Road Cycling Essentials

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2011 at 17:47

Hamster said:
Tyre levers just slow you down

http://vimeo.com/26317272

Try doing that with a set of Gatorskins.

6thElement · 15 Aug 2011 at 18:21

Hamster said:
Tyre levers just slow you down

http://vimeo.com/26317272

I never used to use them* and was a similar speed, until I destroyed my right thumb in a crash and don't have the strength in it now

*Apart from wire bead DH tyres, particularly UST tyres on my Deemax. Definitely need levers for those.

SDK^ · 15 Aug 2011 at 18:33

One More Solo said:
Try doing that with a set of Gatorskins.

Exactly, with a compliant tyre changing it with a minute is easy.

Hamster · 15 Aug 2011 at 19:38

SDK^ said:
Exactly, with a compliant tyre changing it with a minute is easy.

Definitely. In that video he's clearly used tyres that he's not going to have any problem with. Some tyres are a complete arse even with levers.

janesssssy · 15 Aug 2011 at 20:00

Any good places I can sell my Alu frame and carbon forks? i'll do Feabay but are there any other I should try?

Mr. Brightside · 15 Aug 2011 at 20:46

cork-spotters said:
Thanks. I ordered these on Friday: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-triple-lens-sunglasses/

Will see if they're any good. They're just to stop flies and dust mainly.

I've got through two pairs; the frame fractured over time when changing the lenses, eventually snapping in two. I've now got Bloc Shadows (multi lens): http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bloc-shadow-multi-lens-sunglasses/

I haven't had them as long as the first dhbs took to break, but just from the design I'm confident I won't have the same problem. Being approximately twice as much as the dhbs, they ought to pay for themselves once twice the MTBF of my previous dhbs has elapsed.

One More Solo · 15 Aug 2011 at 21:09

Hamster said:
Definitely. In that video he's clearly used tyres that he's not going to have any problem with. Some tyres are a complete arse even with levers.

On my first bike I had a pair of slightly larger than usual 700c rims and a pair of slightly tighter than usual Gatorskin tyres, it took two blokes and what can only be described as a crowbar to get them on at the LBS.

I snapped two pairs of tyre levers trying to get them on myself. If I'd got a puncture I would have cried.

Jonny69 · 16 Aug 2011 at 13:52

Mr. Brightside said:
I've got through two pairs; the frame fractured over time when changing the lenses, eventually snapping in two. I've now got Bloc Shadows (multi lens): http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bloc-shadow-multi-lens-sunglasses/

Oo, I quite like them. I think I see a second pair of sunnies in my life

janesssssy · 16 Aug 2011 at 14:02

Mendips sportive from Sunday.

Climbing up Chedder Gorge.

And yes I'm donning my mtb lid and club jersey.

SDK^ · 16 Aug 2011 at 17:57

janesssssy said:
Mendips sportive from Sunday.
Climbing up Chedder Gorge.
And yes I'm donning my mtb lid and club jersey.

Don't you get short of liquid with only one bottle?
Get yourself a road helmet, the Xen is heavy and lacks cooling.

Here's me near the top of Winnats Pass. It's pretty steep

Slogging it out with compact gearing wasn't much fun.

Winnats Pass Gradient

One More Solo · 16 Aug 2011 at 18:13

That looks fun.

What did you have on the back, 12-25?

janesssssy · 16 Aug 2011 at 19:44

Well, I was going to buy a new cage then thought if the stops are 30 miles apart then I should be good on 750ml of liquid.

But I guess I should if I do anymore Sportives, OR wear my camelbak

One More Solo · 16 Aug 2011 at 19:51

Camelbak?! Blashphemy! :eek:

SDK^ · 16 Aug 2011 at 20:33

One More Solo said:
That looks fun. What did you have on the back, 12-25?

Yup a 12-25, there were a couple of moments on the course where a triple would have been useful.

Mr Flibble · 16 Aug 2011 at 20:35

Why are camelbak's so taboo for roadies?

[DOD]Asprilla · 16 Aug 2011 at 20:41

Mr Flibble said:
Why are camelbak's so taboo for roadies?

You get too hot on your back. I guess you could also say that it would spoil your aerodynamics and raise your centre of gravity.

One More Solo · 16 Aug 2011 at 21:40

SDK^ said:
Yup a 12-25, there were a couple of moments on the course where a triple would have been useful.

Looks pretty steep but you put in a good performance! That sort of distance is beyond me for now.

touch · 16 Aug 2011 at 23:38

[DOD]Asprilla;19846776 said:
You get too hot on your back. I guess you could also say that it would spoil your aerodynamics and raise your centre of gravity.

If it's fitted well, a camelbak is actually very good for aerodynamics. If you watch MotoGP you'll see they all have fairings built into the back of their suits to reduce the drag from their helmet. It's possible to do the same thing with a camelbak, so i'm pretty sure they are banned from britishcycling races.

willhub · 17 Aug 2011 at 00:00

No need to use a camelbak for improving aerodynamics, if you were doing a TT it'd actually make it worse assuming you have a good TT position.

Racing ain't about aerodynamics.

touch · 17 Aug 2011 at 09:48

A camelbak can make a difference. But, to be fair, you'd probably need a support team size of Frank Schleck's to get it set up right and get full advantage from it.

willhub said:
Racing ain't about aerodynamics.

???
Racing is all about aerodynamics.
Time trialling most obviously where riders do everything they can to reduce drag. And road racing where the tactics revole around trying to minimise the time spent in the wind.
Aerodynamics have a massive effect on how fast you can cycle. The land speed record for a bike is 167mph which was achieved by riding behind a drag racer and therefor having very little air resistance.

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