Drooper

Aye, they usually come with the pedals, though you can buy seperately. I've used Highon Bikes many times (they are a retailer but also trade on ebay), and they offer pedals and cleats for £30 with free postage - link. I've always found this shop to be absolutely spot-on and their delivery times are second to none (usually next day in my experience). Edit: just found this option: £27.99 with cleats in black, silver, or white! Nice

Ah, yes, I think you turn the wheel round? Fixies are apparently really good for training, but I don't know if I'd have the haw-maws to use them in traffic. Freewheel single speed sounds like fun if you don't have much in the way of hills on your commute. I live on a ridiculous hill, but, that aside, have always fancied the idea of trying one out.

When I bought the pedals they came with cleats. I think I paid about £25 for the lot. The cleats attach to the shoe, and they clip in and out of the pedal. You push your foot forward into the pedal to engage, and turn your heel out (away from the bike) to disengage. It takes a wee bit of getting used to but becomes second nature, and you can adjust how tight the attachment is. Buying shoes online can be a bit hit or miss. For Shimano road shoes, I bought a size above my usual (ie: a 9 instead of my usual 8 ), but my Specialized shoes are an 8. The Specs are a snugger fit, but I only intend to use them in the Spring/Summer to they'll be worn with light socks, while the Shimanos which are used during the crap weather and for my commute allow for thicker socks. The Specs also have a more sophisticated system of adjustment. They were more expensive right enough. The Shimano RO63s were ideal for starting out, though, and I still use them routinely

Is it a fixed gear? I hear they can be pretty hairy until you get used to them - something best done before used for the commute.

Shimano road shoes are good value for money, as are their SPD-SL R540 pedals. Absolute Cycles are doing a cracking deal on the pedals just now: http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/270900872274?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar You can pick up the shoes for about £35 if you shop around. ETA: the pedals offer doesn't include cleats, so not quite so impressive after all (cleats cost around £15 - that reminds me....I need a new set)

Good God, that's a fearsome sight! The uses that can be found for the humble shuttlecock!

Aye, but they are for pre-ride tyre inflation. You'll get nothing close to the required pressure with a mini-pump, which is why I have a CO2 inflator for my rides. You could get a frame fitting pump that will do both jobs, but a track pump is a must for me. Edit: meant to quote paisleysaints post about track pump not being portable.

+ 1 for a track pump. I've got a Blackburn. The CO2 inflates the tyre to 100psi in around 2 seconds. Ideal for roadside flats. As UtN says, tyre pressure is critical on a road bike. I usually pump mine up to 120psi in summer, and at least 100 the rest of the time. 120psi will feel rock hard, but rolling resistance and puncture protection is much improved.

It might be possible to use your current pump. What make and model is it? My mini-pump takes Presta and Schraeder valves, but not all do. I use a CO2 inflator for the road bike. It's been flawless so far.

I'm an exiled Buddie who now lives over in Dunbartonshire, so the club I'm looking at ride from Clydebank. Still, not a million miles from the fair town, right enough (indeed, probably not much further from Paisley than it is from where I stay), assuming you can fire the bike in the car to get there. I'll be giving it a try, though it might have to wait until their March introductory ride (they have one on the first Saturday of each month), as I'm battling a particularly ferocious lurgy at the moment I'm not sure if I'll sign up as a regular member for training rides etc., but I reckon it's worth dipping a toe in the water. What harm can it do?

Real men wear mudguards! I didn't realise it was store collection right enough. Still, possibly worth the jaunt based on the price. In saying that, I've always thought that if you call a shop up and negotiate well enough, they might consider sending something on. ETA: on the mudguards theme, I received a response from the local bike club to my discreet enquiry about joining them for a novice diddies ride sometime. The guy kindly attached a wee note with some guidelines on group riding, and this included a reference to mudguards being 'preferred'. It's clearly good etiquette not to spray shite in the faces of your riding companions!

I know a few guys are looking to take the plunge and give road biking a go. I was idly browsing another forum and found a link to this bike. For £500, this looks a steal. A mixture of Tiagra components with a 105 rear mech and some other nice touches. GF bikes are made by Trek, so this has good heritage. My MTB is a GF and it hasn't missed a beat over the years of use and misuse. If I was looking to embark on road cycling, I would seriously consider this bike as a starting point. In fact, if I'd a spare £500 just now, I reckon I might snap one up as a winter trainer as they can take 25mm tyres with guards.

Cheers for that. I am certainly considering a novice ride with a local club in the next couple of months. I can absolutely appreciate the plus points you refer to, and, as you say, the option to fly solo is always there in any event. I'll most likely give it a go, as I would like the option of group riding, and as I have no close mates who are into road riding, this is something that I can't arrange myself. Ideally, I'd go riding with a couple of mates, but most of my lot are lazy fuckers who enjoy their ale too much. ETA: I've emailed a local club with a view to joining then for a novice diddy ride sometime soon.

So I'm more hardcore than you even though I average about 17mph? Nice

Aye, but even for 10 miles! Do you find a major benefit in taking a turn on someone else's wheel?

Averaging 26mph, FFS. You're taking this hell of a seriously! I hope you're happy to reel it back a bit when Team P&B get together. Cards on the table, this is the kind of thing that puts me off club riding. What happens if you get up in the morning and just fancy an easy trundle to take in the sights and get some fresh air with a couple of wee breaks to enjoy the view? The idea of some racing snake with OCD telling me to fall into 'time trial formation' when I'm quite happy doing what I'm doing doesn't really appeal. Tell me what I'm missing....

Good man - I stay near Balloch so could have given you a push if you were struggling!

I've made an arse of insuring the wee run around so will be using the bike until Friday (pay-day) when I can remedy this situation. The forecast looks decent, as it happens, but I've got a lingering lurgie of some description, so this could be a challenge. I'm undecided as to which bike to take. I always intend to take the MTB but opt for the roadie at the last minute. I've not forgotten about the PMs to Team P&B members, BTW. I need to get my finger out my arse on this one (though I've found that leaving it in there makes my turbo-training sessions more interesting ). I'll be in touch properly this week for sure.

My head hurts.

Just received an email from Halfords. They've got a deal going on a decent looking turbo. Looks good for £90 if anyone is on the market for this piece of kit, and is well reviewed by punters on their site: Turbo Trainer Offer

Turbo trainer again for me this weekend - possibly tonight in the front room as the missus is working night shift. I'm currently sitting with my new Specialized BG Comp shoes on, freshly delivered this afternoon. These shoes look and feel the mutt's. The BOA adjustment is fantastic. I'll be saving them for the spring, though My trusty old Shimano basics will do fine meantime.

Fair play getting out on a day like this. Do you road bike too?

It is forecast to be dry tomorrow, but still a bit of a wind (17mph).

Wisbit's was the 2nd. Mine was yesterday, though....