@@EMBIKES I’m fine with add placements as long as they are backing them and it’s a product they use. I do feel like every cycling podcast has an app or a subscription they focus on or code their answers to make you feel like you need to use it.
I honestly love this podcast, it's pretty concise without leaving out info. I love how you guys actually get in depth with the topics instead of just asking a bunch of rhetorical questions and not coming to a conclusion.
What I'm finding now, is after my first £600 decathlon bike and now looking for something better.. the options from ribble, specialised, Scott, canyon etc their "better" options come with similar if not worse parts and are between 1-2k! Absolutely stumped with my next choice
Before doing any research you should just define what you mean by "something better". Is it faster? More comfortable? easier to wrench? a bike allowing you to carry stuff and/or do backpacking? a better fit? What are your complains on your current bike? For example if the issue is speed or bike fit or aero it might be you need a more aggressive frame. But if fit is right and you are limited by say, gearing range or possibilities you might just want a new groupset. The frame might be good enough and changing saddles, handlebar, wheels and groupset might just transform it and it can be done gradually.
you'd have to wire from a hub dynamo to your shifters to power them (and either have wired electronic shifting, or a second dynamo in the rear to power the mech), and i don't know how many road cyclists would go for all that. on the other hand, if you had electronic shifting on a commuter bike, that'd go great. commuters (like me) love us some extra wiring if it means we don't have to charge stuff. dynamo lights are more a commuter thing than a roadie thing, and this is an extension of that.
I love cycle exchange used them for a number of years it's like an aladdins cave of bikes staff are 1st class too great service. Love the podcast guys definitely a positive addition to the channel.
Loving the podcast guys. Had a £350 decathlon bike as my first road bike, glad to see them getting the recognition they deserve! Also currently running 1x microshift on my gravel bike and cannot fault it at all, hasn’t missed a beat.
Advent 9 and Advent X are really decent groupsets. And Decathlon just make really good starter bikes that get people started. Their success is a blessing for the sport.
A better question than unlimited money would be if you had x amount given to you and it had to be spent on bikes, what would you get /why. 40k and what would you buy? Etc
Certainly there is wide variation in skill of bike fitters, but having had the pleasure of a really good one (not my first attempt sadly), the end result was worth every penny. Of course I'm referencing a tri bike, but I cannot heap enough praise on the shop that sorted me out.
I’d love to challenge you two advise me on my return to cycling bike shopping, insight can be gained from watching you but you have more insight to begin with so not a win win to avoid mistakes!
19:07 The rim vs disc brake safety debate likely had to do with “resin only” rotors and awful resin brake pads. They are death in crappy weather and I can burn through a set 100 miles. Cheap Corki brand metallic brake pads and rotors are $25 for a full set and they work in all weather, just fine for commuting, it’s not fancy, but it works.
I think that there's probably a good video in second hand still. You're right that people with little to no experience are at risk of having a bad time if they buy second hand, but if they've got a friend who knows bikes, they are more likely to get something good. It would be cool to see you both find a second-hand bike for a friend and talk through what you're looking at and thinking about through the process. The obvious thing that springs to mind is how you can easily tell the probably stolen bikes on sites like Gumtree. For inspiration, it could be worth having a look at the old Linus Tech Tips series "Scrapyard Wars" for a similar concept in second hand PCs.
If you buy a bike with Shimano 105, which is a high-entry-level/mid-range bike, usually the groupset represent more than 50% of the total cost of the bike. In all cases wheels and tires included are likely the first thing to go as they're usually the lowest quality. Given this, the real difference between a Triban and Canyon, both with Shimano 105, is going to be a few hundred bucks, which is probably justified if you take into account aesthetics, brand, personal preference, maybe slightly better built (maybe). Lots of people blames Pinarello or Specialized to be too expensive but a Shimano dura ace di2 retails at 2.5k, dura ace wheels at around 2k, it comes with some fancy Lynx saddle which cost additional 250 and so on. So Shimano is the one likely to charge more for industrial made components rather than exclusive bike builder that need to do frames and pain in hand, don't have monopoly (like shimano does) and need to design new models every second year at least.
Anyone who thinks $350 is too expensive to be entry level for a bike doesn't know what a bike is. These are people who buy a bike-shaped-object from Walmart. They aren't serious. Its going to either sit in a garage or its going to be abandoned locked to a campus bike rack somewhere. To them, a bike is a toy not a tool. The simple reality is people want a world tour bike for $100 and they're pissed they don't live in that reality. And no one should listen to them because they're not going to be here in 3 weeks.
Changed my hydraulic brakes for TRP Spyre cable operated as I wanted to simplify the groupset to Campy/Shimano mix. They work just as good, easier to maintain even work well on mountain descents.
That's going to be an even bigger minefield than entry bikes. The problem is you have people who are honestly interested but on a budget. And then you have people that think anything over $50 for a bike is being ripped off because they neither know, nor are interested to know, what a bike (or in this case, kit) actually is. So they could do a video on something like NeoPro, which I think are pretty good value for the money and actually do proper cuts. But some asshole is going to scream, "tHat'S NoT enTRy lEvEL!!!". That will be the same asshole that ends up in a med clinic getting his nuts packed with gauze after chaffing it to an open wound because they decided to ride a 2" thick walmart saddle with $10 amazon shorts.
Love your content - chapeau, chaps. IMO the discussion about entry or not is a tad more nuanced. Compare a £4-600 bike to a £1.000-1.500 bike when byuing into the sport. If you get hooked/addicted you will want to either upgrade your £600 bike (if feasible) OR buy a better one rather quickly to enhance your experience, hence loosing a good chunk of your initial investment due to depreciation (if your succeed in selling it). Either way I suspect you'll take a substantial loss. IF you end up concluding cycling isn't quite your thing (most likely within the first 6 months) you'll have a better chance of selling the higher qualli bike with minimal loss than the so-called 'entry-level' bike. SO, buying the £1.000-1.500 bike will present you with a substantial initial investment, BUT you potentially avoid loosing a chunk of money AND end up with a frame feasible to upgrade later 🙂
Decathlon have been great for bike fits for my two tribans, to the point the guy put the bike on a turbo, changed the stem, did the seat height even put on my spds. When I went to order my new bike.... by a company that rhymes with 'Wibble ' at the factory shop. They couldn't have been less interested in fit
Thanks to you two I've just invested in my first road bike. I wanted something nice but felt spending £1600 on a carbon framed 105 bike might be too much to jump into head first. I ended up getting the Triban RC520. Hoping to get many happy miles under my belt before upgrading! Love the product reviews and ride videos. Keep it up chaps!
I appreciate your comments about immersive chain waxing. Knowing now what you thought it was makes your earlier comments make a little more sense. Being the bike enthusiasts that you are, I cannot imagine that you wouldn't love it and never go back, just like pretty much everyone who gives it a proper try. There are two inexpensive investments I recommend for starting, and these are just two things that make waxing enjoyable for me. 1. Reusable master links. Yes, more expensive but considerable less waste. I have been using the Wipperman Connex Link for over 20 years (not the same one over that time) and I've never had a failure. What makes the Connex Link unique is that they don't require tools for removal or installation. Worth their weight in gold. 2. M Speed Swisher tool. You can make something out of a wire hanger or whatever but this thing just makes waxing nicer in every way. Other than that, I have a $16 slow cooker from Amazon, a home made little thing that I run the chain through to break the links free from the wax (a cheap toilet paper holder might do the job as well) and Silca's hot melt wax, but you can obviously use any quality wax on the market. I also recommend following the Zero Friction Cycling TH-cam channel (@zerofrictioncycling992). Adam is independent, intelligent, and his testing protocols are clear and objective. Again, doing what you do, it would be awesome if you looked into it. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing how you like it.
Good vid. I dont think you guys are the prime zwift demo. Ive paid year round for years. With 3 kids and full time jobs, its a life saver. Also team chainwax all the way, for noise and maintenance.
I'm always banging on about second hand bikes as an alternative but the problem is that most people just starting riding have no experience of how to setup a bike and what to look for in terms of groupsets, speeds and braking. Please Please do a video explaining how to buy a second hand bike in detail. I bought an £850 bike for £150 and only had to index and swap the stem, pedals, saddle and bar tape.
Love this podcast. As for sponsored content, I appreciate when you tell me, but I'm also able to make my own decisions. What works for you and others may not for me, and vice versa. But exposure to different brands, products, and opinions is always good!
I completely disagree with Jimmi about mechanical disc brakes. I have been using Avid BB5 with Apex 1 mechanical levers on my drop bar mtb loads now. On both long tarmac and also trail descends they've been very good. Definitely better in the wet than rim brakes. And even if they were comparable in the wet to rim brakes the other benefits of disc brakes (tyre clearance, upgrade potential) put them miles ahead of rim brakes on anything other than a pure road bike.
As someone who has to work on bikes with bb5 calipers. I hate them. The magnet never really holds the brake pad correctly and they end up slanted inwards so there’s never full rotor clearance. There are good mechanical calipers they just tend to be just as expensive as hydro setups in the end
Average rims brakes vs average mechanical disc brakes. Yeah you need to test them as my experience is that the disc brakes were miles better. The problem with mechanical disc brakes is that they need as much ongoing fettling as rim brakes. Which by itself is not a problem until you realise you could have hydraulic and no real maintenance at all
Problem with second hand bikes is that the video would be a review about that individual bike. And that's it, in principle it is a video a lot of people want to see for educational purposes, to see what is out there for the money and seeing someone else take a punt with their money when they do not want to risk it. In reality, it would unlikely persuade someone to buy used as the fear of the unknow or issues will always prevent it. The video would also not influence any purchase discission as only you now have that used bike, it has no bearing on any other used bike buying experience. Another point, £340 is entry level pricing. You are spot on with the difference between a bike shaped object vs an actual bike. People need to be aware of that difference and the BSO market needs to die and be ignored. I would say these bikes are poorly built, disposable and dangerous. I really enjoyed the entry level videos and if you do any further cheap bike videos, for the love of God, do not buy a Eurobike from Amazon. GCN continued to flog a dead horse with that content and showcasing a BSO and trying to persuade people it is a useable product is just stupid and their audience got pretty fed up with those videos. There is nothing snobby about ignoring bikes at that price point, it is just better consumer advice to focus on actual bikes from real dealers.
About bike prices… I remember my first ‘proper’ commuter bike was a Trek 3700 which I paid 330€ in a local bike shop. Now the entry level Trek FX1 costs more than 600€. Even with inflation, that’s a huge increase in pricing…
About 12 years ago, I bought a decathlon bike for £600. It was the top end of their sport (aluminium frame) range with 10sp Tiagra. The on below this had 3x9 Sora (with the silly thumb shifter) for £450 and then at the bottom 3x8 2300 (claris) for £300. The value for money has always been there. I'm still ride my £600 bike
oh noooo not the censor bleeps. If more shops had employees that knew just a little more about good bike sizing then fits wouldn't be as important. Every time ive gone to a shop they try and sell me a 56-58cm bike and I ride a 52 usually (very comfortably) lol.
I think the reason some mechanical disk breaks work well, and others don't is down to the cable route. I've had 2 bikes with them, a road bike and a mountain bike, the road bikes rear cable went down via the BB, that break hardly worked most of the time. The mountain bike however had the cable go down the seat stays and was damn near flawless.
And if their routed internally under the bar tape and then through the frame with various sharp bends guaranteed they'll be terrible. I think that's where a fair amount of the discrepancy comes from.
The dynamo-powered/charging electronic groupset is brilliant! While I am not an engineer, I would think that the energy should be able to be generated and captured by the bottom bracket/cranks.
Seeing as there are already ways to convert a hub dynamos power to USB, and electronic gearing is capable of taking charge whilst in use, there is nothing stopping you doing this already.
The thing about entering the sport is that you not only need to spend money on a bike, but also the gear and maintenance. I am experiencing this myself right now as I am looking to add cycling to my running and swimming. Even an entry level Canyon Endurace is quite a significant expense for me, so I am gravitating towards an RC 520 from Decathlon.
I've invested in the RC520 two weeks ago, primarily to save my knees and ankles from the 550 miles I've run this year already. As you say £850 on the bike, plus £300 on shoes, clothing and tools/spares/parts soon adds up. Even more so if like me you end up wanting Garmin GPS to join the ecosystem you have already.
@@TSDG91 It's not more expensive then the gym. 40 pounds an month = 480 pounds a year. That bike will easily last 3 years with some basic parts and maintenance. You need clothes in the gym too. You will get kicked out when naked outside the shower. That said Gyms offer free showers for that subscription. So that would probably be the better deal if we get energy lunacy again.
I commuted through winters in Seattle. Mechanical disc is far better than mechanical rim. I ran cheap mechanical discs and they far outperformed Ultegra brakes and calipers.
If you do the wax video please refer to the "zerofrictioncycling" guy, he's the go-to person for lube testing and has a lot of data that you're looking for, the difference in products can be HUGE.
Regarding wireless shifting and charging off of a dynamo or even the cranks themselves - supposedly a typical Di2 battery has a capacity of something like 3.7Wh, I imagine SRAM and Campy are similar. So assuming a cyclist was pedalling constantly, and assuming your generator was 100% efficient, you'd only need to harvest 3.7 watts of the cyclist's power output to fully charge the battery every hour. Of course realistically, generators aren't 100% efficient and there's numerous other things you'd be siphoning power for too presumably. But on the other hand a Di2 battery doesn't run out in an hour (unless it's faulty I suppose). I think the power generation aspect is not the issue, clearly a solar panel would be highly effective and give you essentially no-charge-needed shifting - the issue seems like it would be with actually connecting the power to the shifters. You'd have to introduce wiring into a system which promotes "Wireless" as one of it's biggest perks. As for the ultimate bike collection video - I think one thoroughly overlooked category is the pub bike! Of course I'd buy a top of the line aero carbon bike, and a gravel bike, and a mountain bike, and a touring bike. With unlimited money I'd buy a TT bike and a track bike too why not. In-fact why not get a unicycle, and a backwards steering bike and everything else. But those are boring categories really - it's just going onto a website like sigma sports and filtering by most expensive, then checking every box. However, one type of bike - the pub bike - makes it all interesting because one of the biggest criteria for a pub bike is that it not be expensive. It needs to be something that if it got stolen or damaged or you crash it on the way home or whatever else, it's not a big deal. I'm not sure what my dream pub bike would be - but probably something vintage, or maybe a fixie or single speed. probably steel too so it can stand up to all the inevitable knocks and dings and dents it will get.
