Road Cycling

Nutty_Death · 3 Mar 2022 at 20:30

Also I've been meaning to ask but especially given recent highway code changes. What are people's views on overtaking distance whilst you're in a non segregated cycle lane?

Particularly at this time of year the cycle lanes are just full of rubbish so best case you're hugging the edge of the cycle lane and have cars passing as if the line markings are an invisible barrier.

AndyCr15 · 3 Mar 2022 at 20:59

Junglist said:
On the test I managed to get 206. I think now knowing the test and hopefully being able to pace myself a bit better I'd be able to get a bit higher but not massively so.

Just to check, you did have your trainer on ERG mode, right? You don't really get to pace yourself as the test sets the amount of effort you need to apply

fez said:
I don't think I am ever going to get addicted to Zwift because its hard work and you don't get the reward of being in nature but it should be good for my general fitness.

To me, there are two benefits/reasons for indoor cycling. Racing and workouts. (Well, third reason being the obvious weather thing) I personally think time in a workout is MUCH more beneficial to my cycling ability than what I do outside. Of course, I still prefer outside for the many many benefits it has over indoor.

If you're not looking to get better and you're not competitive and fancy a race now and then, yeah, there's not much point of indoor.

Junglist · 3 Mar 2022 at 21:37

Nutty_Death said:
200+ I wouldn't describe as bad. It's certainly above what someone who doesn't excercise could do. It'll go up relatively quickly with regular training and decent rest.

Nah, I'm actually happy with it. I was worried I would get under the estimate so to have scored a bit above it, I'm happy with that. Will start the 4 week builder on Monday and hopefully I can increase it a bit. I've never done any training other than just riding around outside so the only way is up!

AndyCr15 said:
Just to check, you did have your trainer on ERG mode, right? You don't really get to pace yourself as the test sets the amount of effort you need to apply

I believe I did. It kept saying ERG mode was on, when I looked at my mobile companion app. I would've assumed it wasn't on during the test though, but I'm not sure. I did the 20 minute test not the ramp one, if that makes a difference?

now the hard work begins! If I can ever get close to 3.5 w/Kg I'll be really happy. Will take many months of training though

Jonny ///M · 3 Mar 2022 at 22:41

Pretty sure the free ride part of the FTP test doesn't use erg mode. The small sprints and openers before it could well do but I doubt it for free ride.

You'll get higher next time having learned how to do them, I very rarely do them and just use 20m section from a race or an hour ride.

I got an FTP bump flag up after a race on Tuesday doing 338w for 20 mins, I don't do workouts so it won't change anything in reality. I may start doing them but outside chaingangs are soon and they'll give me a pull out.

AndyCr15 · 4 Mar 2022 at 08:08

Junglist said:
I did the 20 minute test not the ramp one, if that makes a difference?

Ah, sorry, I assumed you did a ramp test. I didn't realise people went to the trouble of doing 20 minutes of pain

jpaul · 4 Mar 2022 at 08:20

Roady said:
A 'quick clean' can be spraying the chain with WD40 soaked into a rag. It cleans much of the 'outside' gunk off it, including the outside of the links. As it's a light oil penetrates the links to hopefully wash some grime out of there. Easily wipes 'clean' afterwards to then reapply lube, without waiting for any drying time. More a stop-gap when using a wet lube which has meant the chain gets utterly filthy and picks up everything looking black ('road gravy')m before you have the time for a proper chain cleaner/scrubber. You're not totally cleaning that crud away, but hopefully enough of it away from the links/teeth that it reduces wear.

I guess the perpetual debate on wd40 goes on, but, having run out of finish line teflon (wiggle seem to hide the bigger economic 480ml bottle on their web-site) used some gt85, which didn't remain on the chain for long and I think washed out any decent grease, with the superficial grime. - chain had rigor mortis when I changed it last wek.

for quick detailing with foam for chain/frame (maybe it will work on intricate bits of car & window cleaning too) - the
Marolex Axel 2000 Pressure Washer Snow Foamer Lance Spray Bottle 2L
look interesting versus buying pressurized sprays recurrently.

fez · 4 Mar 2022 at 09:01

jpaul said:
I guess the perpetual debate on wd40 goes on, but, having run out of finish line teflon (wiggle seem to hide the bigger economic 480ml bottle on their web-site) used some gt85, which didn't remain on the chain for long and I think washed out any decent grease, with the superficial grime. - chain had rigor mortis when I changed it last wek.

