Road Cycling

[AndyCr15]

If you're going to do any half decent mileage, you can't be needing a bike shop for a puncture I think more than once I've had rides with three punctures in the one ride.

So, in prep for Mallorca I changed a few batteries, put a new chain on etc... get out here and realise my big ring is FAR too worn and skipping with any half decent amount of power being put through it. I was about giving up having tried 6 places and all I could find was 50T (I have a 36-52) as apparently no-one wants 52T around here... last chance was opening at 4:30pm (Spanish opening times...) so I rode over for when he opened (Only about 4 miles down the coast) and he tells me he has like 30! When people want their 52 taking off and replacing with a 50, he keeps the 52! Sold me a barely used one for half price and then stuck it on for me. Super chuffed!

Have been having some fun with my newly learnt basic Spanish too

 

[Martynt74]

See I’ve never had an issue up until now. I thought you lot were just unlucky

Awesome stuff on the Spanish though. I’ve been looking at buying a Jeep Wrangler and having regular messages on Facebook etc with people selling is proving handy!

 

[One More Solo]

From my previous post about cycling at night, i asked in a local facebook group to see if there were any specific reasons for not seeing many people out at night. Certainly wasn't expecting this answer

A few years back I went out for a sunrise ride in France and was heading up the Col des Glieres when an ibex came barrelling down the hillside and straight across the road in front of me. New shorts needed for sure.

 

[SoliD]

Should have been wearing your ag2r ones!

 

[MM-Seat]

Had a Heart Screening test via work and it’s reported my muscle mass is 77KG. My dreams of being a climber are in the dust!

 

[fez]

Had a Heart Screening test via work and it’s reported my muscle mass is 77KG. My dreams of being a climber are in the dust!

I feel like you probably knew this before the test

 

[SoliD]

Had a Heart Screening test via work and it’s reported my muscle mass is 77KG. My dreams of being a climber are in the dust!

Haha that's more than most of us here weigh. Total.

 

[AndyCr15]

Got back from Mallorca last night. A great trip, once again and I finally got to do Sa Calobra (in just under 55 minutes, which I was happy with). It's funny, at the top of Col de Honor some guy was saying 'don't bother with Sa Calobra, it's over rated... etc etc'. I thought it was amazing!

The descent is crazy... which reminds me, I really need to check my break pads now as it seemed like 15 minutes of squeezing breaks!

 

[ANDARIAL]

Looks like a nice view
Not too sure with the guys in the background riding in the middle of the road with a bend coming up though

 

[Liefrich]

Got back from Mallorca last night. A great trip, once again and I finally got to do Sa Calobra (in just under 55 minutes, which I was happy with). It's funny, at the top of Col de Honor some guy was saying 'don't bother with Sa Calobra, it's over rated... etc etc'. I thought it was amazing!

The descent is crazy... which reminds me, I really need to check my break pads now as it seemed like 15 minutes of squeezing breaks!

I did Sa Calobra last year and it was undoubtedly a fantastic experience. I went in May so it was jam-packed with tourist busses and the descent was very hairy, especially given it was my first "alpine" style descent so I had to get used to the physics of hairpins! We probably also left it too late in the day to start the ride.

Out of interest, what time did you start your ride? I am going back again soon and will probably get one big day out again. I'm weighing up whether to do Sa Calorbra again or do the Soller loop taking in Puig Major (both rides starting for Puerto Pollensa).

 

[SoliD]

nice work @AndyCr15, how long did it take you to get down?

I'd always favour Sa Calobra climbing up from Caimari and descending down into Puerto Pollensa. Puig major is good but the ride out to Soller is so boring and usually into a headwind. Alternatively get the bus to Andratx and ride all the way back to Puerto Pollensa, found the roads over that side of the island fantastic! Big cycling holiday thread to discuss this! https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/cycling-holidays.18681996/

 

[Roady]

I think a lot of companies flourish when there is little competition, grow to the size they are largely unassailable and then stagnate. They have a lot of bloat and try to keep the profits increasing so they reduce quality, increase prices and reduce the quality of their support and services.

This. But also those companies which 'paved the way' as social and technological developments drove things forwards gained a massive amount of 'loyal' followers that any new provider doing the same things will have a hard time to win over, even with a superior product.

