Road Cycling Essentials

[Damien] · 18 May 2013 at 13:56

Vonhelmet said:
Another 1800 feet this morning, so only 3700 feet to go on that sigma climbing challenge. Got until next Sunday to do it - easy.

Not bad. If we get out in the week like we planned we'll smash it easy.

Edit: Also, I did a bit of a sprint on Wingates just to troll Rob (a bit dangerous taking that corner in this weather though) and what did I get for it? Joint 2nd. I risked life and limb to beat him and ended up drawing. Great...

I had a look at his Canyon too, I didn't realise he had the exact same model as I've just ordered. It's so light compared to mine.

Edit2: Anyone over our way doing the Tour of the Peak on the 2nd? My lift's pulled out with a blood clot on his lung so if anyone's heading over that way and could help me out I'd love you long time.

rogan · 18 May 2013 at 14:03

[DOD]Asprilla;24300491 said:
Oh, and to throw in another option; the Surly Cross Check isn't as adaptable but does have horizontal dropouts for single speed and is, apparently, a brilliant ride.

+1 for the cross check, lovely frames

Vonhelmet · 18 May 2013 at 14:08

[Damien];24300527 said:
Edit2: Anyone over our way doing the Tour of the Peak on the 2nd? My lift's pulled out with a blood clot on his lung so if anyone's heading over that way and could help me out I'd love you long time.

Whoa, who's that?

Borden · 18 May 2013 at 14:34

[DOD]Asprilla;24300491 said:
Oh, and to throw in another option; the Surly Cross Check isn't as adaptable but does have horizontal dropouts for single speed and is, apparently, a brilliant ride.

I have considered the Surly frames but I think they're just a bit out of my price range. I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible so the PX Kaffenback is looking promising. I've got bits and bobs lying around which I will use to build up the bike.

The Genesis Equilibrium would be my ultimate choice but that's £330 for the frame alone

[Damien] · 18 May 2013 at 14:39

Vonhelmet said:
Whoa, who's that?

It's PC. Wally says he's not well at all.

Conscript · 18 May 2013 at 15:38

Took part in my first sportive event today, the Cycling Weekly South Downs Spring Sportive. Did it with a friend who works for the mag.

Only did the short route (33 miles), took me 2hrs 42mins going by my computer. I did a 40 mile ride two weeks ago and really felt it. This sportive was shorter but much more hilly and I feel better, so I'm eminently proud of myself

And this is my trusty steed which I've owned for about 2 1/2 months - B'Twin Triban 3

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/459156_10152829815045424_1693607100_o.jpg

If the image is larger than 1280 pixels wide then please resize, link only or put in spoiler tags. Thank you.

Definitely not top of the range but perhaps the best value for the money spent and more than adequate for a beginner like me.

Vonhelmet · 18 May 2013 at 15:44

Good work. And yeah, great value for money that bike.

grudas · 18 May 2013 at 15:54

Conscript said:
And this is my trusty steed which I've owned for about 2 1/2 months - B'Twin Triban 3

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/459156_10152829815045424_1693607100_o.jpg

Definitely not top of the range but perhaps the best value for the money spent and more than adequate for a beginner like me.

nice..

mine looks a LITTLE different to yours lol.. was a triban ~6months ago

got some xlc triple compound pads today, ill see if they are any better in wet! i am so close to being brake less in wet its CRAZY! had to jump of my bike once to stop(not fun)

Conscript · 18 May 2013 at 16:13

The brakes really aren't great, so I do need to look into some better pads. I weigh not far off 100kgs so that's a lot of weight to bring to a stop in a hurry - even hard on the levers wont stop the bike all that quickly if I'm on a downhill stretch.

Thomas. PLease. · 18 May 2013 at 16:13

Just got back from a 75 mile ride on the TT bike. Legs really suffered in the last 15 but still came home in just over four hours with a 18.3mph average.

oli collett · 18 May 2013 at 16:17

Conscript said:
Took part in my first sportive event today, the Cycling Weekly South Downs Spring Sportive. Did it with a friend who works for the mag.

Only did the short route (33 miles), took me 2hrs 42mins going by my computer. I did a 40 mile ride two weeks ago and really felt it. This sportive was shorter but much more hilly and I feel better, so I'm eminently proud of myself

And this is my trusty steed which I've owned for about 2 1/2 months - B'Twin Triban 3

Definitely not top of the range but perhaps the best value for the money spent and more than adequate for a beginner like me.

