The Cycling Thread

Fizz are you doing your mileage in the dark? I'm reluctant to at the moment, particularly with the temperatures so I'm not getting the mileage in like I wanted to.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by robchester

Fizz are you doing your mileage in the dark? I'm reluctant to at the moment, particularly with the temperatures so I'm not getting the mileage in like I wanted to.

Yep

I have to. I'm commuting on my pusher at the moment. Its fine, I'm cycling along quiet country roads. I have a good front light and two good rear lights and my winter jacket has reflective strips all over it, so do my shoes and cycling tights. I've been reliably informed I do a good impression of a christmas tree in a set of car headlights. Only thing to watch for is pot holes / ice. I'm not doing any great speed just getting some milleage into my legs.

Was bl**dy cold tonight on the way home though...

[fizzwheel]

My front light

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el...s-front-light/

Then I have an older version of this set to solid on the rear

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/smart-lunar-r1-rear-light/

and one of these that I set to flash

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/blackburn-ma...ty-rear-light/

I like to have two rear lights just in case one packs up. The smart is verging on offensively bright to car drivers. Its probably a bit to much so I have it angled down a little so I dont dazzle them with it.

[Luckypants]

Anyone know anything about Ribble's Carbon frames? Looking at the Grand Fondo or Sportive. How do they hang together? Well made?

Any experiences would be welcome.

If I was to do darkness, all of my route is well lit by streetlights so I dont need something to see with, but something for others to see me. I might look at the mid range cateye stuff.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Anyone know anything about Ribble's Carbon frames? Looking at the Grand Fondo or Sportive. How do they hang together? Well made?

Any experiences would be welcome.

The chap that is selling his SCR 2 has just bought a Grand Fondo. Had a look at it yesterday and it looks very nice, Frame looks good, he says it rides alot better than his SCR does. He's only had it a few days so no long term opinion yet.

Seem to get a favourable response on the bike radar forum. Although been a few reports that the customer service leaves a little to be desired...

[Luckypants]

Yeah I seen the comments about customer service, but they are close enough to go bang on the desk if it came to that. Their actual bikes seem to be well built and I have seen nothing about problems on that score, the service issue seems to be with the general bike shop and I'd just use wiggle/CRC for mail order.

One of the guys I ride with has a Gran Fondo, but again has only done a few miles (they are on winter bikes now), well specced up with Campag Record and Mavic Carbon Cosmic's. Another guy has the Sportive, which I have not even seen yet. both are very enthusiastic about them, but I wonder how much of that is 'new bike' syndrome?

The Ribbles appeal for the higher front end and longer head tube on these framesets, it's a bike to last me till retirement from cycling so comfort needs to be there. It's also very good value for money, a complete bike starting at £899 but the sky is the limit with the 'bike builder' to allow you to customise your bike.

Any one else got any feedback on these frames?

[fizzwheel]

He's put the Giant up onto Ebay if anybody is interested

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Giant-SCR-Road...item2a0dc7dfab

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Anyone know anything about Ribble's Carbon frames? Looking at the Grand Fondo or Sportive. How do they hang together? Well made?

Any experiences would be welcome.

Someone I know has got the Sportive and rates it very highly.

I was thinking about one before I got my Wilier

Went out for my first ride of the new year yesterday.
Did about 18 miles all in all. (I only started biking and I am a very casual rider at the minute.

It was broken up by a stop in at my dads, but wasn't too cold at all.
thoroughly enjoyed it, however today my rear is a wee bit sore. Was worse this morning but has gotten significantly better now.

Looking forward to getting out some more. Only downside is I now have a puncture to sort out, as 300m from my front door the rear tyre went.