How was your cycle commute?

[Orang Utan]

Everything Is different. Centre of gravity fucked, hands too close together on top of the handlebars and nowhere near brakes or gears. When hands are on the dropped bits I feel almost upside down. Pedals are for those wanky shoes that you clip on. I've only got trainers. Urgh. Almost impossible to do a shoulder check without veering, too.

Fast though, with much less effort. And the mudguards are spot on.

I never cycle on the drop bits, just the top bar.

 

[Winot]

Spotted this coach driver crossing into ASL box after lights had gone red. This is the junction at Ludgate Hill where two cyclists have died. Have complained to head office but no reply yet.

 

[Onket]

I never cycle on the drop bits, just the top bar.

Have you got brake handles there?

 

[tommers]

Have you got brake handles there?

Ride on the hoods. That's why the brake levers have those bits at the top.

 

[Orang Utan]

Have you got brake handles there?

No. I move onto the hoods if I think I might need to brake

 

[Onket]

Ride on the hoods. That's why the brake levers have those bits at the top.

What bits?

 

[Onket]

No. I move onto the hoods if I think I might need to brake

There aren't any brakes there.

 

[tommers]

What bits?

The curved bits at the top. Rest your hands in those and then pull the brakes with your hands over the top. Kind of like this.

Means you don't have to be in the drops all the time. Takes a little bit of getting used to but it's much more comfortable.

 

[Orang Utan]

There aren't any brakes there.

I know. I know it's a bit naughty. I do have my hands on the brakes the vast majority of the time, but I do sometimes just hold the top bar without my hands being on any brakes.

 

[Onket]

I don't think I could ride like that tbh.

Put the new wheel on my bike and have given him his death machine back now anyway.

 

[Onket]

I think I've fucked up and ordered a wheel with 7 'things that aren't cogs' on it, rather than 8.

As soon as I got on the bike to try it, I changed gear and the chain went inbetween the spokes and the biggest 'thing that isn't a cog'. .

 

[DownwardDog]

I think I've fucked up and ordered a wheel with 7 'things that aren't cogs' on it, rather than 8.

As soon as I got on the bike to try it, I changed gear and the chain went inbetween the spokes and the biggest 'thing that isn't a cog'. .

I didn't even know you could still buy 7 speed cassettes! Send it back and get the right one?

 

[Onket]

It came with the wheel and it's on now.

 

[The Boy]

I don't think I could ride like that tbh.

As tommers says, you get used to it quite quickly. When I bought my bike I made a point of getting a 'cross bike with brake levers on the bar tops because, even though I spend a lot of time riding on the hoods, using the brakes from that position was always a challenge. Nowadays I rarely use the extra brake levers.

 

[Onket]

As tommers says, you get used to it quite quickly. When I bought my bike I made a point of getting a 'cross bike with brake levers on the bar tops because, even though I spend a lot of time riding on the hoods, using the brakes from that position was always a challenge. Nowadays I rarely use the extra brake levers.

Fortunately it was only an emergency loan.

 

[The Boy]

Fortunately it was only an emergency loan.

Ah, of course. Should really read the thread before piping up.

 

[Onket]

It's fine. My commute is really flat, so the gearing on the racer was an improvement to the gearing I'm used to. Plus the proper mudguards were much better.

if I could put my handlebars onto a racer I think that'd be the perfect bike!

 

[tommers]

It's fine. My commute is really flat, so the gearing on the racer was an improvement to the gearing I'm used to. Plus the proper mudguards were much better.

if I could put my handlebars onto a racer I think that'd be the perfect bike!

I used to have a straight barred Road bike. It was awesome. Got nicked though.

 

[weepiper]

I think I've fucked up and ordered a wheel with 7 'things that aren't cogs' on it, rather than 8.

As soon as I got on the bike to try it, I changed gear and the chain went inbetween the spokes and the biggest 'thing that isn't a cog'. .

Oh shite. That's not going to work. You could get your LBS to set your rear mech so that it only uses 7 of the 8 clicks in your shifter (the spacing's the same) and doesn't unship the chain but really you need to send that back and get an 8 speed wheel and cassette. The word you want is 'sprocket' btw

 

[Onket]

Urgh.

 

[DownwardDog]

I did my first ride on my new recumbent this morning. From my power calculations I'd say it's about 18-20% more efficient than a normal bike, however my power output was effectively capped at about 220W so it's fucking slow on climbs. Undecided.

 

[Dogsauce]

if I could put my handlebars onto a racer I think that'd be the perfect bike!

No reason why you couldn't! Mine almost certainly had drops when it was new, the previous owner built it up from bits of several abandoned bikes. I find it easier than drops for dealing with bumpy urban roads, and it's still pretty nippy.

 

[Onket]

And what about wider hybrid style wheels?!

 

[The Boy]

You sure you don't want a 'cross bike?

 

[Onket]

You sure you don't want a 'cross bike?

Whats one of them?

 

[The Boy]

Something like this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/avanti-circa-1-tiagra-2014/

Closer to a road bike geometry, extra brake levers on the bar tops and clearance for chunky tyres.

edit: Though I might have misunderstood you, when you were talking about your issues with drop bars so I can probably be safely ignored.

 

[Onket]

I think I'd like a racer but with wider road tyres for stability and normal handlebars.

 

[Virtual Blue]

28c tyres for winter - i feel so more confident with them.
Personally can't imagining not riding anything but drops.

Bike trouble this morning - front derailleur not aligned and gears are slipping. Took it into the bike shop, hopefully it's not too pricey for a fix.

Question for the mechanics here.

How the fuck do you stop punctures on these wheels?

The rims are real high and I had 2 punctures last week and 1 today.
I checked for uneven edges, debris the usual etc.
It's a fuckin' pain...

 

[weepiper]

28c tyres for winter - i feel so more confident with them.
Personally can't imagining not riding anything but drops.

Bike trouble this morning - front derailleur not aligned and gears are slipping. Took it into the bike shop, hopefully it's not too pricey for a fix.

Question for the mechanics here.

How the fuck do you stop punctures on these wheels?

The rims are real high and I had 2 punctures last week and 1 today.
I checked for uneven edges, debris the usual etc.
It's a fuckin' pain...

Keep them pumped up hard. Do you have a track pump? It's virtually impossible to get road tyres hard enough (100-120psi) with a hand pump.

 

[Dogsauce]

And what about wider hybrid style wheels?!

Mine has those too. It's what used to be called a 'tourer' but similar things these days tend to be called hybrids. Just get an old steel racing frame and add the bits you want. If you want new, something like a Surly might fit the bill.