Darkside. Oh no- I bought the wrong the wrong bike size

Can’t believe no ones mentioned the frame mounted pump yet, mini pump in the rear pocket of your jersey is the way to go.
Surprised kids in the street have not been throwing eggs and mocking you.

Hora needs a team sky kit as that stripe will go well with his bike!

Can’t believe no ones mentioned the frame mounted pump yet, mini pump in the rear pocket of your jersey is the way to go.

I am a little surprised not to see a saddle bag on there too.

You’ve been very vocal on bike fit before, I believe it was that unless you’re spending 50% of your time in the drops the bars are too low?

I’ve mellowed – 30% 😉 Drops are there to be used, after all.

But Orange stem and Blue frame. Please. SO 90’s decor. White if you must, but there are rules for these sorts of things. That Baum is as nice as the Parlee.

I am a little surprised not to see a saddle bag on there too.

I use a saddle bag. The rules be damned!

I use a saddle bag. The rules be damned!

one of my more serious roadie mates is dead against saddle bags. Quite why it is better to have extra bulky weight stretching your £100+ Castelli/Assos/Rapha top out of shape rather than neatly (and aerodynamically) tucked away on the bike I cant figure out.

I have the best of both worlds, all the junk goes in Munqe Chick’s saddle bag leaving both my bike and my jersey unfettered 😆

Is this naughty? I prefer riding my road bike without a helmet 😳

I’ve just bought two of these:

http://www.merlincycles.com/continental-grand-prix-gt-folding-road-tyre-70152.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Both+16+June+Newsletter-2014-06-19+18%3A00%3A00&emst=ns9h6ZZFrF_69268_973904_17

Whats the best sleeveless gillet for wifebeater summer road riding?

Is this naughty? I prefer riding my road bike without a helmet

You’re a grown up, you know the risks.

Well I have had a stay in hospital due to a head injury so I know the risks..

You’re a grown up

Jury’s still out.

Whats the best sleeveless gillet for wifebeater summer road riding?

if youre even vaguely serious about gilets, Scott stuff at start cycles and use code TRIATHLETE10 to knock 10% off already massive discounts. Windproof DWR and water repellent should be less than £20, made with Gore Windstopper a few quid more.

http://startcycles.co.uk/sale/category/scott-clearance.html?arm_length=1548&dir=desc&limit=21&order=percentage_saving

the Windbreaker will pack into a jersey pocket, the Windstopper is a little bulkier.

Could I wear this next to the skin on summer evenings?

http://startcycles.co.uk/sale/category/scott-clearance/scott-2012-rc-pro-cycling-vest-gilet-221534-2279-3.html

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with the 25c compared to the 23c.

The angle of the drops is another variable, btw. Rotate them but also vary the position of the hoods. Also the shape is another big variable.

Could I wear this next to the skin on summer evenings?

😐 😕

Could I wear this next to the skin on summer evenings?

yes because its a sleeveless jersey, by gilet I thought you meant sleeveless shell (which you wouldnt want to wear next to the skin).

I think their “athletic fit” is racing snake snug but worth checking. Theyve got roadie mitts for peanuts too if you have a look around (I wont recommend their MTB gloves cos your too nail to wear them 🙂 ).

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with the 25c compared to the 23c.

In a good or bad way? I’m new to all this- I assume(?) that 25c would give noticeable more comfort?

Cheers crashtestmonkey- I fart in the general direction of your trail gloves!

‘next to skin’….ever ridden on a Charge scoop saddle? It feels almost pervey..

In a good or bad way? I’m new to all this- I assume(?) that 25c would give noticeable more comfort?

TBH I didn’t really notice any difference in comfort (though not entirely sure what that means and that’s not why I got them anyway.) You may find the handling feels a bit funny for the first couple of rides. I think they do roll a bit better. I rather like them. Am still playing with pressures though.

Edit… mine are the GP4000S II, though tore a big hole in the front having only ridden them for a couple of weeks, stupid roadworks left loads of sharp bits of flint on the road so can’t really blame the tyre.

The thinking is 25c means I can drop the pressure slightly too over my 23c’s?

I wasn’t running huge pressures on 23c (85/95). Dropped a further 10psi to start with on 25c.

