Hi all! Newbie to Road Cycling

rodman

nrb62

Ive bought stuff from geargurl & have never had a problem. Items arrive quickly, are well packaged & are exactly as described.

roshea

+1. Have bought from this seller 3 or 4 times - very happy customer. They also have a web store at 3ringcycles.com - they will match other web store prices and don't charge excessive amounts for shipping.

Flavzz

Sounds good mate, which one would you recommend the most? I am leaning towards the sigma as it has a large display and cadence feature.. Sounds like all the ones around the entry level are fairly similar anyway so just go with the one that appeals to you hey...

quickbuck

I was around those dimensions.
8 weeks later, 89kg (after 1000k, well I was that weight after 3 weeks and have maintained it).

My Avanti Giro has 105, and R500 wheels.
Never had a broken spoke (touch wood), or even a flat for that matter (again touches head).

Somebody mentioned carry a multi tool.
I was advised not to. The bits you can touch on your bike are quick release, all else needs somebody who knows what they are doing!

Replace multitool with Cell phone.
Also in seat bag, add $10 note.

You will find road cycling very addictive...

Baalzamon

I broke a spoke on my 550 last wednesday and it cost me $27 to get it repaired. That wheel had done around 2000km's. I am now hoping that I don't break too many more spokes before my trip to europe where I will pick up a wheelset most likely.

Flavzz

Hopefully I can follow in your path mate. How has your Giro been? I had a look at one at a local Avanti specialist and they are nice. The service there was really good in fact but just doesnt appeal to me as much as the giant ocr1. still yet to make a decision tho. I will most probably go with the giant as the advantages over the giro are carbon chain stay and r550 wheels. as well as the fact I couldnt talk the bloke at avanti down in price at all where as the giant dealer made me a great package deal. thanks for your input mate. Good advice on the multi tool as well, i bet 50% of cyclists carry them but dont know how to use them to their potential.

Flavzz

Seems as if the 550 has its dramas, I'm considering an immediate upgrade at my LBS when i get the bike otherwise will try them out and learn a lesson the hard way. As I have said I am a beginner and I dont feel as if I deserve a set of mavic Aksiums straight up if you know what im saying.. I want to get right into it and put some K's on the bike then i will be happy to upgrade..

thanks for the price too

roshea

I would argue that the multi-tool is VERY useful, and most adjustments or on-the-road fixes are not rocket science. If you need to adjust the angle of your seat - multi-tool. Seatpost is slipping - multi-tool. Brake needs adjusting - multi-tool. One of your bidon cages is loose - multi-tool.

Carry the phone, $10 and credit card too.

Oh, and a multi-tool.

thomas_cho

You dont need to be a genius to perform basic adjustments and maintenance on your bike. The multi-tool is extremely useful. Surely simple things like tightening your handlebar bolts should they slip, or as mentioned seatpost bolt are not beyond anyone.

"Somebody mentioned carry a multi tool.
I was advised not to. The bits you can touch on your bike are quick release, all else needs somebody who knows what they are doing!"

Thats just hilarious!
Flavzz, if the R550s bother you so much, just get 32 or 36 spoked wheels built. Why is there a need to wait till you are not a beginner? Do you have to be an experienced rider before wheels stop breaking on you? Seriously, I know many people who ride on the R550s with no spoke breakage.

Flavzz

As I am new to this all i want is some wheels that wont break on me. I am only considering swapping wheels due to peoples accounts of the wheel being a tad more unreliable than normal.

Personally I love the look of the 550's and dont want to change them. I havent even got the bike yet so i think i'll just get the bike and enjoy riding then see what happens. Thanks for your opinion on that and the multi tool, i will definately invest in one for safety and peace of mind

rodman

ive been looking at both the seller and 3ring and been thinking they were both great places to buy with decent shipping price from the US for once, i never knew they were the same!

about the computers, i realli dont kno which is better. i was tending towards the astrale 8 before because ive read some positive comments on this forum before, but now that someone has suggested the sigma has bigger display, i might go for the sigma too as i hav poor eyesight as is, i dont want to be squinting every now and again to find out my speed or wat not. can someone else help?

kakman

I've got the Austral 8 and it serves pretty well for the basics. The display can be changed so different things have the 'large' display. I generally have speed large and cadence small but it can be tailored to your needs.

Once I got the computer I found myself obsessively looking at it - until I got a heart rate monitor

//k

roshea

If you ask them nicely they will match their ebay prices on 3ring. Then again, they generally match any authorised seller on 3ring (or at least I haven't had them refuse a price match yet).