noob questions

that thing is probably geared close to a granny gear. if you rode that on a descent you'd spin like hell.

i just meant the physical nature of the drivetrain (direct) had the effect of making climbing feel easier, like if you wanna rest a bit the pedals keep you going. this is a good thing when u trying to get something asap imo, it never feels sloggy. cadence is just what you do with the drivetrain

w/e at this point, anyhow

xp yes duh u guys it is a $14,000 HILL CLIMBING BIKE with like a string as a brake lever

my advice about fixed gears:

it's a very basic simple machine ideal for a fixed course (hey, a velodrome) but has some benefits for flat urban light commuting (minimal, light, low-maintenance).

BUT if you also want to ride for fitness (1 to 4+ hours over varied terrain), i would suggest getting a road bike as the benefits multiply massively with gears.

yes, i have had great fun on my uno but the limitations are already starting to bother me.

now that it's wet and shitty out, tho, i'm beginning to remember why fixed was nice in bad weather

yeah that is a good point, positraction is supreme (esp when encountering metal in your commute: plating, grates, light rails, etc)

road plates = the devil

tell me about UK mail order bike retailers. i know of wiggle, ribble, edinburgh cycles. what am i missing.

normally i would just go to my local, take my time, get properly fitted, etc. (there are a bunch in oxford and j.e. james, the big sheffield indie by my parents), but that is not an option here.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/

Caek - I bought a bike through Wiggle last year and had no problems. Although, having said that, I got the bike serviced (by a decent local bike shop) after I'd done about 100 miles and they said that it hadn't been set up very well, so I'd make sure you get it properly looked at and adjusted. I've also just ordered another bike from Ribble (about an hour ago), so I can tell you how that goes (in a month or so).

thanks guys. am i right in thinking you have to go to a store to get a trek bike?

there is a v. glamorous-looking one near me http://www.trekbicyclestore.com/munich/, but no way am i paying € prices.

http://www.evanscycles.com/ do Treks

oh hi there: http://www.evanscycles.com/help/international-delivery#collection_point

p.s. thanks nick!

You should find an appropriate stateside conference to attend.

I'm not sure I can come up with an excuse until the new year.

Even then, are there any airlines that take bikes free other than BA? How much is it if you do have to pay for it?

A LOT

lol BA

jeremy powers has ideas about how to travel with bikes. be an airport ninja:

http://beta.velonews.com/article/98887/j-pow-s-journal-the-way-of-the-airport-ninja

BA discontinued the free piece of sports equipment recently, but I think it is only as an additional item, I think you can still have it as part of your standard allowance which is two pieces from the states.

yeah, i can get by on hand luggage for everything else anyway so that's cool. but nobody else has anything like this, right?

no other airlines allow you to carry bikes as part of your allowance, i mean

I think that if you can fit the size and weight criteria then it is OK, but I think the bike box is pushing those limits and whereas a few years back they would have let this slide its now rigidly enforced.

oh hai http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/sports/cycling.jsp

ed, you ride a paddy wagon, right? i had pretty much ruled them out (and the 09 has horrible dorky powdered rims), but they are on offer at evans, which is where i will likely need to go because of their gatwick connect. would you recommend it for a relative noob commuter in a flat area?

I have a cross check. Gf has a jake frame with a load of other stuff on it. Someone parks a paddy waggon next to me at school and it looks fine apart from the hipster yellow deep section rims. Kona seem to make dependably solid stuff.

Hey you guys - is there any easy way (i.e. without removing it) to tell the size of a bottom bracket? Mine is 68mm x ???mm and I have no idea how to find this out, which I need to quite urgently. I've tried searching the web for it (it's a 2008 Focus Cayo Expert) with no joy. Advice appreciated!

pay day came and i'm going to the fancy pants trek store and a big retail park place today. probably not buying today, but v soon. good times.

does anyone have any comments on this thing btw: http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k94/a14313/rps-60-limited.html

the trek store was wow. they kind of lolled when i asked to see the 1.2 (they don't keep stop of such cheap bikes in a place like this: http://www.trekbicyclestore.com/cs_images/stores/munich/home/large/home2.jpg).

but they can get it in if i want it. they can't get the 2010 until january, but they are going to phone round and see if they can find 2009 or even earlier models, perhaps of the 1.7 (which I think is now the 2.3).

they were really nice considering i didn't have €3000 in my pocket. i spent like an hour there with the manager, who spoke really good english, and fitted me properly using their magical electronic video fitting machine. apparently the top of my breastbone is 147.36cm from the ground.

i found the 2008 1.2 (compact crank) at the big retail park place for €555 (RRP of the 2010 version here is €750, so that's not bad). i am kind of one the fence about that. it's only 8-speed at the back (2009/10 are 9-speed), which apparently makes upgrades expensive (it's an all or nothing thing when you start with 8-speed? does that sound right?), and i guess even in a flat place like munich i would want the triple crank with just 8 at the back. i didn't get as good a vibe about the store either. it was bedlam and i couldn't find anyone to ask if they had my frame. on the other hand, i really don't want to wait until january.

keep stock

i guess upgrades would be expensive because 9-spd is now the standard? so like if you wanted to get a nicer rear derailleur it wouldn't work with an 8spd cassette

yeah, that is my understanding.

Caek, that Radon looks excellent. I don't know the make but the spec is pretty good, way better than you'd get on all but the most discounted/second hand Treks.

Thanks. It's a German make, I get the impression kind of like their Raleigh.

Ah cool. Well, if you bring it back to the UK at any point it'll seem exotic! Also, I have a German bike (a Focus - strongly advise you look into them, as their aluminium models are probably in your price range) and it's a fantastic and excellent value piece of kit.

what was your first road bike, mark?

First ever? A Motobecane back in the mid 80s, then a Holdsworth in 1989 or so which is still in my shed and which I rode on and off until 2005 when I got my Trek. I bought the Focus on C2W in 2008.

YOu should rehab that holdsworth as a winter project.

Keeping the bikes that I ride road-worthy seems to give me enough to worry about! (was truing a wheel before work today)

Also I can't get into my shed as the door is jammed shut :)

that is a criminal waste of a shed

sheds are a privilege imo

Well I own it, so I guess if I want a useless shed that's my right :) But yeah, I would like to get it sorted. Wonder where my drill is...

I would come and fix your shed, if I were in london. Nothing more manly than a fixing a shed.

o_O

caek, do decathlon have a store in Munich as their road bikes seem to review quite nicely and are well specced for the price it seems?

I just posted on the other thread - decathlon are opening a store here next month... what do ppl make of their b'twin sport 1 and 2?

sport 1
sport 2