New Road Bike..... help!, lots of questions...

[cyberknight]

Saddlebags - What have people got and what's recommended? (How big does one need?)

- What tools/bits and bobs do i need to carry in said bag? 2 Spare inner tubes enough?
mini pump,multi-tool, spoke key, chain tool , 1 inner tube and puncture repair kit with levers, i figure that if i had a double blow out on a club run someone will lend me a inner tube.For a sportive and commuting i would carry 2 tubes and my topeak road morph pump.


- Will i need to buy a road helmet or will the mtb one do?
If it works use it , i use a giro skyline all week and its as vented as my road helmet.
- Will i look a complete plonker in a team replica jersey?
As others have said wear what you like but expect some gentle teasing from club mates if you turn up in the yellow jersey,for commuting i wear a nice selection of retro jerseys with names no one has ever heard of.
- Bib shorts/jersey's - Am i better trying on instore rather than buying online to get the right fit? Do people tend to have multiple jersey's/shorts?
Yes on all counts untill you know the sizing for the brands as some are cut tighter than others, i have a drawer full of kit as i do not like to wear it more than once without a wash.
- Any tips on maintaining a carbon road bike?
To late it will melt in any sun/rain etc etc best post it to me now and i will take it off your hands
- What sort of psi should the road tyres be inflated to?
Says on the tyre sidewall, i run at 110 psi

I've ordered a new bottle cage and pedals for the bike and i can pick up spare inner tubes and a saddlebag come xmas, is there anything else i should look to pick up?
Some mudgaurds this time of year to keep your ass dry .

There's probably loads more (and i'll get pics of the new bike soon.. when its not raining) so i'll be sure to add to the thread as things come up.

Cheers
Gaz [/quote]

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Fantastic!, many thanks guys!!

I take it most of the multi tools and the CO2 pumps are fairly small if they can fit in a saddle bag?

I've got a toppeak pump now but i'll have to check its size compared to a medium saddle bag as i'm not sure i want to strap it to a carbon frame but that's something for me to play around with i guess.

With the expensive bike and wanting to do Sportives/events etc, is there a requirement that i may need to join BC or CTC? And in terms of insurance cover and money off bike insurance, should i look to join either anyway?

Do most people use their house insurance to cover their bike(s) or seperate company's?

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/ride-membership
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/bike-insurance

 

[HLaB]

Fantastic!, many thanks guys!!

I take it most of the multi tools and the CO2 pumps are fairly small if they can fit in a saddle bag?

I've got a toppeak pump now but i'll have to check its size compared to a medium saddle bag as i'm not sure i want to strap it to a carbon frame but that's something for me to play around with i guess.

With the expensive bike and wanting to do Sportives/events etc, is there a requirement that i may need to join BC or CTC? And in terms of insurance cover and money off bike insurance, should i look to join either anyway?

Do most people use their house insurance to cover their bike(s) or seperate company's?

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/ride-membership
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/bike-insurance

My muti tool is small and relatively light so it goes in my small topeak wedge saddle bag. My pump although small is just a little too big for my bag and goes in my jersey. I doubt it would affect the bike but I like it that way as I can use it on multiple bikes. The CO2 cartridges I have seen would be a little too big for my bag but would be fine in others.
I cant remember if you need BC/CTC 3rd party insurance for sportives but you do for my club so its 6 and half a dozen.
For bike insurance most folk I believe have it through their house insurance but read the small print some may request it being stored in a certain way or you may need to nominate it.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

HLaB - Cheers fella

One other..... is an inner tube an inner tube or should i be asking for a recommendation?

 

[gbs]

Chaps,



Saddlebags - What have people got and what's recommended? (How big does one need?) NOT NEEDED UNLESS YOU ARE STAYING O/NIGHT OR HAVE NON-BIKE ACTIVITIES AT THE END OF YOUR RIDE

- What tools/bits and bobs do i need to carry in said bag? 2 Spare inner tubes enough? MULITOOOL. LEVERS. TALC. CHAINLINK. £10.

- I've spent the last 18 months on the hardtail so most of my kit is mtb based.
- Will i need to buy a road helmet or will the mtb one do? NO
- Will i look a complete plonker in a team replica jersey?YES
- Bib shorts/jersey's - Am i better trying on instore rather than buying online to get the right fit? Do people tend to have multiple jersey's/shorts?STRETCH TAKES CARE OF FIT
- Any tips on maintaining a carbon road bike?OTHER THAN BEING WARY OF IMPACT I DO NOT BELIEVE THE FRAME NEEDS SPECIAL CARE. AS FOR COMPONENTS ... THAT IS ANOTHER STORY
- What sort of psi should the road tyres be inflated to?SEE THE TYRE WALL

I've ordered a new bottle cage and pedals for the bike and i can pick up spare inner tubes and a saddlebag come xmas, is there anything else i should look to pick up?

