, were laterally compliant vertically stiff and people’s necks snapped when they turned to look at me….

However they are just wheels and yes there is an aero improvement but on an easy pedal you’ll not notice it, the ride is great on 28mm tyres, cross winds not an issue just a gentle push at most which didn’t notice if you have two hands on the bars. I didn’t go nuts with high power efforts but out the saddle climbing I didn’t notice any brake rub.

Back to the valves & extenders. Conti tubes, schwalbe extenders. Remove the cores fit the extenders and refit the cores. Simple. Except the valve cores don’t work… I can put air in but I can’t let it out. They must be too tight and the design slightly different between manufacturers! I might have some schwalbe tubes I can take the cores out and try, or I need to buy new extenders! I went with them as they were black to match the wheels and weren’t stupid money! When extenders are 4x more than the tube something is wrong!

 

[gpuerrilla]

I’d love to say they added 3kmph to my speed, were laterally compliant vertically stiff and people’s necks snapped when they turned to look at me….

 

[Musty Pie]

What would people say to a caad12 ultegra for 1k?
Obviously as an upgrade from my Allez Elite Tiagra:

- Ultegra rim brake groupset.
- Fulcrum Racing Sport wheels with GP4000 28mm tyres.
- Recently upgraded cables, inners and outer.
- Chain used but well within minimum wear limit
- Upgraded Dura Ace Left-side STI lever (asked on this and was replaced because left shift performance was failing not because it was crashed)
- C-Bear bottom bracket.

Appreciate any advice!

 

[AndyCr15]

schwalbe extenders

That's interesting, I didn't know this was an option. I have a few tubes that I ordered by mistake, that wont go into my 41mm Aero wheels, so I guess I would fit these? Can you remove the core from the extenders, so I can still use my pressure monitors? I guess the question then is, is it worth spending £8 to be able to use maybe £10 worth of inner tubes

 

[Berger]

That's interesting, I didn't know this was an option. I have a few tubes that I ordered by mistake, that wont go into my 41mm Aero wheels, so I guess I would fit these? Can you remove the core from the extenders, so I can still use my pressure monitors? I guess the question then is, is it worth spending £8 to be able to use maybe £10 worth of inner tubes

Two types. One the core remains in place and you have to Loctite it in the up position or you risk being unable inflate/deflate the tube.

The second you remove the core, screw the extension on and refit the core to the extension so this would work for you. If you flat the tube you can remove the extension and put it on another tube so it’s not single use.

 

[AndyCr15]

The second you remove the core, screw the extension on and refit the core to the extension so this would work for you. If you flat the tube you can remove the extension and put it on another tube so it’s not single use.

Gotcha, thanks. I think this is what I would need then, thanks.

 

[Berger]

Gotcha, thanks. I think this is what I would need then, thanks.

Yes. The people saying they don’t fit well I think are trying to shove the pump over the extension…

I do use Loctite on the threads of mine. Perhaps not needed but means that I won’t accidentally undo the extension and/or double helps prevent leaking.

I found a Schwalbe tube, removed the core and fitted it. Problem solved… rolleyes! Schwalbe valve front, Conti rear. Very slightly different but enough for them to not play together nicely! I have an old 26” mtb tube I can pinch the other from now I know it works!

https://imgur.com/a/7jWlpQW

 

[SoliD]

@Berger I just use the lifeline tubes with long valves for my day to day riding! Saves faff of extenders. Wahey! Although dunno if they do 28#

 

[Berger]

Decent Sunday ride, plenty of hills, decent weather and fairly quiet out traffic wise.

Pretty pleased with the wheels, rode great today, braking good once warmed up but noisy. Internet says to toe the pads in, but that will just wear them unevenly so I don’t see what you’d gain there as you’d be back to square one after a few hard stops.

I think for me I’ve reached peak rim brake bike and I don’t think I can realistically improve it on a “normal” budget.

 

[Musty Pie]

What would people say to a caad12 ultegra for 1k?
Obviously as an upgrade from my Allez Elite Tiagra:

- Ultegra rim brake groupset.
- Fulcrum Racing Sport wheels with GP4000 28mm tyres.
- Recently upgraded cables, inners and outer.
- Chain used but well within minimum wear limit
- Upgraded Dura Ace Left-side STI lever (asked on this and was replaced because left shift performance was failing not because it was crashed)
- C-Bear bottom bracket.

Appreciate any advice!

Ok so I'm going to take a look at the above bike tonight.

found a little bit more out as below:

Caad12 2020 frame
Ultegra R8000 groupset (rim brakes - which i actually prefer)
C-bear Pf30 ceramic Bottom bracket
Fulcrum Race Wheelset
GP400- tyres

Anything that i should be aware of to check, and would generally appreciate any advise on the above spec/Price.

Based on paper it would be quite a nice upgrade for me I think without breaking the bank?

 

[Berger]

Sounds like a reasonable price. I don’t think you’d get a 2020 CAAD12 though? Maybe 2018 or it’s a CAAD13?

Not sure what Fulcrum Race are, assume low/mid range wheelset.

In my head I’m thinking if it has bespoke Cannondale cranks/chainrings they could be expensive when worn out. Apart from that not much.

 

[RoboCod]

The fulcrums are alright. They came fitted to my planetx. Not light, but not expensive either.

 

[Musty Pie]

Sounds like a reasonable price. I don’t think you’d get a 2020 CAAD12 though? Maybe 2018 or it’s a CAAD13?

Not sure what Fulcrum Race are, assume low/mid range wheelset.

In my head I’m thinking if it has bespoke Cannondale cranks/chainrings they could be expensive when worn out. Apart from that not much.

Yeah sorry i think its actually either a 2018 or 2019 frame, i think the caad13 came out 2020 right?

It has the Ultegra 8000 chainring on it, not the bespoke Cannondale one that comes as standard. I think that's why it had a Pf30 Bottom bracket - I assume this BB allows Shimano Cranks on it for that purpose as the Caad frame isnt threaded it is?

 

[Lethal`]

Likely an adapter is fitted from the likes of Praxis to support hollowtech cranks.