Road Cycling Essentials

R0B75 · 17 Aug 2011 at 19:15

I think you'd have to be pretty stupid to hit livestock on your bike

Nearly run over a few rabbits during my commute though.

Just ordered one of these, my mountain bike helmet (Giro Hex) is suffering and these are meant to be decent.

Mr Flibble · 17 Aug 2011 at 19:21

Perhaps livestock wasn't the right word. Animal any better?

R0B75 · 17 Aug 2011 at 19:23

Mr Flibble said:
Perhaps livestock wasn't the right word. Animal any better?

Of course

One More Solo · 17 Aug 2011 at 21:34

These look great for Autumn/Winter and a bargain at £19.99!

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CLOOMER/on-one-100-percent-merino-wool-ls-top

Mr Flibble · 17 Aug 2011 at 23:01

But sadly only up to chest size 38"

janesssssy · 18 Aug 2011 at 08:49

I went for an eventful ride last night. Well left the office at 5pm. I was charged by a Bull, he saw me coming towards him (I was on the road - he was in his field) Scary stuff.

However I got to 40miles and was severely dehydrated, that was with 1x750ml and 1x500ml bottle. The bottle was in my camelbak....

Pointless random post but I’ve just bought myself a PZ Racing CR3.1 Carbon Bottle Cage.
This should help somewhat.

Managed 48 miles though.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/107340514 Mind you - It was slow as went to the Gym the day before and legs were trashed.

And lastly - Can somone explain the importance of Cadence. Is it worth getting a cadence sensor?

Jono · 18 Aug 2011 at 08:56

Can anyone recommend a decentish trip computer...? But a cheap one. I can't afford a 400 pound garmin one, but are there any less expensive ones that let you download your rides to PC etc?

Participant · 18 Aug 2011 at 08:59

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

I dented my wheels trying to get those bloody things on with levers, what's the deal with them? Ridiculously tight (26" mtb road tyres). Luckily my bike is cheap and so were my wheels, but if I'd just bought a whizz-bang road bike I'd not be using metal tyre levers that's for sure! Then again I had to use so much force I'm not sure plastic levers would have stood up to it.

platypus · 18 Aug 2011 at 09:39

I've hit (and killed) a squirrel on my road bike mr flibble.

VaderDSL · 18 Aug 2011 at 09:43

I had a rabbit run along side me once for about 20 yards

daft thing was over on the edge of a road by a bend, it couldn't get off the road due to a wall so as I came past it just ran along side me until we reached a fence

I guess I should be thankful it didn't run under my wheels.

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Aug 2011 at 09:49

janesssssy said:
Managed 48 miles though.
http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard;jsessionid=2902867D9951398B3295D9E7AB47071B?cid=12589892 Mind you - It was slow as went to the Gym the day before and legs were trashed.

And lastly - Can somone explain the importance of Cadence. Is it worth getting a cadence sensor?

You are linking to your garmin dashboard; you need to link to the specific activity.

Cadence; generally speaking the most efficient cadence is between 85 and 95 rpm. Below that and you are probably pushing too high a gear, above it and you are probably pushing too high a gear. Course, your mileage may vary; I know chaps who happily spin fixed gear at 120-140 rpm for 10 miles. They are freaks though.

I used my cadence sensor for about a year, but I've not bothered this year. In fact, I think I'll take if off my bike tonight. It's possibly worth having whilst you are still developing your pedalling technique and getting used to road cycling.

janesssssy · 18 Aug 2011 at 13:32

Whoops, post is edited with correct link.
I dont think I'll bother with cadense sensor then.

willhub · 18 Aug 2011 at 14:01

dehydrated after 1*750 and 1*500?

That could get me round a 90 mile hard ride that could.

R0B75 · 18 Aug 2011 at 14:10

I drink nearly a full 750ml bottle on my commute each way (~17 miles) and if I don't I feel really dehydrated. I tried with no water the other day and got about 4 miles and had to stop at a McDonalds drive thru to ask for water I was so thirsty! Is there something wrong with me? :eek:

I drink plenty through the day too.

janesssssy · 18 Aug 2011 at 14:23

willhub said:
dehydrated after 1*750 and 1*500?

That could get me round a 90 mile hard ride that could.

Yep, normaly for me too. I think ive been over doing it lately and got thursty.

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Aug 2011 at 15:27

Of course it depends upon the weather, but on this morning's 21mile commute I had about 150ml of water. A couple of weeks ago when it was very warm and windy I didn't fill my 750ml bottle before I left and had emptied the 400ml or so that was in there before I was half way home.

willhub · 18 Aug 2011 at 16:03

Today I did interval training and used about 400ml of water.

I'm training to get under the hour on 24th September, I've got a lot of improvement I need to make because at the moment it's not looking likely I'm going to average 25mph+ for an hour

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/107496369

touch · 18 Aug 2011 at 16:39

willhub said:
I'm training to get under the hour on 24th September, I've got a lot of improvement I need to make because at the moment it's not looking likely I'm going to average 25mph+ for an hour

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/107496369

You dont seem to be too far away. What happened at ~50mins? looks like the average speed dropped quite a bit around that time.

Difficult to get exact calculations from the graph, but it looks to me like you did the first 20 miles in around 50 mins. That averages 24mph.

Just need to build up your endurance a little to keep up the speed for those last 5 miles.

Robzere31 · 18 Aug 2011 at 16:47

Jono said:
Can anyone recommend a decentish trip computer...? But a cheap one. I can't afford a 400 pound garmin one, but are there any less expensive ones that let you download your rides to PC etc?

If you have an android or Iphone then try Endomondo. The free version is fine for tracking rides etc

Russinating · 18 Aug 2011 at 17:03

+1 for Endomondo. Great app.