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I have a Dolan CX something or other.. It’s a nice enough bike as far as I can tell (I only have it as a mate didn’t want it and offered it to me silly cheap).
I’ve put some flat pedals and then racks/panniers on it to make it convenient for riding to work (approx 5-6 miles depending on route). However the drop bars are very narrow (and racey?), not comfy and I never use the drops. Is there anyway to get some comfier (wider? Different style/angle? etc.) bars on it without having to replace the integrated shifter/brake things? Shorter stem seems sensible but after advice on bars more than anything.
Any advice welcome
Cheers
You can get 'gravel' drop bars that have a big flare on the drops but if you're not using the drops then its kinda pointless really as the tops are the same as normal road bars and you're angling your hoods in then as a bit of a compromise.
If you want if lifting slightly try these
Controltech gravel bars
they has a raised top section and are a lot wider than normal road bars.
Hands on the ramps or hoods should be pretty comfy. I don't use my drops much on the commute and still find the top sections a very comfy way to cycle.
Is it a stretch out too much weight on the hands?
Full mudguards for UK commuting are a revelation.
Thank you for the responses all. Those wider gravel bars with the lift look good but out of stock. Will have a look around for something similar. With regards being a stretch I think the stem probably is too long and I’m probably right on the limit for what is a big frame. Hadn’t considered mudguards - any recommendations for something decent quality that won’t break the bank?
Thanks again
SKS Blumels at Wiggle at 22 quid. Can't go much better than that.
Royal pain to fit the first time (need to trim the stay lengths) but after that its a 5 min job to take ooff or put back on.
Bontrager mudguards are excellent too and as said above so are SKS.
Hands on the ramps or hoods should be pretty comfy. I don’t use my drops much on the commute and still find the top sections a very comfy way to cycle.
+1
With modern bikes and brake levers they're designed much more arround cruising on the hoods and braking from there.
That does assume the bike fits you though.
As for guards, m:part primo or Sks chromoplastic. Similar but IMO the m:parts are slightly easier to install and adjust.
Ive fitted a shorter stem to my ‘cx’ bike, quite a bit shorter, feels a lot better for it.
Mudguards are pure luxury.
Decent flat pedals.
Decent lights and reflectors. consider a dynamo, total fit and forget.
If you need to carry stuff, definitely consider a rack and panniers, they’re untrendy, but the best tools for the job.
Excellent thank you all. What’s tricky about mudguards and are there any tools/techniques to trim the stays?
So how does the dynamo work? Do you need a new wheel/tyre? The only experience I have of dynamo is on a 40 year old bike where a little roller would be driven off the side of the tyre wall!
Excellent thank you all. What’s tricky about mudguards and are there any tools/techniques to trim the stays?
So how does the dynamo work? Do you need a new wheel/tyre? The only experience I have of dynamo is on a 40 year old bike where a little roller would be driven off the side of the tyre wall!
Hacksaw and a vice. The sks system is just a bit fiddly with the plastic caps, nuts, etc.
Yup, dynamo hub front wheel needed. Its the dogs danglies for commuting. A 70lux lamp is about 300 lumens, but all pointed down road ahead. Rather than a 3000 lumen light shining a cone where 2900 end up in the sky, hedge, front tyre, drivers eye's etc.