I'll have to try next time I'm out on my mtb. I do certainly notice it at the lights though, trying to lift my pedal round to the top. Feels like my foot's fallen off or something
Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
- Start date
- Status
I'll have to try next time I'm out on my mtb. I do certainly notice it at the lights though, trying to lift my pedal round to the top. Feels like my foot's fallen off or something
![[DOD]Asprilla](/styles/overclockers/avatars/8.png){kind=avatar}
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Nov 2003
- Posts
- 14,033
- Location
- Surrey, by the river
Get a fixed or a singlespeed with low gearing to start. I'm pushing 48/18 on SS at the moment and it's amazing how much my souplesse has deteriorated in the two years since I sold my fixed.
To maintain 36-37kph I'm doing just below 110rpm. You need to keep it smooth and you soon learn that you aren't.
Associate
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2011
- Posts
- 276
- Location
- Lincoln
I absolutely love my 2014 allez sport. It's my first road bike so i can't compare it to others but it feels great and looks great and im 100% happy with it and I paid £750 for it (with a couple of bottles and holders and a service included). £600 sounds like a bargain. I have the charcoal grey version.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Nov 2003
- Posts
- 14,033
- Location
- Surrey, by the river
For £600 you can get the B'Twin Triban 7 which has a Tiagra groupset. That's the next one up from Sora.
Pedal w/ one foot clipped in for 1/4mi and alternate legs for a few miles. Back to both legs.. Rinse repeat
I don't ride an Allez, but without wanting to throw the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons i have always felt that they are overpriced for the level of kit that comes with them.
I feel that way about Trek and Giant too generally though, just seems to be a compromise on the load out of these bikes where you pay for the name and the cost gets justified by people telling you its a better frame, and its all about the frame because you can upgrade the components.
I don't buy that as an argument simply because in my mind if you are riding your entry level bike enough to start wearing out components to that level, you will be trading the whole bike up well before you need to buy a better group set.
I feel that way about Trek and Giant too generally though, just seems to be a compromise on the load out of these bikes where you pay for the name and the cost gets justified by people telling you its a better frame, and its all about the frame because you can upgrade the components.
I don't buy that as an argument simply because in my mind if you are riding your entry level bike enough to start wearing out components to that level, you will be trading the whole bike up well before you need to buy a better group set.
I've been working on my technique a lot, or trying too anyway, whilst commuting.
Have a read of Tim Williams' technique pages, some useful stuff on there. I've worked on 'ankling' quite a bit recently, and it provides a noticeable gain in power. Nothing psychological about it.
The guy who did my bike fit suggested that I try it, in order to combat the numbness that plagues me on longer rides. To be honest, I haven't really noticed any difference in power, however it does help delay the onset of numbness, so I shall stick with it. It seems that taking it to excess can be detrimental, as many people have commented on getting injured by doing it (Sheldon Brown, for example).
(joint) 2nd fastest man around Donington this summer.
http://www.strava.com/activities/81316672
I tried the unclip one leg, pedal for a bit, unclip the other routine when I did some race skills training a while back, might start giving it a go on my commute to improve technique.
http://www.strava.com/activities/81316672
I tried the unclip one leg, pedal for a bit, unclip the other routine when I did some race skills training a while back, might start giving it a go on my commute to improve technique.
Gilet weather is upon us!
I see so many people still riding without gloves despite it being 10-12C when I was out. I had winter gloves on this morning and still had cold fingers!
My hands don't go white like that Raynaud's syndrome, but there must definitely be some mildly poor circulation going on.
I see so many people still riding without gloves despite it being 10-12C when I was out. I had winter gloves on this morning and still had cold fingers!
My hands don't go white like that Raynaud's syndrome, but there must definitely be some mildly poor circulation going on.
Yes but read what Sheldon says:
So he read about a different technique, and then decided to do it for 40 miles the next day with new pedals? Pretty stupid if you ask me. Like any change in technique, you need to work on it and introduce it slowly. Again, as with most techniques, if you take them to excess then yes I'm sure it can be detrimental.
But yes having said that I have noticed that when I'm getting tired if I sit up a bit and force myself to think about ankling the power goes back on and refocuses my legs.
Gilet weather has been and gone! I'm on the merino base layers and jacket already.
Digits were cold this morning, everything else was toasty warm. Need to do some glove shopping.
I didn't mean to imply that I thought it was a bad idea; I do it myself, after all. I was merely pointing out that, taken to extreme, it can cause issues. As you say, it's a terrible idea to make such a drastic change to your setup just before setting out on a long ride
It keeps you warm and doesn't stink. What's not to like!
I didn't mean to imply that I thought it was a bad idea; I do it myself, after all. I was merely pointing out that, taken to extreme, it can cause issues. As you say, it's a terrible idea to make such a drastic change to your setup just before setting out on a long ride
I didn't necessarily infer from your post that it was a bad idea, just pointing out that the implied drawbacks were not necessarily due to the techinque itself, so that someone not aware of the technique might infer that it is not necessarily bad.
.That is to say I was just pointing it out so that someone might not be put off trying to learn ankling!
I got bored at the weekend so thought id strip down my old Boardman and give it a new lick of paint for the winter, had some royal red flip paint left over from when i painted a crash helmet so thought id use that! Im not sure i like it yet but it does make a change from the usual colours you see out and about.
Primer
Flip undercoat
Flip painted
Primer
Flip undercoat
Flip painted
- Status