Road Cycling

Shamrock · 16 Jul 2016 at 17:19

BennyC said:
A fella on my first 'official' club ride this morning was sat on his top tube like Froome a few times today not sure if heroic or moronic...

I do this all the time since learning it. It's a useful skill for descending faster as Froome demonstrated.

Like riding the phantom aero bars, if you practice it enough it isn't dangerous at all.

Berger · 17 Jul 2016 at 09:52

Descending on the top tube OK if your on the drops.

On the flat of the bar where you can't brake, stupid.

Same for phantom aero bars in a group, one unseen bump or wobble and you have crap control. Leave it for racing or the pros IMO.

madindehead · 17 Jul 2016 at 10:25

The thing I hate about where I live for cycling: I hate getting from my house to the start of my routes. It always feels like such a chore

The only partially fun bit is the first climb and the descent, but even that is a bit crap compared to the rest of the stuff actually in the Chilterns.

I wish I could just drive to Marlow, then ride out from there. Or ride to somewhere in the Chilterns (Frieth, Fingest) and start there

Bear · 17 Jul 2016 at 10:57

madindehead said:
The thing I hate about where I live for cycling: I hate getting from my house to the start of my routes. It always feels like such a chore The only partially fun bit is the first climb and the descent, but even that is a bit crap compared to the rest of the stuff actually in the Chilterns.

I wish I could just drive to Marlow, then ride out from there. Or ride to somewhere in the Chilterns (Frieth, Fingest) and start there

There's no reason you can't drive anywhere you want to ride your bike shirley, or don't you have a car?

madindehead · 17 Jul 2016 at 13:03

Bear said:
There's no reason you can't drive anywhere you want to ride your bike shirley, or don't you have a car?

I don't have a car

Also, it comes across as really lazy. Driving somewhere to then cycle

I am actually going to sort one for next year: I'm fed up of cycling though Marlow I've decided

Bear · 17 Jul 2016 at 13:15

madindehead said:
I don't have a car Also, it comes across as really lazy. Driving somewhere to then cycle

It's not really but I guess it depends on how far you want to drive

#Chri5# · 17 Jul 2016 at 13:56

First since the end of May this morning (broken bike, bad back, holidays etc etc).

Can you have a one man grupetto? The last 20k were horribly hard work, perhaps I can blame that on last night's trip to the village pub for their beer & music festival?

Vonhelmet · 17 Jul 2016 at 14:06

madindehead said:
The thing I hate about where I live for cycling: I hate getting from my house to the start of my routes. It always feels like such a chore The only partially fun bit is the first climb and the descent, but even that is a bit crap compared to the rest of the stuff actually in the Chilterns.

I wish I could just drive to Marlow, then ride out from there. Or ride to somewhere in the Chilterns (Frieth, Fingest) and start there

I have some stretches of road like that. I've got to ride through Bolton tonight to find somewhere interesting to go... Grim.

oli collett · 17 Jul 2016 at 14:48

Berger said:
Descending on the top tube OK if your on the drops.

On the flat of the bar where you can't brake, stupid.

Same for phantom aero bars in a group, one unseen bump or wobble and you have crap control. Leave it for racing or the pros IMO.

Descending off the drops is pretty daft as it is. When we did hardknott/winnats a few months back I got stuck behind a guy who descended the whole way on the top of his hoods - utterly bonkers. Quite how he survived the lengthy 20% downhill sections I don't know!

VaderDSL · 17 Jul 2016 at 15:37

Any Campag experts?

I have an old Italian Olmo Giro bike I am trying to get back in service for my dad.

It has a 70mm Italian threaded BB (36X24F) 111mm Mirage BB (the one with 6 half moon notches).

With a triple Mirage crankset.

I want to replace the BB as the bearings are gritty and just not very nice anymore after all these years.

Anyone know if :

Cantaur BB will work?

If I buy the Italian (70mm) 111mm spindle version, it should be a direct replacement yes? It says in the description it supports all years mirage crankset, so I shouldn't have any issues with it?

I also need to order some new cables, any recommendations for campag specific gear cables that won't break the bank?

I'm looking at Transfil kit (I need to replace the outers as well, lot of rust in them)

And finally, the barrel adjuster in the rear mech has snapped, so need to try and find a replacement.

FrenchTart · 17 Jul 2016 at 15:55

VaderDSL said:
I have an old Italian Olmo Giro bike I am trying to get back in service for my dad.

It has a 70mm Italian threaded BB (36X24F) 111mm Mirage BB (the one with 6 half moon notches).

With a triple Mirage crankset.

I want to replace the BB as the bearings are gritty and just not very nice anymore after all these years.

Anyone know if :

Cantaur BB will work?

If I buy the Italian (70mm) 111mm spindle version, it should be a direct replacement yes? It says in the description it supports all years mirage crankset, so I shouldn't have any issues with it?

I also need to order some new cables, any recommendations for campag specific gear cables that won't break the bank?

I'm looking at Transfil kit (I need to replace the outers as well, lot of rust in them)

And finally, the barrel adjuster in the rear mech has snapped, so need to try and find a replacement.

Try trust messaging Saytan (I think?) as I've seen him post Campag-related build stuff a bit.

Saytan · 17 Jul 2016 at 16:11

VaderDSL said:
I have an old Italian Olmo Giro bike I am trying to get back in service for my dad.

It has a 70mm Italian threaded BB (36X24F) 111mm Mirage BB (the one with 6 half moon notches).

With a triple Mirage crankset.

I want to replace the BB as the bearings are gritty and just not very nice anymore after all these years.

Anyone know if :

Cantaur BB will work?

If I buy the Italian (70mm) 111mm spindle version, it should be a direct replacement yes? It says in the description it supports all years mirage crankset, so I shouldn't have any issues with it?

I also need to order some new cables, any recommendations for campag specific gear cables that won't break the bank?

I'm looking at Transfil kit (I need to replace the outers as well, lot of rust in them)

And finally, the barrel adjuster in the rear mech has snapped, so need to try and find a replacement.

Hello!

All the lower end (not record/chorus) triple cranksets I've ever come across require the 115mm version of the Veloce/Centaur BBs. A quick google seems to suggest that the mirage is no exception to this. If the current one is a 11 and it works, then you can probably get away with a new 111. Skinny steel frames sometimes can.

Barrel adjuster should be easy enough to get hold of, they're about 3-4 quid, but there are a few versions. I'd suggest checking with the nearest campagnolo pro shop to you

http://www.velotech-cycling.ltd.uk/campagnolo_proshop.shtml

I tend to use any old cables I have around (I mill through LOTS of bike stuff) and have never had any shifting issues from it

Campag stuff is much more takeapartable than Shimano stuff as a rule, and spares availability is much better.

madindehead · 17 Jul 2016 at 16:32

Vonhelmet said:
I have some stretches of road like that. I've got to ride through Bolton tonight to find somewhere interesting to go... Grim.

That doesn't sound like fun

VaderDSL · 17 Jul 2016 at 16:36

Cheers!

I have a digital caliper on order to measure the BB width, but using a ruler I believe it is 111mm, it is indeed a fairly skinny frame, but I'll see the exact width when I receive the measuring device.

I had to order the BBT4 tools as well to remove the BB, I'll give the area a good clean.

I stripped the headset down as well, I'm fairly sure it is a 1" steerer on the fork, I took it apart and it was completely gunked up with old grease. Oddly, the lower bearings seem completely open to whatever is thrown up into it from the front wheel.

The cups are heavily pitted so I might end up replacing the threaded headset and getting the local LBS to re-press the cups/races.

Kimi · 17 Jul 2016 at 16:38

Chilterns ride and a 9mile TT to start the day today, really felt it after hitting about 50 miles..

Found a climb that was 22% in parts, RIP legs

Derek W · 17 Jul 2016 at 18:52

I'm getting annoyed with my bike just now. I got everything changed over that i need to.....change of wheels, cassette, crank which resulted in me screwing up my pedals so had to revert back to the old ones and now my front dereullier isn't playing ball and I've lost one of the front cogs and it refuses to shift down to the smallest gear ring :mad:

Fuggan · 17 Jul 2016 at 20:23

Well I survived my sportive on Friday. 60miles of the Yorkshire Dales definitely took its toll but I really enjoyed it!

Lethal` · 17 Jul 2016 at 20:29

madindehead said:
The thing I hate about where I live for cycling: I hate getting from my house to the start of my routes. It always feels like such a chore The only partially fun bit is the first climb and the descent, but even that is a bit crap compared to the rest of the stuff actually in the Chilterns.

I wish I could just drive to Marlow, then ride out from there. Or ride to somewhere in the Chilterns (Frieth, Fingest) and start there

Heh. Marlow seems like nothing in comparison to bits of London/Surrey I have to go through to get to Richmond Park or the Surrey Hills but I know exactly what you mean

I normally think about putting the bike in the car to get out to Surrey Hills then spend more miles in the hills than the 'commute' there and back but I normally just cycle because it only saves about 15-20mins + the added faff of unloading/loading the car.

madindehead · 17 Jul 2016 at 20:31

Fuggan said:
Well I survived my sportive on Friday. 60miles of the Yorkshire Dales definitely took its toll but I really enjoyed it!

Congrats

Got a Strava link?

Lethal` said:
Heh. Marlow seems like nothing in comparison to bits of London/Surrey I have to go through to get to Richmond Park or the Surrey Hills but I know exactly what you mean

I normally think about putting the bike in the car to get out to Surrey Hills then spend more miles in the hills than the 'commute' there and back but I normally just cycle because it only saves about 15-20mins + the added faff of unloading/loading the car.

Oh god yeah. I bet London/Surrey is pretty awful

There is that, loading the car would be a pain. I will definitely still consider it though

Haha.

physichull · 17 Jul 2016 at 21:10

Derek W said:
I'm getting annoyed with my bike just now. I got everything changed over that i need to.....change of wheels, cassette, crank which resulted in me screwing up my pedals so had to revert back to the old ones and now my front dereullier isn't playing ball and I've lost one of the front cogs and it refuses to shift down to the smallest gear ring

Cable tension. Other than that, its a bit of black magic but cable tension would be my first port of call.