There's probably loads more (and i'll get pics of the new bike soon.. when its not raining) so i'll be sure to add to the thread as things come up.

Cheers
Gaz

 

[pepecat]

I have an altura medium saddle bag and in it i have tyre levers, really small multi tool thing from halfords, inner tube, puncture repair kit and allen key. I also carry a topeak pocket rocket pump (frame mounted).
Helmet - depends on what you've got at the moment i guess - i don't really know the difference between mtb and road ones. Road ones are lighter and more ventilated perhaps?
Team jerseys - up to you. People have different opinions on them.
Multiple jerseys - yes (long sleeved / short sleeved), one to wear and one for the wash (or more if you want!)
Bib shorts online or in the shop - i bought my bibs on here and they fit fine, places like wiggle tend to give the sizing charts so you can prob get the right size online.
I keep my tyres at 100 psi, as per the indication on the tyre itself.

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

pepecat - Thanks for the info.Which altura bag have you got? I've been looking at this one;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/altura-speed-saddle-bag-medium/

Did your pump come with the attachment to mount it to the frame?/

Cheers!

 

[HLaB]

HLaB - Cheers fella

One other..... is an inner tube an inner tube or should i be asking for a recommendation?

Yip all innertube are much of a muchness; you do get ones that are a bit lighter but tbh unless you are racing I don't think they are worth the extra. You get different stem lengths, which is only really important if you have deep profile rims (long enough to poke through the rim so you can pump it).

 

[zizou]

Cant really add much to what others said.

I think one of the best bits of advice i have taken on board over the years was the recommendation to get a track pump. A huge time and effort saver when at home and keeping tyres inflated to the right pressure.

 

[PpPete]

My advice would be not to bother with CO2... get a really good mini pump to complement the track pump you keep at home.
Lezyne Road Drive will reliably inflate a road tyre to very adequate pressure in very little longer time than CO2.... and weighs about the same as 2 canisters.
If you must have only a single pump for use at home and on the road .... it would have to be one Topeak Morph models.

 

[pepecat]

pepecat - Thanks for the info.Which altura bag have you got? I've been looking at this one;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/altura-speed-saddle-bag-medium/

Did your pump come with the attachment to mount it to the frame?/

Cheers!

Yep, that's exactly the altura bag i have - the blue one! I find it fits all i need, but if i want to take two inner tubes I have to put the puncture repair kit in my pocket. But that's only for a sportive so it's ok. Mostly i just take one tube.
The pump came with a little elastic bracket thing which fits onto the frame under a bottle cage - it uses the bottle cage mounts and then the cage just fits on top.
Tis one of these: http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/PocketRocket

And not wanting to be picky (but i'm going to be!!) - we're not all chaps.....

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Yep, that's exactly the altura bag i have - the blue one! I find it fits all i need, but if i want to take two inner tubes I have to put the puncture repair kit in my pocket. But that's only for a sportive so it's ok. Mostly i just take one tube.
The pump came with a little elastic bracket thing which fits onto the frame under a bottle cage - it uses the bottle cage mounts and then the cage just fits on top.
Tis one of these: http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/PocketRocket

And not wanting to be picky (but i'm going to be!!) - we're not all chaps.....

Ah brilliant, thank you! Good to know re sportive's and 2 inners as well. (Although one local club insist on carrying 2 tubes for every club run!, though i don't think i want anything bigger than the medium really.

Ah, slip of the finger... original post now edited, cheers!

 

[Monkspeed]

I would recommened this Topeak pump, as it also has a gauge built in...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_217868_langId_-1_categoryId_165661
I have had it nearly a week now and its been great! Pumps up the tyres in no time.

Also, Halfords do a little puncture repair toolkit for £5.99, well worth purchasing and putting into your bag IMO.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_205617_langId_-1_categoryId_228377

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Monkspeed-Thank you!, will take a look at them both

 

[cyberknight]

Be careful of pumps that sit directly on the valve as the twisting forces have been known to snap the valve , if you can go for one that has a "tube ? " so that your not trying to hold the pump steady and pump at the same time .

My current roster ...

topeak race rocket

Topeak road morph

And a track pump at home , get one of these as it saves a lot of time .I have a very basic one and i reckon i can get up to pressure in about 20 pumps.