Road Cycling Essentials

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Jonny69 said:
That doesn't sound right. Are you sure you've got the right size seat post in there? Even 0.2mm too small and it'll slip (e.g. 27.0 in a 27.2 hole).
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It's the one that came with the bike so I'm guessing it right, quick measurement with my el-cheapo vernier calipers gave me 27.2mm seatpost and 27.0 ish for the inner diameter of the seat tube. I think it's just me being a heavy sod tbh :p
 
tedmaul said:
Nice one - should be fun. I lived there til i was about 10 and been back a few times to cycle.

Are you just doing the circumference or planning to cut across either the String or Ross roads through the middle? Some good climbing to be had on both.

....

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/54911300?user=2260448

Would be interested to see how fast i'd get round it now - that was on my old hybrid bike before i even had a road bike or did any training.
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I think the plan at the moment is to go clockwise, so left off the ferry, and go round the coast. From what I've read, and what you say, that should get the hardest 20 miles or so out of the way first. The only thing that would make us go counter-clockwise would be a really strong northerly wind. I'm guessing a light headwind might be worth tackling if it means not having to do the tough climbing at the end.

Forecast at the moment looks precarious. Friday and Sunday are both dry and 0 degrees which would be fine. Saturday is light snow. I've cycled in sleet over Christmas but I guess snow is difficult?
 
[Damien];23559090 said:
No particular reason tbh. I was too tired to keep a tight line and I had better visibility round the bend while on the right but I didn't really give it too much thought.
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Try to stick to the left mate - that car could have clipped you easy undertaking you. Just don't want to see another cyclist injured - not trying to be an appendage ;)
 
George Hincapie said:
Try to stick to the left mate - that car could have clipped you easy undertaking you. Just don't want to see another cyclist injured - not trying to be an appendage ;)
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Yeah I will do. I had no idea it was there until it passed me and didn't realise the road was wide enough to pass on. As far as I knew I had the lane. I didn't hear the car coming at all. You didn't come across as an appendage. I'd say the same thing if it was someone else.
 
nydryl said:
I think the plan at the moment is to go clockwise, so left off the ferry, and go round the coast. From what I've read, and what you say, that should get the hardest 20 miles or so out of the way first. The only thing that would make us go counter-clockwise would be a really strong northerly wind. I'm guessing a light headwind might be worth tackling if it means not having to do the tough climbing at the end.

Forecast at the moment looks precarious. Friday and Sunday are both dry and 0 degrees which would be fine. Saturday is light snow. I've cycled in sleet over Christmas but I guess snow is difficult?
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Hmm wouldn't fancy it if there's snow or ice on the road. You'll easily hit 60kmh on some of the downhills, particularly off the big climb at Lochranza.

I think which ever way round you go there's a challenge. If you go the way you're planning, yes you get a lot of the undulating terrain out of the way early, but that leaves the longest climb of the day (out of Lochranza) right at the end.

Do it the other way, you've got to do the hilliest part of the island last - although there's no long climbs in the south part of the island, if you've not been cycling much you'll certainly feel it.

Either way, just go at a pace you're comfortable with and enjoy it. The scenery is awesome at times. Good luck with the weather - just bring the layers to cope with the fact it will no doubt be 'changeable'! :D
 
Good getting some first hand advice. If it's too icy on Arran we'll probably try and get back on an earlier ferry and do something flatter from Ardrossan. Or maybe consider just doing the cut through the Island at a safe pace. I'm completely inexperienced, which my brother is aware of, so I'll let him make the call.
 
Had a meeting this evening so cycled there and back. Pretty icy so took the MTB. Nearly fell off on my own street, but managed OK otherwise. Wouldn't fancy it tomorrow morning, though...
 
[Damien];23556324 said:
Hey Pete, here's that video I mentioned of me climbing the rake. It doesn't capture the full descent first though. I forgot to start the camera before I headed down. Nothing majorly exciting but a good test of my new camera.

For anyone that doesn't know the area, it's this segment. That last 3rd or so was a bitch. Ignore the wheezing 70 year old man I sound like I had on the back of my bike. That wasn't me, honest...
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Good looking climb that, shame that it's so urban. 342ft in 0.6 miles is good going on the road.
 
I had one too, didn't even look icy. I moved out into the middle of the road to avoid a big puddle (a very quiet back road), when I turned back to the left I got a fish tail. Certainly woke me up!
 
Ended up getting carried away with my bike last night. I knew my headset was grinding slightly so I took it apart to have a look. Its a Cane Creek S-3 headset. But somewhere along the line the bottom sealed bearing has been replaced by an unsealed set which has just got destroyed as water has got in. It looked a bit of a mess. Ordered a new Cane Creek 40 as a replacement :)
 
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