Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
- Joined
- 16 May 2005
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- 31,297
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- Manchester
There's your mistake. You should've been doing mph on UK roads.
Maybe I need a cross bike... they had a few nice ones in Merlin!
Cheaper than a divorce. N+1
Anyone know of any decent cross/winter/gravel/adventure/branding-for-wide-tyres-mudguards-and-discs frames? I'm planning to build up a bike next year with discs and sram rival for winter and crap weather duty. My trusty carerra tdf will then be relegated to my parents house for when I'm visiting.
So far I'm looking st the genesis croix de fer which is £400 for a 725 steel frame with headset and seatpost clamp included. Planet X have an aluminium frame for £350 which ticks the features boxes but... no headset or clamp so it would not far off £400 once I added those and it's aluminium and says Planet X on the side instead of genesis... Kinesis have some frames but they're a bit pricier. Am I missing anything obvious? My budget is about £400 for the frame so I'm squarely in steel/aluminium territory. I like the way steel rides, so I'm drawn to that more than aluminium.
So far I'm looking st the genesis croix de fer which is £400 for a 725 steel frame with headset and seatpost clamp included. Planet X have an aluminium frame for £350 which ticks the features boxes but... no headset or clamp so it would not far off £400 once I added those and it's aluminium and says Planet X on the side instead of genesis... Kinesis have some frames but they're a bit pricier. Am I missing anything obvious? My budget is about £400 for the frame so I'm squarely in steel/aluminium territory. I like the way steel rides, so I'm drawn to that more than aluminium.
Evening all
I'm trying to get a bit of extra reach on my bike and I'm thinking I could change my handlebars as I've never actually been a fan of the "curved" drops I prefer the ones with an angled flat section - if that makes any sense.
Could anyone suggest some bars with a longish reach at a reasonable price? Currently on 3T ergonova bars with a reach of 77
I'm trying to get a bit of extra reach on my bike and I'm thinking I could change my handlebars as I've never actually been a fan of the "curved" drops I prefer the ones with an angled flat section - if that makes any sense.
Could anyone suggest some bars with a longish reach at a reasonable price? Currently on 3T ergonova bars with a reach of 77
Soldato
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- 22 Sep 2008
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Aside from that, there was never a flat bit of ground for more than 500m, so by the time you get into a rhythm you have to change it. Ended up doing 255 billion watts and only averaging 31.5kmh.
Rant over
You had it far too easy in Australia, the UK is where the real men pedal.
Soldato
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- 22 Sep 2008
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On another subject, I went to the Manchester velodrome on Saturday night to see the Revolution Champions League. Some great racing to be had and such a fun night out, I'd recommend it to anybody who is a fan of cycling (or not, my missus even enjoyed herself!).
Saw a lot of big names there: Elia Viviani, Pete Kennaugh, Andy Tennant, Owain Doull, Jon Dibben, Ed Clancy, Dylan Groenewgen to name but a few for the men and Neah Evans, Sarah Storey and Amalie Diderkisen for the women. Really great night and some fabulous bikes to be seen, particularly Viviani's Pinarello in shiny metallic blue, with gold bar tape, gold shoes, gold helmet and gold Oakleys!
Viviani's shiny bike close up:
https://twitter.com/eliaviviani/status/802201452340977664
Blurry terrible photos:
Viviani's bike (and Viviani!)
Coolest rear wheel evs!
Kennaugh and Vivi
Mens scratch race
Saw a lot of big names there: Elia Viviani, Pete Kennaugh, Andy Tennant, Owain Doull, Jon Dibben, Ed Clancy, Dylan Groenewgen to name but a few for the men and Neah Evans, Sarah Storey and Amalie Diderkisen for the women. Really great night and some fabulous bikes to be seen, particularly Viviani's Pinarello in shiny metallic blue, with gold bar tape, gold shoes, gold helmet and gold Oakleys!
Viviani's shiny bike close up:
https://twitter.com/eliaviviani/status/802201452340977664
Blurry terrible photos:
Viviani's bike (and Viviani!)
Coolest rear wheel evs!
Kennaugh and Vivi
Mens scratch race
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2004
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- 12,769
- Location
- Leicestershire
I have some Defy 2 (2014 model?) mudguards I could sell you if you needed some? Been used but not very often. My bike got wrong off in an accident before I refitted them for winter.
Not sure if they would fit but if they do it's an option.
I'd go kinesis, my friends one is a real class piece of work. Not sure what model you'd be looking at tho. His is the athein race, it rides very well. I keep looking at the cross light but will wait until next year.
Berger sux2bu lolololololololol
Check out Fizik bars in the "snake" form. They are flat bottomed on the drops and an aggressive reach down. "snake" is their racing geo/aimed gear.
physichull, went to the velodrome myself earlier in the year to watch the Revolution Series. Like yourself had a fantastic night and was good to see many of the stars riders out too. Saw Laura Trott race that evening as well as Wiggins and Cavendish amongst others. So many events too, didn't understand the madison at all and found it hard to follow but still good to watch. I forget what the event is called but my favourite was the one where they go as slow as possible until the last lap and then it's an explosive sprint to the end, 1-1. Brilliant.
Saw plenty of awesome bikes but nothing quite like that metallic Pinarello!!
Saw plenty of awesome bikes but nothing quite like that metallic Pinarello!!
Soldato
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Went last year aswell and Laura Trott destroyed everyone in sight! I love the Revolution series, so much better than a lot of events as its just race after race after race. Its relentless and time just flies. Watching the national champs can be boring in compariosn with medal ceremonies and what can seem like an eternity between one race finishing and another starting.
What height are you Lethal?
If you couldn't lower the seat enough and based on that pic I think that frame too big for you. Guessing you are 5ft 8in at most? You'd be better of a frame size down and again if you are running 40cm bars, that's about as narrow as you can go bar wise so this leads me to believe your a small fellow also?
Propel is a race geo bike really, so you'd better size down frame, longer stem and have ability to at least adjust that saddle height!
I have no idea on Giant frame sizing though. Just my thoughts.
Oh it's definitely too big yep. Small would work I think. I'm 5'8.5" but not really small build...
I figured the Propel was worth a demo while it was available. Could have demoed the TCR Disc as well but I figured the TCR geo is kinda similar to the Agree I have. I think if I'm to get anything propel-like I might as well go the full way and get a TT bike...
Surprised 40cm is lowest handlebar size as I'm not particularly narrow shouldered. Perhaps Bike Radar's spec of mine is wrong as I didn't actually measure. Giant apparently had 42cm but that could be wrong too.
Bad times - having three days off work and getting struck down with man flu.
Good times - After having a dialogue with the supplier of my light set (Lezyne 400XL & Micro Drive rear) about the problems I've been having with the rear light I was told I'd get a full refund and no need to return it I was very clear to point out that the front light was perfect (first line in my email) and even pointed out that they had the rear in stock all be it in a different colour or as part of a set so they could swap it out. Obviously more hassle than it was worth for them so it looks like I've scored a front light FOC 
Good times - After having a dialogue with the supplier of my light set (Lezyne 400XL & Micro Drive rear) about the problems I've been having with the rear light I was told I'd get a full refund and no need to return it
I was very clear to point out that the front light was perfect (first line in my email) and even pointed out that they had the rear in stock all be it in a different colour or as part of a set so they could swap it out. Obviously more hassle than it was worth for them so it looks like I've scored a front light FOC