Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
George Hincapie said:
8 miles. But I'm not sure my bike could cope with 2 laden children's seats and 8 bags of shopping. They don't make them like they used to :(
Click to expand...

P_Airstream.jpg
 
Finished my first 'proper' ride! Great feeling.

Got up at half 6, coffee and nuts for breakfast. Not feeling too sharp after a few pints last night, but nothing major. Check the temperature, apparently it'll feel like -6 where I'm going. Oh dear. Four warm base layers, two pairs of gloves, bib shorts, tights, two pairs of warm socks and, the absolute saviour of the day, a balaclava.

Got the train from Glasgow at 7.45, arrive at Thortonhall at 8.15 to start the cycle. Took a mile or so to be convinced that although the roads looked slippy they weren't in the slightest. Tough climb up to the windfarm then some lovely open road looking over Glasgow. Really exposed but cracking views. After 20 miles had to do 5 or so on a quite busy A road which I didn't really enjoy. Still not confident with cars whizzing past a few inches away. Get off the A road, another tough climb and then the snow starts. The next fifteen miles were pretty dark mentally! Freezing cold, out of food, and my remaining water was beginning to freeze right through! Then I was met with a bizarre diversion on a completely deserted country road. Thank god for Google maps as I had to stop three or four times to navigate. Had a few demoralising wrong turns that added extra miles but eventually wound myself through the farms and maze of roads to get back to...East Kilbride? Something went wrong and I end up at the wrong train station but hey-ho, I'm frozen to the core and starving so I won't complain. Check Strava...#@$*! Didn't turn it on. Ah well, grab a coffee and a roll, get on the train, sit shivering violently beside a poor girl for half an hour, then finally do the 5 minute ride back to my flat.

Mapped it when I got home; 45 miles. Really chuffed. Can't wait to experience riding in some nicer conditions; there were times when I was convinced I've never been so cold in my life. Quite like this cycling lark.
 
Last edited:
Berger said:
Have created a league for the tour down under on road.cc

It's setup for purist teams only (no transfers) if you want to join then the code is 76394, I'll have to approve you to stop random people joining.

You can win some shiny wheels if your team does well apparently so worth a try!
Click to expand...

I'v joined!
Really looking forward to the start of some proper racing again :D
 
nydryl said:
Finished my first 'proper' ride! Great feeling.

Got up at half 6, coffee and nuts for breakfast. Not feeling too sharp after a few pints last night, but nothing major. Check the temperature, apparently it'll feel like -6 where I'm going. Oh dear. Four warm base layers, two pairs of gloves, bib shorts, tights, two pairs of warm socks and, the absolute saviour of the day, a balaclava.

Got the train from Glasgow at 7.45, arrive at Thortonhall at 8.15 to start the cycle. Took a mile or so to be convinced that although the roads looked slippy they weren't in the slightest. Tough climb up to the windfarm then some lovely open road looking over Glasgow. Really exposed but cracking views. After 20 miles had to do 5 or so on a quite busy A road which I didn't really enjoy. Still not confident with cars whizzing past a few inches away. Get off the A road, another tough climb and then the snow starts. The next fifteen miles were pretty dark mentally! Freezing cold, out of food, and my remaining water was beginning to freeze right through! Then I was met with a bizarre diversion on a completely deserted country road. Thank god for Google maps as I had to stop three or four times to navigate. Had a few demoralising wrong turns that added extra miles but eventually wound myself through the farms and maze of roads to get back to...East Kilbride? Something went wrong and I end up at the wrong train station but hey-ho, I'm frozen to the core and starving so I won't complain. Check Strava...#@$*! Didn't turn it on. Ah well, grab a coffee and a roll, get on the train, sit shivering violently beside a poor girl for half an hour, then finally do the 5 minute ride back to my flat.

Mapped it when I got home; 45 miles. Really chuffed. Can't wait to experience riding in some nicer conditions; there were times when I was convinced I've never been so cold in my life. Quite like this cycling lark.
Click to expand...

6C8D118B-E22D-4D38-8E36-8580B8AE16AA-3818-00000470F753EC3C_zps59297a47.jpg
 
Well done nydryl, great post. If you enjoyed that then you will absolutely love it come summer time. I can't wait.

Thank god for turbo's though! smashed out 40 miles on the turbo which took an hour and 45. Up into 7th I go on basemile blast :D
 
Riding to a friends house tonight, was going to mountain bike it and have a few beers, paths are well slippy tho, so wet bike and super high vis it is!
 
[Damien];23591570 said:
I don't drive so my options are ride, do a convoluted 3 change train journey or pull a sickie. Riding it is...
Click to expand...

I wish I didn't have a non ride option. I live with my rents at the moment, and my dad works at the same place. So a free ride is an easy option.

When I move to cheltenham VERY soon ill have no option to but to ride, as my Lotus will stay in the garage at my parents.
 
ice rink in a parking lot near my local tescos.. i always take a ride there on the weekend to get some food.. but today it was SHINNY HARD ICE.. bmxed through it no problems tho.. on the way back my front wheel slipped but not much drama really.. just keeping the bike steady is easy enough :) if i had to brake tho it would be useless - tested it out and its pointless even trying really.
 
nydryl said:
Finished my first 'proper' ride! Great feeling.

Got up at half 6, coffee and nuts for breakfast. Not feeling too sharp after a few pints last night, but nothing major. Check the temperature, apparently it'll feel like -6 where I'm going. Oh dear. Four warm base layers, two pairs of gloves, bib shorts, tights, two pairs of warm socks and, the absolute saviour of the day, a balaclava.

Got the train from Glasgow at 7.45, arrive at Thortonhall at 8.15 to start the cycle. Took a mile or so to be convinced that although the roads looked slippy they weren't in the slightest. Tough climb up to the windfarm then some lovely open road looking over Glasgow. Really exposed but cracking views. After 20 miles had to do 5 or so on a quite busy A road which I didn't really enjoy. Still not confident with cars whizzing past a few inches away. Get off the A road, another tough climb and then the snow starts. The next fifteen miles were pretty dark mentally! Freezing cold, out of food, and my remaining water was beginning to freeze right through! Then I was met with a bizarre diversion on a completely deserted country road. Thank god for Google maps as I had to stop three or four times to navigate. Had a few demoralising wrong turns that added extra miles but eventually wound myself through the farms and maze of roads to get back to...East Kilbride? Something went wrong and I end up at the wrong train station but hey-ho, I'm frozen to the core and starving so I won't complain. Check Strava...#@$*! Didn't turn it on. Ah well, grab a coffee and a roll, get on the train, sit shivering violently beside a poor girl for half an hour, then finally do the 5 minute ride back to my flat.

Mapped it when I got home; 45 miles. Really chuffed. Can't wait to experience riding in some nicer conditions; there were times when I was convinced I've never been so cold in my life. Quite like this cycling lark.
Click to expand...

Nice one! Sounds an eventful first ride. And kudos for getting out there at all in the cold today.

Was it the wind farm at Whitelees you went over? What was the road like up there, as i go up there quite regularly but decided not to risk it today in case the hill run off had frozen on the roads?

Just did 40km doing repeated circuits of a short loop quite near my house, wasn't too bad apart from the odd icy patch.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom