The biking thread

[MarinaDiamandis]

What would he be riding? Mostly trails, mostly road?

You're on the money (literally) with your suggestions. £500 will get you an entry level road or mountain bike from those brands.

 

[Sprite]

So my housemate is looking to drop £500 on a "training bike". Basically he wants to get fit.

I've suggested he gets a hybrid, there's plenty of cycle paths around but the one that leads straight to his home (Taf Trail). However, I know little of them. My thoughts were first a Carrera, then a specialized, and maybe a cube? Thoughts? You guys have far, far better knowledge of the market place than me!

Evens cycles have the Kona Dew Deluxe down from £750 to £500. Looks a great bike, I was seriously considering it.

link

 

[ExigeEvan]

I imagine it'll be mostly roads and surfaced/semi-surfaced cycle paths.

I don't think a straight road bike is worth it, I don't think he'll be doing much hill work and he's had back issues in the past too.

Evens cycles have the Kona Dew Deluxe down from £750 to £500. Looks a great bike, I was seriously considering it.

link

Looks good (except the colour). I do wonder though, how necessary are discs on a hybrid?

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I'd be looking at the Specialized Hardrock Sport with discs.

I don't think anything else at this price can match the Hardrock at being jack of all trades, master of most. The forks are better than most at this price, and it has hydraulic disc brakes.

If your friend changes his mind and wants a trail-focused bike, tell him to get a Carrera Kraken.

 

[Shaun]

As some of you may know I sourced a new/secondhand frame from fleabay. Not that there was anything wrong with my old one just that it was a bit big for me. It did serve it's purpose well though while I was trying to lose weight.

Anyway the parts I was waiting for (mainly the cranks and bottom bracket) to finish putting it together turned up earlier in the week. I finally got the chance today to finish it off.

Hopefully the weather will be fine tomorrow to take it for a good run as I only got the chance today to go around the block a few times while tuning the gears.

After teeing up a buyer for my old frame and some of the bits left over I'm not out of pocket much at all including the new cranks.

Anyway here it is.
Specialized Allez Comp E5.



Looking forward to a good run on it to test it out properly, all indications from the shorts trips today it feels nice to ride.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I'd be looking at the Specialized Hardrock Sport with discs.

I don't think anything else at this price can match the Hardrock at being jack of all trades, master of most. The forks are better than most at this price, and it has hydraulic disc brakes.

If your friend changes his mind and wants a trail-focused bike, tell him to get a Carrera Kraken.

He's seen the specialized crosstail sport disc 2013 in a lbs, and I think he's likely to go for that.

 

[Yukon]

It's been pretty wet weather for the best part of a week now so I haven't had many chances to take the new Bike out but on Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning and tonight it's been sun, sun and sun. Perfect.

It's feeling great so far, no complaints at all. I'm just trying to get used to running it on the road and familiarising myself with the traffic. I'd rather go out when it's a little quieter but what can you do. I'll be honest and say that I didn't expect just how much you can feel. Every little jilt and bump in the road is there and you can feel everything. It's great. It's such a smooth ride and so responsive.

Tonight's cycle was fun. I didn't go far at all, 13 miles, but I wanted to practise going up hill. I found one near me and went for it. I climbed just under 800ft over the course of 2 miles. The ride down was, well... you know.

Hopefully the weather holds for tomorrow morning.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Anyway here it is.

Well, that's quite nice, isn't it? You even colour-coded your valve caps and lined up the writing on the tyre sidewall with them.

Do you wear padded shorts when you ride? That saddle looks a little bit too comfortable for me!

He's seen the specialized crosstail sport disc 2013 in a lbs, and I think he's likely to go for that.

Nice, that's a good choice.

The ride down was, well... you know.

"Do you have any idea how fast you were going, sir? If you'd like to step off the vehicle and, once you've stopped grinning like a loon, sit yourself in the back of the patrol car ..."

The speeds that you can reach by just coasting downhill on a road bike are ridiculous, as are the cornering speeds. I chicken out long before I get anywhere near the limits of my bike.

 

[Shaun]

Well, that's quite nice, isn't it? You even colour-coded your valve caps and lined up the writing on the tyre sidewall with them.

The caps are a leftover from the previous bike, worked out well didn't it.
As for the tyre writing, perfectionist much.

Do you wear padded shorts when you ride? That saddle looks a little bit too comfortable for me!

