The Cycling Thread

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Can probably help out with somewhere to stay too....

Put your club down as CRAPI Wheelers then (that's Chris, Ron, Al, Paul and Ian our founding fathers...)

Will do ty.

Will also PM you nearer the time about accomodation. If it comes to it I'll get a cheap B&B.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by maviczap

It will be different this year after the Alps, storming up there like Armstrong

Check out the route profile mate, it will be tough. Also Bwlch-y-Groes is a killer, the real climb starting with a 25% on a hairpin, easing to 20% for the next 1.5km and then 25% for the last 500m.... never done it from that side, so will have to have a do for practice.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Not quite, small bike shop near London had a blinding deal on it so I drove down to get one.... what I should have done is get local Evans bike shop to price match! LOL

I have a Ribble Gran Fondo Stewie. They are a very good bike and the sportive should be all day comfy. They will set it up for you if you pick it up from the shop (sorry factory outlet) and they are only up the road from you in Preston...

Just been loking at the gran fondo Mike, but a bit out of my price range unforunately, the only thing im concerned about is the pedals, Ive never used the clip in ones, used the old ratcatcher style and still always kept one slighlty looser than the other, not sure whether to bite the bullet, seems a shame to spend money on a bike and then not be able to get the most out of it, I believe some pedals are more novice friendly than others , any ideas guys ?

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by stewie

I believe some pedals are more novice friendly than others , any ideas guys ?

Look for SPD's these are generally in my experience, much easier to clip in and out of than a normal / traditional road shoe / pedal combination.

I wouldnt get to hung about going clipless, it sounds more daunting than it is, just takes a bit of forward planning and some practise and then clipping in / clipping out will become 2nd nature and you wont think about it anymore.

SPD's have the advantage that you can walk about in them as well.

If the gran fondo is out of your price range, I ride with a mate who has a Evo Carbon from Ribble, well spec'd for the budget and he really likes his...

spd's ? I'll go check em out, I'm probably worrying about nothing tbh, btw this is the bike I was looking at http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikebu...nf_BBRA&bike=1

[Luckypants]

Make sure you look at SPD-SL road pedals, not SPD MTB pedals

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Check out the route profile mate, it will be tough. Also Bwlch-y-Groes is a killer, the real climb starting with a 25% on a hairpin, easing to 20% for the next 1.5km and then 25% for the last 500m.... never done it from that side, so will have to have a do for practice.

Never mind a compact chainset, get a dinner plate sized sprocket on the cassette and a triple up the front

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by stewie

I believe some pedals are more novice friendly than others , any ideas guys ?

+1 on spd's, you can set the release tension too, on my commuter it's set low so I can get my feet unclipped with a good pull, while you're getting used to them this is the best way to have them and you shouldn't have too many embaressing moments

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Never mind a compact chainset, get a dinner plate sized sprocket on the cassette and a triple up the front

...... plus a 14 speed Rolhoff hub for good measure

well i have my bike back ready to ride...just not sure I can be bothered anymore after a month on the train!