[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

Ok [MENTION=27939]Zukey Seagull[/MENTION], I'll do the hard yards, as I've top up my bike porn on [MENTION=2551]Stoichkov[/MENTION]'s Bottecchia.

This search typifies the problem of your remit, esp if you have a mountain bike already, and the £250 is immovable:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-cheap-hybrid-bikes-39802/

The Carrera's would appear to be out, as you might as well just change the tyres on the bike you already have.
Nobody here will tell you to go bike shopping in Tesco or Argos.

A trip to Evans, I assume Gatwick carries more and varied stock, may well be better:-

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/bikes/hybrid-bikes/f/unisex#!!sort=asc

As I thought you're not going to get close to a new cyclo-cross bike, on your budget, it's a little to niche-y:-

http://www.evanscycles.com/categori...es#!!price_from=;price_to=;on_sale=;sort=asc;
Although saying that I think Halfords might do a cheap one.

Wiggle have even less on offer:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/unisex/cycl...i=270&ma=380&omi=270&oma=1500&cc=GBP&cr=1&o=2


As [MENTION=12656]Pantani[/MENTION] says a shift in your budget would help, or perhaps there's better value down the ebay/gumtree/FridayAd route.

 

[Zukey Seagull]

Ok [MENTION=27939]Zukey Seagull[/MENTION], I'll do the hard yards, as I've top up my bike porn on [MENTION=2551]Stoichkov[/MENTION]'s Bottecchia.

This search typifies the problem of your remit, esp if you have a mountain bike already, and the £250 is immovable:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-cheap-hybrid-bikes-39802/

The Carrera's would appear to be out, as you might as well just change the tyres on the bike you already have.
Nobody here will tell you to go bike shopping in Tesco or Argos.

A trip to Evans, I assume Gatwick carries more and varied stock, may well be better:-

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/bikes/hybrid-bikes/f/unisex#!!sort=asc

As I thought you're not going to get close to a new cyclo-cross bike, on your budget, it's a little to niche-y:-

http://www.evanscycles.com/categori...es#!!price_from=;price_to=;on_sale=;sort=asc;
Although saying that I think Halfords might do a cheap one.

Wiggle have even less on offer:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/unisex/cycl...i=270&ma=380&omi=270&oma=1500&cc=GBP&cr=1&o=2


As [MENTION=12656]Pantani[/MENTION] says a shift in your budget would help, or perhaps there's better value down the ebay/gumtree/FridayAd route.

Blimey thank you very much. I had been looking at that carrera subway. But didn't know if it was any good. I will have a look through all of those. Thank you Stat Brother

Made it easier for me to decide. The budget can be stretched if it is worthwhile.

 

[Stat Brother]

Blimey thank you very much. I had been looking at that carrera subway. But didn't know if it was any good. I will have a look through all of those. Thank you Stat Brother

Made it easier for me to decide. The budget can be stretched if it is worthwhile.

The Subway would appear to be fairly bomb proof.
A few have turned up at work due to the Cycle To Work Scheme, and nobody has come grumbling to me about them.

The problem with 'bomb proof' means it's not got the ooommpphhh of say a flat bar road bike, like the Boardman.
Wheels and tyres being the clear indicator of what the optimum use of the bike, should be.

Hybrids cover the entire spectrum from road bikes to mountain bikes, in all but name only, and all points in between.

If you buy a 'Fitz Hall' but end up never getting it wet, let alone muddy, you'll never get the true enjoyment of riding on the road.
It'll always be a bit too much effort, and subsequently you'll not ride it as you'd hoped. Naturally the same works the other way.

A little shop around will pin down the budget.
If the £250 was a randomish number based on how your bank account looks today. It may well be worthwhile waiting or squeezing a few more pips.
A little bit extra will bring you into the remit of most 'reputable' manufacturers entry level bikes.


Oh and as has already been said, don't buy online, you need to know you've got the bike you love, not just an ok bike.
You'll ride it so much more.

 

[1066familyman]

Farrar is in that chase group.

I didn't back him....

Nor me Fair play, bodes well for Sunday for him..............but

Deffo, well worth a watch, chaps.

It had a little bit of everything, right down to Farrar getting touched off in a sprint!!

Touched off by whom I wonder Can't wait for Sunday. Both had their odds slashed in half but still a decent price. Such a shame they don't put these markets up earlier or else the 50/1's would have been great. I'm even prepared to eat humble pie and back Farrar too now.

I watched the last 25km on youtube.

