The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread
Discussion
Yesterday's purchase?
A KMC 11-speed chain for my road bike...
...£32.99 at Pedal Heaven in Fleet.
It's a full £8 more than the Wiggle price, but they knocked 10% off for me, and it meant I could go in and get a close look at a selection of Shimano and KMC chains before deciding which best suited my budget.
Two things shocked me. First, the next chain up the KMC range (in store, at least) was £52!!! Who the blazes buys a chain at that price? Hollow pins were the only discernible difference, to save a handful of grams. Madness. Second, a pair of spare KMC 11-speed 'Quick Links' was £11.99. What? A whole chain (114 links) including one Quick Link costs £32.99. How the blazes can you justify charging £11.99 for what amounts to two chain links? Even on Wiggle they're £9.49, and 'Non-reusable' too, to add insult to wallet-bashing injury.
Fingers crossed I'll not need a new cassette this time around. A little over 2,900 miles from the original Ultegra chain before the 'chain checker' tool started to fall through the gaps. A brief test ride on local streets yesterday revealed a "clunk" on the 11 tooth sprocket, but only whilst on the small ring at the front, so assuming that's a normal function when selecting an extreme chain-line. Seemed to work in all the other gears OK.
A KMC 11-speed chain for my road bike...
...£32.99 at Pedal Heaven in Fleet.
It's a full £8 more than the Wiggle price, but they knocked 10% off for me, and it meant I could go in and get a close look at a selection of Shimano and KMC chains before deciding which best suited my budget.
Two things shocked me. First, the next chain up the KMC range (in store, at least) was £52!!! Who the blazes buys a chain at that price? Hollow pins were the only discernible difference, to save a handful of grams. Madness. Second, a pair of spare KMC 11-speed 'Quick Links' was £11.99. What? A whole chain (114 links) including one Quick Link costs £32.99. How the blazes can you justify charging £11.99 for what amounts to two chain links? Even on Wiggle they're £9.49, and 'Non-reusable' too, to add insult to wallet-bashing injury.
Fingers crossed I'll not need a new cassette this time around. A little over 2,900 miles from the original Ultegra chain before the 'chain checker' tool started to fall through the gaps. A brief test ride on local streets yesterday revealed a "clunk" on the 11 tooth sprocket, but only whilst on the small ring at the front, so assuming that's a normal function when selecting an extreme chain-line. Seemed to work in all the other gears OK.
one of these for added bling on the Look http://www.vanillabikes.com/products/kmc-x11-sl-dl...
yellowjack said:
Yesterday's purchase?
Two things shocked me. First, the next chain up the KMC range (in store, at least) was £52!!! Who the blazes buys a chain at that price? Hollow pins were the only discernible difference, to save a handful of grams. Madness. Second, a pair of spare KMC 11-speed 'Quick Links' was £11.99. What? A whole chain (114 links) including one Quick Link costs £32.99. How the blazes can you justify charging £11.99 for what amounts to two chain links? Even on Wiggle they're £9.49, and 'Non-reusable' too, to add insult to wallet-bashing injury..
I have tried quite a few of the KMC chains. I stopped buying anything other than the bog standard X11. I found that the lighter ones with the slots in the links were weaker and collected far more crap in bad weather. Also, paying £20 for a chain I could swap it earlier and add a decent quick link....Two things shocked me. First, the next chain up the KMC range (in store, at least) was £52!!! Who the blazes buys a chain at that price? Hollow pins were the only discernible difference, to save a handful of grams. Madness. Second, a pair of spare KMC 11-speed 'Quick Links' was £11.99. What? A whole chain (114 links) including one Quick Link costs £32.99. How the blazes can you justify charging £11.99 for what amounts to two chain links? Even on Wiggle they're £9.49, and 'Non-reusable' too, to add insult to wallet-bashing injury..
Chain life, chain wear I've seen sod all between them. The gold one was the most ludicrous, makes me laugh now that I pandered to the BS. The only thing I have to buy is the wippermann link, it's so easy to use and I generally use it for 2 chains, so it's not a big expense.
...'bout time I met up for some Swinley rides
Quite a bit....
Deore XT brake set for the Scott Scale, replacing rotten Avids
Conti Mountain Kings, default winter(ish) tyres for MTB
Bling green anodised ti skewers
Enigma Etape frame...new winter/touring bike, my first titainium bike. This desicion took a while, there were a few choices to ponder, Kenesis Tripster or GF, Condor Fratello, Genesís CdF Stainless. A combination of geometry that suited me, no discs, English BB & fab customer service from Enigma clinched it.
