Road Cycling

Status
Not open for further replies.
I was just about to ask if anyone uses bike insurance here! i will take a look at Bikmo plus, im buying a Pinarello Dogma F8 in the next couple of months and was thinking insurance would be a good idea. Just need to check if its cheaper to add it to my house insurance or do it separately
 
Kimi said:
I was just about to ask if anyone uses bike insurance here! i will take a look at Bikmo plus, im buying a Pinarello Dogma F8 in the next couple of months and was thinking insurance would be a good idea. Just need to check if its cheaper to add it to my house insurance or do it separately
Click to expand...

Problem with a lovely bike like the F8 is the value. When I've sifted through the small print of a lot of contents insurance, they stop at £1000.

We're with Aviva but, IIRC, the maximum bike value they allow the bolt-on cover is £3500.
 
Personally for any even half-decent bike I wouldn't use home insurance as it's a bit of a minefield and you don't really want to be claiming on your home insurance for something like a bike.
 
New saddle to fit shortly and I spotted that how I have set mine up currently is actually that far back that the 'STOP' label on the front of the rail is partially within my seat post clamp, suggesting it is quite far back.

I know this is a very subjective area and that a proper bike fit would be best but until now I have done quite well setting my bike up to be comfortable, it is on my to do but not just yet.

I'm not suffering in anyway but am curious if it could be better optimised and if there is a general consensus as to knee/hip positioning over the bottom bracket/pedals etc?

I'll shunt it forward 5mm or so at a time and see how it feels. Just conscious of how far back it is.

(I'm 5'10' with short legs and a long body on a, from memory, 56" frame)
 
Same size as me Benny, im on a 56 frame and also had the seat where the STOP bit is, the guy who done my bike fit made me buy a shorter stem, that allowed the saddle to be moved and the bike did fit a lot better. It felt ok before hand but a lot better with new stem. I tried a 53 recently and that felt even better. I think a 56 is to big for me really
 
SoliD said:
FT man of great knowledge. Got any recommendations for lumpy foam rollers. My normal one doesn't hurt when I use it anymore so presume I'm man enough to step up to a lumpy one.
Click to expand...

I think what you're referring to it the 'Rumble Roller', I've used both (coming from a lifting background) and find the rumble to be far superior for the hamstrings.

Tacking & flossing are other good techniques, if you're not put off by pain then I'd recommend some knee & hip flossing as well.

Kimi said:
Same size as me Benny, im on a 56 frame and also had the seat where the STOP bit is, the guy who done my bike fit made me buy a shorter stem, that allowed the saddle to be moved and the bike did fit a lot better. It felt ok before hand but a lot better with new stem. I tried a 53 recently and that felt even better. I think a 56 is to big for me really
Click to expand...

So lowering your bars allowed you to bring your seat forward and remain comfortable? how did this change your knee & foot positioning in relation to the BB & pedals?
 
FrenchTart said:
You should pick up a Surly Long Haul Trucker - it actually has spare spokes strapped to the frame :)
Click to expand...

Yeah had spotted those before! Truth is - if my commute was longer and along more country roads I would probably look at more of a touring style bike than the endurance/race Defy... But then I'd have a perfect excuse for a 'work' bike and a 'leisure' bike! I don't think I can get that past the mrs unless I sell my car... ;)

janp said:
3'C on the commute today, not sure I'm going to get away wearing shorts for much longer!
Click to expand...

I've been wearing my knee warmers for weeks, except for a couple of 17+ degree afternoon commutes... Even at warmer temperatures I don't seem to get hot legs the couple of times I've worn them, although I have to watch my upper torso as I overheat there very easily. I generally dress my upper for the conditions and then legs are a choice of shorts+warmers (mostly), tights (couple of times this autumn) or shorts+thermals (once so far).

SoliD said:
No problem, only posted late last night, will ask over there, use it few times a week, even my ITBs don't really cause me any pain anymore, and I've checked I'm doing it right :D I'm only light too, so guessing that mine will last a bit longer than the beefcakes over in those threads.
Click to expand...

Talk again about foam rollers makes me think I maybe should be using one... At least to aid recovery after longer/harder rides than commuting? Currently I do very little, just some basic stretches and limbering up. I don't go hard from the outset, almost all of my rides have 10+ mins of riding in traffic so I use that as a warm up.

Kimi said:
Pinarello Dogma F8
Click to expand...

