Road Cycling Essentials

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Update on the Time Trail; 46 miles in what I make as 2hrs 10, but I'm awaiting the official timings, 82 miles for the day all in.

Don't think I've got the flexibility for TT, my back is killing me.

Think I was very slow in the first half as I wasn't really enjoying it. Part of this was due to the back ache, but mainly because my minute man passed me in 9 minutes and that left me mentally sapped.

BlackDragon; if you want a cheap energy food to take with you (without having to buy expensive 'scientifically proven' gels and bars the Soreen malt loaf or flapjacks are excellent and some haribo if you need a quick boost (but remember sugar gives you a high followed by a low if you don't top up properly).

 

[Russinating]

Got back from France on Friday and had a great time. Cycled down from St Malo to near Les Herbiers in two days (90 miles first day, 70 miles second day approx). Managed to hook up with someone else at a random campsite the first night who had a spare tent pitch, so we cycled with him the second day and stayed at 'his' campsite for 3 nights. Watched the first stage at the 3km marker and the TTT at the 500m mark/start/general area.

Unfortunately dad did his knee in a bit on the way down so we decided to cycle to the coast and get the train back rather than cycle back. Wasn't that bad, had a great time and Le Tour isn't the best spectator sport anyway - 3/4 hours waiting for 30 seconds of action . Atmosphere's great though and the caravane is absolutely hilarious.

Anyway, a few flicks:

My unstable load

The guy we hitched with. Unfortunately there's hardly any pictures of me because it was my camera but that's the way. Imagine I'm there instead! This bit was actually one of the best bits - we cycled from the 7km to the 3km marker on the first stage fairly late on, and although the road was still open to pedestrians and bikes the whole side was lined with hundreds of people, all cheering us on semi-sarcastically as we wave back as we go along. Great fun anyway.

The only picture of me . First stage.

Caravane vehicle. Loads more ridiculous ones but too many to post.

Vive Le Tour!

Liquigas warming up before their TTT practice run.

Our position at the TTT. Was ridiculously packed, especially with it being a Sunday.

Would definitely recommend going anyway, if not just for cycling on ridiculously quiet but well-maintained French roads.

 

[Draeger]

Awesome pics m8, thanks for sharing. I've been religiously watching Le Tour on EurosportHD and the scenery just gets better every year. Planning on going myself at some point in the next year or so.

 

[cork-spotters]

I've an opportunity at the moment to snap up a 2011, basically unused, Trek Madone 4.7 for about £1400.

Has anyone any experience of this bike?

I had been looking in the Ribble Gran Fondo direction, but would this blow it out of the water? Should I go for it??

 

[Russinating]

Awesome pics m8, thanks for sharing. I've been religiously watching Le Tour on EurosportHD and the scenery just gets better every year. Planning on going myself at some point in the next year or so.

Yeah scenery was amazing. Got plenty of shots of undulating hills (when I was stopped at the top of one waiting for my dad ).

 

[Jonny69]

Looks great Russ. Brill pics of the Tour

I'm gonna be turning to the dark side as I'm trying to sell my mtb justnow to get onto a cannondale caad8 within the next few weeks. Here comes the lycra!

Don't worry, I'm screwing together a no-suspension steel frame beater of a mountain bike for an event. Planning to kick some ass on it too!

 

[Hamster]

Just a quick question. Carbon seatpost in ally frame, grease or no grease?

 

[VaderDSL]

I don't think you need it, but it might help you with not having to over tighten.

 

[Mr. Brightside]

Quick yes or no question on a bike I'm close to ordering.

Back story is, I've just graduated and will soon be starting proper work. It's 9 miles by car, but I plan to mostly cycle and use the car only when necessary (i.e. bad weather). The car route goes on a dual carriageway, so I've planned an alternative route for cycling that's 14 miles.

I can sell my run-around-bike (Carrera Subway Ltd 2009) for £120, and I'm very keen on replacing it with the Fuji Classic (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/classic-track-2011-single-speed-road-bike-ec024679) - I'm keen to make the switch to fixed, partly because I hear it's better training and partly because I do find the minimalist approach appealing. Also, I don't get on well with straight bars and would only be happy doing 28 miles daily with drop bars.

Question is, should I do it? If I do, I'll need to order ASAP (tonight or early tomorrow, with the hope that it's dispatched tomorrow, because I go on holiday on Saturday, for two weeks, before coming back and starting work - though also their stock seems to be rapidly running out).

What I'm really asking I guess is whether there's a better fixie option I should go for in the same price range?

Also, I'm 5'10" and have a longer than average back and shorter than average legs - should I go for the 54cm or 58cm frame (they are the only two left in stock)?

Thanks in advance

 

[Participant]

Great Russinating! I'm struck by how thin they all are, I sort of expected them to have legs like tree trunks, but then I suppose they're built mainly for distance just like marathon athletes.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Quick yes or no question on a bike I'm close to ordering.

Back story is, I've just graduated and will soon be starting proper work. It's 9 miles by car, but I plan to mostly cycle and use the car only when necessary (i.e. bad weather). The car route goes on a dual carriageway, so I've planned an alternative route for cycling that's 14 miles.

I can sell my run-around-bike (Carrera Subway Ltd 2009) for £120, and I'm very keen on replacing it with the Fuji Classic (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/classic-track-2011-single-speed-road-bike-ec024679) - I'm keen to make the switch to fixed, partly because I hear it's better training and partly because I do find the minimalist approach appealing. Also, I don't get on well with straight bars and would only be happy doing 28 miles daily with drop bars.

Question is, should I do it? If I do, I'll need to order ASAP (tonight or early tomorrow, with the hope that it's dispatched tomorrow, because I go on holiday on Saturday, for two weeks, before coming back and starting work - though also their stock seems to be rapidly running out).

What I'm really asking I guess is whether there's a better fixie option I should go for in the same price range?

Also, I'm 5'10" and have a longer than average back and shorter than average legs - should I go for the 54cm or 58cm frame (they are the only two left in stock)?

Thanks in advance

54cm.

58 cm would be for someone well over 6'. You'd have to be very long in the back to make that work.

Remember though that it's a track frame that it's going to be very low at the front so unless you are pretty flexible in your lower back it might cause you a bit of pain over the distance. Dunno though as I've never tried one myself.

 

[apeZ]

Great pictures Russinating, glad to hear you had a good time.

Could you possibly post your route? I'm trying to find a nice route through France for a few days...

 

[Hamster]

I don't think you need it, but it might help you with not having to over tighten.

Thanks. There seems to be conflicting opinion on the subject, some saying it's not necessary and some mentioning the 'carbon friendly' grease' which increases friction leading to exactly what you say about not having to overtighten. Any recommendations for a 'carbon friendly' grease?

 

[Ging3r]

Fingers crossed just bought a nearly new Cube GTC Pro 2010 for a grand

Was budgeting for a new one.....Oooo new wheels are tempting me now

 

[VaderDSL]

Thanks. There seems to be conflicting opinion on the subject, some saying it's not necessary and some mentioning the 'carbon friendly' grease' which increases friction leading to exactly what you say about not having to overtighten. Any recommendations for a 'carbon friendly' grease?

I ended up buying some Finish Line Fibre Grip for my bike due and it's fine so far

 

[Mr. Brightside]

54cm.

58 cm would be for someone well over 6'. You'd have to be very long in the back to make that work.

Just checked my height again, turns out I'm actually more like 5'11". Which is just within the lower limits of the height range for 58cm, according to the Evans sizing guide.

I'm guessing the 54cm frame would now be a bad move and it would be between the 56 and 58, but which would you reckon on? I'd rather not order at all than order a sup-optimal frame size just because it was what was available.

Thanks

 

[Russinating]

Could you possibly post your route? I'm trying to find a nice route through France for a few days...

Route wasn't planned at all really - just the most direct between A and B. Their yellow (on Google Maps) D roads are amazing. They're as well maintained as our A roads (if not better) but you'll get passed by one car literally every ten minutes. These are all D roads:

And this was our basic route (I've drawn this afterwards so it's not exact):

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/k_6zqvid1hE
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/k_6zqvid1hE

 

[Col_M]

Just checked my height again, turns out I'm actually more like 5'11". Which is just within the lower limits of the height range for 58cm, according to the Evans sizing guide.

I'm guessing the 54cm frame would now be a bad move and it would be between the 56 and 58, but which would you reckon on? I'd rather not order at all than order a sup-optimal frame size just because it was what was available.

Thanks

Firstly, I'm an absolute noob so take everything I say with a pinch of salt but it's just what I've picked up when doing research on the size that I'll need when I buy my bike.

I've used this to get an idea of what ball park frame that I'll need
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO
This one is also meant to be quite good too
www.wrenchscience.com
Of course it's no substitute for trying the frame yourself and having the bike fitted but it's likely to be better than guessing.

Also, from what I've gathered if you can't get a bike that's exactly the right size go for one that's slightly smaller, the thinking behind it is that it's better to put the saddle up and fit a longer stem then to stretch and be uncomfortable on a bike that's too big for you.

 

[CGrieves]

Interesting- I'm just shy of six foot, average inside leg to height ratio, and always ride 56 or 58, 54 feels too small. Takes all sorts though, and I can see the point that it's possible to adapt a smaller frame, but geometry's not quite that simple and you do end up with other compromises.

At the end of the day the only way to be really sure is to sit on (and preferably ride) both available sizes.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Interesting- I'm just shy of six foot, average inside leg to height ratio, and always ride 56 or 58, 54 feels too small. Takes all sorts though, and I can see the point that it's possible to adapt a smaller frame, but geometry's not quite that simple and you do end up with other compromises.

At the end of the day the only way to be really sure is to sit on (and preferably ride) both available sizes.

This.

I'm 5'10" but with long legs and a short back. As a result I ride a 54 but I need a long head tube, otherwise the drop from where I set the saddle to the bars is just too great.