The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread Vol 2
Discussion
Further to this...
£24.99 and it was the only one left in the local store that was compatible. No branded parts, and I can't afford to spend more than is absolutely necessary anyway. Fingers crossed this works OK within the all-Shimano set-up now.
I finally decided I wanted the B-Twin chain-whip tool too. But it's out of stock in Farnborough and not available online. I had one in my hand in Reading when i bought the chain so I checked their stock, planning to reserve it. Nope. Out of stock there too now. Let's hope my cheap chain whip holds out long enough to get this new cassette fitted.
This is the "chain whip" tool...
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-re...
...which looks like a winner to me. No more slipping chain whip, no more snapped links, no more scuffed knuckles. Just positive engagement with the cassette sprockets time after time after time...
yellowjack said:
The Park Tools gauge said "nearly at 0.75 old boy - better think about getting a new chain".
So today I was up in Reading, and I popped into Decathlon.
Got myself a KMC X10-EL chain for the princely sum of £17.99, as it was cunningly disguised as a B-Twin(Decathlon) own brand generic chain...
Fitted and subjected to a "spin up and down the street" teat ride all seemed well. But no, out on a 'real world' MTB ride this evening it refused to play nice with the 11-tooth sprocket on the cassette. So now I'll have to find somewhere local with a 10 speed 11-36 tooth cassette for reasonable money.
Harrrrrrrrrrumph!
Also, the old chain was a Shimano "CN-HG95 HG-X Sil-Tec 10 speed chain". We've had a reasonably dry summer yet it's lasted only 585 miles. Fitted 12th May 2017, and used exclusively with "Squirt" wax based dry lube from the start. Am I being unreasonable expecting a bit more in the way of mileage from a chain? Or is 585 miles about the "going rate" for a well used MTB chain on sandy heathland and loamy natural single-track trails?
...I ended up having to go out and buy this...So today I was up in Reading, and I popped into Decathlon.
Got myself a KMC X10-EL chain for the princely sum of £17.99, as it was cunningly disguised as a B-Twin(Decathlon) own brand generic chain...
Fitted and subjected to a "spin up and down the street" teat ride all seemed well. But no, out on a 'real world' MTB ride this evening it refused to play nice with the 11-tooth sprocket on the cassette. So now I'll have to find somewhere local with a 10 speed 11-36 tooth cassette for reasonable money.
Harrrrrrrrrrumph!
Also, the old chain was a Shimano "CN-HG95 HG-X Sil-Tec 10 speed chain". We've had a reasonably dry summer yet it's lasted only 585 miles. Fitted 12th May 2017, and used exclusively with "Squirt" wax based dry lube from the start. Am I being unreasonable expecting a bit more in the way of mileage from a chain? Or is 585 miles about the "going rate" for a well used MTB chain on sandy heathland and loamy natural single-track trails?
Edited by yellowjack on Friday 18th August 00:03
£24.99 and it was the only one left in the local store that was compatible. No branded parts, and I can't afford to spend more than is absolutely necessary anyway. Fingers crossed this works OK within the all-Shimano set-up now.
I finally decided I wanted the B-Twin chain-whip tool too. But it's out of stock in Farnborough and not available online. I had one in my hand in Reading when i bought the chain so I checked their stock, planning to reserve it. Nope. Out of stock there too now. Let's hope my cheap chain whip holds out long enough to get this new cassette fitted.
This is the "chain whip" tool...
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-re...
...which looks like a winner to me. No more slipping chain whip, no more snapped links, no more scuffed knuckles. Just positive engagement with the cassette sprockets time after time after time...
yellowjack said:
This is the "chain whip" tool...
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-re...
...which looks like a winner to me. No more slipping chain whip, no more snapped links, no more scuffed knuckles. Just positive engagement with the cassette sprockets time after time after time...
Thank you.https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-re...
...which looks like a winner to me. No more slipping chain whip, no more snapped links, no more scuffed knuckles. Just positive engagement with the cassette sprockets time after time after time...
Thank you a lot.
(Shame it's not available for internet delivery though.)
That Chain-tool looks genuinely great.
I splashed out £9.00 for a derailleur hanger for my MTB, I've bent the current one back into shape after a hit, and it all seems to be working fine, but it seems like a no-brainer to have a spare.
I also bought a new GPS watch (TomTom Spark 3) with internal HRM, mostly for running, but I'll use it for recording rides too, it looks like it tracks my location and pace a lot more accurately than my phone does after a few tests. I've never trained with a HRM before, so we'll see if it makes any difference (It will not).
