First full week of commuting nearly over :)

Mike400
Mike400 Posts: 226
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
Ok so not exactly a full week as I started on tuesday!

Firstly fitness is up, I can feel it getting easier.

I have lost 5lbs!!!!

Im FAR FAR more aware in traffic, starting to predict motorists behaviour better etc

Im eating like a horse....

But most importantly, I want to change bits on the bike, my thoughts:

replace the riser bars with flats+bar ends - I find for most of my commute im resting my hands on my fists as if they are holding invisible bar-ends (if that makes sense!!)

Upgrade from a 7-speed rear cassette to perhaps an 8 or 9 as I find the gearing a wee bit far apart in some cases

Think about replacing the 3 chainrings with 2 chainrings as I haven't used the smallest chainring once since I built the bike - they are basic shimano I had left over from my old bike and I was thinking of replacing them anyway.

Get a bike mount for my Garmin etrex (just for geeky value!)

Front lights as well.....and maybe a second rear light just to be sure....

not 100% with my selle italia octavia, I have adjusted it every way possible yet its still a bit uncomfy....

Wifey is buying me SPD's for my birthday but im still insure whether to go for pure clipless or the ones with the cage that you can use as normal pedals too...

Need a waterproof jacket - tempting fate just in a jersey at the minute!

Apart from that cycling to work is probably the best thing I have done in ages - as someone else said on here its almost like having extra free time for a couple of hours each day :)
twitter @fat_cyclist

Comments

  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    Just bash the bar ends on already! Don't worry about the flatness of the bars. And that wee chainring is hardly ever used, but you'll be glad it's there at some point (plus having to change from shifters, and maybe the mech if I remember right)

    What sort of bike do you have, btw? Before we all start rambling on about tyres etc etc
  • Mike400
    Mike400 Posts: 226
    tardie wrote:
    Just bash the bar ends on already! Don't worry about the flatness of the bars. And that wee chainring is hardly ever used, but you'll be glad it's there at some point (plus having to change from shifters, and maybe the mech if I remember right)

    What sort of bike do you have, btw? Before we all start rambling on about tyres etc etc

    Started with an alu Raleigh MTB frame, built it up with a combination of bits I had lying around and bits from ebay.

    Its basically a mongrel of a MTB on slicks (Schwalbe cityjets) with cable discs and a pannier rack. lol. nothing fancy but its not as heavy as it looks and it works :)

    I suppose changing the chainring would be a major faff re mech, shifters etc so ill maybe just upgrade it.

    The riser bars are anodised purple but my wife takes the mick as they look almost pink in some lights....so part of the handlebar change would be for aesthetics lol

    besides half the fun is wasting money on bits you dont necessarily need and tinkering!!!
    twitter @fat_cyclist
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    Mike400 wrote:
    Upgrade from a 7-speed rear cassette to perhaps an 8 or 9 as I find the gearing a wee bit far apart in some cases

    You won't be able to do that without a new rear wheel, mech, and shifter - possibly more worthwhile looking for a closer spaced 7 speed cassette.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Sounds like you're in the market for a roadbike!

    Congrats on the first week, it's great innit?
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    First and foremost, WELL DONE!

    For everything but the bar ends, I'd hold off for a little while. Some of them are pretty big, expensive changes to make...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Well done fella! Go for it!

    You'll soon be looking for a drop bar road bike and a 10 speed cassette!
  • Mike400
    Mike400 Posts: 226
    Aidy wrote:
    You won't be able to do that without a new rear wheel, mech, and shifter - possibly more worthwhile looking for a closer spaced 7 speed cassette.

    I have a 9 speed rear wheel, with a spacer to accept a 7 speed cassette, but yea the cost of the mech and shifters would all add up...
    Il Principe wrote:
    Sounds like you're in the market for a roadbike!
    gtvlusso wrote:
    You'll soon be looking for a drop bar road bike and a 10 speed cassette!

    My company are entering C2W in the autumn, if I manage to keep building on the fitness I fully intend using C2W to buy a road bike as a second bike, but the MTB seems to be coping well as a commuter hack, especially as I carry panniers etc
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    For everything but the bar ends, I'd hold off for a little while. Some of them are pretty big, expensive changes to make...

    But its addictive lol....im def going to swap to straight bars with bar ends asap, both for comfort and aesthetics....I suppose you are right in that the other stuff is expensive and would give little benefit at the minute...too many shiny things for sale on the 'net!!

    thanks for all the encouragement guys, I always look forward to going home from work (who doesnt!) but for completely different reasons now!!!

    As its friday and the weather isnt bad im seriously tempted to take an extended route home..
    twitter @fat_cyclist
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    mmmm horse yummy
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Mike400 wrote:
    I have lost 5lbs!!!!


    Im eating like a horse....

    you'll probably need to expand your diet a bit, If you''re just eating hay no wonder you're losing weight.

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