The Cycling Thread [Archive] - Page 17 - SV650.org

mattSV

17-10-11, 07:12 PM

Keep your fat tyred questions to the MTB thread ;)

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=119882&page=129

I almost choked on my hot chocolate when you suggested using your Dura Ace pedals on an MTB, sacre bleu :silent:

No don't use them, sell them and get some proper MTB SPD's and shoes

As for £800 hard tail, then the Boardmans at Halfords always get good write ups, as do the Carrera Fury's

Still got the Trek?

What he said

Boardmans are great VFM. Road shoes are useless in mud - the cleats will totally smeg up, and you will fall over on your **** if you have to get off and push for any reason.

If you could squeeze to £900 this (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_77 7799_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab)would be a good buy

maviczap

17-10-11, 07:15 PM

Yeah I still have it. It's a 5 year old madone 5.2. Great bike, going to keep it as I intend to be fit enough next year to ride it properly.

Yes the Madone is a nice bike. Not sure which one LP's brother had in France, but getting kinda collectable these days. Especially if its got Dura Ace on it.

Tim in Belgium

17-10-11, 08:52 PM

I got out for the first time in ages on a mountain bike in Swinley forest last weekend and as it turns out my form is not as bad as I thought it would be. This has led me to want to buy my own Mountain bike and actually take up cycling once again (last time I used to road ride on my Trek Madone).

My question is about which bike, pretty simple really. I have given myself roughly an £800 budget and I'm looking for a hardtail mountain bike with suspension forks. The one that has caught my interest so far is this:
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/12rockhopper/rockhopper/Rockhopper%20Expert

Specifically the expert version. Seems like a good bike for not very much money. Any one else got recommendations?

I already have Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals from my road bike and a decent saddle is reusing those on a mountain bike an option? Ta.

Give me a shout if you want to hit swinley, just got to get alight frame repair on my old Giant...

fizzwheel

17-10-11, 09:00 PM

I'm wandering if I can get below 30 minutes for 10 miles before the weather turns ****ty and I have to park my Look up for the winter...

Cant quite believe last week I was comfy in Bib Shorts and Jersey, with short sleeve base layer underneath and arm warmers. Tonight was getting colder, but 3/4's and Short Sleeve base layer with jersey and arm warmers, was warm enough when I got going.

33:42 for the first 10 miles of this. Not riding with heartrate monitor at the moment so no stats for that, but didnt feel like I was going flat out

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/122489348

ravingdavis

17-10-11, 10:00 PM

What he said

Boardmans are great VFM.

If you could squeeze to £900 this (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_77 7799_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab)would be a good buy

I'm really surprised people are recommending the Boardman bikes, I generally held the opinion that anything from Halfords is to be avoided like the plague.

Yes the Madone is a nice bike. Not sure which one LP's brother had in France, but getting kinda collectable these days. Especially if its got Dura Ace on it.

Sadly is isnt full Dura Ace, it is all Ultegra aside from the pedals, when I bought them there was only a £5 difference between the Ultegra SPDSL and the Dura Ace.

ravingdavis

17-10-11, 10:01 PM

Give me a shout if you want to hit swinley, just got to get alight frame repair on my old Giant...

I will do, although having seen you I would reckon you are still somewhat fitter than I am! I live in a pretty great place as Swinley is only a mile and a half away. :)

Luckypants

18-10-11, 08:09 AM

Yes the Madone is a nice bike. Not sure which one LP's brother had in France, but getting kinda collectable these days. Especially if its got Dura Ace on it.

Ian was riding his Madone 4.7, with Ultegra brakes / groupset and Bontrager finishing kit. He has upgraded the wheels to Mavic Ksyrium Elite's. So it's lovely, light and fast. Shame he is neither of those things! :p His diet for next year's trip to the Alps has not yet materialised.

My mate has a Madone 5.2 with Dura-ace kit, his chain stay on the left has just fallen apart :(. It looks like a stone has hit it from the rear wheel and started a crack that has propagated along the tube....

Got to say these carbon bikes seem very fragile, three Bianchi owning lads I ride with have had replacement frames due to cracking around the bottom bracket, plus Craig's Trek just this year. That's a 40% failure rate in our little group.

maviczap

18-10-11, 08:17 AM

I'm really surprised people are recommending the Boardman bikes, I generally held the opinion that anything from Halfords is to be avoided like the plague.

Sadly is isnt full Dura Ace, it is all Ultegra aside from the pedals, when I bought them there was only a £5 difference between the Ultegra SPDSL and the Dura Ace.

No Boardmans were properly built, and he wouldn't have put his name to them if they were ****e. Proper groupsets and well built frames to a design by Terry Dolan I think.

Most frames are built in the same Taiwanese factories these days, even your uber expensive Trek's, Specialized, Colnago's etc.

Now if it was an Appollo :cyclops:

Nowt wrong with Ultegra, that's what I've got

Luckypants

18-10-11, 08:17 AM

I'm wandering if I can get below 30 minutes for 10 miles before the weather turns ****ty and I have to park my Look up for the winter...

I'm sure you can if you want to, you are pretty close and you can go eyeballs out for 10 miles if you have to, just to claim the time ;)

I was hoping to get sub 1:30:00 for my 30 mile hilly training route after the Pyrenees, but it was not to be with various things keeping me off my bike for most of the past month (god it's a month since France! :( ) Managed a PB the other week, but it was still well outside the magic number. (1:43:05)

Cant quite believe last week I was comfy in Bib Shorts and Jersey, with short sleeve base layer underneath and arm warmers. Tonight was getting colder, but 3/4's and Short Sleeve base layer with jersey and arm warmers, was warm enough when I got going.

I know, I was barely warm enough on Sunday's ride in the same sort of kit. I had 3/4s in my bag too, but opted for shorts - wrong option. Talk on the ride was of prepping winter bikes, Aldi kit sales and new goretex riding shoes.... Winter is coming.

maviczap

18-10-11, 08:20 AM

Ian was riding his Madone 4.7, with Ultegra brakes / groupset and Bontrager finishing kit. He has upgraded the wheels to Mavic Ksyrium Elite's. So it's lovely, light and fast. Shame he is neither of those things! :p His diet for next year's trip to the Alps has not yet materialised.

My mate has a Madone 5.2 with Dura-ace kit, his chain stay on the left has just fallen apart :(. It looks like a stone has hit it from the rear wheel and started a crack that has propagated along the tube....

Got to say these carbon bikes seem very fragile, three Bianchi owning lads I ride with have had replacement frames due to cracking around the bottom bracket, plus Craig's Trek just this year. That's a 40% failure rate in our little group.

Yep thats the downside of carbon :-?

Titanium is probrably the way to go.

I saw a Ribble like yours Mike, but in the red & black colours, which I nearly bid on. But I have enough bikes at the mo. Went for £360 which wasn't a bad price for a nearly new frame

maviczap

18-10-11, 08:23 AM

I know, I was barely warm enough on Sunday's ride in the same sort of kit. I had 3/4s in my bag too, but opted for shorts - wrong option. Talk on the ride was of prepping winter bikes, Aldi kit sales and new goretex riding shoes.... Winter is coming.

Yes, I have my eye on a few bits of winter kit to buy soon.

Suns out, but the wind is frickin cold

mattSV

18-10-11, 10:40 AM

I wussed out and went for full roubaix tights and winter top this morning - nice & toasty ;)

krhall

18-10-11, 10:44 AM

I got a Lidl winter top and gloves a couple of weeks back and the top is far too warm for wearing at the moment. It is very comfortable too!

I only have a carbon bike and will be attempting to ride all year round on my commute/

maviczap

18-10-11, 10:47 AM

I wussed out and went for full roubaix tights and winter top this morning - nice & toasty ;)

I got a Lidl winter top and gloves a couple of weeks back and the top is far too warm for wearing at the moment. It is very comfortable too!

I only have a carbon bike and will be attempting to ride all year round on my commute/

Thats always my dilema this time of year, wear too much and get too hot, wear the wrong stuff and get friggin cold. Same in the Spring

mattSV

18-10-11, 06:06 PM

Took a longer route home tonight - 12.23 miles through rush hour traffic in 44:40, quickest 10miles was 34:53, which I was quite happy with considering I don't put in the miles like I used to.

I used my new Camelback Hawg NV for the first time today -3l bladder and big enough to fit in a towel, trousers, shirt, lunch etc for work. Once it is on you back you don't even know it is there - highly recommended!

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/PmUa7dprCiXFtgG0SMCbClR45cNggzXde1SuLZsFSnGMxgrG6A ovW78wbn_S58ACj2UPI8slA00lzYKh5QTCX0_VdAkT51-ByQJV41Db7v0mT1pRNZgfN_7osjBVjX-5HyajbT7c8QF4aiyENdnI5sBxJ0Fc8ccG8MzGvwbRKAN18tn7O g

454697819

19-10-11, 07:04 AM

brrrrrr

6.5 miles this morning in shorts, fleece jacket and open fingered gloves...

time to invest in some winter gear...

flipping brrrrrr

krhall

19-10-11, 07:32 AM

My sodding ears were freezing this morning!!!

Found an old pair of running leggings to go over my shorts, much more comfortable that yesterday, when my legs were painfully cold!

454697819

19-10-11, 06:48 PM

My sodding ears were freezing this morning!!!