I splashed out £9.00 for a derailleur hanger for my MTB, I've bent the current one back into shape after a hit, and it all seems to be working fine, but it seems like a no-brainer to have a spare.
I also bought a new GPS watch (TomTom Spark 3) with internal HRM, mostly for running, but I'll use it for recording rides too, it looks like it tracks my location and pace a lot more accurately than my phone does after a few tests. I've never trained with a HRM before, so we'll see if it makes any difference (It will not).
I just embarked on a journey I think...
I've ordered a Sram red chainset at planet x for £150 and a GXP BB on ebay (£19)
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CSSRRD12EP/sram-red-2...
So I will convert my Colnago CLX from Shimano 105 10sp (non series RS500 chainset) to sram red mechanical.
Now scouring ebay etc. for sram red NOS and good condition used bargains. I'm told sram 10sp mechs are good for 10 or 11 so the shifters will decide.
I've ordered a Sram red chainset at planet x for £150 and a GXP BB on ebay (£19)
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CSSRRD12EP/sram-red-2...
So I will convert my Colnago CLX from Shimano 105 10sp (non series RS500 chainset) to sram red mechanical.
Now scouring ebay etc. for sram red NOS and good condition used bargains. I'm told sram 10sp mechs are good for 10 or 11 so the shifters will decide.
l354uge said:
Kept getting a numb arm on my commuter.
Step 1 of my multistep plan was to buy a shorter stem with an increased rise.
The gel pads and gel bar tape should arrive soon, hopefully that, and not stretching to reach the bars should stop the issue!
Might be worth trying some cheap carbon bars as that will take out some of the road buzz. Step 1 of my multistep plan was to buy a shorter stem with an increased rise.
The gel pads and gel bar tape should arrive soon, hopefully that, and not stretching to reach the bars should stop the issue!
Paraicj said:
That Chain-tool looks genuinely great.
I splashed out £9.00 for a derailleur hanger for my MTB, I've bent the current one back into shape after a hit, and it all seems to be working fine, but it seems like a no-brainer to have a spare.
I also bought a new GPS watch (TomTom Spark 3) with internal HRM, mostly for running, but I'll use it for recording rides too, it looks like it tracks my location and pace a lot more accurately than my phone does after a few tests. I've never trained with a HRM before, so we'll see if it makes any difference (It will not).
i have the spark 3, no HR monitor but with bluetooth music.I splashed out £9.00 for a derailleur hanger for my MTB, I've bent the current one back into shape after a hit, and it all seems to be working fine, but it seems like a no-brainer to have a spare.
I also bought a new GPS watch (TomTom Spark 3) with internal HRM, mostly for running, but I'll use it for recording rides too, it looks like it tracks my location and pace a lot more accurately than my phone does after a few tests. I've never trained with a HRM before, so we'll see if it makes any difference (It will not).
very good for cycling, quite accurate and once setup will auto-upload to strava. It also maps your route, so if you get lost, you can find your way back to a start point which has proved very useful indeed.
great bit of kit.
idiotgap said:
I just embarked on a journey I think...
I've ordered a Sram red chainset at planet x for £150 and a GXP BB on ebay (£19)
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CSSRRD12EP/sram-red-2...
So I will convert my Colnago CLX from Shimano 105 10sp (non series RS500 chainset) to sram red mechanical.
Now scouring ebay etc. for sram red NOS and good condition used bargains. I'm told sram 10sp mechs are good for 10 or 11 so the shifters will decide.
Just seen some used red shifters and front mech for sale on the bikeradar forum (10sp though I think)I've ordered a Sram red chainset at planet x for £150 and a GXP BB on ebay (£19)
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CSSRRD12EP/sram-red-2...
So I will convert my Colnago CLX from Shimano 105 10sp (non series RS500 chainset) to sram red mechanical.
Now scouring ebay etc. for sram red NOS and good condition used bargains. I'm told sram 10sp mechs are good for 10 or 11 so the shifters will decide.
SRAM XX1 chain, which is SRAM's top 11 speed chain. Lots of burb here: http://www.artscyclery.com/SRAM_PC-XX1_11_Speed_Ch...
Not really designed for my setup (SRAM NX) but was discounted price and wanted to get a good one so went ahead
No issues experienced in todays 2 hours ride so Im sure it will be fine!
First chain swap so was fun to learn the process. Made of 'hard chrome' and supposed to last a while.
£7 chain removal tool to reduce length of above Topeak Universal. Note: the tool previously was listed as not for 11 speed, but now it does upto 12 speed. A lot of websites are out of date- so don't end up buying a more expensive one!
Bottle carrier
Not really designed for my setup (SRAM NX) but was discounted price and wanted to get a good one so went ahead
No issues experienced in todays 2 hours ride so Im sure it will be fine! First chain swap so was fun to learn the process. Made of 'hard chrome' and supposed to last a while.
£7 chain removal tool to reduce length of above Topeak Universal. Note: the tool previously was listed as not for 11 speed, but now it does upto 12 speed. A lot of websites are out of date- so don't end up buying a more expensive one!
Bottle carrier
Edited by hyphen on Friday 25th August 23:10
Yesterday's purchase, first road bike in 30 years. Was looking for a fast-ish commuter, but I wanted disc brakes as I am used to them on my mountain bike, which I have been doing a 12 mile commute most days for the last couple of weeks.
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-2-20...
Red is 20% faster right? Today's plans- some double sided clipless pedals, and a wireless computer.
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-2-20...
Red is 20% faster right? Today's plans- some double sided clipless pedals, and a wireless computer.
freakybacon said:
Yesterday's purchase, first road bike in 30 years. Was looking for a fast-ish commuter, but I wanted disc brakes as I am used to them on my mountain bike, which I have been doing a 12 mile commute most days for the last couple of weeks.
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-2-20...
Red is 20% faster right? Today's plans- some double sided clipless pedals, and a wireless computer.
Wow, that pretty much exactly the same as me a few weeks ago, same colour bike, same reasons for wanting disc brakes and same length of time without a road bike. I managed a 45 mile ride in week one, that cheered me up no end. Wonderful feeling of elation when you relapse what you've just achieved. https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-2-20...
Red is 20% faster right? Today's plans- some double sided clipless pedals, and a wireless computer.
Getting ready to Sram Red my favourite bike and move it on from old 105.
New
- force front mech with yaw
- sram red chainset
- sram boggo chain
- shimano boggo cassette
- sram boggo bottom bracket
- sram hoods to lift the appearance of the used shifters
- deda bar tape
Used
- sram 10 sp red shifters
- sram red rear mech
- sram red front mech (pre yaw, will likely move this on)
New
- force front mech with yaw
- sram red chainset
- sram boggo chain
- shimano boggo cassette
- sram boggo bottom bracket
- sram hoods to lift the appearance of the used shifters
- deda bar tape
Used
- sram 10 sp red shifters
- sram red rear mech
- sram red front mech (pre yaw, will likely move this on)
K1909 said:
I've never had a garmin, and with all the mixed reviews thought I would try one of these instead. Must admit setting it up with the app on my phone is simple, easy and very effective. First ride and everything is working well
I met a chap on my epic ride to Bournemouth last Friday, and rode along with him for a few hours. He was using one of those GPS units,having ditched his Garmin because it was "unreliablefor an Audaxer". He had nothing but good things to say about his Element Bolt. His route screen was certainly working better than the 'breadcrumb trail' route on my Garmin Edge 500 which (as usual) was refusing to draw my route about 50% of the times it scrolled through to the route screen.I think if I could afford to buy something new, then that Wahoo thing would definitely be in the shortlist.
yellowjack said:
I met a chap on my epic ride to Bournemouth last Friday, and rode along with him for a few hours. He was using one of those GPS units,having ditched his Garmin because it was "unreliablefor an Audaxer". He had nothing but good things to say about his Element Bolt. His route screen was certainly working better than the 'breadcrumb trail' route on my Garmin Edge 500 which (as usual) was refusing to draw my route about 50% of the times it scrolled through to the route screen.
I think if I could afford to buy something new, then that Wahoo thing would definitely be in the shortlist.
I've not had a decent cycle computer before and purchased the Wahoo Elment about 3 months ago. I also have he heart rate monitor just so I can see just how unfit I am I think if I could afford to buy something new, then that Wahoo thing would definitely be in the shortlist.
Aside from occasionally losing signal if I'm riding through heavy tree lined roads it's bloody brilliant
The app is great and being wifi conn connectivity to my phone it uploads to Strava before I've got off the saddle once I've pressed end ride.
Brilliant bit of kit and being a bit of a numbers man I love the detail it give me.
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