Dammit!! I had it correct and then changed it before hitting submit :mad: I was only going from memory though.....

that's nothin!!! I used to think that Australian Crawl's Things Don't Seem chorus was "thanks sister; don't save her; oh, she's comin 'round":D

No-one ever knew what James Reyne was singing! Geez , Adam ant, Oz Crawl.....is there a time warp going on today? :eek: Will the next discussion be about the Panasonic team or Pugeot bikes & the like? :p

Nope. It will be about Ultravox! :D

Off topic again, I bought meself a Tourmalet!

Walked down into Clarence St and looked around a bit. They hadn't listed what discounts they had on Tourmalets online, but in fact they were 30% off at $1400. They had about four out on display, including one with a 2005 frame (same frame, different colour) and one with all 105 (including the crankset, but also the rear der. which is normally Ultegra).

I told a nice guy my needs and he took me to the back, answered my questions well and stuck the bike into one of a few trainers they seem to keep there constantly - so it seems like their general policy is to fit people using these trainers - without any prompting. Then Kerry, who seems to have been more experienced at fitting and selling them (although the other guy seemed perfectly knowledgeable) went back, watched me pedal for a bit, checked my posture and explained gear changes and to avoid having the chain on high-high or low-low.

It was here I was happy that I had a guy that knew something watching me bang on the pedals for a bit - the bike felt quite comfortable save only that I felt the seatpost was much lower than I have it on my mountain bike. Unless he was spinning me a tale for no good reason, I have simply been having my seatpost too high all these years and my legs overextended. With this new posture my knees were coming up a lot closer to my stomach at the top of the stroke and pedalling felt less work.

Anyway, when I felt I had enough I got off and then he went through with me how to remove both tyres in turn - with him demonstrating and me then practicing - how to inflate tyres, how to strap into pedals etc. etc...

On pedals, while the first guy had recommended SPD over SPD-SL when I questioned him and told him what riding I'd like to do, the 'fitter' said I should really start with strapped pedals to get used to it, and then upgrade if I wanted to later on.

So, overall, I felt really good about purchasing from Clarence - I had gone in quite vulnerable, not knowing much about riding and fully ready to use their sale as an excuse to 'upgrade' to a Chambery and buy top quality pedals and shoes and accessories for $3000+. If I had met a guy who just wanted to upsell me, that's what would have happened. Instead, with helpful guys, I have a bike that was $1400 and all the extras I need to start cycling (spare tube, tyre levers, pedals, bottle + holder -- plus some other stuff I already own) for only $75 more. I realise the proof of the bike is in the riding, but am still happy so far :)

The only downside was that they wouldn't deliver - I got the impression that they don't deliver generally, but especially not because of the sale. So, I rather foolishly decided to walk the bike the whole way home - which is near Roseville on the North Shore. Took me 2 hours and gave me blisters with the shoes I was wearing, but it's enabled me to bond with my new Tourmalet.

I'll post pictures sometime when I'm fully 'recovered'. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice!

:roflmao: @ Nev

LOL! Remember when D-Gen did that piss-take song with James Reyne and the subtitles?

congrats on the new purchase maxim :) sounds like a good price as well. as for clipless, meh in there if you dare! gotta learn somtime!

Geezuz Maxim you had 2600 in change in yer pocket and yet you couldn't find $3.60 to catch the train from Wynyard to Roseville!!???!?! :eek: It'll cost you more than that in band-aids and salve to fix the blisters :D

Anyay, nice pickup on the tourmelet. Don't worry about the rear D being 105 coz they perform just as well as the Ultegra rear D. Just change the jockey wheels after 15000km as the sleeve bearings will be shot.

Oh yeah the toe strap pedals are a bad idea if you are going to avoid pain and misery later. Take the toe clips off and just ride it like a cruiser until you have everything under control, then put on the clipless pedals of your choice.

either that or spent the rest on a helmet and rode that bad boy home!

good purchase maxim. Question though, you had the bike, you had to get home, so why didnt you ride?
(im only being a smartarse)

Thing is, it takes me 40 minutes to walk from the nearest station home anyway, so I still would have had quite a trek... And I would have bought a helmet except I ordered an Atmos for $200AU off Ebay just the other day.

So - I'll wait for it to arrive before taking it out to the streets, but I have rollers and a big backyard, so I can just get comfy over the weekend.

mrkott3r - I should have probably ridden it part way home at least, even if it was illegal and I had another (non-backpack) bag of stuff. But I'm too much of a law-abiding citizen.

jock - the one with pure 105 was the 2005 model, and I decided to go for the Bontrager cranks instead on the 2006 model. So I have an Ultegra rear der.

Looks like I'll have to pick up a pack of nylon ties somewhere to remount my Cateye wireless to this new bike.... Although I could waste the money I've saved right now on a Garmin Edge :P

A question for you mechanics.
I keep on locking my back wheel up when braking. I know it shouldnt be happening. So how do I fix it. A few things I should tell ya:
1. Im left handed so the rear brake is operated by the left hand. Should I be stuffed to change it over? I reckon it wont have much difference but Im probably wrong. I do tend to grab a large amount rear brake though when trying to stop quickly, this is when the skids happen.
2. tektro calipers.
3. Michelin Pro race one tyres.

I may be grabbing too much rear brake but I still think it shouldnt be locking up this easily.
I did a huge skid outside the MAter hospital today following these cars at 40kmh. It wasnt fun.

No no, if you dont have a helmet you shouldnt be riding on the road. Although Im kinda against helmets I still wear one all the time because it sure beats getting a ticket (and it may offer some protection). The police station is only half a suburb away so I see a fair few police cars.

Riding with a bag that isnt a backpack is very hard.

Not anymore. In the eyes of the law your now a cyclist :eek:

front brake is about 80% of your braking power, use it more and you won't lock up the rear.

Kotter, is this on the new bike?

Make sure your rear wheel is true
Make sure the brake pads are lining up with the rim, not touching the tyre
Don't lean forward when braking, its a bad habit a lot of riders get into. Keep your body weight toward the rear of the saddle.

UUUGH!! don't get me started on the whole "Aussie yobbo front brake on the right lever" thing!! For some absolutely fkn unknown reason, 90% of road bikes in Aus shops have the front brake on the right, even though 95% of Euro (real) pro riders have it the other way around, which is also the way Shimano intended it to be!! Brake HEAVILY while QUICKLY changing down to smaller gears can't be done with Shimano if the front brake is on the right. The only people excused are motorbike riders, coz I think they have the front brake on the right lever.

As far as the sticking goes, if your calipers seem to be working fine, it's usually a rim/brake pad issue. Probably very cheap pads that have gone "tacky", and/or there's some serious goo on your rim. Try cleaning in good 'n' proper with something like metho, and if that don't work, get some Shimano pads.

yep.

Climbo yeah I use a lot more front than rear, but I do have a bit of dyslexic hand problem, ie the left hand is more prone to braking first. So Im thinking should I swap it over?

I still kinda think it locks up too quick. Outside the mater I was sitting down, so Im not right over the front wheel.

Ok, I have to get to sleep. But if this is his new bike, the answer is simple. He's used to the dodgy brakes of his old bike. Learn to have more faith in the front brake, my friend. Bad things will happen before you lock it up.

You MUST learn to ease off the brakes to get your wheels rolling again before you kill yourself. While you're locked up you have no control, so you have to let go enough to get the wheel(s) rolling again and then apply pressure gradually. Same as in your car.

It feels wierd to let go of the brakes in an emergency but in the end you can only slow down if you'e not sliding.

Well they arent totally **** pads but they arent great either. I got at Hadleys $13 bucks a pair I think off patty?

I think the same way about the levers but for a different reason, shouldnt your predominant hand control the front brake?

if it's Shimano, definitely swap it over. I hardly use my rear brake.