Road Cycling

[Roady]

https://www.strava.com/activities/2669542591

Everything conspired against me this weekend to get out and ride. Plumbing/electrical house problems along with usual chores, so had to settle for a Zwift session on sunday morning instead. Usual 3R 100km I've done a number of times but had to finish it early to be done by 10am. Still good volume in the legs as we did sprints most laps and a number of keeping efforts. My legs are firing well at the moment, so really need to do an evening session of some kind this week to continue the nice upward curve I've currently got going! Fittest I've been in a year!

Aren't those likely just really annoying? Constantly cars coming up behind.

Thinking the same myself now, as I'm fairly confident I can hear the majority of cars coming up from behind except into a headwind or such. The majority of places I ride where the roads are wide enough for cars to overtake without slowing down are main roads and busy enough that it would be annoying to use a radar. Or it wouldn't give enough notice. Than again the amount of times bloody Nissan Leaf's make me jump when commuting it'd be worth that alone...!

The Light being 'smart' and changing it's behaviour when a car gets closer is what really draws it to me as a safety device that highlights your presence. The radar side of things is just another 'gadget' and fun thing to have which may or may not really increase safety.

The Varia says it needs 15cm from the rear wheel, which means my saddle bag wont fit anymore...

View attachment MnNVEGs.jpg

Any ideas to what I can do? Something thin enough to fit in that gap, or different storage. (for inner tube, tool and kit). I guess I could get a small bag for it all, that then goes in my jersey pocket? I prefer things strapped to the bike than on me though tbh.

**EDIT** Maybe something like this?

Lots of different options, but reading some of the comments on DCR you can play around with the location of the VARIA and you may find it's happier lower down anyway, your seatstays are low anyway and considering it largely 'ignores' riders behind and still picks up vehicles I can't see why it it'd give much notice to a rear wheel. Just try it and see how it behaves & avoid changing saddlebag unless you really need to!

If it can fit in a jersey pocket then do that, looks loads better and if saddlebag has straps they are bib short killers - lost a couple of pairs before I realised what was happening I only put a saddle bag on for the 100 miles I did, don’t need it but not bothered to take it off!

Did that myself too, velcro on a seatpost strap is a lycra killer! Thankfully was only cheap shorts. Also wrecked a pair with a seatpost clamp fitted the wrong way around and the saddle slipped back, so edges of clamp caught shorts!

Random question... Are you, or do you know, a fast cyclist? If so, are they quick walking down stairs?! (told you it was random).

There's a couple of guys at work that absolutely fly down the stairs and they both happen to be keen cyclists. I've never been overtaken on stairs before but these two minced me!

They're just guys who are fit & healthy?!

Although if predominantly crit riders they may have an advantage (fast twitch!), mostly as a 'keen cyclist' you're carrying fatigue/DOMS/saving yourself for something. I wouldn't expect most 'keen' cyclists to be fresh on a Monday (after a weekend of good weather!)

no, i hate stairs, up and down!

Depends on the day really doesn't it!

Roady. Check your email mate

Done and replied buddy, thanks for letting me know - no issue!

 

[AndyCr15]

Lots of different options, but reading some of the comments on DCR you can play around with the location of the VARIA and you may find it's happier lower down anyway, your seatstays are low anyway and considering it largely 'ignores' riders behind and still picks up vehicles I can't see why it it'd give much notice to a rear wheel. Just try it and see how it behaves & avoid changing saddlebag unless you really need to!

I did it already...

View attachment dpgyt3w.jpg

Everything just about fits!

Loving the rear radar so far. It can tell there's something behind me much quicker than I can! Be it noise from traffic coming the other way, or I just can't make out if what I can see in my mirror is parked or moving... it's really very clever.

 

[Drollic]

A short, flat street kom of mine popped up on strava as being beat tonight. The data however appears all wrong. 28.xmph shows that wouldn't beat mine, then it also shows as 35mph+ at 120bpm yet his activity max speed is only 30mph. Flagged it but more curious as to how this happens as I've seen it before but to a lesser extent? It's like the data is miss matched. 35mph also wouldn't be possible as an average due to the start and end points being close to junctions. Closed road, pro sprinter sure, but we're talking about a guy cycling home from work at sub 18mph average If there's a reason this happens I want to avoid it myself.

 

[xdcx]

Random question... Are you, or do you know, a fast cyclist? If so, are they quick walking down stairs?! (told you it was random).

