The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread Vol 2
Discussion
£20 for some workshop diagnostic time at a local shop. I popped in while my wife had her toes painted, bike in the boot of the car. I only expected to ask some questions, and to book its "service," but to their credit it was on the workstand within minutes.
The issue on my new SRAM Rival 12-speed 10-36 was the top four gears 'skipping' when on the big ring up front. Mileage was too low for it to be excess wear, and it hadn't been dropped or knocked at the dérailleur hanger on the back. Turns out it was a bent tooth on the large chainring, picking the chain up then dropping it back onto the teeth. I can't recall smacking the ring on any logs/rocks, but it's the only explanation.
I bought a new chain at the same time. After 1,000 miles, much of that in grotty conditions, it was showing as worn, but it wasn't worn enough that it needed a new cassette, fortunately. The chainring issue was solved by taking it off the bike and tapping it with a hammer. New one ordered too.
Also fitted new rear brake pads, £16 from another local shop for the Ashima semi-metalic 'Avid Elixir' type pads. Damn, those caliper clearances are tight! It took some grunt and a few attempts to push the pistons back enough to prevent the new pads from rubbing.
Hopefully I'll get a good long ride in tomorrow, to check it all works, and to bed in the new pads.
While I had the bike in the stand, I also "overinflated" the rear tyre after the bead didn't re-seat properly following a puncture. It popped back into the right place at about 85 psi, before I reduced the pressure again, back down to 35 psi.
It's all fun and games, eh. I'd imagined all sorts of potential(ly expensive) problems with the AXS gears, so to find out that it was a simple problem was good, although I'm kicking myself for not spotting that bent tooth myself really.
The issue on my new SRAM Rival 12-speed 10-36 was the top four gears 'skipping' when on the big ring up front. Mileage was too low for it to be excess wear, and it hadn't been dropped or knocked at the dérailleur hanger on the back. Turns out it was a bent tooth on the large chainring, picking the chain up then dropping it back onto the teeth. I can't recall smacking the ring on any logs/rocks, but it's the only explanation.
I bought a new chain at the same time. After 1,000 miles, much of that in grotty conditions, it was showing as worn, but it wasn't worn enough that it needed a new cassette, fortunately. The chainring issue was solved by taking it off the bike and tapping it with a hammer. New one ordered too.
Also fitted new rear brake pads, £16 from another local shop for the Ashima semi-metalic 'Avid Elixir' type pads. Damn, those caliper clearances are tight! It took some grunt and a few attempts to push the pistons back enough to prevent the new pads from rubbing.
Hopefully I'll get a good long ride in tomorrow, to check it all works, and to bed in the new pads.
While I had the bike in the stand, I also "overinflated" the rear tyre after the bead didn't re-seat properly following a puncture. It popped back into the right place at about 85 psi, before I reduced the pressure again, back down to 35 psi.
It's all fun and games, eh. I'd imagined all sorts of potential(ly expensive) problems with the AXS gears, so to find out that it was a simple problem was good, although I'm kicking myself for not spotting that bent tooth myself really.
Not worth a new thread and this is a bike bit.
I'd never buy one but I'd love to try one just to see what it actually feels like to ride. It must also weigh a ton.
One of those odd bike inventions that you can kind off see where the inventor was coming from but should have probably stopped at the pub beer mat sketch stage.
[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/Cg78VqOVFT4?si=Gg8sgwuqwZXhmsdt[/youtube]
I'd never buy one but I'd love to try one just to see what it actually feels like to ride. It must also weigh a ton.
One of those odd bike inventions that you can kind off see where the inventor was coming from but should have probably stopped at the pub beer mat sketch stage.
[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/Cg78VqOVFT4?si=Gg8sgwuqwZXhmsdt[/youtube]
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Not worth a new thread and this is a bike bit.
I'd never buy one but I'd love to try one just to see what it actually feels like to ride. It must also weigh a ton.
One of those odd bike inventions that you can kind off see where the inventor was coming from but should have probably stopped at the pub beer mat sketch stage.
[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/Cg78VqOVFT4?si=Gg8sgwuqwZXhmsdt[/youtube]
Subscribed to their updates. The physics looks good, but whether it translates to drop-bar bikes I'll wait and see. But it's the first has-some-sort-of-realistic-chance-of-redifining-the-saddle thing I've seen in a long time, everything else has been variations on the same old theme. I'd never buy one but I'd love to try one just to see what it actually feels like to ride. It must also weigh a ton.
One of those odd bike inventions that you can kind off see where the inventor was coming from but should have probably stopped at the pub beer mat sketch stage.
[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/Cg78VqOVFT4?si=Gg8sgwuqwZXhmsdt[/youtube]
Happily, I'm sure there'll be scores of reviews. They are holding public try-out days which is also a promising sign to me.
Though more than the weight, I'm wondering about the price point to produce that in a reliable form.
In the meantime, I have discovered...
...I HATE MIPS!
I'm a sweaty bugger at the best of times... I bought a new helmet last year, with MIPS. In the end, I barely used it in warm/hot weather so didn't notice a problem, but now I'm back riding more and the weather's picked up, I'm finding the MIPS plastic insert is a horrible hot sweaty clamp across my scalp and I've gone right off it.
MIPS spherical looks like a better solution for me, albeit expensive still, but I'll pay that for comfort; I went around several LBSs a couple of days ago but failed to find that Goldilocks fit, even in the ~£200 lids. And if I'm paying that for a lid, it had better be (near) perfect.
(If you're interested: 62cm head: Giro sphericals a pretty good fit but no discounts to be found; Specialized Prevail 3 ok, not quite perfect, and still has MIPS plastic inserts although cut back a lot from lesser lids; Kask just don't fit me well at all. Current lid is a Bell which would be comfy if not for the MIPS; off-road helmet is a TLD A2, which is also MIPS... but I mostly MTB in the winter, so it doesn't matter.)
In the meantime, I'd been hammering Google looking for suggestions, and was quite taken by the Rudy Project Egos... looked nice, good venting, scattered positive comments from buyers... and I've always had a bit of an attaction to RP stuff; I've got a 20+ year old riding top of theirs I won't throw away
Premium-end price, but hopefully premium product.
Then I found https://www.bikeloungeonline.com/collections/rudy-... where they're half price, so that BUY IT NOW! button got mashed
It arrived today, and I have to say it is bloody lovely.
Everything about it feels premium; I've never felt pads so padded, the mag buckle is nice, and the fit was ok enough to keep it, until I worked out how the height adjustment (ummmm....) adjusted and suddenly we're on the Goldilocks
Lots of details that give me confidence it'll be good on the road, starting with the amount of room for airflow across the forehead at the front, and the way the strap there is 3d-curved to make sure the strap and pad aren't pushed flat against the front so that airflow actaully has somewhere to flow. I'm very impressed compared to what I tried on in the LBSs
Unfortunately, it's SWMBO's birthday today, and I've promised to cook and maybe not go out on the bike tonight, so I can't give a ride report... tbf, I didn't expect the lid to arrive in 2 days; good service here from Bike Lounge!
...I HATE MIPS!
I'm a sweaty bugger at the best of times... I bought a new helmet last year, with MIPS. In the end, I barely used it in warm/hot weather so didn't notice a problem, but now I'm back riding more and the weather's picked up, I'm finding the MIPS plastic insert is a horrible hot sweaty clamp across my scalp and I've gone right off it.
MIPS spherical looks like a better solution for me, albeit expensive still, but I'll pay that for comfort; I went around several LBSs a couple of days ago but failed to find that Goldilocks fit, even in the ~£200 lids. And if I'm paying that for a lid, it had better be (near) perfect.
(If you're interested: 62cm head: Giro sphericals a pretty good fit but no discounts to be found; Specialized Prevail 3 ok, not quite perfect, and still has MIPS plastic inserts although cut back a lot from lesser lids; Kask just don't fit me well at all. Current lid is a Bell which would be comfy if not for the MIPS; off-road helmet is a TLD A2, which is also MIPS... but I mostly MTB in the winter, so it doesn't matter.)
In the meantime, I'd been hammering Google looking for suggestions, and was quite taken by the Rudy Project Egos... looked nice, good venting, scattered positive comments from buyers... and I've always had a bit of an attaction to RP stuff; I've got a 20+ year old riding top of theirs I won't throw away
Premium-end price, but hopefully premium product. Then I found https://www.bikeloungeonline.com/collections/rudy-... where they're half price, so that BUY IT NOW! button got mashed
It arrived today, and I have to say it is bloody lovely.
Everything about it feels premium; I've never felt pads so padded, the mag buckle is nice, and the fit was ok enough to keep it, until I worked out how the height adjustment (ummmm....) adjusted and suddenly we're on the Goldilocks
Lots of details that give me confidence it'll be good on the road, starting with the amount of room for airflow across the forehead at the front, and the way the strap there is 3d-curved to make sure the strap and pad aren't pushed flat against the front so that airflow actaully has somewhere to flow. I'm very impressed compared to what I tried on in the LBSs
Unfortunately, it's SWMBO's birthday today, and I've promised to cook and maybe not go out on the bike tonight, so I can't give a ride report... tbf, I didn't expect the lid to arrive in 2 days; good service here from Bike Lounge!
defblade said:
Unfortunately, it's SWMBO's birthday today, and I've promised to cook and maybe not go out on the bike tonight, so I can't give a ride report... tbf, I didn't expect the lid to arrive in 2 days; good service here from Bike Lounge!
Been out on a nice warm (20'c -ish) ride tonight and can now report the following:Doesn't quite "disappear" as some of the more excitable reviews claim, but it's certainly the most lightweight and comfortable helmet I've used.
Ventilation is good at speed, and no great heat build up climbing either.
Sweat management is acceptable - it comes down either side of my face, but not into my eyes. Pads weren't soaked at the end, particularly checking the forehead one, so it looks like the extra design on the band at the front works.
The thing that surprised me - it's very quiet. My previous helmets, I'd hit 15/16/17mph, and have a noise in my ears that I often (wrongly) thought was a car behind me and I've always assumed that it was just the wind going past my ears. Turns out, it must have been the helmets themselves, as that noise is totally gone!
Short of a crash test, 5/5 stars from me
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Little tip for a stinky helmet. Try an ozone generator. Great for killing the stink.
I have a shoe glove one and a handheld. Given the cost of lids, it's great way to extend their useful life.
I've had good results with the mucoff spray on foam too.
Ta I have a shoe glove one and a handheld. Given the cost of lids, it's great way to extend their useful life.
I've had good results with the mucoff spray on foam too.
Fox lid is probably ten years old, so the stink was a tiny bit of justification for a shiny new one
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Little tip for a stinky helmet. Try an ozone generator. Great for killing the stink.
I have a shoe glove one and a handheld. Given the cost of lids, it's great way to extend their useful life.
I've had good results with the mucoff spray on foam too.
I've found wearing a cycling cap under the helmet helps. I can just wash that (also being thin on top it offers more sun protection)I have a shoe glove one and a handheld. Given the cost of lids, it's great way to extend their useful life.
I've had good results with the mucoff spray on foam too.
defblade said:
In the meantime, I have discovered...
...I HATE MIPS!
I'm a sweaty bugger at the best of times... I bought a new helmet last year, with MIPS. In the end, I barely used it in warm/hot weather so didn't notice a problem, but now I'm back riding more and the weather's picked up, I'm finding the MIPS plastic insert is a horrible hot sweaty clamp across my scalp and I've gone right off it.
MIPS spherical looks like a better solution for me, albeit expensive still, but I'll pay that for comfort; I went around several LBSs a couple of days ago but failed to find that Goldilocks fit, even in the ~£200 lids. And if I'm paying that for a lid, it had better be (near) perfect.
(If you're interested: 62cm head: Giro sphericals a pretty good fit but no discounts to be found; Specialized Prevail 3 ok, not quite perfect, and still has MIPS plastic inserts although cut back a lot from lesser lids; Kask just don't fit me well at all. Current lid is a Bell which would be comfy if not for the MIPS; off-road helmet is a TLD A2, which is also MIPS... but I mostly MTB in the winter, so it doesn't matter.)
