By the final 'roubaix' shortcut most people had cried off them and were sticking to the roads but we were determined to do it partly spurred on by the "special prize" if you could prove via Strava etc. that you did all the optional bits. I must admit I was disappointed when I found out it was a free pint as you got a free pint when you finished anyway plus there was a girl just handing the cards out to everyone so I ended up with three free pint vouchers... but having to drive home
There was also a can in the goodie bag to take home though. If you hadn't guessed it was sponsored by a local brewery
Good lads, that's the spirit! Gotta love beer as a prize!
To be fair of the 5-6 local sportives I've done two of the three best/most enjoyable ones where run by local breweries!
It doesn't look bad at all, no more than a 2-3mm split but the roads near me are quite grainy and far from smooth. Tyres were 30/32 Specialized Roubaix Pro, kept the front as it looks fine but I've cut the rear one, made two tyre boots from it and binned the rest of it.
I'm running the 25/28 Roubaix Pro's and had a ton of marks on mine but no cuts. I've hit all sorts of debris too so very surprised! Mitchelin Pro 4 Endurance 28mm where dead in around 2/3rd's the mileage. Smooth centre of mine is starting to crack up but I'm going to ride them over winter until they die (2nd winter pretty much complete!). Will buy same again, probably the 28/30 as I think they do the 3 sizes with the 30/32's being the largest.
So....
When I got my bike I decided to get mtb shoes and pedals. Mains because I also got pedals with a normal clip less side to ride in normal shoes should I want to
Needless to say I never have and now fancy some proper road shoes
????
So am I right in thinking I need the 3 bolt type? But what colour( wiggle room). Is there a preference?
I also see there are a few different brands that aren’t interchangeable. Is it best to just stick to Shimano (a trusted brand)
Lastly am I right in thinking SPD-SL are right. Think these are the Shimano code tho not 100%
Any advice very welcome
JB
SPD is fine if you're still getting into riding/clipless and doing lots of stop-start commuting. If anything they're better than anything else - easy entry/exit, cheap & double sided. I know many commuters here use them.
The more road/race orientated from Shimano are SPD-SL. They're not compatible in the slightest with standard SPD - all they share is a name. Shoes for them are '3 bolt'. Look Keo and Time Epresso are also 3 bolt so 3 bolt shoes will fit any. Speedplay are double sided, but come with a different fitment again, although generally come with an adaptor plate which fits to 3 bolt shoes.
I went from SPD to SPD-SL and now ride Look Keo. I've found them better than SPD-SL - firmer fitment and better engagement. Cleats although they wear about the same as SPD-SL the engagement is better when well worn than SPD-SL. To me they're worth the slight price premium over SPD-SL. I also find the look pedals quicker/easier to 'flip' when riding, I hardly ever miss-clip. I used to regularly spin the SPD-SL pedals rather than flip, or miss clip the front and then be left with a 'shin egg' 3-4 pedal revolutions late when my shoe came flying out after putting the power down. Don't miss that at all!
I’d like to say it’s my butterfly like stature and godlike pedalling style however I am moderately average and just lucky.
Incredibly lucky, buy a lottery ticket!
The Schwalbe G One Speed 30mm definitely aren't sluggish. I've not ridden them myself but my brother used them last year and they seemed to roll very well and didn't hold him back at all.
My brother was running G One tyres when I did this ride with him:
https://www.strava.com/activities/1229807000
Do you definitely want 30mm? I'm currently running tubeless 28mm Maxxis Padrone TR tyres and they're very fast, last well and have great puncture protection. They're being used by the Canyon Eisberg team this year.
Thanks, maybe I need to seriously consider them. Ideally I was looking for a lighweight summer tubeless tyre. I've got lightweight rotors to fit for summer too!
Hadn't heard of the Maxxis Padrone but if Harry Tanfield rides them, that's good enough for me! Know they ride Hunt wheels too, does your brother work/ride for Hunt?
More inspection is required, but with them being different I can’t just have one LHS rotor inpower crank arm and change between them.
Doh! BB adaptor & change crankset?
