Road Cycling Essentials

DIABLO · 25 Mar 2013 at 18:12

kiteloopy said:
Nice

Planet-X TT bikes are very popular at all the tri's ive done. Im sure you'll love it!

You got an event in mind? or is this for TT road racing?

He has injurys from a Motorbike smash up which make the TT positon more practical for him to ride then a regular road bike.

PermaChanged · 25 Mar 2013 at 19:22

[DOD]Asprilla;24003142 said:
In other news Mrs A gave birth 8 weeks early on Sunday morning. I think I'll be lucky to get on a bike before the London-Surrey 100. Over the moon though.

Congratulations to you both

Lakeland · 25 Mar 2013 at 19:33

Thought I'd share a poor camera phone picture of my road bike. It's a ribble stealth with aksium wheels, sram rival group set, 105 pedals, Chinese carbon bottle holders and specialized bg seat

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2013 at 19:35

Nice, needs white bar tape though!

[DOD]Asprilla · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:16

One More Solo said:
Nice, needs white bar tape though!

Tis true. For a moment I thought it was missing a saddle. Sweet though.

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:40

[DOD]Asprilla;24005030 said:
Tis true. For a moment I thought it was missing a saddle. Sweet though.

Congratulations to you both by the way, I didn't realise n+1 applied to kids too.

Lopéz · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:54

Borden said:
Hi guys, new to road bikes and have just picked up a used Felt F95 last week. (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-2012/)

I would like to eventually upgrade the brakes to some Shimano 105 callipers but am a bit confused as to whether they will work with the Microshift brake levers fitted on the bike. I can't find any information about whether the pull ratio would be compatible with the Shimano brakes. Anybody have any ideas?

Cheers

Can't help on your brake query, but enjoy the bike - I bought an F95 last year as my first road bike and I love it. Change the tyres, they're absolutely awful as standard.

VeNT · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:28

Lakeland said:
Thought I'd share a poor camera phone picture of my road bike. It's a ribble stealth with aksium wheels, sram rival group set, 105 pedals, Chinese carbon bottle holders and specialized bg seat

god I wish they had SRAM still as an option!

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:30

Build your own!

Vonhelmet · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:34

Borden said:
Hi guys, new to road bikes and have just picked up a used Felt F95 last week. (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-2012/)

I would like to eventually upgrade the brakes to some Shimano 105 callipers but am a bit confused as to whether they will work with the Microshift brake levers fitted on the bike. I can't find any information about whether the pull ratio would be compatible with the Shimano brakes. Anybody have any ideas?

Cheers

I can find a lot of info saying the ratios for the gears are the same as for Shimano, but nothing specifically regarding the brakes I'm afraid.

Shamrock · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:37

I vote black saddle rather than white tape. White isn't stealthy!

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:51

Borden said:
Hi guys, new to road bikes and have just picked up a used Felt F95 last week. (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-2012/)

I would like to eventually upgrade the brakes to some Shimano 105 callipers but am a bit confused as to whether they will work with the Microshift brake levers fitted on the bike. I can't find any information about whether the pull ratio would be compatible with the Shimano brakes. Anybody have any ideas?

Cheers

I'd be very shocked if the pull ratio is different, almost without exception on road bikes the ratio is the same. Changing your calipers won't make a huge difference to braking performance but changing the pads will so try that first.

yourmomma · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:53

Hi guys, beginner road biker here who needs some advice about compact cranksets. My bike has Campag Veloce standard cranks on with a 13 - 29 cassette and although I can get up most hills in the lowest gears I had to bail on one on Sun as it was too steep for my gears. I can get a compact version of my cranks online for £65 should I do it? If so how easy is it to make the change, is it a matter of replace cranks and cassette, adjust chain and away you go?

helpimcrap · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:58

kiteloopy said:
Nice

Planet-X TT bikes are very popular at all the tri's ive done. Im sure you'll love it!

You got an event in mind? or is this for TT road racing?

No event in mind. Going to do a few 10's and maybe a 25.

I just got it because i tried my uncles TT bike the other week and it suited me perfectly in the TT position with the TT bars!! Because of my elbow not being able to be straightened i can only ride in one position and i have to have sports massages every month as a result!! With this hopefully it will put less stain on the shoulders!

Or a more balanced strain. Make sense?

They do the cycle to work scheme so I got it on that lol....

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:05

yourmomma said:
Hi guys, beginner road biker here who needs some advice about compact cranksets. My bike has Campag Veloce standard cranks on with a 13 - 29 cassette and although I can get up most hills in the lowest gears I had to bail on one on Sun as it was too steep for my gears. I can get a compact version of my cranks online for £65 should I do it? If so how easy is it to make the change, is it a matter of replace cranks and cassette, adjust chain and away you go?

Replace the cranks, not the cassette. Just make sure you get a crank that is compatible with your bottom bracket spec.

Shamrock · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:08

Out of interest, which hill around London made you bail on 39-29?

yourmomma · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:13

One More Solo said:
Replace the cranks, not the cassette. Just make sure you get a crank that is compatible with your bottom bracket spec.

Thanks, I was intending to get the same make and model (which it now appears is £53 as there is a 20% off promotion on) so I presume they are the same.

I presume I will need to remove some links from the chain? If that's all I think I shall go for it.

yourmomma · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:16

Shamrock said:
Out of interest, which hill around London made you bail on 39-29?

It is called Saltbox hill, near biggin Hill airport. It wasn't long just got steep pretty quickly.

I am a beginner only done about 100 miles on the new bike so please feel free to tell me to stop being stupid and just train more instead of buying new components!

Shamrock · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:25

Not at all, I was just curious as I'm worried my gearing isn't appropriate for proper hills.

I run 53/39, 12-27. If spring ever arrives I intend to try out Ranmore Common and Whitedown in Surrey as they look relatively nasty for London hills.

I guess you could keep working that hill until you smash it with your standard double but your knees will probably thank you for the compact!

oli collett · 25 Mar 2013 at 22:30

Had you been up the climb before? If not you'll probably be a lot bette next time if you keep something in the tank for it, I've got into trouble on short sharp ascents as I didn't know they were there and I was already pushing it!