Equipment

[Slim]

Quick version: it's not a good idea

[Slim]

One of my pairs of cycling tights wore out - I noticed a hole just above the knee - so since I was down to one pair after chucking them, I replaced them with these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DWW6CJQ

They're very nice for £7.13 (as I type) but a bit heavier than the ones I've replaced, which are very simple, thin material tights with an elasticated waist. These ones are more substantial with ankle zips and a tie waist.

I suppose though that they'll be a bit warmer, so I could save weight on overtrousers in less adverse conditions.

[Nickslikk2112]

Well, I've just got some new cycling kit. Well, I haven't because Mrs S will be giving it to me for my birthday.

I like to be well dressed and it's a nice looking bit of Le Col kit, white top with a Cobalt Blue band and black bib shorts.

Le Col are the DFS of cycling kit, should have been £250 but they had 25% off and I'd earned a £50 voucher from some Strava challenge so it came in at £137.50. Still not cheap, but on the verge of being semi good value.

[Slim]

These Chinese SPD-SL cleats are £2.99 on Amazon at the moment:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CX8XT1VG

They only last about half as long as original Shimanos, but they're a fifth of the price.

[Nickslikk2112]

When I bought my Garmin Power Meter pedals a couple of years back, they came with a set of cleats and after say 10,000 miles using them they still look fine

[Slim]

Highslide Image Viewer

New shoes! Haven't had any new ones for years. First ones I've had with the twisty fasteners, seems to work well. Acquired in the Black Friday sales. Very light. Carbon. Will bolt some cleats onto them later. I think I'll reserve them for longer rides in the summer.

My Shimanos are still OK but looking a bit past their best now.

[Fishy]

Anybody using any specialist bike computer/ gps rather than just using a phone while out riding?

[David L]

Anybody using any specialist bike computer/ gps rather than just using a phone while out riding?

I've used CatEye Mity computers on road bikes for years. Simple, accurate and all you really need. I use my iPhone on the mtb though, in a Quad lock bracket. It's essential for navigating the off-road stuff (using Komoot app).

[Slim]

Anybody using any specialist bike computer/ gps rather than just using a phone while out riding?

Yes I have a few, can never resist a gadget. The Garmin ones are great and they have the advantage that you can hook them up to a PC via USB and get the track off them like an external storage device. But even with the app (Garmin Connect) they will transfer automatically to Strava once you've set that up. No need to click around the app, it just works.

I also have two of these (this one, and a previous model):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Speedometer-Multifunctional-Backlight-Waterproof/dp/B0CKHMKKSB

Quite a bit cheaper than a Garmin and the app is a bit more fiddly - you have to manually sync to Strava. But they will do 20+ hrs of tracking on a recharge, there's a useful auto-pause feature that detects when you've stopped moving. No maps or anything, but a decent display.

Worth investigating the various Garmin GPS watches as well.

See also: https://betweenthewheels.net/index.php?topic=54.msg14326;topicseen#msg14326

in this thread.

[Nickslikk2112]

Anybody using any specialist bike computer/ gps rather than just using a phone while out riding?

I've got a Garmin Edge 1040, too many bells and whistles for what I use it for really, but it normally lasts a good length of time on one charge.

Connected to my phone via Garmin connect and normally - normally - between finishing the ride it has synched and everything is straight through to Strava.

It also gives me warnings of upcoming hills - as if I didn't know they were there.

[Slim]

I binned my trusty (not) older cycling jacket and replaced it with one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MRPKL33

£15! (at the moment). Rude not to. It arrived today. I wear a heavier cycling jacket like this all year round, unless it's hot. In the winter, I put a fleece under it as well as the compression layer and possibly a nylon outer layer.

Came today. Size M but it fits nicely, and I have unusually long Gibbonesque arms.

The only bummer is that it doesn't have side pockets. But it does have rear pockets and a zippy breast pocket which takes a big phone.

[Fishy]

Not really equipment but ..punctures!!.. currently running on three repairs to my back tyre inner tube.. all were little needles almost invisible so nothing major and all repairs seem to be holding but was wondering if there are any recommendations /thinking as to when you ditch the old one and go for a shiny new inner tube??

[Slim]

I'm not going to frame this as a "recommendation" but I always just fit a new inner tube.

[Slim]

On the left, Shimano brake shoes ordered for the Boardman (shoe + cartridge type) - £11.99

On the right, two cheap ones that I ordered out of curiosity - £5.99 for two pairs.


Highslide Image Viewer

The cheap ones are simple pressed steel + pad and not the cartridge type, you just bin them once worn out. They didn't even come with washers (but I can recycle the washers from the old ones). Interestingly they're all exactly the same so they won't be left-right symmetrical, there's a pattern in the pad and it will be  "upside down" on the right compared to the left.

[Slim]

You know what they say .. buy cheap, buy twice!

The shafts on the pads pictured on the right aren't quite long enough for Shimano calipers. Or SRAM calipers either (I had a look on the X). So I couldn't use them on any of my bikes. Ah well! Back to Amazon