New to cycling

[prydey]

finally got bearings for my freehub yesterday. couldn't find any locally (bike shops, cbc bearings etc) so got them from a place called RScomponents in Weatherill Pk, NSW. well, thats where i thought they were coming from. rang them last thursday, after ordering them the previous wednesday to see where they were. the order said same day despatch and that was 8 days ago. turns out they were coming from the UK. this is 2 bearings the size of a 10c piece each. unreal.

the last 3 rides i've had my old factory wheel back on, and even though i've only upgraded to campag zonda's, it was a nice reminder how much difference a set of rims can make. at first it didn't feel like much difference, but the more i rode the more it reminded me how much better the zonda's spin up and roll. the stock rims feel like you are towing a trailer.... always nice to remind yourself that the upgrade was actually an improvement and more than just visually.

weather is ordinary here in adelaide, so by the time i had humpty back together, i couldn't be bothered going out. will have to test it out later. hopefully the noises are gone.

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by mcnews

My Synapse Hi-Mod Black Inc has discs but that beauty is not going to see rain lol I will deal with no brakes instead on the Defy :-) Or use the trainer... I actually cycled around London for 90 minutes this evening on the Wahoo Kickr / Zwift and it rained and I didn't get wet :-)

Haha! I've ridden the Zwift London course a couple of times now. To say it rains is an understatement. A bit like Melbourne has been the last few weeks.

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Happy cycling all. I'm buying different brake pads!

For Aluminum rims either Swissstop greens or Koolstop Salmons.. There's really no other choice that comes close. They will wear quicker than OEM. That's a good sign. Your rims will thank you.
Shimano pads are garbage.

When you fit them for winter, toe in the leading edge, not the trailing edge.
Immediately after each wet ride (and during with heavy rain) while they still wet give them a squirt of water from your bottle to rinse out the grime.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Well boys, another week - another flavour.

Tonight I was nearly hit by a Hyundai!

I think it was an i30 but it might have been a different model, I really don't know. I was cycling to the shop in the quiet town I live in. This guy was turning left onto the road I was cycling along.

First I saw of him, I noticed headlights glowing the end of the road about 25m to my left and I noted the vehicle those lights belonged to was going too quick to be planning to stop at the "stop sign". I moved into the centre of the road.

Yep, just as I predicted a silver Hyundai hatch suddenly appeared at the end of the road and without even an indication of stopping - he started accelerating directly towards me (by now I was directly in line with that road). I was wearing a high-vis shirt and had BRIGHT front and rear lights flashing. Clearly he hadn't bothered to look... and I'm not talking about checking right/left because I was DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIS CAR. i.e. the only distance between myself and his front bumper was the lane I was in. His headlights were almost blinding me. "Surely he sees me" I think to myself.

Nope! He accelerates towards me and there was nothing I could do. I waved my left hand towards him to make him notice me and I pointed to my rear light (which was flashing vividly). I also yelled "WHAT THE ******* ARE YOU DOING!? YOU ********** IDIOT!!!?" At that point he finally noticed me but did this weird thing where he kept accelerating slowly to get into the lane.

Like srsly, bro. There is no traffic at all, just stop and give me right of way.

No! This guy is oblivious. He gets into the lane and I turn and yell "YOU NEARLY HIT ME YOU IDIOT! I'M WEARING HI-VIS AND EVERYTHING!!!" Man, I was angry. The driver didn't seem to give a crap. He was acting like nothing had happened and it was a daily occurrence.

As I'm saying/yelling all this, a Lion's Club down the road is just opening it's doors. There are a number of families walking in who have turned to watch this happen. So lucky that the Hyundai hadn't pulled out 30 seconds earlier when I'd observed an entire group of young children cross the road... but the driver still doesn't seem to care or acknowledge he has done wrong and just stays right up my clacker. I pull over to the side of the road, absolutely boiling with rage but the Hyundai now accelerates past me into the distance with the driver staring at me like I'm the mad one.

