Cycling Thread

Well bootscooter the first thing that springs to mind is to get the bottom bracket shell chased and faced, especially if you are using an external BB system. Integrated headsets have taken most of the pain out of headset installation but you may still need the crown race battered on (unless the headset has a handy split crown, in which case it should just slip on with gentle encouragement. Use appropriate greases, ie copper grease on the BB threads etc. and also the seatpost if it is alloy. Various specialist greases are available for carbon and titanium.
And don't overtighten clamps. Especially around carbon bars etc. Keep an eye out for any sharp corners that might damage whatever they are clamped around.

Time on the bike James, that is the best training! This is more than enough time to get in shape. You will be sore afterwards, but it's not a race so as long as you finish that is all that matters.

I'd recommend finding some hills, that way you don't need to be out as long or have to cycle as far to have an intense work out. If not, then try and break your ride up with rest periods and sprint sections.

I'm doing the CLIC24 in May which is a 24 hour mountain bike endurance event so have less time to reach my fitness goals! I normally cycle Wednesday nights for a couple of hours and then one day at the weekend and its coming together ok. I'm also trying to build my general fitness so swim a mile on mondays, then gym 2 or 3 times a week or a couple of hours of intense squash!

On the day of the ride doing some carb loading before and getting the nutrients in to stop cramp will obviously help too. Oh, and some good padded shorts or you will be walking like John Wayne for a few days after.

Which event is it James? I might be interested too.

Any of you folks built up a bike from components?  Been thrashing about on my Kona Dr Dew, but decided that I wanted to get a good road bike.  I did my research and found that I couldnt afford one, so I've taken my time and waited for bargain Campag parts (combination of veloce, centaur and chorus), and got a superlight racing frame. 

If anyone's interested I'll post up updates on the build and do a full costing vs buying an equivalent bike?

In the meantime, any advice on the subject?

How many feet do you have?. . .

TT, one of my friends has the Specialized Sirrus comp. A very nice piece of kit. Quite expensive though.

Right well I'm definately not getting 2sets of shoes etc. The boys I cycle in with use the SPDs. Would be nice and easy to change the pedals between bikes and keep one pair of MTB shoes with stiff soles.

So who has some second hand ones in size 9 or 10 that they want to flog?