Re: New to cycling
 

There's only two sorts of cyclists, those who have fallen over with their feet clipped in and liars :evill

I hate being clipped in on the MTB (although still use clips) but the road bike is okay.

Re: New to cycling
 

yeah not a fan of clips either mate, i can see myself at every set of lights slowing down to one kph and then promptly falling on my backside .

Re: New to cycling
 

I pulled up in a river bed not long ago to cross on foot, unclipped right foot and came to a stop, then promptly fell the other way. River stones ain't very forgiving !

I've had so many near misses that I'm thankful I wasn't clipped in plus some crashes that could have been a whole lot worse if I was clipped in.

Re: New to cycling
 

Yep i fell over once many moon ago with clipped in shoes. Ive been debating buying some more this time around but i doubt i would, the freeride/enduro stuff i do doesnt end it self well to being clipped in. In my mind if im going to crash i need to know i can bail if i want to and have done recently. So flats for me.

Anyway heres a shot from a cpl weeks back, a ate of mine recently got a bike (we rode together as kids/teenagers) and he is getting back into it!
https://i818.photobucket.com/albums/...psjfddbobt.jpg

Absolutely loving this bike to bits its so bloody capable its not funny. Ive been debating buying a DH bike so im scouting MTB trading pages but talking to people that have a Reign (or any enduro bike/160mm travel) and a DH bike say they rarely ride the DH bike cause the enduro bike is so versatile.

Re: New to cycling
 

i wouldnt mind giving one of those cruiser bikes with the 4 inch tyres a bit of a run, im thinking you could lower the tyre pressure a tad and get a rolls royce ride :).
The day before yesterday i was riding the very nice concrete paths in my neck of the woods , in a place i hadnt been before and took an unfamiliar path which took me right down to the merri creek and then promptly turned into like pock marked rough paddock , needless to say my hard tail with tyres set at max psi for ashfelt was fairly uncomfortable, i stuck it out anyway to prove my old body could do it :yelrotflm.
it probably only went for 150/200 metres ........ give or take to an exit onto a nice bit of cement path fortunately .
i would love to see the difference having rear suspension over the same terrain would make.

Re: New to cycling
 

Whats the best road bike for under $1000?

I don't want to spend too much atm but want to get a decent bicycle.

Re: New to cycling
 

Have a look at the REID Falco Elite.
They have them going for $899 at the moment. Great bike for the cash.

https://www.reidcycles.com.au/falco-...road-bike.html

Re: New to cycling
 

Few here around $1000 or a little bit more would pay to read reviews and do a search on reviews of the wheels to see if they are any good .You wont have problems with Shimano 105 parts
http://www.cyclingexpress.com/?lang=...orderBy=priceA

Re: New to cycling
 

don't forget to add $349 shipping that they charge, even if you select in-store pick up. That could go a long way towards a decent set of wheels.

Re: New to cycling
 

I like the look of that.

Re: New to cycling
 

That cruiser looks good value , almost tempted myself except im old and decrepit .

Re: New to cycling
 

Have any of you fellas worn sleeveless base layers before in the hot weather? Just wondering if it's worth getting one or 2 or if it's no point.

Re: New to cycling
 

Went for a casual ride today, just trying to rack up some kms, albeit not far and managed another flat, i reckon i have had 4 flat with this bike since purchase in October last year. I think a tubeless set up is coming soon!

Re: New to cycling
 

Did not know that is criminal what a rip of

Re: New to cycling
 

They could at least set up the brakes properly for the pics. The caliper release is open yet the pads are at approximately the correct distance from the rim for the closed position. That lever is not a cable adjustment, it is to open the caliper to remove the wheels you fools.

My pet hate along with cable ends missing and incorrectly taped bars.

Re: New to cycling
 

Well spotted! That one was probably photographed before it was shipped out to someone.