Did you grease it afterwards or just GT85? The GT85 will strip all the lube from the chain.Generally you just want to spray the GT85 on a rag and run the chain through that rag to get the grinding paste off the surface of the chain and then reapply lube.

jpaul · 4 Mar 2022 at 09:16

fez said:
Did you grease it afterwards or just GT85? The GT85 will strip all the lube from the chain.Generally you just want to spray the GT85 on a rag and run the chain through that rag to get the grinding paste off the surface of the chain and then reapply lube.

agree roady said re-lube too, in this case I'd run out of finish line lube,
but nonetheless, although when I apply lube I often brush in with old electric toothbrush heads too, I think wd40/gt85 gets into places lube won't subsequently reach, (its like using the penetrating oil I had to use to free up lock nuts on hub axle I just changed.) wd40 leaves a coating too, which attracts dirt on its own.

fez · 4 Mar 2022 at 09:32

jpaul said:
agree roady said re-lube too, in this case I'd run out of finish line lube,
but nonetheless, although when I apply lube I often brush in with old electric toothbrush heads too, I think wd40/gt85 gets into places lube won't subsequently reach, (its like using the penetrating oil I had to use to free up lock nuts on hub axle I just changed.) wd40 leaves a coating too, which attracts dirt on its own.

If you put a generous amount of lube on it will get everywhere it needs to. It clings to the metal and the motion of running the chain through the system ensures that it gets pulled into all the places it needs to go. You then want to wipe the surface of the chain with a rag or something to remove the external lube so it doesn't attract excess dust and dirt.

jpaul · 4 Mar 2022 at 15:47

hmmh : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/outsider-team/lubri-disc
LUBRI DISC | Eco-friendly bike chain care in just seconds.
like I'm going to saturate a sponge with expensive first line teflon lube, which is already accurately applied at chain plates from bottle, remaining solvent in sponge would evaporate too.
- seems fenwicks foam cleaner is ammonia/alkaline based , so similar car clean foam might be an alternative.

Junglist · 4 Mar 2022 at 20:14

My partner is looking to get a road bike now she's about to give birth. Thinking of getting a Ribble R872 Disc with a 105 groupset. Before we pull the trigger on it, can anyone else think of any other bike around the £1700 price mark that would be a better alternative?

Planet X have a carbon bike with SRAM Force and it's £1500 but I'm not sure she likes the colour which will be the deciding factor!

Any ideas?

Lethal` · 5 Mar 2022 at 11:34

Jonny ///M said:
I got an FTP bump flag up after a race on Tuesday doing 338w for 20 mins, I don't do workouts so it won't change anything in reality. I may start doing them but outside chaingangs are soon and they'll give me a pull out.

Neat. What was your previous FTP?

I guessed mine as I've not actually done an FTP test. I've rode above it for 45mins before and it didn't provoke any change. I'm not sure how Zwift estimates FTP really!

jpaul · 5 Mar 2022 at 12:29

Junglist said:
Thinking of getting a Ribble R872 Disc with a 105 groupset

looks very tight for mudguards - supposedly they work if you fit 25's - don't use my summer bike much in winter because of mudguard issue

Jonny ///M · 5 Mar 2022 at 12:59

Lethal` said:
Neat. What was your previous FTP?

I guessed mine as I've not actually done an FTP test. I've rode above it for 45mins before and it didn't provoke any change. I'm not sure how Zwift estimates FTP really!

I think it was 308 or something, it seems to just take 20 minute power of any ride and apply the 95%

338w gave me 321w so sitting at 4w/kg as I'm 81kg. Hopefully I can drop to 77-78 at 320w.

PikeyPriest · 5 Mar 2022 at 13:21

Junglist said:
My partner is looking to get a road bike now she's about to give birth. Thinking of getting a Ribble R872 Disc with a 105 groupset. Before we pull the trigger on it, can anyone else think of any other bike around the £1700 price mark that would be a better alternative?

Planet X have a carbon bike with SRAM Force and it's £1500 but I'm not sure she likes the colour which will be the deciding factor!

Any ideas?

Canyon would probably be worth a shout. Think the 105 disc endurace is around £1700.

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/endurance-bikes/endurace/al/endurace-7/2733.html?dwvar_2733_pv_rahmenfarbe=BK/BU

Could drop to Tiagra to drop the price further, or £1950 for a 105 red full carbon fibre disc.