Yeah always worn padded shorts, recently discovered the wonder of bib shorts.
The saddle is deceptive, it's actually not very comfortable. If after setting up my ride position properly if it stays that way the hunt for a new one may begin.
I've heard good things about Fizik saddles, a try before you buy proposition though.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

My Cube arrived with the sidewall lettering perfectly aligned, to the millimetre, with the valve. At that point I realised two things:

1. Cube were a very professional company with an eye for detail.
2. I needed to get out more.

I have a Cube-branded Selle Italia saddle on mine, which is great (good quality, a nice size and shape) but the last thing I would call it is comfortable. I really need to get myself some padded shorts, as on longer rides it feels like I have been trying to insert the saddle up my backside.

I went on a ride earlier, after a rainstorm, and the bike was very twitchy. I think I might get some of the Schwalbe wet-weather tyres to save me from binning it when the rain sets in for good. Which reminds me, I need some road cycling-specific wet weather gear

 

[Shaun]

Don't see many Cube's around here, the few I have seen are nice looking bikes though. Giant and Trek seem to be really popular here and for the guys with heaps of money normally Pinarello or Orbea.

Nothing wrong with an eye for detail, I'm sure in this day and age I would be diagnosed with obsessive something or another. I just just see it as doing something properly and to the best of your ability. Heck I even make sure cable ties are spaced the same at work.

I can't believe you don't wear padded shorts, you must well and truly have an arse of steel by now. If you are thinking of getting some have a look at bib shorts, after trying them recently I'll never go back to normal knicks. If you can stump up the cash have a look at Rapha's stuff, bloody expensive but fantastic quality. Another expensive brand that gets raved about is Assos although I can't personally vouch for it. I did pick a pair of long semi thermal bibs recently at my LBS when they where having a huge discount sale from ZeroRh, they are sensational, the comfort is brilliant.
Keep an eye out for when stuff is one sale although Rapha never seem to discount much anyway.


Got out for 56km this morning, was pretty slow though (ave around 26kmh) as there was a bit of wind around which I always seemed to be riding into and the roads where still wet from overnight rain.
Bike feels great, soaks up the bumps better than my other frame. I got the gears spot on too, they are shifting smooth and quick. Most importantly after 2 hours in the saddle no back ache at all from not having to stretch out as much as the old frame.

Saddle felt better too although I think I may have to move it forward a mm or two. I'm pretty sure the problem with saddle previously was that I had it all the way forward and even then due to stretching out I would be constant slipping forward and end up sitting on the narrow part mostly instead of having my sit bones on the wider more padded part of the saddle.
I'll persevere with it for a few hundred km's before deciding if I should buy a different one. No need to spend money just for the sake of it.

All that's left to do is clean all the mud that flicked up and splattered everywhere.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Great looking bike Shaun 👍. It's a real looker!

Is it any lighter then the outgoing one?

 

[Shaun]

Just weighed it and it comes in at 8.4kg so yeah it's a little lighter as the outgoing one was pretty much spot on 9kg. That wouldn't be all down to the frame though as the new cranks, bottom bracket along with the seat post, stem and bars that came with the frame would have a bit to do with it I guess.

It's still no featherweight and if I was chasing weight the wheels would be where to make the biggest gains I'd guess. Not going down that track though as I'm just going to ride and enjoy it.

Still being a midget that needs a small frame has it's advantages.

 

[ExigeEvan]

My Cube arrived with the sidewall lettering perfectly aligned, to the millimetre, with the valve. At that point I realised two things:

1. Cube were a very professional company with an eye for detail.
2. I needed to get out more.

A friend bought a Cube back in 2009, and it was a great spec for the price. However, the bottom bracket bearing literally disintegrated the first time he rode it. Eventually got a new, higher spec part replacement but it left a bit of a sour taste as that took weeks.

I'd still consider a road bike from them though.

 

[TB]

You guys are making me want a road bike, damnit!

Second ride this year and I've managed to cut off 10 seconds per mile over the same 5.5 mile route and the wind was about the same, so not a factor. Again, it's a start.

I think the Aero bar (not the chocolate kind) needs to be put back on my bike, too.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I can't believe you don't wear padded shorts, you must well and truly have an arse of steel by now.

I just don't sit down I hover, like you would when taking a dump at a truckstop. Cheers for the tip, I'll have to start looking at bib shorts.

A friend bought a Cube back in 2009, and it was a great spec for the price. However, the bottom bracket bearing literally disintegrated the first time he rode it. Eventually got a new, higher spec part replacement but it left a bit of a sour taste as that took weeks.

