The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread
Discussion
Wasn't sure whether this was a "bike bit" or not, or whether to post this in the "photos from today's ride" thread but I think it fits OK here.
New Trixie trailer for Jerry. Screenshot from a video I took. He seems happy-enough in there.
Made a few extension pieces to mount the GoPro onto too. This was the most successful.
New Trixie trailer for Jerry. Screenshot from a video I took. He seems happy-enough in there.
Made a few extension pieces to mount the GoPro onto too. This was the most successful.
Craikeybaby said:
A 7mm spanner to fit the bleed nipples on my Tektro brakes. Despite having a garage full of tools I couldn't find a spanner < 8mm.
A bit like my needing an 11mm Allen wrench to remove a freehub body. All three sets of Allen keys that I have only go up to 10mm. Happily though, although it wasn't mentioned in the item description online, when I phoned the shop to ask about a larger Allen key, they informed me that the new freehub came with an adaptor that needed a 6mm Allen key to do the job. A 3BA spanner is 7.16mm AF equivalent. I find my BA spanner sets very useful for all sorts of small jobs. I've got a BA socket set too, along with the 'tube' type spanners.
Craikeybaby said:
A 7mm spanner to fit the bleed nipples on my Tektro brakes. Despite having a garage full of tools I couldn't find a spanner < 8mm.
Always the way ..sods lawMy hubs needed a tightening the other day on one bike , ne bother, I whipped out my wheel spanners, all too small, tried a few more spanners , no luck
Turned out I needed a 19mm spanner , thankfully I had one from when I used to work on cars to get the oil sump bolt off . I wasn't sure if I nipped the bolt enough, but didnt fancy sticking a foot long spanner in my jersey pocket in case I needed it mid ride!
Recent shopping list includes Prime 50mm carbon clinchers, new 25mm Conti 4000SIIs, 11-28 cassette, chain and TT clip ons! 
First RideOn New Wheels... by Ben Magee, on Flickr
The wheels are about 200g lighter than the standard Bontrager Race rims they replaced, I like the look and in my head they feel more responsive than the old rims and the braking in the dry seems perfectly acceptable but with a really cool noise to go with it!
The aero bars are super weird, not 100% comfortable having my hands so far from the brakes but can 100% feel the aero advantage. Even though my Hobbitesque stature and the bike's geometry prevents a full TT aero flat back etc. the narrow front profile makes moving onto the hoods feel like I've just chucked a parachute out the back!
Got an aero shell arriving for my helmet tomorrow just in time for my first local 10...
First RideOn New Wheels... by Ben Magee, on FlickrThe wheels are about 200g lighter than the standard Bontrager Race rims they replaced, I like the look and in my head they feel more responsive than the old rims and the braking in the dry seems perfectly acceptable but with a really cool noise to go with it!
The aero bars are super weird, not 100% comfortable having my hands so far from the brakes but can 100% feel the aero advantage. Even though my Hobbitesque stature and the bike's geometry prevents a full TT aero flat back etc. the narrow front profile makes moving onto the hoods feel like I've just chucked a parachute out the back!
Got an aero shell arriving for my helmet tomorrow just in time for my first local 10...
Matt_N said:
Because he said he is finding uncomfortable and it's clearly not level with a nose down stance.
Arione's should be levelled from the nose to the start of the slight kick at the back of the saddle and then tweak from there.
That is massively nose down.
I only just popped back to this thread and noticed all the various comments about my new saddle.Arione's should be levelled from the nose to the start of the slight kick at the back of the saddle and then tweak from there.
That is massively nose down.
I didn't say the position was uncomfortable - just that the sit is quite a bit harder than my previous Arione. It's also not 'massively nose down' - maybe that's an optical illusion caused by the angle of the picture and the red stripe on the top of the saddle which can make things a bit visually confusing. See below image with some perfectly horizontal reference lines drawn to illustrate. I put a spirit level on the saddle when I fitted it as I can't ride on any saddle that is even slightly pointed up or down and the mid to front section is spot on level. The Arione saddle shape does rise to the rear which also can make it look like the nose is tilted down, but it's not.
