Picked up my new CX bike today, needs to have the seatpost cut down so I can lower the seat in order to ride it.

 

On One Dirty Disco, the only changes from the standard spec are an 11-32t (instead of 11-28t) cassette and a Shimano CX50 chainset (instead of FSA)

 

 

& another to confuse the groupset purists

Very nice! I was looking at these the other day, gorgeous looking bikes!

I kinda fancy myself something steel though. Cotic roadrat maybe - not that I need one of course.

It was either this or the Pickenflick for me

very nice bike Matt. the unpainted carbon (same on my ribble) is a real head turner.

 

if Batman owned a roadbike............

It was either this or the Pickenflick for me

excellent name

 

Hey, that's a nice bike. I love base carbon finish- my mate's Specialised carbon looks great but you'd never guess it was that much more special with it being sprayed up and liveried. Those sram shifters look the nuts too  

Very nice indeed.

I'm still limited by my fitness rather than the quality of my bikes though, so just need to carry on cycling.

Had a bit of a photo session at the forest of dean today, first time the Mega has seen dust and proper jumps!

 

 

Close up

 

 

 

 

Edited 30 July, 201411 yr by samj2013

Properly au fait with my Boardman Comp hybrid now and have completed a few commutes on it. I have to say i'd never expected to actually enjoy commuting in this manner but I do. Coming home last night I flew through lines of traffic i'd normally be sitting in and covered so much ground so much more quickly. An utter delight so far Yet to see rain or a puncture mind...

The best part of commuting on two wheels

Beating the traffic

What's that? An accident/roadworks/general gigantic volumes of traffic causing a huge back up queue? I think I'll go straight to the front.

What's that? A red light? I think I'll filter on to the front of this queue.

What's that? A red light and I'll be waiting a while? I think I'll just hop onto the pavement and give this havoc a quick pedestrian d tour.

What's that? I am coming down a steep hill at well over 30 but there is a speed camera.. Hmmm let's see if I can...

I do love cycling to work.

JRJG

My brake and gear cables are internally routed and where they pass around the head tube before entering the frame they rattle against the it on anything but super smooth tarmac. I've tried electrical tape on the cable and the frame but it's a bit too hard and the rattling persists, although I've left the tape on the frame as it'll prevent rubbing. Has anyone got any tips or a product they've used to beat this. I know it's only minor but the rattling's driving me nuts.

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The best part of commuting on two wheels

Beating the traffic

What's that? An accident/roadworks/general gigantic volumes of traffic causing a huge back up queue? I think I'll go straight to the front.

What's that? A red light? I think I'll filter on to the front of this queue.

What's that? A red light and I'll be waiting a while? I think I'll just hop onto the pavement and give this havoc a quick pedestrian d tour.

What's that? I am coming down a steep hill at well over 30 but there is a speed camera.. Hmmm let's see if I can...

I do love cycling to work.

JRJG

 

Very much agreed as it sums up why I like travelling by bike, the only limit tends to be yourself and you don't need to worry about parking or traffic build up when heading across town.  Also in the winter I like not having to worry about warming up the car and defrosting the windscreen, just hope on and get going.

 

John

My brake and gear cables are internally routed and where they pass around the head tube before entering the frame they rattle against the it on anything but super smooth tarmac. I've tried electrical tape on the cable and the frame but it's a bit too hard and the rattling persists, although I've left the tape on the frame as it'll prevent rubbing. Has anyone got any tips or a product they've used to beat this. I know it's only minor but the rattling's driving me nuts.

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What bike is it you're having trouble with?  I've had issues with the internally routed cable wearing prematurely at the entry point but not issues with noise but I can appreciate the noise would be annoying.

 

John

Got my first bike in years (Marin hybrid) at the start of last summer, mainly to go out with the kids and got my wife a bike too. We all enjoyed it but I really enjoyed it. After a busy day I love the solitude and freedom of getting out in the fresh air. It's awesome . Took the plunge and bought my first road bike last week. Tried a low end carbon Trek in a 54cm frame which was OK but the local dealer had a new old stock blue/silver alumonium Trek Alpha 2.5 in a 52cm frame which I loved when I took it out for a spin. It really whizzed up the road. Felt like a real cyclist! Needless to say it's mine now. Thought this would be a good introduction to road biking being a bit more robust for a novice yet still light with all the Ultegra kit. Getting used to it at the moment and nearly ready to make the move to clip in shoes - way hay! Glad to hear there are some very experienced folks I can get advice from on here.

 

Have to say that mountain biking looks fun!

Couple photos of my mountain bike, an older Trek 4900. Use it to go over some of the hills at the back of the village and along the back roads.

 

 

What bike is it you're having trouble with? I've had issues with the internally routed cable wearing prematurely at the entry point but not issues with noise but I can appreciate the noise would be annoying.

John

It's a Ribble.R872. It's an awesome bike but the back brake and front derailleur cable tap on the side of the head tube. Not sure if the cable outers are cut to fit by the assembly guy or if they're precut by campagnolo but they seem to be a little short and as a result the cable sits really close to the head tube (5mm gap max) and over rougher tarmac thay tap against the frame and drive me crazy, especially on a carbon frame because it's a really hollow tappity sound.