This was hands down the strangest experience to date. It's like the car driver saw me but still thought he had the right of way. If I hadn't swerved to the centre lane, he would have hit me, no ifs and no buts. He didn't look until he was IN the lane - just another d-head that doesn't look before going at a stop sign.

Honestly pretty worrying that such idiots share our roads.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Well boys, another week - another flavour.

Tonight I was nearly hit by a Hyundai!

I think it was an i30 but it might have been a different model, I really don't know. I was cycling to the shop in the quiet town I live in. This guy was turning left onto the road I was cycling along.

First I saw of him, I noticed headlights glowing the end of the road about 25m to my left and I noted the vehicle those lights belonged to was going too quick to be planning to stop at the "stop sign". I moved into the centre of the road.

Yep, just as I predicted a silver Hyundai hatch suddenly appeared at the end of the road and without even an indication of stopping - he started accelerating directly towards me (by now I was directly in line with that road). I was wearing a high-vis shirt and had BRIGHT front and rear lights flashing. Clearly he hadn't bothered to look... and I'm not talking about checking right/left because I was DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIS CAR. i.e. the only distance between myself and his front bumper was the lane I was in. His headlights were almost blinding me. "Surely he sees me" I think to myself.

Nope! He accelerates towards me and there was nothing I could do. I waved my left hand towards him to make him notice me and I pointed to my rear light (which was flashing vividly). I also yelled "WHAT THE ******* ARE YOU DOING!? YOU ********** IDIOT!!!?" At that point he finally noticed me but did this weird thing where he kept accelerating slowly to get into the lane.

Like srsly, bro. There is no traffic at all, just stop and give me right of way.

No! This guy is oblivious. He gets into the lane and I turn and yell "YOU NEARLY HIT ME YOU IDIOT! I'M WEARING HI-VIS AND EVERYTHING!!!" Man, I was angry. The driver didn't seem to give a crap. He was acting like nothing had happened and it was a daily occurrence.

As I'm saying/yelling all this, a Lion's Club down the road is just opening it's doors. There are a number of families walking in who have turned to watch this happen. So lucky that the Hyundai hadn't pulled out 30 seconds earlier when I'd observed an entire group of young children cross the road... but the driver still doesn't seem to care or acknowledge he has done wrong and just stays right up my clacker. I pull over to the side of the road, absolutely boiling with rage but the Hyundai now accelerates past me into the distance with the driver staring at me like I'm the mad one.

This was hands down the strangest experience to date. It's like the car driver saw me but still thought he had the right of way. If I hadn't swerved to the centre lane, he would have hit me, no ifs and no buts. He didn't look until he was IN the lane - just another d-head that doesn't look before going at a stop sign.

Honestly pretty worrying that such idiots share our roads.

He drives a Hyundai, enough said. They walk among us

[Junkyard-Dog]

Just an absolute twat in my books! I also spotted his car cruise past the shop and gave him the evil eye

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Just an absolute twat in my books! I also spotted his car cruise past the shop and gave him the evil eye

Probably doped out off his tree.

[Madaya]

Hey mates, sittin back, watching the cycling on the telly, and 'light bulb' moment. Or tell me I'm crazy or has this been done before?
Cycle drags.
Maybe over 200 meters max.
Bikes same design, mods minimal and away you go.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Madaya

Hey mates, sittin back, watching the cycling on the telly, and 'light bulb' moment. Or tell me I'm crazy or has this been done before?
Cycle drags.
Maybe over 200 meters max.
Bikes same design, mods minimal and away you go.

Kind of like a drag race but on rollers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9SN1TWLv4

[DBourne]

Mucking around with a bike light and an empty garage

Propel-2 by Dave Bourne, on Flickr

[GTpilot]

@dbourne - it would be good to see you "mucking around" a bit more!!

