Rode the long distance of 2.7kms to work this morning.
Just got home from test ride of new Addict 10. Very, very nice bike. Smooth, comfortable and pretty fast once it's wound up. Impressed with Ultegra 11 speed, as well. At around $3K, it is a hell of a lot of bike. Was not impressed by the rowdy Syncros/DT Swiss hubs though, obnoxious ■■■■■■ things!!
But. Then I got back on the Felt (had ridden it to the shop)...man that thing is a sweet bike. So quick and nimble and light and responsive, gear shifts like a machine gun and just farking goes... It actually happens every time I test out another bike, I suddenly learn just how good I already have it. Not sure what I want to do now...
Look at other brands? Scott make some damn ugly bikes.
Hmmm, yes...like another Felt, maybe ;)
And you're right, though I reckon the Addict in matte finish looks pretty cool...
Anyone use a Cyclo Cross bike? Thinking of grabbing an Merida 4.
Have been having some fun on a China CX bike the last few weeks, when i'm not breaking it...
The Merida4 looks like a decent buy depending on spec and price of course :) Quite a few getting around as commuters.
does it come in black
Even In the world of WTF kit design this is probably off the scale..
Only in Italy. Although it is so bad I suspect it might have been digitally altered, haven't been able to confirm a genuine source.
Edit: It's legit according to procyclingstats.com, team name Bogota Humana - Solgar-Sanmateo. Kit worn in photo below by girl on right. But the team is from Colombia not Italy.
Embarrassingly bad.
Grand plans this morning to push my usual 25km out to 40km, but the stupid gardening I did yesterday left my legs feeling terrible. Then I changed my route slightly and got a ■■■■■■ magpie soop me a few times which got the heart going a little. It was on a reasonably busy road too which surprised me, stupid birds!
I've had 2 magpie strikes in 2 days. Freaking things.
Fondo today, 144km. ■■■■■■ windy as fark!
The group I was with are training for 3 Peaks, so pushing for 200 plus today. Would not be still out in that gale for anything. Well…maybe for something, but it’d wanna be pretty good 
3 peaks sold out in less than a week. Seems there's plenty of masochists out there.
Have found a second hand bike for the mrs. I’m keen to use it as a ‘practice’ bike for doing more advanced maintenance (like changing my own casette!) but buying all the tools costs more than just taking the thing to an LBS for a service!
Zipps looking sweet dude!
Have found a second hand bike for the mrs. I'm keen to use it as a 'practice' bike for doing more advanced maintenance (like changing my own casette!) but buying all the tools costs more than just taking the thing to an LBS for a service!
Changing cassette is probably easier than changing tyres. As for tools as I have mentioned previously I bought a usable bike toolkit from Aldi supermarket last year for $30 at a 1 day special item sale. Aldi normally follow the same cycle for 1 day special item sales every year. I looked up when I bought it last year and it was first week in October which isn't far away.
So to change cassette and chain I need:
Chain whip
Cassette lock tool
Chain breaker
…do I need a chain checker as well?
So to change cassette and chain I need:
Chain whip
Cassette lock tool
Chain breaker
...do I need a chain checker as well?
Yes whip and lock tool to undo cassette and remove it. Breaker to remove chain pin so chain opens and becomes a long string, not a continuous loop through the frame.
Checker is a tool to measure stretch in a worn chain and signal to you that you should replace it. So you don't need it if you have already decided to get a new chain to match a new cassette.
Can you work out how long your new chain needs to be?
Take photos of your chain route through front and rear derailleurs and jockey wheels with mobile phone before removing chain ... it will make it much easier to get path right first time when you put new chain on.
Tip, always buy a quick link (a few bucks) whenever you get a new chain, it'll enable you to take the chain off/on in seconds.
Also invest in the chain breaker for initial chain sizing/length.
As mentioned, chain whip, socket lock tool and long breaker (torque wrench if you can) bar to make it easier. Outlay the money for this gear, you wont regret and will wondered why you ever went to the LBS for this stuff.
Edit: Chain length tool? Never bothered myself, just log your mileage for your drivetrain, when I get to 7-8k for chains I reorder.
If on Shimano chains, always by Ultegra and above, far stronger and more durable than the <105.
This bike has an 8sp Groupset on it, which makes chains and Casette’s very cheap 
So I have this $120 wiggle cart and only $25 are parts…
They don't have much in the way of tool kits do they? Just mostly individual bits.