In the meantime, I'd been hammering Google looking for suggestions, and was quite taken by the Rudy Project Egos... looked nice, good venting, scattered positive comments from buyers... and I've always had a bit of an attaction to RP stuff; I've got a 20+ year old riding top of theirs I won't throw away Premium-end price, but hopefully premium product.
Then I found https://www.bikeloungeonline.com/collections/rudy-... where they're half price, so that BUY IT NOW! button got mashed
It arrived today, and I have to say it is bloody lovely.
Everything about it feels premium; I've never felt pads so padded, the mag buckle is nice, and the fit was ok enough to keep it, until I worked out how the height adjustment (ummmm....) adjusted and suddenly we're on the Goldilocks
Lots of details that give me confidence it'll be good on the road, starting with the amount of room for airflow across the forehead at the front, and the way the strap there is 3d-curved to make sure the strap and pad aren't pushed flat against the front so that airflow actaully has somewhere to flow. I'm very impressed compared to what I tried on in the LBSs
Unfortunately, it's SWMBO's birthday today, and I've promised to cook and maybe not go out on the bike tonight, so I can't give a ride report... tbf, I didn't expect the lid to arrive in 2 days; good service here from Bike Lounge!
I agree with this....I HATE MIPS!
I'm a sweaty bugger at the best of times... I bought a new helmet last year, with MIPS. In the end, I barely used it in warm/hot weather so didn't notice a problem, but now I'm back riding more and the weather's picked up, I'm finding the MIPS plastic insert is a horrible hot sweaty clamp across my scalp and I've gone right off it.
MIPS spherical looks like a better solution for me, albeit expensive still, but I'll pay that for comfort; I went around several LBSs a couple of days ago but failed to find that Goldilocks fit, even in the ~£200 lids. And if I'm paying that for a lid, it had better be (near) perfect.
(If you're interested: 62cm head: Giro sphericals a pretty good fit but no discounts to be found; Specialized Prevail 3 ok, not quite perfect, and still has MIPS plastic inserts although cut back a lot from lesser lids; Kask just don't fit me well at all. Current lid is a Bell which would be comfy if not for the MIPS; off-road helmet is a TLD A2, which is also MIPS... but I mostly MTB in the winter, so it doesn't matter.)
In the meantime, I'd been hammering Google looking for suggestions, and was quite taken by the Rudy Project Egos... looked nice, good venting, scattered positive comments from buyers... and I've always had a bit of an attaction to RP stuff; I've got a 20+ year old riding top of theirs I won't throw away
Premium-end price, but hopefully premium product. Then I found https://www.bikeloungeonline.com/collections/rudy-... where they're half price, so that BUY IT NOW! button got mashed
It arrived today, and I have to say it is bloody lovely.
Everything about it feels premium; I've never felt pads so padded, the mag buckle is nice, and the fit was ok enough to keep it, until I worked out how the height adjustment (ummmm....) adjusted and suddenly we're on the Goldilocks
Lots of details that give me confidence it'll be good on the road, starting with the amount of room for airflow across the forehead at the front, and the way the strap there is 3d-curved to make sure the strap and pad aren't pushed flat against the front so that airflow actaully has somewhere to flow. I'm very impressed compared to what I tried on in the LBSs
Unfortunately, it's SWMBO's birthday today, and I've promised to cook and maybe not go out on the bike tonight, so I can't give a ride report... tbf, I didn't expect the lid to arrive in 2 days; good service here from Bike Lounge!
Went from the MET Trenta 3K non MIPS to the Trenta 3K MIPS
Now after a hard ride I can push the helmet down on my head and create a puddle of sweat on the floor.
Baring in mind I'd been riding with the non mips one for 4 years, I never had that issue.
New grips and slapped some of those cheap protection sticker things on too. Ordered a front wheel to match the back so that will be ready in a week or so. Decided even if I upgrade to something full suspension I'll keep this for bombing about locally so might as well tart it up a bit.
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