Show your Bicycles.....

Niallmo

Today's non executive parking:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Bicyles/1CB889AB-A35B-4601-838B-1951F0EF8B00_zpsnxw6vnvc.jpg

Interestingly the ride time today matched the usual time for the Carrera. 

strtdv

Went for a 40 mile ride this morning, it was a horrible cold and for the second half very wet ride! The disc brakes were brilliant though. They're a bit noisy in the wet, but you don't lose any power or feel, it's really fantastic.
The mudguards worked really well too, even better than the SKS ones I was using on the last bike. Managed to get a puncture though, a nasty sharp piece of metal swarf cut right through. Worse than that, my spare tube had a hole in it from the factory! Fortunately was able to borrow a tube from a mate, and I was also glad it happened while the weather was still dry.

Here's a couple of photos after I got the worst of the mud off:




The colour is growing on me a lot. I wasn't sure about the orange (it's even brighter in person!) but on a wet cloudy day like that it really improves the side visibility of the bike.

Niallmo

So here's a bit of a recap of the past few weeks. 

Ive enjoyed commuting on the Carrera but going on the Charge 29'er today highlighted the compromise of the bigger 57cm top tube on the Carrera as the 29'er was as fast overall as the "right size" 29'er.  It also felt easier to ride overall. Hoping the Felt addresses that. If it ever gets authorised...

Went off off the idea of an adventure bike as the 29'er will obviously do the off road stuff and I may convert to flared drop bars and go monster-cross but it'd be expensive due to its hydraulic brakes.  I think it may be worth it though...

The Castelli Gabba 2 I got on Black Friday is phenomenal. Barely a hint of moisture on the last few commutes with just a mesh base layer and Aldi cycling jersey. It's been about 4-ish degrees and I do tend to run hot.  Bit of a revelation as I was getting to work a little bit sweaty (not enough to cause any problems lol). I got a discounted pair of Castelli bib shorts too which are great, a step up on the Specialized pair I was using.  I would really like a Castelli Perfetto now...

Niallmo

@strtdv ;

thats a very nice Cube. The 'guards look really good, some can look very amateur but like Cube's idea of integrated 'guards. 

strtdv

Thanks @Niallmo I'm very happy with it so far.
The guards are clever, the mounting eyelets are positioned out of the way and come with little plugs. so when you're not using them you'd never know it was meant to take mudguards. I'll be leaving them on though, as this is intended as my "bad weather bike" for all year round use.

I adjusted the reach on the levers a bit (a real pain on the hydraulic shifters as the screw isn't where you'd expect it to be), brought them about 5-6mm closer as I found them a bit of a stretch when in the drops.

I did a short climbing route today (only 11.5 miles), mostly to do some high cadence work which as been really missing from my training. You didn't particularly feel the extra weight going uphill, although I was apparently about 7% slower than my best time on the Canyon (although as it's my 3rd day in a row cycling without a rest day it's hardly a fair comparison, and I wasn't going all out). I'm much more confident on the descents though, even on nasty wet salted roads.

Hootsmon

I have seen a few bikes with very small wheels recently.....whadd'ya know about these models?

they look about half the traditional wheel size....much lower tae the ground and that would suit in case of falls

not looking at my age tae go on mountain tracks or stuff....just park circuits and some hills for cardio...are they OK you think for that purpose.....these small wheel bikes?

thanks guys 

Niallmo

@hootsmon  do you mean folding/shopper bikes? Typically 16 or 20 inch wheels. Great for getting around on, you can get 8 or 9 speed versions that will do modest hills.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Bicyles/1213000C-F442-4F1D-B06D-C840DF4671EF_zpsspuvsiyf.jpg

Hootsmon

yeah, that's the kinda thing Nial..

Niallmo

@hootsmon  as good as anything else. I've got a 1973 Triumph Trafficmaster! 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub gears. I really must get it sorted and start using it. I think it'd be quite fun on my commute apart from the two 10% hills I have to negotiate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Bicyles/D53FFBF6-8708-4D2A-A6DF-C1761CC43171_zpsheir1p2l.jpg

It all depends on your budget. If you can, get a Brompton. If you can't you'll find plenty of lower end models used on eBay for under a ton and not much more than that for a new one.

strtdv

hootsmon said:

I have seen a few bikes with very small wheels recently.....whadd'ya know about these models?

they look about half the traditional wheel size....much lower tae the ground and that would suit in case of falls

not looking at my age tae go on mountain tracks or stuff....just park circuits and some hills for cardio...are they OK you think for that purpose.....these small wheel bikes?

thanks guys 

The height you'll be from the ground is the saddle height, which is related to seat tube length and doesn't really have anything to do with wheel size, so as far as falling off goes, if the folding bike is the right size for you, you'll be falling from the same height as from a road bike more or less.

I'm just saying this as a decent second hand hybrid bike can be bought for very little, whereas folding bikes tend to be more specialist and therefore more expensive.

You could pick up a used hybrid for under £100 to see if you fancied cycling, and then if you decide you like it and want to get something a bit fancier you can either sell it for minimal loss or keep it as a hack/pub bike etc.