Well done! I did it as well but did the epic. My official time will be about 5hrs10 but I stopped for a whole at the first stop to sort out my shifting as I had swapped my rear wheel and not reprogrammed di2! Also had my chain fall off 4 times, I really need to fix the front derailleur!

Felt pretty good with the climbs apart from on a couple of short ramps which must have pushed 20% for a few m - nearly came off my bike at one hairpin in particular. Glad I did the epic as there wasn't really any hills on the normal route!

One thing that was odd was that because I started later I hardly saw anyone on the epic route so I rode solo pretty much the whole time!

Tired now - 5.30am starts aren't fun on a Saturday!!!

grudas · 18 May 2013 at 16:32

Conscript said:
The brakes really aren't great, so I do need to look into some better pads. I weigh not far off 100kgs so that's a lot of weight to bring to a stop in a hurry - even hard on the levers wont stop the bike all that quickly if I'm on a downhill stretch.

im on my 6th set of pads! and the best were the cheap bum clarks from halfords!

in dry all the pads are alright, but in wet only the cheap clarks worked properly, the rest(even the more expensive clarks) were rubbish.

Shamrock · 18 May 2013 at 16:32

What did you wear today oli?

Got my 93 miler tomorrow! Thankfully the weather has improved but I'm still unsure on how to dress.

Vonhelmet · 18 May 2013 at 16:59

252km so far in May. Wondering whether I'll make it to 500 on the strava may massive. Could be a bit tight.

Wonder what the June challenge will be... Hopefully not just another distance challenge.

[Damien] · 18 May 2013 at 17:10

Yeah, I hope not. Distance challenges are getting boring as hell.

They really should take a leaf out of endomondo's book and do speed/height challenges, or even let us make club specific challenges ourselves.

grudas · 18 May 2013 at 17:11

Vonhelmet said:
252km so far in May. Wondering whether I'll make it to 500 on the strava may massive. Could be a bit tight.

Wonder what the June challenge will be... Hopefully not just another distance challenge.

398 for me.. but june will be exactly the same AFAIK

but + an extra challenge like the casteli one currently..

oli collett · 18 May 2013 at 17:33

Shamrock said:
What did you wear today oli?

Got my 93 miler tomorrow! Thankfully the weather has improved but I'm still unsure on how to dress.

Normal bib shorts, leg warmers, long sleeve jersey. Started with a light base layer but took it off half way through.

Was a much nicer day than I expected actually, probably would have been fine without the leg warmers

Conscript · 18 May 2013 at 17:48

oli collett said:
Well done! I did it as well but did the epic. My official time will be about 5hrs10 but I stopped for a whole at the first stop to sort out my shifting as I had swapped my rear wheel and not reprogrammed di2! Also had my chain fall off 4 times, I really need to fix the front derailleur!

Felt pretty good with the climbs apart from on a couple of short ramps which must have pushed 20% for a few m - nearly came off my bike at one hairpin in particular. Glad I did the epic as there wasn't really any hills on the normal route!

One thing that was odd was that because I started later I hardly saw anyone on the epic route so I rode solo pretty much the whole time!

Tired now - 5.30am starts aren't fun on a Saturday!!!

More than enough hills for me. I really hate hills though, being both heavy and unfit, even a mild incline absolutely knackers me out and I hate having to stop. Hopefully a combination of strengthening legs and losing weight will make things easier.

Shadowness · 18 May 2013 at 17:49

740km total so far for the May massive. I should crack 1000 before the end of the month. Hopefully I'll be going out with the Cheltenham cycling club tomorrow, I did a ride this morning with them with was good, so I'll hope to join them soon.

oli collett · 18 May 2013 at 18:09

Conscript said:
More than enough hills for me. I really hate hills though, being both heavy and unfit, even a mild incline absolutely knackers me out and I hate having to stop. Hopefully a combination of strengthening legs and losing weight will make things easier.

Losing weight definitely helps, and lots of practise! 90% of my bike riding has just been around suffolk so I'm not exactly used to them, but lots of work on the turbo over winter has thankfully sorted me out!

Here's a q for folks - descending. Often today I was following groups of people and I had to just keep braking. It didn't seem like they were braking, certainly didn't seem like any need for it, but it got really frustrating. I realise there's the aerodynamic benefits, but even when I was in the middle of a group it seemed the same, and a lot of the riders were obviously a fair bit heavier than me, which should surely make them quicker downhill?! Confused me anyway!