isitafox Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I've found ctc.org.uk and retrobike to be the best places for 2nd hand road gear, everywhere else just tends to be the same adverts other than ebay and gumtree. Have you searched for some roadie groups on Facebook? Might be some local who can hook you up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 100 miles a week is pretty doable. It's only 10 miles each way x 5 days. Still, it'll keep you fit and should be pretty enjoyable in this weather. There are lots of second hand road bikes on eBay, but like you say the problem is your height, and there will only be the odd one or two that would fit you. Might be easier to buy new if you can afford it - road bike prices don't seem to decrease so much second hand anyway (compared with mountain bikes/trials bikes). For me, SPDs definitely. Probably MTB SPDs for commuting (cleats are easier to walk in). Again, lycra yes for me, but it's optional. As soon as you get over the looks, you realise it's comfier and more aerodynamic / efficient. If you commute a lot on one bike, it's worth getting mudguards and consider a rack. It just makes it a lot nicer for when the weather's not brilliant. At the moment I've taken my mudguards off, but I got caught in a massive shower last week and got soaked from road spray. Unless it's completely pouring, the road spray onto you is more significant than the rain falling from above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich J Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 Yeah I'm not bothered about the distance its more the Bristol hills, I'd happily do it on what I've got but its got 4 (one that works) gears and none of them work on hills. Cheers guys I'll look around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenmx50 Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 I was in a similar situation to you a month or so ago, i wanted to start cycling to work (keep fit + fun, 20 mile round trip per day.) i was looking around for weeks for a second hand bike (around the £250 - £300 mark) but as said above they do hold there value more than your average mountain bike. What with trying to find one local, correct size and the right price i just gave up and went down the road of buying new. After a bit of reaseach i brought a "Btwin triban 3" new from decathlon. £300.00 brand new!! IMO complete bargain for the quality of bike you get!! Way better than anything from halfords for a simlar price. Infact at one point i was willing to spend just over the £400 mark but still could not find anything better than the Triban 3 at £300. Unless you can spend upwards of £450 + its defo worth considering. Just though id add my 2 pence.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 I agree with the spd's, especially if you're in a hilly area, they make so much difference going uphills. I used to have to do quite a hilly route running 44-14 and I'd never have managed without the ability to pull up on the pedal strokes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Picked up some new forks for my bike the other day, a brand new set of full carbon fibre jobbies. Had a bit of a nightmare tracking down a topcap and headset tensioner that'd fit inside the steerer but managed to get an ITM bung that fits perfectly. The A-C was about 40mm lower with these on so I fitted another 20mm of stem stackers to raise the bars a little and now it feels really nice to ride especially for getting down low on, forks have also saved me just shy of 800g from the front end which is a massive relief. Front brake reach is a bit too big now but I planned on swapping them for some decent calipers anyhow so now I have the excuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusevelt Posted June 22, 2013 Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 WTF! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=123327617877584&set=vb.305901075111&type=2&theater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted June 22, 2013 Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 Americans that don't even know their left from their right... Odd accident seeing as the guy in the Prius was on the wrong side of the road on what appears to be a closed road but the fact you have riders returning on the left sidewhile riders are still heading the other way, with no barrier or anything to separate it is also a bit stupid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 Need to give in to the lycra and get some proper gear for when I'm on my road bike so I'm after some advice. Main thing is bib or plain shorts? Or come to think of it trousers?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich J Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I went for shorts and separate top, just because of sizing, admittedly it was from Sports Direct but it cost less than £15 for the works so no complaints. Can feel the benefits for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Get bibs, they will stay in place and won't slip down. Once you have a top on no one can tell if you are wearing bibs or shorts, either way you are still wearing Lycra I wear leg warmers when it's cold and if it is really cold I put baggies on over the top. I might buy some long leg winter bibs one day but I already own too much Lycra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Think bibs are the way forward, been told the sets on ebay from China for £30 are pretty decent so gonna go for them I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted June 28, 2013 Report Share Posted June 28, 2013 Bib shorts all the way. Wear a base layer underneath them on top to stop the straps chaffing your nipples, Unless you happen to like that kind of thing. I've got altura bib shorts, they are excellent. The sports direct stuff is shite, it doesn't cushion you at all. You need some with a gel insert. For my riding top, I've got the shops own team top, just a road version of the mtb one I wear for trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 Ordered a set of bib shorts and matching top from one of the Chinese sellers off eBay. Blatantly obvious that it's a fake as I've ordered a Fox Racing design but all the others were replica race kit which I'm not a fan of having no interest in road racing whatsoever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 I find it slightly embarrassing to say that I've got a few different lycra bits (bib shorts, bib long trousers, bib 3/4 length trousers) but anyway, the 3/4s are the ones I wear by far most often in UK weather. They're all different brands. The long ones are Gore, they're very nicely made 3/4s are DHB, also pretty nice (but slightly strange sizing which I knew before ordering so all was well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Morris Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 I'm looking to buy a Kona road bike, does anybody know of a bike shop somewhere that would have them in a showroom to go an take a look at? Extra points if the bike shop is in the south east of England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 We had Chris Boardman in the tunnel a couple of months back to film some snippets for the Tour coverage which is now being aired. Some good info put across: http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/features/chris-boardman-ned-wind-tunnel-cycling-aerodynamics-airflow/ http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/features/chris-ned-wind-tunnel-tour-de-france-2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hI-OOPS-CAPS Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Getting my boardman tomorrow! Though I did have to tolerate the *thesaurus' polite version of retard* boneheads who work at Halfords. I spoke to them a few times and they couldn't understand that I wanted to know a little about the bike and how it rode before spending 950£! And after agreeing to buy it and getting a British Cycling membership, upon their advice, they said the deals dont stack. Idiots. Told them I wanted a Boardman but they were making it awkward for me to choose such a company to supply the bike so they pulled their finger out a little. Got the Boardman CX Team for £770ish. It's a shame such a good reviewed brand fell into the hands of some pinheads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalopS Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Been at the Otley road race tonight. Was pretty cool. Lots of people looking confused at my fixed gear bike Only a year till the tour will be passing through Otley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 after agreeing to buy it and getting a British Cycling membership, upon their advice, they said the deals dont stack. Idiots. The BC website specifically says that their discount works on sale items... 90% of Halfords employees seem to be complete morons, but then we already know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 http://thenorthrace.co.uk/2013/07/f**k-gears-f**k-roadies-f**k-bikes/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalopS Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 His posts are always angry and complaining about something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 My kinda guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Love freebies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 Oops... may have just ordered a stealthy Ribble R872 with 105 black groupset. Not sure how much use it'll get but it is pretty. That means I'll've spent £2500 on new bikes in the past month. Eek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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