Ultegra 6800 groupset
3t Rotundo Pro bars for new Enigma (skinny classic shaped bars, love em)
3T stem
3t seat post
SKS Mudguards.
I'm skint now but I'm looking forward to putting the new bike together & seeing how a ti bike compares to my beloved steel machines.
Deore XT brake set for the Scott Scale, replacing rotten Avids
Conti Mountain Kings, default winter(ish) tyres for MTB
Bling green anodised ti skewers
Enigma Etape frame...new winter/touring bike, my first titainium bike. This desicion took a while, there were a few choices to ponder, Kenesis Tripster or GF, Condor Fratello, Genesís CdF Stainless. A combination of geometry that suited me, no discs, English BB & fab customer service from Enigma clinched it.
Ultegra 6800 groupset
3t Rotundo Pro bars for new Enigma (skinny classic shaped bars, love em)
3T stem
3t seat post
SKS Mudguards.
I'm skint now but I'm looking forward to putting the new bike together & seeing how a ti bike compares to my beloved steel machines.
New crankset as the rings were a bit worn. Got nearly two years out of these, so happy with that...
...to which I added SRAM 1070 cassette and chain, so it all looks sparkly...
...and have a new Larsen TT for the rear ready - reckon that'll be needed in a few weeks.
Will probably need to get a pair of new mechs next time too - I think both are original, which makes then about 4 years old.
...to which I added SRAM 1070 cassette and chain, so it all looks sparkly...
...and have a new Larsen TT for the rear ready - reckon that'll be needed in a few weeks.
Will probably need to get a pair of new mechs next time too - I think both are original, which makes then about 4 years old.
CoolC said:
PomBstard said:
New crankset as the rings were a bit worn. Got nearly two years out of these, so happy with that...
Couldn't you just get new rings?Although a nice new bit of shiny is always justifiable.
Also, the eagle-eyed of you will have spotted that my info was slightly incorrect. The chain is indeed SRAM 1070, but the cassette is XT.
A pair of these, Vittoria Barzo.
Wanted to get some Ardents but can't justify the £35+ cost each. Spotted some of these recently and decided to read up. They seem to get some very good reviews especially for the type of riding I mainly do. Found them for £25 each and then noticed, BOGOF on vittoria tyres at the same place.
£28 delivered seemed too good not to give them a go!
Wanted to get some Ardents but can't justify the £35+ cost each. Spotted some of these recently and decided to read up. They seem to get some very good reviews especially for the type of riding I mainly do. Found them for £25 each and then noticed, BOGOF on vittoria tyres at the same place.
£28 delivered seemed too good not to give them a go!
Silver940 said:
A pair of these, Vittoria Barzo.
Wanted to get some Ardents but can't justify the £35+ cost each. Spotted some of these recently and decided to read up. They seem to get some very good reviews especially for the type of riding I mainly do. Found them for £25 each and then noticed, BOGOF on vittoria tyres at the same place.
£28 delivered seemed too good not to give them a go!
Vittoria are looking good, can't wait for the graphene tyres to come down in price Wanted to get some Ardents but can't justify the £35+ cost each. Spotted some of these recently and decided to read up. They seem to get some very good reviews especially for the type of riding I mainly do. Found them for £25 each and then noticed, BOGOF on vittoria tyres at the same place.
£28 delivered seemed too good not to give them a go!
Rapha's new aerosuit. Haven't used it in anger yet but if fits like a glove. At least it does when I'm in a tuck. The 'comfort break' flap shows a little more thatch than I think is polite when I stand upright.
It's a very comfortable thing and I can see me using this for lots of rides, whenever the pocket capacity isn't an issue.
Ebay special Skinsuit - £42.50.
Would have loved a Rapha one but I managed to get a skinsuit, an aero seat post, aero helmet, the TT clip ons and a new chain, and still have change from the Rapha item. I'm not a Rapha hater, I'm actually a fan, but I needed to buy as much performance for as little as possible.
I also have new chain rings and cassette and about 4 hours worth of professional fitting which brings my whole TT rig conversion in at less than £400.
Would have loved a Rapha one but I managed to get a skinsuit, an aero seat post, aero helmet, the TT clip ons and a new chain, and still have change from the Rapha item. I'm not a Rapha hater, I'm actually a fan, but I needed to buy as much performance for as little as possible.
I also have new chain rings and cassette and about 4 hours worth of professional fitting which brings my whole TT rig conversion in at less than £400.
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