Pleased for Sagan today, can't have been easy having two steppers to contend with doing the old one two on him. I honestly thought (well hoping at any rate) that G was getting a free ride at the end there and playing clever for the final and decisive winning attack. Alas not to be, just didn't have anything left to out in an attack. Good ride nonetheless. Very pleased to see Gallopin right up there too.

 

[Pantani]

Nor me Fair play, bodes well for Sunday for him..............but



Touched off by whom I wonder Can't wait for Sunday. Both had their odds slashed in half but still a decent price. Such a shame they don't put these markets up earlier or else the 50/1's would have been great. I'm even prepared to eat humble pie and back Farrar too now.

I watched the last 25km on youtube.

Pleased for Sagan today, can't have been easy having two steppers to contend with doing the old one two on him. I honestly thought (well hoping at any rate) that G was getting a free ride at the end there and playing clever for the final and decisive winning attack. Alas not to be, just didn't have anything left to out in an attack. Good ride nonetheless. Very pleased to see Gallopin right up there too.

Just watched the Eurosport rerun. Most entertaining, G used too much creating that final four to have enough left at the end unfortunately. Still I had Sagan and G both e/w so clawed a bit of cash back from some earlier disasters. Spartacus looks in ominous form, the way he rode through those groups after the crash was ridiculous.

 

[Stat Brother]

Spartacus looks in ominous form, the way he rode through those groups after the crash was ridiculous.

It was crazy and great fun to watch.
He reminded me of Jonah Lomu playing rugby against England.
Scything through the massed ranks, collecting people in his wake, but nobody laying a finger on him.
Trek need to be tactically sound because nobody is going to put their wheel in front of Cancellara's.
He might as well just attack from the flag!!

If Sagan has a weakness he still seems susceptible on the really sharp cobbled climbs.
G looked really close to breaking him from the final four, but just couldn't make it stick. (with no help from EBH)
Although if he had have done it still would have been 2 against 1.

 

[Stoichkov]

What a great race E3 is and yesterdays edition was no exception.

That ADR bottecchia was a bit too tasty for my budget but I picked up a Gara version in the same livery for £150. I'll post some pics when it turns up from Italy

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm disassociating:-

 

[Stat Brother]

Forces favourite Farrar is 20/1.
The man who beat him in a sprint for 7th, Bozic, is 25/1.

1066's eternal favourite Bryan Coquard is 40/1.

Sam Bennett 66/1, surely it's far to soon??

 

[1066familyman]

Forces favourite Farrar is 20/1.
The man who beat him in a sprint for 7th, Bozic, is 25/1.

1066's eternal favourite Bryan Coquard is 40/1.

Sam Bennett 66/1, surely it's far to soon??

I think it is too early forBennett, although I'd be delighted for him if he done something.
Coquard is my fav for small stage race gallops, but not here.
I managed to get 33/1 last night for both Bozic and Farrar. Used my £20 free bet on Bozic as it's soon to expire. My folly could be going silly and matching it on Farrar.
Sink or swim for my betting today so I promise to reign in the betting talk from now on.

 

[Stat Brother]

I think it is too early forBennett, although I'd be delighted for him if he done something.
Coquard is my fav for small stage race gallops, but not here.
I managed to get 33/1 last night for both Bozic and Farrar. Used my £20 free bet on Bozic as it's soon to expire. My folly could be going silly and matching it on Farrar.
Sink or swim for my betting today so I promise to reign in the betting talk from now on.

My money has stayed firmly tucked away under my pillow and will do till Ardennes.

As said it seems to me to be a tough ask betting beyond OPQS, Cancellara and Sagan.

 

[Stat Brother]

I think they are tweeting you directly, P:-

[tweet]450267680256569344[/tweet]

 

[1066familyman]

Looks like Gent Wevelgem has been a bit pedestrian to say the least. Most likely to go to a bunch sprint and there's a list of sprinters as long as your arm left in it

Ian Stannard and Ventoso both been in bad crashes and taken to hospital.

On the plus side...Excellent live stream here:
http://www.sportlemon.tv/20140330/vv5337432e9a5b30.24109335-784942.html

 

[1066familyman]

So Degenkolb does Demare whilst Sagan watches on content with a podium spot. Nice win for Degenkolb, he deserves it after being very unlucky in MSR whilst in top form.

Sky spent most of the time on the deck and the final Sky crash (Thomas inside the last few k) had Greipel and Farrar in it too.

Bozic then hits the deck all by himself in the second of two crashes on the finishing straight. To be fair, judging by where he was I don't think Bozic had a decent sprint left in him anyway. Would have been nice to have at least one of my riders stay upright though Back to the drawing board.

 

[Hamilton]

Anyone see the Criterium finish today. Quite brilliant. A cagey cat and mouse sprint won by IAM.

