Optimal Tyre Pressure, Noisy Chains & Inner Tube Repairs | GCN Tech Clinic
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- Optimal Tyre Pressure, Noisy Chains & Inner Tube Repairs | GCN Tech Clinic
How many times can you repair an inner tube after a puncture? Is it dangerous if the optimal tyre pressure is lower than the minimum pressure on the tyre? How do you keep your cycling kit from smelling? Alex & Ollie are here to answer your latest Tech Clinic questions!
Welcome! 0:00
How many times can you repair an inner tube after a puncture? 0:19
Cargo road bike or eCargo bike for groceries? 0:57
How do you keep cycling kit from smelling? 2:06
Why don’t cycle computers have a bell function on one of their buttons? 3:12
Should you use a different rear cassette while training for your race? 5:26
Is it dangerous if the optimal tyre pressure is lower than the minimum pressure on the tyre? 6:51
Why don’t cyclists regularly use mirrors? 7:44
How do you fix a noisy (recently waxed) chain? 9:58
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Drop your tech questions in the comments using #askgcntech ⚙ We want to get nerdy... so really test us!
#askgcntech Hi guys (and Hank, who’s my Spirit Animal). Should we consider wheelsets consumable items like cassettes, chains and chainrings? We got into a heated argument about that. Carbon is not recyclable. Some Far Eastern Companies are not environmentally savvy. Should we just buy cheaper wheelsets with dodgy aftermarket support, random long term availability of parts, ho-hum environment policies and zero resale value (as the market is flooded with such products), use them for few years and toss them or buy more responsibly-sourced products, probably more expensive, probably with better aftermarket support and probably some resale value after 5-8-10 years (and almost for sure made in the same place as the former category)? What’s your unbiased (heh!) opinion. Hi to Hank, the runt of the litter.
I don't ride with a bell but call out 'ding ding' to warn pedestrians/ horse riders. It usually makes people smile
I've found all too often people walking don't take notice of bicycle bells even when ringing they are eaither walking with head/earphones or they just don't realize they need to react to strange noises from behind, generally better to just slow down and say a friendly "hello" when passing. probably an SA thing where people just aren't used to bicycles on sidepaths so much.
Half the time I say “on your left” or ring a bell, people step further into the lane. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Mirrors are inexpensive and quite functional but I prefer rear radar (e.g., Garmin Varia) as an initial and longer range indicator. Can't believe I didn't start using radar sooner - Love the alerts and the fact it uses random blink and max intensity when it senses vehicle - cars actually slow down. It's not foolproof but I have yet to experience an issue when properly mounted
Couldn't agree more. Every rider I know who uses a Varia would never go without one again.
@@kevina782810000% agree, I feel unsafe without Varia when I drive shared bicycles (quick city transport). Bike computer + varia combo is the best ✌️💪
So these are for anyone behind you and not just the rider? Interesting, never occurred to me as I'd only even heard of them recently. Do any also allow manual or automatic brake and turn signals? And, it would be kind of cool to display the speed of the car hurtling towards you for them to see. Hell, link this up to the local PD and every cyclist becomes a potential moving speed detector!
Just kidding on that one but it is kind of intriguing, the possibilities.
@@kevina7828 Beware of the Luddites.
@@kovie9162manual indicator? and automatic brakes if have computer unit I believe, I wish to know automatic indicators like if plan a route, I wanted to buy some indicators from Garmin but they stopped making them before I knew of them
To all here I might use it when can afford it but on velomobile I'm going without mirrors and maybe that radar as I'm planning to weigh down velomobile with 6-8 reversing cameras so can look forward and get all around view, I plan if own a car to load it with cameras too so instead of have delayed reaction like others at junction, I see each way just looking forward so can pull out junctions faster than others
Bells: you would be surprised how grateful most pedestrians are when they hear a bell. Don’t forget that on quiet back roads walkers are often straddling the road and need notice of our arrival. I started using a small ting, ting bell a few years ago.
Nothing wrong with a bell 🔔 Do you find some people don't like the bell sound?
I'm more surprised you come across "most" pedestrians that are connected to their surroundings. Most pedestrians I have come across need a Claxon to hear me because they are buried in their phones with Beats headphones on. Having said that, I do use a Knog Oi! wrap around Bell, very subtle and hard to notice.
