Road Cycling Essentials

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That Chris Boardman cycle path vid is filmed near where I used to live. It's on the Wirral, on the road from Arrowe Park towards Barnston. My parents still live just a few minutes drive from there.

Cycle lanes are terrible in general. They're typically carved out of existing road space, so the road lanes are narrower as a result of squeezing a tiny cycle path on the side, which is then full of drains and terrible surfaces and rubbish... It's hopeless.
 
Vonhelmet said:
That Chris Boardman cycle path vid is filmed near where I used to live. It's on the Wirral, on the road from Arrowe Park towards Barnston. My parents still live just a few minutes drive from there.

Cycle lanes are terrible in general. They're typically carved out of existing road space, so the road lanes are narrower as a result of squeezing a tiny cycle path on the side, which is then full of drains and terrible surfaces and rubbish... It's hopeless.
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Had a response to my letter of complaint about the surface-dressing resurfacing of all the roads in Cambridge recently. I'd pointed out that it's dangerous for cyclists, and because we don't pack down the road surface as is intended by cars, it just leads to cycle lanes in even worse condition. I got a letter of reply saying (paraphrased) "surface dressing is used by councils all over the country. Deal with it".

This from the council of one of Britains "Cycling cities", given government grants to improve cycling infrastructure. What do they do with this money? Put led lights on cycle paths that are..already lit.
 
What's everyone's favourite winter jackets/jerseys?

I've got a DHB windslam jersey which is good, but it's a fairly 'relaxed' fit. I'm getting a castelli Gabba, but was wondering about something else as well as at the moment i've only really got 1 day's worth of an outfit. I like the look of the Gore Xenon series but i'm not sure which one to go with - the soft-shell jacket looks good, but it's not cheap. There's also the thermo jersey or windstopper jersey - either looks like they could work as a mid-layer on a really cold day or an outer layer on a milder day?

There's some other cold weather castelli kit rated 0-10C but I wonder whether something like the Mortirolo jacket would be fine (rated 6-15C) as it should go lower with a base layer and be good for spring autumn as well?
 
I rarely use cycle lanes tbh.. :| not only do cars still manage to drive on them but also 90% of them are covered in manholes that create massive potholes combine that with rain and you're more safe riding in the middle of the road! plus they're like 80cm wide MAX how the heck am I meant to safely cycle over them? the only acceptable cycle lane I know is this -;

http://goo.gl/maps/s4Ayw

its in the middle of the road but cars seem to keep away from it, its wide and the surface is good! :)
 
I love my Rapha Winter jerseys. They have windstopper panels on the front to keep the chill out.

I was overheating at 0c wearing one as a single layer. But that's because I'm fat. Others may find that they need more underneath.
 
Had a half day free before kids break up for school at midday. Drop them off, weather looks great, no sign of ice on main roads near school.

Get about 2 miles out of town, absolutely gorgeous day, start to see heavy ice on roads. Gutted as wanted to do a long one; limped home after 18 miles after a few near misses on the treacherous ground :mad:
 
oli collett said:
What's everyone's favourite winter jackets/jerseys?
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So far this year, I've been too hot if I've gone for a ride wearing a winter jacket, but it hasn't really dropped below 5C yet around these parts.

At the moment I go for LS jersey, gilet, no base layer and winter tights.

I assume you have the "normal" wind slam jersey? This is the racier version which I've got and can recommend:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windslam-blade-long-sleeve-jersey/

One of these with a LS jersey is perfect for 5-10C:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windslam-roubaix-gilet/
 
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Shamrock said:
So far this year, I've been too hot if I've gone for a ride wearing a winter jacket, but it hasn't really dropped below 5C yet around these parts.

At the moment I go for LS jersey, gilet, no base layer and winter tights.

I assume you have the "normal" wind slam jersey? This is the racier version which I've got and can recommend:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windslam-blade-long-sleeve-jersey/

One of these with a LS jersey is perfect for 5-10C:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windslam-roubaix-gilet/
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aha - yes I've got the normal one, that one looks a much better bet.

platypus said:
Rapha softshell. Haven't even had to break out the hardshell yet.
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I haven't got any Rapha gear yet - I do like Gore/Castelli so was going to stick in that range to keep everything matching :D

Shamrock said:
Up for a ride this Sunday oli?
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Would do but i'm heading back to suffolk tomorrow to see the folks - might be up for one the following weekend though!
 
Had a moped crash into the back of me at one of the roundabouts this morning. No damage to either and he looked pretty shook up. I couldn't get too angry since I've been there before when I was riding twist-and-go bikes. Plus, and this is going to sound completely crazy, I've been crashed into so many times now that I just brush it off as one of those things.
 
One More Solo said:
Yeah, like the new site. :D The RT58 alloy is pretty nice too, think Vonhelmet posted a link the other day.

Finally subjected my Pearl Izumi jacket to some proper rain yesterday, very impressed how it held up.
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I've been riding with it since I got it.. great bit of kit tbh! t-shirt under that or a compression layer and Its crazy warm..

heavy rain for 8+ miles yesterday with a lot of water on the road and I was dry! surprised tbh... keeps my phone in the pocket nice and dry too!
 
grudas said:
I've been riding with it since I got it.. great bit of kit tbh! t-shirt under that or a compression layer and Its crazy warm..

heavy rain for 8+ miles yesterday with a lot of water on the road and I was dry! surprised tbh... keeps my phone in the pocket nice and dry too!
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Just been out in it about half an hour ago for a quick hungover spin:

http://www.strava.com/activities/101064879

Mine's been great, even after i had to do some repairs after tearing a couple of holes in it when i crashed. Doesn't let in any water and keeps the wind chill off as well.

Obviously it's a fair bit colder up here in Scotland, so i've been wearing it with a base layer and long sleeved top under it in temps down to freezing and it's been all i've needed to keep the top half warm. Even a little too warm if i'm working a bit harder.

Great bit of kit.

Oh, and also - Merry Christmas to me!

2vtsltl.jpg


:cool:
 
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