 

[Motogull]

Yup. Makes me more determined to ride abroad, especially Mediterranean countries.

Still weighing up the lid or shoes upgrade. The lid is chap and old. Noticed as I battled up a climb yesterday that I had turned my feet outward on the pedals. While I appreciated that proper shoes might be better to get out of on short notice, I worry that my physiology requires me to have rotation on the pedals. Looks like loads prefer MTB shoes. I've seen some suggestion that tourers are a good idea. What do you cool cats use?

 

[1066familyman]

Yup. Makes me more determined to ride abroad, especially Mediterranean countries.

Still weighing up the lid or shoes upgrade. The lid is chap and old. Noticed as I battled up a climb yesterday that I had turned my feet outward on the pedals. While I appreciated that proper shoes might be better to get out of on short notice, I worry that my physiology requires me to have rotation on the pedals. Looks like loads prefer MTB shoes. I've seen some suggestion that tourers are a good idea. What do you cool cats use?

Is your helmet chipped, chapped or cheap? If it's only cheap and old but still comfy then stick with and get new shoes. If it's damaged in any way then it should be replaced.

IL & Pantani might be able to shed some light on pedals/shoes action as they have experience of different systems I think, including speedplays.

In terms of riding abroad - I'm quite drawn to the idea of chucking the bike on the back of the car and going on one of these Belgium cycling tours where you get to ride all the bergs from the Classics and what not. Belgium is just a hope and a skip from here and supposed to be lovely. Hot weather would never be on my agenda. Of course, Pogue and Hamilton might try to talk you into France and a Paris - Roubaix but that might not do your dropped bollock much good

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Is your helmet chipped, chapped or cheap? If it's only cheap and old but still comfy then stick with and get new shoes. If it's damaged in any way then it should be replaced.

IL & Pantani might be able to shed some light on pedals/shoes action as they have experience of different systems I think, including speedplays.

In terms of riding abroad - I'm quite drawn to the idea of chucking the bike on the back of the car and going on one of these Belgium cycling tours where you get to ride all the bergs from the Classics and what not. Belgium is just a hope and a skip from here and supposed to be lovely. Hot weather would never be on my agenda. Of course, Pogue and Hamilton might try to talk you into France and a Paris - Roubaix but that might not do your dropped bollock much good

The helmet advice is sound - if it's damaged then it's a safety issue, otherwise it's vanity!

You will definitely feel a shoe/pedal upgrade. Try a few pairs of shoes on and get ones that feel good - something reasonably stiff but not too much will be best (too stiff is uncomfortable and only needed if you're banging out big watts!)

With the pedals, if you have a fairly standard foot shape and alignment (feet don't turn out or in much) then looks should do you. I have flat feet and a right foot that turns in markedly so the ability to adjust in lots of directions make the speedplays ideal.

 

[Stat Brother]

Yup. Makes me more determined to ride abroad, especially Mediterranean countries.

Still weighing up the lid or shoes upgrade. The lid is chap and old. Noticed as I battled up a climb yesterday that I had turned my feet outward on the pedals. While I appreciated that proper shoes might be better to get out of on short notice, I worry that my physiology requires me to have rotation on the pedals. Looks like loads prefer MTB shoes. I've seen some suggestion that tourers are a good idea. What do you cool cats use?

Clearly you need both, but only one will make you ride better!

I ride with a spesh carbon shoe, Look Keo 2 pedals, Keo cleats.

Wiggle have the Classics on sale:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/look-keo-classic-pedals/

along with the cleats:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/look-keo-grip-cleats/

and a pair of shoes, (if you have teeny tiny feet) all for £100:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/diadora-aerospeed-2-road-cycling-shoes-2013/

I use black cleats so no 'float' movement when clipped in.

As said to [MENTION=4472]strings[/MENTION], you'll need to buy the shoes, certainly your first ever pair, from a shop, not t'internet, as I have unhelpfully linked you too.
Cycling shoes have a tendency to come up small, and narrow, whatever size you are buy bigger.
You'll need extra room to allow for your feet to exercise or a winter sock.

I've never used SPD pedals.

 

[Motogull]

Thanks chaps. Those speedplays ain't cheap are they? Maybe I'll get some M520s to see if I can get on with those first.

I found a really rough road recently that shook me to pieces. I thought about those fellas and their Roubaix trip and indulged myself in some Tourette's. Huge respect to them. Even with fully-behaving gonads, I'd swerve that opportunity. I would love some Spanish summer riding but would not push it. That would be dangerous.

Helmet is fine (kit not body part) so will put a replacement on the back burner even though it ain't a great fit. I'm used to it.