Found an old pair of running leggings to go over my shorts, much more comfortable that yesterday, when my legs were painfully cold!

ill have to look out for something like that,

I wear ear plugs to stop the cold air getting in as I am prone to ear infections... yay for me

rob13

19-10-11, 08:40 PM

Garmin HRM arrived today so hoping to put it all to the test in the morning with a short 20 miler.

maviczap

19-10-11, 09:11 PM

Garmin HRM arrived today so hoping to put it all to the test in the morning with a short 20 miler.

Which one, love my Garmin

Jabba

19-10-11, 10:14 PM

My wallet is lighter.....

Was looking at Fulcrum Racing 3's and Mavic Ksyrium Elites but more than I really wanted to spend. Considered Ultegra 6700 wheels (clincher/tubeless) but in the end went for Pro-Lite Briaccanos bassed on reviews/web ratings.

Anyone used/tried them?

maviczap

20-10-11, 07:24 AM

If you bought the Ultegra's I would have said they are great wheels and they look nice too. I've got a pair

Nice quiet freewheel rachet, unlike the Mavic's

rob13

20-10-11, 09:15 AM

Which one, love my Garmin

Bought the Edge 500. Bargain at £160 with HRM & Cadence/Speed sensor.

fizzwheel

20-10-11, 09:35 AM

Nice quiet freewheel rachet, unlike the Mavic's

although compared the Freewheel ratchet on a Fulcrum wheel, even the Mavic one is quiet...

Also I've got a friend with a set of Fulcrums and I had to wrestle with the tyre at the side of the road to get it off his Racing 7 after he broke his tyre levers trying to get the tyre off the rim.

maviczap

20-10-11, 09:56 AM

Bought the Edge 500. Bargain at £160 with HRM & Cadence/Speed sensor.

That was a good price! New or 2nd Hand?

maviczap

20-10-11, 09:59 AM

although compared the Freewheel ratchet on a Fulcrum wheel, even the Mavic one is quiet...

Also I've got a friend with a set of Fulcrums and I had to wrestle with the tyre at the side of the road to get it off his Racing 7 after he broke his tyre levers trying to get the tyre off the rim.

Blimey, you'd need ear plugs then!

Yep, the Ultegra's aren't tyre lever friendly either. I was going to invest in some Park tools metal tyre levers, as I'm fed up with plastic ones snapping.

The best levers I've got are a freebie off a magazine

fizzwheel

20-10-11, 10:31 AM

The blue Plastic Park Tool levers are pretty robust, I've not broken one yet. It was those that I used to get the tyre off The Fulcrum 7's

maviczap

20-10-11, 10:38 AM

I've got them as well,and I haven't managed to break one yet.

But the blade part is a bit fat and I struggle to get it under the tyre bead sometimes, depends on the rim.

The other ones I've got, the blade is a lot lower profile and easy to get under any tyre bead.

Parks metal ones have a nice thin spoon shaped blade

rob13

20-10-11, 12:34 PM

That was a good price! New or 2nd Hand?

New

maviczap

20-10-11, 12:41 PM

New, where from!

How & where

mattSV

20-10-11, 02:22 PM

Some cheap Mavic wheels here (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2011/10/20/daily-deal-mavic-road-wheelsets)

maviczap

20-10-11, 02:43 PM

Some cheap Mavic wheels here (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2011/10/20/daily-deal-mavic-road-wheelsets)

Nice although not the carbon cosmics I want (and can't afford :()

maviczap

20-10-11, 03:20 PM

More savings 2 offers at Chain Reaction cycles via Quidco

10% 0ff orders over £75 + 3% cashback - 3 days left on this one

Free postage + 3% cashback - Valid until Sept 2012

http://www.quidco.com/chain-reaction-cycles/

Jabba

20-10-11, 04:43 PM

Some cheap Mavic wheels here (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2011/10/20/daily-deal-mavic-road-wheelsets)

That's a good price on the Elites :thumbsup:

Jabba

20-10-11, 04:44 PM

10% 0ff orders over £75 + 3% cashback - 3 days left on this one

The 10% off is avaiable by e-voucher, but the 3% cashback must be a quidco thing

Jabba

20-10-11, 04:47 PM

although compared the Freewheel ratchet on a Fulcrum wheel, even the Mavic one is quiet...

Yeah..... it sounds like you're being shot at with a machine gun :D

Glad I ordered the Briacannos..... great reviews (spent lunchtime double-checking!), quiet freehub and cartridge bearings. Oh, and 1482gm/pair :-)

rob13

25-10-11, 09:09 PM

Just sorted a deal out for a Kinetic Road Machine Turbo Trainer. Comes with pro-flywheel for extra rolling! Should be here Friday which means I'll be hitting the garage once it arrives to give it a shakedown!

rob13

01-11-11, 03:32 PM

Just saw my first 50 today, 56miles in fact. Slow and steady but I'm trying to do some endurance training so rather than have my heart rate hitting its maximum I was trying to keep things easy.

