Forum Replies Created
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Thanks Fenix!
Thanks Fenix!
I really rate my Lussos and
I really rate my Lussos and Morvelos, both spot on. The Lussos are just normal shorts, you don’t need the bib stuff, and it makes going to the loo a whole lot easier!
gunswick wrote:
Thanks guys. I already take a protein/carbo drink and fruit for the morning else I am dead. Job is an office finance one, so inactive but need to be able to think and have some energy for management etc. The other idea I had was to drive say halfway (or a little more), take bike out of the boot (or rack) and ride in. Then reverse this home. This saves fuel, and allows daily riding, and I could alter the routes I use. Downsides are I have to sit in the car dressed for cycling (shoes are SPD’s MTB so likely OK to drive in, or a quick trainers swap). Morning when fresh that is OK I guess, home time I would then have to sit all sweaty / wet etc in the car to drive home. Anyone have experience of driving and riding like this? I will try it and see, however, I suspect it will be slow loading/unloading the bike and all the kit especially in winter.I did do the drive/ride thing when I was building up to a 45 mile “commute” when I seriously got back into cycling about 7 years ago. (I only did the whole 45 mile commute a couple of times a few weeks apart, 2 and a half hours riding before and after work is a big commitment.)
Like others have said, vary where you park, if you have a bigger hatchback just leave the rear seats folded and chuck the bike in when you’re done. I wouldn’t drive in cycling shoes though, if you have a crash and the insurance find out, you may be in trouble. It doesn’t take 5 seconds to slip a pair of trainers on and off.
Thinking about the Propel, it isn’t a great wet weather bike. The clearances are small so any cack from the road will get stuck in there and not go away; unless you are extremely OCD about cleaning it after every ride it will cost more to keep it going. If you are doing lots of miles you need a bike with mudguards and wider tyres, 28 mm or more.
I do something like what you
I do something like what you are planning, some of it on a 2015 Propel. I say “something like” because no two weeks are the same, sometimes I ride 3x, sometimes 2x, and then again sometimes 4 or 5 times a week, sometimes none. I usually do a 3-4 hour ride at the weekend too. I live at the bottom of the South Downs, so at least once a week is a climby off road commute.
If I were you, I’d aim to do your commute two days a week at a slow pace and see how it goes. Have your work clothes there, take them when you drive. You’ve probably got all the kit you need, I go with layers so if I get too hot I can take some off.To answer your first post, I
To answer your first post, I’ve been running 52-36 and 11-32 since last year’s Fred and it’s been great. Didn’t help me conquer Hardknott and Wrynose but that’s another story!I wanted carbon too, but the
I wanted carbon too, but the CAAD 12 is meant to be fantastic.
Get down to your local Evans, they have a proper demo scheme where you’ll have to book and have some security, but you can ride anything on real roads.
For your needs, titanium may be better. A year round UK commuter? Kinesis or Enigma, what have they got in that price bracket? UK conceived too, if not actually built here. 105 would be tempting too, almost as good as Ultegra and cheaper to replaceI say this on all these
I say this on all these threads, go to your local Evans, and book a trial ride on a Supersix in that price bracket. (I also usually say book a trial on a Synapse, to compare, but you already know all about the Synapse). I tested a Supersix when I was buying, and really liked it, but in the end it didn’t quite have that something extra. You’ll then have a benchmark to try any other competitors.
I’m a little out of touch with the current market, I don’t think you’ll get the spec you are looking for unless you go the internet route. But I would want to try before I laid out that money.
If you’re going to do that many miles on the new bike I’d go for discs ahead of Di2. I’ve never tried Di2, and although my mates who have it swear they couldn’t go back, I still don’t see the benefits outweighing sacrifices elsewhere. Disc brakes will work better than rim brakes and won’t knacker your wheels if you are a bit slack with maintenance.
I think of it as a salute, a
I think of it as a salute, a salute to anyone else on the higher plane that riding a bike means. I don’t discriminate, MTB’s, shopping bikes, TT machines, I nod wave or say Morning to anyone. Most respond.
Another factor in my decision
Another factor in my decision was looking at the rides I had done in the previous year. About 250 were around 2 hours – I ride to work 2-3 times a week and that was most of them. About 30 were around 4 hours and under 10 were all day, so I didn’t feel comfort should be a major factorA friend has a Domane, cost
A friend has a Domane, cost him around £2k a couple of years ago, loves it. He did the Paris-Brest-Paris ride on it, a long hard slog of an endurance almost no sleep type of ride. I think it was 1200 kn in 90 hours, but I could be remembering either figure wrong.
I decided not to get discs when I got my new bike 2 years ago, I decided it would have meant compromising elsewhere in the spec. The new bike had Ultegra which had way better braking than I was used to! I would probably go for discs now though, more for the reason of preserving wheels than any braking advantage. If you ride through winter rim brakes will bugger your rims in a couple of years.
