Thread to tell everyone what bike gear you've just bought !

salsajake

cjcp wrote:

salsajake wrote:

Chris King bottom bracket - for the MTB though, not the commuter, but if it is as good as I think it will be, when the time comes, that will get one too! 5 years guarantee plus the option of a grease injection tool (have one on order for when they come in). Lovely.

Also upgraded front tyre of commuter bike to a Conti GP 4 season 25, fitted a control tech carbon seat post (1/2 price in CRC flood sale) and a secondhand SLP XP saddle. It is on a big weight loss programme!

Good skills. I'm thinking of a BB upgrade to a ceramic Hope.

I actually snapped the XP after a few thousand miles. I think it eventually succumbed to the state of the road on the commute rather than the size of my backside.

thought about the Hope, and love their stuff (Have Pro 2s on the Salsa, plus Mk1 Hope hub on my retro MTB and even a super-rare Hope Ultralite on that too (68g with bearings from a radio controlled helicopter!). BUT - the Chris King was 'only' £30 more but is guaranteed for 5 years and you can purge/regrease yourself, both of which did it for me. Plus it is Chris King of course.

vanquished

What I was more specifically wondering is if the benefits of varying GI of elliptical chainrings would apply to an elliptical sprocket, ignoring the mathematical difficulty.

Only, I think, if you ended up with 1:1 drive... because, I think, the key is that you want to optimise the pedal stroke.

As I (dimly) recall the Biopace blurb of the day, the elliptical design was meant to lessen the effect of the 'deadspot' in the crank revolution at about the six o' clock position. If you minimise the chain draw over this part of the stroke (pointy part of the ellipse), and compensate by drawing out the down-stroke (soft side of the ellipse), then you're maximising the force you can apply to the chain on the down stroke...

(as an aside, I read somewhere that biopace didn't catch on because it screwed your knees up... but I have no idea whether that's true or not).

It follows, then, that there's ever so slight a speed 'wobble', if you're pedalling at a constant rpm with elliptical chainrings (your 705 might notice, but a carbon-based lifeform probably wouldn't).

Let's consider, then, a circular chainring with elliptical sprockets. Again there'll be the slight speed wobble, but this time, because you're pedalling circularly, sometimes the elliptical shape of the sprocket's going to coincide with the chainring dead-spot, and sometimes it's not. Because, in general, your sprocket's smaller than the chainring, the sprocket's 'weak stroke' (which will be the broad side of the ellipse) will move in relation to the chainring, (starts off at 12 o'clock, say, then next occurs at 3 o'clock and then 6 o'clock etc).

So although *sometimes* the effect of an elliptical sprocket would be beneficial, at other times it wouldn't be so (and indeed would be detrimental, effectively lowering your gearing on the fly). The only situation where you're guaranteed a good return on the sprocket deal is if your sprocket has half the teeth of the chainring (and even then, I'm not sure, because the elliptical nature might throw out the chain pull), so that your dead spot is always 180 degrees apart on crank rotation (and thus you 'tune' it to 6 o'clock and 12' oclock). Get it so much as a single tooth wrong, though, and suddenly you're going to have that 'dead spot' creeping round the crankset on each revolution, losing you more power than the two points where it actually assists.

Clear as mud, right?

Simplest solution? ride fixed - then it's all irrelevant!

Feltup

I put my new Xero XR-1's with red Pro3 Race tyres on my Felt last night and they look wicked. I have taken them off for this weekends ride as I don't want to trash the tyres in the flinty Chilterns. Can't wait to use them.

biondino

Non-Euclidean and Mœbius sprockets - useless in dimensions 5-11? Discuss.

Feltup

biondino wrote:

Non-Euclidean and Mœbius sprockets - useless in dimensions 5-11? Discuss.

Hold on while I ask the mice.

lost_in_thought

vanquished wrote:

[
Clear as mud, right?

Simplest solution? ride fixed - then it's all irrelevant!

Actually, that makes sense...

