Cyclists

[matt303]

So here we go again with the turbo trainer, got it all set up and did a quick spin, feel really well for it

tt by matt303uk, on Flickr

I've ordered Wahoo HRM, Cadence sensor and a Speed sensor to give me more data and allow me to log my turbo sessions, these sensors will also work with Strava when out and about

[MattyP]

Just gave my 20+ year old Raleigh Strata off road bike a service at the weekend. Recently made some tweaks to it to turn it into a commute bike as I was thinking of getting a hybrid. So just changed the tyres around, got some thinner ones (still on a 26 x 1.95 rim) - got some mudguards fitted. All the gearing is still fine just needed some new cables and some lubing. Took the chain off gave it a de-grease bath and de-coked all the sprockets and the chainrings. It rides really well. Must have done 100s of miles on this over the years, had child seats fitted to carry the nippers around on rides, cycled around the Isle Of Wight on it etc and its still going strong. Bought it new back in around 1991 ish ( I was using it to get to Uni). All in all spent around £30 sorting it out. Love how the older bikes are much easier to service no disc brake stuff on there - everything is relatively simple - which is what you need for a commute bike.

Love my old bike and just shows you how long a bike will last if cared for. Anyone else get a bit sentimental about their old bikes?

EDIT: This is a Raleigh Strata. Mine has mudguards on it and a pannier rack. Love the little metal Raleigh badge on the front. I'll get a proper piccie up here when I get change to get a shot of it!

[zip accident]

Anyone else get a bit sentimental about their old bikes?

Yeah. Mine got trashed in 1990 (idiot pulled out to turn right without looking), still planning on putting the front joint (bit with the brand on) on a plinth some time (was a Dawes Windrush).

[MattyP]

Anyone else get a bit sentimental about their old bikes?

Yeah. Mine got trashed in 1990 (idiot pulled out to turn right without looking), still planning on putting the front joint (bit with the brand on) on a plinth some time (was a Dawes Windrush).

Well get it fixed and enjoy it again!

On another note.. thinking of investing in duo-purpose pedals that can be used with or without cleats.. any recommendations out there? Ideally I want to be able to walk on the shoes without something protruding with the bottom as was the case with my old Shimano SPD shoes and cleats.

Thanks in advance!

[tufty]

Crank brothers mallets are pretty good, but suffer from the eggbeaters' inability to adjust release tension (plus the inevitable crank brothers markup), but you can find 'em second hand pretty cheap.

Shimano's Saint M820 pedals are pretty damn good, but cost a fair bit too.

For cheap dual use, look for Shimano M585s. They're "cage" rather than "flats", but dead good and go for about 20 quid second hand. Not sure what the current equivalent is.

[MattyP]

Crank brothers mallets are pretty good, but suffer from the eggbeaters' inability to adjust release tension (plus the inevitable crank brothers markup), but you can find 'em second hand pretty cheap.

Shimano's Saint M820 pedals are pretty damn good, but cost a fair bit too.

For cheap dual use, look for Shimano M585s. They're "cage" rather than "flats", but dead good and go for about 20 quid second hand. Not sure what the current equivalent is.

Great thanks for the heads up! Think I'm looking for the cage variety as I want as much flat surface available as I can when I have regular shoes on.

[tufty]

Crank brothers mallets are pretty good, but suffer from the eggbeaters' inability to adjust release tension (plus the inevitable crank brothers markup), but you can find 'em second hand pretty cheap.

Shimano's Saint M820 pedals are pretty damn good, but cost a fair bit too.

For cheap dual use, look for Shimano M585s. They're "cage" rather than "flats", but dead good and go for about 20 quid second hand. Not sure what the current equivalent is.

Great thanks for the heads up! :) Think I'm looking for the cage variety as I want as much flat surface available as I can when I have regular shoes on.

Not much difference in size between the saints and the m5x5s, the main difference is in style and tunability (the saints are flat & pin, so you can tweak 'em, plus you look like a proper downhill king). The Mallets are bigger, about the same size as "standard" flat DH style pedals, if you can live with the crank brothers "sloppy" feel when you're clipped in, they're great.

[MattyP]

Crank brothers mallets are pretty good, but suffer from the eggbeaters' inability to adjust release tension (plus the inevitable crank brothers markup), but you can find 'em second hand pretty cheap.

Shimano's Saint M820 pedals are pretty damn good, but cost a fair bit too.

