Official CL weekend Lycra warriors thread (cycling)

ColinTat said:

iainment said:

When I change up a gear the lever sometimes just doesn’t catch anything. Is this anything to worry about?

  Could be quite a few things.  First thing to check and clean is the cable runs. After cleaning you can apply some bike lubricant - especially in the cable run underneath the bottom bracket area - this can all help the cable to run smoother. 

 If the ratchet is not clicking in the gear lever when you change it could be a few things.  If the ratchets gone, it's really difficult to fix anything on modern gear levers - most are sealed units unlike 20 years ago so it's probably a new gear lever.  Or a simple one is it could be your outer cable sheath: These heavier plastic cable sheaths have a wire inner core.  If they're old/strained the wire core can fail causing a bend/snap in the cable sheath where the gear cable can run freely through them.  This is just a simple easy replacement of the cable sheath. 
 
 I guess it's your rear derailluer, this could be out of line on both or either of the high or low gear.  Usually in this scenario you'd hear a click from the gear levers, but the gear might not change until you click a second time.  If you think it's this check a youtube video on how to realign your gears, or take it into the bike shop.

Thanks @ColinTat

Ouch.  No hale to the hail.

What a finish from Primoz, sprint climbing on the drops.  I wonder who else used to climb on the drops?  

Joking aside, shame he won't ride the Giro as that parcours would suit him this year.  There's no chance he's winning the TDF with two 2,000m climbs in the last week.  Racing like this and some Classics, he's going to fade in the third week again.

Clem_Snide said:

Cordoban Addick said:

Just been caught in a hail storm on Dartmoor. It hurt.

I still have nightmares about Lejog Day 2 - Liskeard to Taunton. The slog up and over Dartmoor was horrendous in thick fog and pouring rain.

80 odd miles and 8000ft climbing. Definitely one of the toughest days I have ever had in the saddle.

Mine was only a quick (well not that quick!) 11 mile loop but all up for the first half on my old Dawes Horizon. 80 miles over Dartmoor would kill me!

Bloody hell, just caught up with the highlights of Paris-Nice. You would have put a lot of money on Roglic cruising that race. Just shows the fine margins they are operating at and how fragile a comfortable lead can be. 

Leroy Ambrose said:

You'd think a ski jumper would be better going downhill... 

only if it’s a straight line 

colthe3rd said:

When fitting a new freehub is it advisable to also fit a brand new cassette?

So this freehub has become a bit of a headache. Really struggling to find a replacement freehub for it. Had two orders cancelled online because they are out of stock. Looks like those wheels are no longer being produced so what are my options? New wheel? If I do that does it make sense to buy just a rear or get a whole new wheelset? 

iainment said:

colthe3rd said:

So this freehub has become a bit of a headache. Really struggling to find a replacement freehub for it. Had two orders cancelled online because they are out of stock. Looks like those wheels are no longer being produced so what are my options? New wheel? If I do that does it make sense to buy just a rear or get a whole new wheelset? 

There’s a shortage of wheels too. I’m still struggling to get a new wheel for my touring bike. Everywhere are either out of stock or waiting on an order which should be here “by the end of the month”. 

They don’t say which month.

Yeah I'm also having that problem from the quick look I've done this morning. Might just go for whatever cheap wheels I can find, the bike is entry anyway and hoping to get a new bike on cycle to work soon (though given the shortages that might be a long wait as well).

Perry’s in Woolwich have, I’m told by them, 200 wheels I stock. I got one for my touring bike today. It’s not the absolute best wheel but it’ll get me going until the supplies get going again.
Try them. 

iainment said:

colthe3rd said:

So this freehub has become a bit of a headache. Really struggling to find a replacement freehub for it. Had two orders cancelled online because they are out of stock. Looks like those wheels are no longer being produced so what are my options? New wheel? If I do that does it make sense to buy just a rear or get a whole new wheelset? 

There’s a shortage of wheels too. I’m still struggling to get a new wheel for my touring bike. Everywhere are either out of stock or waiting on an order which should be here “by the end of the month”. 

They don’t say which month.

I use these for Road and MTB, they usually have 3-4 week wait.

https://www.huntbikewheels.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl9GCBhDvARIsAFunhsnMezM5zqHAmNO-fI_mVwajzFQ-ml5N8YhjpybeIZUFVlmC41y-ixEaAstTEALw_wcB

Rylo said:

Jints said:

Rylo said:

Hi all. I know it’s probably not really what you lot are into, but I’d like some advice on a suitable hybrid for the commute to work please. Only 6 ish miles each way, but I live at the top of Shooters Hill so there’s always an uphill return journey! Plum Lane is going to be my preferred route home, so it’s fairly steep... I’ve seen a couple of 7 geared bikes that I like the look of, but will that be enough or should I be looking at something else? Thanks 👍🏻

What's your budget? 7 gear doesn't seem enough, nit that I'm am expert

Budget is up to a grand. Hoping that’s enough to get me something decent for commuting / family days out.

And what's your level at? Are you happy to have to have front gears and rear gears? Or do you just want to worry about rear gears? 

Rylo said:

Huskaris said:

Rylo said:

Jints said:

Rylo said:

Hi all. I know it’s probably not really what you lot are into, but I’d like some advice on a suitable hybrid for the commute to work please. Only 6 ish miles each way, but I live at the top of Shooters Hill so there’s always an uphill return journey! Plum Lane is going to be my preferred route home, so it’s fairly steep... I’ve seen a couple of 7 geared bikes that I like the look of, but will that be enough or should I be looking at something else? Thanks 👍🏻

What's your budget? 7 gear doesn't seem enough, nit that I'm am expert

Budget is up to a grand. Hoping that’s enough to get me something decent for commuting / family days out.

