Road Cycling Essentials

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Got my seatpost, saddle, stem, bars, levers and clip on mudguard robbed last night outside the pub

what a real pain in the ass, pub was really busy too and there was atleast 10-15 bikes also locked up that had nothing stolen
 
rogan said:
Got my seatpost, saddle, stem, bars, levers and clip on mudguard robbed last night outside the pub

what a real pain in the ass, pub was really busy too and there was atleast 10-15 bikes also locked up that had nothing stolen
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wuuuut? that is so random.. you either take everything or leave it.. sitting there disassembling a locked bike is a bit rude isn't it.. :eek:
 
Had my first real go on Trainer Road last night, i done Gray.
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Its interesting training with power. I really like it

im not really sure what the numbers are at the top but i was over the 200 FTP all the way though apart from when i dropped my water bottle at the end lol
 
I'm going to have to pick up a turbo when I've got some disposable cash. Thinking about it though, surely the fatties have the advantage in stationary cycling. They're likely to have far more power due to having to drag their relative bulk about on a day to day basis and can put it all into the pedals without having to take on their usual enemies, namely mavity and wind resistance.
 
[Damien];23848350 said:
I'm going to have to pick up a turbo when I've got some disposable cash. Thinking about it though, surely the fatties have the advantage in stationary cycling. They're likely to have far more power due to having to drag their relative bulk about on a day to day basis and can put it all into the pedals without having to take on their usual enemies, namely mavity and wind resistance.
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There seem to be some good ones at the 200-250 mark.

I wouldn't mind one for the winter when it starts to get dark!
 
Highly recommend the one I've got, Elite SuperCrono Power Fluid.

Loads of resistance to really burn the legs, I challenge anyone to use their top gear at 100rpm for anything more than a minute.
 
For me it'd definitely be a frivolous purchase seeing as I'm out on my bike practically every day rain or shine anyway. Although if I finally get my driving licence like everyone's badgering me to I might get one to compensate for the loss of road miles.

It'd be interesting to train properly with power, intervals etc though, as opposed to just doing a load of miles.
 
Getting a bit complacent on my commute now; have built back up to 100 miles/week and starting to enjoy the oncoming spring :cool:.

Now to find a nice new comfortable saddle that fits my gran fondo: recommendations (price not an issue)?

Oh and I finally got my front mudguard fitted after some macgyvering around :).
 
Is anyone here what they would consider an experienced wheel builder? Struggling to decide how to lace my rear wheel when it arrives.

I'm thinking two cross drive side, radial non drive side. It's a 28 hole 50mm carbon tubular rim if that makes any difference.
 
[Damien];23848350 said:
I'm going to have to pick up a turbo when I've got some disposable cash. Thinking about it though, surely the fatties have the advantage in stationary cycling. They're likely to have far more power due to having to drag their relative bulk about on a day to day basis and can put it all into the pedals without having to take on their usual enemies, namely mavity and wind resistance.
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To an extent yes, look at the guys that excel at time-trialling like Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara. Ok, they aren't exactly heffers, but they are certainly bulkier than a lot of the guys in the peloton because they are all about power. If you're target is riding on the flat then having a bit of extra bulk is no drawback because it makes minimal difference really. :)
 
[Damien];23848623 said:
How you finding the gran fondo? If I had some cash lying about I'd definitely pick one up just on the looks alone.
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I've had it for over a year now, and its the first bike in the last 6-7 years of "serious" riding (~200 miles/week) that I haven't itched to replace after one year. I was doing 150miles/week on it before my brief hiatus in London and loved it. Resuming cycling on it has been a pleasure :).
 
Oh dear. Went shopping for a saddle and so far have bought a new Castelli jacket and some Asos FI.Mille S5's. I haven't spent money on kit in a while..
 
[Damien];23848350 said:
I'm going to have to pick up a turbo when I've got some disposable cash. Thinking about it though, surely the fatties have the advantage in stationary cycling. They're likely to have far more power due to having to drag their relative bulk about on a day to day basis and can put it all into the pedals without having to take on their usual enemies, namely mavity and wind resistance.
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I have the Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Trainer which is around £160 all the resistence is controlled via your bikes gears but the unit is really quiet and easily moveable due to no trailing cables etc.

Given the time I get home from work I have found it really useful to use in the evenings.
 
Rusty_Noob said:
Is anyone here what they would consider an experienced wheel builder? Struggling to decide how to lace my rear wheel when it arrives.

I'm thinking two cross drive side, radial non drive side. It's a 28 hole 50mm carbon tubular rim if that makes any difference.
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Drop Paolo an email. Great guy and always willing to answer wheel related questions.

[email protected]

http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/
 
[Damien];23847579 said:
That's pretty cool. Which hill is it?
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Belmont, from the Rivington side. The plaque is by the side of the road, somewhere near the tree at the top of the big slope, just before it kinks left and levels out a bit. You wouldn't notice it coming from the far side, because you're usually doing 30+ at that point and trying not to slide off on the bend, but on the way up when you're grinding at <10mph you have plenty of time to read it :D

Bah. Having trouble finding it on Google maps...
 
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Rusty_Noob said:
Is anyone here what they would consider an experienced wheel builder? Struggling to decide how to lace my rear wheel when it arrives.

I'm thinking two cross drive side, radial non drive side. It's a 28 hole 50mm carbon tubular rim if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say experienced but I've built about 10 wheels. I've seen radial lacing on one side of the rear wheel but you shouldn't really do it. The torque of your pedalling through the hub tries to turn the spokes in the wheel so I'd always cross-spoke the rear on both sides. At the front it's fine though, as long as the hub says it can take radial spokes. Remember the forces are a lot higher on radial spokes so the hub has to be stronger and you're more likely to break a spoke. Two cross is also a bit on the weak side for a drive wheel - I've always gone three cross on both sides and you get a nice tight strong wheel.
 
Rusty_Noob said:
Is anyone here what they would consider an experienced wheel builder? Struggling to decide how to lace my rear wheel when it arrives.

I'm thinking two cross drive side, radial non drive side. It's a 28 hole 50mm carbon tubular rim if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

As I recall, Asprilla has some experience building wheels.
 
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