Full carbon road bike for 400 quid. What could go wrong?
Discussion
I use Finish Line Dry (red top) mainly but in prolonged wet weather or long wet winter rides I use Finish Line Cross Country (green top), this is a wet lube and you need to really clean your drivetrain weekly otherwise everything is covered in black goo, although it's good stuff especially on salty roads over winter, where the dry lubes will soon wash off in wet weather.
Half keeping my eye on eBay, wondering if it's worth picking up a 2nd 22" for my 15yr old daughter, she had a quick spin on mine & loved it.
Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
LordHaveMurci said:
What chain lube are you guys using? Kid in Halfords said they always use GT85 rather than more expensive seasonal Muc Off stuff, seems like half a job to me?
GT85 works better as a chain cleaner or a temporary lubricant, as it evaporates. You're better off using a dedicated chain lube, IMVHOLordHaveMurci said:
Half keeping my eye on eBay, wondering if it's worth picking up a 2nd 22" for my 15yr old daughter, she had a quick spin on mine & loved it.
Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
Man maths: Buy a/my frameset & stick your running gear on for yr daughter, buy shiny upgrades for yours.Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
richardxjr said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Half keeping my eye on eBay, wondering if it's worth picking up a 2nd 22" for my 15yr old daughter, she had a quick spin on mine & loved it.
Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
Man maths: Buy a/my frameset & stick your running gear on for yr daughter, buy shiny upgrades for yours.Not planning on spending £400 on her though!
Done 200-300mls on mine now, apart from learning the tyres go down much faster than MTB ones it's been great!
Full Shimano 105 Group is under £300 and is a big upgrade from the Sora kit.
Barchettaman said:
LordHaveMurci said:
What chain lube are you guys using? Kid in Halfords said they always use GT85 rather than more expensive seasonal Muc Off stuff, seems like half a job to me?
GT85 works better as a chain cleaner or a temporary lubricant, as it evaporates. You're better off using a dedicated chain lube, IMVHOThe Halfords Saturday boy is talking out of his 'arris, I'm afraid. A bicycle chain "lubricated" with GT85 would very quickly turn brown and stiffen up when exposed to even the H²O content of the air around you. I use the stuff as a solvent to shift oil and grime off cassette sprockets, and recently, when rebuilding the hubs on an old road bike, I used GT85 as a solvent to shift the stubborn remnants of black, dried up 18 year-old grease that a proprietary de-greaser couldn't shift in the bearing cups. The 'dry' lubes are far less messy than the wet lubes, but you need a good wet lube at this time of year to have any chance of keeping the chain lubricated and 'squeak-free'. Even engine oil applied from a hand oiler will do the job. GT85, WD40, and those types of 'oils' are next to useless for an "in-use" bike chain.
richardxjr said:
Splitting mine. Anyone want a smaller (22") frame set? (Frame, fork, and any other bits to go with it) VGC
If I was taller, I'd have that in a heartbeat. But 22 inches is about a 56cm frame (I think), and I'm between a 50cm and a 52cm frame depending on the geometry.Hugely disappointing that Argos doesn't sell the two smaller sizes that are produced, only 'Large' and 'Extra Large'...
yellowjack said:
Barchettaman said:
LordHaveMurci said:
What chain lube are you guys using? Kid in Halfords said they always use GT85 rather than more expensive seasonal Muc Off stuff, seems like half a job to me?
GT85 works better as a chain cleaner or a temporary lubricant, as it evaporates. You're better off using a dedicated chain lube, IMVHOThe Halfords Saturday boy is talking out of his 'arris, I'm afraid. A bicycle chain "lubricated" with GT85 would very quickly turn brown and stiffen up when exposed to even the H²O content of the air around you. I use the stuff as a solvent to shift oil and grime off cassette sprockets, and recently, when rebuilding the hubs on an old road bike, I used GT85 as a solvent to shift the stubborn remnants of black, dried up 18 year-old grease that a proprietary de-greaser couldn't shift in the bearing cups. The 'dry' lubes are far less messy than the wet lubes, but you need a good wet lube at this time of year to have any chance of keeping the chain lubricated and 'squeak-free'. Even engine oil applied from a hand oiler will do the job. GT85, WD40, and those types of 'oils' are next to useless for an "in-use" bike chain.
WD40 is Not a lubricant, it is, a 'Water Dispersant' in fact in some respects it is the opposite of a lubricant as it will wash out chain wax, oil and or grease. Might get away with it if bike/chain kept very clean, i.e. after every ride and not in wet weather (it is dirt, grit and grime that wears the chain along with a bit of moisture to carry it is, hey presto you get some nice Aluminium Oxide Paste (on the whole that is the black stuff on your chain mixed up with a bit of the lube and general grime) which makes a very effective grinding paste. (Various Forms of Aluminium Oxide can be found in Sandpaper, sanding discs or grinding tools :-) )
Best productin my experience a specific chain lube, or better still chain wax, but a very light coating only, OR if you keep your chain vey clean, then a spray with Teflon can be fine for dry weather.
Personally I opt for chain cleaned after every ride the 'lubed' with Muc Off 'Bike Spray' or MO94 (both have Teflon component, as does GT85 but I find the Muc off slightly more 'lube')-ish which helps with protection and light lubrication.
If riding in wet or on the MTB I use either a wet or dry chain lube depending on conditions.
But key is keeping the chain clean! (n.b. quite easy to do without resorting to chain cleaning kits, I use one of the proprietory bio degradable bike cleaning sprays, spray on stiff brush and hold brush against chain on the cassette and back pedal chain 'through' brush, perhaps repeat a couple of times until chain/cassette are shiny, then rinse off and dry with microfiber cloth (same sort of method, grip chain in cloth between rear mech and chainring and back pedal the chain trough it until mostly dry, then lube either with Teflon based spray or chain lube according to planned riding conditions. I take much abuse for my chains being so clean :-)
Best productin my experience a specific chain lube, or better still chain wax, but a very light coating only, OR if you keep your chain vey clean, then a spray with Teflon can be fine for dry weather.
Personally I opt for chain cleaned after every ride the 'lubed' with Muc Off 'Bike Spray' or MO94 (both have Teflon component, as does GT85 but I find the Muc off slightly more 'lube')-ish which helps with protection and light lubrication.
If riding in wet or on the MTB I use either a wet or dry chain lube depending on conditions.
But key is keeping the chain clean! (n.b. quite easy to do without resorting to chain cleaning kits, I use one of the proprietory bio degradable bike cleaning sprays, spray on stiff brush and hold brush against chain on the cassette and back pedal chain 'through' brush, perhaps repeat a couple of times until chain/cassette are shiny, then rinse off and dry with microfiber cloth (same sort of method, grip chain in cloth between rear mech and chainring and back pedal the chain trough it until mostly dry, then lube either with Teflon based spray or chain lube according to planned riding conditions. I take much abuse for my chains being so clean :-)
LordHaveMurci said:
Holy thread resurrection!
Anybody know if you can fit 105 5800 calipers on these using original shifters, cables etc? If so, is it any easy enough job?
Been offered an unused pair at a reasonable price, seems like a worthwhile upgrade?
Yup, will work fine as long as they're not the 'direct mount' version.Anybody know if you can fit 105 5800 calipers on these using original shifters, cables etc? If so, is it any easy enough job?
Been offered an unused pair at a reasonable price, seems like a worthwhile upgrade?
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