Today's Bike Ride

[ZootHornRollo]

Aksiums are decent solid wheels that'll last and last but, guessing you spent well north of £2000 on your bike, your mate is right. A set of Aksiums will cost about £150 so represent about 7% of build cost (based on £2000). Hardly proportional when, after the frame, wheels contribute most to ride quality and performance. Trust me, you'll really notice the difference.

OK gotcha, ta.

[Wheeze]

Sora shifters really wind me up... their design means you can't upshift from the drops.. one of my constant bike test niggles along with shitty wheelsets on top end bikes.

Being as I rarely use the drops, I don't find that a problem. Of course, I know they are cheapo but, in comparison with my ultegra set on my GT, they seem just fine. Probably won't be able to say the same in 10 years though! (the age of the GT)

[nikalas]

Being as I rarely use the drops, I don't find that a problem. Of course, I know they are cheapo but, in comparison with my ultegra set on my GT, they seem just fine. Probably won't be able to say the same in 10 years though! (the age of the GT)

Don't get me wrong, they perform really well but I just don't see the logic behind their design.

[Wheeze]

It's for granny riders like me to give our thumbs something to do.

[Dynamo Dan]

Aksiums are decent solid wheels that'll last and last but, guessing you spent well north of £2000 on your bike, your mate is right. A set of Aksiums will cost about £150 so represent about 7% of build cost (based on £2000). Hardly proportional when, after the frame, wheels contribute most to ride quality and performance. Trust me, you'll really notice the difference.

I was lucky enough to race with a Mavic 5 spoke and disc on the track a few times and you could really notice the difference. Cheap wheels on a nice frame is a waste of time.

[ZootHornRollo]

{prepares to open a wheel can of worms}

any opinions on Ksyriums versus equivalently priced Eastons, or other makes?

[The devil's own]

{prepares to open a wheel can of worms}

any opinions on Ksyriums versus equivalently priced Eastons, or other makes?

I guess you need to be a bit more specific about the model as they start at about £300 and go unto around £1100.
When I was buying wheels I spent a lot of time on weight weenies and speaking to various shops. I was advised to avoid fulcrums as spare parts are hard to come by, mavic are bullet proof but repairs can be costly. In the end I went for Dura ace CL 24'S with planet x carbon/ti skewers, these were highly recommended by a hell of a lot of people. Amazing set of wheels, you won't be disappointed if they are in your price range. Brett has em now so ask him what he thinks.

You can get em for £539 which is a bargain as rrp is £749.

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sho...eels-pair.html

Skewers will set you back £17.49 if you want to upgrade them

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/..._carbon_levers

[Stagger]

28k to work and same back. Only went steady on way there because quads were sore from running Scafell on saturday, but to my shock horror, I have just posted my fastest time comming home. Very strange!

[stevefoster]

28k to work and same back. Only went steady on way there because quads were sore from running Scafell on saturday, but to my shock horror, I have just posted my fastest time comming home. Very strange!

Well done Trev, 8m steady, flat to work, quads are mangled also. 6m home. Got passed by some racing snake who never even aknowledged me when I said how do! Some folk are bloody miserable:thunbdown:

[RaceTheSweeper]

2nd attempt on Mam Nick yesterday. Got to the dead tree this time at 311mtrs :-). That's 122mtrs higher than last time. Well chuffed with that. My speed was 1 second a k slower than last time but as I got higher I think that's not that bad. Ave 12.45mph in the peaks and need to get that to 15mph by September at Half Henley to finish in the time.

Anyone doing the Long Tour of the Peaks on Sunday? My partner is doing it and it goes right past our house. Dropped him off at the hill leading up to the cat and fiddle last week so he could cycle the 30mls part of the route back home. Drove to a friends for dinner last night in Holmthirth so we took a look at the drag up Holme Moss too. That looks so hard!!!!