Road Cycling Essentials

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We may have started something significant here OcUK; Wen't for a spin w/ a friend and at the coffee stop a roadie pulls in - jeans, t-shirt, trainers giant sweat patches on him as it's blue sky and sunny. Conversation wen't like this:

Friend: "He could do w/ some proper kit"
Me: "Yeah, he's a typical grudas"
F: "Typical what?"
M: "A grudas - a roadie who refuses to wear lycra, typically in jeans & T"
F: *nods approvingly*

:D
 
GAC said:
well had a little explore on what i thought was going to be semi rough tracks. oooooh how wrong i was, must have walked 3 km's due to the state of the so called road a couple of parts towards the end the road had been totally washed away not rideable what so ever.
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Surely it was worth it for this awesome cobbled climb? Just imagine you're Cancellara on a lone breakaway up the Koppenberg! :D
 
yeah small problem, im on a non suspension bike so that was bad enough let alone further up when it goes totally to pot. the ride over would be great if they just leveled it off a bit and made it less dangerous. im all for having a challenging ride but some parts are just ridiculous.
 
uniQ said:
We may have started something significant here OcUK; Wen't for a spin w/ a friend and at the coffee stop a roadie pulls in - jeans, t-shirt, trainers giant sweat patches on him as it's blue sky and sunny. Conversation wen't like this:

Friend: "He could do w/ some proper kit"
Me: "Yeah, he's a typical grudas"
F: "Typical what?"
M: "A grudas - a roadie who refuses to wear lycra, typically in jeans & T"
F: *nods approvingly*

:D
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:(:o
 
You dont need suspension for cobbles.

Although, i would have turned back when i got to the rough off-road bit at the top.

Been watching loads of spring classics videos on youtube now, cant wait for spring again :(
 
true you dont. but im also double the weight of the pro's :P

as for turning back if you dont push yourself whats the point :D
 
GAC said:
true you dont. but im also double the weight of the pro's :P
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That's why Cancellara is so awesome. Not only is he superfast, he also weighs 82kg, gives all us fattys hope of becoming a pro one day :P

GAC said:
as for turning back if you dont push yourself whats the point :D
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Am i looking at the right bit of road? Looking at the streetview link i posted, you followed the cobbled climb to the top...then decided to keep going when the road pretty much just ended?
You're braver than me, no chance i'd be going up there.
 
touch said:
That's why Cancellara is so awesome. Not only is he superfast, he also weighs 82kg, gives all us fattys hope of becoming a pro one day :P


Am i looking at the right bit of road? Looking at the streetview link i posted, you followed the cobbled climb to the top...then decided to keep going when the road pretty much just ended?
You're braver than me, no chance i'd be going up there.
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yeah the road ends and i carried on as its supposed to be ok, how wrong i was. to be fair some parts are ok but theres a few k's that just arnt safe.
 
physichull said:
Wiggle Summer Sale starts today for anyone interested.

Just order a Defy 1 (my first every road bike) so will be hitting Wiggle hard tonight!
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I check Wiggle very frequently for deals and their "Summer Sale" doesn't have anything new that wasn't on already on sale!

That said, I still purchased some stuff today from them that I considered to be bargains. I'm addicted.:(
 
touch said:
That's why Cancellara is so awesome. Not only is he superfast, he also weighs 82kg, gives all us fattys hope of becoming a pro one day :P


Am i looking at the right bit of road? Looking at the streetview link i posted, you followed the cobbled climb to the top...then decided to keep going when the road pretty much just ended?
You're braver than me, no chance i'd be going up there.
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Helps when you have a motorised bike ;-)
 
Just found an interesting article on cervelo website about the benefits of lightweight bikes vs aero bikes. Seems like quite a nice balanced article and obviously cervelo make both a lightweight frame and an aero frame so they have no reason to skew the results. (linky)

Their conclusion is that for a pro rider who can hold around 400watts, an aero bike is faster on anything up to an 8% climb. For an average rider doing about 250watts, anything up to 5% is faster with an aero frame.
In their simulations, the aero bike was faster on the route of the 2007 etape du tour (which followed the route of the hilliest stage that year).
 
Yeah they have some really interesting articles :)

Which sort of brings me to my current first world problem. Got my timer and accommodation booked for the Fred Whitton four seasons challenge and can't decide between taking C24's or C50's?

At first the C24's look like the obvious choice but the C50's are only around 350g heavier and complete bike is still under 7kg w/ the aero wheels on.

:confused:
 
Ok, so I am looking on Wiggle for some clip in pedals for my first road bike and am getting a bit (a lot) lost. There are some on there for £135 and some for £22, what makes the expensive ones quite so good?!?

Anyone got any thoughts on the following stuff too:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-hexus-ii-16-function-multi-tool/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-velocissimo-due-bibshort/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-free-short-sleeve-jersey/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-aero-wedge-buckle-medium-saddle-bag/

Any help would be greatly appreciated for a newbie.
 
physichull said:
Ok, so I am looking on Wiggle for some clip in pedals for my first road bike and am getting a bit (a lot) lost. There are some on there for £135 and some for £22, what makes the expensive ones quite so good?!?

Anyone got any thoughts on the following stuff too:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-hexus-ii-16-function-multi-tool/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-velocissimo-due-bibshort/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-free-short-sleeve-jersey/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-aero-wedge-buckle-medium-saddle-bag/

Any help would be greatly appreciated for a newbie.
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People will probably tell you to get some road SPD-SLs in whatever price you can afford, BUT...

Exustar E-PR100PP are just £20 with cleats and they weigh 127grams each that is lighter than £200 dura-ace pedals, I use them on both my bikes, my commuter has done 5000km miles through rain and shine and they work as well as they ever did.

They're Look keo cleats (cost £7 for new ones), not shimano, they're an absolute BARGAIN!
 
- Multi Tools I carry a 5 piece one which has the basic essentials.
- Saddlebag's I really like the Arundel Uno & Dual
- Castelli make excellent clothing, those prices aren't particularly amazing though. Check Ribble & Evans and see if they're cheaper, also consider the Wiggle DHB range
 
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