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I've ridden to work for almost the past 30 years, along with various training, pleasure rides

Have;
Road-raced in the mid-90s

MTB raced, early 90's (when I had my Pace Research RC100)

Cyclo-Cross; initially on the Pace, then bought a Paul Milnes 653 cross-bike (circa 1993-1999?)
Sold that, & the Pace, had a break
Bought a Trek MTB in 2007, then another cross-bike, raced again for another 3 years

I still have the cross-bike, but it's just hanging up in the garage


I have 4 road-bikes of various ages/quality (from 1994, up to 2013)

Still ride 3-4 times a week, but it gets alternated with running to work (also, when I get the chance!, fell-run competitively)


 

Bet "take those clothes off before you come in here" is very familiar to your ears!

Like how despite the mud, grass and god knows what else your rear mech, chain and cassette are still immaculate. Hate it at work when people complain that they're bike's not shifting properly and when we go out for a look it's all gummed up with grit and sticky oil.

Cyclo-cross sounds fun, fell running sounds absolutely terrible.

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The cassette was grim, as were brakes/pedals/chainset

If the course was that bad, I'd carry an old teaspoon in my jersey pocket, or tucked up the leg of a Skin-Suit to scrape the mud out



Fell-racing?? Good fun, & cheap!!! (CX is about £14/race now!!!)
I'll be racing on Monday evening, down at Oxspring (near Penistone), & it's £1.50 entry!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Not the one I owned, but practically identical







On the Moors, near Haworth (Bronte/'Railway Children' country)

 

 

My present day-to-day bike;





 

Edited 13 August, 201411 yr by Richard A Thackeray

I'll be racing on Monday evening, down at Oxspring (near Penistone), & it's £1.50 entry!!!!

 

 

Richard,

 

Do you have any more details about the race @ Oxspring? Oxspring is only 4-5miles from me

 

Matthew

Richard,

 

Do you have any more details about the race @ Oxspring? Oxspring is only 4-5miles from me

 

Matthew

 

Yes, sure Matt!

No specific course map exists though, but I'm sure you can figure it out if you know the area

http://www.undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/

We park/sign-on, on the playing fields next to 'The Waggon & Horses'

This is the route-page of the website; http://www.undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/2012/03/the-trunce-route/

 

http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=2855

I'll add a few Geograph links to try & show our route;

1. Top of the 'drag' from the start (looking at map, we go straight ahead, at end of farm-track, down the footpath, to the River Don)

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2313359

 

2, Through the water (or stepping-stones, if you're soft!!) - image points towards us

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/816079

 

 

3, Through the Snicket

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/816072

 

4. Along the road for 200 yards, then down the field, & over this bridge

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/816063

 

5. Up the hill, then through private farm-land (access allowed for race-night)

6. Down into the Woods, following the track (steep, rocky, rooted at times)

7. Crossing the Don again here (same applies to steps, but water can be deep here)

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1301736

 

8, Back up onto the road (Old Mill Lane) & hammer back to the first (now 3rd) crossing

9. Back up the hill, through the kissing-gate, & along the farm-track finishing at same place

Circa 4 miles/550 feet of ascent

The course record is about 23:30, but my PB is 31:04

Sadly, this year, due to injury (& lack of fitness) my best is 33:08

You fancying having a go?????  

Oh, & this is the water, when it's deeper (crossing 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG_1hqT9Eso

 

 

And, up the hillside!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLdo7kfEw-0

 

Had my 2014 Giant Roam 2 for 4 weeks now, only managed 25 miles so far, far too unfit!

 

Apparently it's a dual sport Hybrid biased to off road, I beg to differ after it struggled on Damp Grass the other week.

Had my 2014 Giant Roam 2 for 4 weeks now, only managed 25 miles so far, far too unfit!

 

Apparently it's a dual sport Hybrid biased to off road, I beg to differ after it struggled on Damp Grass the other week.

 

Looking at the tyres in the picture of the bike on the Giant site, they seem to be fairly slick with a tread pattern designed for cycling on the road.  Depending on what type of cycling you're wanting to do it might be worth considering tyres with deeper tread to give you more traction when off road.

 

John

Looking at the tyres in the picture of the bike on the Giant site, they seem to be fairly slick with a tread pattern designed for cycling on the road.  Depending on what type of cycling you're wanting to do it might be worth considering tyres with deeper tread to give you more traction when off road.

 

John

Hi John

 

You are absolutely correct, the centre of the tyre is quite slick which makes it quick and quiet on road but it does have 'knobbly' bits on the shoulder of the tyre.

 

This I assumed would give me some sort of traction on rougher stuff, it seems I was wrong! I might look into some new tyres if I start doing more off roady stuff.

You fancying having a go?????  

 

lol, running isn't my thing.

 

SWMBO is on a training course on monday evening so was thinking about bringing my boys down to watch & cheer

Yeah why not!!!

I'm sure you've had a look & figured out the 'lay of the land', by the route-description & my links

Starrt-time is 18:45


I'd reckon the most dramatic place is the 2nd river crossing (but then you have issues, if you want to drive back to see finish, as that lane will be full of runners - 200+ sometimes start!!)

So, in reality, the 1st/3rd crossing is best, BUT. then you have to judge the moment carefully due to the snicket!! (to get to/from the water)