What road bike...
Discussion
civicduty said:
One more thing for now, what bugger has nicked the tread from my tyres? 
Good choice!For the record, bike tyres (...any tyres) only have traction (and therefore grip) while they are touching the ground. A slick tyre has a larger contact patch than a knobbly one (because only the knobbles touch the ground) and therefore more traction.
Car tyres have tread because they have a square cross-section and need to get water out of the way to stop aquaplaning, not a problem for circular section bike tyres.
Edited by Gizmoish on Monday 18th August 14:26
Right after a weekend spent at Spa for the Grand Prix, I had my first ride last night, all 11 miles of it. Good fun.
Couple of questions.
1. Do my tyres really need to be at 100psi? I have put them to this as it is the reccomened pressure for my tyres, but it seems to change even the smoothest looking bit of tarmac into a washboard. (I am about [cough]96 kg[/cough], would this have any bearing on the pressures?).
2. Considering no setup of the bike has been carried out bar the bloke at Decatholon settting up the saddle, I had a pretty ache free ride, the only thing that did hurt was back of my neck and occasionally between the shoulder blades. I am putting this down to the fact that my glasses kept sliding down my nose so had to crane my neck further to look where I was going, but is this likely to be the only reason?
3. Bike came with this,
Think that is about it for now as far as update goes. Thanks everyone for there words of advice so far.
Couple of questions.
1. Do my tyres really need to be at 100psi? I have put them to this as it is the reccomened pressure for my tyres, but it seems to change even the smoothest looking bit of tarmac into a washboard. (I am about [cough]96 kg[/cough], would this have any bearing on the pressures?).
2. Considering no setup of the bike has been carried out bar the bloke at Decatholon settting up the saddle, I had a pretty ache free ride, the only thing that did hurt was back of my neck and occasionally between the shoulder blades. I am putting this down to the fact that my glasses kept sliding down my nose so had to crane my neck further to look where I was going, but is this likely to be the only reason?
3. Bike came with this,
Decathlon said:
8-speed MICROSHIFT shifters. Very precise, rapid and robust design. Very comfortable ergonomics, levers suit all hand sizes. Very precise front and rear MICROSHIFT derailleurs enabling amazingly-smooth chain crossovers.
But on the ride I was finding a lot of false gears, finding that shifting the rear mech didn't do anything and have to hunt around for gears. The bike was put on a stand when I bought it, and the bloke was going through all the gears and adjusting it, but perhaps not perfectly. With this mech set is it something I will have to put up with, or should they be able to sort it at the free three month service?Think that is about it for now as far as update goes. Thanks everyone for there words of advice so far.
1 - yes, at that weight 100psi is about the least I'd want much less than that and the bike will feel wallowy and pinch flats would be much more likely. What tyres are you using?
2. Quite possibly.
3. No that is not right, quite possible though that the adjustment was not done correctly, OR the cables have already stretched, though unlikely in one ride. That is the issue with using cheap non recognised brand gearing, its usually quite poor vs Shimano equivalentY
2. Quite possibly.
3. No that is not right, quite possible though that the adjustment was not done correctly, OR the cables have already stretched, though unlikely in one ride. That is the issue with using cheap non recognised brand gearing, its usually quite poor vs Shimano equivalentY
okgo said:
1 - yes, at that weight 100psi is about the least I'd want much less than that and the bike will feel wallowy and pinch flats would be much more likely. What tyres are you using?
Hutchinson Equinox (23 mm wide), the ones that came with the bike. Fair enough will stick with 100psi (to be fair all my previous riding has been done on a MTB where 40psi felt hard enough!!).okgo said:
3. No that is not right, quite possible though that the adjustment was not done correctly, OR the cables have already stretched, though unlikely in one ride. That is the issue with using cheap non recognised brand gearing, its usually quite poor vs Shimano equivalentY
I knew the gearing was one of the weakest components of this bike, but still the overall bike was good value for money. I will give them another attempt to fiddle with the gearing at the free service, failing that I can see upgrade-itus kicking in. What would be the best value for money gearing to upgrade to?Usget said:
It'll just be Decathlon f
king it up. If you take it in your friendly local bike shop, they'll probably adjust them for you in five minutes if you go at a not-too-busy time.
This ^king it up. If you take it in your friendly local bike shop, they'll probably adjust them for you in five minutes if you go at a not-too-busy time.Apart from a tiny adjustment to the barrel adjuster a few days after I started riding it, I haven't needed to touch either derailleur in over 1200Km. There are some good YouTube videos showing how to sort out indexing and adjustments, always worth knowing as it's a relatively simple job.
As for the tyres, I run my rear at 110 psi with the front at 100 psi and found this is the best compromise. Any less and the bike feels slow, higher and the ride is too harsh but I weigh 83Kg so maybe vary them a bit till you find the sweet spot.
Looks like the same drivetrain as my 2013 Triban 300. It needed adjusting every other week at one point, but then I replaced the cables and the shifts have been swift and smooth since. £20 incl. parts and labour at the LBS, now much happier. I want to say I would happily buy a bike with microshift again because there wasn't anything wrong with it, but in reality I will more than likely end up with SORA since that's what tends to be on the next step up (Triban 500 (not SE), Felt F95/Z95, etc.)
civicduty said:
Guess I will be looking for some sort of elastic strap thing to help hold my glasses up my nose then, laser surgery looking more attractive all the time, just need the fund sto be able to do it.
Regards laser surgery, do it, wife and I had it done about 4 years ago now - think we'd both say its the best thing we have ever spent money on. Were both approx. -2.75 / -3.0, both walked out the same day with better than 20/20 vision and its not changed at all since then. Amazing.Anyway, yes glasses falling down could be culprit bit neck ache is also associated with being to stretched out be this due to seat to far back, too long a stem or too big a frame.
civicduty said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Gearing should work, it might not be the best or lightest, but you should get a few years of no nonsense shifting
WHat model bike is it, where in UK are you OP?
Triban 500SE and Swindon area.WHat model bike is it, where in UK are you OP?
I find Mitchells the best shop, down by the Magic Roundabout best for no nonsense repairs
TwistingMyMelon said:
Thought something rang a bell, I'm in Wroughton and ride round Swindon most days
I find Mitchells the best shop, down by the Magic Roundabout best for no nonsense repairs
Thanks for that, will give Decathlon a chance to sort it out at the free service after that will try Mitchells. Do you ever cycle the main road between Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett? If so do you ever notice the washboard effect on the road between the two, it seems to start at the golf course/hotel all the way to the fifty sign near Bassett. If not what could be creating the issue, any ideas?I find Mitchells the best shop, down by the Magic Roundabout best for no nonsense repairs
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