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Road Cycling Essentials

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Edinho said:
Asprilla lives in Surrey so I dont really think his opinion on hills is that valid :D

Seriously riding in the Yorkshire Dales on a 53/39t while heroic is also stupid. Thinking now I wonder how I managed last summer, at least now I can tackle a proper climb without resorting to getting the winter bike out on the triple. :o
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39? Heaven! ;) Mine is 52/42 so hills are brutal, thankfully there aren't too many round here, I wouldn't be able to get anywhere in Yorkshire :)
 
I'll have you know I've got compacts all round these days (although over the holidays I've been thinking about moving the commuter back to a double, must look in the sales....)
 
I'm still on a compact, need to get a good run on a double to decide if I would stick with it. Did 20 miles today on my way home and it was dry in Glasgow but wet when I got halfway :(.

<3 the road bike and how it just goes so smoothly. Just emptied my account of £2k getting a car,insuring and taxing it so will be a wee while before I can treat the bike.

I'm having to shift up at the front and lean down to pull on he gear cable to get to my 50t ring....the joys of the winter. Front brake is sticky aswell...
 
Fixed 52/16 on my Bob Jackson. Not met a hill I can't get up recently; I think I'd struggle on Ditchling Beacon but Crystal Palace is no problem these days. 52/42 old Biopace rings on the front and 24-13 on the rear. Definitely not met anything I'd need more gearing on, I just get up out the saddle and battle it out.
 
Russinating said:
I just have no idea really. I think I'm running a compact and I could really do with a non-compact (whatever they're called) for sportives.
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Look at the chain rings at the front. If it reads 53/39 you have a standard, and if it reads 50/34 you have a compact.

If you have the former, I'd change the cassette to a 12-28 before going to the expense of changing your chainset.
 
Saundie said:
I guess being 85kg doesn't help matters, it's going to take months to rectify this.
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Don't mention weight :(

I was 94 KG 3 weeks ago, diet going well. Got flu, ill with no training for 2 weeks, diet started to slip and then a week for Christmas with no training. Am now 97 KG :(

Have ordered a turbo trainer from Ribble, so will do something every evening during the week. Have paid for some personal training with a British Cycling coach, and a nutrition (diet) plan from his wife. First session on Saturday, being assessed on a Watt Bike, BF measurements etc. Then after that it's 1 on 1 coaching once a week for the following 5/6 weeks.

Have 7 weeks to the Kentish Killer, need to drop as much weight as possible between now and then. I'm under no illusion this is going to be anything other than hard ******' work ;)
 
I need some advice guys.
Got a bit of a cold over the past couple of days.
I'm back to work on tuesday so tomorrow is the only full day off before my big race next saturday.

I'm not sure what would be best:
1- Stay wrapped up in bed all day and hopefully fight off the cold quicker and be fully fit for next weekend.
2- Get out on my bike and hope that i will still be able to fight off the cold before next week anyway, it's still 6 days away and it doesnt usually take that long to go anyway.

Im not sure whats best, i really could do with another big ride before next weekend, but obviously i need to be fully fit or all my training would be pretty useless.
 
I'm running the original gear set up on my 2011 allez elite. 2 rings up front and a 9 speed rear. I'm not bothered about having 10spd as my mech and shifters work fine. however I think my cassette is the heaviest thing on the planet. Are lighter shimano compatible cassettes available in 9spd ?

cheers collisster
 
An Ultegra 6500 12-25 is only 70g lighter than a bottom of the range HG50 which usually come as standard or will be on par with what you have. Even the newest dura ace cassette is only 160g.

HG50/Tiagra - Average weight 270 g for 12 - 23T
Ultegra 6600 - Weight: 203 grams for 11 - 23T
7700 dura ace - Weight: 160 grams for 12 - 23T

First thing I'd change is the wheels if you want to make it feel lighter than it actually is.
 
Jonny69 said:
Fixed 52/16 on my Bob Jackson. Not met a hill I can't get up recently; I think I'd struggle on Ditchling Beacon but Crystal Palace is no problem these days. 52/42 old Biopace rings on the front and 24-13 on the rear. Definitely not met anything I'd need more gearing on, I just get up out the saddle and battle it out.
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I've been defeated by the climb up to Blackgang Chine on the IoW (going anticlockwise, I think the clockwise route is easier). It's about halfway round the island so you're not super fresh, I was up and out of the saddle but my thighs and calves started to spasm and lockup, I had to get off and push it up, managed the rest of the ride fine though. Hopefully just more training required, 6th of May this year.
 
George Hincapie said:
Look at the chain rings at the front. If it reads 53/39 you have a standard, and if it reads 50/34 you have a compact.

If you have the former, I'd change the cassette to a 12-28 before going to the expense of changing your chainset.
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Yup, got 50/34T 10SPD.

The general terminology is where I fall flat; cassette, chainset, chain rings etc. I assume the numbers relate to the number of spikes on each of my two cogs.
 
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A bike :p

Are you employed with a company that runs a cycle2work/cyclescheme? The savings offered are still fairly decent so it's worth looking into those to then see what brands, if any, you are limited to.

I got into cycling approx 2 months ago, what i'd rate as 'my essentials' to beginning are as follows:

Lights, lots of lights
Helmet
Reflective clothing
Floorstanding pump
Spare inner tubes
Padded gloves
Budget base layer
Windproof jacket
Multi-tool
Mini-pump
Padded shorts


If you're operating on a budget here's some finds that i rate as good value, but some (such as the front light) are incredibly cheap so don't expect the world:

Half decent bottom rung front light:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/7dayshop-Ul...30JO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325512660&sr=8-2

Half decent bottom rung rear light:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-22150...UFOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325512754&sr=8-1

Good rear light:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002VK1P4W

Good, cheap helmet:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bell-Black-...sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1325512798&sr=1-1

Good cheap base layer:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-corefit-long-sleeve-round-neck-base-layer/

Good cheap pump:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-high-pressure-floor-pump/

Good cheap undershorts (bib shorts will be more comfortable, but i personally prefer these as i can wear them all year round with clothes over the top):
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pro-padded-undershorts/

Good cheap multi-tool:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MAX-Bike-Go...XUR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325512946&sr=8-1
 
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