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Thread: TZ Cycling/Bike Appreciation thread!

  1. #3551
    That's more like it

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  2. #3552
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    Cracking day for a ride out:

  3. #3553
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    Was going to ask whether anyone was riding in this heatwave, good work Toddy. I did 2 hours yesterday afternoon average 34 degrees and I was less bothered by the heat than I thought I would be. Thinking about heading out tomorrow for similar but wondering if its sensible to just sit indoors and wait it out the peak temps.

  4. #3554
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    Too hot for me, skulking indoors until Wednesday

  5. #3555
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    I came up to the loft earlier because I could hear some noise. The long unused wahoo was getting too hot and turned its fans on. Wouldn't want to be out in the heat today!

  6. #3556
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    Dunwich dynamo was fun.
    Any riders from here. There Sat night?

  7. #3557
    Grand Master Carlton-Browne's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wallyuk View Post
    Dunwich dynamo was fun.
    Any riders from here. There Sat night?
    I've always wanted to do that.
    In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.

  8. #3558
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    I cycled the 1.5 miles to the beach - 20 min dip to cool off the 1.5m home - that’s enough for this heat

  9. #3559
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Was going to ask whether anyone was riding in this heatwave, good work Toddy. I did 2 hours yesterday afternoon average 34 degrees and I was less bothered by the heat than I thought I would be. Thinking about heading out tomorrow for similar but wondering if its sensible to just sit indoors and wait it out the peak temps.
    Thanks, didn't seem too hot to be honest as had a nice breeze. Took plenty of water (twice as much as usual on that particular loop) and made sure I kept hydrated all the way round.

  10. #3560
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    i went to Brighton & back with the club (Addiscombe CC), on Saturday, first time out with them this year.. Poor turnout for the 'Captain's Coastal', think the heat put people off.
    Sunday I was in the surrey hills, but only 42 miles.. It was nice under the trees :)

  11. #3561
    I did 20k or so in Richmond Park this morning - before 9 but it was still d**n hot!


  12. #3562
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    DD is 1/2nd July next year. Date for diary

  13. #3563
    Master Matt London's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carlton-Browne View Post
    I've always wanted to do that.
    Me too, and ride back as well.

    I was signed up and booked in to hotels for the Chasing the Sun ride in 2015. Then old age, a torn meniscus and a chronic bad back took over.

    That is the lament of a 51yr old cyclist, that has not given up on ambition yet! 

  14. #3564
    Grand Master zelig's Avatar
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    I've recently changed my bike - from a Boardman Hybrid to a Boardman Road bike - which better suits my (current) needs.

    I was surprised that my new bike came with brake pads - whereas my hybrid has disks - which I liked & performed very well.

    I like my new bike, but I'm not so impressed with the brakes - they seem to have less bite, so I've less confidence in braking for a junction.

    So which is better in which environment ?

    z

  15. #3565
    Well both bikes have brake pads, your road bike has caliper brakes.

    Your hybrid had disc brakes, probably hydraulic.

    These are better, is the short answer.

    However, road bikes have existed for 100 years without disc brakes, so you'll probably be okay.

    If it's bugging you and you want to change, you will need to return the road bike and buy a new one with discs.

    Upgrading the current one certainly won't be economically sensible, or even possible depending on the frame.

    Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

  16. #3566
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    Quote Originally Posted by zelig View Post
    I've recently changed my bike - from a Boardman Hybrid to a Boardman Road bike - which better suits my (current) needs.

    I was surprised that my new bike came with brake pads - whereas my hybrid has disks - which I liked & performed very well.

    I like my new bike, but I'm not so impressed with the brakes - they seem to have less bite, so I've less confidence in braking for a junction.

    So which is better in which environment ?

    z
    As Nick has said both have there place . Disk brakes have slightly better feel, eg you can modulate them better. Whereas the rubber pads on your new bike will feel at little wooden by comparison, as once they are on there is no play in the cable. Both can provide wheel locking power if set up right and stop the bikes.

    Its almost certainly the feel you are detecting, not the actual stopping distance.

    The first thing to check is if your brakes are correctly set up and bedded in. At a simplest level , if riding at 5 mph can you lock the back brake so you skid safely to a stop? Secondly when walking by the side of the bike and applying the front brake hard does the front wheel lock and the bike stop? If in either case the wheels kept on turning then pop back to the bike shop to get them adjusted.

    Modern day pro riders have only just moved away from rim brakes to disks and much of that was led by changes of frame design. So for 100 plus years folk have been descending Alpe du Ez and the Galibier passes on rim brakes at upto 60 mph.


    Hth

    Steve
    Last edited by higham5; 24th July 2022 at 07:34.

