Road Cycling

This is why I love working from home. Beautiful day. 13 degrees and sunny.

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I won't lie, at first I thought it was about how good the road was. If it wasn't for the big crack, wow! Much better roads than around here. The crack did look like one of those your wheel could get stuck in and throw you off though!
 
We'd give our back teeth for roads that good round 'ere. If you can't lose a double decker in the pothole here the council don't want to know!
 
We'd give our back teeth for roads that good round 'ere. If you can't lose a double decker in the pothole here the council don't want to know!

Used to cycle round your way a lot before I moved up to Suffolk, can confirm the roads down there are shocking. I must admit they're getting really bad up my way now as well.
 
That looks lovely and smooth. small risk of tramlining, still miles better than 95% of south london.

And the massive canyon right on the pace line that would eat up wheels.


Would I be mad to buy a titanium gravel bike for the following reasons:

1) winter bike (I don't own one for this purpose)
2) occasional commuting to work (12 miles or 26 miles - one way - I'll particularly enjoy claiming 20p a mile for these journeys during the summer!)
3) maybe a few local journeys (already got a single speed bike that I use for this purpose)
4) Some mild off road cycling local to me
5) Maybe some one way journeys and taking the train back (wouldn't trust a carbon bike on the train)


I've done a little more research on the 12 mile off road commute route and about 4 miles of it is on public footpaths (and no cycling according to komoot). Kinds of puts me off of giving it a go.
 
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And the massive canyon right on the pace line that would eat up wheels.

Easy to dodge with an observant person on the front. It's when there are holes all over the lane and the group just goes into panic that are the worst, and becoming more and more frequent.

I hate the call 'under' too. It means nothing! At least say left, middle or right ish.
 
Easy to dodge with an observant person on the front. It's when there are holes all over the lane and the group just goes into panic that are the worst, and becoming more and more frequent.

I hate the call 'under' too. It means nothing! At least say left, middle or right ish.


Don't disagree on both, unfortunately no message (or divert of line was made). I can imagine that taking out some cyclists this year if it isn't repaired.


Found 2 reports on the council that are 'under consideration'. I'll assume that means to be ignored.
 
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Wow weather has been good this week - love these 'shoulder seasons' where things change - but this one most of all when the days are suddenly longer, the sun is out, cold but mostly dry... Contemplating getting the Tarmac out for this weekends club ride! It's sat hung up in my garage, needs sealant, air and some lube first that's for sure! :cry:

Had a brutal ride on Tuesday... With my 'Racing Score' on Zwift quite loaded from some recent racing found myself in the A pen (RS 513 and category 500-650!). Brutal. Basically did my FTP all race to barely finish 75th chasing wheels. Only doing that well as it was a short ~22 min race. Annoyingly enough other good riders did badly so my Racing Score didn't actually go down! Argh! Need to try and tank it over the weekend with some small races against good riders. :o

Still, legs are going well and in a good place right now - riding well, good power and very little commitment or focus on it... Need to continue it as bodes well for some great fun outside this summer! :cool:


soon to be released. Love the colours

doesn't this seem like a crazy value for money? zipp carbon wheels, cf endurance frame, ultegra di2 for £3500 ?
Agreed, good value for the money and the 'top' Boardmans have always had a good reputation - they always used to be made by Boardman and only the cheaper range of them made in the far east with varying QC issues, but think the real Boardman ones never any problem... @SoliD will know more as think he has a 9.4?

Thanks for the link too, I'm liking the look of that SLR. Looks like a chunky Tarmac SL8 - not that many of these modern bikes look very different. They would be on my list, as I quite like the idea of getting a 'British' frame as my replacement for the Diverge when the time comes. I'm not that worried about something 'made in england' but really like the idea of supporting a British bike company even if they're making them elsewhere rather than buying a cheap knockoff or something from the US/EU again for my 'everything' bike.

and on paper, it's between endurace and slr but, endurace seems to have better geometry and the split/shock seat post etc are all nice things, but di2 105 and heavier carbon wheels but will the frameset be better.. it's hard to decide which is better. I'm sure all are great bikes.
Tough choices but bear in mind the Endurace is likely the faster aero race/road bike than the others, do they still do the Ultimate? That's probably what to look at. The Boardman reads as 'all road' has things like mudguard mounts and good tyre clearances, probably more suited to gravel than the others. The Defy is an endurance road bike, probably has more compliance and clearance while probably being the most comfortable. They're all quite different for various reasons so can't really directly compare them...

Never choose a bike by wheels. They're probably the easiest thing to change & upgrade!

12s 105 Di2 is superb. Maybe marginally more bulky feel - but the RD does so much more on it than older 11s Ultegra di2 where you need junction boxes and wireless units. Better to spend the difference on things like wheels/frames or even cranks.

Would I be mad to buy a titanium gravel bike for the following reasons:
Nope, all valid reasons for +1... But question the expense of Ti for a bike which you're using as a bit of a winter hack or train 'beater'. Better cheap alloy/carbon or even steel.

Seems alright.
I was already cringing at the bars, then the toes got me. Glad I wasn't eating! :cry:

The state of this bit of road for cycling on! https://imgur.com/a/5ln61PW
Poor but with the verge/hedge having that massive ditch, then the fields behind being below the roadway, so fairly usual subsidence of road slip. It's going to continue to get loads worse - look how the tarmac at eh edge is dropping down too!

The worst thing is your 'friend' on the front not calling it or taking an obvious line around it so it caught you. Damn lucky not to wreck a wheel dropping in and go over the top. I'd be shouting - you're part his responsibility with him being on front. Very poor form to be group riding and not signal/call/shout a 'ride ender' like that - could easily have been injured riders.

Some say that canyon featured on 127 hours.
Some say the last council team sent to fill it never returned...!
 
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Yeah, ADV 9.0 and 9.4 buyer here, sold the 9.0 now, but love the 9.4, great value for money and the frame is great for on road/off road, although against some of the more modern gravel frames it doesn't have the same level of clearance, which is why i'm now looking to potentially upgrade to a Revolt X. Some of the finishing kit is a bit pap (wheels, stem, bars) but minor gripes really.
 
We have actual tram lines here. Got to try and take them as close as you can to a right angle. Not cool in the wet either, where one wheel has traction and the other doesn't!
 
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