As for the wheels, they were original fitment on that model year for the S3 and I have no intention of taking the graphics off. Personally, I don't much like the look of massive black carbon rims as they just look like tractor wheels to me without some graphics to break them up. But each to their own...
Edited by blade runner on Thursday 4th May 09:35
Another set of budget SPD shoes for commuting.
The last pair of £40 Shimano ones weren't falling apart but the padding was all over the place but have been used quite a lot since 2012
Luckily I seem managed to get the cleats set nearly the same as the last pair and they're a lot more comfy.
Think I'd have preferred plain black but once it gets dark it won't matter.
The last pair of £40 Shimano ones weren't falling apart but the padding was all over the place but have been used quite a lot since 2012
Luckily I seem managed to get the cleats set nearly the same as the last pair and they're a lot more comfy.
Think I'd have preferred plain black but once it gets dark it won't matter.
blade runner said:
I only just popped back to this thread and noticed all the various comments about my new saddle.
I didn't say the position was uncomfortable - just that the sit is quite a bit harder than my previous Arione. It's also not 'massively nose down' - maybe that's an optical illusion caused by the angle of the picture and the red stripe on the top of the saddle which can make things a bit visually confusing. See below image with some perfectly horizontal reference lines drawn to illustrate. I put a spirit level on the saddle when I fitted it as I can't ride on any saddle that is even slightly pointed up or down and the mid to front section is spot on level. The Arione saddle shape does rise to the rear which also can make it look like the nose is tilted down, but it's not.
As for the wheels, they were original fitment on that model year for the S3 and I have no intention of taking the graphics off. Personally, I don't much like the look of massive black carbon rims as they just look like tractor wheels to me without some graphics to break them up. But each to their own...
Good man, blade runner. I'm with you - I rather like the graphics on the wheels. I'm certainly no fan of de-stickered "stealth" look wheels for the same reason you give.I didn't say the position was uncomfortable - just that the sit is quite a bit harder than my previous Arione. It's also not 'massively nose down' - maybe that's an optical illusion caused by the angle of the picture and the red stripe on the top of the saddle which can make things a bit visually confusing. See below image with some perfectly horizontal reference lines drawn to illustrate. I put a spirit level on the saddle when I fitted it as I can't ride on any saddle that is even slightly pointed up or down and the mid to front section is spot on level. The Arione saddle shape does rise to the rear which also can make it look like the nose is tilted down, but it's not.
As for the wheels, they were original fitment on that model year for the S3 and I have no intention of taking the graphics off. Personally, I don't much like the look of massive black carbon rims as they just look like tractor wheels to me without some graphics to break them up. But each to their own...
I've got some decidedly low-grade "aero" rims in white, from a bike that's got frame damage. The graphics (stickers in my case) have begun to lift and filth has got in between them and the wheel. But there's no way I can consider tearing off the rest of the graphics because I fear, being all white bar the brake track, that it would look incredibly silly.
I love the fact that you, too, like to keep things "all original" a far as possible. Again, it's where I'm at with bikes. No real need for upgrades on my bikes anyway, as I'm not capable of exploiting all the potential of most 'stock' bikes as it is. I'll work on my fitness first, as that's far cheaper than trying to purchase the odd second or two up Leith Hill...
donfisher said:
Another set of budget SPD shoes for commuting.
The last pair of £40 Shimano ones weren't falling apart but the padding was all over the place but have been used quite a lot since 2012
Luckily I seem managed to get the cleats set nearly the same as the last pair and they're a lot more comfy.
Think I'd have preferred plain black but once it gets dark it won't matter.
I have a pair of these (in plain black) damned comfy shoes, even for walking in.The last pair of £40 Shimano ones weren't falling apart but the padding was all over the place but have been used quite a lot since 2012
Luckily I seem managed to get the cleats set nearly the same as the last pair and they're a lot more comfy.
Think I'd have preferred plain black but once it gets dark it won't matter.
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