  17. #3567
    And of course not all brakes are equal whether disc or rim. You could almost certainly upgrade the rim brakes on your road bike. Either by just changing the pads or perhaps the calipers themselves.

    I’d probably suggest starting by changing the pads.

    What calipers and pads does it have? Though being a Boardman there’s a good chance they are unbranded.

  18. #3568
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    Just signed to return to Cuba in November for a 10 day trip
    Now looking for a bike to take - I’ll leave it there at the end of the ride for a local in need

  19. #3569
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    Quote Originally Posted by zelig View Post
    I've recently changed my bike - from a Boardman Hybrid to a Boardman Road bike - which better suits my (current) needs.

    I was surprised that my new bike came with brake pads - whereas my hybrid has disks - which I liked & performed very well.

    I like my new bike, but I'm not so impressed with the brakes - they seem to have less bite, so I've less confidence in braking for a junction.

    So which is better in which environment ?

    z
    Apart from a Specialised gravel bike all my bikes (including two Boardman road bikes) have rim brakes. For me personally they've been 100% adequate and I've never had a scary moment caused by inefficient braking. If you do a lot of high speed downhill riding with repeated braking, disks are to be preferred as they will resist overheating better. I doubt I've ever been close to overheating my brakes (and the pads on one of the two Boardmans have done 12600 miles from new, although they'll probably need to be changed soon).

  20. #3570
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Was going to ask whether anyone was riding in this heatwave, good work Toddy. I did 2 hours yesterday afternoon average 34 degrees and I was less bothered by the heat than I thought I would be. Thinking about heading out tomorrow for similar but wondering if its sensible to just sit indoors and wait it out the peak temps.
    I did do 27 miles on the Monday. I left it until after 5:30pm so the UV levels had diminished, but it was still 36 C out there. Very quiet out there, reminiscent of the first days of the lockdown. Didn't see a single other cyclist out there for the first two hours, after which I did see a young man in t-shirt and shorts on a hybrid.

  21. #3571
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    Road bike is rim braked and I use Swissstop Flash Pro BXP Alloy Rim Brake Pads. The best there is IMO.

  22. #3572
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    Quote Originally Posted by monogroover View Post
    I did do 27 miles on the Monday. I left it until after 5:30pm so the UV levels had diminished, but it was still 36 C out there. Very quiet out there, reminiscent of the first days of the lockdown. Didn't see a single other cyclist out there for the first two hours, after which I did see a young man in t-shirt and shorts on a hybrid.
    I did 30 miles on Tuesday, was too hot so I cut short. Garmin was showing 38 C.

  23. #3573
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    Quote Originally Posted by wallyuk View Post
    Road bike is rim braked and I use Swissstop Flash Pro BXP Alloy Rim Brake Pads. The best there is IMO.
    I use KoolStop on both steel rims (Andra Rigida) and CSS coated rims (Mavic EX721). I weigh 80+Kg, the bike weighs 20Kg and I have carried up to 40Kg when cycle touring and not failed to stop yet.

  24. #3574
    Grand Master zelig's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tertius View Post
    And of course not all brakes are equal whether disc or rim. You could almost certainly upgrade the rim brakes on your road bike. Either by just changing the pads or perhaps the calipers themselves.

    I’d probably suggest starting by changing the pads.

    What calipers and pads does it have? Though being a Boardman there’s a good chance they are unbranded.
    They are indeed unbranded. However, I've bought replacement pads & will feedback once I've fitted & tried them out.

    z

  25. #3575
    Quote Originally Posted by zelig View Post
    I've recently changed my bike - from a Boardman Hybrid to a Boardman Road bike - which better suits my (current) needs.

    I was surprised that my new bike came with brake pads - whereas my hybrid has disks - which I liked & performed very well.

    I like my new bike, but I'm not so impressed with the brakes - they seem to have less bite, so I've less confidence in braking for a junction.

    So which is better in which environment ?

    z
    Maybe this is an opportunity to practice your technique?


  26. #3576
    Grand Master zelig's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bravo73 View Post
    Maybe this is an opportunity to practice your technique?
    I don't get anywhere near those speeds ( I think I peaked at 40 kph on a recent ride )

    - but any help on (confidence in) braking is useful even at my pace

    z

  27. #3577
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bravo73 View Post
    Maybe this is an opportunity to practice your technique?

    I watched this the other week as I have GCN as a favourite. Simple things like dont brake in corners, sounds obvious, but I certainly do it. After watching Tom Pidcock descending in the TDF I know I have a lot to learn about bike handling skills

    Steve

  28. #3578
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    Was out for my morning ride this morning, 10 mile round trip and about a mile from home I’m on a slight incline, only about 4-5% but enough to slow me to under 10mph and the car behind me gets right up my arse and starts shouting that I should be using the cycling lane and stop clogging up the road.

