Road Cycling Essentials

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Nevakonaza said:
Maybe this is just me been paranoid,But does anyone else feel daft when waiting at red lights on a push bike?...and your waiting for ages for the lights to change? :D

Especially when theres other cyclists about ride past you "On the pavement" i might add. :D,They look at you like why is he waiting like a car,I know they are in the wrong but still.... :D

Saying that i hardly see cyclists use the road around my area,they are usually on the pavement and i don't know why because all our local roads are more than wide enough.
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imo the biggest reason to do it is to show to drivers that the decent cyclists do stop, and that not all of us are moronic, selfish idiots. Yes I hate having to stop but this is a commute not the ruddy tdf.
 
George Hincapie said:
Not bike related at all, but I'm not a big GD poster so I thought I'd let you all know that my wife had our second son yesterday. It was a bit of a shock, as we were told at our last scan 4 months ago that we were having a girl! :eek:

Cue much frantic name finding. I suggested George (obviously) but my wife (perhaps rightly) said no! :)

8lbs 7oz and in fine health. Definitely has sprinter's legs!
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Congrats.

Here's a nice name ;)
Giro Roubaix Dubois Hincapie. :D
 
Many congratulations on your new arrival!!.

I had our 1 year old son out last weekend on two wheels for his very first time, sat on an Avenir Snooze bike seat attached onto my Cube Acid hardtail. I think he is a wee cyclist in the making as he grinned his face off from the word go. Start 'em young!!. :)
 
Edinho said:
imo the biggest reason to do it is to show to drivers that the decent cyclists do stop, and that not all of us are moronic, selfish idiots. Yes I hate having to stop but this is a commute not the ruddy tdf.
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I stop at red lights, but there are only about 6 sets of lights in the whole of town! I don't fancy being crushed by a truck weighing 60+ ton, they could run over most cars and not notice!

Two sets of lights on my regular route, but if you know the phasing you can ride up to them so you don't have to stop for long, or at all.



I increased my distance today, did two laps of my evening route, making it almost 34km, so half the distance I am planning to do. Over one lap, my best average speed is just under 29kmph, and over two laps that only dropped to 27.6kmph, plus there was quite a headwind for a section today. So the increased distance doesn't seem to hurt me too much, I got home and didn't feel too bad, my legs certainly are OK.

I would have tried a third lap to make it almost 50km, but I only took one bottle and was just finishing it at the end of my ride, plus need to put suncream on!

Feeling pretty positive about it now, think ill book myself into the event, two weeks off, but I have a weeks holiday next week so that doesn't leave me much riding time!

I want to try a slightly shorter stem on the bike as feel I am over-reaching slightly for the bars causing my back to hunch a bit. And need to have a look at a creaking head-tube, not sure whats causing it.


EDIT: Entered the Short course of 70km, no going back now! Viewing the other entries, you enter your anticipated average speed, I'm not the slowest! at 25-30kmph, I should be somewhere in the middle, there are quite a few people entered at 40+ though :eek:

Going to be 400+ entries into the 70km looking at the list, might be able to ride with some other people the same speed to make it a little easier. The 70, 100 and 160km courses are all ridden on the same road, with extra loops for the longer courses, so everyone will finish together.
 
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Edinho said:
imo the biggest reason to do it is to show to drivers that the decent cyclists do stop, and that not all of us are moronic, selfish idiots. Yes I hate having to stop but this is a commute not the ruddy tdf.
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Yeah exactly. I always alert idiot cyclists to their errors and most are a bit thrown back that it's coming from 'one of their own'. I get it loads around where I live because the system is a one-way loop and cyclists always go the wrong way.

Had some road rage from a guy last week who almost squashed me against a parked car twice because he was texting on his phone whilst driving. People have some proper anger issues.
 
I'm in the middle of training up for my first centurion.. (http://www.dmhospice.org.uk/main-events/dougie-mac-bike-ride)
But today, just 1 mile into my ride, a cat darted in front of me on a descent at a fair pace. I slammed on the brakes hard and, well, flew.. Landing on my back, completely destroying my shorts and grazing my arms, back and legs.
My lower back has been pretty sore all day, I figured I'd rest it for a day and see what it's like tomorrow before seeking medical attention.

Obviously, nothing is certain until I know if my back is injured or not. Here's hoping it's not!
 
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Ah yeah, just read that in the FAQ. I retract my request :)
But thanks anyway, I was almost more concerned about my bike :p But I reckon I've fixed that up now. Rear derailleur was pretty out of alignment, the L and H screws needed some tuning.
 
Not too bad. I've only come off the once through complete fault of my own (ish) - merged onto a cycle lane in France but it wasn't as dropped a kerb as I thought and I didn't come onto it at steep enough of an angle.

