Road Cycling Essentials

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Streeteh said:
What's the best way to go about improving on my average speed? I cycle a measly four miles to work (not very flat though) and two months ago (when i first started cycling) it took me approx 23mins. This dropped very quickly and after about two weeks i was down to 19min, but it hasn't dropped even by a couple of seconds since then. I'm always between 19:00 flat and 19:30!
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Glad to hear about your extra minute gained. Feels great, doesn't it :D

Assuming you've got a road bike with road tyres, the only way to get those times down now is to press on. You've simply got to ride hard, get some more strength into those legs and get your heart used to working harder. Ride at your normal pace on a Monday and Tuesday, step it up a bit on Wednesday, ride quite hard on Thursday and really go for it on Friday. You want to arrive home covered in sweat and out of breath, gagging for your water.

You will need your bike to be set up well for this or you'll shag your knees. A bit of running thrown into the mix will also be a great benefit and will build up all those support muscles.

Times to beat (mine :D):
16 minutes in
12 minutes home
 
[DOD]Asprilla;20570156 said:
Over 4 times slower on the way in....
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Dont feel bad, i can't get anywhere near Johnny's 12 mins either :(.

(I think his second name is Hoogerland? :p )
 
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[DOD]Asprilla;20570156 said:
You must be much quicker than me. :(
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Roads I can get a decent pace up on help, and only 3 sets of lights.

[DOD]Asprilla;20570156 said:
Time in 1hr 4mins
Time home 1hr 8mins

Over 4 times slower on the way in....
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Your distance is much higher than mine though. Doubt I could keep that pace up for more than 20 miles. Not all week, anyway :D
 
Chain reaction cycles have got some good discount codes going at the minute. £10 off £75, £15 off £100 and if you spend £100 you also get £50 off if you spend £100 within 4 weeks.

Just bought myself a helmet (which I needed and they happened to be the cheapest - MET Stradivarius) and a Crank Bros multi-tool (Christmas present?). Applied the £50 off next time code first then the £15 off one after. £93 bargain.
 
Jonny69 said:
Glad to hear about your extra minute gained. Feels great, doesn't it :D

Assuming you've got a road bike with road tyres
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Nope, i have this:

20111115184647.jpg




Terrible picture i know, but wheels are muddy so there's no way i'm moving it over to the carpeted living room for a full shot! It cost £300 new over 6 years ago, hasn't been serviced for about 2 of those, hasn't been used at all for another, but i'm growing a strange affection for the creaky bucket of bolts. I will be replacing it with a CX bike which will be running 700x28c tyres which i believe is quite a bit narrower than what i currently ride on. Am running on smooth tyres though so i'm not expecting a massive increase in speed when i swap over. Just need to wait for the cycle2work scheme to start up, been promised it months ago and getting fed up of waiting!


Times to beat (mine :D):
16 minutes in
12 minutes home
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Is that in 4 miles too? Mine isn't exactly hilly so i've prob got it quite easy, how flat is your route?



Oh and, finally got all the new kit i ordered last week, very pleased with all of it:

20111115184225.jpg


Vaude Alpin Air 25+5 - Utterly fantastic, looks small but is like the Tardis, so much room! Really great back brace that separates the bag from your back with a vented cloth so you don't get a sweaty back. It's been discontinued in the UK now so buy one quick if you're interested. I was dubious of the price but so glad i spent a bit extra for something outstanding

Abus Granite X-Plus - German engineering summed up in a bike lock really. Sturdy, well built and everything 'clicks' so very perfectly. Again this cost quite a bit but as Johnny said a while back 'you can't put a price on peace of mind'

Altura Windproof Transformer Jacket - Brilliant, a bit tight around the shoulders when walking about but as soon as you 'assume the position' on your bike it suddenly fits perfectly. Stupidly warm considering how thin it is (it + a base layer in sub 10C = way too warm, i could see it still being warm enough down into sub 5C). It has a breathable material on the back which pairs up with the Alpin Air really well to prevent feeling like boil in a bag rice. The arms coming off will also be useful in the summer.

Really chuffed with it all.

But i thought cycling was supposed to save money?
 
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Osian said:
What's that under your stem?

And do you have spacers between your stem and stem cap because it might be me, but it doesn't look like it!

A bigger bike or at least some road specific tyres will make a ridiculous difference in your times I reckon.
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I don't even know what those questions mean. Sorry i'm still a total noob to this bike lark. The stem - the bit that holds the handlebars? If so then are you asking about that silver clamp which I can't actually figure out what it's there for? If yes then, i don't know why that's there. I know not what a spacer is either.

I completely agree, a bigger bike is exactly what i'm after. Guilty admission is this bike was actually bought (and measured) for my mum, who is about half a foot shorter than me, but she didn't use it. It's a bit of a stop-gap until i can buy my own bike.
 
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[DOD]Asprilla;20570156 said:
You must be much quicker than me. :(

Time in 1hr 4mins
Time home 1hr 8mins

Over 4 times slower on the way in....
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How far is your commute at the moment? :)

Just bought new cassette, chainrings and derailleur cable so hoping for a marked improvement (the chain on it is not that hence not being replaced at this stage).
 
One More Solo said:
How far is your commute at the moment? :)

Just bought new cassette, chainrings and derailleur cable so hoping for a marked improvement (the chain on it is not that hence not being replaced at this stage).
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Oh, about a 42 mile round trip.

Just bought a new chain and it's made it obvious that I need a new cassette as well.
 
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