I’ve had an interesting experience trying to get a better bike. I’m very much a casual cyclist and on the tall side at 6ft6. I’ve got a 2003 mountain bike and a 2014 commuter hybrid. Both are a bit small for me, but I can put up with it as they were fairly low cost. Last year, I wanted to upgrade to a road style bike where I could do longer rides (108km furthest so far). The cheapest I could find that might fit was a £2k Orbea Terra. It’s a great bike and I’m lucky to be able to afford it. But, cycling is very expensive past time
Maybe you could talk to Nick ang get him on video explaining some typical things to look for when buying second hand? Maybe top 10 things that he sees or have seen when people bring in second hand bikes?
Bike fits are definitely not overrated. That is usually the opinion of someone who’s never had one and is living with discomfort on the bike without realizing it. Any rider who rides regularly should get a bike fit.
I've had two bike fits, one was awful and caused loads of issues, and one was pretty good. It's value depends on the fitter and honestly I don't think there's too many good fitters around.
I spent so much money in the past on bike fits, specific orthotics .....caused me nothing but problems. I am not completely against them, but once I got my understanding of geometry and my own comfort I would never waste money getting a fit again
id have to say high school bike 150 in a department store in collage a gt- lts , would u believe i found in a dumpster, built and painted spent like 300, that was the taste of good parts , the 1000 on a twitter sniper from ali express, the 2500 on a fuji and now my dream is about 1500 from aliexpess , but i picked ever part for comfort and durability so after 45+years i can say to build my car for 1500 with trailer and chain saw to get free wood for free heat and to work out . entry is just perception to this love of cycling, and getting some jet packs and not buying wind tunnels lol
Di2 is indeed much easier to install, especially 12 speed. Honestly, internal cable routing is great...until it isn't and then its a bloody nightmare. As to updating Di2, its a bit of a faff but I don't know how necessary it is. If its working fine for you and you don't want the new features the new firmware might expose then you don't need to hook it up to a computer or the app very often.
I have a SON dynohub on a bike with Di2 and the number of comments I've had from people saying I could run the gears from the hub has been silly. If the battery didn't last for months on one charge then maybe it would be worth it. Of course it could be possible, I have an Igaro D1 and the BCR2 changer is small and light enough to stuff in a frame bag. I'd worry about messing up the incredibly fiddly Di2 charge port and plug though 😬
Entry Level Check List: Is the bike complete out of the box? Does it suit your cycling needs? Is it within the entry level price range ie, Can you get EVERYTHING within a "starter" budget, Helmet, Chain Lube, Tire Pump, Water Bottle, Bottle Cage, Multi Tool, Bib, Jerersey, Shoes, Pedals, Bike Lock, Backpack , Lamps. etc. I went with the Triban RC 100 based on CM opinions on the RC 120. It was avalaible in multiple sizes, the price was just 300$ CDN. You can't even buy a set of wheels for that price, you can't buy a group set for that price, you can't get a light weight frame for that price, You get so much bike with the RC 100 its hard to justify spending 10x more when you're just getting into the sport. Especially when you're talking 1500$ for a carbon wheel set which would net marginal improvements, you're not going 5x faster.
31:41 despite the Cade Media being sponsored by Scott, I personally think their new Plasma for triathlon is sickkkkkkkkk! Totally want one if I had unlimited money 🤣 And probably would ride it to the grocery store or something
100% due to set up when it comes to mechanical disc brakes. I remember getting my Alloy Cannondale from a LBS and the brakes were scary. A tiny bit of tinkering and it was among the best bikes I've owned when it comes to breaking performance. They were Promax Decoders which don't have the best reputation.
Just have to say i've gone off your new studio focused direction, product reviews don't interest me and I miss the quality vlogs but I am enjoying the podcast. Seems way more freeform like the vlogs were....also one for Jimmi. Decathlon make some decent kits, be interested on his thoughts on "entry level" kits
The Van Rysel bikes and gear from decathlon look really good as well, value and fashion wise. They are also getting into the pro scene with this brand which considering decathlons enormous budget could be quiet interesting. If i remember correctly AG2R is gonna be using them
Please record my +1 vote in favor of testing *_mechanical_* disk brake options. I've seen very wide differences in performance among various brands, setups (bedding in pads), related components (pad material & cable housings), etc. Most "regular" people cannot service hydro brake systems, even if they wanted to.
Apparently magnesium is the most eco-friendly material Vaast is one of the brands that does this although they use a carbon fork... soooo maybe not so eco-friendly...
Since I saw your Decathlon video, my commuter bike broke down and I got a Triban rc120 second hand for half the price in neat condition and despite all the negative opinion I had about Microshift (also I did not get the point of a carbon fork in a 600€ bike), it feels pretty great and I even don’t want to take it for my commutes here in the Netherlands 😉
So refreshing to hear your views have changed on entry level bikes. That Scott you had is entry level, but terrible value for money. I ride a Triban RC120 and it has very similar spec to the Scott, but half the price. Good to see you guys chat about this!
The plant could be named “Max the wax” to gain back the hot waxing lovers :-) Love your show and now podcast. Hot waxer this year for the first time! And has been a game changer: after the fastidious initial cleaning (with heavy chemicals), now the chain maintenance is easy and super fast.
I’m 8 mins in and this is EXACTLY the point. The reason your ‘entry level bikes’ series has gone gangbusters is because there are SHEDLOADS of us out there who are just about to (re)start cycling after years off. I’ve learned loads from the various videos I’ve seen, but in the end, as a ‘new cyclist to the 21st century’, what I want to know is: How much do I need to pay for a bike What size frame do I need Am I better off buying a new entry-level bike or a 2nd hand bike for half the price. & THEN… after that… once I’ve got the bike - some tips around kit, maintenance, cycling technique and anything else that new / returning cyclists need to know!
Why don’t you flip the budget bike scenario and make a video with Decathlon’s highest end Gravel bike the GCR it comes with SRAM so that’s two of your sponsors covered 😂 seriously thought it’s a £4K bike, test it against one of your Scott set ups. Is it a good bike ? would you recommend spending £4K on what is seen by many as a Budget brand ? How does it stack up , Only yesterday a “Decathlon” bike won a stage of the Tour de France so they have the Palmares just not the kudos of the big brands at that price point.
I use mechanical disc brakes, TRP funnily enough. And I find them fantastic whatever the weather. Possibly not as good as hydro's but more than good enough for me. I agree, correct set-up is probably a contributing factor. I'm running ceramic pads and not had any issues.
In America, there is bikesdirect, and they give you a lot of bike for the money, whatever kind of bike you're looking for. If you want to get into a new type of bike and have it be usable, they'll ship it to you in a few days. Have $300 USD and want to try a single speed CX bike with disc brakes? Five days later it's on your doorstep. A lot of people would pay 30-50% more for it not to be made in China, but manufacturers that don't build there, also don't build actual entry level bikes. Giant should make a Taiwan-built single speed with cable discs, clearance for 700×50s, and an undressed round tube stainless frame... they'd sell heaps. As for chain lube, I use the DuPont PTFE and Boron Nitride lubricants; either the chain specific stuff or their general non-stick dry lubricant.
Let me tell you from my perspective: Where i live, in argentina. We have pretty expensive bikes parts and basically all things on sale are little more spicy with the price. When you make videos telling the Decathlon is an Entry Level Bike y see it more like an middle gama. Of course i would love to spend more money on SRAM or SHIMANO but thinking it straight, a lot of us here makes more sense spending on SENSAH or LTWOO parts than SHIMANO, specially on the GRAVEL area. Im not telling you nothing more than i love that you consider us people who cant afford that kind of bikes and give us little solutions if you have it. I kind of liked videos that stay humble and not talking about the ultimate campy unaffordable to us mortals. Sorry for the gramatical mistakes. Im not so good writing in english.
Yeah. I'm not agreeing with you on amateur bike mechanics. It's true that newer parts (11s, 12s RD for example) are much more finicky and some parts require new tools (bleed kits, etc.) and special care (carbon and proper torque). But it's still all well within the realm of a home mechanic. Not ANY home mechanic, but somebody with good sensibility and willingness to research. So it's not like when we were growing up and any 9 year old could do it. But it's still in the realm of an attentive hobbyist. (Not to diminish the skills of a true pro mechanic. They can do it faster and sometimes better)
always 2nd hand frame/groupset/wheels more bang per buck(all to do with punters knowledge upfont) buy one,get it reviewed and serviced LBS ,jobs a gud un! Delihea carbon Frame and forks with sensah empire 11s with vision team 30s 500 euro,bargain!!!
Its a grey area especially by the govt regarding what is a payment. If you paid under an employment contract its different if you get goods and services but not employed by those offering such goods and services. If you get gifts from a company you use to facilitate your usual means the value if the goods and or services income you can be classed as receiving goods and services as a payment. Depending on your place of residence of course. Best to say nothing or that you've paid for goods yourself. Bikes are expensive but haven't they always been expensive? As a kid only the richer kids got a Raleigh racer for Xmas, middle class kids got a chopper and poorer kids got a Halfords special. I paid £320 in 1992 for my first MTB, a Marin palisades trail 21speed LX. That was serious coin for a lower end Marin back then and they were pretty average compared to now. What would £320 be worth today and what would you get in relative terms?
Entry level = second hand. Anyone spending money new on expensive gear for anything to 'enter' the sport/hobby deserves to be ripped off. Do research, jump online, figure out all the info and what you want...then spend some time finding a good second hand bike. You can either pick up a great second hand mid tier bike, or a really cheap basic one that will do the job and allow you to figure out what you are after...get you in the community and then invest in something great once you develop the ability to benefit from it and understand what you are after and want.
Any dynamo that takes power from the pedalling motion to charge Di2 etc. will effectively reduce your watts going into the drivetrain. It will also add a not insignificant amount of weight. For e-bikes it makes sense but not for high end racing bikes. Solar energy also tricky because again of weight and actual surface area. You would have to wire up a lot of surfaces and photovoltaic surfaces are delicate if you don't protect them, again adding weight to the frame. Unless we can effectively build some photovoltaic cells into the carbon lay-up I don't see how you could do that. May happen at some point but not soon. (It would also massively increase the price of frames)
There is a world of bicycle riders who ride daily on $50 used bikes and service them with used parts from thrift stores. The clinic where I work serves marginalized populations (people who are living below the poverty line and may be unhoused). Their bikes are the key mobility tool to access social safety net services, and as such, there is a high level of ingenuity needed to maintain a bike without proper tools or parts while living on such low incomes.
Honestly, there is really nothing complex in any bicycle. look at the average car engine and thats way more complex. Anyone with a bit of mechanical sympathy should be able to work on a bike and do most jobs. OK, you might need some specific tools but for the vast majority of those buying them once would be the same cost as a mechanic and then you have the tool. Even things like wheel building aren't really as much of a black art as people will have you believe - if you are patient and methodical then its entirely possible to home build decent strong wheels. Sure, a pro mechanic might be quicker, but if you have time then you could do as good a job.
Di2 is incredibly easier. No adjusting cables. No need to replace cables. no need to clean out the cable housing. Battery lasts half a year on the first gen Di2. Not sure I'd go wireless. Constantly charging batteries, issues with signal etc.
Chain wax was dumb 20 year ago, it's still dumb today. $10 1 step can to clean and lubricate, and chain would last 3 times longer if people actually cleaned and lubricated their chain.
hi, thank you for your good bike reviews and tips, i have been just a beginner and planning to upgrade a bike and find your channel really interesting, if you have a chance to review a bike currently I am riding pls do i would like to see what are my past mistakes and dont do it on the future i have this FIXIE Inc. Floater Race 8S red, i was just wandering if it is considered as gravel or road 😂
Well there's a lot to comment on, I'll pick bike cleaning my method is functionally clean the only time it gets water on it is when it rains. Keep the oily bits clean use Squirt lube and it appears chain lasts longer than the wet lube I used previously. Wouldn't class myself as amateur bike mechanic I just build my own bikes and maintain them, when there was a local bike shop I would hang out with the lads in the workshop on Saturday make them tea or bring biscuits, beers etc.I worked there for a bit as well. so I was able to learn a lot from them.
entry level bikes just arent worth it imo nowadays, the new allez has claris on it, does it not? I have the newer rendition of claris, the r2000 series, and yes it works great but I really suffer in the hills with just those 8 gears, its not a beginner gear ratio like you guys said. Youre better off just saving up a little and getting something that at least comes with tiagra or 105 if youre really okay with putting a little bit money into. But at the same time make sure you get a bike fit before dropping that much money onto a bike in the first place.
100% the plant should be named Marco, Marco Plant-ani. 😂
This is the only answer!
That is absolutely fantastic I laughed out loud 😂 top name
Yes!!
Correct.
I support this.
One reason I’m happy you both made a podcast, because every cycling podcast feels like it’s trying to sell me a monthly training plan, or products.
2 guys BSing about bikes, exactly what I needed but didn't know it.
Don't worry, they'll be trying to sell you stuff in a couple of years.
you dont want more AG1 or LMNT >?>?? lol
@@EMBIKES I’m fine with add placements as long as they are backing them and it’s a product they use. I do feel like every cycling podcast has an app or a subscription they focus on or code their answers to make you feel like you need to use it.
you wanna give the nero show a go
I honestly love this podcast, it's pretty concise without leaving out info. I love how you guys actually get in depth with the topics instead of just asking a bunch of rhetorical questions and not coming to a conclusion.
One thing I've learnt from these videos which I really wasn't expecting was how much of a gamer Francis is
And how much he doesn't actually like cycling 😉🤣🤣
I love the outro song, it cracked me up immediately, its very relatable to anyone thats ever had a dog.
Between your component sponsorship and Jimmy's music empire, you guys will soon be podcasting from your Monaco registered super yacht 😂
What I'm finding now, is after my first £600 decathlon bike and now looking for something better.. the options from ribble, specialised, Scott, canyon etc their "better" options come with similar if not worse parts and are between 1-2k! Absolutely stumped with my next choice
It depends on your budget. If your looking for value I would consider van rysel higher up specs or look for a bargain on the user market
Before doing any research you should just define what you mean by "something better". Is it faster? More comfortable? easier to wrench? a bike allowing you to carry stuff and/or do backpacking? a better fit?
What are your complains on your current bike?
For example if the issue is speed or bike fit or aero it might be you need a more aggressive frame. But if fit is right and you are limited by say, gearing range or possibilities you might just want a new groupset. The frame might be good enough and changing saddles, handlebar, wheels and groupset might just transform it and it can be done gradually.
Maybe take a look at merida if you still haven't bought one
Welcome back to another episode of Opposite 1 Fern.
I see what You did here.
you'd have to wire from a hub dynamo to your shifters to power them (and either have wired electronic shifting, or a second dynamo in the rear to power the mech), and i don't know how many road cyclists would go for all that. on the other hand, if you had electronic shifting on a commuter bike, that'd go great. commuters (like me) love us some extra wiring if it means we don't have to charge stuff. dynamo lights are more a commuter thing than a roadie thing, and this is an extension of that.
Can we see Jimmi in a mercatone uno top and a gold ear ring when he gets the Marco Pantani bike please?
I love cycle exchange used them for a number of years it's like an aladdins cave of bikes staff are 1st class too great service. Love the podcast guys definitely a positive addition to the channel.
Loving the podcast guys.
Had a £350 decathlon bike as my first road bike, glad to see them getting the recognition they deserve!
Also currently running 1x microshift on my gravel bike and cannot fault it at all, hasn’t missed a beat.
Advent 9 and Advent X are really decent groupsets. And Decathlon just make really good starter bikes that get people started.
Their success is a blessing for the sport.
A better question than unlimited money would be if you had x amount given to you and it had to be spent on bikes, what would you get /why. 40k and what would you buy? Etc
Certainly there is wide variation in skill of bike fitters, but having had the pleasure of a really good one (not my first attempt sadly), the end result was worth every penny. Of course I'm referencing a tri bike, but I cannot heap enough praise on the shop that sorted me out.
I’d love to challenge you two advise me on my return to cycling bike shopping, insight can be gained from watching you but you have more insight to begin with so not a win win to avoid mistakes!
19:07 The rim vs disc brake safety debate likely had to do with “resin only” rotors and awful resin brake pads. They are death in crappy weather and I can burn through a set 100 miles. Cheap Corki brand metallic brake pads and rotors are $25 for a full set and they work in all weather, just fine for commuting, it’s not fancy, but it works.
I think that there's probably a good video in second hand still. You're right that people with little to no experience are at risk of having a bad time if they buy second hand, but if they've got a friend who knows bikes, they are more likely to get something good.
It would be cool to see you both find a second-hand bike for a friend and talk through what you're looking at and thinking about through the process. The obvious thing that springs to mind is how you can easily tell the probably stolen bikes on sites like Gumtree.
For inspiration, it could be worth having a look at the old Linus Tech Tips series "Scrapyard Wars" for a similar concept in second hand PCs.
elite wheels to for Harry!!!dont forget those!love my 50s and TT disc and 88.
Hahaha Jimmi -- that Bella song at the end was 100% genius
There are DIY implementations of hub dynamo powered Di2 setups.
Love the podcast. I had an earlier version of the entry level decathlon bike when I got into cycling it was great.
Via Bikes in Philly is an amazing used bike shop.
If you buy a bike with Shimano 105, which is a high-entry-level/mid-range bike, usually the groupset represent more than 50% of the total cost of the bike. In all cases wheels and tires included are likely the first thing to go as they're usually the lowest quality. Given this, the real difference between a Triban and Canyon, both with Shimano 105, is going to be a few hundred bucks, which is probably justified if you take into account aesthetics, brand, personal preference, maybe slightly better built (maybe). Lots of people blames Pinarello or Specialized to be too expensive but a Shimano dura ace di2 retails at 2.5k, dura ace wheels at around 2k, it comes with some fancy Lynx saddle which cost additional 250 and so on. So Shimano is the one likely to charge more for industrial made components rather than exclusive bike builder that need to do frames and pain in hand, don't have monopoly (like shimano does) and need to design new models every second year at least.
Actually the group set will be 2/3 of the total cost... if u compare prices of components online.
Anyone who thinks $350 is too expensive to be entry level for a bike doesn't know what a bike is. These are people who buy a bike-shaped-object from Walmart. They aren't serious. Its going to either sit in a garage or its going to be abandoned locked to a campus bike rack somewhere. To them, a bike is a toy not a tool. The simple reality is people want a world tour bike for $100 and they're pissed they don't live in that reality. And no one should listen to them because they're not going to be here in 3 weeks.
Changed my hydraulic brakes for TRP Spyre cable operated as I wanted to simplify the groupset to Campy/Shimano mix. They work just as good, easier to maintain even work well on mountain descents.
Would you consider a video on beginner kit e.g. comparing some of the entry level bib shorts, jerseys etc?
That's going to be an even bigger minefield than entry bikes. The problem is you have people who are honestly interested but on a budget. And then you have people that think anything over $50 for a bike is being ripped off because they neither know, nor are interested to know, what a bike (or in this case, kit) actually is. So they could do a video on something like NeoPro, which I think are pretty good value for the money and actually do proper cuts. But some asshole is going to scream, "tHat'S NoT enTRy lEvEL!!!". That will be the same asshole that ends up in a med clinic getting his nuts packed with gauze after chaffing it to an open wound because they decided to ride a 2" thick walmart saddle with $10 amazon shorts.
Love your content - chapeau, chaps. IMO the discussion about entry or not is a tad more nuanced.
Compare a £4-600 bike to a £1.000-1.500 bike when byuing into the sport.
If you get hooked/addicted you will want to either upgrade your £600 bike (if feasible) OR buy a better one rather quickly to enhance your experience, hence loosing a good chunk of your initial investment due to depreciation (if your succeed in selling it). Either way I suspect you'll take a substantial loss.
IF you end up concluding cycling isn't quite your thing (most likely within the first 6 months) you'll have a better chance of selling the higher qualli bike with minimal loss than the so-called 'entry-level' bike.
SO, buying the £1.000-1.500 bike will present you with a substantial initial investment, BUT you potentially avoid loosing a chunk of money AND end up with a frame feasible to upgrade later 🙂
Decathlon have been great for bike fits for my two tribans, to the point the guy put the bike on a turbo, changed the stem, did the seat height even put on my spds. When I went to order my new bike.... by a company that rhymes with 'Wibble ' at the factory shop. They couldn't have been less interested in fit
Thanks to you two I've just invested in my first road bike. I wanted something nice but felt spending £1600 on a carbon framed 105 bike might be too much to jump into head first. I ended up getting the Triban RC520. Hoping to get many happy miles under my belt before upgrading! Love the product reviews and ride videos. Keep it up chaps!
A lot of people had that as their first bike :)
I appreciate your comments about immersive chain waxing. Knowing now what you thought it was makes your earlier comments make a little more sense. Being the bike enthusiasts that you are, I cannot imagine that you wouldn't love it and never go back, just like pretty much everyone who gives it a proper try.
There are two inexpensive investments I recommend for starting, and these are just two things that make waxing enjoyable for me. 1. Reusable master links. Yes, more expensive but considerable less waste. I have been using the Wipperman Connex Link for over 20 years (not the same one over that time) and I've never had a failure. What makes the Connex Link unique is that they don't require tools for removal or installation. Worth their weight in gold. 2. M Speed Swisher tool. You can make something out of a wire hanger or whatever but this thing just makes waxing nicer in every way. Other than that, I have a $16 slow cooker from Amazon, a home made little thing that I run the chain through to break the links free from the wax (a cheap toilet paper holder might do the job as well) and Silca's hot melt wax, but you can obviously use any quality wax on the market.
I also recommend following the Zero Friction Cycling TH-cam channel (@zerofrictioncycling992). Adam is independent, intelligent, and his testing protocols are clear and objective. Again, doing what you do, it would be awesome if you looked into it. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing how you like it.