[DBourne]

I have a photo thread here if you'd like to have a looksi

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread....317050&page=10

And my flickr page here: www.flickr.com/sgtbourne

[gossy]

Originally Posted by prydey

Kind of like a drag race but on rollers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9SN1TWLv4

Looks like a lot of fun.

Anna Meares didn't do too well though at 0.49 sec

[Batmobile]

Two questions - Has anyone had any experience with the cheap carbon Clinchers out of China ? And those with a Campagnolo group has anyone tried the Potenza cassette with a final drive-being a 32 ? Those who have tried and used the Potenza cassette , did it require you to alter the rear derailleur ?

[Joel.]

Haven't got first hand experience with cheap Chinese wheels, but I did research them a couple of years ago as I was very interested. I found they were hit and miss, some people had a good run out of them and others had them crack very quickly or come poorly made from the factory. From memory I also read that the braking performance was very poor from several different places.
A guy I rode mountain bikes with bought a set for his mountain bike. He loved them, until they cracked after a few months.
I went with a set of Campag Zonda wheels. Loved them.

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by Batmobile

Two questions - Has anyone had any experience with the cheap carbon Clinchers out of China ? And those with a Campagnolo group has anyone tried the Potenza cassette with a final drive-being a 32 ? Those who have tried and used the Potenza cassette , did it require you to alter the rear derailleur ?

I would not use carbon clinchers weather they are brand name or cheap Chineese. The basic design of a wheel around the brake tracks do not allow for enough thickness of carbon and resin to cope with excessive heat caused by heavy breaking along with100ish psi of tyre and tube pressure imposed on it as the resin bonding softens due to temp.
manufacturers have tried various means to fix it but nothing yet is perfect. If you plan to ride predominantly on flat roads you can get away with it, but even a trip to the dandenongs is risky let alone longer descents.
Pros get away with it as they run tubular tyres. Tubs are better as the surface area is thicker due to tubular rim design and not succeptable to the high pressures pushing the rim edges outwards.

[Batmobile]

Originally Posted by GTpilot

I would not use carbon clinchers weather they are brand name or cheap Chineese. The basic design of a wheel around the brake tracks do not allow for enough thickness of carbon and resin to cope with excessive heat caused by heavy breaking along with100ish psi of tyre and tube pressure imposed on it as the resin bonding softens due to temp.
manufacturers have tried various means to fix it but nothing yet is perfect. If you plan to ride predominantly on flat roads you can get away with it, but even a trip to the dandenongs is risky let alone longer descents.
Pros get away with it as they run tubular tyres. Tubs are better as the surface area is thicker due to tubular rim design and not succeptable to the high pressures pushing the rim edges outwards.

I know what you mean. I was riding down the devils elbow and a guy on a relative new carbon clincher exploded in front of me . I had been following the group for sometime , and had noticed this rider was very cautious on the decents (very hard on the brakes). By the time he got down the elbow the front rim had enough and just threw the tyre, splintering the braking surface.

[xr8cam]

Another way to lose weight a faster way to get a developed ab section is walking. If you walk at a brisk pace stretching out a little, it works the body a lot harder than running and without the jarring. It is cheap, easy and realistic exercise. Nothing wrong with cycling if thats what you like, but this method has way faster results and is more accessible.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by xr8cam

Another way to lose weight a faster way to get a developed ab section is walking. If you walk at a brisk pace stretching out a little, it works the body a lot harder than running and without the jarring. It is cheap, easy and realistic exercise. Nothing wrong with cycling if thats what you like, but this method has way faster results and is more accessible.

I do this a couple of times a week to break up cycling a bit.

Originally Posted by Batmobile

I know what you mean. I was riding down the devils elbow and a guy on a relative new carbon clincher exploded in front of me . I had been following the group for sometime , and had noticed this rider was very cautious on the decents (very hard on the brakes). By the time he got down the elbow the front rim had enough and just threw the tyre, splintering the braking surface.

