Search found 38 matches

by paultheagle
15 Oct 2015, 1:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: WHICH WHEELS
Replies: 11
Views: 1796

Re: WHICH WHEELS

Brucey wrote:I can just about see the logic in wanting lighter wheels when you are doing day rides etc but am I the only one who sees a contradiction in wanting to use such wheels when loaded with 20kg of touring gear?

All things being equal (which admittedly they are not, always...) wheels start reducing in strength quite quickly once you lighten them past a certain point. For example just reducing the spoke count from (say) 32 to 28 might save 30g or so but reduces some aspects of the wheel strength by over 10%; not a good trade IMHO.

Mavic put a lot engineering into their wheels but if there is a flaw it is that the spokes in some models are not easily sourced as others have pointed out. In any of these wheels if you lose a spoke you are likely in the poop; I'd suggest that when touring with a load on you should carry spare spokes, especially if the wheel goes so far out when one breaks that you risk rubbing through the tyre or something. Some wheelsets with minimal spokes can suffer permanent damage (rim takes a new set) when a spoke breaks.

You don't say what kind of mileage you do, how long you expect the wheels to last, how hard you ride or how heavy you are, or indeed if you keep your bike clean in the wintertime (washing off winter road salt); all these things can affect wheel choice (aluminium nipples are just a liability in the wintertime). FWIW in your situation I'd keep a set of wheels (and tyres) for loaded/winter work and a different set for unladen/summer riding. If I were really interested in saving weight, I mightn't have got a disc braked bike to start with, either, but that is just me.

cheers


Brucey - in answer to your questions....

about 300-400 on ave when touring, no idea on life expectancy but my current cx wheels are 2 years in and look good, i am around 82 kg, i'm not sure about how hard i ride but according to Garmin - averaged around 12 -14 mph when touring, yes i keep a clean machine - not a dirty nipple in sight !
by paultheagle
15 Oct 2015, 1:38pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: WHICH WHEELS
Replies: 11
Views: 1796

Re: WHICH WHEELS

OK everybody - thank you for the sage advice...

i must admit at being intrigued at the prospect of getting a set hand made (who wants to look like everybody else) - particularly if this isn't that cost restrictive, in a relative sense...

but i really wouldn't know where to start - any recommendations as to reputable wheel maker and the sort of spec i should be looking at ?
by paultheagle
14 Oct 2015, 2:56pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: WHICH WHEELS
Replies: 11
Views: 1796

WHICH WHEELS

i have always found the advice on this site useful so hopefully help me again !

I've had my kinesis tripster atr for about 2 years now and although very happy with my "one bike does it all" - i'm thinking its time to upgrade some parts, naturally the first biggie is the wheels...

i'm currently riding the standard kinesis cx crosslight disc clinchers, 28 spoke front and back, 24 mm wide 22 mm deep, hubs were kinesis own aluminium sealed bearing with standard 6 bolt mounting - weight is around 1800 g. they have been impressively smooth and have stayed true - i run conti gp 4s pretty much all year, sometimes swapping for schwalbe one's for summer months - both on 28's.

my style of riding is 80 % road - 20% gravel/dirt road, downs link/avenue verte sort of stuff, i also do a bit of light touring with tubus on (tent/sleep kit etc) and have short bike for commute.

so my goal is to get an upgrade to a lighter faster set, maybe just a bit less rolling resistance on the tarmac and easier for climbs wile still being able to cope with the light off road/trail stuff i do and to support a bit of light touring (say 20 kg max), i am also tempted to go tubeless as this seems to fit the gravel/adventure bike profile well IMO and quite fancy the new pro one tubeless...

my own research has led me to 2 sets up to and around £700 catagory:

Fulcrum - 2016 Racing 5 LG Disc Wheels - http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/en/collect ... acing-5-LG

mavic ksyrium pro disc all road, which come with Yksion Elite Allroad in 30mm tyres fitted http://www.mavic.co.uk/wheels-road-tria ... sc-allroad

any thoughts comments/experience on the above or any possible alternative suggestions much appreciated !
by paultheagle
17 Jun 2015, 6:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON NEW SHOES
Replies: 3
Views: 464

