Silly Commuter Crit bikes [now build]

iPete

What are the SCR SCCBs?

<blasphemy>Need to direct some funds towards a geared machine </blasphemy> for a crit or two. Have all the parts but need a frame. What's cheap, aggressive and disposable?

bigmat

When you say "crits", do you mean circuit races (where?) or are you talking proper tight crits? If the former, you'd be OK on any road bike really - obviously the "racier" (stiffer, lighter, more aggressive geometry) the better but I see people race on winter bikes from time to time and they do OK - have done so myself and finished reasonably well. Of course, there is a ludicrous amount of bling even in the lower category races, but you need to be willing to foot the bill if you hit the deck. I got taken out (in a road race) last year, completely the other guy's fault, but no comeback and it wiped out a £200 pair of bars as well as gouging my saddle, rear mech, tape and right hand shifter. To be honest I was just grateful the carbon frame (and me!) survived.

iPete

Closest circuit is hillingdon & for all the reasons you state, as much as I'd like a Cinelli Saetta frameset, something a bit more disposable would be better, perhaps an old tarmac or Allez

bigmat

Hillingdon is just a flat loop more or less - a few twists and turns but nothing too challenging. Can be very fast as a result and I've heard about some nasty crashes there. I'd advise getting the best bike you can afford to replace. An Allez or Tarmac should be fine - its more about the legs!

spasypaddy

CAAD 9 if you can get one

iPete

Ah yes, hadn't thought about a CAAD! If I build a cheap enough crit machine, might spend the savings on a power metre hmmm!

What other circuits are good within a reasonable cycle of London or SW-London?

vermin

BigMat wrote:

Hillingdon is just a flat loop more or less - a few twists and turns but nothing too challenging. Can be very fast as a result and I've heard about some nasty crashes there. I'd advise getting the best bike you can afford to replace. An Allez or Tarmac should be fine - its more about the legs!

Don't underestimate the ability of people to fall off bikes at Hillingdon. The one time I went there there was a coming together right in the middle of the main long straight.

bigmat

iPete wrote:

Ah yes, hadn't thought about a CAAD! If I build a cheap enough crit machine, might spend the savings on a power metre hmmm!

What other circuits are good within a reasonable cycle of London or SW-London?

Redbridge Cycle Centre ("Hog Hill")
Cyclopark (Gravesend)
Crystal Palace

These are the ones I have ridden - there's one at Dunsfold I think, not sure how easy that is to get to.

There are also road races run by SERRL (South East Road Race League) and the Surrey League. These tend to be more fun - feels more like proper road racing.

Wrath Rob

Dunsfold tends to be spring/summer only. Its the service roads around the airfield where TopGear is filmed, and so is wide, flat and exposed to the wind. I raced there and saw a few crashes, all to do with people not experienced in group riding doing silly things. Safer than Hillingdon though.

You've also got the handicap road races that will start in late spring, places like Kitsmead Lane, Hungry Hill etc. They're crit-like in that they are short loops of left hand turns, but are on open roads so there's traffic around.

As said, you don't need a crit bike, just get something stiff that you're happy to race. I race on my decent Sunday bike, mainly as its the only one I've got (the commuter isn't legal as its got disk brakes) and if I didn't race it I wouldn't be getting some of the benefits of a light, stiff frame. I still get my arse handed to me though

SteppenHerring

Palace will test your cornering. If you can carry more speed through the corners then you save a huge amount of energy. I don't race there but the boy does. Cyclopark is a longer circuit but not as tight and is very exposed with more elevation change. It's dead posh though with proper changing rooms and a café.

tgotb

vermin wrote:

Don't underestimate the ability of people to fall off bikes at Hillingdon. The one time I went there there was a coming together right in the middle of the main long straight.

