There's a use case for MTB and hybrid but it's not what I would consider optimal for someone looking to get exercise or travel distances of more than a several miles at a time on a well-paved surface. Lots of people bike for a bit of fun, a short commute, or a trip to the store, which is another story.
In the end the best bike is the one you actually want to get out and ride, and for many people that won't be a road bike even if they bike on the road.
Thanks. It's about 3.6W/kg for that length of effort, but it's a long way! If it's only 10 minutes I can do about 5W/kg.
The speed's at least as much about aerodynamics as power. Especially when you're spending a lot of time above 30mph. There is a cube root relationship between speed and power. That is to say, a given increase in speed requires a cubed increase in power. So in the extreme case, in order to double your speed, you need approximately 8 times as much power.
A rider moving at 20mph would need approximately 18W more power to travel at 21mph if all other factors stayed the same. But to increase by the same 1mph from 29mph to 30mph it would need an extra 35W, almost double. So the faster you're going, relatively more effort is needed to go even faster. So you try to make yourself & your bike more slippery!!
I look on it as 'free speed'. I've been in the Mercedes Formula 1 wind tunnel at Brackley near Silverstone and my best CdA was 0.172. I won't be quite a slippery as that in this photo, but not far off.
By the way, that Merlin frameset is class :-) It would look great built up with everything else in black.
Love a TT bike.
On my TT bike at the Triathlon National Relays last year. Now swapped the aero bars for flatter ones.
Rockhopper is a great bike and after this scheme is finished I'll probably go back for a hard tail or Sirrus X depending on how the Diverge goes. Your bunny hop comment has me worried now though, might have to get insurance!
I was more keen on the Topstone as I don't like the colour schemes available on the Specialized models but then the 2021 was announced and the closest bike shop on the scheme doesn't stock Cannondale so decision made. Didn't want the bike posted. I've gone with the Carbon Base which is SRAM Apex 1x GXP, not sure if the other models have. Looks like 2x is Shimano from a glance.
I don't need a mountain bike as I won't be going off road and most road bikes seem to have those racing style handle bars which I don't like so a hybrid is the route I have chosen to go down as you get the best of both worlds. Will just use it for long cycles around london for now and when the lockdown starts to ease up, will use it to commute to work as I doubt public transport will be operating at full capacity
Think I'm gonna stick with my choice of the bad boy 2. Shops I've contacted say they expect more stock towards the end of June which suits me quite well as that is when I will receive the cyclescheme vouchers from work
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Odd that you don't get the vouchers on demand. If you wanted one earlier there is stock of the specialized Sirrus 4.0 at the end of May.
The month and a half delay is quite annoying. We have an online benefits system and applying for it now means my cycle scheme begins in June, with the first payment being deducted from my June salary and that is when I've been told the vouchers will be sent out
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Yes we have the same and I am waiting as well.Sent from my SM-T510 using TZ-UK mobile app
At least you'll probably end up with new 2021 bikes instead. Weirdly I had one shop offer to sell a bike now and then whenever my cycle scheme voucher turned up I could pop back in and they'd process a refund and then sell me the same bike again using the cycle scheme voucher. Didn't take them up on it and not sure it's fully kosher but interesting nonetheless.
I've just ordered one of these... always liked Dolan track bikes, and their current road spec frame is very light for the price (around 980g for a large) so this should be quite rapid once I've put my Dura-Ace wheels on it.
to replace this as I sold the frame and groupset earlier this year to a friend who had the same bike but lost it in an accident. I kept the Rotor cranks and all the lovely Fi'zi:k bits (bars, stem, seatpost, saddle) which I will put on the new bike.
My other steed is an off-road whippet
Downloaded Strava on 6th May and have been really enjoying tracking my rides. A lot more accurate than the Google maps history and gives you a nice history to look back on. Also fully communicates with Google health, the same as my Withings scales, which is nice.