Luckypants

01-11-11, 03:36 PM

Sweet. Soon get you up to 80 and then the magic number.... :cool:

maviczap

01-11-11, 04:04 PM

Cool well done Rob

rob13

01-11-11, 10:28 PM

Yeah 80 is a figure that I'm looking towards next. The 100 is the obvious goal but I'm not looking to rush that this side of Christmas. A lot will depend upon the weather too!

Tim in Belgium

01-11-11, 10:35 PM

Well done! Knocking off a touch of effort can mean loads greater distance.

Good luck on your quest for a century, I hope the weather stays on your side.

krhall

02-11-11, 03:53 PM

I came off yesterday in the rain, bus pulled out on me a few bruises and a dent to my pride but all else ok.

Then today rear puncture, no problem except a brand new innertube had a hole in it, so walked 2 miles home!

krhall

07-11-11, 07:52 PM

Can any of you recommend a set of replacement brake blocks for my rear wheel?

Also what size gator skins should I get, or should I get something else?

Best bet wiggle?

fizzwheel

07-11-11, 08:04 PM

Blocks for a Roadie ?

Kool Stop Salmons will give you really good wet weather braking performance and are gentle on your rims.

Or

Swiss Stop Flash, which I found superior in the wet to the Kool Stops.

What do you want from a tyre ? As for Size what have you got on there now ? I dont run winter / training tyres and I use Continental GP4000S' all the time including winter, even though they are a race tyre, they are surprisingly puncture resistant ( watch this space I'll get one now )

As for wiggle, not necessarily I'm starting to find them expensive, Chain Reaction are seemingly giving better prices at the moment so try them as well.

krhall

07-11-11, 08:12 PM

fizzwheel

07-11-11, 08:26 PM

Block, erm they appear to be all in ones? With a screw in the middle, I was looking at those Kool Stops as they get excellent write ups but not sure they would work on my bike would they?

It is just a commuter bike, occasional weekend ride (very occasional). London roads - 22 miles a day, am running a completely slick race tyre that came with the bike at present and things have been getting a bit hairy.

What size will I be running at present?

Ah OK you have got some all in one standard pads, most probably.. without seeing them I cant be 100% sure. So you'll be wanting :

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/swissstop-flash-pro-black-brake-compound-blocks/

As thats got the pads in a holder, when the pads wear out, you unscrew the little screw slide the pad out and the slide a replacement one in. ( I know they arent cheap, but they are worth it )

You dont have to fit the Swiss stop pads, you can put the cheaper Kool Stops in once you've worn them out.

This is your albeit other more pricey option

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-dura-ace-7700-road-bike-brake-blocks/

I've no idea what size you'll be running at the moment, if you have a read of the sidewall of the tyres that are on there, the size will be written on the tyre.

It'll more than probably be 700 x and then another smaller number if its a road bike...

krhall

07-11-11, 08:28 PM

Tyres are 25C I think just had a look. So I'll stick with those for winter, just get gator skins?

Here is a picture of my current brake 'block'.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/krhall_2006/ATT92732.jpg

krhall

07-11-11, 08:36 PM

Ouch £22 for brake pads...probably cheaper for the wifes car. Ultegra ones are out of stock, those swissstop ones get good reviews and it is nice to be able to stop, well at least I think it should be.

fizzwheel

07-11-11, 08:39 PM

Righto those Swiss Stops or the Dura ace ones I linked to will work just fine in your bike.

So your tyres are 700C x 25, you have plenty of choice. Like I said I dont use a specific commuter tyre. I ride all year around on these, the only thing that stops me is Ice / Snow.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4000s-road-tyre/

Wet grip is fantastic and they roll very well and are responsive. I've not tried Gatorskins, but I know somebody who has and he had just as many punctures with them as did on a ordinary race tyre. Also IIRC he said he didnt like the feel of the bike on the Gatorskins as they are heavy, also he said they were a b*stard to get off and on his rims.

These might be worth a look, they always seem to get good reviews / feedback

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4-season-road-tyre/

So do these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/michelin-krylion-folding-road-tyre/

I ride with a guy who uses these and swears by them, again they get good reviews.

I try any of those over gatorskins, especially on longer rides, they roll alot better and that'll work better for you if you are doing longer rides.

krhall

07-11-11, 08:57 PM

I was ready to buy gators until you said that...

fizzwheel

07-11-11, 09:08 PM

Go and have a read of bikeradar and look in the commuting and road sections, there will be plenty of discussion on tyres...

Luckypants

08-11-11, 09:09 AM

I run Continental Sport Ultra Gatorskins in 700x25C on my winter bike. They are a tad heavy, but very puncture resistant on gravel and thorns etc that you find on the back roads we ride. Our whole group rides on them over winter... On the plus side, they roll well, grip well and give a comfy ride in 25C size, which I run about 80psi in the winter.

I'll be checking out those brakes, time to fettle the winter bike and the brakes are worn out.

maviczap

08-11-11, 07:44 PM

What do you want from a tyre ? As for Size what have you got on there now ? I dont run winter / training tyres and I use Continental GP4000S' all the time including winter, even though they are a race tyre, they are surprisingly puncture resistant ( watch this space I'll get one now )

As for wiggle, not necessarily I'm starting to find them expensive, Chain Reaction are seemingly giving better prices at the moment so try them as well.

Like Fizz I'm running GP400's on my Wilier, all through our Pyranean holiday no puntures, in fact no punctures since I've fitted them at the begining of the year. Great all round grip and performance and great confidence in them as LP will testify.

I found Ultegra blocks very reliablle but I'm pretty light on the brakes

+1 on Wiggle being a bit more expensive than Chainreaction or Merlin cycles

I run Continental Sport Ultra Gatorskins in 700x25C on my winter bike. They are a tad heavy, but very puncture resistant on gravel and thorns etc that you find on the back roads we ride. Our whole group rides on them over winter... On the plus side, they roll well, grip well and give a comfy ride in 25C size, which I run about 80psi in the winter.

Likewise I run Ultra Gatorskins on my winter bike as do most of my mates. No punctures either.

Plus I can testify that they grip like **** like my GP400's as LP descends faster than I do thanks to his aerodynamic advantage or was it something else :)

Jabba

09-11-11, 08:33 AM

+1 for GP4000s - fantastic tyres wet or dry, roll really well, light and no punctures other that a freak one when a shard of glass took out a sidewall. No tyre would have survived that.

Having said that, I've put a pair of Schwalbe Ultremo ZX-HDs on the new wheels. Giving them a go as a result of magazine reviews. Haven't beem out on 'em yet, though - suspect that this combo will be for summer. Will report back then ;-)

In short - go for the GP4000s :thumbsup:

Luckypants

09-11-11, 08:57 AM

LP descends faster than I do thanks to his aerodynamic advantage or was it something else :)

Its pure skill mate.... it takes skill to eat that many pies! :clown:

454697819

09-11-11, 12:13 PM

how do you find the motivation to cycle in the crappy winds and rain.. I have opted for the car 70% of the time in the last week :-( not good

Need to get some proper cycle gear I guess?

Luckypants

09-11-11, 12:21 PM

I ride for 'pleasure' only, so go out with mates and that keeps the spirits up in crap weather. Good kit that keeps you warm and dry is essential if you are not going to be miserable on the bike.

Drew Carey

09-11-11, 12:41 PM

Howdy all....as my company is thinking of introducing cycle to work.....I am contemplating getting a proper road bike to cycle the 10.5miles into Brum on. Its all quite easy main roads etc so the terrain will be good, with only one major hill.

My question is, how much easier will it be to use a good road bike? I know that sounds strange. But, currently I have a hardtail MTB that I have kitted out with 1.85 road tyres etc and made it singlespeed. When it had gears I could do 8.1 miles (previous commute) in anywhere between 31 and 50 minutes (depending on road traffic and how energised I felt).

However, having moved, the distance is now 10.5 miles and I am using a mix of train and cycling. I have converted the MTB to SingleSpeed as was having major issues with the gears as a result of using the hartail off road too much also.

I know these are stupidly subjective questions etc, but I am trying to decide on the following;

1. Continue cycling to the train station (2miles), sitting on a train for 25mins, 1 mile cycle then to the office, then shower. Downside - if I miss my train I am sat at the station for approx 30mins for the next train - so have to time my departure from office well. Plus costs me £80 / Month for train pass. Plus have to play the train lottery again at the end of the day.

2. Get a road bike, cycle the entire route, leave when I want and get fitter. Plus save £80. Downside - wheather!!! (However if really bad, can get a lift to the station from Lily occasionaly and pay for a one off train ticket)

From a financial point of view I imagine it will be even ish when I consider the cost of the bike, clothing (as only have MTB baggies) etc.

But from a timing point of view.....I have never ridden a road bike in my life, so curious to know if my current commute 45mins (10min cycle, 25min train, 2min cycle to office, +/- 8mins contingency) could be achieved in a quicker time, even with an average fitness level. Or am I asking too much of myself?

Apologies......rambling a bit!!! lol :-D

EssexDave

09-11-11, 01:22 PM

Drew, I cycle 8 miles each way to work and my fastest time is about 20 minutes. Generally I sit at about 24-28 minutes. (Road bike)

My friend does 13 miles each way and it takes him about 40 minutes. We've both only been cycling for about a year but regularly.

The weather can be a bit poo, but, if you're going to have a shower it's generally only rain so you'll only be wet.