Niallmo

It's much easier to get off/out of a step through shopper if it all goes wrong.

Hootsmon

ah....great advice guys...thanks all 

TTBZ

@Hertz32 let us know how you get on with that Mango. I love the look of the raw SS one.

When my trusty CAAD8 finally dies (don't think it's got much left in it!) I might be looking at a Mango as the whole bike is probably not much more than a new geared drivetrain, brakes, tyres, hub bearings etc! Always liked the simplicity of SS (miss my old langster) and considering I don't do massive rides I'd probably get a better workout with no gears to let me ease off like I do now.

strtdv

@TTBZ replacing the groupset may not cost as much as you think. What's on it currently?

The CAAD8 is a very capable bike, and if you have a decent groupset (eg 105 level) on it at the moment then new chainset, bottom bracket, cassette and jockey wheels wouldn't cost that much (about £150) if you can keep the same shifters. Even 105 10 speed is very good, and the newer 11 speed chainset is backwards compatible with 10 speed chains.

The Mango Point R is currently on special offer at full 105 spec for £669 which is good value, but that's a lot more than replacing the moving parts on a groupset, even if you treat the CAAD 8 to a new wheelset (and to be fair the wheels on the Mango won't be amazing either)

Niallmo

I've bought a 2014 Pinnacle Dolomite frame set on eBay today. It's in my correct size.  I'm going to transfer everything from the Carrera onto it (hopefully). I think the bottom bracket and headset are compatible. Picking it up tomorrow. Only thing I haven't got is something to mount the headset. Might just take it to LBS for that bit.

was a bit frosty on the commute this morning.  -1 I believe. Had the Gabba, long sleeve jersey, mesh base layer, arm warmers and roubaix bib tights. Bit cold fog the first ten mins then warmed up nicely.

if anyone needs some really cheap winter gloves I can recommend Skytec Argon work gloves! About a fiver a pair and they kept my hands warm with only a touch of perspiration. I've got some Sealskinz and some cheap Aldi gloves and these were at least as good!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Bicyles/778A4D8D-C982-4847-BFCB-1BE417F1C72A_zpsmyigccde.jpg

TTBZ

@strtdv it's mainly tiagra at the minute, though I replaced the front mech with an ultegra  (I think) as the tiagra one seized. FSA cranks and creaky bb. The brakes are also seizing and I can't seem to free them up. I don't even use the rear one any more as it doesnt spring back and just rubs, i have to stop and pull the pads back away from the rim. Forks paint is all flaking off (may just be cosmetic though). Gone through one chainring already, wore the last one down so much that the chain didn't grip the teeth.

Oh and the brake allen bolts are stripped so I can't get them off the frame or fork haha. Any tips for that other than try to drill out the bolts?

Suffice to say I'm of the mindset that bikes are for riding not for cleaning, hence why I like SS :P you're right though guess I'd end up with a better bike if I fix it up.

Niallmo

It should build up something like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Mobile Uploads/2016-12/170F9332-856B-45AD-8EC6-72678620BD65_zpsgoed1lhw.jpg

Ive got the white Shimano RS21's that should look pretty good and I could use my white Charge Bucket Seat (basically a Selle Turbo) on it and it's got better clearance for mudguards. I've also got a white seat post and stem I could use.

strtdv

@TTBZ  if you have a dremel or similar you can cut a slot into the Allen head that will let you use a slot head screwdriver to remove them.

Tiagra is still decent although the brakes on 105 are meant to be substantially better

Bottom bracket creaking is a "feature" of BB30 unfortunately.

thermionic

Niallmo said:

The Castelli Gabba 2 I got on Black Friday is phenomenal. Barely a hint of moisture on the last few commutes with just a mesh base layer and Aldi cycling jersey. 

I've been cycling for a long time but the Gabba is the best item of winter clothing I've had in all that time. Not quite warm enough for December-February (for me) so I've invested in a Castelli Alpha as well. I wear it with only a merino baselayer underneath, which is ok down to about 3 degrees C. Any colder than that and it's often too icy to be safe anyway. My club has put in an order for custom Gabbas, and they should be here in a week or so!

littlegreenman

strtdv said:

@TTBZ  if you have a dremel or similar you can cut a slot into the Allen head that will let you use a slot head screwdriver to remove them.

Tiagra is still decent although the brakes on 105 are meant to be substantially better

Bottom bracket creaking is a "feature" of BB30 unfortunately.

BB30 isn't normally a CAAD8 supported BB. The BB30 is notoriously creaky from what I've heard (sic) on the CAAD10's, X's and 12's, and a major issue on the Carbon EVO's and Super6's, but a FSA 68mm BSA is the usual BB for a CAAD8.

The FSA BB on mine is noise free so far.

105 brakeset was an improvement on mine over the stock Tektro, but that's not really saying much, Tektro have a history of looking the part but not performing if my MTB experience of their products is anything to go by, and indeed the re-branded brakes on my CAAD8. 105 upgrade was definitely a good idea for the £50 it cost me.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14600974_10208523769743974_1445047352308931677_n.jpg?oh=948b0d3f162847d95bdf28d902e52e8b&oe=58C1F375