There's a couple of guys at work that absolutely fly down the stairs and they both happen to be keen cyclists. I've never been overtaken on stairs before but these two minced me!

I am a pretty fast cyclist and can confirm that fat men who are 30 years older than me and do no exercise at all absolutely destroy me on the stairs at work..... My left pinky finger is fitter than them but I am rendered out of breathe at the sight of stairs which they float upon.
Applies to up and down.

The cyclists good on stairs at your work are FREAKS.

 

[Saytan]

A short, flat street kom of mine popped up on strava as being beat tonight. The data however appears all wrong. 28.xmph shows that wouldn't beat mine, then it also shows as 35mph+ at 120bpm yet his activity max speed is only 30mph. Flagged it but more curious as to how this happens as I've seen it before but to a lesser extent? It's like the data is miss matched. 35mph also wouldn't be possible as an average due to the start and end points being close to junctions. Closed road, pro sprinter sure, but we're talking about a guy cycling home from work at sub 18mph average If there's a reason this happens I want to avoid it myself.

Speed derived from GPS is frequently wildly inaccurate, especially over short segments.. I've had a ride show a 50mph top speed when I was knackered and pushing uphill into a headwind with panniers

 

[Lethal`]

A short, flat street kom of mine popped up on strava as being beat tonight. The data however appears all wrong. 28.xmph shows that wouldn't beat mine, then it also shows as 35mph+ at 120bpm yet his activity max speed is only 30mph. Flagged it but more curious as to how this happens as I've seen it before but to a lesser extent? It's like the data is miss matched. 35mph also wouldn't be possible as an average due to the start and end points being close to junctions. Closed road, pro sprinter sure, but we're talking about a guy cycling home from work at sub 18mph average If there's a reason this happens I want to avoid it myself.

Guessing it's a short segment like under half a mile? Really common to have GPS errors on those.

 

[Drollic]

Speed derived from GPS is frequently wildly inaccurate, especially over short segments.. I've had a ride show a 50mph top speed when I was knackered and pushing uphill into a headwind with panniers

Never knew this. He was using one of the cheaper garmin units if that makes any difference. Doesn't seem to happen with my 1030 but could be wrong.

Guessing it's a short segment like under half a mile? Really common to have GPS errors on those.

Yes, think it's the shortest one I've got at around 15s.

 

[Roady]

Roady. Check your email mate

The Falcon has landed.

I did it already...

View attachment dpgyt3w.jpg

Everything just about fits!

Loving the rear radar so far. It can tell there's something behind me much quicker than I can! Be it noise from traffic coming the other way, or I just can't make out if what I can see in my mirror is parked or moving... it's really very clever.

Ahh fair enough! Tidy little bag that. I'm after one of the little wrap style ones but have not found one I like so far, I want it so innocuous I'll just leave it attached to my saddle so it has to be plain and almost hidden. It won't have a tube in it, just multitool and levers.

If there's a reason this happens I want to avoid it myself.

Bad GPS data. If you want to avoid that, don't use GPS units!

Yes, think it's the shortest one I've got at around 15s.

Short KOM's usually suffer from this. Slow riders with bad GPS units are faster than club racers.

I am a pretty fast cyclist and can confirm that fat men who are 30 years older than me and do no exercise at all absolutely destroy me on the stairs at work...

Pffft, you need to train your fast twitch a little more. Not many can beat me on stairs and I don't really need to climb many regularly while at work.

 

[UTmaniac]

If you want to master or loathe stair climbing, carry approx 10Kg between a pouch and your non-dominant arm per loop (typically 8 loops per duty), something like 26 flights on today's shift over a swift paced 3 hours of delivery. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

 

[Lethal`]

Jeremy Vine's out campaigning again with a new video: https://vimeo.com/356198545

I can't help but think he would have been wise not to ride through a red light (at 55 seconds in) if he's trying to campaign for cycling against drivers.

 

[One More Solo]

Jeremy Vine's out campaigning again with a new video: https://vimeo.com/356198545

I can't help but think he would have been wise not to ride through a red light (at 55 seconds in) if he's trying to campaign for cycling against drivers.

Bit harsh, he goes through as it changes. I know on the occasions I do commute there are certain sets of lights I almost know the timing to a second and would do similar.

FWIW I would propose cyclists can turn left on red and go through crossings on red (when safe to do so) anyway in order to give us a bit more breathing space from cars. Instead of treating cyclists like cars or pedestrians, let’s be realistic and admit we’re somewhere between the two and legislate accordingly.

