Road Cycling Essentials

SexyGreyFox · 30 Jul 2012 at 18:42

Well I broke my cleat virginity this morning.
I had them fitted on Saturday and thought over the weekend I'd got them cracked.
This morning I took my right foot off then dismounted while my left foot was still in the cleat and ended up with the bike on top of me right outside the building I work in.
Cue several work colleagues asking if I was OK

helpimcrap · 30 Jul 2012 at 18:51

Dimple said:
Well I broke my cleat virginity this morning.
I had them fitted on Saturday and thought over the weekend I'd got them cracked.
This morning I took my right foot off then dismounted while my left foot was still in the cleat and ended up with the bike on top of me right outside the building I work in.
Cue several work colleagues asking if I was OK

And that is the reason why those pedals are still in their box in my house lol...

helpimcrap · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:09

Just out of interest.... I can do 10miles in 32mins on my road bike - on my own, with cages and just a standard giant defy 2 (2012). Reckon i could break 30 mins with nothing else changed except give me a speedometer.

my uncle reckons if i follow someone at pace right behind them so they break the wind effect i will be working 25-30% less. Does this translate as i could follow someone going quicker and still do the same work rate?

Tri-bars would suit me because of my arm disability. How much of an effect do you think these would have?

What about cleats? I prefer cages but my trainers are falling apart anyway so i may just buy some SPD shoes and out the pedals on.

I reckon my uncles telling me porkies but can't find much authentic proof on it.

[DOD]Asprilla · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:19

It's all true.

I've drafted a bus at 40mph and I had to freewheel and brake to avoid going into the back of it. Most of the work you are doing is overcoming wind resistance so if someone is in front of you then they do the work for you. It's much easier to hold a wheel than set the pace, hence when it's windy the Drafting Fairies come out.

touch · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:20

helpimcrap said:
my uncle reckons if i follow someone at pace right behind them so they break the wind effect i will be working 25-30% less. Does this translate as i could follow someone going quicker and still do the same work rate?

Yes. If you can ride at a steady 20mph on your own, you could probably ride comfortably behind someone riding 25-26mph

helpimcrap said:
Tri-bars would suit me because of my arm disability. How much of an effect do you think these would have?

Tri bars would probably add 2-3mph onto your average speed for 10 miles.

helpimcrap said:
What about cleats? I prefer cages but my trainers are falling apart anyway so i may just buy some SPD shoes and out the pedals on.

SPD wont really make much of a difference to your speed. They might give a slightly more solid connection with the pedal but the main advantage is how easy they are to get on/off compared to cages.

helpimcrap · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:34

Cheers guys - dammit, you've just backed up everything he told me lol

ichabod crane · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:46

So I got the Planet X with the Athena groupset. I cannot believe I have a road bike, I feel dirty!

Draeger · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:47

touch said:
SPD wont really make much of a difference to your speed.

I dunno, I'd slightly disagree there. SPD's facilitate a much more efficient transfer of power through the pedals and cranks which I would imagine would result in being able to maintain a higher cadence. That's certainly the way it feels to me at least. :cool:

**EDIT** The Px looks fab, ichabod. The transition over to roadie is almost complete I feel.

R0B75 · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:49

ichabod crane said:
So I got the Planet X with the Athena groupset. I cannot believe I have a road bike, I feel dirty!

You filthy animal.

Lovely bike, I'll be picking my Planet X up later this week hopefully. Lycra, its the way forward, and makes you more manly.

ichabod crane · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:56

Draeger said:
The Px looks fab, ichabod. The transition over to roadie is almost complete I feel.

R0B75 said:
You filthy animal.

Lovely bike, I'll be picking my Planet X up later this week hopefully. Lycra, its the way forward, and makes you more manly.

Not just yet, I don't have any clip in pedals so have had to put my spare pair of flat pedals on it! Nano Techs on a road bike

Vonhelmet · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:57

MAMILs unite!

touch · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:59

Draeger said:
I dunno, I'd slightly disagree there. SPD's facilitate a much more efficient transfer of power through the pedals and cranks which I would imagine would result in being able to maintain a higher cadence. That's certainly the way it feels to me at least.

I meant in contrast with the cage pedals he has now. Although i'v just realised that different people might mean different things by 'cage' pedals. I thought he meant he had pedals with clips and toe straps, but maybe he means flat pedals.

If it's flat pedals, then you are right. SPDs will give quite a big benefit.

R0B75 · 30 Jul 2012 at 19:59

ichabod crane said:
Not just yet, I don't have any clip in pedals so have had to put my spare pair of flat pedals on it! Nano Techs on a road bike

Flats on a road bike? Surely blasphemy?

ichabod crane · 30 Jul 2012 at 20:01

R0B75 said:
Flats on a road bike? Surely blasphemy?

Its the future.

Russinating · 30 Jul 2012 at 20:04

Hey folks. Another charity ride for me!

This time I'm doing the Action Medical Bristol to London ride. It'll be my first 100-mile organised ride, though it's 117 miles to be precise, or 188km which sounds better

.

I've paid for my entry fee but I also need to raise a minimum of £30 for Action Medical Research too. If you haven't done your charity bit this month then a sponsorship would be greatly appreciated. Even £1 would be massively appreciated - every little helps!

My sponsorship page is here: http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/russ2london

Fanks

R0B75 · 30 Jul 2012 at 20:05

ichabod crane said:
Its the future.

Touché.

R0B75 · 30 Jul 2012 at 20:13

Russinating said:
Hey folks. Another charity ride for me!

This time I'm doing the Action Medical Bristol to London ride. It'll be my first 100-mile organised ride, though it's 117 miles to be precise, or 188km which sounds better .

I've paid for my entry fee but I also need to raise a minimum of £30 for Action Medical Research too. If you haven't done your charity bit this month then a sponsorship would be greatly appreciated. Even £1 would be massively appreciated - every little helps!

My sponsorship page is here: http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/russ2london

Fanks

Donated. This is the type of ride I'd like to do once I get my road bike. Doing a similar ride later this year for the BHF, but on my mountain bike.

Vonhelmet · 30 Jul 2012 at 20:40

Russinating said:
Hey folks. Another charity ride for me!

This time I'm doing the Action Medical Bristol to London ride. It'll be my first 100-mile organised ride, though it's 117 miles to be precise, or 188km which sounds better .

I've paid for my entry fee but I also need to raise a minimum of £30 for Action Medical Research too. If you haven't done your charity bit this month then a sponsorship would be greatly appreciated. Even £1 would be massively appreciated - every little helps!

My sponsorship page is here: http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/russ2london

Fanks

Good work boss, and you've caught me on payday so it's looking good for you

kiteloopy · 30 Jul 2012 at 22:02

R0B75 said:
Flats on a road bike? Surely blasphemy?

I watched the mens road race on sat...some old dude cycled up to me with flats on his bike....but he was wearing SPD shoes. I laughed.

touch · 30 Jul 2012 at 22:07

kiteloopy said:
I watched the mens road race on sat...some old dude cycled up to me with flats on his bike....but he was wearing SPD shoes. I laughed.

This is actually the most difficult thing ever

I ended up cycling my brother's bike once after i punctured, had to do about 6 miles, took me ages because i couldnt put any pressure on the pedals without slipping off them