The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread

[ALawson]

VRSAndy said:

I made an error.......

Rides like a barge?

[baxb]

Well, my current rear wheel rim (Mavic Reflex) looked like this:

As that's the second time it's gone in 3 years i've had both wheels rebuilt with H Plus Son TB14 rims, i'm now running clinchers for the first time on this bike so a new pair of Conti GP4000's & also changed the freehub (hope) bearings & regreased the pawls whilst in there.



Just go to find some time to ride it now !

[arcticnick]

Gruffy said:

I ride hot but my feet get so cold. I was looking at the Northwave SPD boots but these look interesting and quite reasonably priced. I'd love to hear how you find them after a few rides.

Will do. Bugs me when you order something online and it takes the vendor 3 days to diapatch it... Still haven't arrived yet.

@Bakerstreet - it was a short in the dark TBH, but they're a new line so quite rare, not too pricey and thought Mavic are under the same stable as Solomon so there's plenty of staying-warm know-how in the business. Plus, they look nice - like a stealthier version of their CXR aero shoes.

I think I'm now properly kitted up for winter.

[yellowjack]

Over the last two days...

Rim tape - sufficient to tape two 700c rims. 18 years is evidently a tad too long to expect the original 'tape' to last. (£2.00)

P**cture repair kit x 1 - the 'traditional' type. I was carrying a tube of glue and some sandpaper recently. All out of patches, which is no use when repairing a puncture... (£2.49)

Ball bearings - two packets, one set for each of the hubs on my old steel road bike. (2 x £1.50)

7-Speed cassette - Shimano CS-HG41-7, 11-28t (£9.99)

7/8-Speed chain - KMC X8.93, silver, with a reusable 'missing link' included (£12.99)


The new cassette, provided it doesn't exceed the capacity of my Exage 300 rear derailleur, will be a significant improvement over the 13-23t cassette that came with the bike. A bigger 'top' gear, and a significantly more hill-friendly 28t 'bottom' gear, albeit with bigger jumps between gears.

It seems like the plan to swap the entire 10-speed Ultegra groupset from my old (crashed) road bike onto this mid 1990s winter hack has done an 'Operation Sea Lion' for now. This little spend should breathe some new life into the old 2 x 7, 53/39 x 13-23 gear set, whilst "keeping it period" as much as possible. Next up? Long drop brake calipers to correct a recent bodge, full length mudguards, and some decent amber-wall tyres to complete the "period" look.

[yellowjack]

This afternoon, I managed to strip the front hub.

Cones are pitted beyond salvation, so £7 for a new hollow (QR) front axle complete with cones, locknuts and washers.

And a cassette lockring tool for £6, but this time one with the QR axle 'pin' - the one I already have (no 'pin') wouldn't grip properly on the lockring on my modern bike, so I couldn't remove the cassette. Sorted now.

[ALawson]

You need to ask the Pedal Heaven staff for some discount!

[yellowjack]

ALawson said:

You need to ask the Pedal Heaven staff for some discount!

Today's purchases were at Silvester Brothers. And no, I didn't pay full price for any of it. They're not as cheap as Pedal Heaven for many things, and nowhere near as cheap as online, but I've been going there for about as long as I've lived in the area, and they're pretty good for bits'n'bobs at short notice for the discerning 'classic' bike owner.

I bought the chain and cassette in Pedal Heaven, and that was a discounted purchase too. But those Specialized MTBs they sell aren't the best value for money, it would seem.

[JustinF]

Two pairs of Endura FS260 pro neoprene winter gloves.

Think twice before getting your kids into cycling, it gets pricey when you have to buy two of things...

[ALawson]

yellowjack said:

ALawson said:

You need to ask the Pedal Heaven staff for some discount!

Today's purchases were at Silvester Brothers. And no, I didn't pay full price for any of it. They're not as cheap as Pedal Heaven for many things, and nowhere near as cheap as online, but I've been going there for about as long as I've lived in the area, and they're pretty good for bits'n'bobs at short notice for the discerning 'classic' bike owner.

I bought the chain and cassette in Pedal Heaven, and that was a discounted purchase too. But those Specialized MTBs they sell aren't the best value for money, it would seem.

I see it that I am helping support a race team, when they go UCI they will achieve what they have been working towards, There isn't much SBC which is good value at rrp, however if you can get 45% off via other channels it's good value,

Hope you sort your noise out!

[yellowjack]

There are two very nice looking ex-team road bikes for sale in there at the moment. Very nice too!

As for "The Noise"? I'm hoping the new axle/cones/bearings will sort that one out. Otherwise, I'm at a loss as to what's causing it. All I need now is an uninterrupted hour or so, to put it all back together and test ride the damned thing.

I'm hoping for one of those "it totally transformed the bike" moments with those extra gear ratios at either end of the cassette. Although the gaps between sprockets may well be irritating, especially for the first few miles.

I'm also hoping for some downhill segment PRs out of it, going from a 53 x 13 up to a 53 x 11. A 28t sprocket will do my climbing no harm at all on the old beast, though. Got to do all I can to save my knees at my age...

[Craikeybaby]

Bike with 1x10 conversion by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Upgraded my Vitus hardtail to 1x10 and tubeless! So far I've only ridden it home from the LBS, but the upgrade from Alvio to XT is very noticable! Looking forward to giving it a proper ride out at the weekend.

Whilst not strictly bike related I've bought a BMW 120i, mainly because I couldn't fit a bike into my MR2 Roadster. Now I'll be able to get to trail centres etc, which should hopefully improve my riding!

[jamiebae]

I took advantage of Wiggle's 17% platinum discount to stock up. The turbo and tyre are for a colleague, having signed up for the Etape I decided I'd need a 32T and as my lid is three years old and I fancied a new one that went in the basket too.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Losing the will to fckin live

Bought a new 2nd hand fixie to commute on as single speed

As Im strapped for time I thought I would buy an ok quality used one, rather than build my own up from a 70s/80s frame

Bought a used one and every part on it is broken/has broken/or is st

The brakes are doing my nut in, the ones on there were non existent, callipers fcked. Go to order new calipers and the bike sits right at the end of the range for "long drop" and "extra long drop brakes". Order some extra long drop ones from my lbs, they come after a week and the rim is just a mm below the shortest pad setting. Order some long drop callipers from Wiggle and the rim is on the edge of the highest pad setting!!! Ok so the Wiggle ones are better and then I realise on the back calliper it needs a bolt though not the Allen key bolt wont fit through!!!! Bloody bikes.

Spent far too much time and money on the bike! On the plus side I love riding SS, its great, really quick through urban streets , but atrocious going round corners with the bullhorn bars I fitted, it inspires NO confidence

[JEA1K]

Winterising my ass is the only thing on my mind at the moment ... ran Crud racers on my Aithein last winter, unfortunately limited clearance meant I could only squeeze 23mm tyres on and even they eventually wore away the rear plastic mudguard. So before I but another frame I've bought a set of SKS Raceblade longs ... will spend a frustrating few hours at the weekend fitting them.




Also a refresh of the winter wardrobe was required after losing a few more lbs so have ordered these ... been waiting for the jacket to come in stock for a few months.

[Rob_T]

bought some compression clothing. used it today. just brilliant. not cycling specific but as a base layer it's like nothing else i've worn.

you can keep your rapha's and castelli's!!!!!

[wobert]

JEA1K said:

Winterising my ass is the only thing on my mind at the moment ... ran Crud racers on my Aithein last winter, unfortunately limited clearance meant I could only squeeze 23mm tyres on and even they eventually wore away the rear plastic mudguard. So before I but another frame I've bought a set of SKS Raceblade longs ... will spend a frustrating few hours at the weekend fitting them.




Also a refresh of the winter wardrobe was required after losing a few more lbs so have ordered these ... been waiting for the jacket to come in stock for a few months.

Not wishing to p•ss on your parade, but I bought a Brevet gilet in the last Rapha sale, I paid £37.00 for it delivered.

I returned it as I thought even for the reduced price it was expensive for what it is, let alone at full RRP.

I'll stick with my high viz Dare2B jacket for wind proof journies from now on..

[Alex Langheck]

Have had a spendathon;
treated myself to a Castelli Gabba 2 long sleeve jersey, then the Garmin Edge 520 - and succombed and ordered a Focus Mares AX Apex.....

That should do for now.

[SAS Tom]

Got some better pedals for my new bike

[JEA1K]

wobert said:

Not wishing to p•ss on your parade, but I bought a Brevet gilet in the last Rapha sale, I paid £37.00 for it delivered.

I returned it as I thought even for the reduced price it was expensive for what it is, let alone at full RRP.

I'll stick with my high viz Dare2B jacket for wind proof journies from now on..

Each to their own!

[wobert]

JEA1K said:

wobert said:

Not wishing to p•ss on your parade, but I bought a Brevet gilet in the last Rapha sale, I paid £37.00 for it delivered.

I returned it as I thought even for the reduced price it was expensive for what it is, let alone at full RRP.

I'll stick with my high viz Dare2B jacket for wind proof journies from now on..

Each to their own!

Fair enough, but it just didn't seem a "quality" item for the £37, let alone RRP......!!