Road Cycling Essentials

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Vonhelmet said:
Have you got anything reflective on? I have some retro reflective strips that I Velcro round my wrists at night which shine very strongly.

What's your lane discipline? Do you go round in the gutter the whole way? Or use the lanes like you would in a car? If the latter then all I can really say is make your move as soon as you pass the last exit, indicate profusely and be decisive, which is probably all stuff you know anyway...
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I have only reflective bits on my Altura jacket and gloves, but no big reflective things.

I approach and cross the roundabout as if I were a car. It seems like people just don't see me when I'm on the roundabout. I suppose that's where reflective elements would help get seen more from the side.
 
BlackDragon said:
I have only reflective bits on my Altura jacket and gloves, but no big reflective things.

I approach and cross the roundabout as if I were a car. It seems like people just don't see me when I'm on the roundabout. I suppose that's where reflective elements would help get seen more from the side.
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I saw someone out this evening who had reflective strips round his arms which had flashing LEDs in them as well. You're getting well into Christmas Tree territory with that, but hey, that's kinda the idea.
 
TBH, most of the time I ride I'm wearing black.

Black shoes, black tights / shorts, black jacket and even black helmet. Even my gloves are black. Only my socks and my cycling caps are black. Unless it's winter and then they are dark grey.

I do, however, have spoke reflectors and I have flashing front / rear lights on my helmet so that I can look straight at people and they should see it.

Of course that didn't help me on Monday, but she didn't look and stepped out from behind a car.
 
I wear one of these when commuting and move to the middle of the appropriate lane when coming to a roundabout (obviously with looking back and arm signalling to make sure it is safe). I generally don't have problems with being seen, looking directly at drivers along with confidence and experience are all important to make sure drivers respect your position on the road. If you are going past more than one exit on the roundabout it is good to indicate right and then indicate left when you come off so drivers can be in no doubt about what you are doing or have an excuse if they cut you up/hit you.
 
Vonhelmet said:
I saw someone out this evening who had reflective strips round his arms which had flashing LEDs in them as well. You're getting well into Christmas Tree territory with that, but hey, that's kinda the idea.
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I've seen that guy kicking about too! If it's the same one he has flashing leds on his knees too. Proper christmas tree territory.

In other news I definitely need to rest more after longer rides. After doing that 90 miler on Sun, then going straight back to my usual 27m/day commute on the Mon, I really felt it catch up to me yesterday. I had no energy all day and then I started nodding off at about 21:30 and took myself off to bed. I'm normally not in bed until midnightish.
 
touch said:
I'm going to Puerto Pollensa at the end of March. This will be my 4th year there, it's an amazing place to cycle.
We're staying in the Pollensa Park hotel, it's nice enough and the all-you-can-eat buffet saves a fortune in meals because i eat about 3 times as much as normal when cycling all day.
We're renting bikes from ProCycleHire, it works out around the same price when you factor in the cost of taking your own bike on the plane and transfers and also saves a lot of wear on your drivetrain.

A lot of cyclists also stay in alcudia. It looks like there are plenty hire shops along the main street when cycling through, but i'v never stopped there. It's a big place, so i'm sure there are plenty of hotels as well.
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Cheers touch!

Sounds like a very cycling friendly place. Should be very good!

Renting when you get over there seems very reasonable and involves much less hassle. But one of my mates really want to take his bike... and if he does, ill probably give in to pressure and take mine too :p

Do you have any recommended routes plotted anywhere which I could have a look at? Heading north out of Pollensa to the northern most point of the island seems like an ideal warm up for the first day. Not many miles and a chance to take in some of the scenery. Then head west into the hills during the week. But we will see!

Does that hotel have sauna/steam groom/spa facilities? I really like the idea of jumping into the spa after a ride! :)
 
Yeah my turbo session is skewing the fastest 10 miles challenge. :/

Anyway I can strip rides from records but not my overall mileage\time etc?
 
touch said:
I'm going to Puerto Pollensa at the end of March. This will be my 4th year there, it's an amazing place to cycle.
We're staying in the Pollensa Park hotel, it's nice enough and the all-you-can-eat buffet saves a fortune in meals because i eat about 3 times as much as normal when cycling all day.
We're renting bikes from ProCycleHire, it works out around the same price when you factor in the cost of taking your own bike on the plane and transfers and also saves a lot of wear on your drivetrain.

A lot of cyclists also stay in alcudia. It looks like there are plenty hire shops along the main street when cycling through, but i'v never stopped there. It's a big place, so i'm sure there are plenty of hotels as well.
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hhummm...interesting. Im looking for a place for some cycling training but I have no idea where to go. I'll look into that place. Dont worry I wont gatecrash.
 
passed a guy that ran into a car yesterday on my way to work, the side of bmw had a huge dent and he was laying in front of it covered with a blanket! it must have happened 5 mins before me passing as there was no emergency yet.

he looked hurt but nothing major, also the bmw was at fault 100% it turned into a bus lane and clearly blocked the guys way.
 
kiteloopy, Mallorca looks like one of the main places to go if you're after some training abroad. Or just the casual bike ride mixed in with a relaxing holiday.
 
ShiWarrior said:
never heard of them, we ride in oxfordshire (as we start in Thame, but another "faster" group, starts in High Wycombe) they ride out 3 times a week, i go twice a week due to working 5 days a week
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Yes, the Fast Group is massively faster than Alasdair's group. We usually cruise between 20-22 MPH, but the speed hits 30 MPH+ when doing through and off on some parts of the ride. Very much dependant on group composition though. I always know I'll be in for a world of pain whenever the Race Team guys turn up :(
 
Murf said:
Yeah my turbo session is skewing the fastest 10 miles challenge. :/

Anyway I can strip rides from records but not my overall mileage\time etc?
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Just change the type of excersise from cycling to spinning. That will remove it from the challenges but keep it on your personal stats.

This is what I've done anyway.
 
ShiWarrior said:
never heard of them, we ride in oxfordshire (as we start in Thame, but another "faster" group, starts in High Wycombe) they ride out 3 times a week, i go twice a week due to working 5 days a week
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Small world, I work in Thame in the week and at the weekends ride from Maidenhead, Windsor or Bracknell back to Thame depending on how long we've got, some really killer routes around this way i must say.
 
George Hincapie said:
Yes, the Fast Group is massively faster than Alasdair's group. We usually cruise between 20-22 MPH, but the speed hits 30 MPH+ when doing through and off on some parts of the ride. Very much dependant on group composition though. I always know I'll be in for a world of pain whenever the Race Team guys turn up :(
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lol yeah, i know what you mean

its like when i ride Sunday, depends whos there, i know if its going to be faster than normal
 
topgun06 said:
kiteloopy, Mallorca looks like one of the main places to go if you're after some training abroad. Or just the casual bike ride mixed in with a relaxing holiday.
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Was there last summer on honeymoon, couldn't get over how many bikes there were & how bike friendly the place is.
Certainly would like to go back for a cycling holiday there, scenery is great.
 
I'm currently looking into making secret cunning plans for a Mediterranean cruise with the wife for our 10th anniversary next year. Might be tempted to book an extra day or so at one or the other in Mallorca so I can get some cycling done over there :D
 
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