The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread Vol 2

[Matt_N]

Le Col Colnago day and some Speedplay walkable cleat covers.

[yellowjack]

E65Ross said:

I have the most puncture resistance tyres on my winter hack, I can't remember the name but they're the highest star rating on the Schwalbe website for puncture protection. They weigh as much as the moon and they're slow as you like, but they don't seem to puncture. But I wouldn't use them on my summer bike, I like the speed of faster tyres

Good results from the humble Schwalbe Marathon in my family. A single set of them has served my son very well in the three years he has been at Uni in Reading. They wear really well (even after three years there's a lot of life left in them) and I can't recall a single report of a puncture in those three years. And being a Uni student, he's not living in the most salubrious part of town, with plenty of broken glass, etc to contend with. His are the 26" version on my old GT hardtail, run at around 45 psi.

Another good urban-proof tyre was the Continental Tour Ride on my other son's commute bike. They lasted well, but eventually he'd ridden them to the point that the threads were showing through the rubber. Their replacement was a set of Vittoria Randonneur from Decathlon. Cheap as chips, but they are definitely not going to last as long as he'd hoped. No reported punctures with those yet, and his commute is about 4 miles each way on a mix of gravel lakeside paths and tarmac roads in town. Again, 26" tyres on a hard tail MTB pressed into service as a commute bike.

I have a set of Bontrager LT-2 Hard-Case Lite 700 x 38C gravel road/CX tyres on my Cannondale Backroads. I recall a puncture with those early on, but nothing since, with 1,500 miles ridden. That is my "go to" bike for mixed riding, especially good when I want to ride mild MTB trails but also need to spend as little time as possible getting to them. It does tarmac, gravel, sand, and firmer mud, takes it all in it's stride, and they were pretty good value at £22.49 each too. I've done races (Battle On The Beach) on them, and also a 100+ mile ride to London and back on the Thames path. Versatile, comfortable, sure footed, robust - I'd recommend them to anyone needing such a tyre.

[Johnny]

LeCol Pro Air Acute jersey, and Pro baselayer just arrived

[Craikeybaby]

maccas99 said:

Had a a bit of a spending spree at Wiggle and got myself a few bits:

Shimano Deore XT M8020 SPD's - first set of new pedals in 15 years so much deserved and felt I needed a slightly larger platform to pedal on...
Park Tool Cyclone Chain Scrubber - Fed up with using a tooth brush and white spirit!
Park Tool Citrus Chain Cleaner - As above
Finish Line Dry Lube - Only got the wet lube so thought I'd give this a go
Muc-Off 5 cleaning brush set - much needed to replace tooth brushes!
Shimano cassette tool - Cassette is a bit loose so thought I'd get one of these
Altura Attack Three 60 shorts - always need another pair of shorts

Interested in peoples opinions of the above, probably worth noting I have a 2018 Norco Sight A9 which is great by the way.

I found using a chain cleaner to be more of a faff than it is worth, I just use the multi claw brush from the Muc Off set you ordered with degreaser to clean the jockey wheels, then the small triangular brush to do the cassette and chainring and finally chain (top, bottom and both sides).

After finding a loose spoke on the rear wheel of my hardtail (whilst my other bike is stripped down for a suspension/bearing service ) I also discovered that the spoke nipples were 5.5mm hex drive, rather than the normal slotted, so I needed to by a 5.5mm nut driver.

I also bought a hydration bladder for my small Evoc hydration pack, as 2 bladders and 3 bags meant too much faffing.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 1st July 13:05

[R1gtr]

Matt Black Kask Protone as I fancied a new helmet. It's going back as the ear straps don't adjust and catch on my ear lobes.

[maccas99]

Craikeybaby said:

I found using a chain cleaner to be more of a faff than it is worth, I just use the multi claw brush from the Muc Off set you ordered with degreaser to clean the jockey wheels, then the small triangular brush to do the cassette and chainring and finally chain (top, bottom and both sides).

After finding a loose spoke on the rear wheel of my hardtail (whilst my other bike is stripped down for a suspension/bearing service ) I also discovered that the spoke nipples were 5.5mm hex drive, rather than the normal slotted, so I needed to by a 5.5mm nut driver.

I also bought a hydration bladder for my small Evoc hydration pack, as 2 bladders and 3 bags meant too much faffing.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 1st July 13:05

Thanks for the tips, I'll be giving it a full clean today or tomorrow so I'll see how it performs.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

maccas99 said:

Craikeybaby said:

I found using a chain cleaner to be more of a faff than it is worth, I just use the multi claw brush from the Muc Off set you ordered with degreaser to clean the jockey wheels, then the small triangular brush to do the cassette and chainring and finally chain (top, bottom and both sides).

After finding a loose spoke on the rear wheel of my hardtail (whilst my other bike is stripped down for a suspension/bearing service ) I also discovered that the spoke nipples were 5.5mm hex drive, rather than the normal slotted, so I needed to by a 5.5mm nut driver.

I also bought a hydration bladder for my small Evoc hydration pack, as 2 bladders and 3 bags meant too much faffing.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 1st July 13:05

Thanks for the tips, I'll be giving it a full clean today or tomorrow so I'll see how it performs.

I have found that using Sqirt lube means I no longer need to clean my drivetarin regularly at most I may give the chain a quick brush/wipe once per month) and the chains last a lot longer. The downside is that the chain must be lubed every 60-100miles.

[ukbabz]

Ordered another set of Le Col bib shorts,my last pair were by far the most comfortable set I've had so hoping more of the same.

[Kawasicki]

So I got a free frame from a friend. It's a 1997 Rocky Mountain Spice, which is an old full suspension XC racer. I built it up with loads of old parts I had sitting around. Now I have ridden it a few times and it is a lot faster than I expected. So, I just ordered the following bits to make it even faster.

Continental 26" Race King Racesport 2.2...I am going to fit these front and rear
Michelin latex tubes to suit
Ritchey WCS foam grips
New Shimano V-brake pads

I reckon it will fly when I change the crap/hard as nails old tyres and cheap tubes for the modern XC stuff. The current grips were actually new but lethal in sweaty palms!

[Tall_Paul]

My first pair of proper flat pedal mtb shoes, some northwave clans.

[Kawasicki]

Tall_Paul said:

My first pair of proper flat pedal mtb shoes, some northwave clans.

I like the NW stuff! Hope they work out for you.

[Starfighter]

Shimano R353 mini-v brakes to replace the canti-levers on a used Dawes Galaxy I am putting back on the road for to and from work.
New brakes means new cables (Shimano). New cables required replacing the bar tape (Specialized Bar Phat) and cable cutters and some ball end hex keys.

[Tall_Paul]

Kawasicki said:

Tall_Paul said:

My first pair of proper flat pedal mtb shoes, some northwave clans.

I like the NW stuff! Hope they work out for you.

I've got some northwave raptor GTX spd boots which have been faultless, didn't fancy going to the five-tens as they're not great since Adidas, there are getting rave reviews everywhere.

[Johnny]

SRAM Force/Rival/Apex jockey wheels from Tredz.

Because apparently after a month of waiting for the bike shop here in Budapest to get them, they can’t.

Distributors here are st.

Had to buy 8 mavic spokes last week as they wouldn’t sell just one. The one that I broke.

7 spares is handy tho. I suppose

[Craikeybaby]

Tall_Paul said:

My first pair of proper flat pedal mtb shoes, some northwave clans.

I'm interested to hear how you get on with these. I like my Five Tens, but keen to discover an alternative.

[Johnny]

Finally paid the deposit on my new wheels:

Description
Chris King R45 hubset, rim brake, 20/24, matte Punch (pink), Shimano 11s w/spacer
ENVE 5.6 rimset, 20/24, rim brake, NBT, black decals
Build/spokes - Sapim CX-Ray, black, radial front 2x rear
ENVE skewers
Fit valves and tape - Enve valve kit/tape
Tyres - Continental 5000 25c TL, setup tubeless.

Can’t fking wait. Really hope they’re ready by RideLondon...

[Simes205]

I borrowed a rear wheel with a Chris king hub......mmmm....it was fabulous.
If I get one then o might as well get a new rim and of course spokes....then you’d new the front to match......

You can see where this is going, just look above!

[DanielSan]

Noticed on the last couple of blasts around Cannock especially I'm bottoming the my front fork out on the bigger hits, it feels nice other wise and air pressure wise is about where Rock Shox recommend maybe a touch over so going to give these a try

Edit, didn't notice the cropping the photo didn't save. Ah well.

Edited by DanielSan on Sunday 7th July 01:18

[Tall_Paul]

Craikeybaby said:

Tall_Paul said:

My first pair of proper flat pedal mtb shoes, some northwave clans.

I'm interested to hear how you get on with these. I like my Five Tens, but keen to discover an alternative.

First ride on them today and apart from having to get used to repositioning my feet on the pedals a bit, all good! I could move them early on a run but no issues with grip on some fast bumpy trails.

I basically forgot I had them on, which can only be good. Also took a rock/large stick to the toe and the protection did its job well, barely felt it.

[DanielSan]

yellowjack said:

Dude. You might want to pull the photo, or black out your address. It's now on the internet for all to see...

Balls