Short story is I got thrown off head over heals and the clipless spring on my right pedal busted open with the force. It's surprising how far and hard you can get thrown with so little body damage.
 
Does anyone know if GPS devices are accurate in their speed and distance reading? I've read some things by googling that say they tend to be more accurate than a normal speedo, especially a car speedo, but nothing I've read appears to 100% confirm it.

My Garmin Edge recorded a speed of 45.3Mph today but I'm obviously doubting its legitimate.
 
Finally got my bike back from the workshop, and can start cycling to work again next week!

I have some questions about tyres to use for my commute to work. I currently use a set of 23mm Michelin Krylion Carbon tyres on a road racer (Trek 1.2). The roads I travel on are quite well travelled by cars, so plenty of debris, and surface can be a bit rough.

I'm after a replacement set of tyres that are all-weather, grip well, and most importantly robust and very resistant to punctures. My current pair are extremely tough, and over the past year or so I have only had one puncture. Unfortunately the range has been discontinued, and I'm not sure what the replacement range is, or if there is anything better.

I've observed in some discussions that people prefer 25mm tyres over 23mm as it offers a better ride (more air = more suspension?), without any noticeable affect to speed. Is this really true? Is there somewhere that gives a good comparison of 23mm and 25mm tyres?
 
R0B75 said:
Does anyone know if GPS devices are accurate in their speed and distance reading? I've read some things by googling that say they tend to be more accurate than a normal speedo, especially a car speedo, but nothing I've read appears to 100% confirm it.

My Garmin Edge recorded a speed of 45.3Mph today but I'm obviously doubting its legitimate.
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I have a standard computer calibrated by wheel size and a Garmin Edge 705 - they're normally within .2mph of each other. Wouldn't be that surprised at 45mph - I've hit 52mph on a roadie and 47mph on a MTB in the past and they're not considered massively fast.

^^I can still buy Krylions easily enough. You struggling?
 
BlackDragon said:
Finally got my bike back from the workshop, and can start cycling to work again next week!

I have some questions about tyres to use for my commute to work. I currently use a set of 23mm Michelin Krylion Carbon tyres on a road racer (Trek 1.2). The roads I travel on are quite well travelled by cars, so plenty of debris, and surface can be a bit rough.

I'm after a replacement set of tyres that are all-weather, grip well, and most importantly robust and very resistant to punctures. My current pair are extremely tough, and over the past year or so I have only had one puncture. Unfortunately the range has been discontinued, and I'm not sure what the replacement range is, or if there is anything better.

I've observed in some discussions that people prefer 25mm tyres over 23mm as it offers a better ride (more air = more suspension?), without any noticeable affect to speed. Is this really true? Is there somewhere that gives a good comparison of 23mm and 25mm tyres?
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Maxxis Refuse, I've not had any punctures on mine and they get good write ups so its not just luck!
 
I need a new set of tyres for the road bike, not needed to buy any before so have no idea of good makes, my last pair lasted about 2000 miles.
I previously had Swalbe Blizzards in 700 x 25c
I want them from CRC as they have a £12 gift this weekend.
Are these Vittoria Rubino Pro Tyre any good? I'll need both wheels.
 
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I should also say, after taking advice from here and on RCUK about my chainset, I'm gonna hold off and get my technique perfected first.
Trying to spin at a good 90rpm to 120rpm, while trying this I found I was not now running in the top of the cassette so gearing can stay is it is. What actually needs to change is me!
 
So basically spinning rather than pushing a big gear?

Playing about with a couple of the top giro shoes girl. i think its safe to say giro will be my new shoes. They fit so snug,have good support at the bridge and look the business.

I've been getting pain across the top/middle of my foot in my lakes doing longer distances. The boa system is supposed to do away with that...but apparently not. Think I'll get the trans rather than the factor.
 
Having a great time with my bikes at the moment. :(

Adjusting the cantilever brakes on my CX bike earlier and somehow managed to strip the threads on the Avid Shorty 6 spring adjuster (the housing rather than the screw itself). This essentially means that there's no spring tension on one side of the brake and it just flops onto the rim.

Wasn't overly impressed with the Avids anyway so ordered a pair of Tektro CR520s for £20 from Planet X to replace them. They seem to get good reviews so we'll see how they compare.

Not replaced the derailleur etc. yet on the Orbea so looks like my ride tomorrow will be without a rear brake! :eek::p
 
My road bike finally arrived from Giant!



These bikes are ultra rare for some stupid reason as the next one isnt availible till end of june now!

Rs80 24mm Carbon Laminate wheels ordered and black Lizardskin Tape getting fitted next week once its back in stock,

Gary Hand fitted it for me today so going to keep stem at that height for the first couple of weeks as i havnt ridden a road bike before then make gradual changes as he reckons i ll need a 110 or 120 stem eventually....
 
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