Road Cycling Essentials

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Trying out some suggestions that Cat1 Cycling suggested I try when doing my bikefit last week - SENSATIONAL!

As you might know because I can't straighten my elbow it makes riding a bike great initially but I get to 10 miles and my shoulder is killing me from pushing back on shoulder blade and riding position! I have to take 2x paracetamol and 2x ibuprofen before going out to try and lessen it but it still bloody kills with sharp pains down my shoulder and back! I have been advised by physios to cycle since my knee being rebuilt and femur/tibia/fibia were broken and learning to walk again to try and build my legs up and keep my knee good.

One of the suggestions was fitting time trial bars to my road bike - but 'separates' rather than hopped end 'normal' ones. Been out for 2 x 25 mile rides since fitting them and concentrated on comfort rather than speed to force myself to use the bar.

1st time was with 1 arm at full length in bottom of drop and one arm on the right hand bar (have cyclocross levers and a light which makes it very cluttered!) and only time I come off was to go into the drops for hills etc.
2nd time I fitted other bar as well 'just to see' and it was reasonably comfortable on the flat. Fair bit of movement due to having to put both over the bar tape. I could do with removing the cyclocross levers now and fitting these properly which i'll have a word with Cat1 about.

Overall impression? - slight niggle in my should after 20miles+ when elbow pad came loose first time and nothing on second time! Didn't take painkillers either time because I wanted to see what the full effect would be!
1st time ended up nearly a 19mph average (18.9) and 2nd was a 19+ (19.1)!
And I was concentrating on comfort rather than speed because it was on my Giant Defy 2 with mudguards, saddle bag, frame bag, pump, full bottle, lights, time trial bars, cyclocross brakes and beefy lock. I worked out it weighs over a 1/3 more than a standard Defy 2!

SO CHUFFED! :)
 
Jonny69 said:
OUCH.

Just so you know, next time get your spokes from cyclebasket. Black double butted stainless are between 25p and 50p each depending how many you get and that price includes nipples.[/url]
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Thanks, but they're not sapim cx rays. I'm well aware I could have got generic spokes much cheaper, but I didn't want generic spokes for my nice bike. I couldn't find the sapim's cheaper than buying in bulk on that site (in stock, that is), but I will be left with 12 of one length and 4 of the other left over, and 36 spare nipples...

EDIT: the sapim spokes did come with nipples, but only alloy ones. Brass ones are easier to work with as a novice, and I'll accept the minor weight trade off.
 
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Vonhelmet said:
Stop showing off :p

Srsly, that's great news!
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Thanks!

After 2 years of constant putting up with pain after 30mins it is SO nice!!

People might think I'm nuts for putting up with so much excruciating pain but in my eyes not being able to walk properly is going to be more of an effort than short term pain!

Another plus is that I'll be better off financially because I have to go for a sports massage once a month to ease shoulder!
 
Just got back from California this morning having completed the 7-day ride from SF to LA. Overall, the ride was very enjoyable and not too challenging I'd say, although I did push myself at certain points and I've never done 7 days of consecutive long rides before.

It was relatively flat and the wind was mostly blowing from behind which meant for some awesome speed. At one point I was getting blown along at 35mph on the flat! The level of riders ranged from experienced to total beginner so I can understand the route not being too hardcore. There were a large number of accidents due to the event involving 2400 riders and someone actually died from a heart attack on day 4.:(

The safety aspect of the ride, whilst very important, did get a bit irritating not long into day 1. They insist you call out "on your left" every time you pass someone so you can imagine by the end of the ride I was sick of saying it a bajillion times.:p I think I started saying it in an American accent too.:o

Also, Stop signs in the US are everywhere, even when a Give Way/Yield/roundabout would be more appropriate which meant for frustration when being forced to stop at a completely clear junction all the frickin time!

Day 1
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785692

Day 2
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785660

Day 3
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785628

Day 4
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785647

Day 5
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785611

Day 6 pt 1
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785602

Day 6 pt 2
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785608

Day 7
http://www.strava.com/activities/151785655
 
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Vonhelmet said:
Coolio. I'll be interested to see where you get to.
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Usual route brings us into Horwich opposite the roundabout, then up Chorley Old Road then cutting across the tops on Scout Lane is it? before picking main road up to Belmont and back over the tops and down to the little tea room/café just past the cattle grid. If one of our climbing 'experts' is with us we may take a left bit earlier on the climb out of Horwich - blissfully missed this last time with my group as I was on autopilot trying my best on the climb on Chorley Old Road :rolleyes:
 
What do you guys recommend for pedals/shoes? Looking at getting pedals that I can at least used normal shoes with occasionally as well to begin with and once properly used to the clipping, and not sometimes wanting to just use my trainers i'll buy some proper pedals.

Any recommendations?
 
tl45 said:
Usual route brings us into Horwich opposite the roundabout, then up Chorley Old Road then cutting across the tops on Scout Lane is it? before picking main road up to Belmont and back over the tops and down to the little tea room/café just past the cattle grid. If one of our climbing 'experts' is with us we may take a left bit earlier on the climb out of Horwich - blissfully missed this last time with my group as I was on autopilot trying my best on the climb on Chorley Old Road :rolleyes:
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Yeah, that's a good loop. That left on COR sounds like Foxholes. It's a toughie. I'm planning on heading up there tomorrow evening if I can. The top of it comes out just near the turning that takes you all the way up to the mast, where I was yestersday, so if you're a real masochist you can go to the mast that way, but I wouldn't fancy it. A guy I follow on strava posted a pretty impressive time up Foxholes this morning and said he'd thrown up at the top from pushing so hard :eek:
 
syke said:
What do you guys recommend for pedals/shoes? Looking at getting pedals that I can at least used normal shoes with occasionally as well to begin with and once properly used to the clipping, and not sometimes wanting to just use my trainers i'll buy some proper pedals.

Any recommendations?
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A530s or M324s are the pedals that leap to mind. Flat on one side for normal shoes with spd on the other side for cleats. There's another one in my head but I can't remember the model number. I don't think you can get any with an spd-sl or similar interface.

M545 is the other one I'm thinking of. It's not a proper platform pedal, but it would probably work ok. I'd look at one of the other two above, though.
 
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Can't I'm afraid, my girlfriends birthday tomorrow, she's dragging me to see Malificent :( . Couldn't be arsed to make a cake so made a lemon meringue pie for her instead!
 
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