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It’s always there ready for a quick and hassle free session.
Now there is a great line to take out of context
I guess I need to be prepared
I guess I need to be prepared for some abuse here, but before you spend all that money on a trainer, make sure you really, really, want one!
Let me explain: I was in the same position as you this time last year, looking around for which trainer to buy, and was close to parting with a lot of cash for a high specced model. I am indebted to a mate who “strongly recommended” that I borrow one first, as he and loads of other folk have them lying unused in their garages. I took up the offer, and very quickly realised why there are so many unused ones lying in garages! Despite all the gizmos, the virtual reality, or ability to watch movies if you prefer, riding a trainer is not like cycling. Firstly, there is the total lack of interaction with the real world, no movement, no real change of scene, no speed related airflow, and 5 minutes in I was overheating and bored to tears. In the real world, I am comfortable cycling on a hot British summer day of say upper 20’s, and don’t sweat excessivley. On the trainer, in my unheated garage, door wide open, frost on the ground outside, I quickly resorted to cyclying topless but was still dripping sweat. So unless you rig up the equivalent of a 20mph airflow, it is bloody unpleasant. I never managed to motivate myself for more than 30 minutes, yet in the real world, I rarely take the bike out for less than a couple of hours. After half a dozen “rides”, my borrowed trainer, like so many others, was lying unused in the back of the garage, with me very glad that I hadn’t parted with several hundred quid.
I have no doubt there are many people who enjoy getting hot and sweaty cycling without going anywhere, or maybe just accept this as a necessary evil to keep fit over the winter. But I am very glad I found it wasn’t for me before spending any money. For me, this winter it will be mudguards on my spare bike, and off to brave the salt spray.
Just sent the guy a mail
Just sent the guy a mail asking a very reasonable question – what model is it because I can’t identify it in the Specialzed catalogue. Got a very quick very snotty answer, doesn’t know the model as he bought it off ebay, pointed out that at no point in his ad does he say it is genuine, and concluding ” if you don’t like it there’s no need to tell me, just don’t bid”. Sounds like all you need to know.
As others have said, speed
As others have said, speed comparison alone doesn’t meam much. Those living in a hilly and/or windy area will generally have a lower average. As you are asking about improvement over time however, I guess the question is still valid.
I am 58, and have been cycling on a “proper” road bike for about 2 years now. My first rides were 12 miles at an average of about 12mph. 3 months in I was doing 20 miles at 15mph. At the end of year one, a typical ride was 30 miles with 1500ft total climb at 16mph average. Now I’ll do that sort of ride at around 17.5mph, and at my age I don’t expect to get much faster. Endurance has improved a lot, and 80 miles with 4500ft of climb is doable at somewhere between 16 and 17mph.
Despite the python’s “strava w…” comment, if you are on Strava, it does form a good way of comparing your speed with others on the same routes you ride, and measuring your own improvement. Just don’t get too hung up on the KoM thing – on one local 1.4 mile segment, the guy who holds KoM did it on a 4 mile total ride, with a tailwind, so it means SFA. But if you are cycling to improve or maintain your fitness, it useful to have some way to measure progress.
Incidentally, I noticed my times dropping over the past couple of weeks, which just happens to coincide with ambient temperatures falling by about 10degC, so I did a bit of research. Increased air density, increased tyre rolling resistance, and the impact of wind chill on the body all conspire to slow us down at this time of year.
If you really, really, want
If you really, really, want what you’ve described, I believe the Cube Town meets all of your points. Hydroformed aluminium, internal cables with V brakes, 8 speed hub mounted gears, pannier rack, and even ready fitted LED lights. Not exactly light at 16kg, but this includes the rack, mudgards, lights etc so maybe not bad. Actually quite a smart bike, and made by a proper bike manufacturer, but not sure about those hub gears. £464 at an online retailer of your choice.
Get an 11-32 definitelyYou don’t need to change the derailleur, the short cage works perfectly with an 11-32, just screw the b-screw in and you are sorted, I have it on my bike and it works great in every combination, even cross chaining.
Spinners are winners
Thanks, I might give that a go, although I have heard that hangar length etc can also have an impact, so the short cage works better on some bikes than others.
Good to see that a whole bunch of regulars on here are all pointing in the same direction. Thanks all.
It just depends on what you feel is right. I’m probably somewhere near you on the Talla climb, done on either 30×23 or 34×25. I’m about to change the bikes to 30×25 and 36×28 as Talla isn’t very pleasant and i really struggled on the Bealach earlier this year. Other people will go up it with bigger gears than me but go slower: I need a high cadence.How often do you actually use 52×11 in anger? Would changing to 50×34 be an option?
Thanks for the input.
I do use 52×11 a fair bit, particularly on that route, with its long downhill sections. I did consider changing cahinrings, but 36 to 34 is only a 6% change and probably not worth the effort. Once fitted, a medium cage would give me more versatility and tbh I don’t understand why Shimano and the bike manufacturers bother with the short cage.
Speaking personally, if I was
Speaking personally, if I was buying an expensive frame on ebay I’d want to know it wasn’t stripped from a nicked bike. The only way is the frame number.
TBH, my take on driving/motorbike riding/cycling is simply trust no one. Expect the worst and if need be back out of situations you can read coming even if it’s clearly not your fault and the right of way is yours.Never put the onus to do the right thing on the other person and you’ll survive. Also assume that every other cyclist is also stupid, held hostage to rubbish road conditions or sidewinds and will do random things and give them some room. I really don’t think most car drivers understand the edge of the road of is a crap place to be, not some great, smooth bike lane.
