Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
touch said:
great picture floating around facebook to show how steep a velodrome really is:
540815_10151396977192359_2021682682_n.jpg
Click to expand...

im off to the Velodrome on the 10th Feb for the first time, i think the one we are going to is at a 40 degree angle

Did you get my email George?
 
[Damien];23525271 said:
Good to know, thanks. While I'm picking everyone's brains, I'm currently kicking about on 32mm tyres (Marathon Plus) but I'm curious if sticking narrower tyres on would give improved performance worth sacrificing the comfyness of my 32's for.

I mainly use my bike for commuting (some dodgy sections of road but nothing major) and semi-regular weekend rides, so I want something that can handle daily use and still be comfortable, yet still have a bit of go if I decide to go for it on a segment or two.

Edit: I've got a feeling the answer is going to be using my current stock wheels with thick puncture proof tyres in the week then swap to a shinier wheelset with racier tyres at the weekend. Feel free to enlighten me though.
Click to expand...

I use Continental GP4000S on all of my bikes. They are 23mm tyres and are beautiful to ride on. The best price tends to be from Ribble. They do offer good puncture resistance. I haven't had one in 2 years between 2 bikes and well over 1000 miles. Probably closer to 2000 miles.
 
32mm is a good commuter width. I ride 25's on the commuter and weekender and find this to be the best balance of comfort/performance. But If I could fit wider rims on I would probably run 28 or 32's in the winter for that extra surface area.
 
George Hincapie said:
I did, thank you. Just going to reply with my mobile number. Were you planning to go out with Alasdair on Sunday? If so I might pop along and join in, then perhaps we can sort some extra training out between us.

Can you transport your bike by car? Or is that not an option for you?
Click to expand...

bah, i've cleaned the bike after a rather muddy day, was hopeing to take the bike down for its first service on Sunday, but if your comming along then i'll prospone it to the following week

as for sunday (or any other ride with the group) we start at Thame (where the majority live, including Alasdair) and its basically out towards oxford way
if you look at my strava or Endemondo , you will see where abouts we go, as I map it with my GPS :)

http://app.strava.com/athletes/1072386
 
Cheers for all the info guys.

I've just noticed I've done 2100 miles since Oct 1st last year. I'm going to aim for 8000 by New Year. That's a good target I reckon.
 
ShiWarrior said:
bah, i've cleaned the bike after a rather muddy day, was hopeing to take the bike down for its first service on Sunday, but if your comming along then i'll prospone it to the following week

as for sunday (or any other ride with the group) we start at Thame (where the majority live, including Alasdair) and its basically out towards oxford way
if you look at my strava or Endemondo , you will see where abouts we go, as I map it with my GPS :)

http://app.strava.com/athletes/1072386
Click to expand...

Where's the start now? It used to be at the DAF car park at 0900 hrs, but Alasdair changed it some time ago and I've not been out with him since he did as I'd moved on to the fast group from HW town centre.

Where are you having it serviced?
 
Just read this Re: Lance possibly confessing in Cycling Weekly:

There are four subjects that are guaranteed to cause a storm in the cycling community: Mandatory helmet use, riders not waving back once they've been waved at, the cost of Rapha clothing, and Lance Armstrong.
Click to expand...

:D
 
George Hincapie said:
Where's the start now? It used to be at the DAF car park at 0900 hrs, but Alasdair changed it some time ago and I've not been out with him since he did as I'd moved on to the fast group from HW town centre.

Where are you having it serviced?
Click to expand...

I dont think i could manage the fast group at the moment, i sometimes struggle with this one (depending on pace)


on Sundays, start at Lower Ickneild school, Thame at 9am

Be good to see you there


I got my bike from Sigma Sport in Kingston
 
Rapha sale just started. Finally ordered a rain jacket, at least I'll be better prepared for next years 500 challenge :p

Quite tempted by the 3/4 cross bib tights or deep winter tights too but still slightly too rich for me.
 
uniQ said:
Rapha sale just started. Finally ordered a rain jacket, at least I'll be better prepared for next years 500 challenge :p

Quite tempted by the 3/4 cross bib tights or deep winter tights too but still slightly too rich for me.
Click to expand...

You won't be disappointed by the rain jacket. Everyone talks about the softshell but if I could only have one it would be the rain jacket in a heartbeat.

I'm tempted by the wind jacket just to round off my collection....
 
Last edited:
[DOD]Asprilla;23526716 said:
You won't be disappointed by the rain jacket. Everyone talks about the softshell but if I could only have one it would be the rain jacket in a heartbeat.

I'm tempted by the wind jacket just to round off my collection....
Click to expand...

Naturally I have the Rain Jacket and the Soft Shell Jacket. Both are very nice indeed. The cut on the Rain Jacket in particular is perfect for my broad, sexy body ;)

It also packs into a standard jersey pocket very nicely as well.
 
uniQ said:
Rapha sale just started. Finally ordered a rain jacket, at least I'll be better prepared for next years 500 challenge :p

Quite tempted by the 3/4 cross bib tights or deep winter tights too but still slightly too rich for me.
Click to expand...

Just ordered the Winter Collar in black. I'll be needing it at the weekend judging by the weather forecast - snow apparently :(

Deep Winter Tights aren't worth it. They have no pad, so require that they be worn over standard bibs. Instead buy the Assos S5 Fi Mille Winter Tights which have the superb Assos pad.
 
[Damien];23525534 said:
Cheers for all the info guys.

I've just noticed I've done 2100 miles since Oct 1st last year. I'm going to aim for 8000 by New Year. That's a good target I reckon.
Click to expand...

That's a hell of a target, but I guess you do commute every day! I'm aiming for 3000 this year.

Also, I see you've made it to the top of the base mile blast OCUK leaderboard...
 
George Hincapie said:
Naturally I have the Rain Jacket and the Soft Shell Jacket. Both are very nice indeed. The cut on the Rain Jacket in particular is perfect for my broad, sexy body ;)

It also packs into a standard jersey pocket very nicely as well.
Click to expand...

I too have both.

I love the look of the Soft Shell and the features are great. However, I find it a bit warm. Anything over freezing and it's too warm for me, even with just an LS jersey underneath.

My favourite combination between 0c and 10c is a Rapha Winter Jersey with the Rain jacket in my back pocket.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;23527327 said:
My favourite combination between 0c and 10c is a Rapha Winter Jersey with the Rain jacket in my back pocket.
Click to expand...

Aah, in that situation I'll wear either my Rapha Soft Shell Gilet, or my Rapha standard Gilet with a Torm T5 Jersey (long sleeved).

I do love Rapha and probably own more than I should but it's very nice kit. That said, while I love the various jackets, gilets and bibs, the jerseys don't really do it for me - probably the single white band causing an OCD conflict. The Torm jerseys have a double or single band (depending upon model) on each arm, so are balanced and beautiful ;)

I'd really love Torm to have great success - the product is amazing. Marketing, not so much.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom