Cycling UK Forum

Ah let’s keep it friendly eh, everyone’s trying to help - right or wrong

Good to know. I mean it was absolutely chucking it down so I’m hoping that slowed me down.

Only real reason I’m looking at speed is I’d like to do the 100 in 7 hours. Any longer than this I think the Crown Jewels will melt.

My first ride of the year...well first ride in years!

Last time I rode more than 40 miles was 8 years ago, managed 14.5mph average.

Today, 11.6mph over 40. And I feel like death! Last 15 miles were agony.

Granted I set myself up to fail
It’s raining and I don’t have overshoes - feet were drenched by the third mile. Lesson learned
Left home before breakfast so rode with only an iso drink. Lesson learned I need to take more fuel

I’m training for a 100 miler at the end of May....got a lot of work to do! Feel a bit deflated as hoped my average would be higher but hey, only way is up (can’t get much slower after all - be rolling backwards!

Ok....gotten carried away.....overspent.....Campag was a bad idea, costs have spiralled. Thankfully i'm almost there.

Campagnolo Chorus 11 Shifters - RRP £310.00 (£242.99 Chain reaction) - £165 BNIB.
Campagnolo Chorus 11 Rear Derail - RRP £169.00 - £82 used Ebay.
Fizik R5 Saddle - RRP £54.99 - £37 BNIB
2 x Schwalbe Luggano Tyres - £33.82

Total RRP £500.80 - Total spend £317.82
Saving £182.98

Total project spend: £897.98
Total saved: £539.77

I think all that's now left is the seat post and bar tape. So, £750 - out the window. £950 is more likely.

.........don't tell the wife.

Think in reality, shimano would've been a much better choice, but here I am. Looking forward to putting it all together and getting out on it.

More spending...

definitely should've gone 105.... been a lot cheaper.

anyway,

Chorus front derail - RRP £91.99 - New from Tweaks Cycles £59.99
Chorus 11 speed chain - RRP £43.99 - New from Tweaks Cycles £35.99

Total RRP £135.98 - Total spend £86.38 (10% extra off at the moment)
Saving £49.60

Total project spend: £580.16
Total saved: £256.79 (£356.79 if separating extras on frame)

So, collected my Calima wheels and really pleased.

next step - tubes and tyres.

any recommendations?

I think realistically this will be a fair weather bike - if it's raining i'll use the Bianchi, if it's nice i'll use the new one. This being said, it will be used all year round.

so, avg. 50 mile rides, road only. Ideally good at puncture resistance.

any suggestions? my wheels apparently take 25-28 but i'd like to keep at 25

that's now the plan.

bought it for £275.

So, that's frame, fork, bar, stem and crank for £275 (plus post)

I may just use the athena crank for the forseable. I'm really not going to notice the difference and it's 11 speed which suits the rest of the project.

Total Project Spend to date:
£493.78
Total Savings against new to date:
£207.19 - not adding to the saving here, it's a used frame so hard to judge saving. Stem would be £20, Bars £25, then the crank is about £75. So could add another £100 saving here.

I tried a 53 boardman today, and it was perfect! which surprised me as i'm 6' tall! but I have short legs, so I think between 54 and 56 depending on brand.

that first one is certainly possible.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193309845105

I saw this too - I don't want the crank as I'm working on Chorus for the build but could possibly get the price down - that being said, don't see much about Bantag stuff

ah in fairness it's used stuff, however I'm trying to stick to things that are "as new" so it's always going to be less than RRP, i'm just using that as a "makes me feel like i'm saving money" haha.

That being said, I'm chuffed with the wheels, those were exactly the ones I wanted and it was lucky they came up near me, and in mint condition having never being used.

Just need a frame to do the same thing

Hahah she justifies her spending in much the same way so not too bad.

Yeah I like campy shifting, using xenon on my turbo/winter hack so be nice to have an upgrade on this bike. Intend to use it on nice days and keep the bianchi for wet rides etc.

I’m really aiming to keep the frame below £250 - which means used for sure. Just a case of waiting to find the right one really focus Cayo seems to be in that threshold which would be ideal

So, as some are aware from my other threads, i've started a bike build project.

Now, i'll be asking loads of questions (as I already have) in other threads but wanted a single place for my actual build

The project is just for the fact I want a new bike but would like to keep the wife, so keeping costs down by using used parts and thought it might be of interest to others doing the same.

So far I have made three purchase:

11 Speed Chorus Cassette - RRP £89.99 - Ebay Purchase (new old stock) £58.78
Record Brake Calipers - RRP £191.99 - Ebay Purchase (again new) £75.00
Campagnolo Calima Wheels - RRP £133.99 - Ebay purchase (brand new unused) £75.00

Total Project Spend to date:
£208.78
Total Savings against new to date:
£207.19

Hi all,

I have recently been into Halfords to have a try at a few frames to see what would fit me for the bike build.

the SLR 8.9a in 53 was perfect, nice length and good leg fit. Now that seems really small, i'm 6' tall but small inside leg. I understand the leg holding back a larger frame but thought my overall height would see a larger frame anyway, I think my Bianchi is a 55

Are boardman just odd in their sizing?

i've looked on a comparison site but can't find the SLR - and annoyingly Halfords and Boardman list in SM M L rather than 53 55 etc etc. which is actually on the bikes.

I really liked the frame geometry - from sitting on it! and would like to see what other frames I can consider with similar proporsions. I.e. is a Boardman 53 as per a focus 54 for example.

no i take the advice gladly. You all have more experience here than me so i'd be daft to not listen....plus it means I can just carry on getting the rest of the groupset sorted.

I'm aiming to build up the Chorus 11 speed set - which will far outdo my fitness at any level.

that being said - I simply cannot justify £700 on a frame, it just doesn't hold that value to me personally.

does the planet X have any competition at that price point? their price is fine, I can go that far and be happy. But going above that just makes me a little uncomfortable and i'd rather spend that money on other things.

to be honest the seller seems to be getting a little iffy the more I question them and my latest email stating:

"it's listed as good condition - please confirm it is free of cracks and understand that if it is not and therefore not in good condition I will return for refund, being as i'm paying on credit card I will of course cancel the purchase with both ebay and card provider"

little heavy handed but yes, getting a little worried about not seeing it and not being able to guarantee the quality.

certainly no intention to go extreme, just a case of understanding my options. The only viable "new" i've seen is the planet X, which is £399 including fork. Now if I go that route, i'll probably put all the new bits on the Nirone and wait until I have everything else to put onto the frame. If I could find something below £200 I'd get it now and just build it up over time.

Oh there’s nothing stopping me physically having one. Merely a question of the benefit.

A friend and I are doing a 100 miler, I’ve only done 50 miles with any regularity but would like to do more 100s all being well so that’s the aim for the bike. Weekend rides, my weekday riding is all turbo