New bike questions

[morrisman]

Finally sick to death of being overtaken by everyone, including kids on strider,s I have decided to get a road bike to replace my 10 year old Dawes Kalahari hybrid. So, I think I have settled on a Giant Defy 2 subject to a test ride next week sometime and it has got me thinking:

1. How do I carry a pump, spare tube, multi tool, sundry other stuff. Currently have a wedge pack and a frame pump? Will a wedge pack be really uncool on a road bike and why, all of a sudden, do I care?
   
   
2. Security, on my hybrid I have a cafe lock coilly thing that lives on the cross bar and, when I think I need more a D lock that gets strapped to the rack. Now I guess the answer is to just keep riding , but I need to have cake breaks, so what is the best solution?

 

[vickster]

1) Not uncool, be much less cool at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere after a fairy visit

2) I have a rack on my Avail 2 (Defy equivalent)

 

[MaxInc]

You can get a CO2 "pump" and store it in the wedge pack.

 

[morrisman]

You can get a CO2 "pump" and store it in the wedge pack.

As an old engineer I am wary of CO2 things as I am sure that if I used one I would just find that I had not got what ever caused the puncture out of the tyre and now I was in for a long walk home. Much prefer the thought of a manual pump.

 

[MikeW-71]

I have a Defy 2 also

1. I have a Topeak mini pump that mounts under a bottle cage. I also have a wedge saddle pack for a couple of tubes, levers and a multi tool, plenty of space for spare chain links if needed too.

2. Dare say I could squeeze a small coiled lock in that pack too. I Wouldn't leave mine anywhere I would need a D lock though, but it will take a rack if required. I have one that will go on for some light touring.

 

[Peteaud]

As an old engineer I am wary of CO2 things as I am sure that if I used one I would just find that I had not got what ever caused the puncture out of the tyre and now I was in for a long walk home. Much prefer the thought of a manual pump.

Couple of cartridges and a good check before repair.

Co2 will pump the tire to over 100 psi in an instant.

Not knocking a manual pump, but in the cold and wet i just put in a new tube, check the tire (align the markings with the valve to make it even easier) and then hit the co2.

 

[mark st1]

Couple of cartridges and a good check before repair.

Co2 will pump the tire to over 100 psi in an instant.

Not knocking a manual pump, but in the cold and wet i just put in a new tube, check the tire (align the markings with the valve to make it even easier) and then hit the co2.

This^^^^

 

[SWSteve]

New tube, pump and puncture repair kit in back pocket. Kit is in case get more than 1 of the b*****s when out. Don't worry about looking uncool, there are people out there in Marmite jerseys

 

[vickster]

And white cycling shorts

 

[morrisman]

And white cycling shorts

I do wear lycra (Aldi's best) but under cargo shorts as the world is not ready for my body in lycra!

 

[SWSteve]

@vickster there is nothing wrong with white shorts...fortunately it's never rained when out in them

 

[vickster]

That is what is wrong with them

 

[MikeW-71]

You're not always safe in black ones. Like the lady that I encountered on my last Sportive. I don't know if she realised that her shorts had become ... What's the word? .... Translucent, yes, that's it.

 

[vickster]

Green aren't safe either, as shown by the bloke I followed in faded team shorts

He didn't seem to fully get the concept of red lights either

 

[MikeW-71]

Definately don't get red ones if you're a bloke. It doesn't hide anything. Google the Polish cycling team to see what I mean