Most sensible post I’ve seen in a long time on the whole car/cyclist debate. We have stupid cyclists as well as stupid car drivers. I have read so much crap about “why should I do “x” when it’s all the driver’s fault..”. As a cyclist, you will always come off worst so discretion is the sensible course.
As for the suggestion that as drivers we should take an extra look in the mirror in case a cyclist is there? That’s bull, you can’t pidgeonhole roadusers. A good driver doesn’t need to think specifically in case there is a car/motor bike/bike/recumbent/invalid trike/dog/horse/pushchair, the road is either clear, or its not, and roadusers form a complete spectrum of size and speed, not discrete types.
6061 T6 is the grade of aluminium used in the tubes and is (to all intents and purposes) exactly the same from bike to bike. What tubes and how they were made / drawn and how they were then created into a bike are the important factors. So, the short answer to your question “are all 6061 frames created equal?” No. They’re not. The material is equal, but that is it. As others have suggested, getting reputable brands from known frame makers is going to have a big impact on the performance and reliabiity of the frame.A very good summary. What the OP doesn’t tell us is the age or type of frame. Aluminium has gone through a rapid development over the years, going from simple butted tubes, to hydroformed, to superplastic etc, all with the aim of producing a frame which is lighter, more compliant and stiffer. A new T6 is likely to be much better than a 20 year old one.
The other thing to consider though is a second hand bike instead of new. This is the time of year when next year’s models force discounts on 2016 models, which ripples through to the resale market. There are some very good bikes a couple of years old available.
At this time of year, with
At this time of year, with 2017 models launched, if you are prepared to go with a 2016 model, there are great deals to be had. Only yesterday another post flagged up a 2015 Addict at £999 – an excellent bike at half price, although I suspect the traditional styling of that model won’t be to your taste. At your budget however you will get a deal on a 105 spec from almost any quality manufacturer, and at this price you should expect a decent frame. At this price it is pretty much Audi versus BMW versus Merc. There are many models which will do a decent job, blindfold they would be hard to tell apart, but as aesthetics are important to you, it is hard for others to make recommendations. Have fun, go round the bike shops and see what takes your fancy, then read a few reviews before you sign. I agree that at this price it is worth a little extra to get a proper fitting at an LBS. As for the calliper versus disc debate, done to death on here and very much blue touch paper.As an Addict owner, I could
As an Addict owner, I could easily agree with Peted as I love mine, however back to your question. Both your bikes have already taken the big hit on depreciation. In the future, with the industry telling us that without disc brakes, electric gears and whatever they dream up next we are Luddites, therefore more and more nearly new bikes hitting eBay, it is futile to worry about future depreciation. Life is just too short. Which bike makes you feel good when you ride it, because that is what cycling should be about.davel wrote:
Read very slightly between the lines in my posts and you can very clearly see that either – We separate cyclists from vehicles properlyAs per Darvel, you seem very keen to tell us all what doesn’t work. Why not enlighten us as to what would be better?
I don’t even need to read between the lines of your posts to see that this is just another idea you have dismissed, or did you forget writing this: “we all know that we’ll be on the roads with vehicles for the forseeable future, and so will our kids, maybe grandkids”.
Fluffykitten has also comprehensively dismissed the suggestion that we educate drivers. We all know that helmets aren’t perfect, and poster after poster quoting figures to remind us of that without proposing anything better is not moving us forward.
There’s your first problem: I’m not dismissing it entirely. I wear a helmet. Fat lot of good it’ll do me if I get rear-ended at 45mph on tomorrow’s commute. That’s your second problem.
I’m just appealing for proportion. I see me ranting about victim blaming and helmets not being a panacea and not kowtowing to a culture and propaganda machine that churns out guff like today’s apparent THINK! hgv advert as more positive than laughing at ‘flat earthers’ for questioning research that clearly needs to be questioned.
I don’t disagree. I took a look at some if the upcoming Volvo car technology, and again, great effort seems to be going into preventing very specific damage. Eg an external airbag blows up in front of the windscreen. But if you miss the windscreen, you still get your balls ripped off by the door mirror!davel wrote:
Read very slightly between the lines in my posts and you can very clearly see that either – We separate cyclists from vehicles properlyAs per Darvel, you seem very keen to tell us all what doesn’t work. Why not enlighten us as to what would be better?
I don’t even need to read between the lines of your posts to see that this is just another idea you have dismissed, or did you forget writing this: “we all know that we’ll be on the roads with vehicles for the forseeable future, and so will our kids, maybe grandkids”.
Fluffykitten has also comprehensively dismissed the suggestion that we educate drivers. We all know that helmets aren’t perfect, and poster after poster quoting figures to remind us of that without proposing anything better is not moving us forward.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
And that’s why your reasoning is flawed. Who said anything about ‘sports’? What does sport have to do with it?I have noticed a tendency here for people to say cycling is different to everything else, therefore the experience gained in other sports is irrelevant,
Sorry, I tend to use English as per the Oxford English dictionary (Definition of cycling: The sport or activity of riding a bicycle), and for me cycling is a sport not a commute, but hell yes, lets argue semantics, rather than having a constructive debate around what we all agree is a problem. That will get us far
As per Darvel, you seem very keen to tell us all what doesn’t work. Why not enlighten us as to what would be better?