For cheap dual use, look for Shimano M585s. They're "cage" rather than "flats", but dead good and go for about 20 quid second hand. Not sure what the current equivalent is.

Great thanks for the heads up! Think I'm looking for the cage variety as I want as much flat surface available as I can when I have regular shoes on.

Not much difference in size between the saints and the m5x5s, the main difference is in style and tunability (the saints are flat & pin, so you can tweak 'em, plus you look like a proper downhill king). The Mallets are bigger, about the same size as "standard" flat DH style pedals, if you can live with the crank brothers "sloppy" feel when you're clipped in, they're great.

Heading down to the local cycle shop tomorrow to see what they have. Think I'm going to invest a little bit to start with and see how I get on! Thanks for the advice! Need some new shoes too the old Shimano ones I have are not very weatherproof!

[Baggypants]

I still have my old Merlin (MALT-1?) that I built in 97, with Orange F7 forks, that I used to ride with the Uni MTB club. Every now and again it gets new cables, brake pads and chainset.

[sack]

Anyone care to explain why, despite living a country that has more bikes than people someone decided to fucking steal mine?

It was literally double-locked to the racking on the top floor of a multistorey bike park, and as far as I can work out whoever did it wouldn't have been able to get the rear wheel lock off so would have had to *carry* it by the supervisors office window, which was manned. All dutch bikes have these locks so anyone would know that something was amiss if you see someone carrying a bike around as opposed to wheeling it.

What a total bunch of bastards.

[Viscount Charles]

I lied about my next bike coming from Spa.

After my dad died last year (he broke his hip and punctured a lung, got septicaemia and caught COVID, all during an 8-week stay in hospital, before dying of dementia five days after being discharged) I came into enough money to buy a "spare no expense" bike. Went for a Ti Vaaru MPA, tricked out with 12-speed campagnolo and a Dynamo hob, and inheriting things like the Ti rack from my old bike (which has been repurposed as a summer bike).

Looks and rides almost identically to the old bike (which was part of the point of the exercise), but with disc brakes - which are ace in the wet - and wider tyres.

Ordered last May, delivered just before Xmas, and I’ve swapped the saddle, stem, mudguards and forks (!), plus fitted a decent Edelux headlamp. At some point I must install the topcap-mounted USB charger that's currently in my desk drawer before I actually need it.

And I plan on using Apple Airtags to try to avoid it getting nicked.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0NvFBid ... Xe65xP0D7Q

[VNVObit]

Looks really nice - those the Hunt adventure dynamo disc wheel?

Ordered a new bike last November - originally due in January, then March, then April, then May now next month
given the lead times (and price increases) I haven't been inclined to look elsewhere (ordered from Dolan Bikes)

[Glyndwr]

I can join in now!!

[VNVObit]

After a long wait my bike eventually arrived from Dolan Bikes



I went for 2X in the end (RX600) with a few modifications (wide handlebars, Hunt 4 Season wheels and 43c tyres)

Been out for a few spins and really enjoying the bike, certainly more comfortable than the CdeF (roads near me are not well maintained). Haven’t taken it onto the towpaths yet (I’m not very far from the Thames which does have good tow paths though need to go early in the morning to be able to travel at any speed) but aim to do so over the summer (assuming I can get myself out of bed early enough)

Never got on with clipless pedals so have put a set of DMR Vault flat pedals on. The pins on them give me enough grip that I don’t worry about not being clipped in. I had been using DMR V12s on previous bikes but Vaults are a little wider so give my feet a little more support

Now just looking forward to getting out more regularly in the summer

[MattyP]

Picked up a Garmin 520 cycling computer recently... just a second hand one to give it a try.

Love it it's transforming my rides - stopping me getting lost as often its great. You can use the PC via the Garmin Connect site - plot a route out and fire it down to the device via the phone app. Its fantastic.

The version I have doesn't have a huge amount of memory so you can't download map data for the whole of the UK but its not really as issue as the navigation works fine without it - you just don't get the pretty map in the background.

Really impressed with it. Making my rides much more enjoyable. With the added benefit of getting a bunch of stats to review when I get back. I know a phone will do all this but it is really nice having a dedicated unit, big chunky buttons etc. Also doesn't drain off my phone battery either.

Great bit of kit and recommended if you don't already have such a device! Got mine for £75.

Might upgrade at some point but more than happy with this. Battery life is great too (which is one thing I was worried about with getting a second hand unit).