And I already do ride fixed! How does that help??

itboffin

biondino wrote:

Non-Euclidean and Mœbius sprockets - useless in dimensions 5-11? Discuss.

biondino

Hey Guys, the Planet X/On-One clearance sale has started!

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... rance.html

vanquished

And I already do ride fixed! How does that help??

Because the momentum of the bike will push your pedals around the dead-spot, thus compensating for the (marginally) weaker section of your pedal-stroke at 12 and 6 o'clocl (or thereabouts).

fossyant

Got to be comic relief about oval chain rings surely....

Been there seen it - Shimano Biopace in the late 80's - no one bought into it...and it was 'researched' - load of crap...like lot's of other stuff folk 'buy' into.......... :?

AndyManc

fossyant wrote:

Got to be comic relief about oval chain rings surely....

Been there seen it - Shimano Biopace in the late 80's - no one bought into it...and it was 'researched' - load of crap...like lot's of other stuff folk 'buy' into.......... :?

I believe a number of riders still use them in the classic road races, inc. 'The Tour'.

I bought a Muddy Fox mtb in the early 90's that had them and the argument goes on, I can appreciated the 'egg rolling principle' .



.

cjcp

I overheard a conversation in a bike shop recently in which it was said that a chap recently attributed his victory in a half Ironman to Q rings because it saved him energy on the run even though the bike split wasn't as great. I think that's how it went.

LazyBoycp

itboffin wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

One of these:



It made me giggle...

Do they have shorts to match?

:shock:

always_tyred

vanquished wrote:

And I already do ride fixed! How does that help??

Because the momentum of the bike will push your pedals around the dead-spot, thus compensating for the (marginally) weaker section of your pedal-stroke at 12 and 6 o'clocl (or thereabouts).

But, but, riding fixed is better, because everyone is doing it. You can't go saying irresponsible things inferring riding fixed doesn't really make you any better at riding anything but fixed.

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

vanquished wrote:

And I already do ride fixed! How does that help??

Because the momentum of the bike will push your pedals around the dead-spot, thus compensating for the (marginally) weaker section of your pedal-stroke at 12 and 6 o'clocl (or thereabouts).

But, but, riding fixed is better, because everyone is doing it. You can't go saying irresponsible things inferring riding fixed doesn't really make you any better at riding anything but fixed.

That statement about FG is entirely true. I took a while to figure out why, when I got onto a bike with a freewheel, I had a part of the pedal stroke where it felt like I had to catch up with the bike. I'm not explaining it very well, but it's because of the FG pushing the cranks around.

It's odd how people say that riding a FG is the best thing for your pedal technique when it seems for me that that's not the case.

lost_in_thought

LazyBoycp wrote:

itboffin wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

One of these:



It made me giggle...

Do they have shorts to match?

:shock:

Not yet....

lost_in_thought

Some equally hilarious shorts:





Thanks lazyboy!

LazyBoycp

You're more than welcome.

vanquished

Giant Bowery 72

picking it up on Wednesday

cjcp

Went to the LBS looking for the outer cable for the front gear cable. Came away with:

1. Spesh BG Alias 155 saddle for the Scott (20 quid off - and same as the saddle on the commuter. I know: OCD)
2. 10mm hex key
3. 8mm kex key.

And the outer cable.

itboffin

Polaris Satellite waterproof jacket - REVIEW



After last weeks soaking I thought it was time to replace my ageing Altura hi-viz jacket with something a little more functional, a working zipper for starters

I already tried the Aldi boil in the bag number as previously reviewed, my current budget is limited so my choices needed to be sub £40 at that price there really wasn't much to choose from, a quick search came up with Polaris Satelite for £29.95 inc del.

Job done jacket ordered originally in large however the next day I received a call from Parker Int. tell me they were all out of large but they had medium and assured me that Polaris medium are large, which is true - bonus! great customer service Parker

Today's ride was my first test, 52 miles 3000ft ascent & 30+ mph gusts but reasonably warm with no rain, first impressions are good fit and very lightweight, strong cuff Velcro and easy one handed zipping, all good so far

During the ride I naturally got hot a couple of times and had to take off my gilet assuming that later on i'd need to put it back on, this was not the case even without the gilet I was warm and just warm enough not hot or cold.

