Cycling - NLC

[meatball]

Woody,
Nothing decided yet, just need decent forecasts...

[111Robin]

Rumour has it that both Sram and Shimano are working on hydraulic disc brakes for next years high end road bike groupsets. Seems completely pointless to me, but then I thought that about electronic shifting and I am now thinking I was wrong. From all the reviews it sounds superb with no downsides, and a large proportion of the pro peleton at last year's tour were riding Shimano Dura Ace Di. Don't be surprised to see some 4k+ carbon road bikes next year with electronic shifting and disc brakes.

Mark

I'm happy with rim brakes on the road bike, but they are not so good with carbon wheels in the wet and potentially damage the wheels. So this may be the point of the rim brake for high end use, and if they shave a few grams off they'll take that as well.

Incidentally, my mate has a bike shop in Stirling - Velocity 44, they have a pretty good website, or if your in the area I'm sure he'll give you good advice.

Is that Paul ?, I like what he's done with the shop since taking over from Stewart Wilson. I'd recommend him also if you're looking for advice on bike choice, has a lot of nice kit in the shop, plenty wallet busters for sure !!

[kerryxeg]

Yep Paul, I've never actually been in his shop, but things seem to be going well. He's always had the best kit himself, so no surprise to find it in the shop, but they have the full range.

[johncam]

When I bought my cross bike I had a couple of mates "in the know" really pushing me to get a road bike. I had other mates, also in the know (who write reviews for some of the cycling magazines) who advised to go down the cross bike route. I am really glad I ignored the advice of the guys pushing for a road bike.

Ah yes - I remember this well. You asked Luke, Meatball, your brother in law and myself (some 60 years serious cycling experience between us) for advice on buying a new bike then went out and bought something that resembles a garden gate and is made out of gas pipe

Banter aside - granted, a cross bike will be fine for Dom's Wednesday night bimble but I don't want to see Scott making a significant purchase and realising fairly quickly that it's not really suitable should he decide to join a club and take the sport seriously (unless it's a cycle cross biased club like the Glasgow United )

Scott - I really think you should properly try a road bike, cross and hybrid before you buy anything. Sadly mine will all be too wee for you but I'm sure others on here will help you out. Do let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

John

[woody]

So, my dad just popped round on his new Boardman,i think, road team. Very nice to look at, and moved rather swiftly when I jumped on for a shot. Has full 105 and mavic something aero spoke wheels, impressed with the spec for £800.

Will need to see about a proper road bike from this century in next years plan.

[delands]

Cant complain with the Boardman - I have the Hybrid Pro

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.html

[scott_e]

Really tempted to get a racer / road bike with very narrow/kevlar tyres. Current Mountain bike is 13 ish KG , thinking a road bike at 8kg would be great , mostly smooth concrete surfaces but about 30m of grass and 50m of rough stones. Clocking 4000 miles an year on it now (only 1500 in the car by comparison). Thinking its worth investing in a better bike but no idea what to buy. Would use it in all weathers bar ice/frost. Had a budget of £1000 - £2000 in mind. Any ideas ?

[max1966]

If you are happy with something second hand at that price you can snag a real bargain but if you are not really sure and want new the Bikeradar recommendation for 2012 is..........

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 0-12-45927

Very hard to fault, you can get a higher spec groupset/wheels, etc. in some packages, but it appears to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Bragging rights with component choice can be achieved if you go down the Planet-X or Ribble route or if brand snobbery is essential you'd need to compromise the spec but the R&D is perhaps more thorough and the tech more current IMO or at least that's the reason given for the premium.

Try this out.......

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... uild-44609

Canyon bikes are direct sellers and highly rated/VFM, try the aluminium Di2 choice...........

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 2-12-45907

But and for me it is a serious consideration.........your Local Bike Shop needs your support, see what they've got or can get.......sit on a few, try some more sportive orientated bikes and more serious race bikes to see what feels better, most can be fine tuned to suit you.

[scott_e]

Thanks, thats a real help. Selecting a "bike of the year" contender would seem like a good way for a newbie to get good kit. Only thing i am really worried about is this style of bike and the occasional rough patch of stones, occasional pot hole and occasional kerb. Is it worth demounting on an expensive bike or hoping up a kerb for example (very slowly).

[max1966]

Focus have produced VFM bikes for a while and with this particular one the blend of the components seems right alongside the quality of their design and frame construction, I think it won for very good reasons not just on price.

If your tyres are well inflated (use a track pump) and you are gentle, absorbing the impact and riding 'lightly', if that makes any sense, then you should be ok. As well as that have you ever watched Paris Roubaix!!!

Some of the stones you ping off on the road are as likely to puncture so I wouldn't worry too much but always carry spare inner tubes.

The reality is that you are entitled to ride on the road and you'll want to take full advantage of the new found speed so paths maybe aren't ideal anyway.

[scott_e]

The reality is that you are entitled to ride on the road and you'll want to take full advantage of the new found speed so paths maybe aren't ideal anyway.

Thanks again. Got a good 8 miles of cycle path up here with only a few junctions so sounds like a road bike could be the way to go. As mentioned above a few meters rough patches and a scrap merchant mean Kevlar tyres are a must. If i can get Marathon Plus for the bikes you highlighted then i'm good i think.

[ryallm]

Be aware that if you want to ride in all weathers in the winter full muguards are a must (forget the roadie purists, riding with a wet skunk stripe up your back is not cool) and that does limit the choice of bikes - many road bikes dont have mudguard eyelets.

As a certain Mr Armstrong would say, its not about the bike though. I did the Etape Caledonia last week on my £1300 aluminium bike, and took great pleasure is passing a guy on 5 grands worth of Pinarello Dogma on one of the final climbs Having said that I will be buying somthing shiney and expensive made out of carbon soon

BTW Marathon Plus tyres are supposed to be bombproof but they can be a total nightmare to get on and off the rims - I gave up trying to get them on my Easton wheels and bought different tyres.

Mark

[scott_e]

Be aware that if you want to ride in all weathers in the winter full muguards are a must (forget the roadie purists, riding with a wet skunk stripe up your back is not cool) and that does limit the choice of bikes - many road bikes dont have mudguard eyelets.

Had many months of riding in the mud/rain without mud guards this year , have a change of clothes in the office so it doesnt bother me .... infact i enjoy it , gives me that neanderthal manly feel

BTW Marathon Plus tyres are supposed to be bombproof but they can be a total nighmare to get on and off the rims - I gave up trying to get them on my Easton wheels and bought different tyres

Marathon Plus have been a total life saver , no punctures since. I let the local bike shop put them on as i tend to damage the darn tubes when trying myself.

[point n squirt]

Picking up a test bike from Dales on Friday. £50 deposit lets you have it for the weekend and if you dont buy a bike from them you can spend the £50 on anything in store, seems fair. Quick question im looking at a bike at £1000 how much % off list price should i expect or should they throw in a couple of goodies to sweeten the deal.

[delands]

Lotus Originals are doing a bike