[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

Following on from a glib comment of the CMS thread:-

Why have we never reached out to Helge Riepenhof?

Albion and OPQS doctor, he's the professional version of us.
I'd have thought that would make him deserving of being the Honorary President of Cycling Geeks, or something.

 

[Motogull]

Yeah, but were you breathing through your nose?

Tried that this morning on the first climb out of curiosity. 40m before I noticed some chest pain so that's never being attempted again.

2 mins quicker today. I'm really gonna miss her when I get draggged to Spain for a fortnight. I suggested she goes too but that got rejected in record quick time.

Saw a puncture today. Bloke on a descent round a roundabout to go over the M20 and a sudden high pitched puff and a cloud at the bottom of his rear wheel. Nothing obvious to cause it. He was lucky it was low speed.

 

[1066familyman]

Fantasy gambles on breakaway riders just aren't happening for me in this Tour Why Flecha can't get into today's break is a bloody mystery considering how active he's been. And Tommy V surely has to go at some point.

 

[1066familyman]

Well, that's the break for the day then and after gambling with 3 riders for it, instead of playing safe for tomorrow, I've managed to get none of them in the break whatsoever. Playing catch up now then.

 

[1066familyman]

A perfect NIL POINTS in fantasy today as I achieved absolute equilibrium between points scored and penalty points taken. Beat that fellow geeks!

 

[Motogull]

Thanks for cheering me up a tiny amount. I got 8.

 

[Stat Brother]

32 big boy points today

 

[1066familyman]

32 big boy points today

Ah yes, but I know which kind of fantasy rider I am and it ain't Matteo bloody Trentin!

 

[Pogue Mahone]

17 points today! Woo Hoo!

 

[teaboy]

38

 

[teaboy]

How good it this!?!:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mini-tand...K_Collectables_Bicycle_RL&hash=item3cd328b2e3

Not for me, but I certainly appreciate the work and care.

 

[teaboy]

I've transferred in a lone Frenchie for Bastille Day. He better not let me down!

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Thought I'd quickly post on here as well (partly to bump us back onto the first page where we belong!)

Going to be an interesting stage today - I saw it as so much of a lottery that I though I wouldn't bother using up transfers in the hope of getting breakaway riders - could regret that a bit!!

An impressive nil point by 1066 the other day - doubt it'll hold back your title charge though.

Anyone care to join a sweepstake on Froome's eventual wining margin??

 

[somerset]

19 mins

 

[sten_super]

So, I've got round to ordering a new bike, and I ultimately plumped for a 2014 Giant Defy 1 .

I now need some of the assorted paraphernalia. However I'm rather struck with indecision. I'd like to be able to use my bike in a lunch hour to pop into town, or to pop to the pub after work. Am I being hopelessly optimistic expecting this of a road bike? I ask because that affects my choice of (at least) pedals and locks; whether to get combination pedals to allow me to cycle in work shoes, and whether to buy just one heavy duty lock (for use at work) or in addition a lighter (but insurance-obligation-fulfilling) lock for attaching to lamp posts, etc.

For example, my choice of pedals is something like this versus something like this. The lock I'm looking at is this but do I also need one of these?

Also, are there any particular makes of road shoes to be recommended or avoided? The makes that I'm looking at (as they are the ones that they have available in my size on Wiggle) are Shimano and Northwave; would they be okay or should I look elsewhere? I'll also be investing in a pair of decent gloves and a new helmet, although I assume these are much of a muchness (apart from the fact that you get what you pay for) - please let me know if that's not the case.

Thanks in advance for the help. In the spirit of actually contributing something to the thread (even though this should go in the TdF thread) bloody hell that's a large breakaway group today.

 

[Bold Seagull]

So, I've got round to ordering a new bike, and I ultimately plumped for a 2014 Giant Defy 1 .

I now need some of the assorted paraphernalia. However I'm rather struck with indecision. I'd like to be able to use my bike in a lunch hour to pop into town, or to pop to the pub after work. Am I being hopelessly optimistic expecting this of a road bike? I ask because that affects my choice of (at least) pedals and locks; whether to get combination pedals to allow me to cycle in work shoes, and whether to buy just one heavy duty lock (for use at work) or in addition a lighter (but insurance-obligation-fulfilling) lock for attaching to lamp posts, etc.

For example, my choice of pedals is something like this versus something like this. The lock I'm looking at is this but do I also need one of these?

Also, are there any particular makes of road shoes to be recommended or avoided? The makes that I'm looking at (as they are the ones that they have available in my size on Wiggle) are Shimano and Northwave; would they be okay or should I look elsewhere? I'll also be investing in a pair of decent gloves and a new helmet, although I assume these are much of a muchness (apart from the fact that you get what you pay for) - please let me know if that's not the case.

Thanks in advance for the help. In the spirit of actually contributing something to the thread (even though this should go in the TdF thread) bloody hell that's a large breakaway group today.

Firstly, you have purchased a £1000 bike, a lot of money, and I would ask myself the question whether it would be worth buying a decent enough, but say £50-100 'hack' or 'pub' bike so that your best bike is saved for those enjoyable rides and your commute, while your hack bike is left outside the pub, shops etc. - something you're not going to be devastated if it goes missing. You can get a usable, enjoyable enough hack bike for the price of a high quality lock. I've seen bikes in the Hove tip that have only need new cables and a chain to be perfectly usable.

Pedals - I've had / have both styles you have posted.

The SPD combo's are a good pedal and the spd's are easy to use and you can get shoes that look okay to walk about in. It is a good option. My criticism of SPD's on a road bike is that on a longer ride, you tend to get a hot spot on the ball of your foot where the clip is i.e. it doesn't spread the load very well.

As a first set of clips, they are the easier to get in and out of and get used to though.

On my road bike I have SPD-L's, which once in are a really good comfortable connection to the pedal, I really like them, however they are not as easy to clip into, and if you're on a slight incline at a junction, especially a busy one, I can't be confident of a quick getaway as sometimes I fail to get clipped in first time. I really like them though, really work for me on a good ride. You have to remember that the clips on these sit underneath the shoe (unlike spd that sit recessed) so you do walk like a penguin. They are purely a cycling clip no good for walking or such - hence most other bikes prefer the SPD.

Shoe wise, I flippin love my Specialised Expert Road Shoes. Stiff sole, but the cable tightening ensures a glove like fit. Really well ventilated as well.

Helmet - in Evans a guy helped me, didn't tell me the price, but I just tried loads on. I picked one which fitted best not knowing the price, and it turned out to be a standard £35 specialized one. So I got that, it could have been £125, but I picked the one that fitted best.

 

[Stat Brother]

So, I've got round to ordering a new bike, and I ultimately plumped for a 2014 Giant Defy 1 .

I now need some of the assorted paraphernalia. However I'm rather struck with indecision. I'd like to be able to use my bike in a lunch hour to pop into town, or to pop to the pub after work. Am I being hopelessly optimistic expecting this of a road bike? I ask because that affects my choice of (at least) pedals and locks; whether to get combination pedals to allow me to cycle in work shoes, and whether to buy just one heavy duty lock (for use at work) or in addition a lighter (but insurance-obligation-fulfilling) lock for attaching to lamp posts, etc.

For example, my choice of pedals is something like this versus something like this. The lock I'm looking at is this but do I also need one of these?

Also, are there any particular makes of road shoes to be recommended or avoided? The makes that I'm looking at (as they are the ones that they have available in my size on Wiggle) are Shimano and Northwave; would they be okay or should I look elsewhere? I'll also be investing in a pair of decent gloves and a new helmet, although I assume these are much of a muchness (apart from the fact that you get what you pay for) - please let me know if that's not the case.

Thanks in advance for the help. In the spirit of actually contributing something to the thread (even though this should go in the TdF thread) bloody hell that's a large breakaway group today.

Yeah great stuff.

