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I get cramps after a few days off the bike, usually down the outside of my calves which are particularly tricky to stretch out. Also get twitching and crawling in my calf and thigh muscles (I’ve always had this, usually after strenuous exercise). Elbows also ache.
Even just an hour’s ride is enough to sort it.I’m really impressed with
I’m really impressed with Claris on my new bike. I’ll be replacing it with Tiagra 4700 but only because it came with 175mm square taper cranks and I ride 165mm. Claris is nicely integrated, easy to set up, cheap, and robust. I can’t detect any change in shifting vs TiagraSurely you mean Shimanic
Surely you mean Shimanic chants?Trek Domane, just bought an
Trek Domane, just bought an aluminium one. Hugely versatile, some very nice paint jobs. Mudguard and rack mounts, space for 35mm tyres (32 with guards), loads of bottle bosses for stuff. Carbon versions available.
Some other more Masony options (i.e. niche/boutique)
Pipedream ALICE
Dolan gravel bike (I forget the model number)
Bombtrack Hook or Audax
Spa Elan or Audax
Fairlight Secan or Faran if you can find one
Genesis Equilibrium or Fugio
Most of those have frameset only options. I considered them all but ended up with a cheap secondhand Domane (there are a tonne of 20/21/22 bikes around barely used from lockdown, I guess Trek were better at getting supplies in than most)
Does your tool (missus) have
Does your tool (missus) have a locator pin? Like this one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/IceToolz-Cassette-Lockring-Tool-Shimano/dp/B0028N57UU
They can be a great help in really wailing on a lockring as it’s impossible for the tool to slip. I’ve used one of these with a two foot breaker to free a particularly recalcitrant lockring.
As you’ve already surmised, a dead blow hammer can help too.
I did have one defeat me recently (also an HG-500 strangely enough) and the LBS used the vice trick. Very satisfying bang when it finally let go.
Having been in a car to car
Having been in a car to car collision on a roundabout resulting in a claim I have to agree with you, particularly if there’s no camera evidence. One question you’ll get asked is whether you were established on the roundabout and whether you were changing lane. Priority and give way to the right doesn’t come into it.
Tried Jones on my MTB and
Tried Jones on my MTB and just couldn’t get on with them, if anything made the numbness worse. I’ve now got SQLabs grips and Innerbarends which are the best of not actually perfect solution I’ve found so far.I agree, if it’s for messing
I agree, if it’s for messing about with the kids then a hardtail MTB is a good option. Anything from Calibre in the past few years will be good, as would some of the mid-range Carerra & Voodoo bikes from Halfords. Much more robust than a road bike and as long as you spec it right tyre-wise more capable than a gravel bike for short distance/stop start rides with kids. In my experience all most kids want to do is ride fast in short bursts and do jumps and skids on gravel. MTB all the way for that sort of thing. I’ve got a Calibre TwoCubed for that purpose and a Pipedream Sirius for more gnarly stuff.
We are. Used bike market is
We are. Used bike market is incredibly flat at the moment. Loads of nearly new Domane AL, Synapse, and Defys aboutHow old is the Defy? I can
How old is the Defy? I can get 30mm tyres in on my 2015 Advanced (measured with calipers, they’re actually GP4000s badged as 28mm)With a Defy and TCR in the stable I think you’ll hate riding anything you’ve listed. My Defy is ridiculously comfortable on broken surfaces (New Forest roads)
Would you be up for getting a frame and building it from used components? The Spa Elan has similar geo to the Defy (might need to go down a size) and the steel frame is within budget. Huge clearance for tyres and mudguards.
If not that then I’d be looking on eBay. Something like a Genesis Equilibrium Disc would be in budget. There are a few nearly new CDAs listed at the moment which make a great budget fast gravel option. Used bike market is pretty flat at the moment, bargains to be had.
Ta. I found the Nanos to be
Ta. I found the Nanos to be excellent for pretty much any off road condition. And old and reliable design but probably too knobbly for road use.
I ran them for commuting
I ran them for commuting which included New Forest tracks (those are mostly hard packed gravel with a little light sand, and not too much mud). The rest of the ride was on cycle paths heading into Southampton. Wore very well, no issues with punctures (this was a few years back so it was pre-tubeless), road noise not excessive. The tan walls are quite dark which may or may not suit the look you’re going for – definitely to my eyes work better with black rather than silver accented group/rims.
If you want to get really wacky Panaracer also do a version with coloured treads – currently you have aqua and sand as your options.
The ones I ran were I think 33m and I didn’t find them particularly draggy – to the point that I ended up doing RideLondon on them after I ran out of time to do a tyre swap. Plenty fast enough for me.
They won’t do bridleway/green lane mud but then most tyres won’t either. Bit well in the sticky, loamy mud we get in the New Forest and only defeated by rim deep mud.
Panaracer Gravelking SK are a
Panaracer Gravelking SK are a great all round tyre for mixed road and bridleway use. Won’t handle deep mud though. Not sure if WTB Sendero are available in 700C but they’re the best option for muddier months. I also ran WTB Nano 700*40c for a while but I don’t know if there’s a tanwall option. Schwalbe have some options but they’re rarely discounted and usually £50/£60 eachRourke or Mercian.
Rourke or Mercian.
Off the peg Condor are still nice frames, built and finished in Italy and use Columbus tubesets. I think they even still have a traditional geometry model.
Yeah that’s a fair point.
Yeah that’s a fair point. Shimano never officially recommend using kit from different speed groups, because there can be minor issues with chain width and offset. Will be much simpler when/if Tiagra becomes the replacement for mechanical 105.
