Numpty IM Bike Thread

Hello - think this might be a good place for me to post as I'm a cycling newbie - I do a lot of running but really fancy triathlon. I do a lot of gym cycling, it was suggested by my physio for some issues I had with my running but apart from trailing around following my daughter on a cheap mountain bike I have barely done any real cycling at all.

Got a road bike fitted by our local bike shop, I'm tall for a girl so have a men's Specialized Allez Sport which is really comfortable, having never ridden a road bike before I was certainly expecting it to feel weirder than it did. Only problem is I have tiny hands, and damage to the tendons in my right hand, so the stretch to use the brakes when my hands are in the top position is difficult. I've had a quick search around and seen various suggestions for different brake levers and adjusting lever but wondered if anyone here had had the same issue and what you had done.

Local bike shop wants me to bring the bike in for a service in a few weeks and so I can have a chat to them but thought I'd try and do a bit of research first as well.

Thanks

Rachel

Rachel - get some shims for the brake levers - the shop should be able to advise - they are only bits of plastic so shouldn't cost much.   My 10 year old twins both use Shimano shifters OK and however small your hands are I'll bet they are not smaller than theirs.   If that doesn't work then some bars may bring the levers closer than others - I'm not sure if bars meant for small people would also bring the levers closer or just reduce the reach though.    

Pretty sure Shimano do actually make some shifters for small hands but shimano shifters are very expensive so unless money is no object go for the shims.    

ps - the shims are proper shimano made things not just some bodge job.

edit - like these http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?partno=30079

Rear shifting was lumpy the other week, so I put the bike in the garage and hoped the elves would fix it. Turned out they didn't.

32 mi round trip today with horrendous gear changes, to run XC. Have just been to fettle the bike and the rear cable took a lot of tightening, then broke.

Lucky it happened at home, unlucky it happened in the shifter. I think I managed to fish out all the offending strands of steel.

Any advice please for winter tyres for my road bike?

I ahve some lush schwalbe ones on at the minute and think I need to get something more suitable.

or Conti Gatorskins

the GP 4's are more of a winter racing tyre (and hence pricier); the Gatorskins are more of an all round training tyre.  both will do a good job

Schwalbe Durano gets some good reviews

Has anyone had any experience with the pumps that are CO2 inflators and pumps in one device? Are these any good or am I better off getting a separate pump and CO2 unit?

Cheers

Can I get colour matching stipes on the Duranos?

to match what? eyes?  hair colour??  

and - no stripes - but they do come in cream, brown or green as well as black

To match my bike and make it go faster

Thanks for the advice. I have held off on a purchase just in case they arrive in my crimbo stocking. It would not surprise me if Mr Muffin (slower) buys me some that he really wants for himself.

I've been looking at the Felt DA4 bike as a Christmas treat for me ...   However, while I was in the bike shop there was a Felt DA1 bike reduced to half price, the owner of the bike shop had used it for Ironman UK and then that was it. The size is ok but the issue was with the electric gears, I have heard mixed reports about these.  Please can you advise? 

Thanks

electronic gear sets are becoming more commonplace as their reliability improves and current ones from Shimano and Campag - and soon to be SRAM - are fine.  they're used extensively by pro riders and teams.

obviously you need to make sure you keep the battery pack charged - no point finding that 50miles from home and you don't have any gears - but other than that, they're fine.

all gearing systems will have problems from time to time - it's knowing what to do when it does happen that's perhaps the key.  

Thanks FB, I appreciate your advice - less biased and more open than I'll get at any shop.

we managed for a very long time with manual gears and no doubt many will continue to shun electronic.  but they have come on enormously in recent years and those who have switched will tell you that they're much easier to use and are more precise with each change.  but you still need to look after them to get the best performance.

I'm lusting after a Campag Super Record EPS set but frankly can't justify the expense - yet!

the entry price is coming down all the time - in about 10 years, most new bikes will be equipped with them I reckon.

Thanks again FB - I'll certainly look after them, it's knowing how to which is the hard part for me.

The deal is really good, but you're right, I couldn't justify the full £6000 for the bike new.

The owner has taken a hell of a hit to use a bike on just one race. 

I'm not convinced by electronic shifting for most of us.  I've never snapped a cable in 30 years of cycling - and my shifters haven't let me down.  OK so its a microsecond faster than manual shifting and the autotrim function is nice - but is it a thousand pounds nice ?  Better things to do with the money.  And I've heard of a few sets dying or shorting out on a ride - if that happens just once in the sets life then its worse than its mechanical equivalent. 

Fair point cougie - the last thing I want is for the gears to go, especially in Lanza

The person selling the bike has more money than sense - she's decided Ironman isn't for her!!

I think I'll stick to the DA4 - less money and potentially safer.

Thanks to all for the advice

I'd still go with the electronic shifters if the deal is good despite what my esteemed friend Cougs says.

and if you don't like them, you'd probably get a very good deal selling them on and putting manual shifters on.  I suspect they're Dura-Ace Di2s so at the top end of the market and on a top end frame that will still be there.  think the long game and potential returns on the investment!