Although I have Ultegra, I think most people struggle to tell it apart in use from Ultegra, plus replacaments are cheaper. Cassettes and chains will wear out, so you could maybe upgrade to Ultegra as that happens.
Jamin78 wrote:
Are you following me? I was down at Evans at the NCC today, getting them to request a synapse and supersix in my size, to help me decide whether I want racy or endurance. I was knocked over by how helpful they were, and knowledge, even with me being pretty blunt about just doing some initial research. Top advice, Evans is a great place to start.Have you got an Evans near you? If so, go and try a Cannondale Super Six and a Synapse, and maybe a CAAD. All great bikes, good value, and you’ve got one of the best “race” bikes and one of the best “sportive” bikes, and a one of the best ally bikes if you try the CAAD. Then do some research and see if there’s anything else out there that will give you more of a buzz, whether it’s slightly better wheels, or kit, or 50 quid less, or a nicer paint job, or some frame detail you prefer. I had about 2k to spend two years ago, did 6 months of research, and bought a Giant Propel because spec wise it was bang on the money, and to me it looked WAY better than anything else I could afford. Haven’t ridden it since Thursday and I’m itching to get back on it.I don’t know why they don’t offer it as a paid for service, along the lines of give us fifty quid and we’ll set you up on three bikes and you can ride them for half an hour each. I’m sure it would help a lot of folks resolve some of the issues we all have when looking for a new bike.
I’m really not convinced this sportive/racy geometry has any meaning, at least for most of us. If you’re an unusual size or shape or have a back problem it might make sense, but I doubt any of us can tell the difference between half a degree angle here, 5 mm longer there, even half a kilo more or less. The Propel is meant to be an aero bike so you probably wouldn’t want to go on a long ride on it, but I did a 27 hour Everesting on mine.
I got in last year on the
I got in last year on the reserve list, loved it, although Hardknott and Wrynose after 95 miles were too much for me and I had to walk. The hot and sunny weather probably contributed to having to walk.
I am 80 kg, 6 foot, and 51 years old. I had a 52/36 on my bike, and went long cage and 11-32 at the back. It took me 8 and a quarter hours, my second highest ever suffer score after Everesting.
I did A LOT of Sussex and Surrey hills beforehand, but only one century ride. If I was doing it again, I would do more longer rides with more climbing; I knew after 40 miles (so after Kirkstone but before Honister) that it would be a long hard struggle of a day for me.
I started early, and rode with friends who were aiming at 16 mph average, so I backed off and let them go. That wasn’t a realistic pace for an all day ride for me, and that may explain why I knew by 40 miles I was in for it.
We were lucky with the weather, it was gloriously hot from about 10 am, exactly as the forecast said. But at 6 am at the start I think it was only 6 degrees, so shorts, short sleeve top and short sleeve gloves were not helping against the cold.
If you plan to drive in to the start on the day, get there early, like before half 5. We left in the first few waves, and the queue of cars in the opposite direction must have been 5 miles or so, past where the ride turns away from the lake.
Walking your bike up Hardknott is very tough, as others have said. I can’t imagine how you would ride it in the wet. If you sit on the nose of the saddle, you can just about spread your weight enough to keep the front down and the back still gripping. Definitely practice this if you plan on riding up HK.
The descents are tricky, Honister has a bridge which you turn right into and then left to get off, someone had a bad accident there. Hardknott and Wrynose are just as bad, very steep, with rippled tarmac so push your butt off the back of the seat, get low, and keep your speed down.
Have you got an Evans near
Have you got an Evans near you? If so, go and try a Cannondale Super Six and a Synapse, and maybe a CAAD. All great bikes, good value, and you’ve got one of the best “race” bikes and one of the best “sportive” bikes, and a one of the best ally bikes if you try the CAAD.
Then do some research and see if there’s anything else out there that will give you more of a buzz, whether it’s slightly better wheels, or kit, or 50 quid less, or a nicer paint job, or some frame detail you prefer.
I had about 2k to spend two years ago, did 6 months of research, and bought a Giant Propel because spec wise it was bang on the money, and to me it looked WAY better than anything else I could afford. Haven’t ridden it since Thursday and I’m itching to get back on it.When I was looking, I found
When I was looking, I found Evans to be the best in terms of demo bikes. You have to book it, and lave them your credit card details, and it may take them a few days to get a specific bike in from their warehouse, but you get to ride anything in the range, not just the top end stuff, which is what a lot of retailers have as demo bikes. Mind you, with your budget, I think most shops will be keen to let you out and about.
You get a lot of Giant Propel
You get a lot of Giant Propel for that kind of money…
I’m 52 and was in your position about 2 years ago! I went for a Propel, I only had around £1600 to spend, and I couldn’t find a better kitted bike that looked as good to my eyes. The fact that it rides well is a bonus; it may not be the comfiest but I did a 27 hour Everesting on it, and otherwise use it for similar rides to those you list.
If I had your budget I would be looking at a titanium bike for sure.