Wind? I did take a 21mile route home after 8 miles in when we had 25mph winds with 45mph gusts - bloody hard work but so worth it when you get home and feel good for just doing it.

I'd imagine as you already have a base level of fitness and you say it's pretty flat, you could probably do your 10.5mile commute in about 45 minutes no problems each way. Once you get better at using a road bike etc you'll probably find that time coming down a bit - I wouldn't be surprised if this time next year you'd be able to do it in 30-35 minutes on a good day.

You still have the option of the train if you want it. Give it a go :)

fizzwheel

09-11-11, 02:15 PM

But from a timing point of view.....I have never ridden a road bike in my life, so curious to know if my current commute 45mins (10min cycle, 25min train, 2min cycle to office, +/- 8mins contingency) could be achieved in a quicker time, even with an average fitness level. Or am I asking too much of myself?

10 miles in just under 33 minutes at the moment, which is my best time, and not a flat route either... Road bike will be a massive amount faster than your MTB is even when its shod with slick tyres...

and I'm nowhere near peak fitness at the moment. Fit some mudguards to your road bike and a decent rain jacket / base layers and you'll be fine especially if you have shower facilities at your work place.

Research the cycle to work properly. It doesnt give you the benefits that you think it might at first glance...

Drew Carey

09-11-11, 03:14 PM

Cheers both for the advice......good to know it should be do-able - with a bit of work of course.

As for C2W Fizz, yup, aware its not as good as it used to be - but still a good way of getting an interest free loan for a bike with a small discount. Its not guaranteed that the company will be doing it yet. If they don't will just look to buy something outright.

krhall

09-11-11, 04:29 PM

how do you find the motivation to cycle in the crappy winds and rain?

Get a wife who wants a new kitchen, which is roughly equal in cost to a Husqvarna SM610s and a Mercedes CLK...

maviczap

09-11-11, 05:41 PM

Its pure skill mate.... it takes skill to eat that many pies! :clown:

Yes its all that hard work you did

Eating all them pies that is :p

maviczap

10-11-11, 09:10 PM

Just seen these gizzmo's after reading about them in cycling weekly.

Might look very odd, but probably effective, especially for the hands on super long winter rides in extreme conditions.

The ones for the feet wouldn't look to weird

http://www.breezeblockers.com/buy.php

454697819

10-11-11, 09:28 PM

Get a wife who wants a new kitchen, which is roughly equal in cost to a Husqvarna SM610s and a Mercedes CLK...

ha lol....

fair play,

maviczap

10-11-11, 09:39 PM

how do you find the motivation to cycle in the crappy winds and rain.. I have opted for the car 70% of the time in the last week :-( not good

Need to get some proper cycle gear I guess?

Yes, it helps, good gloves and shoes that keep your feet warm

So maybe 'Sealskinz' waterproof gloves & socks

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sealskinz/

Maybe get some DHB brand windproof top and roubaix weight tights

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-roubaix-unpadded-waist-tight/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-signal-jacket-2011/

Is good stuff at reasonable prices from Wiggle

A lot of cycling brands are very expensive and not much better than the DHB stuff

fizzwheel

10-11-11, 09:50 PM

What Maviczap said, I'd add to that list Mudguards. Now I know its probably criminal to fit guards to My Look, but i have done, got a set of Crud Road Racer 2's on it. Been out in the wind and rain, and they make a big difference to how dry you stay, which makes a big difference to how warm you stay also it keeps all the much off my shiney cardbon stead. I think it'll go away once they start gritting the roads though.

It was lovely here this afternoon I've got a few days off work using up holiday that if I dont take I'll loose, so went out for a ride this afternoon 3/4's base layer and jersey and I was to hot... it wont last so I'm making the most of it !

rob13

10-11-11, 10:56 PM

Really enjoying my cycling at the moment, so I've invested in some more DHB kit, and some DeFeet gloves and oversocks for when its cold. I'm planning on fitting race guards to the Boardman tomorrow prior to heading out.

I also picked up a Kurt Kinetic Turbo which is a fantastic bit of kit. Feels more natural than the Cycleops fluid I had a couple of years back when I was coming back from an off. Highly recommended.

We're lucky enough to have a local floodlit cycling circuit nearby so they are running winter training sessions on it. Went down tonight for a 2hr session and got blown off the back a couple of times. Plan on doing it for the next 6 weeks and seeing if I can stay with them by the end of it.

If this lasts, I can genuinely see me hanging up my helmet and gloves on the motorbike for a bit. I'm not finding any time to use it.

maviczap

11-11-11, 07:57 AM

Now I know its probably criminal to fit guards to My Look, but i have done, got a set of Crud Road Racer 2's on it.

Sacre bleau!!!!!

Yes it most definitely is :p

However I agree with Fizz that mudguards are a must this time of year.