Good vid. I dont think you guys are the prime zwift demo. Ive paid year round for years. With 3 kids and full time jobs, its a life saver. Also team chainwax all the way, for noise and maintenance.
“Welcome to Bike Shit with Francis and Jimmi”
Don't become another "we are excited to build this $16000 bike, yay!" channel. This expensive stuff ruins my favorite sport.
I'm always banging on about second hand bikes as an alternative but the problem is that most people just starting riding have no experience of how to setup a bike and what to look for in terms of groupsets, speeds and braking. Please Please do a video explaining how to buy a second hand bike in detail.
I bought an £850 bike for £150 and only had to index and swap the stem, pedals, saddle and bar tape.
At the beginning I misheard „the show where we chat about butt stuff”
Love this podcast. As for sponsored content, I appreciate when you tell me, but I'm also able to make my own decisions. What works for you and others may not for me, and vice versa. But exposure to different brands, products, and opinions is always good!
I completely disagree with Jimmi about mechanical disc brakes. I have been using Avid BB5 with Apex 1 mechanical levers on my drop bar mtb loads now. On both long tarmac and also trail descends they've been very good. Definitely better in the wet than rim brakes. And even if they were comparable in the wet to rim brakes the other benefits of disc brakes (tyre clearance, upgrade potential) put them miles ahead of rim brakes on anything other than a pure road bike.
As someone who has to work on bikes with bb5 calipers. I hate them. The magnet never really holds the brake pad correctly and they end up slanted inwards so there’s never full rotor clearance. There are good mechanical calipers they just tend to be just as expensive as hydro setups in the end
Average rims brakes vs average mechanical disc brakes. Yeah you need to test them as my experience is that the disc brakes were miles better. The problem with mechanical disc brakes is that they need as much ongoing fettling as rim brakes. Which by itself is not a problem until you realise you could have hydraulic and no real maintenance at all
Ex commuter who did 10,000 miles per year through all weathers for over a decade with not much money
Problem with second hand bikes is that the video would be a review about that individual bike. And that's it, in principle it is a video a lot of people want to see for educational purposes, to see what is out there for the money and seeing someone else take a punt with their money when they do not want to risk it.
In reality, it would unlikely persuade someone to buy used as the fear of the unknow or issues will always prevent it. The video would also not influence any purchase discission as only you now have that used bike, it has no bearing on any other used bike buying experience.
Another point, £340 is entry level pricing. You are spot on with the difference between a bike shaped object vs an actual bike. People need to be aware of that difference and the BSO market needs to die and be ignored. I would say these bikes are poorly built, disposable and dangerous.
I really enjoyed the entry level videos and if you do any further cheap bike videos, for the love of God, do not buy a Eurobike from Amazon. GCN continued to flog a dead horse with that content and showcasing a BSO and trying to persuade people it is a useable product is just stupid and their audience got pretty fed up with those videos. There is nothing snobby about ignoring bikes at that price point, it is just better consumer advice to focus on actual bikes from real dealers.
Hackney Cycles and the No Logo bikes are still going….went there to have a mooch around 2 years ago for a new bike….ended up with a Triban 120😂
About bike prices… I remember my first ‘proper’ commuter bike was a Trek 3700 which I paid 330€ in a local bike shop. Now the entry level Trek FX1 costs more than 600€. Even with inflation, that’s a huge increase in pricing…
About 12 years ago, I bought a decathlon bike for £600. It was the top end of their sport (aluminium frame) range with 10sp Tiagra. The on below this had 3x9 Sora (with the silly thumb shifter) for £450 and then at the bottom 3x8 2300 (claris) for £300. The value for money has always been there. I'm still ride my £600 bike
oh noooo not the censor bleeps. If more shops had employees that knew just a little more about good bike sizing then fits wouldn't be as important. Every time ive gone to a shop they try and sell me a 56-58cm bike and I ride a 52 usually (very comfortably) lol.
A bike fit allowed me to go from having back pain to be able to ride 10 hours/week. Underrated.
I think the reason some mechanical disk breaks work well, and others don't is down to the cable route. I've had 2 bikes with them, a road bike and a mountain bike, the road bikes rear cable went down via the BB, that break hardly worked most of the time. The mountain bike however had the cable go down the seat stays and was damn near flawless.
And if their routed internally under the bar tape and then through the frame with various sharp bends guaranteed they'll be terrible. I think that's where a fair amount of the discrepancy comes from.
@@dan44zzt231 Mine are routed under bar tape and through the frame and they work rather good for me. TRP's
The dynamo-powered/charging electronic groupset is brilliant! While I am not an engineer, I would think that the energy should be able to be generated and captured by the bottom bracket/cranks.
Seeing as there are already ways to convert a hub dynamos power to USB, and electronic gearing is capable of taking charge whilst in use, there is nothing stopping you doing this already.
I’d think it should be possible to drive it off the jockey wheels within the derailleur itself.
The thing about entering the sport is that you not only need to spend money on a bike, but also the gear and maintenance.
I am experiencing this myself right now as I am looking to add cycling to my running and swimming. Even an entry level Canyon Endurace is quite a significant expense for me, so I am gravitating towards an RC 520 from Decathlon.
I've invested in the RC520 two weeks ago, primarily to save my knees and ankles from the 550 miles I've run this year already.
As you say £850 on the bike, plus £300 on shoes, clothing and tools/spares/parts soon adds up. Even more so if like me you end up wanting Garmin GPS to join the ecosystem you have already.
@@TSDG91 It's not more expensive then the gym.
40 pounds an month = 480 pounds a year. That bike will easily last 3 years with some basic parts and maintenance.
You need clothes in the gym too. You will get kicked out when naked outside the shower.
That said Gyms offer free showers for that subscription. So that would probably be the better deal if we get energy lunacy again.
I commuted through winters in Seattle. Mechanical disc is far better than mechanical rim. I ran cheap mechanical discs and they far outperformed Ultegra brakes and calipers.
If you do the wax video please refer to the "zerofrictioncycling" guy, he's the go-to person for lube testing and has a lot of data that you're looking for, the difference in products can be HUGE.
Regarding wireless shifting and charging off of a dynamo or even the cranks themselves - supposedly a typical Di2 battery has a capacity of something like 3.7Wh, I imagine SRAM and Campy are similar. So assuming a cyclist was pedalling constantly, and assuming your generator was 100% efficient, you'd only need to harvest 3.7 watts of the cyclist's power output to fully charge the battery every hour.
Of course realistically, generators aren't 100% efficient and there's numerous other things you'd be siphoning power for too presumably. But on the other hand a Di2 battery doesn't run out in an hour (unless it's faulty I suppose). I think the power generation aspect is not the issue, clearly a solar panel would be highly effective and give you essentially no-charge-needed shifting - the issue seems like it would be with actually connecting the power to the shifters. You'd have to introduce wiring into a system which promotes "Wireless" as one of it's biggest perks.
As for the ultimate bike collection video - I think one thoroughly overlooked category is the pub bike! Of course I'd buy a top of the line aero carbon bike, and a gravel bike, and a mountain bike, and a touring bike. With unlimited money I'd buy a TT bike and a track bike too why not. In-fact why not get a unicycle, and a backwards steering bike and everything else. But those are boring categories really - it's just going onto a website like sigma sports and filtering by most expensive, then checking every box.
However, one type of bike - the pub bike - makes it all interesting because one of the biggest criteria for a pub bike is that it not be expensive. It needs to be something that if it got stolen or damaged or you crash it on the way home or whatever else, it's not a big deal.
I'm not sure what my dream pub bike would be - but probably something vintage, or maybe a fixie or single speed. probably steel too so it can stand up to all the inevitable knocks and dings and dents it will get.
I’ve had an interesting experience trying to get a better bike. I’m very much a casual cyclist and on the tall side at 6ft6. I’ve got a 2003 mountain bike and a 2014 commuter hybrid. Both are a bit small for me, but I can put up with it as they were fairly low cost. Last year, I wanted to upgrade to a road style bike where I could do longer rides (108km furthest so far). The cheapest I could find that might fit was a £2k Orbea Terra. It’s a great bike and I’m lucky to be able to afford it. But, cycling is very expensive past time
Maybe you could talk to Nick ang get him on video explaining some typical things to look for when buying second hand? Maybe top 10 things that he sees or have seen when people bring in second hand bikes?
Bike fits are definitely not overrated. That is usually the opinion of someone who’s never had one and is living with discomfort on the bike without realizing it. Any rider who rides regularly should get a bike fit.
I've had two bike fits, one was awful and caused loads of issues, and one was pretty good. It's value depends on the fitter and honestly I don't think there's too many good fitters around.
I spent so much money in the past on bike fits, specific orthotics .....caused me nothing but problems. I am not completely against them, but once I got my understanding of geometry and my own comfort I would never waste money getting a fit again
In his head Francis is thinking 🤔 "unlimited money.... boats and hoes!!" 😂wouldn't have space for a bike sat in a jacuzzi on a yacht!
id have to say high school bike 150 in a department store in collage a gt- lts , would u believe i found in a dumpster, built and painted spent like 300, that was the taste of good parts , the 1000 on a twitter sniper from ali express, the 2500 on a fuji and now my dream is about 1500 from aliexpess , but i picked ever part for comfort and durability so after 45+years i can say to build my car for 1500 with trailer and chain saw to get free wood for free heat and to work out . entry is just perception to this love of cycling, and getting some jet packs and not buying wind tunnels lol
Di2 is indeed much easier to install, especially 12 speed. Honestly, internal cable routing is great...until it isn't and then its a bloody nightmare. As to updating Di2, its a bit of a faff but I don't know how necessary it is. If its working fine for you and you don't want the new features the new firmware might expose then you don't need to hook it up to a computer or the app very often.
I have a SON dynohub on a bike with Di2 and the number of comments I've had from people saying I could run the gears from the hub has been silly. If the battery didn't last for months on one charge then maybe it would be worth it. Of course it could be possible, I have an Igaro D1 and the BCR2 changer is small and light enough to stuff in a frame bag. I'd worry about messing up the incredibly fiddly Di2 charge port and plug though 😬
I am really surprised you are rookies in hot chain wax.
Evans used sell dolomite road bike nice lite frame easy to get to 7.5 kg 105 rim brake good second hand
I'd call the plant "Juan". Wild Juan.
Entry Level Check List: Is the bike complete out of the box? Does it suit your cycling needs? Is it within the entry level price range ie, Can you get EVERYTHING within a "starter" budget, Helmet, Chain Lube, Tire Pump, Water Bottle, Bottle Cage, Multi Tool, Bib, Jerersey, Shoes, Pedals, Bike Lock, Backpack , Lamps. etc. I went with the Triban RC 100 based on CM opinions on the RC 120. It was avalaible in multiple sizes, the price was just 300$ CDN. You can't even buy a set of wheels for that price, you can't buy a group set for that price, you can't get a light weight frame for that price, You get so much bike with the RC 100 its hard to justify spending 10x more when you're just getting into the sport. Especially when you're talking 1500$ for a carbon wheel set which would net marginal improvements, you're not going 5x faster.
31:41 despite the Cade Media being sponsored by Scott, I personally think their new Plasma for triathlon is sickkkkkkkkk! Totally want one if I had unlimited money 🤣
And probably would ride it to the grocery store or something
The plant should be called JULIETT
Bought strattus S5 comes today. Is Giant or Trek better frame with lower group set . Confused , but for a 1,000 does it matter?
I’d own e-bikes and regular bikes in every frame material and disciplines
100% due to set up when it comes to mechanical disc brakes. I remember getting my Alloy Cannondale from a LBS and the brakes were scary. A tiny bit of tinkering and it was among the best bikes I've owned when it comes to breaking performance. They were Promax Decoders which don't have the best reputation.
Just have to say i've gone off your new studio focused direction, product reviews don't interest me and I miss the quality vlogs but I am enjoying the podcast. Seems way more freeform like the vlogs were....also one for Jimmi. Decathlon make some decent kits, be interested on his thoughts on "entry level" kits
The Van Rysel bikes and gear from decathlon look really good as well, value and fashion wise.
They are also getting into the pro scene with this brand which considering decathlons enormous budget could be quiet interesting.
If i remember correctly AG2R is gonna be using them
Please record my +1 vote in favor of testing *_mechanical_* disk brake options. I've seen very wide differences in performance among various brands, setups (bedding in pads), related components (pad material & cable housings), etc. Most "regular" people cannot service hydro brake systems, even if they wanted to.
My Di2 kept going flat after an hour - fixed by updating the firmware on it apparently
Apparently magnesium is the most eco-friendly material Vaast is one of the brands that does this although they use a carbon fork... soooo maybe not so eco-friendly...
I run trp spyres on my gravel bike and honestly I love them. Think the breaking performance is outstanding given they are relatively cheap tbh.
Since I saw your Decathlon video, my commuter bike broke down and I got a Triban rc120 second hand for half the price in neat condition and despite all the negative opinion I had about Microshift (also I did not get the point of a carbon fork in a 600€ bike), it feels pretty great and I even don’t want to take it for my commutes here in the Netherlands 😉
So refreshing to hear your views have changed on entry level bikes. That Scott you had is entry level, but terrible value for money. I ride a Triban RC120 and it has very similar spec to the Scott, but half the price. Good to see you guys chat about this!
The plant could be named “Max the wax” to gain back the hot waxing lovers :-)
Love your show and now podcast.
Hot waxer this year for the first time! And has been a game changer: after the fastidious initial cleaning (with heavy chemicals), now the chain maintenance is easy and super fast.
I’m 8 mins in and this is EXACTLY the point. The reason your ‘entry level bikes’ series has gone gangbusters is because there are SHEDLOADS of us out there who are just about to (re)start cycling after years off.
I’ve learned loads from the various videos I’ve seen, but in the end, as a ‘new cyclist to the 21st century’, what I want to know is:
How much do I need to pay for a bike
What size frame do I need
Am I better off buying a new entry-level bike or a 2nd hand bike for half the price.
& THEN… after that… once I’ve got the bike - some tips around kit, maintenance, cycling technique and anything else that new / returning cyclists need to know!
Why don’t you flip the budget bike scenario and make a video with Decathlon’s highest end Gravel bike the GCR it comes with SRAM so that’s two of your sponsors covered 😂 seriously thought it’s a £4K bike, test it against one of your Scott set ups. Is it a good bike ? would you recommend spending £4K on what is seen by many as a Budget brand ? How does it stack up , Only yesterday a “Decathlon” bike won a stage of the Tour de France so they have the Palmares just not the kudos of the big brands at that price point.