The upgrades to my Boardman HYB 8.8 has started
Giro Cylinder Mountain Bike Shoes
Shimano EH500 Pedals
I went for double sided pedals so I could just ride down the town in trainers if I wanted to.
Just a quick ride as it's very hot today, but my first go with clip in shoes was a revelation. No tumbles either - extracting seemed pretty easy, but the pedals are on their loosest setting to start with.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
I had shimano double sided clip ins on my Cube Stereo but after one too many fall as I just couldn’t get use to unhooking quickly when putting a foot down when Corning a bit too fast or when bailing. Found them great for climbing but not so much for the decent but probably more to do my me
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
New to road biking having been an MTBer for the last 27 years and I swore I’’d never wear Lycra. One pair of bib shorts later and that went out of the window.
Anyhow, picked this up a reco from a road biking pal and adore the speed and the rewards that hard effort brings:
Cannondale synapse Ultegra. Just bought tubeless tyres too and will be fitting those tomorrow before inevitably buying new wheels (the area I can benefit most from apparently on this bike).
After weeks of going to Bike shops and searching the internet finally managed to find a bike.
I’ve ordered a Cannondale quick 5 should be with me 2nd of June. I wanted the quick 4 but when this appeared in stock I didn’t want to risk losing it waiting for a quick 4 so just bought it , glad I did as it sold out again .
Beware. Not all tubeless tyres with all rims. Certain ones work best with certain rims. Similarly sealants can vary. The cycle clinic has a blog on this subject. www.thecycleclinic.co.uk
Well to be frank I’m also looking at new upgrade wheels to seat said tubeless on and have a spare pair of winter/gravel wheels too so these may not end up being fitted at all on the current set up. I don’t need new wheels of course but I also don’t need more than one watch...
Thanks for the info though
I have three bikes , a mtb , a gravel and a road bike. It still amazes me how a bikes like a Synapse feels, the acceleration and ability to climb is staggering. I just nipped out for an hour this evening on the mtb ( Wales still on full lockdown) around our local woods, It felt like a tractor compared to the road bike I have been using almost exclusively recently.
Steve
Last edited by higham5; 24th May 2020 at 22:36.
I do a 35km ish route and prior to getting this was doing it on my Yeti 575 with light ish kit, slicks on Easton XC2 wheels, lockout shocks etc etc in around 1hr 35. First ride out on the Synapse: 1hr 18 and it’s coming down every time. The speed is just infectious and even going up hills is actually fun*
*relatively
It was a Yeti 575 with 2.3 knobbly tyres I was on tonight, it was torturous on the road to the woods , then the fun began......
Good to see your times tumbling, once you get into it you may consider another upgrade by moving from SPD’s to full Shimano SLR pedals and really rigid shoes
Last edited by higham5; 25th May 2020 at 07:48.
Nice day. I think I'll hop on my Planet X and crank out 100 miles or so.
I bought a couple of Quick Disc 4s for the family back in February when loads of stock was available and you could even get sizeable discounts. The bike world has changed post Coronavirus.
An excellent and very nippy bike for roads and light trails. The family is very pleased with them. They came with 30mm tyres, and may change to 35mm if time on the trails outweighs time on the road.
This range does come up smaller than my Bad Boy. I’m 175cm and a medium on a Bad Boy, but large on a Quick.
Me and a few mates have decided we want to try triathlons. Couple of the group are super fit (not me) this year I have dropped the heavy weights and changed to running as the injuries were becoming annoying.
I've dropped from 102kgs to 94kgs and my times while not considered fast are pretty decent for my size according to strava.
I have an old hybrid and a mountain bike which I use for taking my little boys out but now I need a road bike.
Having never ridden one before its quite a mine field! I've been to a load of bike shops and none of them seem to have anything to fit my size and budget at this moment and time.
I've been looking through FB groups/gumtree too.
Any other ideas?
