Road Cycling

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FrenchTart said:
You should never be using big-big :)
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grudas said:
I do live in a bumpy area ;)
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I've been using it quite often, nothing wrong with it IMO?
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Yeah a 'bumpy' area of London, who'd have thunk it! You actually do more climbing per mile (in your commute) than me! ;)

I use big/big too, but only occasionally, it's generally when commuting and stopped in traffic - 1 turn or so when traffic starts to move and change up quickly. Last thing I wanna be doing in stop/start traffic (& filtering) is put in any more danger from a slow change or dropped chain. Sometimes it's only half a pedal stroke before stopping again (ie not enough for a ring change) :rolleyes:
 
Roady said:
Yeah a 'bumpy' area of London, who'd have thunk it! You actually do more climbing per mile (in your commute) than me! ;)

I use big/big too, but only occasionally, it's generally when commuting and stopped in traffic - 1 turn or so when traffic starts to move and change up quickly. Last thing I wanna be doing in stop/start traffic (& filtering) is put in any more danger from a slow change or dropped chain. Sometimes it's only half a pedal stroke before stopping again (ie not enough for a ring change) :rolleyes:
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I know right ha! your commute is like... a warm up? ;) I'd expect you to pump out 20-22mph/avg! keep pushing mate :p:D

I only used it yesterday, never switched down to small ring.. was ok on the big ring for all the "hills" ! spa hill was the toughest one and this is where I switched to 32/50 right at the end :o

Imma totally KOM that hill one day! 5th already..
 
If you've got mechs that can handle big-big then it's fine but probably the majority of the ones out there you'll get chain rub on so...

I drop a couple of gears at lights so I can set off easier too but you don't need to be all the way down in the biggest rear cog. Unless you've got noodle legs :p
 
FrenchTart said:
If you've got mechs that can handle big-big then it's fine but probably the majority of the ones out there you'll get chain rub on so...

I drop a couple of gears at lights so I can set off easier too but you don't need to be all the way down in the biggest rear cog. Unless you've got noodle legs :p
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yeah I agree.. I get my front to lift up if I'm in low gear :confused:

Today was an eventful commute to work..

 
Don't envy you Grudas, think I'd have a heart attack riding through London.

Half term is over, so that means my usual friend on his motorbike was back :/ it had been a peaceful two weeks.
Had the Virb on today, doubt the mic picked up his shouting, but atleast I now have his number plate. I've started to document each entry, when I have enough videos, I'll approach the police. Surely, must be classed as harassment?

Had an awesome weekend on the bike. First group ride in about a month. I took the CX bike, as I'm still struggling with the saddle on my road bike, I was a little worried about keeping up. It was a bloody tough ride, but didn't seem to slow anyone down. Had to get off on one of the climbs, I attacked one of my mates far too early, and ended up nearly collapsing half way up :)
 
grudas said:
yeah I agree.. I get my front to lift up if I'm in low gear :confused:

Today was an eventful commute to work..

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Although the young child you avoided was perhaps a little too young to realise he was in the way, I've had children aged around 12-13 who have purposely got in my way whilst I've been cycling along by running out into the middle of the road. I didn't react to them, I didn't say anything, just slowed down to avoid them then shot off. They were fishing for a reaction that I wasn't prepared to engage them with. Youth these days eh??
 
janp said:
Don't envy you Grudas, think I'd have a heart attack riding through London.
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that was just the first 24 minute of my commute? not even sure what's up with drivers today!

physichull said:
Although the young child you avoided was perhaps a little too young to realise he was in the way, I've had children aged around 12-13 who have purposely got in my way whilst I've been cycling along by running out into the middle of the road. I didn't react to them, I didn't say anything, just slowed down to avoid them then shot off. They were fishing for a reaction that I wasn't prepared to engage them with. Youth these days eh??
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yeah, it was only included for the fun factor really, can't really get angry at a kid of that age! but yeah I've had teens ride straight into me on the wrong side of the road etc?!
 