ADVICE ON NEW SHOES

Just returned from a London to Paris ride last weekend in a bit of pain from my specialized road shoes which seem to be pinching my little toe - 5 hours + in the saddle results in quite a deformity !

i wonder does anyone have any advice on a suitable wide shoe - my preferences would be :

- spd
- wide foot box
- as stiff a sole as possible with above spec

i do walk about in my shoes but not a long way, as long as i can make it to the cafe or pub then happy days ! the specialized had a rubber sole and rim so not too bad....

probably something closer to a road looking shoe than a tourer set of trainers as my experience with them is the soles were too soft and didn't offer any support in the pedal when clipped in..

advice much appreciated (except the person who says you can have two but not three of the above requirements).... :D
by paultheagle
24 Jun 2014, 11:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD
Replies: 19
Views: 4871

Re: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD

cycleruk wrote:There is mention of carbon bars and stem.
These can be very stiff and have little or no vibration damping qualities. The same goes for oversize aluminium bars as well. Check out the weight gain, if any compared with standard bars.


by paultheagle » Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:30 pm

typo, the cinelli bars and stem are alloy - so you can sleep better :mrgreen:
by paultheagle
24 Jun 2014, 4:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD
Replies: 19
Views: 4871

Re: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD

typo, the cinelli bars and stem are alloy - so you can sleep better :)

thanks for all the constructive feedback - FWIW i am working on the following:

frame - kinesis atr TI
fork - kinesis monocoque
seat post - kinesis carbon 27.2
stem & handlebars - cinelli dinamo alloy
saddle - TBA
groupset - ultegra compact (11-32)
wheels - kinesis crosslight CX (black rims)
tyres - schwalbe ones 28mm with tubes
cables - ultegra
pedals - shimano A600
brakes - trp spyre slc mechanical
mudguards - full road (probably giant)
rack - tubus fly
bar tape - lizard skins 2.5
bottle cages - elite custom race x 2

touring bike geometry (almost) - road bike weight (sub 9kg) = happy days :D
by paultheagle
20 Jun 2014, 6:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD
Replies: 19
Views: 4871

Re: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD

[/quote]Depends how you define gravelly bits. :wink: On some you will find the bike takes a hammering.[/quote]

maybe sustrans but not full cycle cross...if that helps.
by paultheagle
18 Jun 2014, 11:56am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD
Replies: 19
Views: 4871

ADVICE ON COMPONENTS FOR AUDAX/LIGHT TOURER BUILD

Hi.

I have received great advice from this forum over my choice of frame set for my first bike build with my LBS and after long debate and consideration - have decided to go for the kinesis decade tripster ATR Ti.

fast and light (but strong for the gravelly bits) is my objective as i tend to either credit card tour or pack very light (i am looking at ultegra groupset, cinelli dinamo carbon stem & bars, kinesis carbon fork and seat post), i'm also quite keen on the schwalbe one 28 tubeless tyres.

if budget was (within reason) not a restriction, what would be your recommendations for wheels and disc brakes ?

in fact any thoughts on my build - greatly received :D
by paultheagle
18 Jun 2014, 11:35am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best/favourite snacks for on the bike
Replies: 41
Views: 11380

Re: Best/favourite snacks for on the bike

hi everyone

a big thank you to all your replies.

i thought long about the responses and went for some granola bars (almond/chocolate) that were on sale at my local waitrose. i chose them because i could pack a few into the sides of my seat bag as well as my bar bag (they got a bit squashed but perfectly edible) - these and my 1.5 litre water bottle (along with the odd espresso stop) kept me "bonk" free :D

5 days and 250 + miles later, i'm back from the Netherlands and had a lovely time on my first euro trip.
by paultheagle
7 Jun 2014, 10:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON A FAST TOURER/AUDAX FRAME
Replies: 9
Views: 1687

Re: ADVICE ON A FAST TOURER/AUDAX FRAME

Brucey wrote:personally I would go for the Bob Jackson or the Spa, because they have sensible seat angles and the others don't (either definitely or probably).