Wow, that must have sucked. To be honest, I didn't look around online at reviews and such as much as I should have before I bought a Cube bike, but a friend that I trust who is really in to his road cycling recommended this particular model to me. I could just be lucky, but so far the bike has been faultless, and I'm not the most delicate of people!

You guys are making me want a road bike

You really do need one, they are way too much fun for anyone who enjoys cycling to do without.

 

[phillgt2002]

Been looking at some Specialized now. I saw a Allez for $700 if I can remember. Really interested. When I land a job, that's the first thing I will purchase.

 

[CheersMate]

Car is packed and ready to go.

The Alps are waiting 👍

 

[Shaun]

Had a bit of a oh 🤬 moment yesterday.
Coming down a hill at around 74kmh I took my eyes of the road for a little bit. Just caught sight of a pothole in time to swerve around the worst of it. Still it got the wobbles up for a bit.

Lesson learned, when travelling at speed forget the scenery and keep a close eye on the road ahead.

 

[phillgt2002]

Had a bit of a oh 🤬 moment yesterday.
Coming down a hill at around 74kmh I took my eyes of the road for a little bit. Just caught sight of a pothole in time to swerve around the worst of it. Still it got the wobbles up for a bit.

Lesson learned, when travelling at speed forget the scenery and keep a close eye on the road ahead.

Happened to me basically. I was riding around a corner, I looked up for cars and I hit a rock or something. I got the wobbles and veered into oncoming. The only thing I could do was hop a curb... on a road bike. Bent my rims and cost $55 for me to repair. Just got them back two days ago. Frustrating day.

 

[Shaun]

Yeah I was lucky enough that no damage was done to my rims. If I hit the deep part of the pothole then it would have been a different story.
Still though if it caused me to come off at that speed the rims woulds have been the least of my concerns.

 

[Yukon]

Bit of a rookie question, but would you unclip your shoes from the pedals whilst descending?

It crossed my mind yesterday evening when I was going down a hill pretty fast. I thought to myself that if I'm to fall off now, the bikes coming with me, which would surely be worse than just falling off myself. But then I thought would being unclipped put me in a position of less control?

What do you guys do, or is it down to personal preference?

 

[ExigeEvan]

I would say stay clipped in for control. A big enough fall and you'd probably unclip by accident or instinct anyway.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

As Evan said, stay clipped in. Only unclip if you know that you're going down.

Here's a link that might be helpful:
http://www.crw.org/safety/05safetyPgs/05aug-BikeHandling.php

A surprising amount of cyclists don't know how to do these things, despite them being really useful techniques.

 

[ExigeEvan]

As Evan said, stay clipped in. Only unclip if you know that you're going down.

Here's a link that might be helpful:
http://www.crw.org/safety/05safetyPgs/05aug-BikeHandling.php

A surprising amount of cyclists don't know how to do these things, despite them being really useful techniques.

I'm much more bias on my rear brake in a hard stop, even on a motorbike.
Much rather lose the back and have the front more responsive than put myself over the handle bars!

I never got to grips with riding my road bike without hands, I think because my riding position is too stretched out.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I find that odd, but whatever works for you.

I'm not great at riding no handed on my road bike either. I can do it, but the bars move left and right as I pedal (rocking my hips?), and it makes me worry that the wheel will turn too much and throw me over the bars!

 

[Fazerfan]

This is my bike:




Looks pretty odd in the picture.

 

[phillgt2002]

This is my bike:

[pic]

Looks pretty odd in the picture.

I think it's the seat that looks odd in the picture. It looks well kept, and I like the black and white colors.

Just got done working on my bike. I just put the wheels on that I just got back a few days ago. The most frustrating thing to put on was the derailleur. I don't even want to mention that part. I still have to adjust a few things right now, the chain needs to be adjusted because it skips every once or twice.

I'm getting new brakes in the mail since the ones that are currently on it are in absolutely terrible shape. They are cambered to ****.

Glad to have it back, but problems just keep coming up for me. It's terrible.

 

[Shaun]

The most frustrating thing to put on was the derailleur. I don't even want to mention that part. I still have to adjust a few things right now,

What's the problem with it?

After a bit of practice they are real easy to set up. I may be able to give you some tips if needed.

 

[phillgt2002]

What's the problem with it?

After a bit of practice they are real easy to set up. I may be able to give you some tips if needed.

I just had problems getting the right tension on the derailleur and chain. Before I figured out the problem, the chain was really loose. I figured out how to get it after taking a break.