I might have agreed 2 years ago, but I feel like Strava have really made efforts in the last 12 to 18 months to start improving it again. (Did they get bought out or something?)

Strava CEO and co-founder Michael Horvath resigns

The search is on for a new successor at the global activity-tracking giant.

www.velonews.com

Hovarth 'left' (took a step away) 2013-2017(?), before returning and now wants to step away again. It's really since he came back we've seen things start to improve and drive some changes/developments. They really did nothing for a long time and that's their own fault. Sure I read somewhere that Strava has 'never been profitable' which sounds hard considering it's 15(?) years old? Can't be true else it still wouldn't be here.

I have a reminder set for a week before my subscription renewing - will decide then if I bin it or not.

Really that's what most of us should be doing, need to drive their bottom line by them actually providing services we see as adding value!

To update…. Wahoo sending out a new HR monitor. Thanks for the tips!

Awesome result and dare I say it - half expected they would!

First flat tyre today whilst out and about. No phone either which meant a ~2 mile walk back to the house. Luckily hadn't got far.

Be more prepared - else the boars may get you!

So, in prep for Mallorca I changed a few batteries, put a new chain on etc... get out here and realise my big ring is FAR too worn and skipping with any half decent amount of power being put through it. I was about giving up having tried 6 places and all I could find was 50T (I have a 36-52) as apparently no-one wants 52T around here... last chance was opening at 4:30pm (Spanish opening times...) so I rode over for when he opened (Only about 4 miles down the coast) and he tells me he has like 30! When people want their 52 taking off and replacing with a 50, he keeps the 52! Sold me a barely used one for half price and then stuck it on for me. Super chuffed!

Great work and result for you. Worth dropping details of a great shop like that into here for anyone else to bring it up in searches or for others here to use. I'm all for helpful shops/owners getting recognition and business!

What prices where rings? Bear in mind you can't get a R8000 50t alone here for less than £124 (and that's after hunting around deals/inventory). If you can get more 50t or 52t out of him for less than €80 could be worth grabbing yourself for the future or to sell on to clubmates back home. If you do decide to, put me down for a 50t, will happily Paypal you the funds...

Had a Heart Screening test via work and it’s reported my muscle mass is 77KG. My dreams of being a climber are in the dust!

Wout van Aert is 78kg. Lutsenko is 74kg. Plenty of others around 70kg! No excuses!

 

[fez]

Wout van Aert is 78kg. Lutsenko is 74kg. Plenty of others around 70kg! No excuses!

I assumed he meant pure muscle mass i.e. he is 140kg+.

 

[MM-Seat]

I assumed he meant pure muscle mass i.e. he is 140kg+.

yup, that’s pure muscle mass but, I’m a more sprightly 114KGs at 6ft 1.

 

[AndyCr15]

Great work and result for you. Worth dropping details of a great shop like that into here for anyone else to bring it up in searches or for others here to use. I'm all for helpful shops/owners getting recognition and business!

What prices where rings? Bear in mind you can't get a R8000 50t alone here for less than £124 (and that's after hunting around deals/inventory). If you can get more 50t or 52t out of him for less than €80 could be worth grabbing yourself for the future or to sell on to clubmates back home. If you do decide to, put me down for a 50t, will happily Paypal you the funds...

The place was Nui Wave Bicicleta in Alcudia. I left a very good review (I see he has 4.9 stars from 80+ reviews)

I was thinking I might grab a couple more, maybe ride down to him on Monday before returning home... but then Sunday night involved much alcohol and I barely got out of bed on Monday morning.

He offered a new one at €150 or a 2nd hand (with not much use) for €75, which I thought was pretty good. Tbf, I assume that's all profit for him. Some says 'please stick a 50T on this' and pays for the 50T. He then sells on the 52T. I wondered about offering €120 for two more...

I have since noticed the big ring (or the chain when on the big ring) just slightly rubs the front derailleur though. I was looking at alignment, but when on the small ring, the derailleur is as far óut'as it could be, so I don't know if it's maybe more about angles than position? (Or height, I guess?)

yup, that’s pure muscle mass but, I’m a more sprightly 114KGs at 6ft 1.

I'm not sure the delicate way of saying this, but it sounds like there's plenty of room for improvement in climbing build though?