Re: New to cycling
 

LOL. yeah I noticed that. Unfortunately like most things in the lower price brackets, slapped together in a rush. I was in one of their stores the other week looking at a bike for a guy at work. Yes there assembly skills leave a lot to be desired. I'd certainly be doing some QA before leaving the store.
Having said that as an overall package for avg joe, it's still a great deal

Re: New to cycling
 

It's a good deal. I wouldn't say its a great deal. I reckon you'd be able to find a 'name brand' bike similarly specced for not much more. Resale would be ten times better as well. Yes, I'm a bit of a brand snob :lol

Probably be a few good deals on 2015 stock around as well.

Re: New to cycling
 

Sorry dude - I have seen them in the flesh and ridden one. I have to disagree.
as for "brand names" being better, male bovine poo.

My daughter has a 24" specialized mountain bike. The more I look at it, the more garbage components I find, including the frame quality. The brakes I threw in the bin, didn't work properly. They would not compress or return evenly no amount of work on them could make it happen, by the shop ( a reputable name in Melbourne) or me, they were replaced under warranty, same issue. I've rebuilt both wheel hubs, and replaced the bottom bracket. I'm forever re-trueing the wheels and retentioning the spokes.
Her sisters Mongoose which was $100 cheaper (RRP) is far better quality, I've had to do nothing, only basic service work.
My Giant TCR Advanced, I've had several issues, both design and quailty wise. my cheap Chinese Azzurri Forza, good as gold.
Never judge a book by its cover.
You would be hard pressed to find anything with FULL 5800 series 105 groupset for under a grand. (Delivered, In your hands)
As for resale, I'm not sure about you but I would NEVER buy a second hand carbon bike. Not without a full frame ultrasound first, even if I know who owns it.

Re: New to cycling
 

Sorry I tell a lie on the Azzurri.
I swapped the shimano wheel set it came with for cheap $200 Taiwanese built Pro Lite Gardas, after the shimanos gave me problems with spokes breaking.

Re: New to cycling
 

No bike has resale that is worth considering. A bike is the sum of its parts and if you are paying for a big name frame it doesn't leave much for the components at that price point.

Re: New to cycling
 

I tried a cheap set ($350) of Shimano wheels as a set of training/bad weather wheels, utter garbage. The rear kept breaking spokes and I ended up binning it. I still won't consider a Shimano road wheel now.

Re: New to cycling
 

It's funny, I have a set of RS81-c35 that I acquired. Never rated them on the Azzurri, didn't like them. I was going to sell but but decided to use them as commute hacks on the Giant. Surprisingly, they have been great.....touchwood :)

Re: New to cycling
 

to each their own i guess. like cars, at least there is plenty of choice in the market.

to me its a bit like buying a KIA or something. in 2016 they are really good cars but i couldn't bring myself to buy one over a more established brand.

Re: New to cycling
 

That's bad luck mate,
i read that the thread count on bike tyres has some bearing on the puncture resistance, i have thirty threads per inch tye on my mountain bike, apparently, the smaller the thread count, the thicker the thread and the greater the cut and puncture resistance. I haven't had a flat yet, and despite me running over broken glass and the usual nasty stuff there are no cuts to be seen on any parts of the tyre s, id say im down to about 25% tread left.
Also i keep them pretty hard with the tyre pressures.
Edit : ive probably put the hex on myself now and will get 15 puntures :).

Re: New to cycling
 

Had a mad ride this morning, with the guys I bought my bikes from.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1702/...580b32b5_b.jpgLaPa by Dave Bourne, on Flickr

God the Propel feels awesome, after riding the Defy for commuting duties during the week.

Really stoked with my garage.

Go tubeless brus, you won't regret it.

Re: New to cycling
 

I wonder what pressure he runs. Lower pressures make the tyre more prone to punctures both from pinch flats and also sharp objects. Pinch flats for obvious reasons and most people know this. The sharp objects is because an items rarely punctures on the first time it contacts the tyre. The puncture normally occurs on the second or third time around as the contact with the ground drives it further through the casing. The harder the tyre the less likely it is to get stuck into the tyre in the first place. The softer the tyre the easier it is for items to embed into the tyre.

One of the reasons I religiously check my tyre pressures with a good track pump before every ride.

Re: New to cycling
 

Damn good looking bike.