Road Cycling Essentials

[George Hincapie]

A massive discount on Oakley Half-Jackets here

 

[touch]

If you can get the ex display (or whatever "sample" means) boardman, i'd go for that. Otherwise, are you able to get a boardman from halfords? the UK spec has better wheels (ksyriums) and is cheaper (1799).

There isnt really much between them. It comes down to price and looks really. The gran fondo looks great in the flesh with the curved top tube, but i think i'd choose the boardman. I really like the superfast aero style.

 

[George Hincapie]

Would you choose...

I'd choose the bike with the geometry that suited my body shape and flexibility the best. There's no point buying an amazing bike if it doesn't fit you and causes incredible back pain after an hour because the HT is too short for your level of flexibility.

I would also consider the Ribble Sportive ahead of the Gran Fondo.

 

[touch]

On second thoughts, i'd go for a Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0.

Pretty much the same spec as the other 2, but with the Ksyrium wheels, all on a really nice frame. £1769

 

[George Hincapie]

Canyon are very good value for money, but I know Touch will accept that a purchase shouldn't be made on the basis of value alone.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Sore legs today!

Went round the douglas run today which came in at 58.24 miles, did that in 3hours 20 minutes so 17.5mph average. The last 15 miles I was literally ****** though as I was cramping up just leaving the saddle on a climb.

I only had some cereal this morning, took two bottles(one high 5 2:1 and a 4:1) and 3 gels.

Don't think it was too bad considering all I've done since the new year is the odd cycle to and from work.

 

[Hamster]

Looking at getting a zero layback seatpost. Anyone have any experience with Hylix carbon stuff that you can get from ebay?

 

[Scougar]

Must remember to check Lidl later, I always miss out on these deals.

Managed to get there at Lunch time. Missed out on the long sleeve black top with removable sleeves, so got the short sleeve red top. It's not bad as a top, just wanted another long sleeve. The folks are going to try and get me a large black top from another store tomorrow.

Also got the cycling glasses after I lost my other lidl's one's on a ride into work. Unfortunately the lenses are not the same.. and I think the originals I had from last year were slighly better tbh. But I used them tonight and they work fine and are comfortable. For £7.99 I'd say they are worth it.

I picked up the large white helmet as I was in a rush, but then had to cycle back (opposite direction from home lol) and get a small/medium. It's not bad quality, even if it isn't the greatest style. Built in rear led is nice touch. Very good value at only £9.99. One definate plus is that is has an excellent area to mount a helmet light.

I had a look at some of the other stuff and it's not bad. You are never gonna win a fashion parade, but the kit does the job. I'd probably say that if you needed them the compression tops/shorts and the cycle shorts are worth getting, not to mention the bike hoist.

Jonny ///M > Very impressive. I ride every week day to work and back, only 6.5 miles each way (with a bugger of a hill on the way there)... and I'm knacked and sweat laiden by the end of it, and that's after a year of cycling! Great work bud. (I don't do pleasure cycles however...)

 

[Jonny ///M]

Jonny ///M > Very impressive. I ride every week day to work and back, only 6.5 miles each way (with a bugger of a hill on the way there)... and I'm knacked and sweat laiden by the end of it, and that's after a year of cycling! Great work bud. (I don't do pleasure cycles however...)

Cheers mate, it's worrying how fast you go from being to ok to just burst

If I had kept up my original pace I'd have been 18.5mph average I think but being my first time on this run I didn't know the route so now I do.

Might swap from 23c tyres to 25c aswell as the road is pretty much rough for 50% of it

 

[Scougar]

Mines only a hybrid bike.. and the position doesn't quite seem to suit me (back hurts).. and the handle bar's just seem ever so slightly too far away. If I could sort a few details on the bike out, I would be able to do more miles comfortably

I've done an 18-19 mile ride across a VERY boggy dartmoor, most of it uphill (on a heavy as hell 'patriot' downhill bike), but never done more than say 11 miles in one stint on the road. I really should do more. Still can't believe 58, that's seriously impressive in that time.

BTW.. is it 'normal' for a hybrid bike to be really 'twitchy' on the steering. I feel like I cannot take my hands of the handle bar's for fear of the handlebars wanting to turn themselves.

Lastly.. REALLY want some endura hummvee 3/4's now.. lol. They are really nice.

 

[touch]

Might swap from 23c tyres to 25c aswell as the road is pretty much rough for 50% of it

I've just done the same a couple of weeks ago. They dont feel any slower than the 23s but are a lot more comfortable.

 

[Jonny ///M]

I've just done the same a couple of weeks ago. They dont feel any slower than the 23s but are a lot more comfortable.

Glad to hear it, the section of road from the services to Lesmahagow is rough as ****! and just a straight drag.

See here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rig...Q3Ri5NFGHiWCPdXjJ0jz5w&cbp=12,328.32,,0,12.33


Scougar your back will hurt if you are over stretching. You could try shifting your saddle forward a little or even changing the length of the stem to bring the bars closer to yourself. The steering can feel twitchy due to the head angle and the rake of the forks. Try riding a road bike! I can still ride with no hands though but it is harder than on a mountain bike.

58 miles is an ok distance, I did 95 when I first got the bike last year but I was gubbed before I was even half way back and that was a flatter run to Luss. The local club slow bunch go around it in a similar time to me so I think if I was to go with them I'd get a bit of shelter in the bunch and not feel as ******. The fast bunch my boss rides in is stupidly quick, one of the weeks Scott McCrossan had them up at mid 20s average speed :|

 

[Scougar]

Aye, that type of surface is hard going. (even with 37 tyres).

 

[InsomniaCalls]

I've just done the same a couple of weeks ago. They dont feel any slower than the 23s but are a lot more comfortable.

Bigger tyres roll better apparently. I'm not going to pretend that I understand the majority of that article!

 

[moogle]

Bigger tyres roll better apparently. I'm not going to pretend that I understand the majority of that article!

Nice article. It's a pretty good explanation.

When any tyre rolls it deforms where it's in contact with the road then goes back to it's original shape as it rolls away from the bottom.

That's the hysteresis, work is being done to deform that part of the tyre and is counted as the resistance.

Some of the pictures showed that the narrow tyre has a long shape of contact with the road which makes a larger section of the tyre deform causing a higher resistance and the wider tyre has a circular spot which is smaller and less tyre deforming.

It's a bit irrelevant though because those with road tyres don't run them at the same pressure as the wider tyres.

 

[[Damien]]

Just to echo some of the comments before, I do 13.5m each way to work and it takes me about 50-60mins on a MTB with slicks. I could probably shave a bit off that if the roads were less rough and a bit straighter/flatter but it sounds about right. Maybe I'd be quicker still if I was 8st like Johnny instead of the 15st behemoth I am at the moment...

So yeah, 13m/1hr isn't far off.

You mean 13mph?

Yes you pedantic sod

I average 13-14mph but that's because my route is full of lights, roundabouts and idiot kerb hugging drivers.

On the subject though, I was riding home yesterday on Winwick Rd, Warrington (if anyone knows it). And it has two lanes each side, which eventually split in to 3 on the approach to the lights (extra lane is right turn only).

I was merging from the left lane, to the right/middle lane in preparation to get into the right only lane when it split (easy to do when both lanes are stationary because of the lights). I then came across a fellow cyclist being raged at by some goon in a merc because he was 'riding in the middle of the road'. Of course what we're meant to do is wait until the junction and then suddenly swerve across 3 lanes of traffic to turn right. He wound his window up and kept his eyes forward once the cyclist pointed out that there was now two of us and did he think were were both wrong.

I don't really have a point to make but yeah, some drivers are mental. I reckon he was just annoyed that he was stuck in stationary traffic and we weren't.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

[QUOTE='[Damien] I reckon he was just annoyed that he was stuck in stationary traffic and we weren't.[/QUOTE]

Nail. Hit. Head.

 

[Participant]

I average 13-14mph but that's because my route is full of lights, roundabouts and idiot kerb hugging drivers.

You overtake kerb side?

Bought some short-fingered mitts from Amazon as most of the ones from Wiggle etc. seemed overpriced or were out of stock:

Pretty pleased with them tbh, especially for the money. Decent padding, grippy surface, loops for taking them off, towelling area...

My hands aren't huge but a large is very snug. The only downsides are that they seem quite thick so I don't know how they'll be on a very hot day, also the ends of the loops need snipping a bit as they are stitched in the finger hole and this can rub slightly.

 

[Jonny69]

Some drivers need to chill the **** out. I had to drive through London twice yesterday and it's only then you realise when you're on your bike you don't have to deal with people's stupid little road games. I had a few occasions when I was sitting there thinking if I was on my bike I wouldn't have to sit here dealing with this.

 

[Russinating]

I need some gels etc for my 100km next Sunday. I've tried a load before and haven't really had any dislikes to any so which have people generally found to be the best? High5 gels alright?