Road Cycling Essentials

touch · 13 Feb 2014 at 19:50

SkodaMart said:
He doesn't strike me as a BS er

I feel the complete opposite.

(also, 5 mins of googling reveals that '6 wins in 6 races' is wrong)

Berger · 13 Feb 2014 at 20:56

Did he start at the national road race? Or does he race for a NRS team?

Don't think so....

Phantom Shadow · 13 Feb 2014 at 21:16

physichull said:
On another issue, has anybody got private healthcare with Pru Health? If so have you been able to load activities from a Garmin device to the website? I can't get my 810 to sync properly. Long shot, I know.

I am, what's this about uploading rides to their website? Covered through my dad's policy so the only involvement I've had with them is to make a claim, never looked at their website.

oli collett · 13 Feb 2014 at 21:20

SkodaMart said:
Reckon's he can climb with the best of them at tour speeds.

Looking at his strava profile and some power outputs, he looks like he would be a very good cat 1 level rider - I'm basing that on some of his PRs which give him an estimated FTP of around 4.8-5W/kg. He'd get spat out the back of the groupetto on the first climb.

Definitely not one of the best climbers in Australia.

Jonny69 · 13 Feb 2014 at 21:33

SkodaMart said:

*COUGHslamthatstem*

One More Solo · 13 Feb 2014 at 21:53

SkodaMart said:
My waist is looking trimmer from just stopping eating crisps!

By eating more carbs than I would, I am less hungry, therefore snack less, I suspect my calorie intake is much less than it was despite eating more carbs.

durianrider is a total quack, please don't take his nutritional advice seriously.

Eat a healthy balanced diet but I can't think of anything worse than a high carb, low fat diet either for health or weight loss purposes.

physichull · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:09

Phantom Shadow said:
I am, what's this about uploading rides to their website? Covered through my dad's policy so the only involvement I've had with them is to make a claim, never looked at their website.

Its well worth looking at. You can upload activities from your Garmin device via the Pru Vitality website and get a certain amount of points for each activity. This then equates to cash back, so its a pretty good incentive.

You can also get £30 for not smoking, 50% off bikes at Evans and free cinema tickets every week for everybody on the policy. I literally had no idea about all this until a few weeks ago, despite having been enrolled on the scheme for about 5 years!

The problem I am having with my Garmin is that it tries to search for activities but never finds them/freezes. I am pretty sure it is a website bug though.

FrenchTart · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:12

physichull said:
Its well worth looking at. You can upload activities from your Garmin device via the Pru Vitality website and get a certain amount of points for each activity. This then equates to cash back, so its a pretty good incentive.

You can also get £30 for not smoking, 50% off bikes at Evans and free cinema tickets every week for everybody on the policy. I literally had no idea about all this until a few weeks ago, despite having been enrolled on the scheme for about 5 years!

The problem I am having with my Garmin is that it tries to search for activities but never finds them/freezes. I am pretty sure it is a website bug though.

That's pretty awesome. What are the cashback incentives like?

physichull · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:20

FrenchTart said:
That's pretty awesome. What are the cashback incentives like?

Depending on how well you get your "Vitality points", which can also be gained through means other than physical activity (e.g. having a healthy meal plan etc), you can be one of the following categories to get the cash per year:

Bronze (providing you have completed your Health Review and not made a claim) £25
Silver £50
Gold £75
Platinum £100

SkodaMart · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:25

Jonny69 said:
*COUGHslamthatstem*

Sorry! Geriatric bike!

That's why first choice was a Secteur, however I couldn't get one at the right price with a decent double groupset.

The Roubaix had the group I wanted but was too pricy.

It may look odd, but i'm not in a bad position on the bike.

Aiming for a 90 degree angle on the hoods.

FrenchTart · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:27

physichull said:
Depending on how well you get your "Vitality points", which can also be gained through means other than physical activity (e.g. having a healthy meal plan etc), you can be one of the following categories to get the cash per year:

Bronze (providing you have completed your Health Review and not made a claim) £25
Silver £50
Gold £75
Platinum £100

So what sort of percentage of total costs does that work out at? Just evaluating how worth the hassle it all is

FrenchTart · 13 Feb 2014 at 22:32

Slight subject change. Has anyone cycled Manchester > Birmingham? Any recommendations for routes?

topgun06 · 13 Feb 2014 at 23:10

Bothered about main roads?

Id suggest something to avoid main roads (roughly) like: Manc -> Macclesfield -> Leek -> Cheadle - > Cannock -> Birmingham

Phantom Shadow · 13 Feb 2014 at 23:10

physichull said:
Its well worth looking at. You can upload activities from your Garmin device via the Pru Vitality website and get a certain amount of points for each activity. This then equates to cash back, so its a pretty good incentive.

You can also get £30 for not smoking, 50% off bikes at Evans and free cinema tickets every week for everybody on the policy. I literally had no idea about all this until a few weeks ago, despite having been enrolled on the scheme for about 5 years!

The problem I am having with my Garmin is that it tries to search for activities but never finds them/freezes. I am pretty sure it is a website bug though.

Thanks for that, will have to ask dad about it. Will only be covered on the policy for 1 more year as a full time student, but I'm cycling anyway so might as well try and get some cash back from it.

uniQ · 14 Feb 2014 at 08:12

So fed up of the rain now

Shadowness · 14 Feb 2014 at 08:24

I got back in the country yesterday night from Jordan, lovely blue skies and 18C over there

Was going to go out today as I'm off, but really can't be assed. Getting pretty depressed now.

[DOD]Asprilla · 14 Feb 2014 at 08:41

uniQ said:
So fed up of the rain now

Every morning the weather forecast has said 'wetter than an otter's pocket' and so I've put on all my waterproofs and sweated my way to work in the dry and then sweated my way home in the dry again after work.

It's flooded round here but it's not raining on me.

oli collett · 14 Feb 2014 at 08:51

[DOD]Asprilla;25842989 said:
Every morning the weather forecast has said 'wetter than an otter's pocket' and so I've put on all my waterproofs and sweated my way to work in the dry and then sweated my way home in the dry again after work.

It's flooded round here but it's not raining on me.

Well I hope you wore them today!

[DOD]Asprilla · 14 Feb 2014 at 08:56

oli collett said:
Well I hope you wore them today!

Yes. And sweated in the dry on dry roads. I think it's started raining now I've been at work for 45 minutes.

Shamrock · 14 Feb 2014 at 09:00

Get a Gabba or Sportful No-Rain Flanders jacket!

Water resistant enough for a rainy commute and breathable enough not to sweat to death if it ends up being dry.

Road Cycling Essentials

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