The Cycling Thread

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Same effect could probably be obtained by using super skinny Continental 26in tyres, if they still do them.

I had some 1in continental tryes for 26in wheels

Most 26" MTBs will take road wheels. What your gaining in rim size your losing in tyre depth, but overall 700c wheels are bigger obviously.

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MTB 26in wheel = 650c wheel or near enough

[Viney]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Mate at work has the Badboy with the 700C rims, I dont think its hugely different to the one you have.

I reckon it'd be cheaper just to get another set of wheels and swap the whole lot over rather than getting yours rebuilt with a different rim.

What do you want to achieve by doing it. I guess go faster for less effort ?

Yes.

Ah, but they do a bad boy with 700c rims and looking at the spec the forks are different. I think i will wander up to bromley bike over the weekend to have a chat. I need to think about getting it serviced now anyway as i have done a 1000 miles, or there abouts!!

Tomorrow I'm off on a long weekend jolly in West Wales with 23 "gentleman" of a similar age. Will be at holiday pace, with long lunches etc.

We're doing the Celtic Trail west, so:

Friday: Train to Carmarthen, then over the Elvis (Presceli ) hills to Fishguard.
Saturday: Fishguard to Tenby via the coast toute through St Davids
Sunday: Tenby to The Gower
Monday: Gower to The Plough (our local booxer)

Around 250 miles in 4 days..... just right

I'm looking at road bikes at the moment. I used to have a roadie about 13-14 years ago when I was a teenager but havent been back on one since. I only sold an MTB a couple of months back (Rockhopper) due to lack of use and not getting on with the bike.

If I was going to buy a roadie, sub £400 would it be worth it or do I need to be looking at £500-600?

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by robchester

If I was going to buy a roadie, sub £400 would it be worth it or do I need to be looking at £500-600?

Depends how much you are going to use it. If its infrequent use then sub £400 would more than likely do the job.

If you are going to use it a bit more regularly then I would suggest that spending a little more would be good.

There probably wouldnt be much difference in terms of what the frame is like. But the difference will be in the components ( gears, brakes, shifters, wheels etc ) So spending a little more will give you a bike that feels nicer to ride and shifts gears etc better, so you'll get more enjoyment out of it.

I have noticed the price of everything recently has sky rocketed, what was a £300 bike a couple of years ago is now a £500.

Shop around see what you can find on your budget I'd consider looking at 2nd hand to get more for your money. Or look for end of season bikes i.e. a 2009 model spec bike that the bike shop hasnt sold and have reduced the price of to get it shifted.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Depends how much you are going to use it. If its infrequent use then sub £400 would more than likely do the job.

If you are going to use it a bit more regularly then I would suggest that spending a little more would be good.

There probably wouldnt be much difference in terms of what the frame is like. But the difference will be in the components ( gears, brakes, shifters, wheels etc ) So spending a little more will give you a bike that feels nicer to ride and shifts gears etc better, so you'll get more enjoyment out of it.

I have noticed the price of everything recently has sky rocketed, what was a £300 bike a couple of years ago is now a £500.

Shop around see what you can find on your budget I'd consider looking at 2nd hand to get more for your money. Or look for end of season bikes i.e. a 2009 model spec bike that the bike shop hasnt sold and have reduced the price of to get it shifted.

+1 for what Fizz said.

A colleague at work got a great buy of Ebay for peanuts. Ribble frame with Shimano 105 components, carbon forks. All I could say was it needed a new set of wheel rims

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Update on the Wilier. Due to time, weather, illness & work, I'd not got the chance to ride it after finishing off putting it together. Now the frame was an Ebay bargain & I'd sold (sob sob) my beautiful steel Colnago to offset the cost, as I couldn't justify having so many bikes.

I got a good price for the Colnago and I bought an Ultegra groupset & wheels to finish it off. I'd have preffered Campag on the Wilier, but the Ultegra groupset was at a bargain price, so it was a no brainer.

Conti Grand Prix Black Chilli tyres

I've never owned what I'd say was a top end bike, as I could never afford one, even the Colnago was only an SL tubing model, so to have a full carbon frame is something else.

Well, I rode it for the first time the other day and all I can say is WOW. Fast, comfy, the difference is astounding, I never believed a bike could be sooo good. Even compared to my Litespeed training bike, which is an alu frame with carbon seat stays and fork, it is so different.

Apart fromk a few niggles with the cables stretching after fitting, its a dream to ride.



Specilized Phenom saddle withe Ti rails, surprisingly comfortable, despite the lack of any padding



This isn't meant as a 'My bike's better than yours' post, I was just lucky enough to get it at a price I could afford.

Not to sure of the Ultegra wheels, as they are a bit prone to side winds, but it has been a bit windy here this week, although the forks could contribute to this.

Now bring on Alpe D'Heuz

Nice.