As I love going down hill fast, I for the life of me wouldnt risk a carbon clincher to pull me up. I know you can get brake pads to suit carbon wheels, but situations like you have just explained, scare me. I know alloy brake tracks are a bit heavier but at least I know I can pull up on them without fearing a blow out.

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by GTpilot

I would not use carbon clinchers weather they are brand name or cheap Chineese. The basic design of a wheel around the brake tracks do not allow for enough thickness of carbon and resin to cope with excessive heat caused by heavy breaking along with100ish psi of tyre and tube pressure imposed on it as the resin bonding softens due to temp..

That's why you run discs :-)

I live in a really hilly area and the joy of discs are just awesome. I never set KOMs on ascents as I weigh too much but I have set a few downhill for sure.

My driveway is nearly 50 metres of elevation in 250 metres....

[GTpilot]

Originally Posted by mcnews

That's why you run discs :-)

I live in a really hilly area and the joy of discs are just awesome. I never set KOMs on ascents as I weigh too much but I have set a few downhill for sure.

My driveway is nearly 50 metres of elevation in 250 metres....

Could not agree more, But thats a whole other conversation with its own complications around rim construction.

But yes carbon clinchers with disc's are usually pretty good.

[paule11]

Originally Posted by Joel.

Haven't got first hand experience with cheap Chinese wheels, but I did research them a couple of years ago as I was very interested. I found they were hit and miss, some people had a good run out of them and others had them crack very quickly or come poorly made from the factory. From memory I also read that the braking performance was very poor from several different places.
A guy I rode mountain bikes with bought a set for his mountain bike. He loved them, until they cracked after a few months.
I went with a set of Campag Zonda wheels. Loved them.

I brought Zondas as well very happy with them .
Probikekit is having a sale at the moment with the code itk10 you get 10% of.
They are sold out now but Camapgnolo bullet 50mm wheels where down to $800 delivered.
They are carbon with an alloy rim would buy that over a $500 full carbon wheel might pay to watch the UK bike shops some good prices lately

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Joel.

I went with a set of Campag Zonda wheels. Loved them.

Originally Posted by paule11

I brought Zondas as well very happy with them .

I have zonda's as well

[prydey]

Originally Posted by xr8cam

Another way to lose weight a faster way to get a developed ab section is walking. If you walk at a brisk pace stretching out a little, it works the body a lot harder than running and without the jarring. It is cheap, easy and realistic exercise. Nothing wrong with cycling if thats what you like, but this method has way faster results and is more accessible.

i find this hard to believe, but i'm not an expert.

plus you miss out on the added benefits that riding gives. an hour walk and i'd only cover about 10km max and be staring at houses the whole time. an hour on the bike and i'm out into some glorious countryside and the associated views. wildlife everywhere etc etc.

of course everyone's situation will be different.

whilst riding has helped my lose some weight, and gain a lot of fitness, it isn't the sole reason why i ride. i've seen more of SA's countryside in the last 4 years than i'd seen for the previous 20years.

not saying you have to choose one or the other though. i'm just not a fan of transporting myself on my own legs

[Captain Stubing]

I have a pair of Carbon Speed Cycle carbon rims on my Avanti Cadent. They were straight and true when they arrived, and still are after a year. I haven't ridden the bike since June, and was always nervous on any descent, being wary of overheating the braking surface. The carbon rims seemed to go through the brake pads a lot quicker than an alloy surface.