I had a pair of Crud Road racer guards on my winter bike last year and they are really effective and don't spoil the LOOK (see what I did there :grin:) of your bike.

However the front one became detached from the mount and got chewed up. No big deal, as the rear does most of the work, but I feel they are expensive for what they are and aren't very robust.

So for a few quid more I might buy some proper mudguards, which would Look (:grin:) out of place on a proper race frame, but will be fine on my winter hack bike

fizzwheel

11-11-11, 10:28 AM

fizzwheel

11-11-11, 10:44 AM

With the cruds fitted, rear lights on the seat pack and the Magic Shine front light and battery back for it in the bottle on the seat tube...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSC_0075.jpg

maviczap

11-11-11, 10:48 AM

I thought Crud did a free replacement service, but it appears not. Spares page here if you are interested, doesnt seem to expensive...

http://www.crudproducts.com/products/spares

For what the guards are yes they are pricey, but so was my bike and when I was out yesterday the roads in places are filthy, but when I got home apart from a bit of splodge off the brake blocks bit is clean still.

I have the road racer 2 with the extra rear piece that keeps the muck off the front mech.

I'd agree the SKS guards are a lot better with more coverage and more sturdy, but they dont fit my bike. I'm toying with the idea of one of the Ribble Winter / Audax bikes that will take the full SKS guard, but I dont have the cash at the mo...

Thanks, handy to know they do spares, but I didn't know that the 2 also protected the front mech as well.

I reckon I'll be investing in some. Trouble is the old boys who I ride with frown upon anything other than full guards :smt009

But then they frown upon non white socks too, especially higher than ones ankle :p :smt116

rob13

11-11-11, 03:00 PM

Fizz that is far too nice to be using through winter. Buy a hack!

krhall

11-11-11, 03:44 PM

My bike looks like cack after a really bad weather week, ooff to hein Gericke on the way home to get some SDoc100 cleaner for the weekend.

fizzwheel

11-11-11, 04:46 PM

Fizz that is far too nice to be using through winter. Buy a hack!

I know, but I bought it to use it, not leave it in the garage collecting dust and never taking it out in case I get it dirty. The mudguards do a good job of keeping the cack off it and I'm really enjoying my cycling again at the moment.

I've got a single speed waiting for the weather to get really bad, its just the LOOK is so much nicer to ride than the single speed is !

fizzwheel

11-11-11, 04:48 PM

My bike looks like cack after a really bad weather week, ooff to hein Gericke on the way home to get some SDoc100 cleaner for the weekend.

Go to Halfords and get some crud guards, they take 1/2 hr or so to fit and are easily removable and they'll keep your bike and you much cleaner and in the long run they'll work out cheaper than buying Sdoc100...

rob13

11-11-11, 06:06 PM

I know, but I bought it to use it, not leave it in the garage collecting dust and never taking it out in case I get it dirty. The mudguards do a good job of keeping the cack off it and I'm really enjoying my cycling again at the moment.

Very true but think how much you'd enjoy it when you've cleaned polished and hibernated it for winter only to take it out on the first spring day. It'd be like jumping off a C90 and onto a Fireblade.

I bought the Boardman last Jan and was scared to see it dirty. But after seeing what my mates have bought since, I'm now going to use this right through the winter (with Crud Guards) and then come spring, see how my finances, my ability and the bike is and take it from there. I might actually buy something else come next spring. At the moment, I'm looking at a Canondale CAAD10

krhall

11-11-11, 07:33 PM

I bought mine to use and it looks cool dirty, but I have an SDOC addiction to feed!

krhall

11-11-11, 07:34 PM

my dad has hibernated his cube, it is in his spare bedroom wrapped in blankets!!!

maviczap

11-11-11, 07:57 PM

I bought mine to use and it looks cool dirty, but I have an SDOC addiction to feed!

Yes, but once the filth get to the brake calipers & mechs they won't last long.

Help em out a bit by fitting some guards.

Plus buy a couple of chains as they're cheaper to replace than cassettes and chainsets.

That way you'll still have some pennies left over for that new kitchen :p

rob13

11-11-11, 10:23 PM

I fitted my rear race guard this morning and then did a 40 miler. Was ok, rattled a bit despite it being tightly locked down. Dont think there's a great deal of clearance.

I then fitted my front tonight (This is on a Boardman by the way), and found that the extension on the front of the front guard couldnt be fitted as it wouldnt stop rubbing.

Not a lot of space on the Boardman to get these fitted comfortably. The guards have been sat in the loft for nearly 12 months and probably got a bit squashed so I'm currently trying to stretch the arms a bit to see if I can get the guard not to rub on one side.

maviczap

12-11-11, 08:23 AM

That's what I fount with my Litespeed, impossible to fit even the thin Race guards.

Just bought a cheapo steel hack frame off Ebay for the really filthy weather, I was lucky in that it came with a chainset and I had more than enough bits to complete the rest.