Best chain waxing resource: Zero Friction Cycling.
Sponsored content isn’t automatically bad. If you get free shit, great. Show it to us. Some of us are grown people who can make our own assessments. 🤙
Love the content. Give more hot takes
I use mechanical disc brakes, TRP funnily enough. And I find them fantastic whatever the weather. Possibly not as good as hydro's but more than good enough for me. I agree, correct set-up is probably a contributing factor. I'm running ceramic pads and not had any issues.
I’m betting it was resin brake pads and resin-only rotors. It doesn’t matter how good or bad the mechanism is if your squeezing on butter.
You missed fat bikes.
In America, there is bikesdirect, and they give you a lot of bike for the money, whatever kind of bike you're looking for. If you want to get into a new type of bike and have it be usable, they'll ship it to you in a few days. Have $300 USD and want to try a single speed CX bike with disc brakes? Five days later it's on your doorstep. A lot of people would pay 30-50% more for it not to be made in China, but manufacturers that don't build there, also don't build actual entry level bikes.
Giant should make a Taiwan-built single speed with cable discs, clearance for 700×50s, and an undressed round tube stainless frame... they'd sell heaps.
As for chain lube, I use the DuPont PTFE and Boron Nitride lubricants; either the chain specific stuff or their general non-stick dry lubricant.
Money apparently does change people 🤣🤣
Let me tell you from my perspective: Where i live, in argentina. We have pretty expensive bikes parts and basically all things on sale are little more spicy with the price. When you make videos telling the Decathlon is an Entry Level Bike y see it more like an middle gama. Of course i would love to spend more money on SRAM or SHIMANO but thinking it straight, a lot of us here makes more sense spending on SENSAH or LTWOO parts than SHIMANO, specially on the GRAVEL area. Im not telling you nothing more than i love that you consider us people who cant afford that kind of bikes and give us little solutions if you have it. I kind of liked videos that stay humble and not talking about the ultimate campy unaffordable to us mortals.
Sorry for the gramatical mistakes. Im not so good writing in english.
Yeah. I'm not agreeing with you on amateur bike mechanics. It's true that newer parts (11s, 12s RD for example) are much more finicky and some parts require new tools (bleed kits, etc.) and special care (carbon and proper torque). But it's still all well within the realm of a home mechanic. Not ANY home mechanic, but somebody with good sensibility and willingness to research. So it's not like when we were growing up and any 9 year old could do it. But it's still in the realm of an attentive hobbyist. (Not to diminish the skills of a true pro mechanic. They can do it faster and sometimes better)
always 2nd hand frame/groupset/wheels more bang per buck(all to do with punters knowledge upfont) buy one,get it reviewed and serviced LBS ,jobs a gud un! Delihea carbon Frame and forks with sensah empire 11s with vision team 30s 500 euro,bargain!!!
Its a grey area especially by the govt regarding what is a payment. If you paid under an employment contract its different if you get goods and services but not employed by those offering such goods and services. If you get gifts from a company you use to facilitate your usual means the value if the goods and or services income you can be classed as receiving goods and services as a payment. Depending on your place of residence of course. Best to say nothing or that you've paid for goods yourself.
Bikes are expensive but haven't they always been expensive? As a kid only the richer kids got a Raleigh racer for Xmas, middle class kids got a chopper and poorer kids got a Halfords special. I paid £320 in 1992 for my first MTB, a Marin palisades trail 21speed LX. That was serious coin for a lower end Marin back then and they were pretty average compared to now. What would £320 be worth today and what would you get in relative terms?
Entry level = second hand.
Anyone spending money new on expensive gear for anything to 'enter' the sport/hobby deserves to be ripped off. Do research, jump online, figure out all the info and what you want...then spend some time finding a good second hand bike. You can either pick up a great second hand mid tier bike, or a really cheap basic one that will do the job and allow you to figure out what you are after...get you in the community and then invest in something great once you develop the ability to benefit from it and understand what you are after and want.
Any dynamo that takes power from the pedalling motion to charge Di2 etc. will effectively reduce your watts going into the drivetrain. It will also add a not insignificant amount of weight. For e-bikes it makes sense but not for high end racing bikes.
Solar energy also tricky because again of weight and actual surface area. You would have to wire up a lot of surfaces and photovoltaic surfaces are delicate if you don't protect them, again adding weight to the frame. Unless we can effectively build some photovoltaic cells into the carbon lay-up I don't see how you could do that. May happen at some point but not soon. (It would also massively increase the price of frames)
There is a world of bicycle riders who ride daily on $50 used bikes and service them with used parts from thrift stores. The clinic where I work serves marginalized populations (people who are living below the poverty line and may be unhoused). Their bikes are the key mobility tool to access social safety net services, and as such, there is a high level of ingenuity needed to maintain a bike without proper tools or parts while living on such low incomes.
Honestly, there is really nothing complex in any bicycle. look at the average car engine and thats way more complex. Anyone with a bit of mechanical sympathy should be able to work on a bike and do most jobs. OK, you might need some specific tools but for the vast majority of those buying them once would be the same cost as a mechanic and then you have the tool.
Even things like wheel building aren't really as much of a black art as people will have you believe - if you are patient and methodical then its entirely possible to home build decent strong wheels.
Sure, a pro mechanic might be quicker, but if you have time then you could do as good a job.
Ref the swearing, you should do a one off special, both have shock collars, buzz each other as you swear, would be like a jackass episode 😂
Di2 is incredibly easier. No adjusting cables. No need to replace cables. no need to clean out the cable housing. Battery lasts half a year on the first gen Di2. Not sure I'd go wireless. Constantly charging batteries, issues with signal etc.
For next episode you might want to look at the LeCol 8848 challenge on Strava which currently is a burning pile of trash.
Chain wax was dumb 20 year ago, it's still dumb today. $10 1 step can to clean and lubricate, and chain would last 3 times longer if people actually cleaned and lubricated their chain.
hi, thank you for your good bike reviews and tips, i have been just a beginner and planning to upgrade a bike and find your channel really interesting, if you have a chance to review a bike currently I am riding pls do i would like to see what are my past mistakes and dont do it on the future
i have this FIXIE Inc. Floater Race 8S red, i was just wandering if it is considered as gravel or road 😂
Well there's a lot to comment on, I'll pick bike cleaning my method is functionally clean the only time it gets water on it is when it rains. Keep the oily bits clean use Squirt lube and it appears chain lasts longer than the wet lube I used previously. Wouldn't class myself as amateur bike mechanic I just build my own bikes and maintain them, when there was a local bike shop I would hang out with the lads in the workshop on Saturday make them tea or bring biscuits, beers etc.I worked there for a bit as well. so I was able to learn a lot from them.
entry level bikes just arent worth it imo nowadays, the new allez has claris on it, does it not? I have the newer rendition of claris, the r2000 series, and yes it works great but I really suffer in the hills with just those 8 gears, its not a beginner gear ratio like you guys said. Youre better off just saving up a little and getting something that at least comes with tiagra or 105 if youre really okay with putting a little bit money into. But at the same time make sure you get a bike fit before dropping that much money onto a bike in the first place.
Truth, my 2022 Allez rides better than my 2013 Carbon Roubaix. Any 'Entry level 'from a reputable manufacturer is still a killer bike.