I always politely say Hello, Morning or if its a festive time Merry Christmas or whatever is appropriate
Canyon has a bar end bell, that one is really nice I think and also fairly loud. But not loud enough if people wear headphones 😮
I have the tiny Rock Bros bell and it’s great. I mounted on the tops of my handlebars next to the stem, but UNDERNEATH the bar. It’s barely visible at all and my thumb can easily reach it to ring as needed.
The chain being noisy I had too. Turns out when I threaded it through the rear derailer cage I had threaded it over the little lug that sticks out between the two wheels. It was supposed to go behind it rather than over and made a noise. Probs obvious to most people but first few times changing a chain is a easy mistaker to maker
Did exactly that yesterday!😊
I did exactly that first time I refitted my chain after hot waxing!
I have done this also! Working in a dark garage, and i thought it looked good…
Mirrors: 8:08 I use a Sprintech bar-end mirror on the end of my left drop (I live in the US) on both my Canyon Endurace and my Canyon Grizl. They are aerodynamic, adjustable, and pretty solid about not moving around even on the bumpiest of rides. It’s nice to be able to glance down every so often to check if there is traffic coming up behind you that may pass too close. On two occasions, they allowed me to pull off the road before being hit by a car who refused to wait until it was safe to pass. (In both cases, there was an oncoming vehicle and on rural roads).
I'm another advocate for Sprintech mirrors. Had them for a number of years. Sleek, tear- drop shape. I do suffer with a stiff right shoulder/neck, and it's enabled me to do much longer rides in comfort.
Also great for when youre gunning it (head down, bottom up) and just have a quick glance in the mirror.
I've never had to use it often, but Knog makes bell that works well and is shaped well to help with aerodynamics.
Knog woks well an looks nice, if you have a round handlebar, on aero handlebars use the canyon one for the bar end plug. That’s the way I did on my bikes.
Have used a bar end mirror since I started riding a road bike. Maybe it adds some weight and drag, but my experience is that it vastly improves safety. Ditto the flashing front LED light. I've had FAR fewer near misses since I started using these safety measures. Guess what. Staying alive is preferable to riding a (very small) bit faster.
Canyon have a really nice bell available that replaces a bar end plug. I use it on my road bike (2019 Canyon Aeroad) but it's pretty universal for any drop bars. I find myself on bike paths often enough that it's useful even on my road bike. It's super sleek and out of the way, but easy to use and quite loud.
Loud hubs instead of bells
Simple as that 😁
Coming from a mountain bike background I often go under the min tyre pressure with my gravel bike. Not so much on the road.
With regard to washing:
1. Don't let dirty kit sit for long after riding - this is the most important thing.
2. There are special detergents (e.g. DeFunkify or Nikwax Base Cleaner) for tech fabrics that should be used every so often.
3. I've found soaking in OxyClean (or equivalent) works to remove some of the "stank"
4. Otherwise: regular detergent, cold water, hang dry. I hand wash to preserve leg grippers and raw-cut sleeves, wring in a towel before hanging.
Sub 80 iq questions shouldn't be given the time of day in my opinion.
"How do I wash my clothes? Ffs.
Did you catch GCN'S recent washing video 👉czcams.com/video/UQnZrEwbJ2I/video.html - They might have missed a few of yours 👀
Electric "bell" is easily integratable into the lights: battery capacity and charging electronics are a perfect fit, those of a bike computer can't hold the necessary current or operate at higher voltages when you want to reduce current. And there are such gadgets already.
The main problem for them indeed remains marketing-wise: no big reputable brand like CatEye* does them and road cyclists are very reluctant against lights even more so bells/horns. But I appreciate GCN effort in fighting the stigma
*although I can definetely see some totally integrated unit from them or Sigma since they already make lights and computers anyway
Canyon sells a very nice and loud bell, which can be integrated in the bar end. I really like it on my integrated cockpit.
Light detergent, white vinegar and baking soda works well for me in cleaning off the stink
Re: mirrors. They are useful for many(I don't have any on my bikes), but turning your head is not only better for seeing what's behind you, but also lets the drivers know you are aware of their presence.
To the person with a load noise after chain waxing: check you replaced the chain running on the correct side of the mech cage chain guard tab. I made this mistake once when replacing the chain, and felt the chain was super noisy, and discovered it was from the chain rubbing against the tab between the jockey wheels that is meant to hold the chain in. Once I installed the chain correctly, problem solved and I could totally see someone innocently making the oversight the first time they remove and reinstall the chain when first learning to wax!
Absolutely. If it's your first time removing the chain, waxing, then putting back on. I absolutely made this mistake and never will again. The chain has to run on the inside of the derailleur hanger guard piece. Something that's never really shown in waxing videos.
Perfect timing on the stiff loud chain post waxing. I just went for an hour ride with a freshly waxed chain and it was clunky and loud. It was cold outside and I wondered if it was due to the wax not being warmed up enough to be flexible. I’m a huge fan of waxing and have all the best Silca gadgets and I’m glad that others have had this experience!
My rear hub is loud enough to act like a bel :D
My brakes are loud enough to act as bell and I do actually use it as such. 😀
On the laundry topic: wash as soon as possible after use, a pre soak helps immensely.
Tri-Eye glasses with subtle mirror on lenses. Game changer on my commute. Highly recommend.
Concerning "preventing accumulating stank in athletic clothing": simply shave your armpits, that is where the stank comes from, and eliminating the hairs eliminates 99% of the smell. Additional, I use a deodorant with specific "anti-transpirant" written on the dose, otherwise it is just good smelling stuff that does not help at all.
Concerning "bike alarm": I use now for 15+ years my beloved Bookman bike whistle, it is at least as loud as a car horn, and if I blow it with full force, I myself have dumb ears for a few seconds. And on the road there are plenty of situations: close calls, cars disregarding your right of way, cars standing as far as possible right (or left in GB and Ireland) at the traffic light and not starting when the light show green, etc.
Mirrors for bikes are often so small you need more time for figuring out what they show than for a quick look over your shoulder. 4kam offered a rear camera for cyclists years ago, but they stopped producing it. If I had one, I could block the road ("close the door" as they say in the Formula 1) when someone wants to give me a close call at high speed.
Another vote for removing hair, it is absolutely terrible for harbouring odour.
I love my mirror and my Varia radar for traffic safety.
I also call out "ding-ding" when approaching peds, when I don't have a bell, but the sound doesn't carry as far as a bell, and does not signal a bicycle is approaching as effectively. Some areas require bells and an officer can write you a ticket if you don't have one and they want to yank your chain. Of all the bells I've used on singles and tandems, the one with the sweetest tone is the Spurcycle. It's not loud, but the sound does carry.
I've applied hundreds, possibly thousands of innertube patches. The only ones that have ever failed were glueless or patches applied to large holes or snakebites. I've had tubes with over a dozen patches before I've retired them, and have even patched some with large pieces I've cut from latex tubes and wrapped completely around the tube. I only use glueless patches as a last resort, when I've gone through the spare tubes I carry in a seat bag. I've used cheap Chinese patches with good success, but nothing beats Rema Tip Top patches.
Excellent show. I really enjoyed all the advice everything you two said is on point!!!
These two know what their talking about ... most of the time 😉
I've been hot melt waxing (silca super secret of course, drip on occasionally) my chain for almost a year and had had trouble with the part of pulling it out at the right temperature.
after watching Josh's latest two videos thanks to him I know the optimal temp is 75 celsius and now my chain ends up beautifully waxed; seems Ollie doesn't watch those videos much; shame shame guys! you're actually sponsored by them! 😅 cheers!
The noise associated with hot melt waxed chains does go away fairly quickly in my experience. The hand “chain saw” method Oli mentioned is the best for the initial break in but I’ve also found that simply setting off on your first ride or turbo session in the most severe cross chain - so the 52 front and 30 back on mine- speeds up the break in period because it’s essentially putting the chain into its most extreme position of “stretch”. I’ve also started to heat the chain prior to submersion and find that this helps penetration, durability and longevity.
For certain a completely stripped clean chain, HEATED (like in a low oven for several minutes…almost too hot to hold without gloves) will allow better wax penetration in between the plates and rollers.
Exactly my friend! Gets excellent results doesn’t it
Just leave the chain in the wax for 10 minutes, it gets plenty hot enough and gets rid of entrained air.
Thanks for the anti-stink tips :)
Some of my tubes have three or four patches. 10 years ago, I bought a box of 100 Rema Tip Top F1 25mm patches. I probably could have used F0 patches 16mm, but I still have lots of the 25mm ones.
Thank you for answering my question. It is a very mountainous region, but with excellent hiking infrastructure in Germany. An eCargoBike would be able to travers all the gravel and mud, but they are very expensive, so I'm eyeing an ebike conversion for my 20 year old MTB. They seem not easy to get running legally, but would be >6x cheaper. I'm not good with making decisions, but 2h for a round trip forces my hand a bit.
Metal type ping ping bells are tiny, discreet, lightweight, reasonably loud, cheap, and in a range of colours. But, they are beyond the hearing range of some older people.
Additional item on limit to repairing inner tube: the rim tape was curled up in the Weinmann concave rim well and rubbing on the inside of the inner tube. Thousands of micropores. Ran out of patches on Argos Hill about 40 years ago. Fortunately, the flat came just as I was passing the gates to a farm owned some old family friends. Very embarrassing to go in and ask to phone elderly parents in Tunbridge Wells to collect me and the bike as I was early-30s at the time. I'd just been to one of the few bike shops in the region - in Heathfield - having ridden there from Tunbridge Wells. Those were the days... almost no bike shops in Kent or Sussex and just a few in London (EG Bates was my local in Newham), Evans in The Cut, Chamberlain's, and a few in SE London: Woolwich, Sidcup, iirc.
The "skin" on the wax is doing nothing helpful with lubrication. Ask Zero Friction Cycling about that. What wax in the pot is doing is getting in between wear surfaces, and that's why wax has to be at the appropriate temp. Once wax has filled the gaps between wear surfaces, you're done. That "skin" only coats the outside of the chain. That skin sure as heck doesn't penetrate anything. Ask Molten Speedwax what they recommend. Hint: it's not to leave the chain in the pot until that skin forms.
Alternative to a bell: thoughts on a horn that sounds like a small car, instead of a bell? The pedestrians around me are aggressive. They run in the bike lane when they have a separate sidewalk, and I am next to cars. They sometimes try to push me into cars. Would a car horn trigger their immediate "get out of the road" instinct and get them out of my path?
Might work a bit too well. Maybe should run it at lower voltage just to make sure people don't get a heart attack. 😀
Your pedestrians don’t sound very nice? Maybe try a Glock?
The pedestrians here are total arseholes. They get mad at ME for pointing out that they have a sidewalk... when they're in the bike lane. There are walker/runner/babystroller/dog traffic jams in the bike lane and they get mad at the bikers... for wanting the bike lane.
Highly recommend the Cateye BM45 Bar End Mirror, small and inexpensive. I have one on all my bikes.
My helmet mounted mirror saved my life when I was almost hit from behind.
I'm surprised more riders don't use them.
The Knog bells are nice and discrete
About the washing kit items. I have always used washing soda ( not baking soda). It’s non toxic, boosts your laundry detergent cleaning ability, and deodorizes. I use it especially on gym clothing and other items that need a deeper clean. 🥰
Oh! Didn't know that exists! I knew soda for other cleaning purposes but not washing. Soda has very good characteristics to remove smell. So I guess it will do the same while washing. Great tip! Going to order that stuff and try it out. 👍🏻
I do have a small mirror and a physical bell attach to the bike's handlebar at all time. Safety comes first!
If the waxed chain is really loud check if the chain is alligned correctly in the derailleur. There is one bar which is easy too miss and not obvious to see.
I have found that my yell is as loud or louder than any bike bell. Also, the 80% of people you come across with earbuds in won't hear you regardless of what you're using.
Finally, my best practise: call out "on your left!" and then pass them on the right, because they inevitably look over their left shoulder and move to the left.
Agreed. Brilliant about 'On your left'. A little bell sounds polite, but nobody hears it (eg, I'm too deaf in my old age to hear a bell, despite not wearing headphones or earbuds). A polite 'Excuse me, please' gets taken as aggressive sarcasm, especially if they have just been buzzed by some other cyclists a few minutes ago. And paths with a line showing a side for pedestrians and a side for cyclists - pedestrians always walk in the bike half (tbf, I caught myself doing the same when I was walking). A horn startles and makes them jump randomly and, sometimes, dangerously for themselves or you.
It's the wild west out there, we just have to exercise caution for other road/path users
Crane Suzu brings back dead people.
Mirrors: maybe 45 years ago, there was a Mirricycle that attached to the brake hood. A friend started cycling in London but wasn't used to looking back and certainly didn't ride with flat enough back to dip his head to look back. I suggested the Mirricycle and it worked great for him. Age 69, I recently cricked by back, then my neck and couldn't look back - to ride or drive - but osteopath sorted me out nicely. Otherwise I'd have googled mirror the bike and either stopped driving (my wife to here appointments) or tried to fit old style wing mirrors like we had in 1970s before cars came with rear view mirrors on the doors
I've been wearing an eyeglass mirror for decades and would never ride without one. Takes a little bit of work to get used to it but once you do it's so easy to give a quick glance back now and then. Yeah, it looks a bit dorky but having a face from a horror movie looks even dorkier.
#askgcntech Why aren't 99% of patches tiny, stretchy and thin, with little reinforcement? I can't remember the last time I had a puncture bigger than 1mm, and something that size could be patched with just a single thickness of butyl or latex.
#askgcntech I changed my rough hub bearings and found out that salt water had gotten through the bearings and corroded the aluminium axle on the surface. Do you think it is still safe to use? What would happen if the axle snaps? The wheel would still be held in by the through axle I think.
I have a bell mounted on the bottom of my stem. I don't see it while riding so it doesn't bother me. But I have it when I need it. Added bonus, it's more aero because it's in front of the headtube instead of sticking out on top.
About the last question, does the chain absolutely need to be broken in? I.e. does it hurt longevity of the components or do you need to rewax earlier if you don't? If it's about quietness, probably a bit of performance, and/or preventing flakiness, I'm inclined to just not bother and ride it.
In the Netherlands mirrors are popular among elderly on e-bikes. However most of them seem to be improperly set up or hardly looked in. I think people like the idea of mirrors, but I think it's just to easy for some to forget the importance of knowing your surroundings.
Knowing your surroundings is super important. Would you like to see more mirrors on bike helmets?
@@gcntech I want so many tiny mirrors on my helmet, that it becomes a disco ball!
Serious though, I think that could be an informative video, a review of some of the options. But on the other hand if you have the mobility, looking around is still better. We cyclists have the benefit of an open view, no blindspots, so use it. And a good look back that is visible to the road users behind you can be a valuable signal to them as well.
@ollie Hey Ollie, So glad you guys are pushing waxing and have stopped the Muc-Off support. But you are giving some out-of-date advice WRT removing the chain from hot-melt wax. You say we should let the wax cool until there is a skin on the surface and then slowly remove the chain. This is not necessary and also just uses up a lot of wax which sticks to the outside of the chain. This gets ejected in the first 10 minutes of riding as you break-in the newly waxed chain. The wax that matters is inside and there will be no difference in the amount there whether you remove when the wax has cooled or when it's hot. Check out ZFC. I think Silca used to say let the wax cool so there was a skin - but again, not necessary and a waste of wax.
Just used this extract in a reply to someone else, but I'll just put this out here for clarity. In the Conti Bicycle Tyre 23/24 catalogue there is a note which is related to the indicated lower and upper pressure indications which states:
Please note, that the pressure in the size overview indicates the recommended pressure on the lower end and the maximum pressure on the upper end.
So the the second number is a maximum pressure but the first is not a minimum. Note that this statement applies particularly to Continental in reference to the OPs question.
Hi Alex and Ollie, i’m not yet onboard with waxing my chain but i’m interested in the drip on wax. Can i substitute wet/dry lube for drip on wax? What are the implications?
I find if I stop pedaling and coast , people hear my freewheel clicking and they get out of the way, they know that sound but if I ring my bell they act like zombies. 🤣
I can't imagine ever having a bell or beep type device on my bike although there are times when it would have come in handy when passing a slow group of side by side walkers or cyclists. Although I suppose that it would be pretty easy to add such a feature to a bike computer without adding much cost and weight.
But I always ride with an eyeglass mirror. Tiny, unobtrusive, easy to use and very confidence-building. I hate looking back and find it hard to do while riding. Looks dorky but better that than an accident.
And, just waxed for the first time yesterday, using MSW. Haven't ridden with it yet but will try later today on the trainer. Still feels kind of weird and the process is kind of messy but I've heard such good things about waxing that I had to give it a try. Hopefully it won't make a mess on my floor.
If using mirrors on handle bars then the mirrors get bumped regularly and are not in the right orientation, also they tend to vibrate a lot. I personally would knock a helmet mirror around quite a bit. The best one I have ever seen was one that stuck on to your favorite sunglasses and was small enough to be unobtrusive, however I did not own it. it did have good reviews from its owner however.
On the last question from @ime06 on noisy chain… what happened to me, was that I did not fit my chain right in the rear derailor. It was the first time I took a chain out, so that was a new to me. Check that one as well!
Noisy waxed chain that won't go away - probably threaded incorrectly when putting back on. Need to get it threaded the correct way around the derailleur and pulley wheels as there is a metal bar there. It will make a light clicking noise if the wrong way as the chain hits the bar constantly rather than smoothly going under it. I did it once, learned from that myself.
I love my mirror i Miss it in with other bike in city traffic. Turning your head ca be difficult with a sore neck in ultra long rides. Also make it very easy to constantly check wether you droping you mate vor not!
I suggest the 'italian bike mirror' certainly no Aero penalty there!
Regarding the question about minimum tyre pressures, 6.5 bar (94 psi) minimum sounds way too high for a 28mm Continental GP5000 - ridiculously so if running tubeless, assuming your weight is fairly low for the Silca calculator to give you a suggestion of 5 bar. I get about the same, with my total system weight (bike + rider + gear) being about 81-83kg. However, I have been running 28mm Conti GP5000 clinchers (with tubes) at about 68-70 front/ 73-75 rear psi for years without any issues. This is at least 20 psi (approx 1.5 bar) lower than the "minimum", so I very much doubt there is any safety issue at this pressure.
I probably could increase pressure a bit in order to reduce rolling resistance, and to be honest, I did take these pressure from previous use of Conti GP4000 tyres, which very quite a lot wider (28mm tyres were about 31.5mm wide on 19mm internal width rims). The 28mm GP5000 is about 29-29.5mm wide, so maybe 73/78-80 psi would be a better pressure, but that is *still way lower* than the stated minimum.
I would worry far more about maximum pressures and the danger of tyre blow-off than having low pressures, assuming you're not so low that the tyre is squirming or burping in the corners or going over bumps.
GCN obviously can't recommend going lower than the manufacturer's advertised minimum for liability reasons, but I've seen plenty of GCN videos where presenters have said they run at sub-70psi pressures.
7:09 i have gone lower than recommended pressure and it feels much faster and haven't noticed any major issues. i have done it a really long time.
It might be down to rider weight, those that weigh very little may be able to push it a little further. Although we would always recommend sticking to the guidelines, especially when using tech like hookless 🙌
@@gcntech yeah there is ofcourse some risk in doing it.
I use an ugly bar end mirror in my expensive road bike and it has become a main stay. I want to know when I'm about to get eliminated...
#AskGCNTech Are heavier riders more susceptible to perineum numbness on the turbo trainer? I had a proper bike fit and out in the real world there are many bumps or changes in gradients where I force myself in different cycling positions. When I’m on the turbo in one position, I find myself feeling numbness after about 15 mins and have to switch positions. I am a heavier rider and would theoretically have more pressure regardless on my sit bones-should all turbo trainer users be changing positions up, anyway?
I won a bell one day. Put it on the bike and off I went. (it's a nice mini thing and I put it on my seatpost, right up under the saddle. That's almost as good as hidemybell, works, doesn't look weird and is cheap.
Train with the cassette you intend to use in the ride to train your muscular-skeletal system for the cadence. Add surprisingly heavy weights in a rucksack or panniers if you want to make it harder and you can't find training slopes that are long enough and steep enough.
I use the varia radar, best add on that you can buy for use wiith a head unit
I just yell "Tring tring" and wait for a time to pass. Works like a charm.
My experience with bells that they won't be heared in time. So just brake, ask to pass and head on
Would 'ring ring' work as well or does it have to be Tring Tring?
@@cyclingsfatsuma9808 yes, would work :)
I relube my chain after each bike clean, but I’ve recently watched a few videos of audaxers who had to stop and apply more lube. How can you tell / feel when your chain needs more lube, other than seeing it dry?
Where I live, the pedestrians often feel offended by my bike bell. I often hear "why are you ringing?". They do not understand that I just want to let them know that a bike is coming from behind, so that they would not be scared when I pass them, or make some rapid change in their direction. Instead, they probably think that the ringing bell means "get out of my way".
#askgcntech I'm considering buying a gravel bike for winter riding and cycling to work on the road. Just a different option recently hired a 1x in the lakes 45 tyres really enjoyed the experience. 2 questions budjet 1000 on c2w scheme as this is my works limit best options 32 tyres or more plus what is the difference speed and comfort and 1x or 2x
#askgcntech Hi, last year I bought a Wahoo Kickr for my 2017 Specialized Roubaix, but after several months of use, last week 15cm of the rear seat stay near the wheel axle snapped off. I'm looking to buy a new frameset, so I wanted to know if steel frames are more suitable than carbon frames for turbo trainers?
#askgcntech combination question/statement. is that allowed? i've been waxing for a few years but i don't follow the procedure you describe exactly. i put my chain on the cold wax in the pot, THEN heat the wax (and the chain) to around 95. that way i feel confident that all the wax around the pins & inside of the rollers has also melted. then i turn off the heat, let it rest for about 10 minutes and finally agitate for 3 minutes and remove to cool. i never let it sit until it starts to scab over in the pot. it seems to be working okay, but am i doing something wrong by not letting it cool more before removing?
#askgcntech Hi, my old road bikes aluminium frame is corroded and with now doing group rides, I'm worried about it breaking.
I'm looking to upgrade to a gravel bike with a 1x apex group set 44 crank and 11/36 10 speed. Do I need to worry about the gear ratios? my current bike has a 53/39 crank and 11/27 8 speed cluster. Will I spin out with the apex gearing and would I be able to change out crank or cluster sprockets if need be? Thanks team
ASSOS makes an elixir that does a bang-up job on cleaning the stank out!
Bar end mirrors if on drop bars won't help me, I'm converting my SRAM etap and future SRAM axs so coin battery is in bar ends than stretch the hood when need to change battery
For a bell on a road bike knog are best looking.
I put a mirror on my wife's bike for her LEJOG. She said it was a a gamechanger for 12 hour days and now won't ride without one!
#askgcntech Hi Techies, as I'm charmed by the specs of the P Zero Race TLR Speedcore, I'm wondering if I could use that tyre with a TPU inner tube as I couldn't see a matching non-TLR version of it (and I'm not ready to go all-in on tubeless, yet). The regular P Zero Race seems still to be the old version without the advantages the newer TLR made in 2023. It mostly seems to lie in the Speedcore carcass Pirelli made. Stupid, big no-no, or just go for it? What do you reckon?
I had a small bell that clipped onto the edge of the hood unfortunately it fell off due all the potholes in my area
Interesting about the cleaning clothing but any hints for ridiculously stinking gloves?
#askgcntech Hi Alex, Ollie & Manon - I use a track pump to inflate my tires and when unclamping the head from the valve, some air escapes. Using the gauge on the pump, I've measured the pressure as much as 5 psi lower. For example, I pump the tire to 55 psi, unclamp and immediately reclamp the head, and the pressure is 50 psi. Have you guys ever studied this? Should I compensate by inflating to 5 psi over the desired pressure? Thanks, love the show.
The air you hear escaping is the air inside the pump. When you unclamp the pump the one-way valve in the tyre prevents any air escaping the tyre. The pump does not have such a valve so the still pressurized air in the pump escapes.
When you then reclamp the pump to the tyre the air inside the tyre is used to pressurize the pump. Thus lowering the pressure in the tyre because all the air that was previously in the tyre alone is now distributed over the tyre and the pump.
Hope this helps :)
Picking on the question about 'Fall': you folks quote prices in $ and use other US English phrases. UK Brit here
Thanks for the comment! We may be based in the Uk but we're the Global Cycling Network and have lots of viewers over in the states, that said we also try and quote in Pounds, Euros & Dollars
Bar end mirrors are great. Aeropenalty is minimal. But it only works well when dark. You need the dork mirror on helmet to see well all the time.
Hi Alex & Olli, this is probably not a tech-related question but you guys have done some videos on bike saddle and fit. I've been cycling since 2016 and I started having saddle sore issues from 2017 till now. I've tried different saddle types and brands, used different bike brands, tried out different bib shorts from various brands, done a lot of bike fit (sometimes multiple bike fit for the same bike) but nothing seem to help. I wouldn't be so much bothered if they were normal sore that most people riding a lot probably have from time to time, but sometimes mine could last for weeks (i've even had a surgery once to cut it off). I need help guys, I don't want to give up on cycling (it's the only sport i'm interested in, besides my performance on the bike motivates me to want to keep going). What else can I do? Thanks. #askgcntech
#askgcntech On the weekend I was at the Velo fair in Berlin. Looking for a new saddle, I was at Selle SMP discussing with the very friendly representative about bib shorts and saddles. To sum up, his recommendation was to buy non-padded bib shorts when you are less than 40% out of the saddle, as padding only works if you give it enough time to regenerate. If you do not change your riding style, he recommended a gel-padded saddle without padded bib shorts. I had never heard about that and now I am curious. What would you recommend?
