Forum Replies Created
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Replies
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Something’s not quite right
Something’s not quite right for sure. You should be able to find a saddle which while not ‘comfortable’ (unless you go for a brooks) they should be bearable enough not to cause much thought.
You’ll find ‘most’ decent local bike shops will have saddles for loaning out to test.
Saddle height could be an issue, as could an imbalance in leg length or even something as your saddle fore/aft position not being right. As also mentioned it might just be your shorts? I’ve got shorts which I can wear for 90mins, beyond that they are torture. I’ve got a specific long distance pair as well which are pretty plush.
Ah Boatsie… where are you
Ah Boatsie… where are you now I wonder.
I’ve tried Stans, Conti Revo,
I’ve tried Stans, Conti Revo, Bontrager and Orange Seal. Bontrager is the one which works for me best. Stans was the worst, just useless at high pressures, I just feel like I’ve done enough guinea pig testing for me not to want to ‘risk’ using their newer race version, Bontrager works great and goes through the valve, you just need to shake the hell out of the bottle every time you top up.
Don’t use stans sealant. I
Don’t use stans sealant. I prefer the Bontrager sealant it just works best at higher pressures.
You don’t need 40ml sealant, I use 25ml with no problems.
25mm tyres would be normal, I use Schwalbe Pro Ones and can’t justify swapping to another brand, I’ve looked at the Conti’s and the rolling resistance is tempting, but the additional weight is offputting, on balance I might try a set next time I need to change tyres but I can’t see it making much difference. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the Schwalbes, I’ve gone through about eight tyres since I started running tubeless in 2015.
Facebook groups, there are
Facebook groups, there are loads, the biggest one I subscribe to is called Yorkshire Cycling Sales, another good one for last season CX bikes is NDCXL Buy and Sell Cyclocross Stuff.
Secnod hand cross bikes.. it
Secnod hand cross bikes.. it’s the right end of the season to pick up some stone cold CX bargains. You’ll get a pair of raced bikes for the price of one new one.
… adding to that.. get a
… adding to that.. get a set of 46mm deep rims from light bicycle for ÂŁ300 delivered, use the dt350 hubs (matching the hole count!) you already have and spend ÂŁ125 taking the bits to your local bike shop to build you the wheels up with spokes and manpower.
Best of all worlds.. lighter, wider, cheaper and faster!
Go to Light Bicycle and get some 55mm carbon clinchers on DT hubs for about 600USD. That’s all these companies are doing, but they add their own sticker and charge you a premium in the process. You won’t notice the weight, but you will notice the aeroThis ^^ sort of.. you’ll not notice any weight diff, go slightly more to 35 to 45mm deep and get some aero benefit instead.
FYI the DT350 hubs will be better than the own Hunts by the way, who I believe use Bitex hubs.
If you don’t want to buy chinese direct, give Malcolm a call at the Cycle Clinic and he’ll build you a set for your needs for less.
Loads of Cannondale Caad 8, Cannondale Synapse, Specialized Allez, Boardman Road Teams, Giant Defys out there for ÂŁ350 – probably with Tiagra gears, maybe 105 if you are luckyTry and find one of them that fits you, or ask a mate who knows about bikes to help you spot one on Gumtree or the Local Facebook buy and sell pages.
^^ THIS.
Giant Defy, CAAD8 or CAAD10 with 105 or even Ultegra gearing should be available to you with ÂŁ350.
Look for one a few years old, there’s every chance that something costing a grand on a cycle to work scheme has sat in someone’s garage doing nothing for four or five years… Bikes aren’t any ‘better’ now then they were 15 years ago so you’re not missing anything by not buying new.
You should take a mate who knows about bikes with you and go and see a bike before you buy it, or you might just end up with a stinker. OR better yet, get a mate to find you a bike on ebay and put the onus on someone else 🙂 I found my mate a Defy the other year for ÂŁ350, he got the helmet, bike lock and floor pump in with the deal it as well, if it’d done 50miles I’d have been surprised. (Unsurprisingly, it’s now sat in my mates garage, having done about 10miles in two years).
No experience, but I was
No experience, but I was looking at these the other day, I don’t think you will find a warmer looking baselayer! They look very good.
.. hmm..Â
.. hmm..
Can’t you get a TCR.. which is a bit inbetween the both?
You could spend the bike
You could spend the bike upgrade money on upgrading your existing bike, there’s some cracking deals about.. how about Ultegra Di2 and a new set of carbon wheels.. that’d give you some pep in your pedals, no doubt drop a load of weight and you’ll keep your same comfortable position/bike. I found carbon bars made a big difference in comfort.
I only mention Di2 as I still get enjoyment from the little buzz buzz sounds it makes 🙂
Listen up dissenting
Listen up dissenting forumites, all cyclists on the roads are risk their lives/bones for whatever reason they decide to be on the road on two wheels with little protection, as a homogeneous group, we’re generally one split second silly decision away from being knocked off or falling down, I believe you should raise a hand of solidarity toward your fellow brother and sisters of the pedal*, we all share the same feelings and are on our bikes for the same broad reasons, raise a hand, smile if you can, and don’t be aloof.
(excluding risding in miserable cities like London where you’d get hand ache from raising it so many times and would be thought weird for being cheery to others)
Not all sealant is created
Not all sealant is created equal. I tried stans usual mtb sealant with road tubeless a couple of years ago.. it was totally useless. Just would not seal at anything above 60psi.
Conti Revo is also useless.
Orange Seal works, however I use Bontrager TLR Sealant which I find the best sealing (although you do need to shake the bottle a lot before use).
The only sidewall cut I’ve ever had was last year about 14miles into HONC. That was offroad crazyness, I was running 33mm tubeless schwable g-ones at around 35psi – annoyingly I had to catch the broomwagon back to base.
I hope so! As mentioned, I had a fabulous year in 2018 (for me), and I got a little snotty with it. I’m just a recreational club rider. But there were times last year where nobody in my little riding group would go faster than me – unless I let them! 🙂So – if I loose it now, all those people I humiliated will look forward to riding me into the dust!
Cheers to all and stay safe!
You can get caught up with ‘improvement’ yes it’s amazing to be the best but you can only go one way from the top and that can be difficult to deal with and can suck some joy out of riding, sometimes it’s important just to have a few weeks off, get back on your bike and just do something new, or old that you’ve not done for a while.