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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2013 20:33:46 GMT
Hello... Not quite a new owner. Had my red T3 since March with the intention of training to do the Manchester 100 mile. Have completed the 52 mile Great Manchester Cycle and Manchester to Blackpool 2 weeks ago. Nothing since though after quite a bad "off" during the Blackpool Ride. Bad road rash and lucky not to break anything. More or less healed up now though so back on the bike this week!
Mostly here looking for advice on upgrades as I've not changed a thing on the bike since I got it... Partly because of finances but partly because of using the bike as a training tool before upgrading to make things easier and seeing noticeable improvements... mainly looking at clipless pedals and could also do with a new saddle (damaged in the crash!).
Just how much of an improvement am I likely to see with clipless? I've read the pedals and cheapo clips that came with the bike are not up to much. Puncture resistant tyres/tubes are also on the shopping list as popping the front tyre was the cause of my crash.
Many Thanks!
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Post by mike54321 on Jul 29, 2013 20:45:45 GMT
Hi - bad luck with the 'off' - i've put on Shimano PD-R540 SPD SL Sport Pedals, my first clipless with dhb R1.0 Road Cycling Shoes about 8 weeks after getting the t3 & using the std clips. Definitely more efficient & effective pedaling now, just don't forget to unclip in advance or you'll have another 'off'!
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Post by cbrdeano on Jul 29, 2013 20:46:24 GMT
Not the cheapest but I like the continental GP4000s tyres. I prefer the 25c tyres to the 23c because the FEEL smoother to ride.
If you had no problem with the saddle - I would stick with the same one - nice and cheap replacement. The only reason for most people want to change is because they don't like the standard one.
Pedals are a personal choice but - YES - clipless are more efficient. And as for mountain bike clipless vs road clipless - that depends on what you need. If you don't want to be walking around in the shoes - go for road clipless shoes/pedals If you will be walking around in them - go for mountainbike kit.
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Post by acd1055 on Jul 30, 2013 10:58:27 GMT
I cant really say more than what the others have already said but I can say I did the 52 manchester cycle and the manchester - blackpool really enjoyed both.
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 30, 2013 11:49:41 GMT
Hello... Not quite a new owner. Had my red T3 since March with the intention of training to do the Manchester 100 mile. Have completed the 52 mile Great Manchester Cycle and Manchester to Blackpool 2 weeks ago. Nothing since though after quite a bad "off" during the Blackpool Ride. Bad road rash and lucky not to break anything. More or less healed up now though so back on the bike this week! Mostly here looking for advice on upgrades as I've not changed a thing on the bike since I got it... Partly because of finances but partly because of using the bike as a training tool before upgrading to make things easier and seeing noticeable improvements... mainly looking at clipless pedals and could also do with a new saddle (damaged in the crash!). Just how much of an improvement am I likely to see with clipless? I've read the pedals and cheapo clips that came with the bike are not up to much. Puncture resistant tyres/tubes are also on the shopping list as popping the front tyre was the cause of my crash. Many Thanks! I was at the Great Manchester Cycle too did the 26 mile event. You can get a good upgrade for the saddle under £40. Charge Spoon saddles are highly rated. The matter of pedals is stated in numerous threads on this forum as well as above. You can go the MTB route which will be easier for you - Shimano PD-M520 Pedals at Wiggle for £17.50 with or the Road route - Shimano PD-R540 SPD SL Sport Pedals at Wiggle for £22.28 and MTB shoes as low as £20 at Aldi and you have to get road shoes - dhb R1.0 Road Cycling Shoe Wiggle £45 So not so cheap eh? You are courting danger too if you ever forget to unclip.
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Post by psyclepath on Jul 30, 2013 12:08:00 GMT
Hello... Not quite a new owner. Had my red T3 since March with the intention of training to do the Manchester 100 mile. Have completed the 52 mile Great Manchester Cycle and Manchester to Blackpool 2 weeks ago. Nothing since though after quite a bad "off" during the Blackpool Ride. Bad road rash and lucky not to break anything. More or less healed up now though so back on the bike this week! Mostly here looking for advice on upgrades as I've not changed a thing on the bike since I got it... Partly because of finances but partly because of using the bike as a training tool before upgrading to make things easier and seeing noticeable improvements... mainly looking at clipless pedals and could also do with a new saddle (damaged in the crash!). Just how much of an improvement am I likely to see with clipless? I've read the pedals and cheapo clips that came with the bike are not up to much. Puncture resistant tyres/tubes are also on the shopping list as popping the front tyre was the cause of my crash. Many Thanks! The jury's still out for me on clipless. I've done all of my fastest times unclipped (with trainers on), on the flat sides of my Shimano M324s. The main improvement with clipping in seems to come from accelerating out the saddle, and climbing out the saddle. I've been generally disappointed especially after loads of people in my cycling club kept telling me how much faster I'd be clipped in, they don't seem to have improved my speed at all, and for around £70 with the shoes, wished I'd spent the money on some R501s! The supplied pedals, imo are actually quite good, they are light they spin quite freely on their bearings.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 11:54:06 GMT
Thanks for all the input everyone...
Although I'm in 2 minds about whether or not I'll get on with clipless I'm probably going to spend about £70 and give it a go (don't want to go too cheap as a comprimise in quality may put me off altogether).
I've seen the M520 pedals for £17.99 on Evans website and some Giro Carbide MTB shoes for £53.99 (reduced from £79.99) which are only available in my size (a sign perhaps :-)). They look very nice. Walking around off the bike is probably a useful thing for me to be able to do so will preferring the MTB option.
Have a strange feeling I may end up agreeing with Psyclepath but have to give it a try!
Any thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 12:01:12 GMT
The difference for me was like night and day. No aching feet, nice stiff soles to transfer power and pulling up on the pedal as well as pushing down. Would never go back to bare pedals or toe clips.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 14:33:09 GMT
Best upgrade by far is clip pedals. I hope you do stick with them and find them better. I'm with O, I don't think I could go back to road cycling if Look Keo/SPD-SL did not exist.
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