The only upgrade I bought was a set of carbon forks and they were off Ebay as well.

fizzwheel

12-11-11, 11:33 AM

My Van Nic was a bit like that, it was an awful fiddle to get even the crud guards to fit and not rub. I read somewhere that the golden rule with the crud guards is that "if you can get a 4mm allen key between the tyre and the closest point of the frame i.e. the brake bridge" then the cruds will fit.

The cruds go straight onto my LOOK, but my mates Van Nic Euro's was a pain to fit them to.

Drew Carey

12-11-11, 11:58 AM

fizzwheel

12-11-11, 12:03 PM

Dunno mines Carbon fibre so it isnt going to rust in a hurry...

Mudguards will help but wont stop the salt attacking the alloy components, just like it does on a motorbike. Stuff like chains and cassettes are replaceable anyway so not to bothered about that, but the chainset / wheels etc are expensive and I'm not wanting the salt to attack those, so the fixie will be coming out once the grit has gone down.

The other option is a clean after every ride, but thats going to get tedious in the winter...

maviczap

12-11-11, 12:19 PM

Reading the recent posts, is it as much of a problem stopping corrosion as with salt and motorbikes? If cleaned weekly would that be fine?

Only ask as if i spend a whack on a road bike for work commute will it desolve before my eyes, or with a decent set of mudguards and cleaning will be fine?

Salt tends to get into the pivots of the rear mech and then stops it working, same for the brake caliper which is where mudguards really help.

Same goes for wheel bearings as there's no seals to stop the crap getting in.

I've got a campagnolo front hub with a grease port, so all I need to do is push some fresh grease through every now and then. Its a pity that they don't make hubs with grease ports any more, but its not hard to adapt a hub to have a grease port.

Buy a couple of spare chains and fit a quick link so its easy to fit a new chain, as its much cheaper to buy chains than cassettes & chainrings.

I regularly spray my mechs and brake caliper pivots with Gt50, rather than WD40, but chains will be better protected with a specific wet lube wax.

I replaced a mates bottom bracket which was fubarred after less than a year, it was a cheap one Halfrauds had fitted, so I replaced it with a decent shimano one and used some special foam seals to seal it from the elements.

These seals were specifically for retro fitting to bikes and they work well, but I bought them ages ago and I doubt you can get them anymore.

maviczap

12-11-11, 12:21 PM

Dunno mines Carbon fibre so it isnt going to rust in a hurry.....

Just watch out for cathodic reaction between the fork ends if its got alloy fork ends.

krhall

13-11-11, 09:41 AM

How long should a chain last?

I reckon I've done about 1500 - 1700 miles on the focus now...

maviczap

13-11-11, 09:48 AM

How long should a chain last?

I reckon I've done about 1500 - 1700 miles on the focus now...

Depends on the condition you're riding it in.

In the wet no time at all, it'll get fubarred in no time at all.

Best way to check is buy a chain checker or measuring device.

I've had a Park version in my tool kit for years

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-chain-checker/

This ones expensive, I'm sure there's other devices that do the same job for less money.

Otherwise take it off and turn it sideways so the plates are horizontal and see how much it droops or sags.

maviczap

13-11-11, 09:49 AM

Here ya go

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ice-Toolz-Chain-Checker-Wear-Indicator-Bikes-NEW-/150630790184?pt=UK_Spots_Leisure_Cycling_Tools_Rep airKits&hash=item23124b7428#ht_1777wt_1344

krhall

13-11-11, 09:53 AM

so my chain might need replacing after 1700 miles? Cycling to work is sodding expensive!

maviczap

13-11-11, 10:02 AM

so my chain might need replacing after 1700 miles? Cycling to work is sodding expensive!

Yep, fraid so.

The old way of looking after chains was to take them off and place them in a bath of hot parafin wax, then take it out and let it cool and dry off. But thats such a faff.

Buy a chain cleaner and clean it regularly if its wet, don't do it so much if its dry.

Wet & grit are the chains worst enemy.

Buy some specific wet weather chain lube.

Buy your chains from EBAY as they are much cheaper than the online shops or LBS I think.

You can get 2 for the price of one.

fizzwheel

13-11-11, 10:04 AM

It might, but it might not, they are like motorcycle chains they need regularly cleaning and lubing. Chain on my Look has done 1200 miles and still looks like new. I got nearly 3K out of a 105 chain on my Van Nic...

I havent got a chain checker, I just give the links a wiggle / twist and if there is what I think excessive movement then I swap the chain / cassette / chain rings as appropriate.

IMHO Park Tools Chain Cleaner is well worth the money this comes with chain cleaner and a brush as well

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-cg-2-chain-gang-chain-cleaner-set/

Remember regular maintenance is less expensive than new chains are !