I'll leave pedals to those in the know, I'm too blinkered.

As for locks, it's recommended you have 2 different locks, a combination and a D lock for example.

The reasoning being if you can get through 1 combination lock in a matter of seconds, 2 isn't going to make much difference.

Helmets do vary in comfort, try as many as you can and buy the one you don't really notice your wearing.
Irrespective of cost, do it once do it properly.
It's not something you want to take lightly or not bother to wear 'cos it's buggin me'.

Gloves and socks etc, that is down to personal taste.
My hands never got cold, but my mate would be wearing oven mitts!.

Although my feet would be blocks of ice from Sept onwards, c'est la vie.



Oh and 9mins 23secs.

 

[sten_super]

Thanks guys, this has really helped in concentrating my thinking. I will abandon any pretence of using my bike 'about town'; my old bike (Giant Escape Hybrid also bought through C2W) is going to become the new company bike so should be available for use if needed (in fact don't know why I didn't think of that in the first place). I'll then invest in a heavy duty lock for when my bike is at work (which is behind a locked gate but with a vaunt-able fence).

I think I'm leaning towards SPD SL, purely because I (given the above) don't need the combination aspect of the other pedals. I'll have a look around the numerous bike shops in Cambridge to see what's available in terms of shoes, helmets and gloves; I think until I have a better idea of what I like that's better than trying to save a few quid by buying on Wiggle.

 

[1066familyman]

So, I've got round to ordering a new bike, and I ultimately plumped for a 2014 Giant Defy 1 .

I now need some of the assorted paraphernalia. However I'm rather struck with indecision. I'd like to be able to use my bike in a lunch hour to pop into town, or to pop to the pub after work. Am I being hopelessly optimistic expecting this of a road bike? I ask because that affects my choice of (at least) pedals and locks; whether to get combination pedals to allow me to cycle in work shoes, and whether to buy just one heavy duty lock (for use at work) or in addition a lighter (but insurance-obligation-fulfilling) lock for attaching to lamp posts, etc.

For example, my choice of pedals is something like this versus something like this. The lock I'm looking at is this but do I also need one of these?

Also, are there any particular makes of road shoes to be recommended or avoided? The makes that I'm looking at (as they are the ones that they have available in my size on Wiggle) are Shimano and Northwave; would they be okay or should I look elsewhere? I'll also be investing in a pair of decent gloves and a new helmet, although I assume these are much of a muchness (apart from the fact that you get what you pay for) - please let me know if that's not the case.

Thanks in advance for the help. In the spirit of actually contributing something to the thread (even though this should go in the TdF thread) bloody hell that's a large breakaway group today.

First up, congrats on the new bike purchase. Enjoy.

I did have a good combo pedal recommendation for you but seems like you've the luxury of a better solution of a second bike to use for locking up. Definitely the best way to go. Personally I'd never leave a decent bike locked up because I wouldn't relax as I don't believe there's a lock yet made that will stop a determined thief.

Helmet - I'm constrained massively by budget so had to go internet for the best deals. Having read oddles of reviews, I got one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-transfer-cycle-helmet/ and for me it's been a brilliant buy.

Shoes - again, budget first for me so went secondhand to get more for my money. Once again I was lucky in getting a superb fit without trying on first, but just reading reviews instead and studying sizing charts for different brands. Picked up a used pair of these http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...uct/review-shimano-r086-spd-sl-shoes-09-34220 for £20 off Ebay believe it or not (rarely get bargains on there) The lever & quick release top strap fit is so much better than a velcro top strap I reckon, but I haven't tried the wire ones on more expensive shoes.

If budget isn't a problem then the usual best advice holds for all the above - try before you buy in local bike shops and get what feels best for you, regardless of price. Good luck and happy cycling.

 

[Stat Brother]

Which reminds me re shoes.

Get a size bigger than you normally have.

Your feet will expand on the bike, plus you'll need the extra 'space' for either ventilation in the summer or wrapping up warm in the winter.