[DubDom]

maybe, you had any experience i can benefit from the retelling thereof?

[fatkid2000]

I ride Speedplay on my road bikes - I really like them. Not really sure why but they seem good to me. I did change my saddle height when I switched from Time's but that was it. I've recently had knee surgery - but switched onto Speedplay before this.

[soapy]

dubdom

great choice of shoe, very desirable as discontinued

[/retro]

[fatdoc]

i personally don't believe clipless pedals cause knee problems.its more likely to be your set up/postion or even cheap shoes

as you can see from earlier on in this maaaasssive thread.. i ended up off speedplays and onto old fashioned looks, set up brilliantly by a shop in sheff... knees fine now(I have a spack foot)

good luck dude.

[DubDom]

thanks for the comments, still not sure what to do, the other reason that I like the speedplays is because they are double sided. ho hum, I suspect that paying a few quid to get the whole thing set up properly might be the answer. Any recommendations for where to go in Sheffield to get a good setup sorted?

[El Mocho]

Although in no way a wad on the bike (so my recomendations are not based on much knowledge) La Bicicleta (54 Greystones Rd) seem pretty on the ball. I know people like Percy recomend them highly.

I went for a bike fit there last week and Alex was very good. Only been out for a shortish ride since (bout 1hr 15) but I could really feel a difference in my comfort and position - I was maybe a bit faster too!

[fatdoc]

that's the badger
 

[DubDom]

cool, how do they compare to racescene?

[Percy B]

La Bicicleta - smaller, lots of posh bikes and carbon wheels, excellent bike-fit service, a good line in coffee and cakes during the day), friendly staff, not in Barnsley
RaceScene - Bigger shop, lots of nice Italian bkes, good bike fitting service (although not as thorough as Alex at LB), friendly staff, in Barnsley

LB for me every time now.

Whilst I'm posting, I have ridden on Speedplays for the last 3 years and love them (as do my knees). Pricey, but worth it in my opinion. Its horses for courses with pedals - really you just need to try some for a bit, but the cost of Speedplays make this a non starter for most. I bit the bullet and bought some in the hope they would fix my dodgy knee problems, and luckily they were much better for me than the Looks I used before.

[DubDom]

Many thanks for the beta on pedals and shops...

[Snoops]

I see the Wiggo has left Garmin and got with the program!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/10/bradley-wiggins-team-sky-transfer
 Didn't think it would happen. Great news like has he got any strong boys with him in Sky to help him get on podium though 

[chummer]

I'm pretty new to road biking, I thought it would be better for my knees than running and a good way of going to work so I bought a nice Merida 'Road race', did a few rides on it and then suddenly and unexpectedly got all gear freakish and have now just upgraded to a beautiful carbon machine...http://lapierre-bikes.co.uk/lapierre/road-bike/2009/X-LITE-400-FDJ/specifications, (over a grand off it as it belonged to the shop owner, which is nice..). Now i'm looking at carbon seat posts and the like, and am wondering what the next best way of lightening the load may be, does this mean I have to shave my legs now?

(Oh and excuse the shamless plug but the Merida is in now in the for sale forum)

[chappers]

reduce the weight of your rolling bits:

1015g!
£2,299.99!!!!

or...if your budget is not quite that high i have some of these:

Front wheel - 675 g
Rear wheel - 935 g
and £350 ish if you shop around.

obv loads of other light shit about.
i enjoy the USE seat post i have:

http://www.use1.com/products/rigid_seat_posts/carbon/index.php

[fatdoc]

top end formula wheels... 1500g for the pair.. not light for the price.. but the rotational weight is.. as they dont break, dont need servicing and are a comfy ride.. formula 1s.. blade spokes, they happen to look cool too!

[fatkid2000]

Sod buying all this carbon, just go on a diet and then bingo there's a few kilos saved & a few hundred pounds.

Mind you, I like the pinarello's Team Sky are riding next year.

[chummer]

Well, I defo don't need to go on a diet fatkid, I only weigh around 63kg so anything off the bike I really can feel. As for wheels, the Mavic's that came with the bike come in at just over 1700g, for cost V's weight should I stick with these for now?
I'm entering triathlons and so am looking for tribars, is it worth going carbon on these and does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
Good knowledge on the seatpost chappers, I've been looking around for one of these and that seems to fit the bill nicely. 

[Percy B]

Absolutely the best advice I can give you regarding wheels is find a good wheel builder and get some hand-made hoops. The pair I got cost £400 in bits and another 100 spot for labour, give or take. What I got was a bomb-proof pair of wheels that weigh 1300grams for the pair. You won't get a better set of factory made wheels with the same spec for less than a grand.
As regards cheap, light carbon bits like tri-bars, planet X are normally the boys.

[cowboyhat]

I had an approx £400 budget for some new wheels - sounds like great advice Percy though I'm not really sure what I'm buying or where to start?

Are there compatibility issues with various Hubs/Rims/Spokes and where would be a good place to get the components?

I had been thinking about these;
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shimano_Dura_Ace_7850_Carbon_Laminate_Clincher_Fr_Wheel/5360030872/

but they have gone up in price a lot and I can't find a pair for anywhere near that now.

[fatkid2000]

Absolutely the best advice I can give you regarding wheels is find a good wheel builder and get some hand-made hoops. The pair I got cost £400 in bits and another 100 spot for labour, give or take. What I got was a bomb-proof pair of wheels that weigh 1300grams for the pair. You won't get a better set of factory made wheels with the same spec for less than a grand.
As regards cheap, light carbon bits like tri-bars, planet X are normally the boys.

I saw Percy's wheels at La Bicicletta a few months back and they are a beautiful set of wheels & at £400 a bit of a bargain! Hand built is the way to go.
http://www.labicicleta.co.uk/

[cowboyhat]

Which ones? What spec - didn't he say?

[cowboyhat]

http://www.labicicleta.co.uk/mavic-ksyrium-elite-i252.html

These are the only ones on the site at £400?

[chummer]

Cheers for that Percy, but ditto the above enquiries; what wheels/bits did you actually get and from where?

[cowboyhat]

And thanks for reminding me to buy hand built - my single has hand built wheels and they're fookin bomber. I forgot!

[soapy]

I got a pair of new wheels on order from them. Mavic reflex tubular rims, Tune hubs, x-ray spokes, handbuilt. So on that note I will shortly be flogging my Ksyrium SL's (shimano free-hub) if anyone is in the market for a nice stiff, light pair of clinchers. Me - I'm going fully old-school with tubs again

[Percy B]

In the end I actually got Ambrosio Chrono tubular rims, sapim x-ray spokes and Tune hubs. Alex got me the bits, and then a wheel building wad up in Preston (forgot his name) laced them up to my spec. I love them. They aren't on the La Bicicleta website as they were one off's, but I'm sure Alex will do the same again if you ask him nicely!