Road Cycling Essentials

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uniQ said:
Nice bike sir. :)
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Thanks. :)

[DOD]Asprilla;24232094 said:
Just hope you like riding it as much as I do. Tyres are brilliant but, yes, for weekend only.
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First impressions are very positive, the ride quality is excellent. It's fairly cushy without being dead, it makes you aware of the road surface but takes the worst out of it. It picks up speed nicely too.

Still need to tweak my position, the reach is perfect but just need to adjust the drop (or work on my flexibility).

Here's today's ride anyway: http://app.strava.com/activities/52481614
 
Lovely day today, saw loads of people out on their bikes while I was working.

Got three laps of the mount after work, took 30 seconds off my previous best on the climb up to the top on the first two laps, over cooked it a bit and had to pace myself up the third to avoid blowing up.

Will aim for a longer ride tomorrow to break it up a bit.
 
I have a Planet X stealth SRAM TT Bike.

Gorgeous looking piece of kit - but I want to learn to ride it as i went out briefly for a couple of miles this morning and I'd like to be able to use it without risking death! lol

Any tips on how I should do it? What I should learn first? What I should aim towards?
Better still - where should I practice safely? I'm guessing the roads around Wykin because they are quiet but they have lots of bends?
 
helpimcrap said:
I have a Planet X stealth SRAM TT Bike.

Gorgeous looking piece of kit - but I want to learn to ride it as i went out briefly for a couple of miles this morning and I'd like to be able to use it without risking death! lol

Any tips on how I should do it? What I should learn first? What I should aim towards?
Better still - where should I practice safely? I'm guessing the roads around Wykin because they are quiet but they have lots of bends?
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Google your local area for cycle routes / loops. Often it's quiet or dedicated path.

I did that, and went on it for five miles. Now I'm a little more confident when on the road as it's such a step up from cycling a mountain bike. The seating, the reach, the SPEED downhill and 'clipping in' at stops.
 
After the disaster yesterday I was determined to do a solo century today. Conditions couldn't have been more perfect, including a cheeky light tailwind on the way home.

I can honestly say it was the most gruelling ride I've ever done and since my previous longest ride was only 66mi, this was a major step up. I tried to pace myself and chose a fairly safe route repeatedly lapping Box Hill which allowed me to rest and pee between laps.

It took 12 fig rolls, 1.5L of water and 5 energy gels but I made it! I have to say the biggest obstacle was my back side which was so sore after about 50mi. I was wearing my Gore Xenon bibs with chamois cream and I was still not that comfy. I'm not sure whether to blame the saddle or my shorts. Maybe it's Assos time?

Anyway, here it is...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/308738682

There is a little glitch where I accidently turned the Garmin off so it looks like I've teleported!
 
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Just had a dodgy guy from the area come knocking on the door. It's the third time he's been to our house but the first time I've answered it. He comes around with a sob story asking for money for his kids blah blah etc.

Anyway, he had with him a red road bike and I'd be very surprised if he obtained it legitimately. It was fully kitted out with Ultegra but was in a bit of a state. He dropped it accidentally when he was at the door as he was completely off his face.

I couldn't see what make it was as the stickers had peeled off but apart from the Ultegra groupset I saw it had a Bontrager stem. I had a quick google for stolen bikes in the area but couldn't find anything matching the description.

Thought I'd post it on here in the slim hope of finding it's original owner. I live in the Olda Ashby Road area in Loughborough.
 
Shamrock said:
After the disaster yesterday I was determined to do a solo century today. Conditions couldn't have been more perfect, including a cheeky light tailwind on the way home.

I can honestly say it was the most gruelling ride I've ever done and since my previous longest ride was only 66mi, this was a major step up. I tried to pace myself and chose a fairly safe route repeatedly lapping Box Hill which allowed me to rest and pee between laps.

It took 12 fig rolls, 1.5L of water and 5 energy gels but I made it! I have to say the biggest obstacle was my back side which was so sore after about 50mi. I was wearing my Gore Xenon bibs with chamois cream and I was still not that comfy. I'm not sure whether to blame the saddle or my shorts. Maybe it's Assos time?

Anyway, here it is...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/308738682

There is a little glitch where I accidently turned the Garmin off so it looks like I've teleported!
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That's about 4 hours worth of food, might need a few more calories unless you're adding something to your fluids?
 
6thElement said:
That's about 4 hours worth of food, might need a few more calories unless you're adding something to your fluids?
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Yeah, I probably should have brought more food! One bottle had High5 2:1 energy powder in though, the other had a zero calorie tablet and then the last 500ml was just a refill of toilet tap water.
 
helpimcrap said:
Any tips on how I should do it? What I should learn first? What I should aim towards?
Better still - where should I practice safely? I'm guessing the roads around Wykin because they are quiet but they have lots of bends?
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I'm not sure what you're asking. How to not get run over? The safest roads around me seem to be the derestricted country roads as they are quieter. The most dangerous places seem to be roundabouts. I almost got runover by someone who passed on the right hand lane to then instantly want the exit to my left.
 
Mr Jones said:
Google your local area for cycle routes / loops. Often it's quiet or dedicated path.

I did that, and went on it for five miles. Now I'm a little more confident when on the road as it's such a step up from cycling a mountain bike. The seating, the reach, the SPEED downhill and 'clipping in' at stops.
Click to expand...

Trifid said:
I'm not sure what you're asking. How to not get run over? The safest roads around me seem to be the derestricted country roads as they are quieter. The most dangerous places seem to be roundabouts. I almost got runover by someone who passed on the right hand lane to then instantly want the exit to my left.
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I'm asking about techniques that are different to drop bar bikes. Do I need to move back, the quicker I go the more stable it will be? etc. If i go quicker and lose control it'll hurt more that's all.

Guess it'll just be a case of look for a quiet road and just ride up and down it on my own for a while until I'm happy I've go the technique nailed as i swerve too much when getting into the TT bars which makes me a danger to others.
 
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