 

[Lethal`]

Bit harsh, he goes through as it changes. I know on the occasions I do commute there are certain sets of lights I almost know the timing to a second and would do similar.

FWIW I would propose cyclists can turn left on red and go through crossings on red (when safe to do so) anyway in order to give us a bit more breathing space from cars. Instead of treating cyclists like cars or pedestrians, let’s be realistic and admit we’re somewhere between the two and legislate accordingly.

I agree but he's not going to win friends with drivers making moves like that. Brighton actually has some cool little bicycle lights below normal traffic lights. They let cyclists off about 2-3s before the cars.

 

[Roady]

Replacing freehub bearing last night didn't quite go to plan... Knocked the inner race out rather than the whole bearing! Balls everywhere and outer race is stuck in freehub... GAH! I hadn't got the exact tool to do it (there isn't one) so the socket I used obviously wasn't quite the right size. The inner of the freehub has a sloped edge the race sits on, so it's hard to get to the outer race... Bearings are 6803 so quite a small bearing anyway and obviously not that strong. Little man was in bed so couldn't do any hammering with a punch to get it out... Job for later!

So that'll be why Zipp try and get you to buy a new freehub (£100!) and don't give any help/maintenance instructions on changing the bearings in them. Found Hambini changed the freehub bearing in the rim version after some googling last night just by punching it out so fingers crossed mine comes out just the same. Freehub part number from Zipp is the same for the 177 (rim) and 177D (disc) hub, so fingers crossed!

@Jobe PWM fitted but now bike is out of action, doh!

 

[Saytan]

Replacing freehub bearing last night didn't quite go to plan... Knocked the inner race out rather than the whole bearing! Balls everywhere and outer race is stuck in freehub... GAH! I hadn't got the exact tool to do it (there isn't one) so the socket I used obviously wasn't quite the right size... 6803 so quite a small bearing anyway and obviously not that strong. Little man was in bed so couldn't do any hammering with a punch to get it out...

Welcome to the club

 

[Roady]

So.many.balls.so.small.everywhere!

They're only slightly bigger than pin heads, I'll never know if I collected them all!

Can't have been much grease left in the bearing for them to fall out like they did.

'Premium' wheels like Zipp (these are the same hubs used in 303/404/808 firestrikes) seem to use some cheap bearing brand without any real reputation and no mention of what kind of seals.

I'm replacing the outer with an NTN full contact and the inner with a low friction. Bit mix and match but my inner was still spinning freely, although outer was toasted.

 

[kiteloopy]

Im sure this is common but as I don't have a smart trainer im not sure on the answer. help me pedal powered.

Last year I did a ride in Mallorca that ive got saved to my strava profile. If possible, dd like to be able to input it into a smart trainer so I can ride the same elevation profile at home. I ideally would also like to have some kind visual aid so I dont get bored while riding (like Zwift).

is that possible?

 

[Lethal`]

I had an interesting Garmin glitch last night. I don't display distance/average speed etc on my main screen but I quickly flipped to it to check the clock time and had to do a double take - apparently I'd ridden at 29mph for 25 miles! I was sure I hadn't even ridden 25 miles let alone at that speed. I kinda ignored it and just rode back. Got back and I'd averaged 26mph for 40 miles on roads with traffic and lumps. I wish

After looking at the ride data I realised when I started the Garmin it must have used the last known GPS location from when it turned off (while I was driving on the M3) and then it made 3/4 jumps in my direction before it picked up a good signal. This resulted in the first 3 mins at 144mph over 7 miles so I guess the average speed was just gradually declining throughout the rest of the ride.

 

[Jonny ///M]

So.many.balls.so.small.everywhere!

They're only slightly bigger than pin heads, I'll never know if I collected them all!

Can't have been much grease left in the bearing for them to fall out like they did.

'Premium' wheels like Zipp (these are the same hubs used in 303/404/808 firestrikes) seem to use some cheap bearing brand without any real reputation and no mention of what kind of seals.

I'm replacing the outer with an NTN full contact and the inner with a low friction. Bit mix and match but my inner was still spinning freely, although outer was toasted.

Zipp are easy enough as the rear bearing can actually be tapped out easily. Is it the cassette side you've got stuck with?

Stick a bit of heat on it to help things along?

Fulcrum and a few other brands stick the bearings deep inside the driver with a circlip infront of it making it a ballache to change.