25c’s? You might feel a bit of sag every now and again, slam them to 110psi and try em’ out. I use 25c’s on my M40C rims and I can tell the difference but then I’m a roadie and can tell the difference to most small changes.
Can’t really see them making much difference to your riding, mebbies a teeny bit of give every now and again, but then what have you got to measure them against?
The casing make up is more important than width I’d say (fnarr fnarr)

100psi+ on my 23c – was going to try the 25c at 90psi as it has the hard-gator belt

The casing make up is more important than width I’d say (fnarr fnarr)

As does the tube you use.

Hora, try dropping your pressures a bit on the 23c and see how you get on, and running a bit less pressure on the front too.

slam them to 110psi and try em’ out

Not sure if serious 🙂

Well they are bought now and only £20 each so worthwhile anyway to throw them on and keep the 23c’s as backup.

hard-gator belt
only £20 each

Don’t expect too much!

Puncture proof belts don’t help prevent pinch flats which is the risk with lower pressures.

For 20quid each from a good brand I doubt they’ll be kerbfinders 8)

mrblobby – Member

slam them to 110psi and try em’ out

Not sure if serious

I am, I ride my 23’s at 110psi on the rear and 100/105 on the front, the 25’s I use the same pressures.

But hey, 90’s cool if you like a bit of “roll” 😀

Old skool 🙂

Yeah totally !! 😆

I am, I ride my 23’s at 110psi on the rear and 100/105 on the front, the 25’s I use the same pressures.

Same here. I found 25’s handle the minor imperfections in our dreadful roads better than 23’s. And I have two sets of tyres in both widths to compare (Mavic Yksion Pros and Schwalbe Ones). Mavic recommend at least 100PSI for their 23c.

I found the biggest change was latex inner tubes. Noticeably better rolling (and louder). Gatorskins and cheap tubes are hosepipe by comparison.

Only been playing with lower pressures and wider tyres for the past 6 months or so. Before then was always 23c at 110psi front and rear. I do reckon lower pressures are generally a bit quicker, probably because it makes things a little less skittish, but really that’s just judging by feel and knowing speeds/times on local training loops. I prefer it now.

TiRed, latex tubes are on my shopping list. Not tired them for years but I reckon they are worth another go now that clinchers are better than they use to be. Also not having much luck with the lightweight butyl tubes recently.

I gave up on the Continental Supersonics as they seemed to be too fragile. The Michelin latex inner tubes (cheapest from Decathlon) are excellent. Installation requires more care to avoid pinching because they are so flexible and squeeze out of the tiniest crevice under high pressure. I’ve had only one puncture in about 1000 miles and that was a screw through the tyre. I have to pump them up daily. But the difference was impressive and worth it for the nice and race bikes, but not the commuter.

You will probably blow one under the bead with an impressive bang. I have.

Continental Supersonics

Blimey, been using the Race Light ones and they are bad enough. Was going to try the Vittoria latex ones but if I see the Michelin ones cheap then I’ll give them a go. Hoping that latex tubes and some of the “open tubular” clinchers will get close to the feel of tubs.

I have to pump them up daily.

Check pressures every ride anyway!

You will probably blow one under the bead with an impressive bang. I have.

Having had this happen too many times with the Race Light I’m now super cautious about inflating. Pump a bit, check, deflate, check around bead, pump up a bit more etc.

^^ second that, I use Michelin latex tubes too though go for the expensive LBS option 😆 Not punctured yet despite my flint lane hacks and found them a PITA to fit. Only 1yr into using them and all good so far.

In a good or bad way?

Just to see if you think its worthwhile changing from 23 to 25.

Might try some latex tubes first though 😀

Hora, up here you don’t need much in the way of puncture protection. We don’t get all the bits of thorns etc that you get more of further south. I’ve never had a flat on the road bike riding round West Yorks and I don’t know any other rider who has had any issues either.
However there are some pretty crappy roads so a slighter bigger tyre can help. I bought some of the STW standard Conti Gator Skins and I didn’t think they were very grippy at all especially in the wet. I went back to Rubino Pro tyres which have been around a while but are still great tyres – lots of great reviews online for them. They seems to roll very nicely and grip very well.
After having a few tyres I think that the quality ones tend to be pretty good at reducing the likelihood of punctures. Cheap ones can be as light but maybe where the money goes in the more expensive ones is some protection while stil being light and fast. I’ve ridden mine on gravel paths and off-road at times with no issues.

Changed the front to 25C- It feels comfy- not massively so buy comfy.

I didn’t change the rear as I damaged the tyre levers and **** ITS HARD.WTF?!!!

Changed the front to 25C- It feels comfy- not massively so buy comfy.

Ride more, you will get use to it. You running sensible pressures?

100psi last night