Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
My lip was 10 years ago and I don't have great photos of that to hand.

This is the wound:

woundn.jpg


It's just a little distal to my elbow, on the back surface of the forearm, so that's muscle at the top of the photo and the boney bit (olecranon) on the left. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, it's tricky at the best of times and I was a little shocked at this point ;)

One brief trip to Kings A&E later (who were all brilliant, even if they did leave me in the waiting room trickling blood on the floor for a bit - my own dressing to cover it for the trip from my house was pretty pathetic) and they removed a few stones and some crushed tissue that was pigmented with road dirt.

sches.jpg


Looks like 15 stitches to me, on counting. I love the fact that the stitches go through road rash skin, so the whole lot still looks raw :D

Sadly the first thing I did after getting me and my bike off the road wasn't to pause my garmin... I only just remembered to check it after reading a few siggies.
 
Last edited:
That's why I described it in the post. To make up for shoddy photographic skills. It's now covered in a crepe dressing (through which it is oozing blood).

In the second photo, the boney part of my elbow is just visible on the left, with the rest of my forearm off shot to the right.
 
Lovely image to welcome us to the last page(manly page mode).

Was at the moore large display thing in Perth yesterday looking at the new bikes. Forme bikes are looking quite smart this year from £350 hybrids with racks and guards up to £3k for a full carbon(Toray T700 I think he said, or some sort of 70/30 carbon/resin mix) bike with dura ace and easton Ea90 wheels! They will be discounted to 15% off pretty quickly once stock comes through though as nobody seems to take moore large seriously.

Still prefer felt bikes though as they use different levels of carbon on their bikes and the UHC nano frames are stiff as ****!

I've set my eys on a Felt Compulsion comp as a new off road machine :(

On a road bike note I fitted some sora calipers as the standard fit ones were dire and the rear was siezing up. Quite happy with having some sort of braking performance and the bike feels mint again after a good service!
 
That arm cut look horrific! Glad you're ok though and it's not something more serious.

It's decision time for me. Do i stick with the nobblies that come with my CX, or do i go for all out speed and swap it for some Michelin Pilot Sport tyres i picked up mega cheap (£16 for the pair).

Tyres on the bike are:
http://ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=98782

The Michelin are:
http://www.michelin.co.uk/bicycle/michelin-pilot-sport-city-trekking

I got the Michelin for use on commutes and will keep the existing tyres for off-road use. However with winter season being puncture prone, would i be mental to fit slicker tyres when the default ones would likely offer better puncture protection? It's the first time i've ever commuted in winter so i don't really know what to expect. The Michelin have reflective strips on the side which is also a big plus for me as i ride home in the dark.
 
Last edited:
Saundie said:
I'm glad that's the first post on the latest page, especially as I was just about to tuck into a steak :)
Click to expand...

Mmmmm. Steak. I could only manage to cook a mushroom risotto with chicken, courgette and peas tonight. Got a date tomorrow and will be rocking up with blood soaked dressing (not meant to touch the outer dressing for 3 days, and supposed to leave the honey dressing (touching the skin) in place for 6 or 7). Nice.

Had an accident a few years ago when carrying a washing machine up the stairs and ended up stripping off a patch of skin of the other forearm. The whole 5 x 10 cm patch looked like raw steak :)
 
Got a card from postie today, hopefully for my Cree XM-L light. Haven't been riding hardly at all lately, I don't commute and willing myself to go out when it's raining.. just can't be arsed! Hopefully this light's decent though. I have fitted my mudguards as well but tbh I probably will just get what riding I can done while it's dry.

Seriously considering a turbo trainer though.
 
Streeteh said:
I got the Michelin for use on commutes and will keep the existing tyres for off-road use. However with winter season being puncture prone, would i be mental to fit slicker tyres when the default ones would likely offer better puncture protection? It's the first time i've ever commuted in winter so i don't really know what to expect. The Michelin have reflective strips on the side which is also a big plus for me as i ride home in the dark.
Click to expand...

My mantra is that every tyre is 100% puncture proof until you have your first puncture! Seriously though I've never really noticed a huge difference between tyres touted as proof, resistant, or not at all. So these days I choose tyres that have the characteristics I want for the application- pressure rating, tread type and TPI.

PardonTheWait said:
Haven't been riding hardly at all lately, I don't commute and willing myself to go out when it's raining.. just can't be arsed!

Seriously considering a turbo trainer though.
Click to expand...

I'm with you! I sit up in bed, look out, see the wet roads, then go back to sleep and take the motorbike an hour later. Having said that, now the mornings are lighter it's much easier. Still not cycling enough though, so I've taken up running. My lungs and fitness are fine, but I naively assumed my legs would be up to the task from the word go. Doesn't work like that unfortunately, took a good few weeks to get the running muscle groups up to spec. Quite enjoying it now though.
 
CGrieves said:
Still not cycling enough though, so I've taken up running. My lungs and fitness are fine, but I naively assumed my legs would be up to the task from the word go. Doesn't work like that unfortunately, took a good few weeks to get the running muscle groups up to spec. Quite enjoying it now though.
Click to expand...
Take it easy on the running. I now know two people who have landed themselves serious ITB problems as a result of going from cycling to running. If you've only been cycling, the ITB will be very underdeveloped in comparison to your other leg muscles. The same goes for all the support muscles and ligaments round your ankles and knees. The problem is the much stronger thigh and glute muscles take control and rip the hell out of the weaker ones. Build up your running gently and make sure you stretch the ITB thoroughly afterwards. Look up the stretches if you have to.
 
I'd just like to raise the fact that platypus has kindly posted his spare handlebar torch holder to me for free...and won't even take any money for postage. A gentleman and a scholar I think we can agree!
 
Jonny69 said:
Take it easy on the running. I now know two people who have landed themselves serious ITB problems as a result of going from cycling to running. If you've only been cycling, the ITB will be very underdeveloped in comparison to your other leg muscles. The same goes for all the support muscles and ligaments round your ankles and knees. The problem is the much stronger thigh and glute muscles take control and rip the hell out of the weaker ones. Build up your running gently and make sure you stretch the ITB thoroughly afterwards. Look up the stretches if you have to.
Click to expand...

Yep, for sure, the biggest problem was I had decent cardio fitness but the legs couldn't really keep up, so after the first week I ended up with calf strain (I tend to toe-strike when running, trying to modify my running style). Took some advice, rested for a week and ran shorter distances and slowly increased it. Now doing a comfortable 26 minute 5K about twice a week, which is plenty for now, my main goal is just to maintain fitness over the winter.
 
Just ordered my first pair of clipless pedals, M520 for £19.99 delivered. I fully expect a tumble or two before I get used to them!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom