Road Cycling

[Thomas. PLease.]

Best product/purchase of 2018?!

Think I’ll say the Silca Saddle Roll (very on trend roadie style).

Yes it is expensive. However it is well made, the materials are nice, and the boa fastening system just works perfectly. No rocking, movement or noise. Easy to remove and swap between bikes if needed. Hides behind the seat and you don’t even notice it when riding.

I was looking at these and ended up buying the pouch instead, which is annoyingly far too big really. Not mad keen on saddle bags and thought this one might be ok. What's the size like on the bike?

 

[Berger]

I was looking at these and ended up buying the pouch instead, which is annoyingly far too big really. Not mad keen on saddle bags and thought this one might be ok. What's the size like on the bike?

The three pockets, you can’t load the two outer ones right up to bursting as it simply won’t go flat then.

In mine I have two co2, a multi tool, a cut down spoke with the J end, piece of cut up tyre, latex gloves, spare tube and levers.

What a fantastic day for riding, almost totally dry roads, mild weather and a bit of wind but never too in your face. My backside and back both feeling stronger than a couple of days ago. Good times.

 

[Fusion]

So...how many New Years runners did you spot if you were out today?

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

Seemed like there were cyclists everywhere too. Having a fairly well earned rest day myself!

 

[Lethal`]

I took my motorised two wheels out. 3 runners and quite a lot of cyclists, certainly a lot more than yesterday. Bright blue skies and sunshine must have helped!

 

[#Chri5#]

So...how many New Years runners did you spot if you were out today?

I ran a Parkrun in Liverpool yesterday, about 30 seconds slower than the previous NYD but very happy with the time given I've focused on turbo sessions.

Target for spring is to be 5kg lighter and hopefully 10% higher FTP - all to hopefully keep up with Mrs Chri5's BiL when the road goes uphill...

 

[Lethal`]

Cheapest place for SP41 + recommendation on ferrules and inline adjusters? Both road and MTB could do with recabling.

 

[SoliD]

Get a jagwire kit/outers!

 

[Roady]

Congrats and kudos for all of those who completed/attempted festive500. Good work, but you had one of the best times for it I've seen! Lucky lot - really mild temps and really not much 'weather', except some gusty winds!

This week we see a turn to freezing, so take care all. Back to warmer again next week!

Clocked just over 4k miles myself, 1k short of my target (which I hit last year) but hardly surprising. Glad I did as start of December I didn't think I would. Wouldn't have been possible without Zwift! Quite impressed with my average speed considering the sub 16mph chariot rides 3x per week. Guess Zwift racing is biasing that too as the rest of my commuting (sans-chariot) is only around that during the summer, with my group rides being lower.

I'm not used to this "mechanical shifting" lark

How the mighty have fallen! Welcome to the real world

Best product/purchase of 2018?!

Think I’ll say the Silca Saddle Roll (very on trend roadie style).

Yes it is expensive. However it is well made, the materials are nice, and the boa fastening system just works perfectly. No rocking, movement or noise. Easy to remove and swap between bikes if needed. Hides behind the seat and you don’t even notice it when riding.

Crazy money for what it is, have to admit I wasn't that impressed when I handled one. I can see the appeal, but not the price. Think Rapha do one similar. The regularity you open a saddle bag is a boa really needed? Nope!

There will be copies on the market this year from all the other brands as it is very on trend. I'll wait for those! I'm still carrying 2 innertubes while running tubeless luls

Haha at least it wasn't a dick pic.

This time... No ban either!

Pretty happy with my riding year.
Less miles than last year due to some time off ill in January but they were higher quality miles [Climbing 57ft per mile and 20.5mph average overall speed over 5.1k miles]

Impressive as always, you machine!

Ticked over 8100 miles for the year this morning and 330,000 ft! Biggest year I've ever had, hopefully even more next year in the same amount of time

Mega mileage and climbing, good work! Impressive!

Most miles ever for me as the most I'd done previously was around 1900. My average speed isn't as impressive as Peters at 17.5mph but I'v been doing long slow recovery rides

Excuses. Good work mate but find it quite surprising your mileage is as low as it is, but I guess that's the difference between commuters and leisure riders. Some impressive stuff from you this year - keep it up!

Had to double-check the running stats, had to run to catch a land train at Center Parcs!

Good stats, well done! Had to laugh at the running one - especially with your explanation!

a cut down spoke with the J end

WTF. Cut down? Really worth carrying? What's the point? If you break a spoke tape it to it's neighbour to get home...?

Cheapest place for SP41 + recommendation on ferrules and inline adjusters? Both road and MTB could do with recabling.

Wiggle/CRC I've always found cheapest for the Shimano stuffs.