Thanks for the interesting comments - according to my research....

The seat angle for the bob Jackson is 73, the spa is 72.5

The seat angle for the Hewitt is 73.8 and the mercian 74 (no idea what the roberts is but expect it's much the same).

Are these differences significant ?
by paultheagle
7 Jun 2014, 8:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: ADVICE ON A FAST TOURER/AUDAX FRAME
Replies: 9
Views: 1687

ADVICE ON A FAST TOURER/AUDAX FRAME

I am in the process of putting together my first bike from frame.

I am looking to build a fast tourer/audax - my requirements are:

- 28mm tyres with full mudguards
- Able to fit a rear lightweight rack
- Frame weight “as light as possible” below 1.8kg (carbon forks ok).

My current bike is a ridgeback world voyage 54cm frame with 1055 wheelbase, 71.5 head angle,450 chain stay, 552 top tube,540 seat tube, 74 degree seat angle, 75BB.

i had settled on the kinesis 4S as my frame of choice but as part of the build i have had a consultation with the BS who use the Retul fitting system - the fitter fears that the race geometry will not suit my all day in the saddle style of riding - the 4S has 1005 wheelbase, 73.5 head angle etc, he says 50mm can dramatically change the set up of the bike - fair enough :-)

so....i have whittled it down to the following manufacturers using my current bike size as an EQUIVALENT SIZED FRAME:

BOB JACKSON AUDAX END 2 END 1030WB, 72HA, 435CS, 570TT, 145HT 585ST, 73 SA,
HEWITT CARBON AUDAX 425CS, 548TT, 145HT, 550ST, 73.8 SA,
SPA AUDAX TITANIUM TI 1017WB, 72HA, 2.1 WGT, 425CS, 554TT, 135HT, 540ST, 72.5SA, 62.5BB
MERCIAN BIKES AUDAX FRAME 72HA, 425CS, 540TT, 74SA, 68BB,
ROBERTS COMPACT AUDAX ST 1.8WGT,

i have found it really hard getting the geometry on some of these frames !

bearing in mind the style - what would be your recommendation, which should i go for and why ?
by paultheagle
3 Jun 2014, 3:04pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best/favourite snacks for on the bike
Replies: 41
Views: 11380

Re: Best/favourite snacks for on the bike

Thanks to everybody for the great advice !
by paultheagle
30 May 2014, 1:52pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best/favourite snacks for on the bike
Replies: 41
Views: 11380

Best/favourite snacks for on the bike

I'm setting off on a longish tour of the Netherlands in a week or so..

i just wondered what is everybody's preference or experiences with snack food to eat on the bike ?

i have suffered the dreaded bonk a few times on long runs and i have read its a good idea to eat at least once every hour (as well as keep rehydrated, which i am better at).

does anybody have any tips - popular foods ?

(i will probably be using a small top bar bag and usually carry a banana) :)
by paultheagle
30 May 2014, 12:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best cassette for a compact double (hill climber)
Replies: 6
Views: 1259

Re: Best cassette for a compact double (hill climber)

Grateful for all the comments guys, many thanks - probably go for 12 -32 as offers best hill climb/flat combo for me :)
by paultheagle
28 May 2014, 9:49pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best cassette for a compact double (hill climber)
Replies: 6
Views: 1259

Best cassette for a compact double (hill climber)

I am currently in the process of building (via my LBS), my first lightweight tourer/audax bike (kinesis 4s frame, ultegra compact double & group set,mavic open pro custom wheels, tubus rack, full guards etc.

Just wanted opinions on cassette, taking into account that I still light tour with circa 6kg on the rack and with hills in mind.

I was thinking 11-28 gives me the best balance between climbing ability and on flat cadence - what does everybody think, or have experience of ?