The Cycling Thread

[carelesschucca]

Whoop!!! Just noticed that Strava shows your top speed I got to 60.1km/h today, fastest speed yet. YEAH!!!

But really I'm here again because I'm having a wee issue with the upshift on the leavers that control the back gearset. I'm finding that the inside (upshift) leaver is sticking slightly and I'm having to push it back across with my thumb before I can change down. Any tips on how I can adjust the levers slightly to stop this?

[maviczap]

Make sure the lever hood isn't stopping the free movement of the inside lever.

Could be a sticky cable, especially if it wasnt a Teflon lined one. Ive had similar issues, its normally cables.

Spray the rear mech pivots with some lube, Gt85, but not wd40

Lastly open up the lever by pulling on the brake lever and drench it with degreaser spay. But only as a last option. As your bike is new, i wouldnt think theres any dirt in the gear change mechanism in the lever.

My guess is sticky cables, especially if its cheap stuff, most likely nesrest the rear mech, as it gets the dirtiest.

See if its shimano cabling, itll be printed on the outside of the outer housing.

[maviczap]

Make sure the lever hood isn't stopping the free movement of the inside lever.

Could be a sticky cable, especially if it wasnt a Teflon lined one. Ive had similar issues, its normally cables.

Spray the rear mech pivots with some lube, Gt85, but not wd40

Lastly open up the lever by pulling on the brake lever and drench it with degreaser spay. But only as a last option. As your bike is new, i wouldnt think theres any dirt in the gear change mechanism in the lever.

My guess is sticky cables, especially if its cheap stuff, most likely nesrest the rear mech, as it gets the dirtiest.

See if its shimano cabling, itll be printed on the outside of the outer housing.

[fizzwheel]

The only other thing I can add, is that when I had a similar issue, was that the cable was frayed by the nipple at the lever end. It had started to unravel and was then jamming up the lever.

But as yours is a new bike I doubt its that, but its worth pulling the hood back and just having a check of the cable condition.

[carelesschucca]

Weird, I was out today having done nothing to the bike and it was fine. Wondering if it was inexperienced fingers that were causing the issues.

I did the big hill that I've been avoiding. Took me 23:21 to do the 3.8km and climbed 232m, I though I was going to be sick when I got to the top, but I'm so glad I persevered, I ended up doing 40km with another crazy (for me) climb at the end. Bit annoyed that Strava seemed to stop working, I don't know if its because I went along a road that is meant to be closed and googlemaps flips out.

But once again I have more questions

I found that today my feet were soaking wet and bl00dy freezing while the rest of me was fine, should I look into getting waterproof socks or get overshoes, and would it be an idea to look at getting mudguards?

[maviczap]

Yep, cold feet are the bane of my winter cycling. No matter what I wear I get cold feet.

This year I have some goretex boots to try.

So to answer your question.

1. Yes waterproof socks or overshoes will help immensely. If you get socks, then you can use the on your motorbike. I've also got some Sealskinz waterproof oversocks, which are very good. You need to keep the wind off your feet, which is what makes them cold, worse when they're wet too..

2. Yes, its mudguard time, more so from the rear, as the front will only stop so much water getting to your feet.

Following Dippers recommendation, I bought SKS long Raceblades. More robust, better protection and easier to fit than Crudguard roadracer, for similar money

http://www.totalcycling.com/en/SKS-R...=UnitedKingdom

[fizzwheel]

My winter setup was Wollie Bollie Socks and overshoes,

But then I got some Northwave GTX Boots which are great for keeping warm, but even then on a wet day I end up with wet feet even with the boots on as the water runs down my legs into the boots and because they are gortex it has nowhere to go so they fill up.

Socks

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/defeet-wooli...-6-cuff-socks/

Overshoes

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...shoes-ec011695

I find the neoprene overshoes work better as they are better at keeping the water out for longer and also they are tougher so you dont endup knackering them if you have to walk whilst wearing them.

[maviczap]

Even with Wollie Boollies & overshoes I get cold toes!

I've got the Northwaves to try this winter, if it was that wet, I'd wear my Sealskinz socks with the Northwaves or go into the garage on the Turbo

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Following Dippers recommendation, I bought SKS long Raceblades. More robust, better protection and easier to fit than Crudguard roadracer, for similar money

Decathlon have those for £28 and I'm popping in on Tuesday, so thats a done deal...

I'll have a look at overshoes while I'm there.

I think there'd be a riot if I got a turbo trainer, I could steal the works Wattbike Pro and use that

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

Decathlon have those for £28 and I'm popping in on Tuesday, so thats a done deal...

I'll have a look at overshoes while I'm there.

I think there'd be a riot if I got a turbo trainer, I could steal the works Wattbike Pro and use that

I got some oversocks the last time I was in Decathlon. Not waterproof, but another layer.

I'm sure they do proper overshoes. As Fizz says the neoprene ones are the warmest & most robust, if they do them