Road Cycling Essentials

Vonhelmet · 11 Jun 2014 at 14:21

platypus said:
So chaps. As a cyclist who doesn't really get much time on them thar hills, do I do Ventoux or Alpe D'Huez in two weeks (or both :eek)?

A mate of mine has done both. His average speed up them was like 4.5mph :eek:

Going to Cali · 11 Jun 2014 at 14:25

platypus said:
So chaps. As a cyclist who doesn't really get much time on them thar hills, do I do Ventoux or Alpe D'Huez in two weeks (or both :eek)?

I'm doing both in July, worry about it when you're grinding your gears up the hills. Always the prospect of the descent to keep you going.

oli collett · 11 Jun 2014 at 14:40

platypus said:
So chaps. As a cyclist who doesn't really get much time on them thar hills, do I do Ventoux or Alpe D'Huez in two weeks (or both :eek)?

I'm bringing an 11-28 to stick on my compact

platypus · 11 Jun 2014 at 14:58

I've got an 11-28 rear wheel, will definitely be using that!

FrenchTart · 11 Jun 2014 at 15:03

oli collett said:
I'm bringing an 11-28 to stick on my compact

11-28 on the front would be an interesting ride...

Calpol · 11 Jun 2014 at 15:26

platypus said:
So chaps. As a cyclist who doesn't really get much time on them thar hills, do I do Ventoux or Alpe D'Huez in two weeks (or both :eek)?

Ventoux I think would be the tougher ride. Honestly its hard enough getting up there in a 1.2l Renault Clio! YOu are much more exposed to the elements and if its windy both ascent and decent can be really challenging. I think Ventoux is also steeper.

http://inrng.com/2012/12/roads-to-ride-alpe-d-huez/

http://inrng.com/2013/07/roads-to-ride-mont-ventoux/

platypus · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:04

Calpol said:
Ventoux I think would be the tougher ride. Honestly its hard enough getting up there in a 1.2l Renault Clio! YOu are much more exposed to the elements and if its windy both ascent and decent can be really challenging. I think Ventoux is also steeper.

http://inrng.com/2012/12/roads-to-ride-alpe-d-huez/

http://inrng.com/2013/07/roads-to-ride-mont-ventoux/

Gulp. Wonder if I could do either of those as my climbing stands at present.

Mr Jones · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:28

Anyone suffering from hay fever?

Been the worst over the last fortnight and if it's anything like last season, it should clear by July. I look like a red eye monster now, so gonna skip a long detour ride from work to home and just do a 3mile commute straight.

Damn you summer, I love and hate you oh so much.

grudas · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:30

Mr Jones said:
Anyone suffering from hay fever?

Been the worst over the last fortnight and if it's anything like last season, it should clear by July. I look like a red eye monster now, so gonna skip a long detour ride from work to home and just do a 3mile commute straight.

Damn you summer, I love and hate you oh so much.

I do

nose spray + tablet a day if it gets really bad and I'm good to go.. just use the nasal spray in the twice a day and it'll be fine.

Mr Jones · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:32

What nasal spray do you use?

I'm only on Loratadine and it's a little hit and miss on days.

Vonhelmet · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:38

platypus said:
Gulp. Wonder if I could do either of those as my climbing stands at present.

The longest climb I've done so far takes me about 25 minutes. I can barely imagine going into a climb knowing it was going to take me about 5 times as long as that.

grudas · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:39

Mr Jones said:
What nasal spray do you use?

I'm only on Loratadine and it's a little hit and miss on days.

Beconase

but it's against the rules to discuss medical stuff sadly.. so i'd pop down to boots if I was you

works fine for me, others don't.. :eek:

Mr Jones · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:47

I am just interested in what's available as I've never looked into nasal spray - apart from stick a stick of vics up my nose when I can't breath. Well, might start a trend at work of spraying steroids up the nose before riding!

touch · 11 Jun 2014 at 16:53

grudas said:
Beconase

mmmmm baconnaise

grudas · 11 Jun 2014 at 17:09

Mr Jones said:
I am just interested in what's available as I've never looked into nasal spray - apart from stick a stick of vics up my nose when I can't breath. Well, might start a trend at work of spraying steroids up the nose before riding!

I just use it once in the morning and once in the evening and that's it

it's like 5quid from tesco's.

as long as you use it regularly - even if you feel ok you will be fine.. eyes it's a little but nothing compared to no spray and no sneezing either! which is a killer.

FrenchTart · 11 Jun 2014 at 17:24

Bacon nose is awesome stuff. It helps with sneezing and runny nose but if you suffer other hayfever symptoms it's often not enough by itself.

Vonhelmet · 11 Jun 2014 at 17:35

I take loratadine (£3 for 30 at boots if you find the right boxes away from the promotional displays) plus eye drops when it's really bad.

arknor · 11 Jun 2014 at 18:43

First personal best 50 miles of 3h:45m:13s
crap speed but most miles so far in a single ride

Managed to get joint 5th on one segment so happy days

would have been 5th but some noob on a mtb with rucksat made me slow down for about 10 seconds whilst he navigated around a slight bend at silly slow speed

[DOD]Asprilla · 11 Jun 2014 at 19:55

4hrs in the saddle today, including the spin session with Miss Trott.

I'm broken.

Spent the morning in Sigma looking at TT bikes. I went in to see the Alu Shiv and the Slice but after a quick measure up I was steered towards the P2C and the carbon Shiv. The deal currently available on the carbon Shiv is great and as the P2C has been replaced with a newer version the said the might be able to do 10-15% off the 'classic' version.

grudas · 11 Jun 2014 at 20:16

those that had experience ordering a bike from PX

could you clear something up!

I Wonder how their system works before I do anything haha..

how long did it take to get your "expected build date" confirmed? I'll probably need to take a few days off after ordering so I'd like to know in advance..