Cycling Thread

[Bill Bumface]

Yikes. Good to know. My cleaning plan last year was "wait til spring" and that didn't work out so well and I was thinking of hitting the wash soon-ish.

If the place doesn't have spot free can you just blast away from a good distance?

[RatherDashing]

What chain lube do you guys use in the winter?

[Bill Bumface]

I used wet lube last year, it was horrible. This year I'm using wax. So far so good. Whatever brand that has the checkered flag on it.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by habernac

Carbon for the win. Tiagra can always be upgraded in the future.

He might be able to upgrade them immediately. The bike shop can keep the Tiagras and for the difference he could go up a class or two.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by habernac

Carbon for the win. Tiagra can always be upgraded in the future.

IIRC, neither the Synapse6 nor the the CAAD9 are full carbon bikes. Only the fork and seat post. The frame is aluminum. CAAD stands for Cannondale Advance Aluminum Design.

[TimSJ]

the First Synapse and the CAAD are indeed alloy with Carbon forks only the 3rd bike is a full carbon.

still really have not sure which way to go. It will either be the $799 Synapse alloy or the $1299 Synapse Carbon. She has been fit at the shop and they have her size in both. both are good discounts for being leftover models. Basically $500 off the Alloy and $600 off the Carbon.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Yikes. Good to know. My cleaning plan last year was "wait til spring" and that didn't work out so well and I was thinking of hitting the wash soon-ish.

If the place doesn't have spot free can you just blast away from a good distance?

I wouldn't. I wipe down my bike on wet days at home with a rag, clean the drive train as often as you can and swap out the rear cogs and the chain in the spring.

[Coys1882]

Anyone have any thoughts/opinions on bike trainers?

I'm thinking I'd like one for the basement this winter while watching TV and be able to quickly stow it all in the furnace room.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

On the advice of a buddy who does A LOT of cycling I just bought this guy a few months ago:

http://www.kurtkinetic.com/road-machine-p-198-l-en.html

A bit pricey, but it's apparently pretty durable (tough to tell in just 2 months, but it seems pretty tough), and it is pretty smooth and quiet. I'm riding pretty seriously on the thing, so that's why I went with a more expensive unit. Depending on how much riding you'll be doing on it, you might be happy on a cheaper trainer though.

They have them at Bow, and The Bike Shop.

[pylon]

My opinion? Look for a good deal on a spin bike. Save the wear on your road bike, and put the miles on the boat anchor. Weight means absolutely nothing on a stationary bike. In fact I am of the opinion, the heavier the better.

It is pointless IMHO to ride a $3000 17lb carbon road bike on a stand, when you can get a ok'ish spin bike for around 6 or 700 bucks.

Also, if anyone is looking for a spin bike, I have a BNIB one for $500.

I had bought 2 of these a while back. One for home, and I was planning on giving the other one to a girlfriend as a gift so she could train for the Enbridge ride. She decided getting ass pounded by some d'bag musician passing through town was more important than me. So I still have it sitting in storage:

http://www.sears.ca/product/xterra-i...58137-16416860

[squiggs96]

I bought this one: http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/el...ner-pro-review

It works great, the noise is low and it's a nice way to watch a period or two of hockey. I got it last year at MEC for $250.

This looks to be the current model for $240:http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...lu-trainer.jsp

Here is the high end Elite model for $300: http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...el-trainer.jsp


If I was buying today I'd buy the $300 one. I tried the Kinetic one Shantz has, but I prefered the Elite brand over it. Before I started looking I hadn't heard of either one.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by pylon

I had bought 2 of these a while back. One for home, and I was planning on giving the other one to a girlfriend as a gift so she could train for the Enbridge ride. She decided getting ass pounded by some d'bag musician passing through town was more important than me. So I still have it sitting in storage:

http://www.sears.ca/product/xterra-i...58137-16416860

The craigslist ad almost writes itself....

[pylon]

Heads up guys:

http://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en/yearendsale/

Trek is blowing out some 2011 inventory. I was originally going to get a 2012 Madone 5.9, and spend $5400, but they have the 5.1 on for $2599!! That is crazy for a 17 pound Rival bike. I called Ridleys, and they are bringing one in for me @ $2499. I am a bit of a weight weenie, but electric shifting and 1/2 a pound is in no way worth $2900. I have seen some Ultegra Di2 grouppos pop up for around $1200 recently, so even if I retro fit a Di2 kit, I am $1800 ahead of the game. I am perfectly OK with mechanical shifting for another year or 2, plus I have always wanted to try SRAM double tap.



Really dig the burnt orange actually. Looks slick.

The 4.7 @ $2199 is also a great deal as well. Full 105 (not 105 shifters with a garbage crankset), full carbon at that price is a heck of a deal. Ask for Travis at Ridleys and maybe he can work you a bit better deal.

A little more understated as for the look too.



Anyway, they have some pretty awesome deals on road and mountain and Ridleys will bring one in with a 20% deposit.

[squiggs96]

Cervelo is having a sale until the end of January. You get $1,000 of a bike if you buy two bikes ($2,000 total savings). http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/bikes/share-the-ride/

I purchased the 2011 R3 with SRAM Rival setup for $2,200 after the discount.



I also have a 2009 Kong Zing with Ultegra on the rear and 105s everywhere else. The bike with the same components jumped up by about $500 in the 2010 model and you had to go to a Zing Deluxe. The 2009 Zing is very similar to the 2009 Haole, but $800 cheaper.



For commuting I use a 2009 KHS Urban X. I started on it because I was hit by a car and couldn't put much pressure on my shoulders and wrists, so this allowed me to begin cycling again. The panniers and high stem take most of the pressure off.

[JohnnyB]

That Trek is a beautiful bike. I love the orange and white.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

That Trek is a beautiful bike. I love the orange and white.

Agreed. I probably would have bought it solely for the colour since it's about what I just picked up.

[Khel]

Any recommendations on a good shop to purchase a road bike in Calgary? I want to start biking to work in the spring, and thinking about joining a team for the ride to conquer cancer, but all ive ever done is mountain bike or spin.

Looking to spend 1000-1500 for a good bike (spending account ftw!), any recommendations?

[IliketoPuck]

Bow Cycle is pretty good/knowledgeable.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Agreed. I probably would have bought it solely for the colour since it's about what I just picked up.

Speaking of which, they called me today to let me know it arrived.

When I asked why Trek was blowing them out, he said the "Color wasn't popular." I said ,"It is the only one I like in the 5 series bikes, and what I would have picked anyway." So win/win there.

Heading down tomorrow morning to get fitted.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Khel

Any recommendations on a good shop to purchase a road bike in Calgary? I want to start biking to work in the spring, and thinking about joining a team for the ride to conquer cancer, but all ive ever done is mountain bike or spin.

Looking to spend 1000-1500 for a good bike (spending account ftw!), any recommendations?

I am biased to Ridley's. They are an awesome shop. They spare you the pretentious BS bike shop attitude. They sell you what you need, not the most expensive thing they think you can afford. Plus you won't find better value than Trek, which is their main line. Trek always seems to get you into one groupo up, on the boutique brands, at the same price. Ask for Travis, he is the store manager, and he will probably give you a discount if you are doing the Enbridge ride.

I might just have a bike for you though, depending on your height. PM me for details.