And what's your level at? Are you happy to have to have front gears and rear gears? Or do you just want to worry about rear gears? 

Level is very much a beginner in terms of road cycling, but I’m happy to get something that will be the most beneficial and learn how to use it the most effectively as I go along.

For the under £1k price range, I think (and am happy to be corrected) that Decathlon are often one of the best for value, and for your price range you can get something very, very nice.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc520-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-308072?mc=8554421&c=BLUE

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc-520-flat-bar-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-307286?mc=8543912

I would recommend looking at these two. Shimano 105 (all of the mechanical parts of the bike are in a manufacturer's "category") is the perfect "benchmark," under that just isn't as good (although can be perfectly fine!), above that you are just paying for weight reductions. 

The key difference between those two bikes I posted is that one is the flat bar hybrid you are talking about, but the other has the "drops" and is a proper road bike. 

£850, and in my opinion, very good value for money. 

I'd also add, if you can handle the drops one, I would go for it. If you end up getting the cycling "bug" then you will absolutely love it.

My first bike was a decathlon, and I ended up taking it back two weeks later to get a better, drop bar bike (Decathlon are great about this by the way, I just paid the difference between the two bikes) as I knew cycling was for me. Then a few months later I sold that and bought a Cannondale CAAD 10. Then a year and a half later I used that as a turbo trainer and bought a Ribble SL Disc Di2 bike. I'll sell my house soon and buy a top of the range Bianchi

Rylo said:

Huskaris said:

Rylo said:

Huskaris said:

Rylo said:

Jints said:

Rylo said:

Hi all. I know it’s probably not really what you lot are into, but I’d like some advice on a suitable hybrid for the commute to work please. Only 6 ish miles each way, but I live at the top of Shooters Hill so there’s always an uphill return journey! Plum Lane is going to be my preferred route home, so it’s fairly steep... I’ve seen a couple of 7 geared bikes that I like the look of, but will that be enough or should I be looking at something else? Thanks 👍🏻

What's your budget? 7 gear doesn't seem enough, nit that I'm am expert

Budget is up to a grand. Hoping that’s enough to get me something decent for commuting / family days out.

And what's your level at? Are you happy to have to have front gears and rear gears? Or do you just want to worry about rear gears? 

Level is very much a beginner in terms of road cycling, but I’m happy to get something that will be the most beneficial and learn how to use it the most effectively as I go along.

For the under £1k price range, I think (and am happy to be corrected) that Decathlon are often one of the best for value, and for your price range you can get something very, very nice.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc520-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-308072?mc=8554421&c=BLUE

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc-520-flat-bar-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-307286?mc=8543912

I would recommend looking at these two. Shimano 105 (all of the mechanical parts of the bike are in a manufacturer's "category") is the perfect "benchmark," under that just isn't as good (although can be perfectly fine!), above that you are just paying for weight reductions. 

The key difference between those two bikes I posted is that one is the flat bar hybrid you are talking about, but the other has the "drops" and is a proper road bike. 

£850, and in my opinion, very good value for money. 

Huskaris said:

Rylo said:

Huskaris said:

Rylo said:

Jints said:

Rylo said:

Hi all. I know it’s probably not really what you lot are into, but I’d like some advice on a suitable hybrid for the commute to work please. Only 6 ish miles each way, but I live at the top of Shooters Hill so there’s always an uphill return journey! Plum Lane is going to be my preferred route home, so it’s fairly steep... I’ve seen a couple of 7 geared bikes that I like the look of, but will that be enough or should I be looking at something else? Thanks 👍🏻

What's your budget? 7 gear doesn't seem enough, nit that I'm am expert

Budget is up to a grand. Hoping that’s enough to get me something decent for commuting / family days out.

And what's your level at? Are you happy to have to have front gears and rear gears? Or do you just want to worry about rear gears? 

Level is very much a beginner in terms of road cycling, but I’m happy to get something that will be the most beneficial and learn how to use it the most effectively as I go along.

For the under £1k price range, I think (and am happy to be corrected) that Decathlon are often one of the best for value, and for your price range you can get something very, very nice.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc520-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-308072?mc=8554421&c=BLUE

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc-520-flat-bar-disc-road-bike-105/_/R-p-307286?mc=8543912

I would recommend looking at these two. Shimano 105 (all of the mechanical parts of the bike are in a manufacturer's "category") is the perfect "benchmark," under that just isn't as good (although can be perfectly fine!), above that you are just paying for weight reductions. 

The key difference between those two bikes I posted is that one is the flat bar hybrid you are talking about, but the other has the "drops" and is a proper road bike. 

£850, and in my opinion, very good value for money. 

That’s great, thank you. I’d be able to push to £1,500 for something that was going to last me, but because it’s only going to be a bike with a flat bar I’m not sure if it’s worth going too mad with something that might not necessarily be a proper road bike. 

It needs work on a couple of levels really, as my wife will also be getting something similar for days out (although not as many gears as we’d probably be going along flatter routes with the kids). 

Ah nice.

the Decathlon "Riverside" range of bikes are quite nice for days out where you are not going on actual roads etc. The flat bar Triban will do you well. You are right though, I wouldn't recommend £1,500 on a flat bar!