Road Cycling Essentials

Draeger · 29 Aug 2013 at 00:04

VeNT said:
Done some maths, I've cycled over 3500 miles to and from work, that's approx 10 tanks of petrol. That's about £650 at current prices. I paid less than that for my bike (700£ in cyclescheme so approx 550 after all)
I've also lost load of weight, had fun and feel better!

Nice one!!. Never though about in terms of fuel cost before as I do it purely as I enjoy it but it's an added bonus for sure!!

[Damien] · 29 Aug 2013 at 00:18

VeNT said:
don't! I've got a nasty habit atm when the pasty van arrives and my breakfast (porridge) is still too hot to eat I almost always pop down for something which ends up being an eclaire or yum yum or cake!

I'm the same only it's whole boxes of eclairs or entire portions of cookie dough with ice cream or like 2 boxes of bakery cookies in a sittings.

1000+ calories as a snack ffs. Even my mid-ride cafe refuelling routine gets me funny looks.

I'm a fat man in a normal sized man's body

Vonhelmet · 29 Aug 2013 at 00:46

[Damien];24846191 said:
I'm the same only it's whole boxes of eclairs or entire portions of cookie dough with ice cream or like 2 boxes of bakery cookies in a sittings.

1000+ calories as a snack ffs. Even my mid-ride cafe refuelling routine gets me funny looks.

I'm a fat man in a normal sized man's body

And your veloviewer score is...

[DOD]Asprilla · 29 Aug 2013 at 06:43

VeNT said:
Done some maths, I've cycled over 3500 miles to and from work, that's approx 10 tanks of petrol. That's about £650 at current prices. I paid less than that for my bike (700£ in cyclescheme so approx 550 after all)
I've also lost load of weight, had fun and feel better!

My monthly travel card (train and tube) over the last three years has averaged £350 a month. So that £4,200 a year.

That's how I justify buying so many bikes.

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:04

One More Solo said:
Worth getting (if you don't have already) Koolstop Salmons or Swissstop Greens to minimise the wear on your rims.

Aye I use greens. And get plenty of wear on 'em too.

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:15

RS80s should be here tomorrow, fingers crossed, so have added a set of Climbers to my wheels which will hopefully help me out when I go "up north" or to hills. Are titanium skewers worth it (~£14.99) or pointless weight watching?

Just need to somehow figure out now how to convince the wife that a set of £2k+ Obermeyers are a good deal..

Saundie · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:21

VeloViewer Score
64.68
From 55 of 218 segments.
Maximum possible score: 99.59

*sigh*

Maybe things will improve once I start commuting on the VN Yukon.

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:22

Hmm, anyone think there's a consumer market in theRecon Jet stuff? We're all geeks as can be evidenced from our use of stats, but anyone interested in a HUD?

The article already talks about a Strava app integration as the software is based on android, and I have to say that I think they look pretty awesome, but I reckon the display would be too distracting.

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:23

Saundie said:
*sigh*

Maybe things will improve once I start commuting on the VN Yukon.

Your score will double at least (ignore that maximum score, they haven't taken into consideration the Yukon), you will have crowds of babes following you asking for your autograph and your six pack will stand out of your lycra so much it will make Brad Pitt swoon.

chanjy · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:26

platypus said:
RS80s should be here tomorrow, fingers crossed, so have added a set of Climbers to my wheels which will hopefully help me out when I go "up north" or to hills. Are titanium skewers worth it (~£14.99) or pointless weight watching?

Just need to somehow figure out now how to convince the wife that a set of £2k+ Obermeyers are a good deal..

Always skewers with internal cams for me, which inevitably means heavier ones. But I don't fully trust the strength of the weight weenie ones.

Shimano skewers are usually pretty good, so would stick with the ones that come with the wheels tbh.

chanjy · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:29

VeloViewer Score
82.22
From 100 of 540 segments.
Maximum possible score: 99.83

Damn, definitely need a new bike

Thomas. PLease. · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:33

Veloviewer score: 94.73
From 100 of 550 segments.
Maximum possible score: 99.25

uniQ · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:37

[DOD]Asprilla;24846537 said:
My monthly travel card (train and tube) over the last three years has averaged £350 a month. So that £4,200 a year.

That's how I justify buying so many bikes.

Problem is you can only spend that money once

I find myself justifying multiple purchases on a similar basis then realise I've spent the same money 3-4 times

e: on that note Rapha sent me an extra 10% off for the sale. So I ordered another hard shell to save an extra £20 and will send the first one back. :mad:

Saundie · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:38

platypus said:
Your score will double at least (ignore that maximum score, they haven't taken into consideration the Yukon), you will have crowds of babes following you asking for your autograph and your six pack will stand out of your lycra so much it will make Brad Pitt swoon.

I hope not; they might step out into the road, forcing me to slow down and ultimately costing me even more time! As for the six pack; I'd probably have to stop melting bars of chocolate into my porridge to stand any hope of achieving one, and I'm not sure I'm prepared to make that sacrifice.

Although it occurs to me that I can't keep this excess weight once the VN Aquilo arrives; I can't risk being mistaken for one of those "all the gear, no idea" types

Thomas. PLease. said:
Veloviewer score: 94.73
From 100 of 550 segments.
Maximum possible score: 99.25

Considering that you're an IronMan, isn't that score rather low?

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:41

Saundie said:
I'd probably have to stop melting bars of chocolate into my porridge to stand any hope of achieving one, and I'm not sure I'm prepared to make that sacrifice.

Hmm joking aside, this sounds disgusting.

Seriously?!

Saundie · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:46

platypus said:
Hmm joking aside, this sounds disgusting.

Seriously?!

Surely you've at least seen chocolate Ready Brek, if not tried it? I'm not talking about dunking a box of After Eights in there. I will admit to trying a Toffee Crisp, but that didn't go so well. My favourite is a few triangles of Toblerone - it just works.

chanjy · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:51

Saundie said:
Although it occurs to me that I can't keep this excess weight once the VN Aquilo arrives; I can't risk being mistaken for one of those "all the gear, no idea" types

Pretty sure the average cyclist really doesn't know whether it's a Yukon or an Aquilo, so not much will change on that front

platypus · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:53

Saundie said:
Surely you've at least seen chocolate Ready Brek, if not tried it? I'm not talking about dunking a box of After Eights in there. I will admit to trying a Toffee Crisp, but that didn't go so well. My favourite is a few triangles of Toblerone - it just works.

/faints.

Isn't ready brek just [random flavour] + a ton of sugar + oats?

uniQ · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:53

On VeloViewer don't click on "Check Placings" worst idea ever:

Improved placings (30)
Worse placings (1667)

Score 97.33 > 97.25

I cried.

Saundie · 29 Aug 2013 at 08:00

platypus said:
/faints.

Isn't ready brek just [random flavour] + a ton of sugar + oats?

I have no idea, but I don't eat Ready Brek so I'm not inclined to find out. I have standard porridge that I just happen to add chocolate to - it's like adding fruit or honey, but worse for you