 

[#Chri5#]

If anyone sees any sale offers for disc wheels let me know. Needs to be QR, not fussed if they are 6 bolt or CL - best I've seen so far is Askium Discs CL for £140. Man maths at work here

 

[Shamrock]

Less overall elevation than 2017 since I didn't go to Gran Canaria this time. 2019 will be featuring the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain and the Dolomites of Italy so big climbs expected!

 

[Berger]

Roadie, the boa holds the saddle bag to the seat rails (with a piece of material to spread the load and avoid marking) The idea being you can crank it down to ensure no movement of the bag.

The cut down spoke I added in after having a valve stick in a tubular and looking for something to poke it with in a fence like an idiot. I kept the bent end as you can use it to hook cables with so I figured it might be useful and stops it poking through things.

 

[Lethal`]

Fairly surprised at my totals for the year after a fairly weak end of spring / start of summer. I guess the weather in the summer just meant I couldn't resist going out for a ride when time allowed.

I think my best three rides in no particular order were:
Wendelstein Rundfahrt - great sportive organisation, scenery and roads
Revolve24 - good fun smashing it round Brands Hatch for 24 hours
Downslink and South Downs Way MTB - Longest in duration ride ever but quite enjoyed the South Downs. I got up there again last Friday. Sometime next year I'll have to give the whole thing I go if I can figure out the logistics.

Spoiler: Veloviewer

No real plans for this year besides a few holidays around Spring time.

 

[SoliD]

Was wondering how you lot got the veloviewer and just found my infographic.

 

[Shamrock]

Ours look pretty similar @SoliD!

 

[Lethal`]

Do you live at null?

 

[SoliD]

Ours look pretty similar @SoliD!

Bit slower my end with the getting dirty I do all winter

Null is where it's all happening!

 

[MM-Seat]

Hope you all had a good festive period. I was poor after may and only did one ride.

Bike has just been quoted at £250 to get back on the road. Starting to think I could have a really nice bike on cycle to work for not a lot more. Ummmm decisions!

 

[Roady]

Roadie, the boa holds the saddle bag to the seat rails (with a piece of material to spread the load and avoid marking) The idea being you can crank it down to ensure no movement of the bag.

The cut down spoke I added in after having a valve stick in a tubular and looking for something to poke it with in a fence like an idiot. I kept the bent end as you can use it to hook cables with so I figured it might be useful and stops it poking through things.

Ahhhh, so the spoke isn't to be used as a replacement spoke as I first thought! :lol:

Are you sure you need a Boa to tighten a saddlebag to your seat rails? I'm not. Nothing wrong with good ole cheapy velcro! Maybe I'm just a traditionalist in that sense (with only boas on my shoes)!

Fairly surprised at my totals for the year after a fairly weak end of spring / start of summer. I guess the weather in the summer just meant I couldn't resist going out for a ride when time allowed.

Mega total considering your comments, but then you've always done well to regularly ride out. For most of us those kinda rides are 25-40 miles, for you they tend to be 50-60! As demonstrated by your Eddington!

 

[Roady]

As for aims and such. Hmm! To be fair I didn't really meet mine in 2018. I got in the couple of climbs I missed in 2017 (Dorstone, Bredwardine), but didn't do others I'd intended to (Gospel pass, Crickhowell). I did get out to the ToB for the first time. Only rode 1 imperial (a local imperial sportive I'll always try and do) and only did 2 sportives total. The reduction in mileage due to the little dude wasn't totally unexpected, along with the loss in fitness that brought. I think that's whats impacted me the most, at least mentally. When it actually boils down to the long rides (sportives) without much training and harder/intense (group rides after several weeks without) my stamina and fitness where mostly ok. Better than expected. The other end of the scale, the drop in FTP and toughness of Zwift racing is what I've noticed more - dropping from a competitive CAT B down to a mostly average CAT C.

For 2019 I do have some plans/wishes to get out for more local-ish sportives. Which should mean more imperials. I had wanted to do the Velothon as that would be the perfect one to 'cross off', but now it's cancelled I'm at a bit of a loss. Dragon ride is a bit too much of a challenge, The Mad March Hare seems to get sold out 6+ months in advance. But a couple of local ones I need to get my entry sorted for so I can have some set dates in my yearly (non-)plan for!

My biggest plan this year will be to source an S-Works Tarmac Disc frame. I really want the Red/White one (2016 & 2019 SL6) but sounds like they're quite 'rare' in that colourway in the UK (at least). The one from 2016 maybe quite 'old' in tech to be spending £2k on. Or do I go for a new Venge. Or do I jump ship and go for something like the Wilier Cento 10 NDR Disc. Hmm. Have always really loved the look of the Cento 1 Air, but the NDR just doesn't grab me in the same way... Or the new Propel...

So it looks like my requirements/wants are a fully integrated DI2, light/aero road frame, with thru axles. I don't need a relaxed frame/heavy build as that's what my Diverge is.