    Big mistake, all of a sudden my legs decided to go like jelly and i lost all energy and my speed must have dropped to less that 5mph, no way for them to pass safely (I made sure of that as I’m am convinced she would have squeezed passed dangerously if she could have) and when she managed to to pass me (obviously in a hurry………….NOT) decides to pull along side me and try and educate me cycling etiquette.

    I think she thought i was a kid from behind as i was on my brompton and she probably thought i was a youngster on a kiddies bike, when I turned towards the car, bent my head down towards her open passenger window and politely asked if there was an issue she would like to discuss with me, the window closed and she progressed towards the roundabout about 1/2 ahead.

    Now she is sat at the roundabout giving way to the right and I saunter passed, negotiate the roundabout and progress homeward bound and guess who appears behind me………….that right the same lady who, this time stayed well back and behaved as she should have in the first instance.

    Lets hope she has learnt some road manners.
    Cheers,

    Ben



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  29. #3579
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    Nice morning loop, head wind homeward bound but worth it:


  30. #3580
    Master ~dadam02~'s Avatar
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    Thinking ahead to the latter part of this year, anyone ride through the winter on a carbon frame? I'm thinking of selling my gravel bike as its heavy, slow and just not fun to ride when it's freezing cold. Figured a lighter bike, closer to my summer road bike, would at least add some fun factor back in.

  31. #3581
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Thinking ahead to the latter part of this year, anyone ride through the winter on a carbon frame? I'm thinking of selling my gravel bike as its heavy, slow and just not fun to ride when it's freezing cold. Figured a lighter bike, closer to my summer road bike, would at least add some fun factor back in.
    I ride my carbon bike all year round. I just fit full mudguards for the winter.

    I don’t understand why people switch to a lesser winter bike, made sense when we all had nice steel bikes with fag paper clearances, but now what is going to go rusty on a plastic bike?

    I also fit heavier tyres.

  32. #3582
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Thinking ahead to the latter part of this year, anyone ride through the winter on a carbon frame? I'm thinking of selling my gravel bike as its heavy, slow and just not fun to ride when it's freezing cold. Figured a lighter bike, closer to my summer road bike, would at least add some fun factor back in.
    Yes but……….just remember how good you felt in spring on that first Carbon ride. A veritable riding god. My Genesis titanium is a heavy old thing and the 28 mm tyres dont help. However I see it as winter resistance training, then when the first non frosty days come and the Carbon emerges, it Christmas every ride :)

    Steve

  33. #3583
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Thinking ahead to the latter part of this year, anyone ride through the winter on a carbon frame? I'm thinking of selling my gravel bike as its heavy, slow and just not fun to ride when it's freezing cold. Figured a lighter bike, closer to my summer road bike, would at least add some fun factor back in.
    I ride my Carbon all year round. Did have a "winter bike" but the Carbon was nicer to ride so why not ride it all the time? (I also use Zwift in winter).

  34. #3584
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toddy View Post
    I ride my Carbon all year round. Did have a "winter bike" but the Carbon was nicer to ride so why not ride it all the time? (I also use Zwift in winter).
    Exactly the same, I had a bike that was supposed to be the winter bike, but didn't really enjoy riding it and sometimes it's hard enough in the winter to get out without being on a bike you don't like!

    I can't say it seems to have caused me any great issues TBH, sure there may be a bit more wear and tear but can't say it's anything that I've really noticed.

  35. #3585
    Master RLE's Avatar
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    Same here. Ran a dedicated winter bike for a few years but really wasn’t a great ride.

    First year being lazy and failing to give the fun bike a wash down and lubricate resulted in a rusty chain and cassette. Was surface rust that was sorted quite easily but ended up replacing them in the summer.

    Last few years I haven’t even bothered changing my tyres and have ran the GP 4000’s. Fit a Ass Saver and I’m away. Tend to avoid the really cold, icy, wet days and if I need to get out will opt for my mtb knowing I’m not going to be going too far.

  36. #3586
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~dadam02~ View Post
    Thinking ahead to the latter part of this year, anyone ride through the winter on a carbon frame? I'm thinking of selling my gravel bike as its heavy, slow and just not fun to ride when it's freezing cold. Figured a lighter bike, closer to my summer road bike, would at least add some fun factor back in.
    Funny you should say that, I like my gravel bike in winter because somehow, there's something comforting about riding a heavier bike when it's cold. I do ride my (carbon) Planet X sometimes in the winter, though.

  37. #3587
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    Quote Originally Posted by Montello View Post
    I ride my carbon bike all year round. I just fit full mudguards for the winter.

    I don’t understand why people switch to a lesser winter bike, made sense when we all had nice steel bikes with fag paper clearances, but now what is going to go rusty on a plastic bike?
    Chain, chainring, spokes, cables, cassette, brake caliper bolts etc. I don't ride a "nice" bike when it's wet, although I always clean a bike up a bit in the garage if it's suffered some muddy water or rain.

  38. #3588
    Master pacifichrono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ben4watches View Post
    ...and the car behind me gets right up my arse and starts shouting that I should be using the cycling lane and stop clogging up the road.
    Ben, was there a separate cycling lane available? Sounds like the space was pretty tight.

  39. #3589
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    Quote Originally Posted by monogroover View Post
    Chain, chainring, spokes, cables, cassette, brake caliper bolts etc. I don't ride a "nice" bike when it's wet, although I always clean a bike up a bit in the garage if it's suffered some muddy water or rain.
    None of those parts suffer with corrosion. Old steel bikes used to rot inside the tubes.

    Bike has no cables. Di2 and hydraulic breaks. No maintaining really now.

    My current carbon bike has done 50,000 miles winter and summer. No need for dedicated winter bikes now.

  40. #3590
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    Quote Originally Posted by pacifichrono View Post
    Ben, was there a separate cycling lane available? Sounds like the space was pretty tight.
    There was a cycle lane , but not on my side of the road.

    If i used the cycle lane I could have not got to where I was going without stopping and trying to cross the road against the flow of traffic as the cycle lane did not continue to where I was heading.

    In the U.K. a lot of cycle lanes stop and start on different sides of the roads and are a rather half assed affair. Fine for the casual rider ambling along but if you want to make progress you are better of on the road.
    Cheers,

    Ben



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  41. #3591
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    Quote Originally Posted by ben4watches View Post
    There was a cycle lane , but not on my side of the road.

    If i used the cycle lane I could have not got to where I was going without stopping and trying to cross the road against the flow of traffic as the cycle lane did not continue to where I was heading.

    In the U.K. a lot of cycle lanes stop and start on different sides of the roads and are a rather half assed affair. Fine for the casual rider ambling along but if you want to make progress you are better of on the road.
    Plus of course cycle lane usage is optional and they are usually covered in gravel, broken glass and other rubbish. I hardly ever use them. That said there are very few near me.

  42. #3592
    Master ~dadam02~'s Avatar
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    Thanks all for thoughts on winter riding. Now to sell the gravel bike and hunt for a lighter alternative.

  43. #3593
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    Quote Originally Posted by Montello View Post
    None of those parts suffer with corrosion.
    That may be true in your case but I do have a road bike, made about 7 years ago probably, that picked up some corrosion to cables and bolts while in my mum's garage, which unfortunately must have been a bit damp.

  44. #3594
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    Quote Originally Posted by monogroover View Post
    That may be true in your case but I do have a road bike, made about 7 years ago probably, that picked up some corrosion to cables and bolts while in my mum's garage, which unfortunately must have been a bit damp.
    I think if you leave bike unused stuff corrodes as it is all sitting idle. If it’s used then the process of cleaning and riding keeps stuff ok.
    Last edited by Montello; 13th August 2022 at 17:28.

  45. #3595
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    Quote Originally Posted by Montello View Post
    Plus of course cycle lane usage is optional and they are usually covered in gravel, broken glass and other rubbish. I hardly ever use them. That said there are very few near me.
    Same here. Cycle lanes are often poorly designed, covered in crap, suddenly end, have obstacles like bollards in them, make me feel unsafe, and are not conducive to making efficient progress. I actively avoid them as is my right. If any motorist shouts at me to ‘get on the cycle path/lane’ I’m likely to reply ‘get on the M4’.

  46. #3596
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    Much cooler today
    Took a ride along the coast - decided to push the bikes along the beach - a walk we’ve done many times - great fun

    Untitled by biglewie, on Flickr

    Untitled by biglewie, on Flickr

  47. #3597
    Coast rides are good for the lack of hills but the thought of all that sand getting into the chain...man that gives me creeps.
    I did that once and could feel my chainrings ageing as I progressed

  48. #3598
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davidh View Post
    Coast rides are good for the lack of hills but the thought of all that sand getting into the chain...man that gives me creeps.
    I did that once and could feel my chainrings ageing as I progressed
    Was 1000ft climb - pebbles only no sand

  49. #3599
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    Nice Garmin for sale on SC today, no affiliation with the seller.

    Steve

  50. #3600
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    I have a few friends who have winter bikes and one is looking to replace his winter bike with a gravel bike.

    I have only a gravel bike now with some fast rolling tyres, it’s a custom geo steel frame with carbon fork etc

    But I am so happy with it, been riding steel bikes for a few years so not remembering a lighter bike but hate riding on the road these days with cars passing too close or cutting me up so try and ride off road most of the time now!

    Pic of my bike when out last week




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