Road Cycling

randomshenans · 3 Nov 2016 at 22:32

As said on a previous page, the flux will max out on a 10% slope, so you'll only feel 10% but if it's a 15% slope on the screen, your virtual man will slow down to the equiv speed, based on the power you're putting out etc.

I wouldn't get the flux though, you just get 10% and for the money, the Vortex does 7% but is like way cheaper...
http://www.bike-discount.de/de/kaufen/tacx-t2180-vortex-virtual-smart-trainer-246764

This, although not direct drive, is cheaper and I'd say a better deal:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-bushido-smart-trainer/

randomshenans · 3 Nov 2016 at 22:50

Actually, scrap that, the flux looks really good actually. Apparently really good accuracy and much improved even over the Neo...

I can get it for about 600EUR... I'm sorely tempted and will sell on my Vortex

randomshenans · 3 Nov 2016 at 22:57

Dammit... I just bought the Flux... lol

I found a site with it on for 606EUR... when everywhere else it was up for 799! Seems too good but thought for that money I can sell my Vortex no bother and it's not that much more.

Jon33 · 3 Nov 2016 at 23:47

randomshenans said:
Dammit... I just bought the Flux... lol

I found a site with it on for 606EUR... when everywhere else it was up for 799! Seems too good but thought for that money I can sell my Vortex no bother and it's not that much more.

Well that escalated quickly haha!

Would love to know your thoughts on it when it arrives, don't suppose that site delivers to the UK?

whyscotty · 4 Nov 2016 at 07:19

Tacx Flux £557.29

FrenchTart · 4 Nov 2016 at 08:36

That's a damn good deal. If I hadn't just spent a billion pounds on bike parts I'd totally pick it up.

randomshenans · 4 Nov 2016 at 08:41

whyscotty said:
Tacx Flux £557.29

I got it from their FR site in fact! Now it's up to 612? Which is odd. I paid 606EUR last night, which is an utter steal. If you go to their German .de site, it's 700?!

I did escalate rather...a mate bought one at the same time. It all went nuts.

londonbairn · 4 Nov 2016 at 08:58

Never had this happen to me in nearly 10 years of road cycling. Commuting in the other day and the chainset (FC-6700) inner ring snapped! Turns out one of the bolts loosened, and as the bolts keep the structure of the inner ring, it just fell apart. Will definitely be checking these bolts in future!

Excuse to change to a 6800 one (done already) which works nicely with my 10sp setup

Roady · 4 Nov 2016 at 09:57

Berger said:
Roady, I was going to bring my R5 on the plane.

I want the trainer as it's winter (duh) and shipping takes 2-3 months! So I'll have the P3 ready for spring TT!

Ahh fair one... Another thought, if you're shipping loads of house stuff over (container?) then consider that the KICKR might be worth substantially more over here second hand than in Oz. With a container coming over you wouldn't be paying anything extra (as you pay per container, regardless of weight IIRC?)

The pound is tanking hard against the Euro and the majority of our cycling kit/equipment is imported from Europe. Consider I bought my Tacx Vortex Smart (not exactly a new trainer so pricing not that set by demand), now on a deal for £316 when it was £250 back in the summer and current pricing is £350. I'm fully expecting it to go up, unless Tacx reduce prices on their 'older' trainers! Wahoo products (US so dollar) might be less affected but it'll catch up with the Euro if the Pound doesn't recover more soon...

You *could* buy a new KICKR and then return it to Wiggle for a full refund once yours arrives... Just don't tell FT! He frowns!

randomshenans said:
I don't think I'd fit 2 pairs of socks on under my shoes lol

Nor me... To be honest my Sidi's are even a bit tight with my thicker merino socks on but I'll take that over looser fitting shoes in the summer...! I just do them up a little looser!

BennyC said:
What's even more odd is I turn in to an absolute furnace on the turbo and still perspire like mad and not a single bit of that lava like blood reaches my extremities

Similar to me! Core toasty & cooks when riding, extremities don't cook when winds & ambient are cold.

When not riding my feet/lower legs are the worst. It's always when I sat stationary at work/home and I never feel them cold when cycling, nor numb for that matter (only had numb toes when soaked from rain & freezing temps). Because I suffer when stationary I've always wrapped my feet up well when riding. I've been wearing neoprene overshoes since late september & broke out the winter boots this morning after a couple of cool ones & a cold forecast for the next 7-10 days.

Personally I think Wind protection makes a huge difference, be it through 'windproof/showerproof' socks, winter boots, overshoes or even 'aero' shoe/toe covers. They all make a BIG difference. Thicker socks will only keep your feet warmer if they're warm to start with and being cooled at a lesser 'rate' by the wind. If they're not, your feet are cold & no thickness of sock is going to help! :eek:

Stop the wind!

randomshenans said:
Dammit... I just bought the Flux... lol
I found a site with it on for 606EUR... when everywhere else it was up for 799! Seems too good but thought for that money I can sell my Vortex no bother and it's not that much more.