I once saw two guys who were 30 yards off the front leave the circuit completely, half way down that straight. They rejoined after a few yards on the grass, and half a lap later the one who was in front rolled his tub on the hairpin. He came off and his mate rode straight over the top of him :roll:

Edit: To answer the original question, something you can afford to crash. I got a pre-crashed carbon Madone 5.2 (for £40 I think) and rebuilt it with some spare carbon I had lying around. Ended up becoming my "best" bike, but if I crashed it I'd be annoyed rather than heartbroken...

iPete

TGOTB wrote:

vermin wrote:

Don't underestimate the ability of people to fall off bikes at Hillingdon. The one time I went there there was a coming together right in the middle of the main long straight.

I once saw two guys who were 30 yards off the front leave the circuit completely, half way down that straight. They rejoined after a few yards on the grass, and half a lap later the one who was in front rolled his tub on the hairpin. He came off and his mate rode straight over the top of him :roll:

Genuine laugh out loud

Right, cheap stiff frame it is!

mroli

TGOTB wrote:

I once saw two guys who were 30 yards off the front leave the circuit completely, half way down that straight. They rejoined after a few yards on the grass, and half a lap later the one who was in front rolled his tub on the hairpin. He came off and his mate rode straight over the top of him :roll:

I was in that race I think (although I only saw the rolling the tub and the subsequent crash). It was the bizarrest thing ever, they'd gone off the front and everyone was doing the Hillingdon thing of catching them very slowly so no-one had to work too hard and then they were both on the floor on top of each other as we rode past looking very confusedly at them.
I think on the last lap of that race, on the same corner someone came up my inside on that same corner and "bounced" me off the track. I was a little disgruntled!

Stiff, second-hand Al frame would be perfect.

hstiles

Something like a BMC Streetfire would serve you very well. Quite heavy, but very stiff and very fast. They frequently crop up on ebay for around £500. They are super strong - mine was broadsided by a VW Golf and survived.

iPete

CAAD 8 framset arrived today, along with a second hand 105 53/39 chainset and new cable sets.

Hope BB is a bit grindy, so need to grab a 105 BB to continue building.



Added:

Deda carbon seatpost
Planet X CNC brakes
3T stem and 3t ergonova bars
RS80 Wheels with Miche 3 tyres but might put Hope/OpenPro handbuilds on and save those for race day.

notsoblue

I saw a collision in a 4th cat race at Ludgershall a few weeks ago. Theres only really two corners on that track!

anonymousblackfg

Willier Escape, Bomb proof Alu,

If racing Hillingdon, there's a reason it's known as the Carbon Graveyard.

itboffin

notsoblue wrote:

I saw a collision in a 4th cat race at Ludgershall a few weeks ago. Theres only really two corners on that track!

I cycle through Ludgershall every morning, not the Thruxton track mind you that would be odd

iPete

Arg keep forgetting the little things, so many wiggle boxes coming! Need a chain catcher and cable adjusters now but the frame has threadless braze on things:



Something like this?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-cable-t ... adjusters/

Drfabulous0

Then you need inline cable adjusters

pitchshifter

Does anyone really use cable adjusters on the down tube?

spasypaddy

i dont have them on my CAAD9

willy b

Liking that Pete. Look forward to seeing it built.

cyclingprop

pitchshifter wrote:

Does anyone really use cable adjusters on the down tube?

Yeah I adjust trim while moving if it's playing up a bit.

Drfabulous0

pitchshifter wrote:

Does anyone really use cable adjusters on the down tube?

Eww, never, that would imply the use of gears.

iPete

Looking a bit more like a bike now..



Saddle, bars & levers to add then it is cable time.

Yes yes those are SPDs...

spasypaddy

3t components are the dogs danglies

iPete

Indeedy! Have the Ergonova bars to add, shame the matching 3t black/white seatpost is aluminium, bah!

spasypaddy

you dont need a carbon seat post on a caad frame

willy b

Smart. Too many spacers though. Slam it.

iPete

well I happened to have a carbon deda in the spares box so on it goes and yes yes it'll get slammed when I can sit on it 8)