The Cycling Chat Thread

[Sigmund Fraud]

I didn't mind 9 speed, I think 10sp was crossing a rubicon though - nobody needs the extra cog apart from the aftermarket chain and cassette market. 7 or 8 are enough.

I rode the majority of the London Classic route today to check it was all clear. It fair fucked me over after doing nothing more than a 10 EW commute for the last 6 months.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I had to angle grind a crank arm from a square taper BB as the previous careful owner had stripped the thread.There is something so satisfying in cutting into cast aluminium with an angle grinder, like a knife through butter.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Caps!

 

[The Boy]

I bought a new casquette the other day. Will fire a pic up in a bit.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I'm thinking of cranking out some serious distances and heights in the months ahead and from what I've heard clipless pedals really help. Anyone got any recommendations?. I'm after ones where you can wear shoes without the clip sticking out of the bottom, are these shimano spds?. Are they any good?. How easy are they to get used to?.

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm thinking of cranking out some serious distances and heights in the months ahead and from what I've heard clipless pedals really help. Anyone got any recommendations?. I'm after ones where you can wear shoes without the clip sticking out of the bottom, are these shimano spds?. Are they any good?. How easy are they to get used to?.

SPD cleats are recessed but may protrude a little - it depends on the shoe. You can always creatively modify the cleat with an angle grinder if necessary. XT M780 pedals are probably the best bet if you're going SPD (rather than SPD-SL, etc.)

They are very easy to get out of as you can adjust the tensions of the release springs on the pedal.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Well, I'm not sure which road I should go down, that's the thing... SPD-SL are the Look style ones, aren't they?. Are they more popular?

 

[DownwardDog]

Well, I'm not sure which road I should go down, that's the thing... SPD-SL are the Look style ones, aren't they?. Are they more popular?

SPD-SL is lighter, more expensive and (usually) has single sided pedals compared to SPD. They also protrude further from the bottom of the shoe and are less crashworthy than SPD. I always go SPD-SL on my road bikes...

 

[ChrisFilter]

If you've got a road bike I'd go SPD-SL. If you're more into touring (think slower pace, cafe stops, etc) then SPDs give you what you need in terms of being able to walk around off the bike, shoe dependent.

I've got SPD-SLs.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

For a recessed cleat shoe I've always got on better with time ATAC pedals/cleats (use the same 2 bolt fixing as SPD so wil work on any SPD compatible shoe) - easier than Shimano SPD to engage and they are far friendlier on the knees.

For road pedals I bought some SPD-SLs after an exploding composite pedal disaster left me miles from anywhere (they were Time RXS). I would never buy non-metal pedals again.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I remember that well!

 

[sleaterkinney]

That's the other thing, I have a dodgy knee so planning to get it fitted properly.

 

[Ted Striker]

Well, I'm not sure which road I should go down, that's the thing... SPD-SL are the Look style ones, aren't they?. Are they more popular?

They're the ones that make you look funny when you walk

 

[Hoss]

I'm looking to buy a new bike - my first road bike. I've been riding a fixie for 5 years now for a 7 mile each way London commute, before that various MTB's. I want to get into long rides and possibly joining a club. Have been out on the fixie for long country rides before but as I get older it's less fun and anything that involves going up/down steep hills is ridiculous.. Budget is up to 1k and I get it via work so cost is spread across 12 months and taken out of gross salary. The snag is that I'm obliged to use Evans for this scheme. I quite liked the look of the BMC Granfondo but it's last years model and no longer available in my size. Am going to test ride a selection in the next week to give myself a idea of what fits and feels right but It's an area of bikes that I'm completely unfamiliar with so any tips from road riders would be much appreciated.

 

[a_chap]

For a recessed cleat shoe I've always got on better with time ATAC pedals/cleats (use the same 2 bolt fixing as SPD so wil work on any SPD compatible shoe) - easier than Shimano SPD to engage and they are far friendlier on the knees.

What Sigmund said. Exactly the reasons I used Time ATAC pedals/cleats for years.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I'm looking to buy a new bike - my first road bike. I've been riding a fixie for 5 years now for a 7 mile each way London commute, before that various MTB's. I want to get into long rides and possibly joining a club. Have been out on the fixie for long country rides before but as I get older it's less fun and anything that involves going up/down steep hills is ridiculous.. Budget is up to 1k and I get it via work so cost is spread across 12 months and taken out of gross salary. The snag is that I'm obliged to use Evans for this scheme. I quite liked the look of the BMC Granfondo but it's last years model and no longer available in my size. Am going to test ride a selection in the next week to give myself a idea of what fits and feels right but It's an area of bikes that I'm completely unfamiliar with so any tips from road riders would be much appreciated.

