Anyone noticed accelerated progress since they've been able to train more? Lost over 4kg since Jan.
Huge progress in my cycling as I've been doing so much of it. Far more intensity and prolonged efforts as it's all solo, fun loops in the sun. Not many easy miles as that's generally not how I ride, but then again having more recovery (no junk miles commuting) my weekly mileage is probably only slightly up without the longer group/club/social rides on the weekends. But intensity and fitness will have taken a massive leap than in the last few years. I don't really have the data to back it up and I'm still carrying 3-4kg more than I should be (still 78kg) but I *feel* much stronger. Will do a long overdue FTP test on Zwift when the weather turns a little and I can ride Zwift a few sessions before, but I'm expecting my FTP to be somewhere around 270W where it was last that around 4 years ago (up from 250W last autumn & this winter).
I'm certainly riding faster than usual, 22-23mph on general places I would've usually been doing 19-20mph, has pushed me towards riding more A road fast loops than my usual exploring and hill challenges. So I really don't feel I've got my climbing legs I would usually have in the summer (when I'd be 75/76kg).
Okay, what would you do guys?
As I said before - great outcome and it's awesome to have a dilemma like this!
Can you spend part of it? Upgrade some stuff like your helmet/clothing/anything else you need, then save the remainder for the 'backup' idea? Spend the accessories one and 'save' the other? Maybe see if you can get them as 2 different vouchers if unable to spend part of it.
ould check and confirm about any expiry as I think generally C2W schemes are only valid for 12 months, but that might be the way they're claimed by an employer and as this is a prize it might be different terms.
If it was me, I'd buy a pimped out (by which I mean front and rear racks)
Van Moof S3 as a practical everyday e-bike
Van Moof's really that good? Seem to recall some pretty bad feedback from Ray @ DCR and some comments which made me think he was underwhelmed by the features and build of the thing.
Good ride until then, 17 miles into smashing a friend's loop to see if it can be done in an hour. At 40 minutes with most of the return downhill, should be possible.
My other recent times from the point I flatted are
under 20 minutes. So totally an under 60 min loop with an effort like last nights.
Headwind for the slog out (wind from North-East) meant I was pushing on more than I realised, some good strong numbers from me there considering my FTP is currently set around 250W and I've done very little structured riding around sweetspot - just lots of good solid tempo with plenty of threshold efforts up climbs.
I had this on 9 month old sealant, 1 decent and 2 punctures in the front tyre which wouldn't seal. Quickly pushed in 2 tyre plugs and was back in my way
First and only time I've used them but I wouldn't leave the house without now.
Yeah really need to get some after that fiasco last night. Which are you using and where from? Just wondering if the cheap and cheerful are just as good as the more expensive as all they are is bits of rubber...
The sealant which the LBS fitted (and I got all over me yesterday) didn't seem like anywhere near the amount I would expect and had got out when swapping my tyre over before. It also felt more watery and didn't leave as much of a rubbery residue on my hands as the Stans I've used myself... Less gooey. It was fitted in September so around the same age as yours.
My front has the Stans sealant as when I went tubeless in November 2018! I've never flatted it, have pulled 5-6 big thorns out of it and the sealant has sealed it every time... Basically it's probably long overdue changing!
Can I just put more sealant in it, or do have have to clean up all the old out of it first? I had a 'mare' of a job removing the rubber bogies off the rear tyre when I had to replace the wheel... Don't want to do that again unless I really have to. Tyres have done 6000 miles and looking quite worn in places. Still quite a way from the wear indicators but the centre tread is very cracked.
I had this happen, find me getting flamed earlier in this thread for it and getting on a bus for a short journey! I realised later, the part of the pump that connects onto the valve slides back and forth a little. If you slide it, putting pressure into the core, from the pump 'tube' then it pushes the core as you unscrew the tube, if that makes sense? You lose a little air as it's pressing the core in, but at least doesn't remove the core with the pump tube.
Haha I remember!
My pump tube is different, no movement in it it just all screws. Also think this is the first innertube I've really had a valve core out of, I don't recall the cheap tubes I've used previously ever doing it!