Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
Berger said:
I did hear of problems with water ingress draining the battery but this may have been resolved on the newer models. I'd probably pick a stages over a set of Garmin pedals if this has been fixed mind.
Click to expand...

I read about the water problem, but I'm pretty sure it's been fixed now.

The stages meter is about £600 compared to about £1,100 for the garmin vector pedals, so there's quite a step up. It's nothing compared to an srm crank or whatever, but enough that the stages is definitely the way to go if cost is a concern. The main issue with the stages meter is that it can only measure one leg, but it seems as likely as not that for most mere mortals it's enough to just average power over the two legs. If you want the added detail of being able to do both legs properly, you just have to pay for it.
 
Vonhelmet said:
I managed to find a garmin heart rate monitor on eBay for £18. Ordered yesterday, arrived today, not bad. I've given it a quick test. It paired ok with my edge 500 and registered 72bpm just stood there and 110bpm when I jumped up and down for a bit. It lost signal at the end, so I need to play with the strap and the position on my chest. I've not got a manual, but hopefully I can find one online. Any tips or things I need to know?

All being well I'm going to get out for an hour so tomorrow morning before church so I'll give it a bash then and see how it fares and how I fare. Assuming it works ok I'll then have to figure out somewhere I can do a max heart rate test. I need a decent long hill - I think Chorley Old Road in Bolton will probably do the trick.
Click to expand...

You'll get a better max HR test on the turbo I would have thought.

I got a Garmin Premium strap recently and I found the signal to be quite reliable compared to my cheap bluetooth speed/cadence monitor. What position do you have it in currently? I just had mine under my chest with the main unit above my solar plexus.

Side note: I kind of feel sorry for women if bras are anything like as weird feeling as an HRM strap...and one you have to wear all day, every day :eek:
 
I'm almost tempted to pick one of these - http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...xus-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015#tab3 up as a winter hack to replace my hybrid.

Problem is I also want to buy a nice(er) bike in the spring to keep for dry sunny rides and I can't justify both :(

I can either buy the Halfords one and use it exclusively this year relegating it to a winter bike in 2016 or keep my hybrid for covering in mud and salt and buy a nice bike in April which was the original plan... decisions decisions :p

Today's pitiful effort confirms that I don't do headwinds :o :(
 
Just done the 8 min FTP test on Trainerroad and got a pitiful 208W (down from 250W 15 months ago but it was a different trainer but same brand (Kurt Kinetic))...i thought my fitness had tailed off the last few months through doing zip and eating wrong but now i know!
Still i was thinking 220W before i started so not a million miles off.
 
FrenchTart said:
You'll get a better max HR test on the turbo I would have thought.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I might try the turbo. I've just had another play with it and got my heart rate up to 164bpm running up and down the stairs :D

I put it lower on my torso and it held the signal throughout.

My girls wanted to see how fast their hearts were, but I couldn't get a signal from either of them. Clearly not made with 8 and 5 year old girls in mind :p
 
SDK^ said:
Anyone here using a Stages Cycling Power Meter?
I'm looking to buy the Shimano 5800 model when it becomes available in Feb and was wondering what people's views on the PM were?
Click to expand...

Still problems with them it appears going off user feedback on bikeradar, the single sided Garmin might be a better bet (haven't looked into them regarding reliability or cost).
 
Only managed 5th overall, 0.5mph from the KOM :mad:
Got over twenty 2015 KOM's and loads of PR's :cool:

63 miles completed with 20 of those direct into the gusting wind, so pretty much a simulated Alps climb :p


I'm going for the Stages Power Meter, measuring fitness improvements and on ride effort using speed/average speed and HR is useless.
 
Bloody DPD.

Ordered some swissstops from bike-discount.de and they have delivered to someone I have no idea where, need them by Thursday for my flight. Good work DPD as usual...
 
touch/topgun are you able to send me the GPX files from your links please (not a premium user) or if you have them on ridewithgps or something that I can grab them from.
 
Managed to get an hour on the turbo - 2 20 minute sweet spot/threshold intervals and other bits. Quite knackering compared to pre-illness but I feel like I'm almost back at a normal power output. Tried to push my HR at the end and hit 180. Think I can push it higher though.
 
FrenchTart said:
Managed to get an hour on the turbo - 2 20 minute sweet spot/threshold intervals and other bits. Quite knackering compared to pre-illness but I feel like I'm almost back at a normal power output. Tried to push my HR at the end and hit 180. Think I can push it higher though.
Click to expand...

I can hit 195 BPM but that seems strangely high. Not a chance of riding this week as have come down with a norovirus type illness and have been in bed all day :(
 
physichull said:
I can hit 195 BPM but that seems strangely high. Not a chance of riding this week as have come down with a norovirus type illness and have been in bed all day :(
Click to expand...

Disaster! Hope you're feeling better soon.

If you're better by next Saturday, I'm going to be doing 40 miles or so over Rivington and Anglezarke, weather permitting. Something like this. You're welcome to join me.
 
Last edited:
SDK^ said:
Only managed 5th overall, 0.5mph from the KOM :mad:
Got over twenty 2015 KOM's and loads of PR's :cool:

63 miles completed with 20 of those direct into the gusting wind, so pretty much a simulated Alps climb :p


I'm going for the Stages Power Meter, measuring fitness improvements and on ride effort using speed/average speed and HR is useless.
Click to expand...

I have been frustrated with the battery drain on my stages - I had issues with water ingress on mine, they sent through new seals and it seemed ok, but then it still randomly loses battery randomly.

I'm rather frustrated at the moment because despite doing far more riding over the past year than the previous year, my fitness is no better with my FTP sitting around 220W. I've done a few sufferfests lately and been struggling to finish - usually I find they get easier and I can start bumping up FTP but it's just not happening. I'm not sure whether I need to train more, eat more, rest more or what :(
 
Vonhelmet said:
Any armchair cardiologists want to take a look at my first rate with a heart rate monitor? The wind was ridiculous, so there are some silly bits, but even accounting for that my heart rate looks very high. Average of 164bpm and a high of 189bpm when I was sprinting at 26mph.
Click to expand...

I'm no armchair cardiologist but i did notice that your rate went up to 182bpm in the segment police station to lights :p
 
I don't yet have a HRM but would like an approximation at to the calories burned per mile of cycling at 14-16mph for a 195lb/89KG 25yo male.

My current nutrition has me in a slight deficit promoting a minor downtrend in morning weigh in so is spot on.

I'd like to take a little more of a deficit from my Sunday rides so am eating back all bar 2-300 calories that I estimate I burn.

I was using 30 calories per mile but think that this is probably quite on the low side and that perhaps 40/45 calories per mile might be a little more accurate as the actual burn rate?

Any input would be appreciated :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom