Road Cycling Essentials

6thElement · 11 Dec 2011 at 17:48

George Hincapie said:
Should I:

a. Man up and stop being a fanny,

^^

George Hincapie · 11 Dec 2011 at 18:36

The consensus is to stop being a fanny then - cheers lads

[DOD]Asprilla · 11 Dec 2011 at 20:40

It's always the best idea to just MTFU and you know it.

You should also put the 11-28 on eBay. You don't need it.

PardonTheWait · 11 Dec 2011 at 22:00

My sister's getting me a Fibre Flare for Christmas. Hurrah

Hating this cold/dark/rain, I'm only getting out about once a week for a quick one. Off next saturday and no girlfriend round - I really should get out on a good long daytime ride, haven't had one in too long

Mr Flibble · 11 Dec 2011 at 22:23

Be careful with the clips on the fibre flare. Mine both snapped off in the snowy cold spot we had last year when I was taking it off my bag. It seems they get quite brittle when cold (no surprise really). They're otherwise brilliant.

Hamster · 11 Dec 2011 at 22:45

PardonTheWait said:
My sister's getting me a Fibre Flare for Christmas. Hurrah

I'm pretty sure there will be one in my stocking too!!

Murf · 12 Dec 2011 at 08:49

InsomniaCalls said:
I might well do the great north bike ride too. As you say it's not particularly challenging but should be a laugh.

After our no show this year at the GNBR I think we should actually bother next year. Even if we cycle to the start line to make it a challenge.

I haven't signed up for the 104 mile cyclone yet, but I will be.

George - I swapped to a full suspension mountain bike for winter training. MTFU.

platypus · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:10

Just to add to it George, I started cycling again whilst my fracture was still healing, and my tendons still repairing

.

Skepticx · 12 Dec 2011 at 14:38

Any tips on staying motivated??. Havent cycled in 2 weeks....

[DOD]Asprilla · 12 Dec 2011 at 14:51

The only difficult bit is getting on the bike and riding away. After that I find I don't want to be anywhere else, regardless of the weather and riding conditions.

adamau5 · 12 Dec 2011 at 15:13

Skepticx said:
Any tips on staying motivated??. Havent cycled in 2 weeks....

join a group or find a training partner, its the only way

platypus · 12 Dec 2011 at 15:34

Feel your quads. Feel your calves. Feel your core muscles. Pass some fatties in a four by four.

Murf · 12 Dec 2011 at 15:40

Skepticx said:
Any tips on staying motivated??. Havent cycled in 2 weeks....

Watch Chasing Legends.

Streeteh · 12 Dec 2011 at 17:08

I need to find someone to cycle with. It used to be my dad that i exercised with, he has loads of marathons under his belt, used to cycle loads etc so when i was unfit he used to decimate me. Now i'm bordering on what one would define as fit he can't keep up with me, age is showing its effects.

Cycle to work today was entertaining, loads of lateral grip on my CX tyres so i could fly around corners with more confidence in this wet weather than i could with slicks. Turns out it's not quite enough grip to tackle a steep hill on a high gear though, back wheel started losing traction big time, it was pretty much just spinning.

Had some weird heart palpitations when i finished my ride home though, slightly worrying. Going to put it down to the fact that i let out a big belch about 5 mins later, indigestion, it's the cause of all my ailments.

[DOD]Asprilla · 12 Dec 2011 at 17:16

Slicks have more grip than CX tyre on road surfaces.

If you wanted more grip on wet leaves and such then a CX tyre might be better as it could puncture the leaf, but not sure.

I'd find a cycle club in your area. You can learn a tremendous amount.

Streeteh · 12 Dec 2011 at 17:18

[DOD]Asprilla;20779852 said:
Slicks have more grip than CX tyre on road surfaces.

If you wanted more grip on wet leaves and such then a CX tyre might be better as it could puncture the leaf, but not sure.

I'd find a cycle club in your area. You can learn a tremendous amount.

It is leaves etc i'm worried about, i also read CX tyres would survive frost/light ice better than road tyres as they can gain some purchase, or is that testicles? Am i also right in thinking that 35mm tyres will have better grip than 23mm regardless of being CX?

I will look into cycle clubs when the weather warms up yeah, never been a member of any sort of club really so it should be a good experience.

[EDIT] FFS, already something wrong with the new toy! When i switch down to the low gear on the chainring i can't switch up again. I don't need my low gear for commuting, however it's annoying it's already gone wrong. Now... how to fix it.

touch · 12 Dec 2011 at 18:07

Streeteh said:
i also read CX tyres would survive frost/light ice better than road tyres as they can gain some purchase, or is that testicles?

CX tyres should give more grip in softer snow or slushy conditions.
On hard frozen ice or solid packed snow, theoretically, slick tyres give better grip, but i would try to avoid cycling in those conditions regardless of tyres.

adamau5 · 12 Dec 2011 at 18:15

Spent the last hour stripping my old specialised allez comp in prep for the new carbon PX nanolight. The shimano ultegra has survived remarkably well over the last 6 years. Not a spot of rust, all feels well lubed - pretty amazing really considering the abuse its had (I was never one to avoid salted roads etc).

Everything has been degreased, cleaned, regreased. I'll put new cables on the bike (the old were a little rough) but other than that its a straight transplant.

Fuzz · 12 Dec 2011 at 19:32

Castelli Pazzo jacket and Castelli Fondo bib tights turned up in the post today so I've been prancing around in the living room touching myself up..

So cosy <3 <3

No excuses of it being too cold now.

Also been given a voucher for a groupset purchase. Hmmmmm Only just bought the 105

InsomniaCalls · 12 Dec 2011 at 19:35

Scubascorpion said:
Also been given a voucher for a groupset purchase. Hmmmmm Only just bought the 105

Well, if it's going spare..