Via the cycle scheme and using Pauls Cycles...I know its better to use local shops but they're crap around here and have attitudes. Went for a Giant Defy Composite 3 in the end, looked at the Ribble/Planet X (Think they have gone bust) and Cube. But the Giant came in under 900 quid...ok it's the 2012 model but its still boxed and new.

Link for those that are interested:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b4s6p4494/GIANT-DEFY-COMPOSITE-3-2012

I've brought this mostly for posing outside of Waitrose

Anyway I need some pedals, I want non-clip-my-shoe type?

I've got a set of pedals that are non clip type, but have the plastic toe clips on them. Refer to photo (and another excuse to post a photo of my bike )



You're more than welcome to them, as I now have SPD's

Nice chillis too...

Planet X are fine, just bought some shoes from them. And they have a full Shimano Ultegra and carbon frame for under £1k

Nice bike - we're talking about adopting the cycle scheme at my work and I am tempted to get myself a new bike.

At the moment I've got a Giant CRS 2.5, which is about 5 or 6 years old and is quite good for family cycle rides (little one in a seat on the back, speeds rarely into double figures, mix of quiet roads, paved cycle paths and good quality trails), but I was thinking of getting something a little more road-orientated for commuting.

I'd like to stick with Giant, but a bit torn between the Escape (which I think is just the new version of the CRS, the Escape RX (which seems like a more road-orientated version and the more expensive one without the trick disc brakes, but presumably with more lovely stuff

Quiet honestly I've no idea what I'm looking at, and as I'm 35 stone, with a top speed of 8mph and a maximum range of 350 yards I'm not sure it makes a lot of difference.

You sure you don't want to go clipless? They do take some getting used to and you'll probably have at least one comedy moment with them, but they really do make things much more efficient. Depends on your bike usage I suppose.

Very kind offer of the pedals and nice bike, but I'll hold off as I just seen a lovely pair of pedals (USS Enterprise shaped but clip type) that would look the nuts...only thing is I keep watching youtube fail videos regarding clip pedals...not sure i'd get up if I fell over

I need a bit more than pedals for my new bike....



Go clipless

Mmmmm....love the Scott Foils. That's the Team Issue HMX replica yes? Did you get it via Westbrook Cycles with Di2?

It sounds like you're describing Speedplay pedals which are excellent. They're also easier to use for clipless virgins as they're double-sided and you just stamp on them to clip in, instead of having to 'flip and clip' like you do with others.

Don't worry about falling over. Slack off the tension, then practice with them lots in your house and ride them up and down your street or a deserted carpark to get used to clipping in and out first before venturing onto the roads. Do lots of practice clipping out with one leg and coming to a stop. I always clip out with my left as it's safer (you don't fall into traffic if the worse comes to the worst).

<Cycle idiot>So when you're saying 'clips' are you talking about clips for cleats on the pedals?

If so, I use clips when I do any distance and find them much better for hill-climbs than being unclipped and I've only had one comedy falling off moment.

That's the one. It's very very nice. Hope to have it built up by the end of the week (my LBS are doing some of it because the BB needs removing to run the internal Di2, I hate wrapping bars, and their labour rates are stupidly cheap). Can't wait to give it a try though - so different in character to my Volagi Liscio...

Since we've got a new bike thread... here's what I got after mine was stolen.

You are a very sick man Kenno

Very cool.

While we're in bike showing mode, my 2 road bikes -

That Willier always catches my eye. Are the two bikes very different to ride, bezzer?

One of the reasons I went of the Foil is that I wanted something entirely different from my Volagi (a bike that's designed for double centuries)

In the dry the Merckx feels a more 'planted' bike and is better for longer rides (60+). The geometry is different to the Wilier which makes it a more comfortable ride. The head tube is longer than the Wilier so makes it easier on the neck and shoulders. However when the roads a bit wet the back end can get a bit 'twitchy'.

Having said that, for my regular training rides I prefer the Wilier. It's very responsive and having got rid of the horrible tyres it came with it's great in all weathers. I also prefer Campag over the EMX's Ultegra. I bought it mainly to do Sportifs.

And of course in the Petacchi colours, it looks gorgeous

As Bezzer has mentioned them...what are he best all weather tyres, I had intended to fit the Giant all weather ones but they are essentially slicks with short diagonal cuts?

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/gear...tyre/590/50075/

forget the tyre size bit for the mo, the link shows the tyre and pattern and I have no idea if it would fit.

There is no reason for tread on road tyres, it does nothing. I would recommend the Michelin Pro Race 4 Endurance as an excellent robust winter tyre.

+1

And usually available on Wiggle at a decent price.

I swear by folding Vittoria Rubino Pros at around £17 a pop. Fast with great puncture resistance - for day-to-day riding, I've seen no reason to buy anything else.

Jumping in here... I jut got one if these babies - used to cycle a lot then rheumatoid arthritis took care of that
Hope to start again slowly

Bikey

Latest machine nearly finished

MRS that looks stunning

I'm after some advice myself so might as well jump in on this thread. I bought a mountain bike 2 years ago on the cycle to work scheme and have used it pretty much every day since. I've really surprised myself how much I've enjoyed it and I'm doing longer & longer rides now.

Anyway, I'm now thinking of taking the plunge and getting a road bike and in particular starting to take part in a few sportives.

At the moment I've got these bikes on my shortlist...

Trek Domane 4.5

Giant Defy Composite 1

Specialized Roubaix Comp

This also looks good but is a bit more expensive...

Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra

Ideally I'm looking to get a carbon framed, Ultegra equipped bike for under £2K. Looking at 2013 bikes as there's some good deals on at the moment.

Any advice on the above would be welcome or any other bikes which I should be looking at?

Can you find a Cannondale Supersix Ultegra within your budget (they're normally just over £2k)? They're meant to be very good.
Take a look at Westbrook Cycles - they've had some great deals on Scott frames (where my Foil came from)

Westbrook cycles looks good and they're not too far down the road from me.

Scott Foil 20 reduced from £2899 to £2099 looks rather nice & a pretty good deal. Are these more of a race than endurance geometry? Will I really notice the difference over 100 mile runs?

Also, Evans have an Eddy Merckx EMX-1 Ultegra 2013 reduced from £2300 to £1670 but I don't know anything about this brand.

The Foil is quite focused - there are plenty of ways of making the geo more relaxed though with shorter (& flipped) stem, shallower bars, endurance saddle, 25c tyres. Only trouble is that it costs a bit more money. It's one of the reasons I bought my Foil as a frameset - no money is wasted. I wanted it as an out-and-out attack machine as I have the Volagi for the epic rides. Maybe Westbook have a machine you can try

Bezzer rides a Merckx so he can tell you. I bought a Merckx seatpost for Charlie's Scott CR1 and it looked great quality - I don't think you'll find that an issue.

Why not get the Planet X full carbon and Ultegra bike for £999. It's 10speed but still a fantastic bargain.

Let's face it, 10 speed Ultegra is quite plenty (and still gives more options on cassettes)