I've got the Zonda's on the new bike, and they weigh in about the same as the carbon rims, but with a better braking surface. I think I'll sell the carbon rims now.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by prydey

finally got bearings for my freehub yesterday. couldn't find any locally (bike shops, cbc bearings etc) so got them from a place called RScomponents in Weatherill Pk, NSW. well, thats where i thought they were coming from. rang them last thursday, after ordering them the previous wednesday to see where they were. the order said same day despatch and that was 8 days ago. turns out they were coming from the UK. this is 2 bearings the size of a 10c piece each. unreal.

the last 3 rides i've had my old factory wheel back on, and even though i've only upgraded to campag zonda's, it was a nice reminder how much difference a set of rims can make. at first it didn't feel like much difference, but the more i rode the more it reminded me how much better the zonda's spin up and roll. the stock rims feel like you are towing a trailer.... always nice to remind yourself that the upgrade was actually an improvement and more than just visually.

weather is ordinary here in adelaide, so by the time i had humpty back together, i couldn't be bothered going out. will have to test it out later. hopefully the noises are gone.

just to recap on this, the freehub bearings, although worn, weren't the cause of the noise. i took it round to a mates place as a second set of eyes never hurts, and he pulled the hub bearings (wheel, not freehub) out and had a look. like me, he couldn't see anything really wrong. they were new ball bearings and the cup and cones looked fine. the only things he did different, was not putting grease between the cone and axle (its on a slight taper, so should lock to the axle when tightened) and also didn't tighten the cone's up as much. everything i'd read said to clamp the wheel in the dropouts and then tighten the cone until the play was only just removed. He preferred to tighten it out of the dropouts and do it by feel as he went, spinning the wheel in his fingers. we discovered that once we removed all the play, it didn't feel as smooth as when we left a very small amount. from memory, this was also how they were when i bought them. so now, when in the frame, there is about 1mm of play at the tyre between the brake caliper, but the wheel feels a lot better when riding. felt real good.

we were both sure we'd finally nailed the source of the creak.... and all seemed well for the first 20km or so on the following ride, but alas, the noise returned, albeit, slightly improved.

by now i'm doing my head in. i pulled everything apart. derailer off, hanger off, anything that moved and made sure it was super clean and lubed.

did a couple of rides in the following days and all seemed sorted... until i was out with a mate and during a bit of a sprint, all of a sudden the noise came back as loud as ever. so we did some experimenting. swapped rear wheels. noise stayed with my bike, so that eliminated the wheel. mate said it sounded more toward the front, so after some investigating, holding the brake on and trying to move the bike back and forth, side to side etc we discovered....

wait for it.....

the front wheel was loose in the frame not so loose that it was flopping around, but under pressure (like when you are putting in a big effort and push on the bars) it could move a bit. how embarrased did i feel. all this effort chasing a noise and it ends up being as easy as putting a bit more tension on the front skewer.

to add a bit more to my little story/rant... when i went to brisbane over xmas i shipped my bike up and back. when it arrived back, the front skewer was missing. the only holes in the box were the grab handles, so at some point, the box had been upside down. not happy. also, my first ride back was the tour down under bupa ride and i after having issues with my gears i stopped off at one of the pitstops and made use of the machanic services. turns out, my derailleur hanger was seriously bent. so obviously the box took a bit of a rough trip back from brisbane. this was with Hunter bros transport, who carry for e-go. don't think i'll use them again. so because of the missing front skewer, i've had to use my old skewer, not campag, and it isn't as free in its action, so it does actually feel tight when you do it up, but clearly not as tight as it needed to be.

sorry for the long rant. nothing worse than a noisy bike and nothing more frustrating than not being able to find it.

[Batmobile]

Originally Posted by Batmobile

Two questions - Has anyone had any experience with the cheap carbon Clinchers out of China ? And those with a Campagnolo group has anyone tried the Potenza cassette with a final drive-being a 32 ? Those who have tried and used the Potenza cassette , did it require you to alter the rear derailleur ?

I have a set of Zipp 404's , and am conscious not to put too miles into them , hence the thought around getting some cheap Chinese Clinchers - but I may now put the money into a set of Shamal or Fulcrum Zero

[blueoval]

Picked up the new beast today. Will get better photos later on.

[prydey]

certainly looks the part Shav!

[Whitey-AMG]

Form and function , it's a work of art shav .... Congrats.