Road Cycling

AndyCr15 said:
I'm not sure I've seen over 180... and I almost passed out doing the 4DP test :cry:
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Yeah a few years back when I was under 40 I could hit the nineties really pushing myself when breaking with better riders than me. When Im TT or unfit I can go high eighties, but now its a few years on im wondering if the age thing does drop your max HR number.
 
Th0nt said:
now its a few years on im wondering if the age thing does drop your max HR number.
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I mean, I'm sure I'm not giving anyone new information when I say your max HR should be 220 minus your age. I guess, what I don't know, is that the suggested max you should go to, or is it suggested your heart just can't go over that?! (roughly, of course) It's about right for me, 174 should be my max, I think I touched 178 in the 4DP test and I think that's the highest I've seen it while I've been cycling the last two years.

Separate topic, me and some riding friends looking to have a day riding some new roads, so maybe drive somewhere and do a nice big loop (Box Hill maybe?), or perhaps get a train somewhere and ride home. Any ideas or suggestions? (Given we're all North London/Barnet/St Albans based)
 
I would suggest a C2C type event if they are up for it.

If I did the HR 220-age it was never accurate. A few other people out there albeit doctors and enthusiasts also say its like the BMI (works for a large population but is not gonna be accurate for the outer %'s). I also during a hard training ride went very high so in theory that set my new 'max' if you like which is probably dangerous to set your profile to if you fall out of condition.
 
Coast 2 Coast

AndyCr15 said:
I mean, I'm sure I'm not giving anyone new information when I say your max HR should be 220 minus your age. I guess, what I don't know, is that the suggested max you should go to, or is it suggested your heart just can't go over that?! (roughly, of course) It's about right for me, 174 should be my max, I think I touched 178 in the 4DP test and I think that's the highest I've seen it while I've been cycling the last two years.
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I feel like we've touched on this before but it's really very much a ballpark guideline and typically quite far off. I mean 220 minus my age is obviously wrong for me otherwise I'm 12... I was at least double that when I last hit 208 and I've hit 205 more recently too. Pretty sure they aren't saying don't go over that but 220-age is often mentioned to use as a reference max. The best way is to use power. Second best figure out your max from real data captured during all out efforts uphill I guess.

AndyCr15 said:
Separate topic, me and some riding friends looking to have a day riding some new roads, so maybe drive somewhere and do a nice big loop (Box Hill maybe?), or perhaps get a train somewhere and ride home. Any ideas or suggestions? (Given we're all North London/Barnet/St Albans based)
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Honestly unless going kinda early I'd avoid Box Hill on a weekend. It's been manic ever since the pandemic began (and often was bad on weekends before!). There's plenty out Surrey way though in terms of other hills in that area. Another option, could be to cross the Dartford bridge (I think you have to take a van or ferry shuttle) and ride around Kent. Possibly out to Whitstable.
 
220 minus age would be 188 max for me.

Power for pacing and HR to see what I've got left or if I can go or not.

I attached early doors tonight and saw 200bpm, had to settle down to get it down which let a strong chap up to me. Managed to stay away for a god few miles until a red light let the bunch catch up.

I used power when I have him a spell at 320w, HR was higher when hanging onto his wheel as he's relentless. Chilling bored in the bunch at low 170s i think.
 
Lethal` said:
Honestly unless going kinda early I'd avoid Box Hill on a weekend.
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Thanks, it wouldn't be a weekend, much easier for us to get a day off together during the week, probably a Monday. I've found RideWithGPS is very easy to search/find Sportive routes on, so I have a Surrey Hills Long route saved, but we're now looking at a route round the Chilterns, which looks very nice and is only about 40 minutes from us too.
 
