The Velotard Thread.

[jlo]

I use these they're not your usual MTB pedals and I use these shoes. I find them easier to walk in than standard road shoes and the metal clips mean the last a lot longer. Useful when you're commuting.

Yeah for pretty much exactly the same reasons I've gone for something similar to that to start with. Just the gluttony of info online for a newbie means it took a whole evening to figure that out!

 

[Tredman]

Question for those more knowledgeable than me, so pretty much everyone.

Been doing quite a bit of road cycling best few weeks, now its much quieter. I use a hybrid bike I bought (& used) for commuting. I'm wondering if I should invest in a road bike? I've generally avoided road riding for pleasure, but have really enjoyed it and with it very unlikely that I will be (ever) going back to work in an office it might be good to get a proper road bike.

Will I see much benefit in changing from a hybrid to a road bike? I won't be spending a huge amount of money (probably max £600) and will not be doing it seriously!

 

[Keef]

I'd stick with the hybrid,there's a bit more flexibility with it,road bikes go fast that's it.

Mind you I'm using a 25 year old mountain bike,with racks and panniers on it,great for getting shopping with,carrying stuff I need for work,towing the trailer when I do the occasional bike repair work

 

[machin05]

Road bike for the win. You could get something decent second hand for £600. It'd be loads lighter than your hybrid which makes a huge difference. I love drop handlebars, even tho I spend 90% of my time on the hoods. The hand position is far more natural and comfortable. Look at how your hands hang naturally. It's side on to your body - which is the same orientation as hoods/drops.

 

[machin05]

There are some good buying and selling road bike groups on FB.

 

[Tredman]

There are some good buying and selling road bike groups on FB.

Yes been looking on there just. Just need to work out how to buy it without the wife killing me. I'm still in two minds - I like the flexibility of hybrid and the ability to do some mild off-roading when the mood takes me.

 

[machin05]

Take a look at gravel bikes. They can be set up with wider tyres due to having disc brakes and bigger clearances at the rear stays.

 

[Stan Hullis]

I’ve recently bought a road/cyclocross bike for less than £250 which I sourced through a local velo club but there are tons on Facebook.

Heading out for the first time tomorrow!

 

[Doctor Doog]

Went out yesterday and there were noticeably more cars on the road, with a corresponding increase in the number of idiots driving them. Three near misses in the space of an hour. Cycling is back to how it used to be.

 

[Keef]

I think we've missed the boat to get people cycling more,We had the perfect chance to get protected cycle lanes in,or at least get them started,blocked roads off to make them cycling/pedestrian access only before the traffic comes back,it would have kept people working,and motorists would have had to adapt when they come back out

 

[machin05]

FAO Tredman

 

[Tredman]

FAO Tredman

I’m going to end up spending way more money than I planned. And when my wife questions the reasons I’m going to say it was YOUR fault.

 

[machin05]

That's fine with me. [emoji16]

 

[Tredman]

Been doing a lot of research about gravel bikes. They look ace. Some decent ones new for around the £1k Mark.

Now on our company intranet looking at another bike to work scheme....

 

[machin05]

I would recommend Boardman, but I'm worried about them at the moment. Website seems to have gone down, Cycle Republic (their main outlet) has gone under and has hardly no stock, and Halfords only has their budget range available.

Chris Boardman has been giving away bikes to NHS staff who have had theirs stolen and he's recently tweeted that they have no more left. Also the Boardman wind tunnel is closing down.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Website seems to work for me? Cycle Republic hasn't gone under, rather Halfords decided to get rid of that branch of the business. Half of the stores have already been purchased.

 

[machin05]

Website seems to work for me?

The Boardman Bikes site?

Cycle Republic hasn't gone under, rather Halfords decided to get rid of that branch of the business. Half of the stores have already been purchased.

Tomatoes, tomatoes.

 

[Wombat del combate]

The Boardman Bikes site?

Aye.

 

[machin05]

Aye.

Yeah back up for me too now. Was down for about 24 hours.

How are you liking your SLR mate?

 

[Wombat del combate]

It's lovely, how about you? I need to take it to the mechanic because there's a small indexing problem in top gear whereby it only goes in if you stop pedalling momentarily, so no good in a sprint situation but aside from that, no complaints. It holds speed as well - easily and happily 20mph+ on flatter sections - so Strava PRs are coming down, although that may also be down to the hours on the turbo.

The tyres that it came fitted with were very prone to puncturing though so I fitted some Continental GP 5000s on Saturday which shredded my hands as I had to manually get the last bit of the tyre over the rim rather than try to use levers. The temperature difference between that area and the rest of the rubber was somewhat noticeable.