DRM
Guru
- Location
- West Yorks
A couple of years ago I bought a Carrera Zelos to see if I got on with road cycling, since getting the Giant Defy it hasn't been used, as quite frankly it made my back ache & my backside raw, however it has since dawned on me that it has the makings of a winter bike, so I made a few measurements in comparison with my Giant I fitted a 90mm deda elementi stem, a set of full length vavert mudguards, two Michelin Lithion 2 25mm tyres & some Wellgo clipless pedals(Look Keo compatible)
So last sunday I took it out to see how it performed, I had noticed that the pedal bearings were a little notchy, but after about 8 miles I stopped to give everything a once over, the pedals now span freely and everything else was as it should be, the stem has cured the back ache and according to the Garmin my average speed had gone down by around 1.2 mph but I managed to get up all the hills ok, it's fitted with 7 speed compact group set, not ideal but I think that it can only make me stronger.
The most noticeable thing was the comfort from the tyres, plus the oem tyres were really hard to get off, so much so I think I wouldn't have been able to do so by the side of the road! They actually broke my tyre levers.
The only thing left to do now is fit a comfy saddle and it's ready for those wet days.
So last sunday I took it out to see how it performed, I had noticed that the pedal bearings were a little notchy, but after about 8 miles I stopped to give everything a once over, the pedals now span freely and everything else was as it should be, the stem has cured the back ache and according to the Garmin my average speed had gone down by around 1.2 mph but I managed to get up all the hills ok, it's fitted with 7 speed compact group set, not ideal but I think that it can only make me stronger.
The most noticeable thing was the comfort from the tyres, plus the oem tyres were really hard to get off, so much so I think I wouldn't have been able to do so by the side of the road! They actually broke my tyre levers.
The only thing left to do now is fit a comfy saddle and it's ready for those wet days.