The endurace cf 105 or ultimate cf sl are my dream bikes (achievable dream anyway)

Junglist · 5 Mar 2022 at 16:30

jpaul said:
looks very tight for mudguards - supposedly they work if you fit 25's - don't use my summer bike much in winter because of mudguard issue

dont think that's too much of an issue as she won't do much horrible weather cycling and even if we did, she could just use an ass saver

PikeyPriest said:
Canyon would probably be worth a shout. Think the 105 disc endurace is around £1700.

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/endurance-bikes/endurace/al/endurace-7/2733.html?dwvar_2733_pv_rahmenfarbe=BK/BU

Could drop to Tiagra to drop the price further, or £1950 for a 105 red full carbon fibre disc.

The endurace cf 105 or ultimate cf sl are my dream bikes (achievable dream anyway)

I did try and convince her to get the Endurace CF SL with 105 but she didn't want to spend over £2000 really, she's not into it as much as I am. Want to get 105 mostly so we can both use the turbo trainer without too much of a fuss. I have a Ultimate CF SL8 and absolutely love it, fully recommend!

did my first 100km ride today (actually 107) took a bit longer than I thought but I don't feel quite as bad as I thought I would feel. We're going to go to the Ribble shop now and get her measured up and ask about bars a bit more narrow

AndyCr15 · 5 Mar 2022 at 17:37

Did 100k this morning myself too, including Whiteleaf, which is just brutal IMO (esp at 96kg) 0.8 miles at an average of 10% :eek:

Only done it once before, last summer, chasing friends at what I thought was close to my peak, but managed to do it under 7 minutes today and take 20 seconds off my previous attempt, so pleased with that!

Mind you, I rather got the weather wrong this morning. Phone said 6°C, which isn't too bad, so didn't use a heat pad in my shoe.... wow, my toes got super cold!!! Fingers suffered a little too in regular winter gloves, not my flipper mittens

Junglist · 5 Mar 2022 at 22:34

I did the same, @AndyCr15 . Well, not quite but I thought it was going to be warmer than it was so I wore my regular cycling socks rather than my thermal merino ones. My toes were pretty cold for most of the day but it did turn nice towards the end of the ride. My fingers were OK until we stopped for coffee.

I almost went out in just my coat and a compression layer but at the last minute I decided to wear my rapha thermal layer. I don't know if any of you own Canyon leg warmers but if on the fence about buying them, don't. Really rubbish bits that kept falling down my leg due to having no silicone gripper. Should've taken my Rapha thermal ones but I thought it was going to be warmer than it was.

Lethal` · 6 Mar 2022 at 01:03

Jonny ///M said:
I think it was 308 or something, it seems to just take 20 minute power of any ride and apply the 95%

338w gave me 321w so sitting at 4w/kg as I'm 81kg. Hopefully I can drop to 77-78 at 320w.

Ah. That explains it. Very similar numbers! Think I did 337w around this time last year for AdZ and my arbitrarily estimated FTP is 325w.

AndyCr15 said:
Did 100k this morning myself too, including Whiteleaf, which is just brutal IMO (esp at 96kg) 0.8 miles at an average of 10% Only done it once before, last summer, chasing friends at what I thought was close to my peak, but managed to do it under 7 minutes today and take 20 seconds off my previous attempt, so pleased with that!

Mind you, I rather got the weather wrong this morning. Phone said 6°C, which isn't too bad, so didn't use a heat pad in my shoe.... wow, my toes got super cold!!! Fingers suffered a little too in regular winter gloves, not my flipper mittens

Whiteleaf is fairly rough. I've done it at least 3 times now but the first time it never seemed to end. I almost cracked a few workmates last year. Was quite happy to see they made it up as it's no easy feat for less regular cyclists.

Have you been up Kop? It's super fast down. It's like a wall going up. To some degree I prefer Whiteleaf for the variability in gradient!

AndyCr15 · 6 Mar 2022 at 07:18

Lethal` said:
Have you been up Kop?

I don't know that one? Is it near? Can you link to the Strava segment?

**EDIT** According to the description, I went down Kop last year, I don't think I've been up it.

Side note, as we've talked indoor and watts, I noticed I did 380+ Watts for 7 minutes, which made me chuckle a little. The psychology of it all is fascinating, as if I saw an indoor training plan with that for even 4 minutes I probably wouldn't even try it :cry:

When you're outdoors and on for a PR...