I was out this morning, bit later than planned but at least got my hole out. Think it’s time for some mudguards. Does anyone have any recommendations on overshoes, I’ve only got some dhb toe covers which kept me warm and dry but ankles where a bit damp.
Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
No recommendations on overshoes I’m afraid. Good guards keep your feet dry though.
Time to fully change over to winter bike today. Setup the summer bike on the turbo. Moved saddle bag over. Changed my sunglasses from tinted lenses to the yellow light enhancing style to help in the dim light.
Warm enough for long sleeves but shorts and thin gloves, dry roads here for the most part but some floods and surface water on some lanes, full guards kept me dry.
Did a couple of hours, rides so good, smooth and the gears are super slick still, really enjoyable. Not as much zip or out of the saddle response but rolls a decent constant speed over any rough stuff. Put out a decent average speed which is what it’s all about as my weeknights will be turbo only now. Keep a reasonable base and then intervals and hard sessions on the trainer.
Time to fully change over to winter bike today. Setup the summer bike on the turbo. Moved saddle bag over. Changed my sunglasses from tinted lenses to the yellow light enhancing style to help in the dim light.
Warm enough for long sleeves but shorts and thin gloves, dry roads here for the most part but some floods and surface water on some lanes, full guards kept me dry.
Did a couple of hours, rides so good, smooth and the gears are super slick still, really enjoyable. Not as much zip or out of the saddle response but rolls a decent constant speed over any rough stuff. Put out a decent average speed which is what it’s all about as my weeknights will be turbo only now. Keep a reasonable base and then intervals and hard sessions on the trainer.
Well I managed to bend my rim back (pics to follow)... And rode to work on it today... 
Looks ok and quite surprised how 'easy' it was, although it's not perfect. Road surfacing is still ongoing on a mile long stretch of my commute and I couldn't get onto the cycle path (which covers 3/4 of it) so it had a good test this morning. Who'd have thought it - a gravel bike being used on gravel/broken up loose surfaces!
May end up grabbing a rim, if I can source one, for peace of mind.
Random one... But anyone got a pair of Rapha pro team shorts in Large? I got some on ebay as a bit of a bargain to check sizing and they're quite big on me. They're bigger than the Core (which I have multiple Large & Medium of) which doesn't sound right, so want to confirm if this pair is stretched before I get any in Medium and find them too small...!
My favourites the last few years have been the Sealskins 'Open Sole' ones, but getting hold of them now is quite tricky as they're a bit old/end of line/out of stock. Just recently got the 'Open Sole Halo' and the fit is quite a bit tighter (although I have also changed shoes) along with a different design (zip on side, rather than rear) that I'm not sure I like. The other open sole you could adjust the underneith to 'loosen' the fit slightly further. So the Halo are quite a bit tighter to get on and off, more fiddly/time consuming and think the zip will wear quicker. Still as I live in overshoes from late September until April kinda time I generally get through at least 1 pair a 'year'. Although now I won't be wearing them for the really bad weather as I have 2 pairs of Spatz I really need to justify the price of...
Although when finding links for you I found the original Open Sole in the Hi Viz yellow I loved for a great price (but as my bike is an off-yellow I no longer wear). Tempting...
Looks ok and quite surprised how 'easy' it was, although it's not perfect. Road surfacing is still ongoing on a mile long stretch of my commute and I couldn't get onto the cycle path (which covers 3/4 of it) so it had a good test this morning. Who'd have thought it - a gravel bike being used on gravel/broken up loose surfaces!
May end up grabbing a rim, if I can source one, for peace of mind.
Random one... But anyone got a pair of Rapha pro team shorts in Large? I got some on ebay as a bit of a bargain to check sizing and they're quite big on me. They're bigger than the Core (which I have multiple Large & Medium of) which doesn't sound right, so want to confirm if this pair is stretched before I get any in Medium and find them too small...!
Forgot to actually recommend a tyre. Tubeless? 32mm? Then really recommend the Specialized '2bliss'. I'm running the Roubaix Pro and really rate & enjoy them. At around £30 each they're also one of the cheapest Tubeless you'll find. But they are very much a road tyre. Although they did come on my Diverge (Gravel bike) the newer models come with more of a mixed surface tyre - called 'Pathfinder'. If that's what you're after... There's tougher and grippier ones of course.
Oooh not sure I even recall the Zwift one. Got a link?New aeroad 06/10, if it's like the zwift frame it's looking promising
We don't have the right emoji's available for me to express an opinion on your post.
I see nothing unusual in there for a 'road' bike! Many of the roads in the UK are worse than gravel trails! Great use of one transporting 'cargo'. Mine tows a 36kg trailer! Those little 'extras' do get heavy fast...Funny you say that, wait till you see what I did to the thing
... Would have been a bit daft on my road bike though.
The DHB ones where always quite good but not used them for a few years. I found the fit a bit 'off' so they would move around and I was always be wearing though the fabric on the heels (as well as the usual other areas).
My favourites the last few years have been the Sealskins 'Open Sole' ones, but getting hold of them now is quite tricky as they're a bit old/end of line/out of stock. Just recently got the 'Open Sole Halo' and the fit is quite a bit tighter (although I have also changed shoes) along with a different design (zip on side, rather than rear) that I'm not sure I like. The other open sole you could adjust the underneith to 'loosen' the fit slightly further. So the Halo are quite a bit tighter to get on and off, more fiddly/time consuming and think the zip will wear quicker. Still as I live in overshoes from late September until April kinda time I generally get through at least 1 pair a 'year'. Although now I won't be wearing them for the really bad weather as I have 2 pairs of Spatz I really need to justify the price of...
Although when finding links for you I found the original Open Sole in the Hi Viz yellow I loved for a great price (but as my bike is an off-yellow I no longer wear). Tempting...
Soldato
Ha thanks @Roady. I faced the facts that 1. Getting a third bike over lockdown was nigh on impossible and 2. I'd therefore might as well frankenstein my Cyclocross bike to accommodate little man since it's a solid bike and gets me anywhere. Thanks for the tyre recommendation, I went for a schwalbe variant (cx comp) and some slime inners. I don't have tubeless on it.
Well I managed to bend my rim back (pics to follow)... And rode to work on it today...
Looks ok and quite surprised how 'easy' it was, although it's not perfect. Road surfacing is still ongoing on a mile long stretch of my commute and I couldn't get onto the cycle path (which covers 3/4 of it) so it had a good test this morning. Who'd have thought it - a gravel bike being used on gravel/broken up loose surfaces!
i've used a few "corrected" rims on MTBs. Occasionally they won't tubeless any more, but they're usually reet. Given that a gravel rim is basically an XC 29er from a few years back, it'll be fine i'm sure
Soldato
So... I've been wondering about a gravel bike/winter hack and I have a few noob questions if I may...
Why use a winter hack? How would it differ to my current main road bike? What damage could I be subjecting my main bike to?
Can I just use my spare wheels with gravel tyres on my main bike? I guess clearance is the issue?
Why use a winter hack? How would it differ to my current main road bike? What damage could I be subjecting my main bike to?
Can I just use my spare wheels with gravel tyres on my main bike? I guess clearance is the issue?
winter bikes generally/should have
older/cheaper components
full mudguards
they exist to keep road salt and scrunge off your "nice" bike, and off your body and that of your fellow riders. Many groups won't let you join in winter without full mudguards.
older/cheaper components
full mudguards
they exist to keep road salt and scrunge off your "nice" bike, and off your body and that of your fellow riders. Many groups won't let you join in winter without full mudguards.
No problemmo. Have to say with the reduction in outside miles the last few years, plus also running these 'harder' do everything type tyres I'm really not getting through tyres like I used to (previously on the rim brake bike when running thinner and softer more expensive rubber). Could also be another bonus for going wider & lower pressure, lower wear maybe?!
Shame you're not tubeless, it's great. And a little strange that a cross bike doesn't have tubeless compatible wheels...!
I'm happy with it for a winter wheel where it'll be running low pressures. Thinking this season might actually be the time I try out some CX so that could be an even better use for it!
I may still try and pick up a rim (while they're available) and as I've already got 2 rears I've been on the lookout for a sale/SH front over the last few months anyhow.
Pics for your opinion (and anyone else with any experience on dinged rims, may post in the MTB thread?!):
Clearance will be the big issue, yours is an Ultimate isn't it? Or an Aeroad? An Ultimate you can probably get 28mm tyres on but the clearance probably wouldn't be great for gravel (think stones stuck between tyre and frame, will gouge out the paint/lacquer/carbon).
That tends to be less of a thing these days, certainly around these parts. There's just so many new riders on club rides. There will be midwinter rides I rock up to when only me or 1 or 2 others even have guards fitted!
Of course then when on the front I take great pleasure riding through any mud/water/puddles as fast as possible without signalling them...
#sadistThanks. What should I look for inside? I figured as it's not totally flat, it'll just collapse the same way again when/if it 'fails' (which is unlikely unless I hit a big stone in exactly the same place?!).
It's got a tube in right now for a few weeks while I monitor it. Thinking actually changing it to tubeless will be a good option - I'd see evidence of any cracks in the sidewall if/when they appear with the white sealant?!
£125 for a rim
Thanks. What should I look for inside? I figured as it's not totally flat, it'll just collapse the same way again when/if it 'fails' (which is unlikely unless I hit a big stone in exactly the same place?!).
It's got a tube in right now for a few weeks while I monitor it. Thinking actually changing it to tubeless will be a good option - I'd see evidence of any cracks in the sidewall if/when they appear with the white sealant?!
£125 for a rim
essentially you're looking for it looking the same. If it's changing that means things are happening. Maybe photos each time?
internet suggests the rim is ERD 586. if you can find another rim with ERD 586 you can straight swap it using the same spokes. Kinlin XR26 is 588, which might be a shade too far based on spoke lengths
Soldato
:lol:The Endurace, so I already have 28mm fitted
I'm so not up on Canyons, but assume that's the do-everything endurance bike, rather than the do-everything race bike (Ultimate)?! If so they you might find clearance is good. But then again so many of the Canyon frames are 'old' designs where clearances will be tight (designed for 23-25mm tyres on narrow 17mm rims).