You can't really go wrong at that price, tbh. Ideally you'd find something in the sale with a carbon frame and a Shimano 105 groupset, but aluminium is perfectly fine and Tiagra does the job too.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I'm looking to buy a new bike - my first road bike. I've been riding a fixie for 5 years now for a 7 mile each way London commute, before that various MTB's. I want to get into long rides and possibly joining a club. Have been out on the fixie for long country rides before but as I get older it's less fun and anything that involves going up/down steep hills is ridiculous.. Budget is up to 1k and I get it via work so cost is spread across 12 months and taken out of gross salary. The snag is that I'm obliged to use Evans for this scheme. I quite liked the look of the BMC Granfondo but it's last years model and no longer available in my size. Am going to test ride a selection in the next week to give myself a idea of what fits and feels right but It's an area of bikes that I'm completely unfamiliar with so any tips from road riders would be much appreciated.

cannondale synapse?

 

[sleaterkinney]

What Sigmund said. Exactly the reasons I used Time ATAC pedals/cleats for years.

When you say easier on the knees is that while cycling or when getting in and out?

 

[Hoss]

You can't really go wrong at that price, tbh. Ideally you'd find something in the sale with a carbon frame and a Shimano 105 groupset, but aluminium is perfectly fine and Tiagra does the job too.

Cheers. I'm looking at sale bikes so I get more for my money but most seem to be either smallest frame size or waaay too big.

cannondale synapse?

Definitely a contender, but put off by disc brakes. I prefer to do most maintenance myself - my last MTB had disc brakes which were a pain to get serviced, though presumably as they are more common, more bike shops can deal with them these days?

 

[ChrisFilter]

Tbh, my next bike will probably have discs. But my next bike will be a cross bike.

 

[a_chap]

When you say easier on the knees is that while cycling or when getting in and out?

When cycling.

Time ATAC pedal have an enormous amount of float so your feet can waggle about a fair amount from straight ahead hence easier on the old knee joint things.

 

[DownwardDog]

Definitely a contender, but put off by disc brakes. I prefer to do most maintenance myself - my last MTB had disc brakes which were a pain to get serviced, though presumably as they are more common, more bike shops can deal with them these days?

I've got a Cannondale Synapse with the Shimano R785 discs and they are very good. They have about the same stopping power as calipers in the dry but way better in the wet. You could easily do all the maintenance yourself - as long as you have the Shimano bleed kit.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

The 105 and tiagra Syanpses have mechanical discs as stock. If you buy ask the man or woman to swap away from Schwalbe Lugano which are masquerading as tyres.

 

[contadino]

I bought my first road bike for 25 years yesterday. A 1980 Raleigh Record Ace.

 

[Hoss]

I've got a Cannondale Synapse with the Shimano R785 discs and they are very good. They have about the same stopping power as calipers in the dry but way better in the wet. You could easily do all the maintenance yourself - as long as you have the Shimano bleed kit.

How messy is it to do this? I live in a 3rd floor flat with no garden so anything that leaks fluid everywhere is not likely to please my wife.

 

[Hoss]

Just read that back - Fnar fnar etc etc

 

[weepiper]

How messy is it to do this? I live in a 3rd floor flat with no garden so anything that leaks fluid everywhere is not likely to please my wife.

If you're leaking fluid everywhere you're doing something very wrong. You might get a couple of drips but honestly some newspaper down under the bike will be totally adequate.

 

[sim667]

Im going to join back in this thread, because I'm stopping my current job and going to somewhere where I can cycle as opposed to driving

The distance is nearly nothing and easily walkable, but I've got a bike I want to use, and I want to start going to the gym after work..... cycling just speeds the whole process up

I could do with some suggestions though, I've got quick release wheels and seat, and my lock is one of those curly up cable locks, but it doesnt quite reach through both tyres, the frame and round what ever I'm looking too..... Are there any lightweight/easily carriable solutions?

 

[weepiper]

Im going to join back in this thread, because I'm stopping my current job and going to somewhere where I can cycle as opposed to driving

The distance is nearly nothing and easily walkable, but I've got a bike I want to use, and I want to start going to the gym after work..... cycling just speeds the whole process up

I could do with some suggestions though, I've got quick release wheels and seat, and my lock is one of those curly up cable locks, but it doesnt quite reach through both tyres, the frame and round what ever I'm looking too..... Are there any lightweight/easily carriable solutions?

Get something like this to replace your quick releases with

they're called security skewers, there's various different designs but they all have a funny shaped bolt head (not a normal allen key) and a corresponding tool which undoes them that you stick on your keyring and then no-one can just whip your wheels off and walk off with them.

 

[sim667]

Get something like this to replace your quick releases with

they're called security skewers, there's various different designs but they all have a funny shaped bolt head (not a normal allen key) and a corresponding tool which undoes them that you stick on your keyring and then no-one can just whip your wheels off and walk off with them.

Ah amazing...... Ill ask me bike shop about those.

I'm going to have to carry a laptop on me bike too, so I need to look for a decent bag