Numpty. I'd have bought your Vortex Smart (mine arrived Tuesday & took it home yesterday, not setup yet). Maybe Berger would be interested? You're both returning to the UK at a similar time... :cool:

One More Solo · 4 Nov 2016 at 10:14

Roady said:
You *could* buy a new KICKR and then return it to Wiggle for a full refund once yours arrives... Just don't tell FT! He frowns!

Not just FT! :/

Stuff in Oz is very expensive generally so expect you'd get a decent return selling the Kickr anyway? Good excuse to upgrade to the superior Neo anyway.

xdcx · 4 Nov 2016 at 10:28

Jono said:
I definitely need to get me some winter boots.

I'm looking.
What winter boots do you bams have?

I am tempted by the Shimano RW5's - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rw5-dry-shield-winter-cycling-road-shoes/

I'd like to keep this winter kit rubbish spending to a minimum as I have done with new light and mudguards. Probably due some new £250 shoes for racing next season so saving what I can now on winter stuff would be less frowned upon.

Roady · 4 Nov 2016 at 11:24

One More Solo said:
Stuff in Oz is very expensive generally so expect you'd get a decent return selling the Kickr anyway? Good excuse to upgrade to the superior Neo anyway.

Hmm, I thought that the Wahoo pricing (being from the US) might be better than UK pricing. Ho-hum.

xdcx said:
I'm looking.
What winter boots do you bams have?

I am tempted by the Shimano RW5's - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rw5-dry-shield-winter-cycling-road-shoes/

Sidi Hydro's here but I would say the Northwave Celsius/Fahrenheight are a better purchase. They're generally cheaper, more available second hand/in deals and don't have the same stupid design as the Sidi's tongue (which doubles over, causing pressure points & has leather stitched on the outside so you're unable to do anything about the position). Don't know the Shimanos, looked at them but not tried any on or ridden in. I owned and rode in the Celsius before stupidly buying the Hydro's. :rolleyes:

Edit: FYI: Velcro closure at the top of the RW5 look the same as the Hydro/Celsius, it'll soak up water to some degree (it's not gore-tex/Dryshield like the shoe body) so without protection/cover in heavy rain above your ankle will get wet and some will make it down to your foot.

Edit2: You'd probably find the Northwave cheaper if looking at SH/bay.

londonbairn said:
the chainset (FC-6700) inner ring snapped

Too many MEGAWATTZ!

Shamrock · 4 Nov 2016 at 11:28

I still get cold toes in the NW Celsius.

Roady · 4 Nov 2016 at 11:36

Shamrock said:
I still get cold toes in the NW Celsius.

With PX thicky merino socks & Neoprene overshoes over the top? :cool:

(My feet were the only warm part of me last winter with the above combo in -5 degrees with -10 windchill)

Shamrock · 4 Nov 2016 at 12:02

I have the PX thicky socks and they are inferior to Woolie Boolies IMO but obviously cheaper.

I think wearing neoprene overshoes over my winter boots may help but I'd look like this...

randomshenans · 4 Nov 2016 at 12:08

I think anything Northwave is made by lemons and is crap, due to my experiences with their stuff

FrenchTart · 4 Nov 2016 at 12:33

Can't say I'm a huge fan of Northwave either.

Roady · 4 Nov 2016 at 12:49

I have Northwave shorts, jersey & previously had boots (just wrong size).

Shorts are meh, on par with DHB. Jerseys are ok, better than DHB. Boots are on par, if not better than my Sidi. Go figure

Lethal` · 4 Nov 2016 at 12:59

Northwave shoes were so far off fitting my feet in all sizes I tried. If I remember correctly... quite wide. Mind you Mavic and Sidi are about the only brand I've found that fit okay.

SoliD · 4 Nov 2016 at 13:36

londonbairn said:
Never had this happen to me in nearly 10 years of road cycling. Commuting in the other day and the chainset (FC-6700) inner ring snapped! Turns out one of the bolts loosened, and as the bolts keep the structure of the inner ring, it just fell apart. Will definitely be checking these bolts in future!

Excuse to change to a 6800 one (done already) which works nicely with my 10sp setup

Had this on my MTB with about 40 miles of the South Downs left to ride..... That was fun.

xdcx said:
I'm looking.
What winter boots do you bams have?

Northwave boots here. But need to ensure you size up to fit slightly bigger socks in, and then replace the insoles with one of those mouldable warm things has worked a treat. Although in the rain I'm going to try putting Velotoze cut in half over my leg and around the top of the boot so nothing gets in the top as this is the failing of any boot.