In summary 52 miles of total comfort and best of all when I took the jacket off it was bone dry inside :shock: no sweat and yet I can't see any under arm vents or side zips. This jacket totally ROCKS!!!

I've not tested it in the wet or cold but no doubt I won't have to wait long.

With the quality of this jacket and for that price i'll be adding more Polaris gear to the shopping list.

linsen

Aah ITB another top notch review - ever though about a job with a cycling magazine?

Actually I do need a lightweight windproof thingy, so I shall await with interest your news about whether it copes with rain too before I invest......

For now I shall just order the sun to stay out (I can control the weather you know :shock: )

tailwindhome

£37 off T'ebay, needs a good clean but has to be worth that. Might not be the 501 tubing but I figure if you were going to scam you'd claim it was 531. Ride it as it is for a while then have a go at my first single speed conversion

The Blurb

"It is a Reynolds 501 Steel Frame which was finished by Argos bikes in Bristol. It is metallic blue, and very good and tidy, but has a few scuffs and chips here and there.

Has a full Shimano 105 groupset, gears, chainset, levers etc. Probably could use a new chain and cassette as the drive train is feeling a little tired, but it's all working well.

Mavic Aero CXP14 Front rim on Campagnolo hub

Rear is a Campagnolo Lambda on Shimano 105 Hub

Cinelli bars and stem

Look clipless pedals (scuffed)

Dura-Ace brackets

Selle Italia saddle (scuffed)

The Ambrosio bar tape is still good too"

NGale

a pair of dhb M1 shoes and set of spd pedals which will go onto the new bike.

biondino

Nice bike Wheezy - like the colours especially.

Can people advise? Me and the gf went for a 10-mile pootle this morning (yay! am back on a bike! 9.2mph average speed!) and afterwards she said her hands hurt quite a lot from the harsh rubber grips. She's got a Raleigh Tundra - £150 urbany hybridy mtby thing, v standard - with grip shifts. So can anyone advise what would be a cheap, and most importantly comfortable, pair of new grips which would fit on this kind of bike? Ideally that Wiggle stock

Thanks!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

How about some well padded gloves instead, such as Specialized BG Gels?

AndyManc

biondino wrote:

Nice bike Wheezy - like the colours especially.

Can people advise? Me and the gf went for a 10-mile pootle this morning (yay! am back on a bike! 9.2mph average speed!) and afterwards she said her hands hurt quite a lot from the harsh rubber grips. She's got a Raleigh Tundra - £150 urbany hybridy mtby thing, v standard - with grip shifts. So can anyone advise what would be a cheap, and most importantly comfortable, pair of new grips which would fit on this kind of bike? Ideally that Wiggle stock

Thanks!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Ergon_GP1_Handlebar_Grips/5360037496/

itboffin

biondino wrote:

Nice bike Wheezy - like the colours especially.

Can people advise? Me and the gf went for a 10-mile pootle this morning (yay! am back on a bike! 9.2mph average speed!) and afterwards she said her hands hurt quite a lot from the harsh rubber grips. She's got a Raleigh Tundra - £150 urbany hybridy mtby thing, v standard - with grip shifts. So can anyone advise what would be a cheap, and most importantly comfortable, pair of new grips which would fit on this kind of bike? Ideally that Wiggle stock

Thanks!

Ritchley truegrips soft/hard foam grips perfect for gentle hands like mine no really they're good I have them of my hybrid and MTB

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Ritch ... 360010190/

tailwindhome

biondino wrote:

Nice bike Wheezy - like the colours especially.

Colours look a bit odd in the photo, its actually quite a nice metallic blue.

Stay tuned for a series of stupid "What's this bit for..." style questions as I attempt to fix it up a bit.

Rich158

Endura Humvee shorts for the 3/4 length messenger look

I've now lost soo much weight, that my old baggies are in distinct danger of falling down every time I track stand, or stand up on the pedals :shock: The flip side is my thighs will now only fit into baggy jeans in my waist size :?