Road Cycling Essentials

[Fuzz]

Well, if it's going spare..

The vultures are circling already.
It's only £50 off during the month of Jan 2012

 

[Streeteh]

Complete bodge-job but my front derailleur is now functioning without any rub and a smoother gear change.

Quite pleased with myself now its done. Was feeling like a right numpty after an hour of trying to fix it but at least it was worth it, bike maintenance is HARD.

 

[InsomniaCalls]

I find the front derailleur to be the most fiddly job on the bike. I've stripped and rebuilt my bikes multiple times (but I'm no expert) and really struggle to get the front derailleur right. With that in mind, well done!

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Really? Want to come round and look at my rear mech then? I've been running 9 speed 11-21 since September I know I need to set a good three hours to one side to perform the right voodoo rituals required to fix it.

 

[One More Solo]

SwissStop Green, worth it?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

SwissStop Green, worth it?

I think so. Same stopping power as Koolstop Salmons but they last longer.

Worth noting that you get four in a pack not two. Most folks don't realise this when they see the price....

 

[One More Solo]

I think so. Same stopping power as Koolstop Salmons but they last longer.

Worth noting that you get four in a pack not two. Most folks don't realise this when they see the price....

I've had Koolstop Salmons and they are a huge improvement over the stock pads so that sells it for me! How many miles do you get out of them on average?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I probably use two or three sets a year, so that's about 2500-3750 miles a set.

(Certainly beats SwissStop Yellow Pros which last about 500 miles!)

 

[One More Solo]

I probably use two or three sets a year, so that's about 2500-3750 miles a set.

(Certainly beats SwissStop Yellow Pros which last about 500 miles!)

Probably last me a year then! Thanks for your help.

 

[Jonny ///M]

I seem to be chewing through pads at a stupid rate at the moment!

Idiot drivers count for today = 2...not too bad.

Any takers on those gloves? Got my santini ones back from my brother so no point having two pairs of neoprene gloves is there

 

[touch]

Yay, got a draft 2012 calendar today
Highlights are:
07/01/2012 Strathpuffer 24, Strathpeffer
22/04/2012 Culloden APR, Inverness
20/05/2012 Garve 25 TT, Garve
21+22/07/2012 MFCC Stage Race, TBA
01/09/2012 Bealach Mor Sportive, Kinlochewe
08/09/2012 Caingorm Hill Climb, Aviemore
09/09/2012 Kincraig 10 TT, Kincraig
09/09/2012 Cairngorm APR, Aviemore
22/09/2012 Bealach Hill Climb, Torridon

Excellent, i love having a calendar, gives me something to aim for.
Which of the wiggle sportives is everyone doing? I might see if i can come down for a run.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Just read about a cyclist who died after a hit and run in Glasgow. Never a good thing

 

[Russinating]

Stuck a few rides in my diary today too, but as I work weekends I can't book anything any more than a few weeks in advance.

 

[Skepticx]

Watch Chasing Legends.

I will be watching it tonight!

 

[Mr Flibble]

Any recommendations for overshoes? I'm fed up with soggy cycling shoes, particularly putting them on for the ride home again after work. I'm not particularly fussed about warmth, just waterproofness (which is totally a word) and visibility/reflective gubbins. I had a quick search through the thread, but most of the recent posts just name whichever ones you guys own without commenting if you think they're any good.

Also, any recommendations for padded windproof gloves? My old gore windstoppers were trashed when I took a spill (remember the gorey photos of my arm?) and I still haven't replaced them. Currently using some bulky btwin winter gloves which are toasty and warm but not padded enough in the right places (I particularly like a seamless padded webspace between the thumb and index finger as I tend to ride mostly on the brifters).

Thanks guys.

 

[George Hincapie]

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

Very nice

I love Castelli

 

[George Hincapie]

SwissStop Green, worth it?

My friend has Swiss Stop Green on his Colnago EPS. I really didn't like their performance when I had a go. Whether that was down to the modulation of the Super Record brakes or the pads I don't know. Massive delay between pulling the brakes and any deceleration.

 

[George Hincapie]

Any takers on those gloves? Got my santini ones back from my brother so no point having two pairs of neoprene gloves is there

What gloves are they? Am still using summer gloves ATM. Thinking about getting a pair of the Castelli CW Winter gloves.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Overshoes? The Planet X ones are supposed to be OK, but I can recommend anything by BBB apart from the Hardware ones, which are supposed to be awful. If you really want dry feet though then mud guards are the way to go. 95% of the water you get on your shoes is spray from your front tyre.

I wore some Endura Stealth Lite waterproof bib longs this morning. I was expecting to be disappointed, but they were actually very good indeed; particularly as it only rained for 5 minutes and was warm and sunny for the rest of the ride.

 

[George Hincapie]

A shot in the dark, but can any of you recommend a good cycling nutritionist? I want to lose as much body fat as possible before the KK in February. We're going to the Pyrenees during the 2012 TdF and my RS is going with me. I want to conquer as many of the classic climbs there as I can and not die in the process.

I'm down to 95KG from 108KG but am struggling to get any more off. If I go for a straight calorie deficit I just feel weak and that I have no energy and then my performance during training on the bike sucks.

Really have no clue what I am doing and think I'd benefit from a structured diet.

Any advice?