Ride OzGolf Ride

[AndyP]

Do you guys have any recommendations for good value for money headlights?

[goughy]

Nope. My lights cost nearly more than I spent on all 3 of my bikes combined. Never had to look at anything else. They're do come with a headband to use while running, ha, running...

What I do remember though, was prior I had a normal light from somewhere like Kmart or a bike Shop cheapy, and getting a decent one really was like night and day. Makes a big difference.

[AndyP]

Does that mean Ay-Up then?

[goughy]

Yep! Granted you can pay as much or more for other high end lights too! They're not overpriced compared to other products. There's been a fair few discussions about them on Transitions with lots of other options.
http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...h&fromsearch=1

[AndyP]

Link fail.

So I'm looking at $150+ for something decent? That would make it worth more than my current bike.

However, I am in the market for a new bike post surgery. The guy at the local bike shop reckoned I should be looking at the $1800 carbon bike, instead of the $1200 aluminium bike, as he felt I wouldn't regret it. Both sound expensive, but is that the price I have to pay for something good? I don't ride that much, but I may use it for a commute once a week or so, which is a 70k round trip, plus a ride for a couple of hours on a weekend. Of course, if I get an expensive bike, I need to find somewhere to store it, since the backyard won't be safe for it, like the current bike.

[goughy]

http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...7567&hl=lights
http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...0323&hl=lights
http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...9822&hl=lights
http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...5348&hl=lights
http://forums.transitions.org.au/ind...4229&hl=lights

There will be a lot of ayup love in these though, so just ignore it if you want.

With regards to the bike, ride what ever you want! Bike shop dude probably thought he had a new mark. If he'd looked in your golf bag he'd have realised the truth. Sure, if you wanna spend the money go carbon. You won't regret it if you are gonna use it enough. But you could ride a 40 year old fixie and still be happy if you wanted to. I'm still riding Leon's old bike, a 1998 alloy cannondale and as far as I'm concerned will never replace it. But even cheap arse me would go the extra step to carbon over an alloy bike if I was buying a new one. Face it, they are a lot cheaper these days. Otherwise look for a decent second hand one.

[AndyP]

Maybe he is, but he isn't part of a chain store, so I'd prefer to give my money to him, than someone else. I just don't know if that is the expectation for what a bike costs.

Thanks for the links.

[goughy]

I would expect at least that sort of amount for a decent starting carbon bike, probably running shimano 105 gear, which is pretty good stuff really. What was the bike he was talking about? What stuff do they sell?

[AndyP]

I would expect at least that sort of amount for a decent starting carbon bike, probably running shimano 105 gear, which is pretty good stuff really. What was the bike he was talking about? What stuff do they sell?

I don't really know. I asked some preliminary questions when picking up my crappy bike from another spoke repair. Apparently one of the bearings on the back wheel has squared, as it isn't rolling too well, so riding is becoming a bit of a grind at times.

Here are the brands listed on his website. http://www.cyclehaus.com.au/#!road/cb3k

[goughy]

Felt are great (not just because I ride one). Don't get an Orbea. Simple as that.

[AndyP]

I want to start my bike shopping now, as I'm sick of the piece of crap that I ride, and my hip recovery is going well. My workmate has suggested trying to get a 2015 Avanti Giro 2 that is getting cleared for new stock for $999. Although the 2016 is only $50 more. He says that a carbon bike makes minimal difference over the aluminium. Thoughts?

[goughy]

Don't ask me. My bikes are older than my kids!

[goughy]

Did the brissie to goldie ride yesterday. It was pretty good. Far from ready for it though, so pretty slow. You should look at it next year AP. I reckon I'd like to be in condition next year to ride back to brissie afterwards.

[AndyP]

I don't know about that. I'm not a cyclist and I'll probably be injured then.

[goughy]

I was injured, and way untrained. Didn't stop me. Surely you'll join me next year? You'll probably flog me!

[AndyP]

I can't ride, swim, or run at the moment, so I won't be making any commitments to something that involves exercise.

[goughy]

Wha! Have I missed something? What's the go?

[AndyP]

I have a likely torn iliopsoas, part of the hip flexor muscle group, after getting my foot caught climbing through a fence at the end of a 2 hour trail walk. I couldn't lift my right leg from sitting position last week. It's a good injury to make sure I can't do any exercise. I was going to go bike shopping that day too.

[goughy]

Oh ffs AP!

[AndyP]

You want more? It was two days short of when I was due to have my first post-surgery run. The muscle does feel better this week though, so hopefully it is a setback of only 2 weeks to a month.

[goughy]

I've been back to the doc for the obligatory check up, and spoke to him about the pain I'm having when I stand while cycling, or when trying to do the single leg lunges/squats that the physio had me working up to. He says it's actually muscular and because my muscles don't like the new (and correct) position my knee cap is in. So it's now off to the exercise physiologist to work on my leg strength and muscle. My right leg quad is now noticeably smaller than my left. But it's been bitch of a time not being able to stand at all while cycling as one of the groups I ride with likes to do a lot of hard hills, so I've been missing or pulling out early of their rides. I do have a compact crankset here now to change onto my roadie so will have to get to that this weekend. In general, that'll make things easier. Most of the stronger cyclists in the group I ride with are using compacts round here, so I shouldn't feel embarrassed.........

Haven't had a game of golf since the Leon day either. I tested my knee out at the range a week ago and it was fine swinging a club, so I'll have to get out there. I think I'll be fine for the walk, but I think I'm gonna find a buggy as I don't think I should be carrying now. Don't wanna push things.

[Moe Norman]

Buy a 2nd hand bike AP.

Bike market is littered with guys who bought a $2k bike, got the bug and upgraded 6 months later.

Now selling for $800 or less.

Or guys that bought a bike and never used it..

Don't be either of these guys. Take advantage of them instead.

[AndyP]

That's what I would have liked to do. But to buy a second hand bike, I would actually need to know something about models, features, etc, and I don't.

[goughy]

I'd guess you'd be a medium (54cm). There's a good site which will help get the fit right. Look for Ultegra, or at least 105 running gear.

[Moe Norman]

Not really. Look for Ultegra groupset, 105 if you have to, but Ultegra is almost standard now.

Nothing lower than 105.

Then stick to major brands: Specialized, Scott, Trek, Felt, BMC, Cannondale, Giant as a starting point.

I would guess you are a size 54.

Look in the pics for bikes with internal cabling, if they have external gear cabling they are a low level model and too old. Anything with internal cabling you will know is at least as new as the last 5 years most likely in that price range.

Any bike with Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra or 105 is fine. Avoid Tiagra, Sora and probably best to avoid Campag.

Or, SRAM Red, Force or Rival is acceptable also if you go down the SRAM path. Slightly different shifting mechanism, that I don't like - but plenty do.

I would go full carbon, but Alloy bikes are fine too. Especially in the Cannondale CAAD series and the Specialized Allez.