So..... cycling

[Jonny69]

Busy weekend for me. I bought some track bars for my Bob Jackson. I was going to splash out on some Nitto ones but at £95 they are a bit steep and I don't need them certified because I don't compete on a track. I actually had a look at some at Tokyo Fixed Gear last week and they are AMAZINGLY light so I know where your money goes. I found some in the same shape but a LOT cheaper online and took a chance on them. Curved tops, BIG drop and they look the business. The bike has got that Snoopy ear look to it and the bottoms of the drops are roughly in line with the top of the wheel when the stem is all the way down. I'll post some pics when I've wrapped them and swapped to a matching seatpost.

I also treated my unicycle to a hand-built wheel . The last time I used it (a few years ago now) the inner tube exploded through the tyre wall so it needed a new tyre. I always thought it had an awkward-looking size wheel (24x1-3/8") and I had a spare early aero deep-section 700C rim, so I had a measure up and it fits. I laced it to the hub with some spare stainless db spokes I had in the drawer and it works really well size-wise. I'll take some pics later.

Originally Posted by lostkat

Lights - I've got some cheapo ones, but given that I've had them about 2 weeks and already broken the bracket on the rear ones, I clearly needs something a bit more robust. I'm not going to be cycling tonnes at night and don't want to spend a fortune, but I do want to be see and to see where I'm going. What's the best I could get for £20? Oh and are those reflective thingies you can get for the spokes any good? They seem like they might look quite cool (adult spokey dokeys??? ) but I'm not sure if they'll all just fall off the second I go over 10mph.

If you can stretch to £30, the ones a guy on OcUK just bought look like a pretty good deal: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electron-Nan.../dp/B005SPB2BI

The front light is metal which renders it indestructible in my eyes.

More bargainacious on the front light is one of these from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005HH30JO

I've got one. It's very cheap and very bright, but have a lot of rechargeable AAA batteries on the go because they only last about an hour.

Top of the range for torches are things like the Fenix L2D or LD20 which will set you back about £50 but will turn an unlit road into day. People don't pull out in front of you when you've got lights like those. At the back I also like the Fibre Flare, which is about £30. It adds some size to you when you're riding and drivers are better able to judge how fast they are approaching, so it buys you a bit more space on the road.

Originally Posted by lostkat

Mudguard - Firstly do I need one? I'll most be doing road miles, but thought that a rear mudguard might stop any crap being flicked onto my back. If I do need one, what should I look for? Any recommendations? Prices?

I don't generally have them on the bike but I have got some. The main thing is you don't get a wet bum when it rains and they can stop a lot of crud getting thrown all over the chain and front gears.

Originally Posted by lostkat

Gloves - My running gloves are way too thin. I'm currently riding wearing a pair of leather gloves with a pair of fleece gloves over the top. Not ideal as I don't have much grip. Are there such things as windproof gloves???

Gore Windstopper. They come in plain Windstopper material or insulated inside. Most of them are padded on the palms as well. It will feel like someone else is doing it.