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If you’re thrutching around
If you’re thrutching around on a turbo so much as to cause a frame to crack, then I would think your technique needs a bit of work. Power should be going to the wheels, not on slinging it side to side.That said, I’d still be using a scratty old bike on a turbo as sweat rots bikes in super quick time
If you’re not bothered about
If you’re not bothered about the rims, just try it with a normal pad – accepting that they might only last a ride or two worst case.Post back, so I know what to do when my Exalith rims get past it 😉
I’ve had a Viking drop bar
I’ve had a Viking drop bar single speed before now which was less than £200 new. Yes, the frame was cheap steel but the components worked better and stayed shiny, unlike a Trek single speed I replaced it with where the freehub failed within weeks and all the silver parts quickly got a layer of surface corrosion.Google how to fix it yourself
Google how to fix it yourself? I think you can fix by using a quick release lever and something to act as a spacer – to crimp the existing rivnut a bit more?It sounded like Evans Cycles could put new rivnuts in my frame for me if needed but it was more of a warranty job. So I’d perhaps suggest trying another bike shop?
Cable discs are fine and
Cable discs are fine and reliable regardless of the weather. Not up there with hydraulics but fine enough.The latest Claris groupset is also fine, I have this on one of my bikes and the shifters are now the same shape as Ultegra, 105, Tiagra etc.
As per previous posts, comfort will be as much about getting the right size and being able to fit larger tyres at lower pressure – rather than any great difference between frames. That said, the Cannondale CAAD Optimo will probably be the nicest/lightest frame of the ones you suggest.
Unless you know what you’re looking at I wouldn’t go second hand. Or it is genuinely a barely used second hand bike. Even higher quality groupsets don’t feel as sharp or as smooth after a bit of use.
Cable discs are fine and
Cable discs are fine and reliable regardless of the weather. Not up there with hydraulics but fine enough.The latest Claris groupset is also fine, I have this on one of my bikes and the shifters are now the same shape as Ultegra, 105, Tiagra etc.
As per previous posts, comfort will be as much about getting the right size and being able to fit larger tyres at lower pressure – rather than any great difference between frames. That said, the Cannondale CAAD Optimo will probably be the nicest/lightest frame of the ones you suggest.
Unless you know what you’re looking at I wouldn’t go second hand. Or it is genuinely a barely used second hand bike. Even higher quality groupsets don’t feel as sharp or as smooth after a bit of use.
Even Claris now has cables
Even Claris now has cables under the bar tape and has the same shape/appearance as Tiagra/105/Ultegra and even the chainsets are now external BB/hollowtech 2 style. Don’t know if Decathlon go as low as Claris.Out of the box, I am very impressed, and usually I wouldn’t go lower than 105. But for commuting Claris seems spot on, so long as I don’t want to swap kit between my 105/Ultegra equipped bikes.
My Trek Emonda with 105 and
My Trek Emonda with 105 and Kysrium wheels is under 8kg and cost well under £2k. I had a Hongfu FM066 with a Microshift Arsis groupset and that was nearer to 7kg and around £1k.It’s just attention to detail and not just heading for all the well-known brands.
Decathlon BTwin and Boardman
Decathlon BTwin and Boardman are very much worth a look also at that priceOr whether it has seatstay
Or whether it has seatstay mounts, though you could use P clipsFrom the photos, it looks
From the photos, it looks like it had mudguard mounts in both frame and forks – you can see the holes – but I don’t know if you could use the same mounts for the rack with mudguards fittedI think to pick between small
I think to pick between small/medium/large with little regard for actual geometry figures is a disaster waiting to happen. I am 5ft 10 and ride M/L for Giant road bikes, large on my Tifosi and Saracen, medium on Genesis (could almost have been a small)…..but if a frame is comparable to a 56cm size with something around a 560-570 top tube (and comparable head tube to my other bikes depending what I will be using it for) then I know I’ll be able to make it fit.Different brands have very different ideas of what constitutes small/medium/large. It’s a bit different to ending up with a t-shirt that’s a bit baggy or a bit too tight!
A decent bike shop should be able to take a look at you sat on a bike and on the drops and advise the size that will be about right.
I had a Hongfu FM066 which
I had a Hongfu FM066 which was fine and looks exactly the same frame as the ones Planet X sell.The owner of Cycling Holiday Spain (CHS) promotes Farsports wheels and rides them with no issues when he’s guiding clients in a fairly mountainous area of Spain near Altea.
I’ve also had Hylix handlebars and iCan seatpost.
If it was fake branded and too cheap, I’d stay away, but if it’s branded with the actual Chinese manufacturer’s name then I’d be happy to ride it.
Keeping up on a club run is a
Keeping up on a club run is a bit different to keeping up in racing. And depending on your physiology, you might be aerobically fit, but not have a particularly high top end.If you genuinely are fit enough, then it can take a bit of time to learn good positioning. Like all the previous posts, races are about doing as little as possible until the crunch comes. Unless you’re committing to a move then you want to be hiding in the bunch and listening /watching for moves. Sitting at the back is an especially bad move because you just have to work harder every time the pace goes up.
It will come but there are probably 40 other riders in the race who also “want it a lot”
I was merely pointing out
I was merely pointing out that buying from Winstanleys you *should* get more than just a flat packed bike straight from a mail order warehouse. The price would be the same whether you went in the shop or not. It is not a good price purely because they don’t have shop space to fund.