SoliD said:
That must have been hell in a skinsuit! I had one a few years back and it started at 0c and finished on top of a wide open hill. packed a bin liner in my frame box thing to put on after as I knew the ride back to the start was a good 15 minutes. It's fine once you're racing, but everything else is just hell!
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I don't like the cold at the best of times but at least the sun came out. I went for a Rapha pro team base layer (the one with the built in collar/snood thing) and leg warmers. Kept my jacket on till the last minute and stuffed my gloves down the front of my skinsuit so I had them to put on straight after finishing. Luckily it was an uphill ride back to HQ so the wind chill wasn't so bad heading back! Strava has it down as 1c feels like -4c, so don't even want to know what the wind chill effect was at 30mph+ on the downhill sections.

I can cope with a 10 in this weather but anything longer would be a stretch. My power is always down in the cold anyway so it's not ideal, but good to get a race under my belt.
 
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well it took long enough to decide but..happy birthday to me. They feel good going on, lets hope they feel good after several miles!
 
I'm a bit late joining the recent heart rate natter, but for what it's worth...

At 47 and into my fifth "cycling for fitness" (rather than simply cycle commuting and/or popping out locally) year, my Lactate Threshold Heart Rate (very crudely what you can maintain for 20mins+) is typically in the 160-175bpm ballpark, up to ~170bpm usually feels very comfortable for my heart and lungs... It's usually my weak legs that are moaning when trying to do ~16Km Zwift TTs in the 280-320W ballpark at that sort of heartrate! Recently I went back up over 83Kg for the first time in ~18 months having typically been 76-80Kg since 2018, too much snacking during a period I was taking things easy as I wasn't feeling great health-wise, so my average heart rate on rides and turbo sessions has unsurprisingly increased.

As far as max heartrate goes, I'd been at least ~18 months since I last saw 190+, but I went a bit mad in a ~14min sprint race a few weeks back and hit 192 in the final sprint... That really didn't feel good at the time, or for at least a few hours after! https://www.strava.com/activities/4973918408/analysis
 
Been pestering my wife for ages for her to do me some nice custom cycling stuff so she's been investigating repair and painting of shoes over the last few months and after some practise has come up with these for me!

m0jSHnc.jpg


Few more pics on the instagram page too, can see the state of them before! If anyone is interested in having some done mention my username and she'll sort you out.

 
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One More Solo said:
I don't like the cold at the best of times but at least the sun came out. I went for a Rapha pro team base layer (the one with the built in collar/snood thing) and leg warmers. Kept my jacket on till the last minute and stuffed my gloves down the front of my skinsuit so I had them to put on straight after finishing. Luckily it was an uphill ride back to HQ so the wind chill wasn't so bad heading back! Strava has it down as 1c feels like -4c, so don't even want to know what the wind chill effect was at 30mph+ on the downhill sections.

I can cope with a 10 in this weather but anything longer would be a stretch. My power is always down in the cold anyway so it's not ideal, but good to get a race under my belt.
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Sounds hideous, remenered for that race I mentioned too I had proper thick winter baselayer leg warmers with my Aero stupid socks over the top and even cut up a pair of old panta around the gentleman area to cover my upper legs too. Hell race.
 
Pants did win us the team prize so was worth it. And thanks, I'm going to give her a few more pairs to do now and maybe a saddle or two, so pleased with how they turned out for her first effort.
 
SoliD said:
Been pestering my wife for ages for her to do me some nice custom cycling stuff so she's been investigating repair and painting of shoes over the last few months and after some practise has come up with these for me!



Few more pics on the instagram page too, can see the state of them before! If anyone is interested in having some done mention my username and she'll sort you out.

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Nice! What sort of level of repair is possible? My Mavic shoes are pretty damn tired. I got some replacement Cosmic the other day from Sportpursuit. Turns out they changed the sizing a little so they fit quite a lot tighter. I think possibly better for me but I'm not sure until I try. Mavic in general seem to be very low stock everywhere. Almost as if discontinued.

The main issue is the sole is coming away from the upper of the shoe. They've probably done a good 35000+ miles to be fair.

