Look what I didn't set out to buy!
Discussion
It feels like an incredibly long time since I started talking to some of my local and not quite so local bike shops about what I could get on my cycle to work scheme. In fact, that's because it is a long time ago! The upside to my employer is that we can go up to £2k, but the downsides are that we can only enter the scheme once a year, and the process takes 6 weeks! 
So, rewinding back all those weeks, I had decided exactly what I wanted.
I wanted a titanium-framed rapid tourer with panier rack mounts to make commuting to work easier, and a triple chainset to drag my significant frame up hills better.
Today, I at long last collected my new bike from the very nice chappies at Cycles Dauphin in Boxhill.
Of course, Sod's Law dictates that I ran out of camera battery straight after taking the first photo, but here that is, at least...
So, as you can see, it's exactly what I set out to buy! Except for the frame material, which is carbon instead of Titanium. And it hasn't got the pannier rack mounts. And it's a compact chainset rather than a triple. And it's maybe a slightly more aggressive frame geometry than I had in mind. But apart from that, it's exactly what I intended to buy!
I've only had time for a quick 6 miles to try it out, but that was enough for me to be absolutely over the moon with it!
It's just so much better than anything I've ridden previously. Definitely a big incentive to work on getting my physique to match it!
Two things surprised me...
Firstly how easy it was to get into top on a compact chainset - not something I've owned before - with even the slightest downward slope.
Secondly that it came with pedals! I had just automatically assumed that any such bike would come without pedals for the owner to fit whatever system they wanted, but this came with Derosa-badged Look Keos as part of the package. I've put SPDs on anyway, as I've got them on my other two bikes and don't want to splash out on multiple pairs of shoes & winter boots, so now I've got a spare set of pedals to dispose of. Ebay here I come, I guess!
The one and only thing I'm not completely convinced by is the white on the tyres. Other than that, I am a distinctly happy bunny!
So, rewinding back all those weeks, I had decided exactly what I wanted.
I wanted a titanium-framed rapid tourer with panier rack mounts to make commuting to work easier, and a triple chainset to drag my significant frame up hills better.Today, I at long last collected my new bike from the very nice chappies at Cycles Dauphin in Boxhill.
Of course, Sod's Law dictates that I ran out of camera battery straight after taking the first photo, but here that is, at least...
So, as you can see, it's exactly what I set out to buy! Except for the frame material, which is carbon instead of Titanium. And it hasn't got the pannier rack mounts. And it's a compact chainset rather than a triple. And it's maybe a slightly more aggressive frame geometry than I had in mind. But apart from that, it's exactly what I intended to buy!
I've only had time for a quick 6 miles to try it out, but that was enough for me to be absolutely over the moon with it!
It's just so much better than anything I've ridden previously. Definitely a big incentive to work on getting my physique to match it! Two things surprised me...
Firstly how easy it was to get into top on a compact chainset - not something I've owned before - with even the slightest downward slope.
Secondly that it came with pedals! I had just automatically assumed that any such bike would come without pedals for the owner to fit whatever system they wanted, but this came with Derosa-badged Look Keos as part of the package. I've put SPDs on anyway, as I've got them on my other two bikes and don't want to splash out on multiple pairs of shoes & winter boots, so now I've got a spare set of pedals to dispose of. Ebay here I come, I guess!
The one and only thing I'm not completely convinced by is the white on the tyres. Other than that, I am a distinctly happy bunny!
robpearson said:
Lovely bike by the way:-). My next bike is supposedly very similar to your original spec. Titanium, panniers, a littl more relaxed so I can pull the son in his trailer... Of course I won't expect that to be what arrives.
Well I certainly know what my n+1 is! With regards to the compact gearing, my initial slight concern was that it might not give me enough on the hills, but now I'm wondering if I might run out at the other end!
robpearson said:
I thought the same, but I'm a mountain biker traditionally. Now I have learned to pedal at over 70 rpm it's less of an issue
I've already settled on a cadence of around 85 to 90, but that's on a standard crankset rather than a compact.It almost certainly won't be an issue anyway, but I can always drop from a 12 to an 11 smallest cog at the back.
Fantastic looking bike you have there fella! I shall be watching your Strava times with interest!
I agree with the tyres, I recommend a set of Michie Krylion Carbons - I have been running them for a year with no issues at all, in all weathers. Great tyres, roll well and seem fairly puncture resistant.
I am also running a compact with an 11-25 and very rarely find myself in the granny cog, my cadence tends to settle into the mid-late 90's or early 100's (on a good day) unless I am climbing. I would not worry about going from a 12 to an 11 unless you are finding yourself spinning out on a regular basis - which is unlikely. If you are finding yourself reaching for the granny ring too often it might be worth considering a 12-28 while you build up your strength, then swap back to the 12-25 when you find yourself mid-cassette most of the time.
Anyhow, enjoy!!!!!!!
I agree with the tyres, I recommend a set of Michie Krylion Carbons - I have been running them for a year with no issues at all, in all weathers. Great tyres, roll well and seem fairly puncture resistant.
I am also running a compact with an 11-25 and very rarely find myself in the granny cog, my cadence tends to settle into the mid-late 90's or early 100's (on a good day) unless I am climbing. I would not worry about going from a 12 to an 11 unless you are finding yourself spinning out on a regular basis - which is unlikely. If you are finding yourself reaching for the granny ring too often it might be worth considering a 12-28 while you build up your strength, then swap back to the 12-25 when you find yourself mid-cassette most of the time.
Anyhow, enjoy!!!!!!!
The Walrus said:
After all that advice and you go and buy the opposite !!! bloody typical !!
Enjoy your new ride.
It was your fault!!! Enjoy your new ride.
I took your advice to go up to Dauphin and look at Lynskey stuff, only to find it was gorgeous, way over budget, and promptly put me off the other Ti bikes I'd looked at.
Hence the complete U-turn.
Kermit power said:
It was your fault!!!
I took your advice to go up to Dauphin and look at Lynskey stuff, only to find it was gorgeous, way over budget, and promptly put me off the other Ti bikes I'd looked at.
Hence the complete U-turn.
Woops I took your advice to go up to Dauphin and look at Lynskey stuff, only to find it was gorgeous, way over budget, and promptly put me off the other Ti bikes I'd looked at.
Hence the complete U-turn.
I thought you could of got a Lynskey within your budget with a big compromise on components though no ?
mcelliott said:
Very pretty bike there Kermit, sure it goes as well as it looks! That groupset looks quality. I've got Athena on my bike which I rate extremely highly. Be very interested how you get on with the Centaur.
It's hard to describe, but it feels more mechanical than the 105 groupset on my other (9yr old) road bike. It feels like a much more positive engagement, but at the same time feels like it takes more of an effort to engage, if that makes sense!One thing I haven't got used to yet is where my sweet spot is in terms of ratios and cadence. I keep finding myself wanting too big a rear cog when I'm on the big ring on the front, but if i drop to the small ring, I find myself wanting too small a cog at the back, if that makes sense?
Kermit power said:
mcelliott said:
Very pretty bike there Kermit, sure it goes as well as it looks! That groupset looks quality. I've got Athena on my bike which I rate extremely highly. Be very interested how you get on with the Centaur.
It's hard to describe, but it feels more mechanical than the 105 groupset on my other (9yr old) road bike. It feels like a much more positive engagement, but at the same time feels like it takes more of an effort to engage, if that makes sense!One thing I haven't got used to yet is where my sweet spot is in terms of ratios and cadence. I keep finding myself wanting too big a rear cog when I'm on the big ring on the front, but if i drop to the small ring, I find myself wanting too small a cog at the back, if that makes sense?
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