 

[Roady]

Sorted my rear hub last night, bit of a spray of GT85 to penetrate the outer race stuck in the freehub shell. Punched out really quite easily (I'd tried it drift it out before). Have replacement NTN bearings on the way, so chucked an old bearing in there to get me back on the road. Rusty/rough as hell but still spinning. Missing a cover. Stripped it, washed out, liberal amount of WD40, then bit of engine oil in there and whacked a cover off my trashed bearing on it to replace the missing. Actually spins quite well now! Such a small 6803 bearing even though it feels a little rough in hand it now spins really well. Put it on the inside of the freehub to protect it as not convinced the cover is a good fit so won't stop much ingress. Fingers crossed it lasts a few days and my replacements arrive tomorrow/saturday!

Didn't ride yesterday due to this bearing mistake. Actually grabbed the turbo bike and stuck some wheels on it tuesday night, then realised it was missing brake shoes. Digging around couldn't find any but it was getting quite late at that stage... Found them within 5 minutes last night, so chucked a couple on in case my freehub played up/bearings delayed etc. Forgot how much of a faff rim brakes where...!

Local guys attempt at 3-4 day JOGLE didn't go well. He gave up on the second day, was aiming at 300 miles a day and barely did 250 in 2 days due to emma roid, mechanicals, punctures and headwind. But now has to get himself down to LE for LEJOG in 5 days with RAB as he's a ride captain (he was attempting JOGLEJOG in 8 days). Brutal!

Bormio on hire bike. Couple of guys hired city/hotel hybrid type bikes and rode up Bormio lol

Im sure this is common but as I don't have a smart trainer im not sure on the answer. help me pedal powered.

Last year I did a ride in Mallorca that ive got saved to my strava profile. If possible, dd like to be able to input it into a smart trainer so I can ride the same elevation profile at home. I ideally would also like to have some kind visual aid so I dont get bored while riding (like Zwift).

is that possible?

It's possible, there are many smart trainer apps which will allow you to re-ride a .fit file or such to draw the elevation data from. The Tacx app springs to mind as although I've never used it, I have a couple of riders on my Strava who use it for exactly this quite frequently.

But what you mean by 'visual aid' really is the limiting factor - If you want a video of the actual climb, then you're limited to what footage there is online (unless you have your own footage). Then if you want the footage to speed up/slow down in relationship to your effort/speed then you're really looking at RoadGrandTours or others which have footage tied into their trainer control, which is obviously only certain famous/popular climbs they have programmed in...

I had an interesting Garmin glitch last night.

Sounds more like a GPS glitch and the Garmin trying to be too clever! It obviously expected you where capable of riding at 29mph for 25 miles!

Zipp are easy enough as the rear bearing can actually be tapped out easily. Is it the cassette side you've got stuck with?

Yeah 'outer' or cassette side, it tapped out easily. Not convinced I even needed any penetrating oil but sprayed some GT85 on it a few hours before which may have helped. The inner of the freehub has a flange the bearing sits on, as I'd knocked the inner & balls out of the bearing there was only a really thin edge of the outer race to get the punch onto. Enough angle and a smallish round punch to get a good corner edge and it came out easy. Bit of a scratch on the shell but replacement bearing went back in fine. Replacement NTN LLU bearing coming in a few days (I ordered LLB's which are low friction and not fully sealed). Going to use the low friction on the inside and then the fully sealed on the outside.

The 6903 in the hub itself although feeling a little rough are nowhere near as bad as the freehub bearings, understandable as they're larger bearings! But am changing them all together, seems silly to only change the freehub and leave the hubs until they get worse. £42 in bearings. Ouch! But going all NTN should mean they last longer than the 4600 miles the original Zipps have done.

 

[kiteloopy]

It's possible, there are many smart trainer apps which will allow you to re-ride a .fit file or such to draw the elevation data from. The Tacx app springs to mind as although I've never used it, I have a couple of riders on my Strava who use it for exactly this quite frequently.

But what you mean by 'visual aid' really is the limiting factor - If you want a video of the actual climb, then you're limited to what footage there is online (unless you have your own footage). Then if you want the footage to speed up/slow down in relationship to your effort/speed then you're really looking at RoadGrandTours or others which have footage tied into their trainer control, which is obviously only certain famous/popular climbs.

Basically I want to input a Strava ride into Swift.
I'd want the smart trainer to adapt to the profile of the outdoor ride and for the avatar in Swift to adapt to the ride elevation. I wouldn't want to be climbing to outdoor route elevation but the swift avatar being on a flat profile.

I want to re-ride this route at home.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2213042669