Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
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Highest elevation -189ft? I wouldn't have thought GPS would work in a cave.
Don
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
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- 34,922
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- Oxfordshire / Bucks
I started on the road commuting to work a couple of months ago. Around 9.2miles each way, morning commute is uphill for the most part with the return a different route but offering a slight downhills instead.
Commute in the morning started around 50+ minutes, quickest now around 42 but average around 44/45 usually.
Getting home is slightly downhill in parts so does favour a fast time which is 32 minutes at it's quickest and 42 at it's slowest. Averaging in the middle this time at around 36-38 minutes usually.
Top speed started around 27.xx then crept up to 28, 29 30.00 a couple of weeks ago. I managed to hit 33.2mph last week. Got on the bike and had a feeling I'd be fast that day.
Commute in the morning started around 50+ minutes, quickest now around 42 but average around 44/45 usually.
Getting home is slightly downhill in parts so does favour a fast time which is 32 minutes at it's quickest and 42 at it's slowest. Averaging in the middle this time at around 36-38 minutes usually.
Top speed started around 27.xx then crept up to 28, 29 30.00 a couple of weeks ago. I managed to hit 33.2mph last week. Got on the bike and had a feeling I'd be fast that day.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2002
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- 9,055
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- In my penthouse, Park Ave
Definitely warm on the commute home at the moment, but I do love the subtly racing anyone that's on a bike 
i met this guy yesterday, this very fast guy on his boardman lol, he over took me on the way up this long hill and when we stopped at red lights he was like "i remember your bike as being red.. haha!" then i remembered him, we used to race up that hill 2-3 evenings/week on my way home! only managed to get him once, surprised he actually remembered my bike, me and all that.. 
Electrolytes, I buy it in powder form then add supermarket squash for flavouring. 250g bag of electrolytes is less than £10 and over 300 portions. Much cheaper than buying tabs.
Wen't for a 3000ft spin in the evening, convinced my fixed speed mate to come out and do some hills he then convinced me I should do it in 34/11 for the whole ride. I agreed. It was horrible. When you run out of momentum it's snake, mash, snake, mash. Didn't get off though and we did a couple of short sharp ones that hit 25%. 27.5mi, 3300ft Avg speed 11.3mph
Wen't for a 3000ft spin in the evening, convinced my fixed speed mate to come out and do some hills he then convinced me I should do it in 34/11 for the whole ride. I agreed. It was horrible. When you run out of momentum it's snake, mash, snake, mash. Didn't get off though and we did a couple of short sharp ones that hit 25%. 27.5mi, 3300ft Avg speed 11.3mph
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Dec 2007
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- 1,319
- Location
- Nottingham
What brake pads do people recommend?
Got my new bike yesterday and the brakes are a little rubbish (though i'm used to 203mm disc brakes). Bike came with tiagra brakes and levers and jagwire cables. So just looking to change the pads for now to gain a little more power.
Bike will be used for commuting and longer weekend rides in mainly decent weather, but will need to work ok in the wet too, as i'll no doubt get caught up in it from time to time commuting in the winter.
I've seen Kool Stop pads recommended, but most of the threads i've seen doing a google search are from a few years ago, these still a good bet?
Got my new bike yesterday and the brakes are a little rubbish (though i'm used to 203mm disc brakes). Bike came with tiagra brakes and levers and jagwire cables. So just looking to change the pads for now to gain a little more power.
Bike will be used for commuting and longer weekend rides in mainly decent weather, but will need to work ok in the wet too, as i'll no doubt get caught up in it from time to time commuting in the winter.
I've seen Kool Stop pads recommended, but most of the threads i've seen doing a google search are from a few years ago, these still a good bet?
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Dec 2007
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- 1,319
- Location
- Nottingham
Better pads can make a big difference due to compounds, sizes, etc.
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Dec 2007
- Posts
- 1,319
- Location
- Nottingham
Not sure if this is the one that uniQ is reffering too, but i use Myprotein for most of my supplements.
http://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/electrolyte-powder/10529892.html
Hmmmm
Snapped a spoke on my spare set of rear wheels tonight. I had previously already snapped one on the other set. At least 3k on each rear wheel though so could be expected by now perhaps.
They are only cheap wheels so I'm not sure what to do.
Ordering a new set of Ultegra 6800 from the UK will take a little while to arrive (and can I use a 9 speed cassette with them until buying 11 speed down the line?).
Having them repaired with new spokes will cost more than buying them again I expect, they are only Shimano R500 and some Alex AT450s iirc.
Or can I take one of the front wheels, remove the spokes from it, and then use those spokes to replace the broken spokes on its matching rear wheel?
Then I can use the front wheel from my other pair. I'll end up with mismatching front/rear wheels for a little while but it would get me going.... I'll have to have a LBS true it for me as I have no tools and although it can't be that difficult I'd like it done by Friday afternoon....
What to do, what to do!?
Snapped a spoke on my spare set of rear wheels tonight. I had previously already snapped one on the other set. At least 3k on each rear wheel though so could be expected by now perhaps.
They are only cheap wheels so I'm not sure what to do.
Ordering a new set of Ultegra 6800 from the UK will take a little while to arrive (and can I use a 9 speed cassette with them until buying 11 speed down the line?).
Having them repaired with new spokes will cost more than buying them again I expect, they are only Shimano R500 and some Alex AT450s iirc.
Or can I take one of the front wheels, remove the spokes from it, and then use those spokes to replace the broken spokes on its matching rear wheel?
Then I can use the front wheel from my other pair. I'll end up with mismatching front/rear wheels for a little while but it would get me going.... I'll have to have a LBS true it for me as I have no tools and although it can't be that difficult I'd like it done by Friday afternoon....
What to do, what to do!?
Also interested in some new pads - my rear pads are wearing out and make a lot of dragging noise, despite me cleaning out any dirt and grime. Not sure what to look for, the pads I had is stock and it's actually alright.
Don
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 34,922
- Location
- Oxfordshire / Bucks
well as promised I did that Hill
first half I went up in 3rd gear, high cadence, 2nd half it got steeper so ended up going into 1st gear
I think its probably just under cat 4
http://app.strava.com/activities/67711632
the segment :
http://app.strava.com/segments/1052431
on the way home
I went through some roadwork's (was green when I went through), got near the end and the car that was waiting decided to go, I had to slam my brakes on and unclip!
she wound down her window and said "what are you doing its green" and im like "im not a car that can do 60 mph im on a push bike and it was green when I went through!! bitch
first half I went up in 3rd gear, high cadence, 2nd half it got steeper so ended up going into 1st gear
I think its probably just under cat 4
http://app.strava.com/activities/67711632
the segment :
http://app.strava.com/segments/1052431
on the way home
I went through some roadwork's (was green when I went through), got near the end and the car that was waiting decided to go, I had to slam my brakes on and unclip!
she wound down her window and said "what are you doing its green" and im like "im not a car that can do 60 mph im on a push bike and it was green when I went through!! bitch
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