Road Cycling Essentials

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[Damien];24703284 said:
To be honest riding with people...'less aggressive' helps me because it stops me from blowing up before I hit the steep bits. :)
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I do quite like having faster riders to follow, because it spurs me on a bit. Hence my PR on Chorley Old Road and a couple of others :D
 
oli collett said:
I'm not really convinced by gels. I usually bring some on a ride, but I prefer to break up energy bars/flapjacks/whatever into my pocket beforehand. I think they say to consume 3-4 gels per hour of activity - would be ridiculous!
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Brace yourselves guys, I'm going there. Damien - put down your McDonalds.

Lots of gels makes for some gnarly dumping later on.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Brace yourselves guys, I'm going there. Damien - put down your McDonalds.

Lots of gels makes for some gnarly dumping later on.
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I can imagine.. err, actually that doesn't sound quite right..

But yeah I'm just not quite convinced by them. I do sometimes struggle a bit eating a lot of bars though - got cramp in my jaw on a ride a few weeks ago chewing on peanut energy bars! :o
 
tedmaul said:
Next year my goals are:
- Get some constructive training in right throughout the year this time
Started some structured training back in january and have stuck with it throughout. Did an initial block of winter training, and now in my second subsequent training block targeting 3 sportives between now and sept. Had a few weeks in between each block as well of just pootling about.

- More Sportives - already signed up for Etape Caledonia, and probably do at least 3 others
Did Etape Caledonia and smashed the time i was aiming for. Got Glasgow 100 mile sportive, a smaller 50 mile local one and then probably the Pedal Scotland 100 miler coming up in the next 6 weeks or so.

- 5000km for the year
Will probably hit the 5000km mark before august is out. Am on about 4300 at the moment with about 40,000m climbed, including 6 metric and 1 imperial century.

- Cycle the length of Scotland - borders up to John O Groats
This one never really got off the ground sadly.

- Go hit a couple of good Scottish climbs i've got my eye on
I have a book of climbs in central scotland, so been working my way through it. Have probably ticked off about 10 or so and aiming for more before the end of the year.

- More w/end cycling trips with my mates - cycling round Arran this year was my fave.
Not as many of these as i'd like, but some good days out nonetheless.
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On the topic of goals for the year, the above were mine that i posted on here back in sept. Most of them are on track i think.

As far as hitting the wall goes, for me i don't think anything will top my first metric century of the year in early march. Had been snow in the days before, but seemed ok when i set out and roads were clear. Then the blizzard kicked in about 40km from home, and to make it worse i started to bonk as well. Spent the last 20km unable to brake or change gear with my left hand as it had frozen in place and wouldn't move. Never felt as bad on the bike as i did that day.
 
Just read that Omega-Pharma have signed Petacchi and Renshaw, looks like that will be the end of the sketchy OPQS leadout. Also signed Uran, he has already shown that he can be a real GC contender if he is given the chance, not sure what the plan will be in terms of a balance between a leadout for Cav and support for Uran, but it will be good to see him riding for himself in the hills.
 
Edinho said:
I don't get the grading system on strava according to them that is harder than Hardknott and equivalent to Fleet Moss. Erm... no it isn't. :confused:

http://app.strava.com/segments/3370309
http://app.strava.com/segments/637403
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The grading system works on average grade and length of climb. Hardknott is steeper but shorter, so falls into an easier category.

As for it being "easier", that's subjective depending on the rider. Some people can cope better with a very long gentle climb that might be a cat 1 or 2 but might struggle with a short but very steep climb that is only a cat 4, and vice versa.
 
so i've got a SS frame sitting here..

got the rear wheel of an old bike.. front from my old set..

need to get

bullhorn bars
TT levers
cables
cable housing
chainset
chain
freewheel
bar tape
saddle
crank bolts
paint
tyres
tubes

and its good to go.. should be able to squeeze it all in 120budget :o

i think its going to be black with matte purple.. :o

pics to come when ever i get time to do it.. boom.
 
Kimi said:
33 mile commute home in 32c... ok then
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Well all i can say was that was brutal! 29c average temp, took just under 2 hours. The M40 was shut so all the cars diverted onto my road! bit sketchy to say the least. The worst part was the 30c head wind that i had all the bloody way! Good training tho.
 
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