Any cyclists on here?

[400bandit]

Hey people, over the past few months I have got the bug of road riding although the most I've done in a day was 63 miles. Should be going for a 80 miler next week. I've entered into the Norwich 100 miler which is on the 6th of June, I can't get as much training in as I would like as I'm in my exam period but as long as I get round in sub 8 hours I'll be happy, sub 7 and I'll be over the moon!

I don't have an out-and-out race bike (yet, one can only wish) but my bikes not that bad;

https://www.freeflowbikes.com/ekmps/shops/freeflowbikes/images/claud-butler-levante-2009-4285-p.jpg

I'm starting to think about getting shoes and clips, any experience with them? Make much difference?

Man you can spend a fortune on bikes/parts/kit!

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Charlie]

Clip in pedals are awesome, doing any sort of distance is made a lot easier with them. Hill climbing is easier, speed is easier. Just about everything is easier. It didn't take me long at all to get used to them. And when going up hill you can really feel the difference in being able to pull up the pedal up as well as push it down.

I can't wait till university to get back into cycling.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[400bandit]

Thats what I was looking to hear, the last 3 miles of the 63 miler hills were killing me, legs just shot, my mate who I was with seemed better but he has clips. hmmmm time to buy, thinking of getting the DHB ones from wiggle as they have good reviews for the money. Next question is do I go MTB or Road shoes? I'll only ever wear them one long rides etc, not for commuting so I'm swaying towards road shoes.

What bike do you have? I only paid £160 for mine and it was practically new (still had the bobbles on the tyres!) Not bad considering they are arounf £400 new!

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Ste]

SPD pedals and shoes are good and do make quite a bit of difference.

[Charlie]

Got some Ribble, it's my Dad's really, he bought it to do Triathlons on but then hurt his knee, became fat, and no longer does that sort or exercise. So it is pretty much mine, luckily he is nearly the same height, as they measure you and make the frame accordingly. Cost around £600 when he got it, if I remember correctly.

I haven't properly cycled while being at university, and did little the year before I came. But I used to really enjoy it some I am determined to get back into it.

I snapped the chain when I last used it (3 years ago! ) and never got round to fixing it again... Dad fixed the chain the other day and was going to sell it... Until I asked nicely if he'd keep it.

When I was in year 10 (so 14-15) our school organised a trip to walk over Snowden, cycle to Scar Fell Pike walk over that and cycle to Ben Nevis and walk over that. It was great fun and that is what started me on road cycling, previously I had the normal teenager love affair with mountain biking.

I want to get back into mountain biking too, cross country like I used to. I can rapidly see my life being too busy with hobbies. All I think about now is having the money and stuff to do the hobbies and I bet when I have the money all I think about is having the time to do them. meh.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Nai]

Got an old Specialized Langster myself, the original grey ones. Spent more on wheels etc than it would cost for a new Langster now. Mind you, considering the amount of people that moaned that its stock parts were naff mine went about 50,000 mile before i needed to replace the wheels. Shortly after i pretty much replaced everything except frame, forks and handlebars. All decked out now and sitting in shed while i get into motorbikes.

On clips vs toe caps, i have funny shaped feet so always had to use yoe caps cause i never found any good clip shoes that were comfy. And dont buy cheap ones with flexible soles. Was a long time ago i last tried clipped shoes but god help me i got a cheap pair with a fairly flexible sole. Left my feet in agony after a long ride.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Another specialized Langster here. Mine's still on all it's stock bits. I think it only has a few of k on it though.
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[Ariel Badger]

[the grim reaper]

I'd recommend Spuds as well (Shimano Pedalling Dynamics = SPDs = Spuds), as they are double sided and easy to use and adjust. The single sided ones like Look may be more aerodynamic but are a pain to use comparatively, as they are harder to clip into. Unless you are the fittest of the fit, the pedal aerodynamics make sod all difference and a few seconds lost trying to clip in will kill any aerodynamic difference.

Cheers

Grim
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[JonB]

If you are ever looking to buy a new bike, always look towards the end of the year or the beginning of the year after. Massive discounts on end of year stock. I buy all my bikes like that.

I own a 2008 Specialized Hardrock Sport, that I got for £250 down from £350 in April 2009. This is the bicycle I use for commuting. I put some semi slicks on it to make it a little bit easier. I have SPD's on this, seriously clip in pedals make cycling a whole lot easier. No wasted energy!

I also have a 2009 Focus Cayo road bike with 105 groupset that I got at the end of last year for £876 down from £1100. Full carbon frame and forks. 105 groupset is midrange, but i'm gradually upgrading everything to Ultegra (Can't afford Dure-ace - but not really worth the premium IMO). This is my "Sunday" bike for long road rides etc.

Like I said buy bikes at end of season, always great deals to be found. Also for example my Specialized has the same frame as the more expensive 2008 range, but has a basic Shimano groupset (the gears etc basically), but as the parts start to wear out you can just upgrade to newer, lighter and more efficient parts.
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[400bandit]

Cheers for all the advice, for now I think I'm going to stick with my cheapy Levante and look for some drop bars with levers that someone has taken off to upgrade, only looking for something cheap to start. Deffo getting some shoes and pedals, I think as my firsy pair I'm going for mountain bike shoes and when I get more into it and get a better bike etc get a road specific. Right now I'm torn between either DHB M1's or Shimano M076 (both spd and will use SPD M520 pedals) With discount the DHBs will work out £43.99 and the shimano's would be £46.99

What say you? I'm leaning towards the shimanos as they have bigger sizes and I'm a 12 normally so the DHBs biggest of 47 might be a tad tight?

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[colin1]

I'm also a fan of clip in cycling shoes.

For leisurely cycling you dont see any benefit really, but if you sprint, or climb a hill out of your seat, you get a lot more power, as you are pulling the pedals up aswell as pushing them down.

Toe clips are quite good, but clip in shoes and pedals are better. I got some cheap ones from aldi when they were on special, but there are loads of high quality second hand stuff on ebay.

If you are getting into road riding, I'd suggest getting a drop handled racer with skinny tyres. I'd also suggest an old school leather saddle, i prefer them.

Personally, I'd never spend more than £150 on a bicycle.

Double sided clip pedals sound good, I've not heard of them before. Mine are single sided, and are a bit fiddly.
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[400bandit]

Although my bike doesn't look it in that pic, other than bars it is the same bike as claud butlers racing bike of the same price range, I have 23x700 tyres on there as it is.

Cheers,

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

As you say you wont be using your bike for commuting then I'd suggest getting LOOK Keo pedals (one sided clipping system). The 'aerodynamic' arguement is complete fallacy, ignore it.

They offer a better range of cleats depending on your physical attributes. The extra time it takes clipping in and out of them over double sided SPD's is negligable.

With cycling shoes, go and try them on. They never come up the same as yournormal shoes/trainers. Theyre mainly made for the european market/skinny cyclists so the sizes are often slightly out compared to 'normal'.
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[Leviathan91]

I wouldn't say Im "In too cycling" but I cycle a fair bit. I would never fork out over £1000 for a Bicycle, unless I was a skilled mountain biker.

Good way to keep fit, no insurance/MOT/ Fuel charges either



Good luck with your hobby, you'll have legs of steel in no time doing that kind of mileage.

What kinda routes do you usually do? You ride in a group?

I was in Richmond the other day (I think) and there was a big cycle shop there specifically for racing. All the models started at £4000! one was £6,500!!!

It seems crazy to me it really does...

[Paulington]

My bike:

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs045.snc3/13293_390859336370_544131370_4574848_2987031_n.jpg

Only thing I added after buying was the tri bars. They make a massive difference on longer rides, whilst still being comfy.

I also have Look pedals, with Delta cleats. I've ridden bikes with SPDs and I must say I preferred mine a large amount, most likely due to being used to them however.

Vuelta wheels are superb. .
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[Leviathan91]

[Paulington]

[Leviathan91]

[Pickledswede]

Just checked and you're a bit far away but might aswell post anyway to see if anyone is interested! In September my best mate's mum has organised a cycle around the Isle Of Wight, it's about 70 miles, or you can do the half route which is about £36, there's an entrance fee and you pay for the ferry (from Portsmouth) and you can also get sponsored if you like, it's all in aid of the prostate cancer charity. Raised a lot of money last year (will edit when I find out exactly how much it was). -- Just found out £4000 was raised last year! Hoping to get a lot more this year!

It's a great day out and all for a good cause, my best mate's grandads both died of prostate cancer so you can see the motivation for it!

Let me know if anyone is interested on here or by PM and I'll try and get the details for you!

[Minty]

I would deffo give the SPD pedals and shoes a go, they do indeed make a difference but do take some getting used to, especially when people pull out on you and you need to stop in a hurry. (Photo has my old pedals on)
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[400bandit]

Paulington, looks your frame is the same as mine but obviously your wheels are much better and the drop bars + tri bar set up. I'm looking to go that way eventually, I kind of want to get into sprinting as I'm more that type of build. Any of you guys have a spare set of drop bars with levers hanging about?

Joe.

P.s. Pickledswede, drop me a PM, I may be interested and might be able to get a couple more people along also (I'm from Dartford, Kent really)
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)