Road Cycling Essentials

Mr Jones · 3 Jul 2013 at 22:18

Right calf cramp almost made me give up my cycle home, especially with persistent wind and gust head on as I turned home from an after work ride. Not like I'm not having enough dietary salts, so is there something I'm missing?

touch · 3 Jul 2013 at 22:28

Jonny ///M said:
Was out a pedal to watch a race up here tonight and wheeled about with the boss on the way home.

Who is he again? (i think you told me before but i'v forgotten)
He'll be racing in stewarton on saturday? I'll be there but i'm doing the B race, so i wont be racing against him.

Mr Jones said:
is there something I'm missing?

Well, yes, there is, muscles dont cramp up for no reason.
Unfortunately, i dont know what. There are different types of salts and minerals that you need. So even though you think you're getting enough, there might be something missing.
One of the guys i ride with find zinc helps stop his cramp. There are some isotonic tablets (high5 brand, i think) that have zinc in them which helps him. I'm not sure if it's due to his diet or just a physical trait.

Do you use isotonic drinks when you're riding? Try a few different brands and see if there's any difference. If you find one that works for you, you could try and be scientific and work out from the differences in the ingredients list what it is that you might be lacking, or do what most people do and just use the drink that works best

Jonny ///M · 3 Jul 2013 at 22:55

touch said:
Who is he again? (i think you told me before but i'v forgotten)
He'll be racing in stewarton on saturday? I'll be there but i'm doing the B race, so i wont be racing against him.

Well, yes, there is, muscles dont cramp up for no reason.
Unfortunately, i dont know what. There are different types of salts and minerals that you need. So even though you think you're getting enough, there might be something missing.
One of the guys i ride with find zinc helps stop his cramp. There are some isotonic tablets (high5 brand, i think) that have zinc in them which helps him. I'm not sure if it's due to his diet or just a physical trait.

Do you use isotonic drinks when you're riding? Try a few different brands and see if there's any difference. If you find one that works for you, you could try and be scientific and work out from the differences in the ingredients list what it is that you might be lacking, or do what most people do and just use the drink that works best

Stephen, Stevie, Russell. Aye we watched on the quarry climb and then up the 77 to the wind farm to see the finish. He got me a pizza out of a place in the mearns so I can't complain! Think I worked it off.

Think he's doing 4 or 5 laps of that circuit.

Mr Jones · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:02

touch said:
Well, yes, there is, muscles dont cramp up for no reason.
Unfortunately, i dont know what. There are different types of salts and minerals that you need. So even though you think you're getting enough, there might be something missing.
One of the guys i ride with find zinc helps stop his cramp. There are some isotonic tablets (high5 brand, i think) that have zinc in them which helps him. I'm not sure if it's due to his diet or just a physical trait.

Do you use isotonic drinks when you're riding? Try a few different brands and see if there's any difference. If you find one that works for you, you could try and be scientific and work out from the differences in the ingredients list what it is that you might be lacking, or do what most people do and just use the drink that works best

I don't take any isotonic drink. Just lime squash (95% water).
I've not tried Zinc. Will try it and see if it makes a difference before looking at isotonic drink.

Time for some peanuts, oysters and crabs for tomorrow's dinner!

booyaka · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:04

Cyclescheme.

Missus work is part of this (NHS) and I'm thinking of getting a road bike with it.

local shop said they would put her size down on the order form but would obviously sort it out for me.

Is the scheme still as good? Don't need any safety gear as got all that with mountain bike (pedals and shoes I guess are the only need)

One More Solo · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:06

[DOD]Asprilla;24557444 said:
Pins and needles in your fingers usually means you've got too much pressure on your hand and not enough on your bum.

There are a number of things you could do to help this:

- Saddle forward 5mm
- Shorter stem
- Flip stem to raise handlebars (depending on how it is set up now)

Adjusting a bike fit is about making one tiny change and seeing how it goes for a while. Too big a change or change more than one thing at once and you won't know whether you've missed the most comfortable position or what made the difference.

Conversely, the saddle may need to go back a bit depending on your flexibility level. This is a good read: http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/05/seat-set-back-for-road-bikes/

Jonny ///M · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:12

booyaka said:
Cyclescheme.

Missus work is part of this (NHS) and I'm thinking of getting a road bike with it.

local shop said they would put her size down on the order form but would obviously sort it out for me.

Is the scheme still as good? Don't need any safety gear as got all that with mountain bike (pedals and shoes I guess are the only need)

One you take into account the final value fee you still save 25% and are paying it monthly.

Take your voucher value -32%, or 42% for higher rate payers, and divide by 12 for monthly payments. Voucher value x 7% if it's over £500 for the final value fee.

booyaka · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:15

Jonny ///M said:
One you take into account the final value fee you still save 25% and are paying it monthly.

Take your voucher value -32%, or 42% for higher rate payers, and divide by 12 for monthly payments. Voucher value x 7% if it's over £500 for the final value fee.

cheers

Like the look of this

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT57RIV/planet_x_rt_57_sram_rival_carbon_road_bike

Mates just got one via his works scheme.

Vonhelmet · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:19

booyaka said:
Cyclescheme.

Missus work is part of this (NHS) and I'm thinking of getting a road bike with it.

local shop said they would put her size down on the order form but would obviously sort it out for me.

Is the scheme still as good? Don't need any safety gear as got all that with mountain bike (pedals and shoes I guess are the only need)

Ok, so it's hardly a rare thing but here goes anyway...

Have fun committing tax evasion :rolleyes:

Jonny ///M · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:20

Don't really like planet x bikes but they are usually good specs for the money. Arguably the frame will be more generic and cheap compared to a top end 'leading brand' but I'm not sure us mortals can tell the difference.

Have you checked with planet x what your price would be on that bike? I have a feeling it might be more than your voucher + £100. They get paid £900 for your £1000 voucher so might want a small fee to top it up.

Edit: Not you again lol.

booyaka · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:48

Vonhelmet said:
Ok, so it's hardly a rare thing but here goes anyway...

Have fun committing tax evasion

Original

One More Solo · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:51

He's got a point. I know all sorts of shenanigans go on with the cycle to work scheme but buying a bike for someone else is a bit cheeky.

booyaka · 3 Jul 2013 at 23:54

One More Solo said:
He's got a point. I know all sorts of shenanigans go on with the cycle to work scheme but buying a bike for someone else is a bit cheeky.

Missus is the same size as me so we can both use it

Ok looking at it another way - best options for a grand??

dave28 · 4 Jul 2013 at 00:04

Thick cordura trousers for when you fall off, shorts + concrete = pain

One More Solo · 4 Jul 2013 at 07:19

booyaka said:
Missus is the same size as me so we can both use it

Ok looking at it another way - best options for a grand??

Well then it won't be necessary for them to put her size down on the form, will it?

kieranv · 4 Jul 2013 at 07:59

Well it will...because that's the size they need?

booyaka · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:00

One More Solo said:
Well then it won't be necessary for them to put her size down on the form, will it?

very true. I was only kidding! But anyway, I've decided that I'll just buy something outright, it's easier and will hopefully allow me to return to this thread at some point without any more grief!

Anyway - local places seem to stock Giant (giant defy 1 - £995), Cannondale (CANNONDALE CAAD8 105 - £1049) seem to be pretty decent for the price.

Anything in the Merida range to consider (another local place)

Thanks

platypus · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:14

arknor said:
Out of curiosity and semi on the subject of bike thieves.

Is it just newcastle or does every cities bike racks seem to contain bikes where someone has jumped on one of the wheels bending them completely out of shape?

There seems to be a bike like that every time I goto the city centre and sometimes they seem to have just been abandoned by the owners and stay there for weeks

Often the case that when they can't cut through the lock they kick the wheels in out of spite.

[DOD]Asprilla · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:23

platypus said:
Often the case that when they can't cut through the lock they kick the wheels in out of spite.

Frequently it's to disable the bike so they can return later and spend more time overcoming the lock.

Shadowness · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:24

Look like there's going to be some awesome weather this weekend, with NO WIND!!

As if my ridiculous tan lines weren't stupid enough, I plan to get quite a few miles in to make the most of it.