grudas said:
yeah, it was only included for the fun factor really, can't really get angry at a kid of that age! but yeah I've had teens ride straight into me on the wrong side of the road etc?!
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Last year I had a crash with some stupid teenager on a bike with no lights and only one working brake. He sailed out of a junction on the left in front of me, and that was just about OK because I'd seen him coming and slowed accordingly as I had a feeling he'd do something dumb, but then after he'd gone over to the opposite kerb he just swung back across the road into my path. I didn't have time to slow down properly, so I absolutely ploughed into him. He didn't do it deliberately, he just wasn't paying any attention at all. I called him every name under the sun and was really close to smashing him in the face, but he was totally dazed and didn't say a word so I left him to it. Some idiot passer by walking past told me off for shouting at him as "it was an accident" but given that one or both of us could have ended up seriously injured I didn't feel too bad about it. I cooled down after a few minutes and made sure he was OK, broadly speaking, and then I rode off. Stupid kids.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Last year I had a crash with some stupid teenager on a bike with no lights and only one working brake. He sailed out of a junction on the left in front of me, and that was just about OK because I'd seen him coming and slowed accordingly as I had a feeling he'd do something dumb, but then after he'd gone over to the opposite kerb he just swung back across the road into my path. I didn't have time to slow down properly, so I absolutely ploughed into him. He didn't do it deliberately, he just wasn't paying any attention at all. I called him every name under the sun and was really close to smashing him in the face, but he was totally dazed and didn't say a word so I left him to it. Some idiot passer by walking past told me off for shouting at him as "it was an accident" but given that one or both of us could have ended up seriously injured I didn't feel too bad about it. I cooled down after a few minutes and made sure he was OK, broadly speaking, and then I rode off. Stupid kids.
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I don't think it's limited to kids. I had a guy, must have been in his 50's, pootling along on the pavement. Who then randomly decided to jump off without looking, and landed on my front wheel. Nobody hurt, but he did have the nerve to claim I was going too fast :P
 
Roady said:
Great ride mate, very jealous of the scenery around there you probably have! I'm betting the roads are much quieter than here too!
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Some of the scenery https://goo.gl/maps/bQJVN

https://goo.gl/maps/tFTE7

I can think of worse places to cycle certainly. I did have a few cars / vans / DPD Van! pass me on the way but nothing too major. Racing a car down was quite funny though :p
 
Feels good to be back on the bike after my long hiatus. Raised the seat at lunch and then enjoyed drafting cars with a tailwind all the way back to work :p
 
Damn, so I reviewed this morning's Virb footage, of the abuse I received. Unfortunately, all you can hear is me shouting back, **** off :/

I suspected this might be a problem.

Does anyone know of a way to boost the Virb's mic, or can I use an external mic with it, does anyone know?
 
Is there any kind of processing you can do of the audio to improve it? I have vague memories of reading something along those lines.

Also, when I start recording I'm totally going to stop shouting back at people. Need to make it look like I'm calm and collected :p
 
New wheels, cassette & brake blocks arrived this morning.

Wheels look fab, & feel lighter than I was expecting.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-lite-bracciano-a42-se-alloy-clincher-wheelset/?sku=5360664766

Cassette for the new wheels.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-6700-10-speed-cassette/?sku=5360341474

New brake blocks.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/swissstop-flash-pro-green-high-performance-pads/?sku=5360340957

Next decision is do I wait for my new bike which won't be for a good few months before fitting wheels, or fit them now to my 5 year old allez.......
Another option is to buy just frame/forks & swop my ultrgra groupset over from the Alllez. decisions,decisions !
 
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grudas said:
I know right ha! your commute is like... a warm up? ;) I'd expect you to pump out 20-22mph/avg! keep pushing mate :p:D
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FrenchTart said:
Unless you've got noodle legs :p
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Commute is a warm up ?
Noodle legs ?

Anyone else for any insults before I go? :p

grudas said:
Today was an eventful commute to work..

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You should've done a 'James Bond' style slide under the lorry! ;):D

physichull said:
I didn't react to them, I didn't say anything, just slowed down to avoid them then shot off. They were fishing for a reaction that I wasn't prepared to engage them with. Youth these days eh??
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I've had kids do similar to me a couple of times near home, it's housing estates but there are regularly cars there - group of kids no older than 7-8, just running out without looking from between parked cars! (and not tall enough to see over them). It's happened a number of times now and only a matter of time until I hit one. I've shouted at them every time it happens - hoping that me shouting is enough to scare them into looking the next time! No abuse from them yet, they've even said sorry, but I'd rather me get abuse than one of them gets hit by a car!

Vonhelmet said:
Some idiot passer by walking past told me off for shouting at him as "it was an accident" but given that one or both of us could have ended up seriously injured I didn't feel too bad about it. I cooled down after a few minutes and made sure he was OK, broadly speaking, and then I rode off. Stupid kids.
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This is exactly that, us hitting them with a bike should be the least of their worries. The next time they do something stupid it'll be in front of a lorry and in the local papers.

Derek W said:
Some of the scenery https://goo.gl/maps/bQJVN

https://goo.gl/maps/tFTE7

I can think of worse places to cycle certainly. I did have a few cars / vans / DPD Van! pass me on the way but nothing too major. Racing a car down was quite funny though :p
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Looks amazing, nice open looking road too! Jealous of the road surface as it looks perfect too!

I went down this lane a couple of weekends ago and it was all under shade... The first 10/20m were nice tarmac (so built up some speed) and then there were a series of horrific pot holes and lumps in the tarmac (like mini sleeping policemen) nearly throwing me off! Totally hidden by the shade from the trees! :o
 
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