Road Cycling Essentials

[Damien] · 2 Aug 2013 at 11:16

platypus said:
Fizik Performance tape. I started to have real issues with my elbows and what have you recently (my bar tape did need replacing), and sticking some of this on has worked wonders thus far.

Stay away from the white though if you don't wear gloves. It gets dirty well easy.

platypus · 2 Aug 2013 at 11:19

Pff what kind of sicko buys white bar tape anyway?

kiteloopy · 2 Aug 2013 at 11:22

platypus said:
Pff what kind of sicko buys white bar tape anyway?

I do.

White bar tape is so pro...

One More Solo · 2 Aug 2013 at 11:38

Agreed, white bar tape makes you go faster. Sadly it is a massive PITA to keep clean (although Cif and GT85 both do an admirable job). I'm going to get some Prologo Onetouch tape next in black with white logos on the basis that the white will match my saddle but the black will be easier to keep clean.

arknor · 2 Aug 2013 at 11:47

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 12:07

I'm planning on red bar tape, red saddle and red tyres for my new bike. Maybe red bottle cages as well. Red red red. Most of my kit is red as well. I'll have to get a red helmet and shoes as well

grudas · 2 Aug 2013 at 12:26

Vonhelmet said:
I'm planning on red bar tape, red saddle and red tyres for my new bike. Maybe red bottle cages as well. Red red red. Most of my kit is red as well. I'll have to get a red helmet and shoes as well

what bike are you getting?

off stava..

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance 2,826.2mi
Time 202hr 9m
Elev Gain 80,699ft
Rides 350

meh.

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 12:32

grudas said:
what bike are you getting?

Planning on getting a Ribble Sportive with Tiagra groupset. It'll set me back about £800. I won't be getting it until next Spring, but gotta start lusting after it now!

platypus · 2 Aug 2013 at 12:54

One More Solo said:
Agreed, white bar tape makes you go faster. Sadly it is a massive PITA to keep clean (although Cif and GT85 both do an admirable job). I'm going to get some Prologo Onetouch tape next in black with white logos on the basis that the white will match my saddle but the black will be easier to keep clean.

White bar tape reflects more heat, therefore creates more friction as you move through the air thus making you less aerodynamic and slowing you down. Thats Science that is.

minty · 2 Aug 2013 at 12:57

Its been 3 weeks since ive last been on the bike and ive got to wait about another month or so. Stupid operation. Ah well i guess health comes first. Itching to get back on with the decent weather we have been getting. hardly done any rides this year. Ive already put on half a stone since being idle and eating loads of junk at home so now im 1 stone of target weight of 11st, (start weight 16 and a half st)

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance 2,033.3mi
Time 127hr 28m
Elev Gain 130,551ft
Rides 55

Re bar tape ,the best bar tape ive used is the Zipp service course tape, mega comfy.

Also ive been talking to a couple of mates about doing the IMUK some time in the future. Do you thing one year of training is a bit too optimistic?

ShiWarrior · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:02

not been out for about almost 2 weeks

decided to go and do a Hill near me that I find is a good training hill
Done the hill twice in one ride, but today I ended up repeating it 3 times

got another PR on the climb
couldn't believe it!
http://app.strava.com/activities/71602731

nydryl · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:12

So jealous of you folk that can rack up so much climbing in such little distance!

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:12

minty said:
Its been 3 weeks since ive last been on the bike and ive got to wait about another month or so. Stupid operation. Ah well i guess health comes first. Itching to get back on with the decent weather we have been getting. hardly done any rides this year. Ive already put on half a stone since being idle and eating loads of junk at home so now im 1 stone of target weight of 11st, (start weight 16 and a half st)

I was trying to figure why I'd not seen you logging any rides on Strava! I was getting a bit worried!

ShiWarrior · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:14

nydryl said:
So jealous of you folk that can rack up so much climbing in such little distance!

im jealous too

still not tried a cat 3 hill yet, I find some cat 4's are hard enough lol

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:29

ShiWarrior said:
im jealous too

still not tried a cat 3 hill yet, I find some cat 4's are hard enough lol

Find a longer, shallower one if you can. That cat 2 I logged yesterday is easier than some lower category climbs, like this cat 4, or this cat 4 and probably this cat 3 as well. I'd much rather do something long and grindy than short and brutally steep. I'm more likely to need to stop and rest after a particularly steep climb than a particularly long one.

ShiWarrior · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:40

Vonhelmet said:
Find a longer, shallower one if you can. That cat 2 I logged yesterday is easier than some lower category climbs, like this cat 4, or this cat 4 and probably this cat 3 as well. I'd much rather do something long and grindy than short and brutally steep. I'm more likely to need to stop and rest after a particularly steep climb than a particularly long one.

maybe something like this :

http://app.strava.com/segments/673271

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:50

ShiWarrior said:
maybe something like this :

http://app.strava.com/segments/673271

Yep. Alas, the average grade isn't high enough for the climb to actually be categorised.

ShiWarrior · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:51

Vonhelmet said:
Yep. Alas, the average grade isn't high enough for the climb to actually be categorised.

in explorer mode, it says its a cat 3

daveski · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:54

grudas said:
what bike are you getting?
YEAR-TO-DATE
Elev Gain 80,699ft

Even Grudas has done more climbing than me!

Vonhelmet · 2 Aug 2013 at 13:58

ShiWarrior said:
in explorer mode, it says its a cat 3

So it does, how odd. It shouldn't, really, as per the Strava FAQs a climb should only be categorised if it's got an average grade of over 3%.