Waxed changes are more noisy but even with that the data show you save watts. Also, they get quieter about 30 miles in. Don't fret.
Yep, Non-Bio at 30deg for me, with the spin cycle not exceeding 800rpm.
Love the Donut sticker Ollie!
Cars have rear view mirrors, but they control the lane. You look behind occasionally to assess the situation. But even driving you are taught to look behind before changing lane. On a bike you are usually to the edge/left of the lane, and being passed every few seconds on a busy road. Seeing behind is generally a distraction rather than a help…
There are lots of uses for beyond repair innertubes, so they need never see a landfill.
The key to keeping the stink out of cycling clothes is to hand wash with any cheap shower gel (body wash) as soon as you take them off. The fabrics hold odors tenaciously if you allow them to dry while sweaty.
A bell is useless when all the pedestrians are wearing earbuds.
A mirror attached to drop bars only works optimally in one hand position. With drop bars, you'll spend more time fiddling with the mirror than actually using it, making it a safety liability. Pretty much the same for a tiny one on your helmet or glasses.
A clean chain with fresh lube is a quiet chain. You can do a "perfect" job of waxing a chain that wasn't clean to begin with and never achieve the intended goal.
I generally dont need a bell, however whenever I do need it, i just stop pedaling and my noisy DT swiss hub does the job for me 😅
#askgcntech Hi Alex and Ollie 😊 If I choose a valve as short as possible… will it then have an aerodynamic effect compared to a longer valve???
#askgcntech Hi Prof Oli and guest, i have a nice set of 10spd carbon Reynolds tubular rim break wheels i inherited for my dad. The question is 2 fold
1- can i put sealant in a tubular tyre as i loath the idea of carrying a spare while out riding?
2- the wheels are 10spd shimarno how do i make it 11 spd campag to suit my bike?
Thanks in advance keep up the good work.
#askgcntech Hi Alex and Ollie, I want to buy a new frame for a lightweight/aero bike and I am between sizes, after doing a bike fit. Is it better to go for a size 52 with 2cm of spacers and a 100cm stem (instead of 90 as standard) or to choose a size 54 with 0.5cm of spacers and a 90cm stem (instead of 100 as standard)?
So no spacers and short stem or spacers and longer stem?
Thanks!
It all depends on how you want your bike to ride like. Going for the smaller size gives you a more reactive bike to ride on, a larger size has better stability.
In 45000 miles of riding, I've never needed a bell on my road bike. I never ride on anything other than roads so never needed one. My voice on the other hand, very useful for shouting at 'drivers'.
My solution to stinky cycling clothes is the light detergent (liquid) with silver ions.
I use a bell on trails . And a mirror on the roads..I hv no issues with weight... it doesn't add me any advantages so I hv lights front and rear. All the time.
Albert has it so cold in GCN megabase that Oli is forced to break out his genuine replica GNC woolly hat 🤠
You can yourself one of those wooly hats on the GCN shop 👉gcn.eu/gcnshop
#askgcntech I bought a new bike last year with an 11/34 cassette because I thought I would need the 34 for one specific event with a very hard climb. Last year I couldn't do the evening because a friend had their wedding that weekend. This year the event is cancelled. The event is going ahead next year, but if I need to use the 34 up the climb, will I have any issues if I have never used that cog before? Should I use the 34 even if I don't need it just so it gets some use?
#askgcntech I am lightly considering swapping to oversize jockey wheels simply to make cleaning them easier. I could care less for any marginal gains, but they do look pretty cool and I imagine cleaning them would be significantly easier as there is more wheel exposed to clean. What do you think? Would cleaning actually be easier? Worth it?
If that's the sole reason, not worth for what it costs. Regular-sized 11T pulley wheels aren't that much harder to clean, I've washed multiple pairs clean without issues.
Nikwax BaseFresh!
just add a bell to your bike, what is the fuss about not wanting a bell on your bike? I have a spurcycle bell halfway my handlebars so that it is operable when I am down on the bars as well when I am on the hoods and you hardly notice that it's there! I positioned the bell on the handlebar about halfway the brake lever and it is pointing outwards ever so slightly to not compromise the braking action.