Road Cycling Essentials

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Berger said:
Do you race on the same wheels or not? I know the powertap hubs aren't the lightest unless you start paying mega money.

Trying to work out what is better, a power meter or some wheel porn.

Or both... :eek:
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No, I dont race with a powertap. I have cosmic carbone race wheels.
 
Thomas. PLease. said:
Crank based power meter imho
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Yeah, but you are then tied to the one bike/crankset.... Plus they cost double a stages or hub based power meter. I think they offer the most elegant solution which works all the time though.

With a hub based meter for training you can get the most in training, then race on good wheels. In a road race or Crit you either keep up or are dropped, so your power output doesn't matter as much... For time trialling and triathlon I realise it's pretty critical.

If they sold the Quarq for <£1000 I'd buy one. But they are £1300 & import costs!
 
Berger said:
Trying to work out what is better, a power meter or some wheel porn.

Or both... :eek:
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I would go for wheels (depending on what you have now) a powermeter will help in training to etc to a degree, however for sheer outright performance lighter, faster wheels will make you quicker before a power meter will :)

Hell im not saying im the best cyclist but i dont have a heart rate monitor never mind a power meter and I mange to do ok in sportives etc, sure I could be faster but to me miles on the bike and a better diet would make me faster. Im not sure a power meter would at the level I ride at now or will be riding at in the future.

I can say this though wheels make a big difference, did the team townend challenge last april and broke a spoke on my Vision Pro wheels (1550 grm and 30mm aero profile) had to change and use a mavic aksium front and a R500 rear, it was like pedalling in treacle in comparison :p
 
I would think that if you're racing regularly, the power meter used properly will enable you to make big advances in your fitness. You'll train much more efficiently and probably make much bigger gains than you are currently with the training you're already doing.

Personally, i'd say that would be a more important upgrade than wheels that weigh 300g less. Not saying that shaving off a few grams here and there won't make a difference, but i suspect there's no shortcut to being fast. You just need to do a lot of hard work - and the power meter would help you ensure that the hard work you put in is focused on the right areas.
 
So I've swapped back over to my winter wheels at the weekend. Thinking about getting some winter tyres now to preserve my GP4000S. Paves? Any other recommendations? :)
 
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Shamrock said:
I'm considering buying the London-proof tyres I used to have on my Charge s/s for my Cinelli. I got 2 punctures yesterday and can't be ****ed dealing with punctures every time I go for a wet, wintry ride.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-ribmo-folding-city-tyre/

Very heavy rubber but very puncture resistant.

EDIT: Found them here for £17.99.. http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=20984
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I've found the Vredestein Fortezza Quattro Tricomps to be totally bulletproof, they are on my mudguarded bike and only go out when the weather is cr4p....no punctures in ~2k miles. The ride is ok as well. Not cheap mind, well they are at Ribble but they dont have stock at the moment.

Reviews are good:-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vredestein-fortezza-quattro-tricomp-folding-tyre/
 
grudas said:
XLS has the best kit :) but boardman is 200 cheaper.. right now with the 10% discount.. :o
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Can you actually buy a Boardman though? They've all been recalled as they were cracking (well the paint was) and I know my mate is still waiting on the one he ordered.

I'd personally pick the Planet X for racing as the Boardman is much more of an all rounder, but the stock wheels aren't the best and fairly heavy. From a quick spin on a mates it felt good though and seemed fairly resistant to clogging with mud/grass unlike my old non disc Pinnacle Expede when racing at Broughton Hall.
 
tedmaul said:
I would think that if you're racing regularly, the power meter used properly will enable you to make big advances in your fitness. You'll train much more efficiently and probably make much bigger gains than you are currently with the training you're already doing.

Personally, i'd say that would be a more important upgrade than wheels that weigh 300g less. Not saying that shaving off a few grams here and there won't make a difference, but i suspect there's no shortcut to being fast. You just need to do a lot of hard work - and the power meter would help you ensure that the hard work you put in is focused on the right areas.
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I agree with this.
Lighter wheels will give you an instant benefit but they will never become lighter - the benefit they give is a fixed value.
A power meter needs to be used properly in training and it will take time before you see the benefit from it. The potential benefit is much more than the benefit from lighter wheels but it could also be much less if you don't use it properly.
They are very different ways of improving your cycling (and not mutually exclusive ;) )
 
Perfect weather this morning, went for a 60mi ride out to Veloton cycling cafe in Tetbury :)

1455065_10202422062296606_643580763_n.jpg
 
I wish I was off work today rather than Thu/Fri last week. My rubbish 10 mile cycle in the rain on Friday wouldn't compare favourably to a nice long cycle in the clear/sunny weather of today :/
 
Berger said:
Yeah, but you are then tied to the one bike/crankset.... Plus they cost double a stages or hub based power meter. I think they offer the most elegant solution which works all the time though.

With a hub based meter for training you can get the most in training, then race on good wheels. In a road race or Crit you either keep up or are dropped, so your power output doesn't matter as much... For time trialling and triathlon I realise it's pretty critical.

If they sold the Quarq for <£1000 I'd buy one. But they are £1300 & import costs!
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Yeah that's true, depends what you are doing racing wise I guess. As you say for triathlon, I'm not sure if want to train/race without one now. Have you considers a power2max? Just as good as a quarq for quite a bit less. That's what I've got.
 
Made a bit of a mess of today's ride - was supposed to be 60km around the coast but got very confused with the Garmin 810 which seems to keep wanting to take me back to the start if I go off course.

Tomorrow should be easier - another ascent of Teide!
 
oli collett said:
Made a bit of a mess of today's ride - was supposed to be 60km around the coast but got very confused with the Garmin 810 which seems to keep wanting to take me back to the start if I go off course.

Tomorrow should be easier - another ascent of Teide!
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Just disable replotting.
 
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