MY PRECIOUS*! :D

*you'll need insurance ;)

BennyC said:
I'm not suffering in anyway but am curious if it could be better optimised and if there is a general consensus as to knee/hip positioning over the bottom bracket/pedals etc?
Click to expand...

KOPS! :D

Knee Over Pedal Spindle - Which is basically a fitting technique where using a plumb line (make your own) you hang it from your knee when at the 3 o'clock position of the pedal stroke. Your saddle should be positioned so the plumbline intersects the centre of the pedal spindle. Having a turbo (to keep you and bike upright) and a friend (to do the measuring) are recommended. Obviously having the saddle at the correct height to start with matters quite a lot! :D
 
Last edited:
BennyC said:
So lowering your bars allowed you to bring your seat forward and remain comfortable? how did this change your knee & foot positioning in relation to the BB & pedals?
Click to expand...

'Shorter' stem is a change of the stem (which connects your bars to the headset) for a shorter one, not really changing height of the 'drop' (done at the headset, not at the bars or stem).
 
Last edited:
Roady said:
Having a turbo (to keep you and bike upright) and a friend (to do the measuring) are recommended.
Click to expand...

Of course, it only works if the bike is positioned perfectly horizontally - so if your turbo lifts the rear wheel 3.1 inches, then you need something the exact same 3.1 inches to put under the front wheel.
 
uv said:
Of course, it only works if the bike is positioned perfectly horizontally level - so if your turbo lifts the rear wheel 3.1 inches, then you need something the exact same 3.1 inches to put under the front wheel.
Click to expand...

Good point!
 
BennyC said:
I think what you're referring to it the 'Rumble Roller', I've used both (coming from a lifting background) and find the rumble to be far superior for the hamstrings.

Tacking & flossing are other good techniques, if you're not put off by pain then I'd recommend some knee & hip flossing as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much. Never heard of tacking or flossing so will look them up. I don't enjoy the pain but if it aids recovery and general comfort for the other 99.9% of the time I'm not doing it I don't mind.
 
Last edited:
BennyC knows his stuff way better than I do on that front :)

Fun lunch ride - 21.5mph average moving, which is a new personal best for any ride for me. Obviously it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things but it's still nice to see the numbers.

I also got a KOM which made me happy...until I noticed that it was a shared one with THREE other people. Doh.
 
Last edited:
FrenchTart said:
BennyC knows his stuff way better than I do on that front :)

Fun lunch ride - 21.5mph average moving, which is a new personal best for any ride for me. Obviously it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things but it's still nice to see the numbers.

I also got a KOM which made me happy...until I noticef that it was a shared one with THREE other people. Doh.
Click to expand...

FT that's some good speed, I never really hammer on the road bike, but might be worth looking at some TTs, I'm never up at that pace!
 
Well *I* just had a not fun lunch ride - 13.8 mph average. I don't know whether it's that I am still a cripple from Sunday, or mostly because I didn't eat anything at all today yet, but my legs just had nothing... NOTHING once it got steeper than anything other than a slight incline.

Wah.

Oh well, at least it's something I'll hopefully improve on lots, next time I attempt it. Good little circuit for lunchtime :)

https://www.strava.com/activities/408750655
 
SoliD said:
FT that's some good speed, I never really hammer on the road bike, but might be worth looking at some TTs, I'm never up at that pace!
Click to expand...

I'm quite interested in trying TTs (OMS has mentioned the Manchester Wheelers ones a few times). Getting myself organised is the issue and I also don't like the idea of having to make sure my legs are rested on a particular day :p But in reality I guess those are all just excuses for my laziness.

Jono said:
Well *I* just had a not fun lunch ride - 13.8 mph average. I don't know whether it's that I am still a cripple from Sunday, or mostly because I didn't eat anything at all today yet, but my legs just had nothing... NOTHING once it got steeper than anything other than a slight incline.

Wah.

Oh well, at least it's something I'll hopefully improve on lots, next time I attempt it. Good little circuit for lunchtime :)

https://www.strava.com/activities/408750655
Click to expand...

We all have off days. Just put it down as one of those, do some rehab on your leg and eat/rest well :)
 
Last edited:
FrenchTart said:
We all have off days. Just put it down as one of those, do some rehab on your leg and eat/rest well :)
Click to expand...

What sort of rehab? I do actually own a foam roller, for some reason... but I don't actually know how to roll on it. Do i just lie on it and flail about?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom