BIKE THREAD
2 lurkers |
200 watchers
Feb 2007
3:26pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Making_Tracks
Clipless pedals - ah.... go on confessions, who else fell off and grazed their knees the first time they used them.
|
Feb 2007
3:31pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Kieren
I was alright the first time actually. When I got then I went round a car park practicing clipping in & out. About 2 weeks later I was used to them (or so I thought). rather than unclipping on approach to some traffic lights I kept my foot in & tried to be all flash track standing at the lights. It was fun for a while until I came crashing down |
Feb 2007
3:33pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Hanneke
LOL Kieren, I can just see it happen  I once toppled over having to stop dead for someone running for the bus, accross the road. I toppled right in front of said bus full of laughing passengers...
|
Feb 2007
4:49pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
JulesR
The hard bit's getting up quickly and looking round to see if anyone's noticed whilst trying to look like nothing's happened - haven't quite got to that advanced level yet
|
|
Feb 2007
5:37pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Hanneke
Geting unclipped while lying on top of your bike or underneath it is a feat to master as well...
|
Feb 2007
5:54pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
hammerite
Very topical, given my current want! I'm a bit clueless about road bikes, so have some questions. I'm planning on getting a road bike so I can start riding to work (40 mile round trip on country roads/MK redways twice a week), and also possibly use it for the odd triathlon/duathlon that I want to try. Obviously most road bikes I've seen have drop handlebars, but I've seen some road looking bikes with flat handlebars. Is there a major difference in the bikes (apart from obviously handlebars)? I'm used to flat handlebars from riding my MTB, would it be more comfortable than drop bars? Any bike recommendations (budget of £500 max)? I've seen a Trek Pilot 1.0 at my local bike shop and quite liked the look of it, any good? |
|
Feb 2007
6:33pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
It depends which bikes you are looking at - compare the geometry as well as the components - and the tyre width to make sure they are not hybrids. I think Giant do racers with flat bars that look pretty good. When I commuted on my racer I missed the fact I had no bosses on the frame to mount a rack - made carrying luggage a pain. Also it was too slow to get to the brakes if my hands were on the hoods (which they were most of the time). Drop bars are not that comfortable but do give a variety of positions to put your hands in, so you're less likely to get aching back or shoulders. Gloves for road riding tend to have padding on the edge of your forefinger which is nice if you are on the drops. When I rode in the drops I couldn't see over my shoulder properly becuase of my Camelbak - which is a small one (Lobo). I ended up getting a roadie one instead. Going from MTBing to road riding was a shock on the hills - and I went for a triple rather than double chain rings. The brakes were also very weak on my racer (nasty Tektro ones). The sizing seems different too - road bikes tend to be a larger size and are usually in cm, not inches. |
|
Feb 2007
6:36pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Kieren
Apart from the handlebars & gear shifters the bikes will likely be the same. In fact most bike shops will change drops to flats or vice versa for you if that is your preference. I was advised to get flat bars for my first road bike as I was going to be commuting in traffic. The bike I have now has dropped handlebars & they are so much better. You get more hand positions even on teh tops of them. I hardly use the actual drop part. Most of my riding is done on the hoods (this is the top of the brakes & generally the same effect as the bar ends you see on some mountain bikes. You don't need to be on the drops to use the brakes either - this can be done with a finger whilst riding on the hoods. I'd go for drops if I were you. They'll take a little getting used to but so much nicer having a variety of hand postions. One thing to mention is that on road bikes tyre pressure is usually in the 100psi range so vibrations can get transmitted through the bike a lot - especially true of aluminium (steel / carbon are better). For this reason a decent pair of gloves with some padding around the heel of the hand is a wise purchase. I think the specialised ones are good. Decathlon seems to offer good bikes & has had good reviews in cycling+. Another one I was looking at before I bought my Fuji fixed gear was Edinburgh cycles own Revolution range. The one in the link below was Cycling+ budget bike of the year 2006. It's £400 so you'd have some change for bits & bobs (clipless pedals & shoes perhaps). They usually take a frame from a well known like saracen etc but unbrand it so you save money. The only downside (unless you live in Scotland) is you don't get to test ride it) edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk |
|
Feb 2007
7:03pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Kieren
Or you could always get a fixie I have a 2005 Fuji Track running 42x16 that cost about 300 I think. So much fun & great for fitness check some bike p0rn here (not real p0rn so work safe - just fixed gear bikes) fixedgeargallery.com |
|
Feb 2007
7:42pm, 5 Feb 2007
0 posts
|
Kieren
I mean just look at some of these sexy bikes 1. fixedgeargallery.com 2. fixedgeargallery.com 3. fixedgeargallery.com 4. fixedgeargallery.com |
Related Threads
-
TriSport Fetch: The smell of 220
Oct 2024
-
Bromptons are not the only fruit (or "Oranges are not the only Brompton")
Oct 2024
-
Cycling for Noobs
Oct 2024
-
Zwifters
Oct 2024
-
The fat-tyre thread
Oct 2024
-
Bike maintenance for dummies.
Oct 2024
-
Pro cycling thread
Oct 2024
-
E-Bikes
Sep 2024
-
Fetch Virtual Challenge 2022 - Bike Challenge
Jun 2024
-
So who won the tour from 1999 to 2005
May 2024