I'm about 6'2" would spend anything upto £1k I suppose
I've been riding a Rose Pro SL3000 for several years, the Pro SL 105 is about your price range, there may be something in their sale. Their UK chap was great work with when I contacted him about upgrades and compatibility before buying.
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk
F.T.F.A.
I really like the look of them but delivery is 7 weeks.
My mum works for Halfords and they have ran out of bikes but she may have found me one in a another store. Its a Boardman 8.9 SLR carbon.
With the discount she will get on it I would probably be mad not to buy it so will wait to see what happens with that.
Looking at the reviews it should be a really good entry point and with a full Carbon frame I suppose if I want to upgrade any of the bits in a little while I can
Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk
Refuelling is important on a long ride, certainly. I like to stop at a pub so I'm looking forward to being able to do that again. My record is 179 miles in 2017 and I'd like to beat that this year if I can, but circumstances aren't quite right at the moment. I've done a few 100 milers this year, though.
Just come back in from a nice ride with the little one on my Cinelli, love the old school frame and riding single speed is quite refreshing especially up a hill lol...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There's something pure about riding fixed. No need to think about whether to change up or down because you only have one gear & have to get over all terrain with that. The fixed gear takes you over the dead spot. It pedals you as well as you pedal it. Plus the bike is simpler so there's less to go wrong with it, and it's lighter due to the reduced number of components. Nice bike as well.
That looks like freewheel not fixed, especially with flats!?
This arrived a few days ago. Had been searching for weeks and everything was sold out . Then this randomly came up , quickly bought it .
Loving the evening rides at the moment !
My Bad Boy is back with a new DT Swiss front rim (decals removed), and while I've been using a Cannondale Quick for the last month, it has been no match for darting around urban areas with the Bad Boy.
I don't know if there's any love for Evans Cycles, but if your not too precious with your bike, I found the wheel building service excellent and bloody cheap as chips. £40 including stainless steel spokes (a little more for black), nipples and labour. I could barely buy the parts for that, and then there's the risk of calculating the wrong spoke lengths, not having a truing stand etc.
Getting back into cycling after a few years off with young kids.
I am starting to remember how terrible my saddle is!!
I am looking at getting a Stella Italia SLR SuperFlow. It’s a little expensive at 120 but for me being comfortable is worth it!! It gets really good reviews and I would go for the wide version. Anyone got one? Or recommend another saddle?
Tough mountain biking / trail bike ride for a 54 year old just getting back to it this afternoon. 2000ft of climbing in 18.5 miles including a long hill near the finish with 2 brutal sections, one of 24 and the other at 26%. I had to push for the steepest 100m. The heat didn’t help.
I’ll certainly sleep well tonight.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
[QUOTE=noTAGlove;5431813]My Bad Boy is back with a new DT Swiss front rim (decals removed), and while I've been using a Cannondale Quick for the last month, it has been no match for darting around urban areas with the Bad Boy.
I don't know if there's any love for Evans Cycles, but if your not too precious with your bike, I found the wheel building service excellent and bloody cheap as chips. £40 including stainless steel spokes (a little more for black), nipples and labour. I could barely buy the parts for that, and then there's the risk of calculating the wrong spoke lengths, not having a truing stand etc.
Thats a good deal I paid £10 for ONE spoke ,two weeks ago !
Many moons ago I had a well worn Brooks B17. I wish I had never let it go. I tried one again, did 500 training miles, then 500 on the trip. Purgatory all the way. Now I buy the Rivet Pearl. Looks similar to the Brooks, but has a slot cut into it. I have no idea if leather saddles are in fashion or not. I rarely wear padded shorts so sometimes I get a tingly bag. I should probably move around more on the saddle. Mine are fitted to touring bikes so relatively upright, but not Dutch upright.
The lightly padded saddle that came with my Brooks HYB 8.8 was too narrow for me @ 135mm. My mate lent me a 143mm wide, slightly shorter Specialized saddle with almost no padding - Much, much better.
Either measured up and / or try before you by. Some shops will lend you a saddle.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57