Two wheels bad

[AllanT]

Campy is way better than Sh*mano in my experience. Needs much less adjustment, seems to last longer, better quality. It is also better designed (well in my opinion - I mean the Ergo levers are way better and more comfortable than the STI ones - and they don't have cables erupting everywhere either! It's also way more classy. OK in some cases it's more expensive (but it is Swings & Roundabouts - I've seen some Campy stuff like Cables and hoses being cheaper than the Sh*mano stuff) but I think for the added benefit I've found from it definitely make the extra cost well worth paying. I run Centaur (cross/Winter bike) & Record (Road Racing Bike)

Have got Ultegra on my time trial bike though, it does run ok, but if I had it built up from spec instead of getting it off the shelf on offer I think I would prefer to be running Campy on it.

XT stuff is good on the mtn bike, but then I've never ran SRAM Mechs or Shifters. I would say that the SRAM chains are a lot better than the Sh*tmano ones too - they seem to split and rejoin better, and with the powerlink it makes removing them for cleaning a lot easier.

Generally I would say I use the stuff with the Campy on a lot more, so it's not even a case of one taking more of a hammering than the other. The time trial bike gets used only for that, and obviously a few runs, but has needed way more adjustment than the road bike which is used several times most weeks (indeed virtually every day in the summer)

As for those mudguards, well last night when my lights died I had to take a detour along an old overgrown and muddy railway line (sections closed to the public too so not as if the drains had much maintainance either). Yet despite this the wheels are encrusted in much, but the frame and the rest of it was pretty much clean!! Definite plus in my book as it means I just have to wipe the few mud spots off, and wash the wheels - rather than the whole bike all the time which I had to do with the previous winter one!

[Ady In Accy]

Any cycling forumites up for the Tan Hill 211K Audax on the 27th of April from Padiham in Lancs? Not a race but it's nice to get back 1st. Good leg stretcher for the injured or as a recovery session between races - 3700 metres of climbing so could be likened to a CL?

Brett - good training ride on the fixed

[brett]

That's mi birthday!! Errr... and also the PPP same weekend!

Else I'd be there!!

Any cycling forumites up for the Tan Hill 211K Audax on the 27th of April from Padiham in Lancs? Not a race but it's nice to get back 1st. Good leg stretcher for the injured or as a recovery session between races - 3700 metres of climbing so could be likened to a CL?

Brett - good training ride on the fixed

[pauljonesforengland]

Just been reading about the audax races and how popular they are becoming( in Northern Wheel - CTC Manchester mag - excellent read).

Fair play to you getting round this one.

Personally, I was excited about going out on the bike today, only to Prestwich and back to buy some new hilly socks. 7 mile round trip, no overshoes, no rain jacket, and no rain !!!!

Was a bit windy though.

[stevefoster]

Rob Jebb interview
http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php...rob_jebb_jan08
Not a bad lad if he likes pots of tea and bacon butties

[AllanT]

Incase anyone's interested, here's a shot of the winter/cross bike set up in the cyclocross mode. Damn fast even with knobblies, had it on the old railway line, up through some old field lanes and through some techincal bits (including riding down a flight of steps), and it handles really nicely!

[stevefoster]

Incase anyone's interested, here's a shot of the winter/cross bike set up in the cyclocross mode. Damn fast even with knobblies, had it on the old railway line, up through some old field lanes and through some techincal bits (including riding down a flight of steps), and it handles really nicely!

Looks a belter AllanT, do you do a lot of cross, ever done the 3 peaks cyclocross?

[AllanT]

There's not much of a cross scene over here, though they're hoping to start a cyclocross league over here next winter. I wanted a crosser though, but couldn't justify one until I wrote off my old winter bike - so I bought a crossframe, built it up with the bits off my old winter bike, got a new set of wheels, and brakes, and so that's the result.

Haven't done the 3 peaks yet, but it is on the list to do!!

What I like about them are that they are so fast and yet versatile - means I can ride long distances quickly on road, and still be able to go up dirt tracks when I like (something I wouldn't do on my bling road bike).

[stevefoster]

There's not much of a cross scene over here, though they're hoping to start a cyclocross league over here next winter. I wanted a crosser though, but couldn't justify one until I wrote off my old winter bike - so I bought a crossframe, built it up with the bits off my old winter bike, got a new set of wheels, and brakes, and so that's the result.

Haven't done the 3 peaks yet, but it is on the list to do!!

What I like about them are that they are so fast and yet versatile - means I can ride long distances quickly on road, and still be able to go up dirt tracks when I like (something I wouldn't do on my bling road bike).

Got two, one with gears i bought specifically for the 3 peaks, gained an entry last year but it was cancelled two weeks before (devastated) but got a definate place for this year, and one singlespeed that i use for work and general training, love it and definately got stronger using one gear, bling road bike's only been out once this year and mountain bike is collecting dust in cellar. Think i'm a compulsive bike hoarder

[AllanT]

Got two, one with gears i bought specifically for the 3 peaks, gained an entry last year but it was cancelled two weeks before (devastated) but got a definate place for this year, and one singlespeed that i use for work and general training, love it and definately got stronger using one gear, bling road bike's only been out once this year and mountain bike is collecting dust in cellar. Think i'm a compulsive bike hoarder

The weather is improving, and I am thinking it will not be long before the bling bike makes an outing from underneath the dust sheets. I am vowing this year to make myself stronger, faster and fitter. But then don't we all!!

I quite like the look of the Paris Roubaix, and the Tour, OK I will probably never get to the standard to ride the real one, but I like the idea of going out close to the race and riding ahead of it along all of the route.

Going to flog one of the mtn bikes as I don't really use it, if I can get a decent price for it, I think I will invest in a rear disk and deep section front wheel for the time trial bike, and maybe aero chainrings.

Of course there's no point in buying all the gear unless I start doing the training to deserve it again.

I am thinking hmm single speed fixed as well, but I don't think I have the room or the funds at the moment. Want a turbo trainer bike too, but I am guessing I don't have the space for that. I have a cracked frame from the winter bike, and did wonder about building some sort of setup by integrating it into the turbo trainer. Then I also have a spare hardtail frame and forks with enough bits to rebuilt it into a whole bike too...