Show your Bicycles.....

strtdv

B'Twin don't get a lot of attention but they make some very good bikes for the money. They have an 11 speed Ultegra equipped 720AF (newer version of yours @joneve ) with fizik saddle for £1050 which is a steal.

OK the frame isn't as stiff as a full carbon, but for longer/endurance riding on bumpy british roads, there's a lot to be said for a bit more flex anyway.

I've near 400 miles on my triban after just over a month. I'm planning to put about 2-3000 miles on it (ie once it needs a new cassette), and then if I'm meeting my fitness and weight loss goals I'll treat myself to something around the £1000-1500 mark and keep the triban as a winter hack, maybe put some winter tyres and mudguards on it.

I'd like something along the lines of a Cannondale CAAD12

But unsure whether I'd go for it with 105s and discs or Ultegra with Vs..

joneve

strtdv;1100083" said:

B'Twin don't get a lot of attention but they make some very good bikes for the money. They have an 11 speed Ultegra equipped 720AF (newer version of yours @joneve ) with fizik saddle for £1050 which is a steal.

OK the frame isn't as stiff as a full carbon, but for longer/endurance riding on bumpy british roads, there's a lot to be said for a bit more flex anyway.

I've near 400 miles on my triban after just over a month. I'm planning to put about 2-3000 miles on it (ie once it needs a new cassette), and then if I'm meeting my fitness and weight loss goals I'll treat myself to something around the £1000-1500 mark and keep the triban as a winter hack, maybe put some winter tyres and mudguards on it.

I'd like something along the lines of a Cannondale CAAD12But unsure whether I'd go for it with 105s and discs or Ultegra with Vs..

A lot of people write off B'twin as own brand crap, but their bikes are every bit as good as their competitors from my experience. I've recently started increasing the miles again and forgot how much I loved mine. It's an absolute joy to ride.

Decathlon's 'own brand' stuff translates to other sports as well. I use a lot of their Wed'ze ski stuff and it's great, and half the price of the usual brands.

That CAAD is lovely btw

hobbio

Some top metal in this thread. Here's my Merida 29er, the photo was taken on the day I got it so it's not so shiny now:

I want a road bike too, but funds won't allow it at present.

badlydrawnbanjo

Here's mine. I'm 42 years old by the way

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o605/banjo74/B4227507-6AB8-445F-89B0-723FEBAA06B1_zpsm3incs5g.jpg

octatonic

I have a couple.

Specialized Tarmac:

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13412057_1568446333455301_3069010152596933217_o.jpg

Whyte 629 29'er:

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13411872_1568446270121974_684249120988688762_o.jpg

I also have a Focus Mares Cyclocross bike but don't have a photo of that to hand.

strtdv

@octatonic I don't suppose you've tried a Specialized Roubaix have you? I've heard the Tarmac is actually very comfortable for a race-orientated bike, but wondering how it compared to the Roubaix for all-day riding.

octatonic

strtdv said:

@octatonic I don't suppose you've tried a Specialized Roubaix have you? I've heard the Tarmac is actually very comfortable for a race-orientated bike, but wondering how it compared to the Roubaix for all-day riding.

I've ridden the Roubaix- it is a bit more comfortable than the Tarmac but it isn't night and day.

I've done 60 miles on the Tarmac- you feel it a bit in the shoulders but it handles great.

strtdv

I suppose the other option is to flip the stem if you're going for a particularly long ride. I did it on mine and wouldn't go back.

octatonic

strtdv said:

I suppose the other option is to flip the stem if you're going for a particularly long ride. I did it on mine and wouldn't go back.

I've thought about it but I'm looking to buy a dedicated all day/sportive bike- current favourites are the Focus Cayo and the Spec Roubaix.

Bowks

octatonic said:

strtdv said:

I suppose the other option is to flip the stem if you're going for a particularly long ride. I did it on mine and wouldn't go back.

I've thought about it but I'm looking to buy a dedicated all day/sportive bike- current favourites are the Focus Cayo and the Spec Roubaix.

Check out the Giant range,they are great bikes too.

TTBZ

The MTB (frame is actually for sale if anyone is interested but will make a seperate thread for that!) - love it but don't get to use it to its full potential as much as I'd like to any more. Mostly just ride at Woburn on the DH stuff and the odd trip away to FOD/BPW etc but I want more of a "trail" bike so I can do some xc rides without feeling like my lungs are going to explode - did a 28 miler at the Long Mynd on it once and thought I might die at some points climbing back up Carding Mill Valley haha.

and the road bike (don't have the other 2 bikes in this pic any more). It's a bit nackered now - both brake mounting bolts are seized/stripped and the arms are a bit sticky so sometimes they rub - need to get this sorted really as it does my head in. Also the rear hub bearings have developed some play which also annoys me! 

strtdv

Bowks said:

octatonic said:

strtdv said:

I suppose the other option is to flip the stem if you're going for a particularly long ride. I did it on mine and wouldn't go back.

I've thought about it but I'm looking to buy a dedicated all day/sportive bike- current favourites are the Focus Cayo and the Spec Roubaix.

Check out the Giant range,they are great bikes too.

The Giant Defy gets good reviews, and the Defy Advanced Pro range is pretty comparable price wise to the Spec Roubaix SL4 range. IMO the Spec has slightly better, ahem, spec than the Giant, with better wheels and the Ultegra Di2 system, and the Spec CG-R seatpost is meant to work brilliantly at damping vibration from the road. 

Unless you want disc brakes, in which case the Giant is probably the better buy, as all their carbon framed Defy range have disc brakes by either Shimano or SRAM depending which model you go for.

Fretwired

Me and the boys having a race on our bicycles in Oz ... the last one bought the beers .. poor old Pete took a wrong turn .. should have turned left

hobbio

@octatonic I really dig those two, but that Whyte in particular does funny things to my downstairs. I do like a 29er.

Niallmo

I've been back on the Carrera for the past couple of commutes. It's getting a creaky bottom bracket, only done 750 miles. I think a service might help.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/Bicyles/3E9C7F93-2D6D-4D83-8575-A1D4970ACE39_zpsel3lazpp.jpg

octatonic

Is it BB30?

They are notorious for creaking.

I disassembled mine and re-greased it which helped a lot.

Niallmo

Seems to be a Shimano BN 133 but I want to put a Shimano 105 BB in it as I'm upgrading it to 105. It's got 105 front and rear derailleurs and I'm waiting to put 105 brakes on it.

Troy

Is it mandatory for cyclists to wear lycra now, even when commuting a short distance to work?

Also, if you have a GoPro is it a requirement to post a youtube video if a car/lorry comes within 100 metres of you and then to post "look how close he/she was to me!"?

joneve

octatonic said:

strtdv said:

I suppose the other option is to flip the stem if you're going for a particularly long ride. I did it on mine and wouldn't go back.

I've thought about it but I'm looking to buy a dedicated all day/sportive bike- current favourites are the Focus Cayo and the Spec Roubaix.

B'Twin. Every time. 

stonevibe

Orange Espress-O S bought with the help of you lot on this here forum.

Out most days on it and its done a shedload of miles already in the last few weeks.