Some pics: https://imgur.com/a/SBTNwF7
 
Think they're a bit far gone I'm afraid, she could probably do something but couldn't guarantee they'd last for any significant amount of time unfortunately. If it was just the leather that could be patched and repainted just fine, but the sole and rear are probably a bridge too far unfortunately. I'll ask her though.
 
SPG said:
I just bought some deep rim carbon wheels from Farsports on Ali express. £380 and they are really good. Great communication as well. Would recommend.
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Have heard them mentioned a few times in here and everyone has always been happy. Is it just that seller and anything from them should be 'safe'?

Berger said:
Imagine you will get stung for customs too when they arrive!?
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That's the worry really.

I'm out of the loop but has there been much change with those brands buying in from China, rebranding/selling on. Like Zuus? There where others too I can't quite recall names.

Bit like Hunt, but they just buy the components and build them here. Are there many others doing the same - so have UK pricing not being crazy hiked by the import duties?

Basically trying to decide if sinking ~£700-800 on a set of Zipp 303S is a good idea when I spot a bargain (my LBS will match online prices when they're in stock as Zipp still give them their margin), or I look at others and get an equal wheelset for a few quid less...

Kinda looking for wide, tubeless, disc, carbon so fairly light and aero. Bit more of everything over the alloy 30 course I have.

EDIT: all hold. Big cycling purchases on hold for the forseable as I just won a Neo on 'ebay for £400 :D

platypus said:
Does anyone have S-works shoes? <snip>
I know that everyone's feet are different but wondering if anyone has any and can comment on the width?
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Sorry missed to chip in on this before you pulled the trigger. But nothing to really add other than so many people seem to swear by them as one of the best fits there are!

I recently got some Giro's standard fit (Savix) and find the fit a little narrow, but I am borderline going for a wider shoe. But still comfortable. Although have found if I do them up a little too tight and not realise they can hurt like hell across the top of my foot afterwards, but that was generally cranking them up when Zwift racing for sprints... I've found the same with Sidi, but if I get it just right they're the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. Like a slipper!

I have old Shimanos non-wide and they where never very comfortable. Got newer ones in Wide fit and they're a little too wide - but where perfect for what I use(d) them for - commuting generally in winter with thicker socks. Actually cracked the carbon sole on those and started to get a wet foot so now they're generally just for Turbo use...

Trox said:
Looking for a little advice regarding wheel rim to frame clearance...

With the different rim widths available what would you deem an acceptable wheel rim to frame clearance?

For example; My disc brake bike with a 29mm wide wheel rim (not including tyre) my clearance between the frame and rim would come in at around 5mm each side. Uncertain if this is too tight.
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Your rim is 29mm wide external? Sounds very large.

As mentioned it really depends on the tyres and what you're riding. With that width I would hazard they're Gravel wheels and frame, so you're more likely to be throwing up stones/mud and maybe even fitting knobbly tyres so would rapidly encroach on that clearance doing so... But I'm guessing.

My old Giant had less than 3-4mm on the brake bridges with mudguard clips. Got leaves stuck in there fairly regularly and twice jammed cut grass in there which pretty much locked the wheel so needed manual removal. But was still fine 99% of the time, wasn't really bothered as where it jammed wasn't damaging the frame/paint. Just something to be aware of. That was on purely road/commuter bike.



platypus said:
qukAH3L.jpg

well it took long enough to decide but..happy birthday to me. They feel good going on, lets hope they feel good after several miles!
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Happy belated Birthday!

They look schweeeeeeeeeeet! Gotta love a matt black.

The Giro Savix I ended up with (bargain...) are a mixture of gloss and matt. They're not actually as shiney as the pictures look, but not what I'd normally choose. But for mostly commuting shoes that will live most of their life under overshoes I can live with them... Especially for £44 'used' with cleats which looked like they'd done maybe 2 rides max and never been walked on...! But you know me and a bargain... ;)
 
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