Pushbike stuff at Aldi - any good? (From 27/09/12)

[G]

https://aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/offers_week39Thursday12.htm

I could do with - reflective waterproof jacket, maybe trousers, maybe shoes (I have mtb 'boots', but been doing a fair bit of road stuff for getting about with calorie burn) and maybe the tool kit for the bike-specific stuff.

Is it worth it, or should I be on ebay etc?

Also considering 'compression' stuff, but it seems the jury's still out on that being useful or not.

[D O G]

I like the new section!

Anyway.

Clothing looks OK - might get one of the winter tops myself.

Shoes - for road use they don't look worthwhile, as the holes for SPD cleats look wrong. Most are three hole design, not two like those ones. I've just bought some road SPD's from Shimano, and they are three hole.


Get a second and pair from ebay. I did that in 2005 and I'm still using them.


Tool kit looks pretty decent, pretty much all you need. I suspect it won't work with Campag stuff, they normally have different sizes for the freewheel 'thing' (needed to hold still when removing a cassete), and may not be able to remove all bottom brackets, but there is some useful stuff there. I paid £35 for a very similar set a couple of years ago.

[G]

Think a similar set in halfords was at least £40, maybe more.
I do have some of the tools already, but scattered around in a massive pile of personal 'storage' stuff in a room at work.

Will have to have a look in to SPDs and road versus off-road etc. Never tried them before, though did have some shoes that came with them, wimped out.

[D O G]

These are the sort of road shoes I'd go for.

[G]

While they look better than the carbon-clogs a work mate used to have, I'm not sure if I'm quite ready for that level of lycra-ness!

Ta for the suggestion anyway, probably will end up with something like that in the long run - but I'll need to get appropriate pedals and cleats first anyway.

Just reading this: https://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=376&subjectId=9 - think I might leave the shoes for a bit and consider further.

[colin1]

[Clanger]

Also at Lidl's too. I did look at the gloves, with a view to wearing them as driving gloves, but from the choice of colours, the bright yellow ones were the only ones in my small hand size.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[stinkwheel]

[colin1]

[Korn]

[Tarmacsurfer]

Up to size 10. Swines

I use SPDs when cycling and wouldn't be without them (or a toe clip at the very least for those times when not wearing cleats), got the pedal set up with a standard mud cage on the one side so it can be used flat and a clip on the reverse to be kicked into when required. Don't do much serious dirt riding at the moment but I've found them to be fine with both tarmac and the short cross country/downhill sections I've been playing around on in local parkland. Bear in mind that a set of MTB shoes will generally be stiffer/heavier than road shoes by quite a margin.

When clipped in I'll be on the seat while pedalling, the whole concept is to allow you to use more muscle in the action and to avoid bad form by using your weight on the downstroke.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[D O G]

[D O G]

[stinkwheel]

[D O G]

He'll be putting a shitload more torque through it than you or I ever could tho, without flipping over.

[stinkwheel]

[G]

'Science' seems to think there's at best limited benefits.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9349655

[RealNinja]

On the subject of being clipped into the pedals..

I have used SPD's for years now, both on and off road, and would never use 'proper' pedals again.

Although, to be fair, they can be a bit of a pain in the arse in urban traffic cycling, once you get used to them and have had a few comedy 'can't get unclipped fast enough' moments (and yes, it will happen!) you learn to judge the situation in front you a bit more cleverly.

The ability to be able to pull up on the pedals as well as push down is priceless when you are are half way up that hill and your legs are screaming at you, pulling up uses totally different muscles and allows you to recover while still keeping momentum.

Just dont try walking very far in the shoes...
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You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny

[G]

£5 off a £35 shop in Aldi with Thursday's Mirror if you're planning on getting anything.

I was reminded on Sunday that I do have pedals for cleats - when I did a mountainbike event and didn't get the chance to swap pedals. They still work a bit as a 'normal' pedal, but were significantly lacking in grip which made it 'interesting' on the fast downhill bits with jumpy things in.

So that could make sense to swap those on to my scourer.

[bikertomm]

[andi]

Back on topic. I bought a long sleeved full zip top last winter from Aldi. The arms are a bit short so get a gap with winter gloves. This autumn I got it out again and noticed the elasticated pockets aren't very elastic any more. Guess you get what you pay for. Was cheap enough so 1 winters use is not so bad. I have other jackets from various "boutique"manufacturer's and they all are far superior in all ways including price.
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Before: Suzuki GT 185. Honda Superdream 250. Yamaha RD350LC. Suziki RG250. Yamaha FZS600. Honda CBR600F3
Now: Honda Fireblade 929

[JonB]

SPDs do make a massive difference. I've just upgraded from SPDs to SPD-SL which has a larger surface area which has taken climbing to another level. 7,800 feet of climbing in 71 miles today. Couldn't have done it without them.

Aldi stuff is decent entry level kit, I have some arm warmers from last year that are still going strong.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[D O G]

[JonB]

South Wales valleys, that's where it's at!

https://app.strava.com/rides/23480780

Obviously, going for segments was not my target today... Lol
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[D O G]

So your 1st little lump is tougher than the worst climb on my whole route.