TheBigYin wrote: »

it's great that the people administering the C2W don't insist on it being "a bike, plus accessories to make up the value" like a lot of places do... I know if I was working somewhere that had a scheme on the same basis as yours works Clive, I'd certainly take full advantage of it as well... if it was restricted to "sub £1K bikes only" then i'd find it difficult to muster enthusiasm apart from a "semi-disposable" commuter every 2-3 years...

but, I could ALWAYS go through a grands worth of accessories for the bike, and some clothing...

This is me as well. Not a lot of $1,000 bikes I would be interested in but I can always spend a grand on parts, clothes, and other accessories.

TheBigYin wrote: »

yeah - like at the moment, it'd be Ultegra Di2 and new 11s Wheels for the Dolan, following year 11S 105+Hydraulic Brakes + Some Posh wheels for the CaadX, any slack taken up with something warm/waterproof from Castelli...

(I'm thinking its actually high time I finally went 11speed for the main fleet... though some of the oldies are staying resolutely 10,9 and even 7 speed...)

For me I think a conversion to 11 speed SRAM eTap for the TT and CX bikes, a drivetrain and wheel upgrade for the MTB, and some nicer cool/cold weather gear.

cloggsy71 wrote: »

I'd love some eTap-age... However, that'll wait 'til I've dropped at least 10kg's of lard first

by which time, it might even have made it down one tier from just "Red"...

End-of-season maintenance time is upon us. Well, me at least. Since half of my bikes are aero now I've been struggling more and more with my workstand, as it's the style that clamps the seatpost and doesn't work well with either my road or TT bikes. When this little gem popped up on Craigs List yesterday I snagged it. I'm gonna have to 3D print a new bottom bracket saddle for it since this one isn't tall enough to accommodate the stupid brake cable bracket below the BB on my TT bike but otherwise this is an awesome stand. Never realized how much time I spent walking in circles around my work stand until I got one that allows me to stay in place and just spin the bike!

that's the tough part Clive, actually getting out there...

That's the "joy" of commuting by bike in the winter - you don't have any choice to be outside, so you might as well ride the bike there, unless the conditions are dangerously adverse

It's that time of year so most of my recent swag is lights - a 2400 lumen Magicshine Eagle M2 for the front (and it is very, very bright) plus a new battery for my old 1000 lumen magicshine, a couple of new rear lights and a Lumizyne helmet light. I'm very lucky in that I have a cycling centre nearby (Redbridge) that is open until 9pm at night. It has a short road bike circuit that is floodlit but if you want to ride the full 2km loop (with it's steep hill!) you need decent lights.

I've finally got around to joining a club as well, having been on a couple of their Sunday social rides first.

niblue wrote: »

I thought I'd better get some mudguards on the Roubaix so ordered some Crud Catcher Mk3's.

I've got some of these on my CX. I had to extend the rear mudguard as it wasn't long enough to stop people getting splashed behind me... Just used an old *kitten*-saver and some contact adhesive #DIYskilz

Here is the poor old girl, laden down with all the winter clutter - mudguards, loads of lights etc.

I've just added a couple of these onto the front forks, to go along with the cateye lights on the bars:



Mein gott, they're bright! %-0