I personally wouldn’t ride that rim. I’d say it’s bent too much and by bending it back it will be a lot weaker in that spot. Wouldn’t want to hit a hole hard in that approx location again and have the tyre explode and the rim fold over on you.... I’d be changing it, and keeping my good looks
No danger of that!and keeping my good looks
That's partly my thinking too... Don't want to 'trust' it or feel like I can. I don't think it'll 'fold'. It's not carbon. And thinking about the force I hit that curb that only bent it that much I'm quite confident even the same impact in the same place wouldn't be that much more damaging. Also probably only one of a few times I've hit a curb that hard in the last 9 years so quite an isolated incident. New wheelset arrived yesterday anyways so switching to them, meanwhile will be scouting around for a new Zipp 30 front. If I don't find one the next month or two I'll just get the new rim (while I still can). Basically If I can pick 2 new fronts before the end of the year around £200 or below each it'll get retired rather than rebuilt.
Then again, the 303S are a pretty awesome price for a fairly light carbon, aero, disk, wide, tubeless and very future proof... Maybe just save my money for them, sell the 2x 30 course rears I have to help... Decisions.
Crazy stats for these 303S... ID is now 23mm (coming up from 21mm ID on my 30 course) which is massive as I noticed quite a difference myself moving up from 19mm to the 21mm with the same tyres...Then again, the 303S are a pretty awesome price for a fairly light carbon, aero, disk, wide, tubeless and very future proof... Maybe just save my money for them, sell the 2x 30 course rears I have to help... Decisions.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...recrest-plus-more-updates-to-the-range-456698
But the new 303 Firecrests Disk have been completely revamped and updated too. They are now 25mm ID which is even more MASSIVE. So they're up from 21mm to 25mm ID, meaning the minimum recommended tyre is a 28mm. Pretty revolutionary for such a 'racers' wheelset!? Throw in the mix too they're not compatible with non-tubeless tyres (as they're hookless rims) which includes the Continental range (unsure about the TL 5000), which I find quite a surprise. Also with all the reviews stating the crazy low tyre pressures (recommended due to the width than for most 'road' wheels - although they're pressures I'm using myself on 21mm ID rims with 32mm tyres). Throw in there the fact they're 300g lighter than the previous 303 Firecrests AND have a reduced price (although slightly shallower profile 40mm vs 45mm and don't have the dimpled surface). Zipp with a bit of a killer blow there in the disk road wheel market!?
Anyone got experience of the Bont Riot or Helix?
I’ve been riding the Vapour + for 5 years and the heels are starting to go, so need some new shoes, thinking Xmas. Before this I had the A-Three with Velcro/ratchets which I had for a few years, I crashed in them and had to replace all the rubbers underneath but they never fixed well or were quite the same hence the upgrade ($155 half price from Evans at the time!).
I prefer the dual boa of the vapour, but they are double the price (£250ish) of the riots (£100-125) The toe protection is appreciated as I usually have overlap with the front wheel, especially on winter bike so it is used! The shoes do last well.
I’ve been riding the Vapour + for 5 years and the heels are starting to go, so need some new shoes, thinking Xmas. Before this I had the A-Three with Velcro/ratchets which I had for a few years, I crashed in them and had to replace all the rubbers underneath but they never fixed well or were quite the same hence the upgrade ($155 half price from Evans at the time!).
I prefer the dual boa of the vapour, but they are double the price (£250ish) of the riots (£100-125) The toe protection is appreciated as I usually have overlap with the front wheel, especially on winter bike so it is used! The shoes do last well.
None sorry, always liked the look of the Riot shoes and some incredible deals sometimes but never picked any up. Did hear the sizing is slightly off than other brands, so maybe that put some doubt in my mind.
I like Giro's, Sidi and more recently got some good Shimano's for just commuting. Went Wide fit in them even though I don't really need it, as others I tried first seemed a little narrow. I'm normal (non-wide) in Sidi and Giro. The wide Shimanos are a similar fit to them.
I like Giro's, Sidi and more recently got some good Shimano's for just commuting. Went Wide fit in them even though I don't really need it, as others I tried first seemed a little narrow. I'm normal (non-wide) in Sidi and Giro. The wide Shimanos are a similar fit to them.
Specialised Aethos. Ahahahahahaha
The price is outrageous and I can’t see how they are trying to tell people that aero is now nothing after years of it being almost everything.
The sweet spot is obviously the Tarmac/Emonda level of frame at the moment.
I can’t wrap my head around bikes costing over ten thousand pounds and there being the market of people to buy them!
The price is outrageous and I can’t see how they are trying to tell people that aero is now nothing after years of it being almost everything.
The sweet spot is obviously the Tarmac/Emonda level of frame at the moment.
I can’t wrap my head around bikes costing over ten thousand pounds and there being the market of people to buy them!