IF you wanted to lose weight, remember, muscle will go as well. I started at 138kg with about 36% body fat and am now around 98kg with 22%. Depending how you look at it, I've probably dropped about 10kg of muscle along with 30kg of fat. So, you could probably get to 80-85kgs if you really wanted to be a good climber?

 

[Martynt74]

Probably my first ever big climb today of around 2200ft over 5 miles.

Not sure I’m a fan and resort to many breaks and even a little walking near the top.
The road down was hairy too as I hit an untarmaced section without warning at ~30mph which was scary. As as the poster above I’m also not confident on these hairpin descents.
Not helped by forgetting my water bottle.
Although getting back. Diving in the pool and now sitting with a 9% double IPA is I’m sure perfect recovery.

The other day I drove up Col de Rates which seems to be “the” climb over here and it had a lot of riders out. One to attempt sometime for sure.
Shows the variety of rider as we passed one guy who was pretty big going up and looking happy about it.
We drove over and then went to a local waterfall. Coming back up the other side around 90mins later I saw him descending with a huge smile on his face.
Similarly I saw one guy climbing at a faster speed than I was confident doing in a big suv!

 

[MM-Seat]

I'm not sure the delicate way of saying this, but it sounds like there's plenty of room for improvement in climbing build though?

IF you wanted to lose weight, remember, muscle will go as well. I started at 138kg with about 36% body fat and am now around 98kg with 22%. Depending how you look at it, I've probably dropped about 10kg of muscle along with 30kg of fat. So, you could probably get to 80-85kgs if you really wanted to be a good climber?

Don’t worry, I’ve returned to cycling to lose some weight.

My comment about becoming a climber was tongue in cheek however, I have no desire to lose a serious amount of muscle (other than that which I will lose as i shed fat). Around 100 kilos has been a nice weight in the past for me. I just have to realise that will impact my cycling performance.

 

[One More Solo]

Looks like a nice view
Not too sure with the guys in the background riding in the middle of the road with a bend coming up though

You can see for miles up the climb so plenty of time to duck back in if needed.

I did Sa Calobra last year and it was undoubtedly a fantastic experience. I went in May so it was jam-packed with tourist busses and the descent was very hairy, especially given it was my first "alpine" style descent so I had to get used to the physics of hairpins! We probably also left it too late in the day to start the ride.

Out of interest, what time did you start your ride? I am going back again soon and will probably get one big day out again. I'm weighing up whether to do Sa Calorbra again or do the Soller loop taking in Puig Major (both rides starting for Puerto Pollensa).

I’ve always been a bit down on Sa Calobra but I climbed it late one day in the fairly early part of the season a few years ago. All the tourist buses were done for the day and most other people were probably thinking about dinner. It was a pretty magical experience when it was like that tbh. It’s a stunning road and only let down by how busy it can be.

I went out from Pollensa, up the Soller and over the Puig then did Sa Calobra before heading home via Lluc.

 

[SoliD]

I've only ever done it in Jan and Feb so the way you describe sounds so foreign! Remember sitting at the cafe in 2016 and we were the only cyclists down there. I was top 10 strava segment at one point on the descent time from memory.

 

[Roady]

Looks like a nice view
Not too sure with the guys in the background riding in the middle of the road with a bend coming up though

@ANDARIAL as you've been around as long as I have, can I ask what drew you into this thread to drop that comment? Legitimate query, if it where a newbie I'd flag (either mentally to myself and ignore, or for admins) as a 'Troll' and one of the anti-cycling brigade just trying to stir things up! But I know you're not a Troll

Was it just an 'off hand' comment on your way through looking at a nice picture? Your only post in this sub forum for 12+ months (couldn't be bothered to look back further, but don't recall you usually frequenting here).

I assumed he meant pure muscle mass i.e. he is 140kg+.

Haha, oooops!

yup, that’s pure muscle mass but, I’m a more sprightly 114KGs at 6ft 1.

Your pure muscle mass is greater than me (76kg total!). Impressive!

As (rough numbers) your MM is near 70% so your 'fat content' being towards 30%, probably very easy to trim that down. But also consider you'll 'lose size' by converting some of that to muscle as you ride more without necessarily trimming weight. Muscle is heavier than fat...!