Road Cycling

Vonhelmet · 24 Sep 2017 at 09:38

Urgh, my legs! I ran just under 5 miles yesterday. Just been for a woefully slow 24 miles on the bike and I'm dying!

BennyC · 24 Sep 2017 at 12:48

Yesterdays fiend.

The one slightly above and to the right I have lived with but think that tyre will have to go, 4,000~ miles.

Steedie · 24 Sep 2017 at 20:27

Quick question

Used my new wheel (same Mavic Aksium that came with the bike) with the turbo tyre and new cassette on tonight. However it sounds and feels rough as ****.

I checked the chain wear indicator which is now at the .75 mark (recommended change soon), so I’m wondering if that chain on a new cassette is the issue? I get no issue on the old wheel with the old cassette.

Very noisy and I get a kind of clicking/grinding through the pedals at low rpm. Short of ordering a new chain, is there anything else that might be causing it?

merlin · 24 Sep 2017 at 21:15

Might just be indexing a little off?

UTmaniac · 24 Sep 2017 at 21:17

It might stop sounding so bad after a few miles, but it's probably for the best to swap the chain ASAP.

merlin · 24 Sep 2017 at 21:56

Well, velo Birmingham coming by my home town has certainly shook up Strava. I no longer recognise anyone in any segment top 10.

Lethal` · 24 Sep 2017 at 23:12

Sounds like it was a good event somewhat lowered by attempts at sabotage by frustrated locals. I heard reports of oil spilt on the roads, tacks down, a tractor blocking the road in protest etc..

jonneymendoza · 25 Sep 2017 at 07:59

Anyone cycling today?

Looks gloomy and wet!

SoliD · 25 Sep 2017 at 08:49

I'm off all week so got some riding planned! Staying up in Northumberland, so little ride up to Holy Island today, then 2/3rd of the dirty reiver route tomorrow round Kielder! Hopefully the weather improves from this fog.

ivrytwr3 · 25 Sep 2017 at 08:59

Lethal` said:
Sounds like it was a good event somewhat lowered by attempts at sabotage by frustrated locals. I heard reports of oil spilt on the roads, tacks down, a tractor blocking the road in protest etc..

Seriously? Wow - what is wrong with some people?

I am v new to cycling and only just back from a month overseas (without bike) and so had a lovely 11 miler which was almost all single track running by a river on a lovely day. Although, i got lost in the scenery at one point and got overtaken by another bike - never heard or saw him coming!

Shamrock · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:17

Anyone here have long reach calipers?

Mine are so useless in the wet it's effectively like having no brakes! Changing pads makes no difference at all. Wondering if upgrading the front caliper will help. I've read this is the best long reach caliper you can buy...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ultegra-r650-road-brake-caliper/rp-prod27807

Saytan · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:25

i have an R650 front on my kinesis T2. It was noticeably better than the tektro it replaced. Can pull long lazy stoppies even with a pannier bag on the back. I use kool stop salmons with it.

Shamrock · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:27

Saytan said:
i have an R650 front on my kinesis T2. It was noticeably better than the tektro it replaced. Can pull long lazy stoppies even with a pannier bag on the back. I use kool stop salmons with it.

Even in the wet?!

I'm tempted to try fitting a front R650 since they are only £36. Right now, I feel like Charlie Alliston riding in the rain.

Saytan · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:34

Shamrock said:
Even in the wet?!

I'm tempted to try fitting a front R650 since they are only £36. Right now, I feel like Charlie Alliston riding in the rain.

yeah, no stoppies in the wet, but still much better than the tektro I had before, what are you running at the mo?

Lethal` · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:38

ivrytwr3 said:
I am v new to cycling and only just back from a month overseas (without bike) and so had a lovely 11 miler which was almost all single track running by a river on a lovely day. Although, i got lost in the scenery at one point and got overtaken by another bike - never heard or saw him coming!

I went on a similar ride yesterday on the 29er (overkill I know but hybrid has a flat and I couldn't be bothered to fix it). Along the Thames then the River Wey... a lot of pedestrian traffic as it was a nice day! Ended up pursuing an e-bike on the way back

Shamrock · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:48

Saytan said:
yeah, no stoppies in the wet, but still much better than the tektro I had before, what are you running at the mo?

I'm not 100% certain but I think they are Shimano BR-R451s.

Saytan · 25 Sep 2017 at 09:55

Shamrock said:
I'm not 100% certain but I think they are Shimano BR-R451s.

The R451 and the R650 are the same casting, just minor details that are different. Are you using pads backed with metal holders? I've found they make a massive difference

Shamrock · 25 Sep 2017 at 10:37

I'm using Shimano brake shoes. In that past I've used Swisstop, Kool Stop and currently have Dura Ace pads in. All useless!

Saytan · 25 Sep 2017 at 10:53

What do you have on your "good" bike? I've got Campag Athena skeletons and they're a lot snappier than even the R650. The R650 is still loads better than a tektro tho

Roady · 25 Sep 2017 at 11:50

Baby due date +1. Still no sign of him! He's far to comfortable where he is lol

Changed my rear pads (original Ice Tech) after 5057 miles. Is that pretty average for discs? Happy with it anyway as that's over a years riding for me at the moment!

Also changed my Pro4 Endurance back to my Roubaix Pro which came with the bike. The rear Pro4 Endurance (28mm) had really worn down, giving me 3 punctures in the last couple of weeks. I think I'd only had one previously from a pot hole so protection had been good, but 3232 miles is quite low for them... I've had higher mileage on 25mm's so I figure it's a combination of the wider tread and lower pressure which has dramatically increased wear!

Had a good 2.5 hour session on the turbo sunday, including another FTP test (274W). It went OK, got a similar result to the last test (272W) which I wasn't happy with, but taking the race before into consideration I'm happy with that. Will just work my FTP back to around 270W over winter rather than working harder for a higher figure!

SoliD said:
Ha I love the way you've found me riding it...

Haha, I always do that when checking out segments - see who's ridden it out of my friends/followers!

ivrytwr3 said:
So, sir pressure cans? Hand pump - how do you deal with this?

I have a combo pump, a Lezyne Pressure drive CFH, but I've never used a co2 and only carry one with me. When it comes to changing a tube in the rain/snow/cold I'll probably eventually use a co2! Have pumped up 8-10 times with it roadside and it works well. Can get pressures near 100psi without too much problem! Well recommended but fairly sure I didn't pay that much for mine?!

FrenchTart said:
Personally I prefer to carry a decent sized pump (Morph Mountain in my case).

Morph mountain is well regarded. My old pump was a Crank brothers Gem and also worked well for the money - it has a pressure/volume switch so you can pump road/mountain with it (& sack truck when moving house...)!

Vonhelmet said:
I like the little hose on the lezyne ones, saves having to try to pump with everything in a rigid position.

Yup, hose type are superb, well recommended!

BennyC said:
Yesterdays fiend.

The one slightly above and to the right I have lived with but think that tyre will have to go, 4,000~ miles.

Impressive low wear on that tread for that mileage! Looks like it's survived some abuse as well!

Steedie said:
Very noisy and I get a kind of clicking/grinding through the pedals at low rpm. Short of ordering a new chain, is there anything else that might be causing it?

Will be the old chain & new cassette issue. If you keep riding it, it'll go 'quiet' eventually but all that is the cassette wearing to match the chain as the chain can't 'un-stretch', then you'll have the same issue with a new chain on the worn cassette... Worth avoiding that as you're just increasing wear! Get a new chain! :cool:

Lethal` said:
Sounds like it was a good event somewhat lowered by attempts at sabotage by frustrated locals. I heard reports of oil spilt on the roads, tacks down, a tractor blocking the road in protest etc..

Wow, really that bad?! I know around 8-10 who rode it and didn't see any comments about sabotage/abuse!