Road Cycling Essentials

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Calpol said:
Nice looking bike but Pump attached to frame = fail. I can forgive the erect stem :)
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Apologies for the pump, I shall go and pray for forgiveness

The Prophet’s Prayer

Our hardman who art in Belgium
Eddy be thy name
thy cobbles come, thy hands are numb
from pavé
as it isn’t heaven.

Give us this day our daily V (five),
and forgive us our Rule violations,
as we drop those who attack against us,
lead us not off our line
but deliver us from Anti-V.

For thine is the big ring,
and the power, and the glory,
for Eddy and ever.

A-Merckx.

:D
 
Suddenly realised I hadn't replied on here for ages. Well I am back cycling but for the winter I don't fancy going out on the road bike so I now have a mountain bike too (I know the dark side!) plus I got myself a turbo trainer so I can keep using the road bike too. My back hasn't been giving me any problems (other than feeling a little sore from time to time) and it is amazing to think that only 3 months ago I could hardly walk! So when the weather gets a little nicer you can be sure I will be back out on my road bike. :D
 
Asprilla said:
Depends, do you want it for going on a bus / other transport or are you trusting it to airline baggage monkeys?

If it's the latter then I'd only go with a hardcase; your might only be thinking about the value of your bike but you've got to think about the value of the events as well. Turing up in the Pyrenees and finding your bike bent would be terrible.

I'd either rent a BikeBoxAlan or, and I can't believe I'm saying this, Canyon Bike Shuttle is less than half the price. Might be worth looking on ebay for a second had BBA.

Edit; there are rental outfits on eBay offering Bike Box Alan for as little as £4 per day. I'd do that.
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Thanks. I know what you mean about the price of the box outweighing the cost of a wasted holiday. Food for thought.
 
kiteloopy said:
Anyone got any new years cycling resolutions planned? Im looking for ideas.

Total miles and climbing seem obvious choices.
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My goals for next year are:

1. Cycle for 7500 km in the calendar year (5000 km this year).
2. Complete at least ten metric centuries (two this year).
3. Complete my first imperial century.
4. Start doing the longer club cycle rides on a more regular basis.
5. Start bettering one of the times on a segment of a local climb (or at least Vonhelmets time! :D).

I really have to improve my mindset when it comes to training and really step it up to the next level. This year has been my first year of road cycling and it has felt a lot like an introduction that has now been completed. After years of inactivity, coming to road cycling was certainly a bit of a shock at first, especially when coming across hills and realising that it is actually much more difficult than I at first thought!

I am now fitter and stronger and feel like I have got over the "growing pains" but I have to stop copping out now and show a bit more determination and commitment to get out more and stop finding the excuses. I also need to improve my diet in hand with increased training.

Hopefully will be getting a new summer bike and leaving the trusty Defy 1 to winter duties only. I think the Canyon Endurace 9.0 may be the next steed of choice.
 
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Goals for next year, interesting...this year I've managed 730m having started recording on strava in June, so maybe 800 this year and probably 2/3 of that was my hybrid. I think 2000-2500 miles is doable for me.

I also want to get my first metric centurie, max ride to date has only been 60km.
 
My goals for next year:

  • Become a Cat 3 within the first half of the year
  • Go sub 22min on a 10
  • Get my FTP above 350w
  • Not sure on mileage target, will have done nearly 5000km this year, so probably more like 8000km
  • Buy a new road bike to replace my ageing Giant
 
whyscotty said:
Well the PlanetX bike has gone back due to a few issues:(

Was a little worried about having problems returning the bike after having it for a couple of months.

However it went smoothly and a refund was obtained after a couple of days.:)

So a replacement was needed, I saw this a few times before I chose the PlanetX so didn't take too long to make my mind up.


Please excuse the old mans flipped stem - hopefully flip it back in time :D

Managed to get some 28 tyres on so it's quite comfy, double taped the handle bars as they were a little thin.

So here's hoping for some reasonable weather to get out and enjoy.
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Gutted the Planetx has gone back but glad to hear you had no problems with the refund! Do you mind sharing the issues you had as I've got a friend looking at Planetx's (after my recommendation :o)... New bike looks good, I love the matt black look (one of the reasons I like the planetx's!)

whyscotty said:
The Prophet’s Prayer
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:D:D:D

saitrix said:
Suddenly realised I hadn't replied on here for ages. Well I am back cycling but for the winter I don't fancy going out on the road bike so I now have a mountain bike too (I know the dark side!) plus I got myself a turbo trainer so I can keep using the road bike too. My back hasn't been giving me any problems (other than feeling a little sore from time to time) and it is amazing to think that only 3 months ago I could hardly walk! So when the weather gets a little nicer you can be sure I will be back out on my road bike. :D
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Glad to hear your recovery has gone well, the turbo is the way forwards in these high winds! Although the weather is strangely warm...

kiteloopy said:
Anyone got any new years cycling resolutions planned? Im looking for ideas.
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physichull said:
I really have to improve my mindset when it comes to training and really step it up to the next level. This year has been my first year of road cycling and it has felt a lot like an introduction that has now been completed. After years of inactivity, coming to road cycling was certainly a bit of a shock at first, especially when coming across hills and realising that it is actually much more difficult than I at first thought!

I am now fitter and stronger and feel like I have got over the "growing pains" but I have to stop copping out now and show a bit more determination and commitment to get out more and stop finding the excuses. I also need to improve my diet in hand with increased training.

Hopefully will be getting a new summer bike and leaving the trusty Defy 1 to winter duties only. I think the Canyon Endurace 9.0 may be the next steed of choice.
Click to expand...

I feel similar to physichull although I'm a year behind him... ;) Just got my Defy 1 and only started on a road bike in June! :D

I've clocked up 1600 mostly commuting miles this year and I aim to double it next year - meaning 50%+ leisure miles. I'm aiming for more hill climbing as I feel I can do 20+ miles on the road (but need to prove it to myself regularly). At least now I have a bike with the right gears for the hills! ;)

I've lost ~2.5 stone since this time last year and I'm still losing weight/trimming up. I'll keep the weight off as now I'm riding more I'm losing more (but christmas will sort that!).

I'm intending to do some of the charity rides and join one of the many local clubs as the friends I have who cycle are very different abilities to myself. Being more sociable with my riding will mean I get out more and meet others doing the same as me. I do have a neighbour who rides who said to give him a shout 'for an easy 20/30 miles' - I feel I'm near to taking him up on his offer in the New Year! :D
 
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Morning guys,

Dropped my Boardman in for it's first service (bought used) and it's in need of a new chain and cassette as I expected.

I'm being offered a 12-27 or 11-28, the latter I am told will make climbing a little easier and the top gear a little faster.

There is a £20 difference between the two. I need to let them know this morning which I would like so they can crack on.

For a novice first time road cyclist which would you choose? I found climbing with what's on there (presumably stock cassette, whatever that would be EDIT: 50-36 Compact & 12-25) hard work in places but could just be my inexperience...
 
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