Road Cycling Essentials

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Had a stab at trying to keep in zone 3 or below (<170 bpm) on the commute today instead of just gunning for it just to see what the 'effort' required felt like, had to keep my cadence down to around 80-85 rpm instead of ~100 rpm as well which felt strange.

Its only 25 minutes (~8-9 miles) so obviously more suited towards harder efforts than slow and steady I assume?
 
The weather is finally improving. I'm hoping to get out a couple of times over the weekend. It's gonna have to be early morning trips due to otherwise busy schedules, but I've got to get out before I forget how to ride a bike altogether...
 
FrenchTart said:
Hmm.. Interesting. Is this based on that really bad tv show recently or some other experience/thing you've heard about? :)

To be honest the handlebars do worry me slightly. They're the least researched part of the build so far.
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Re the handlebars, put them on the bike, get a hold of them and give them some rough treatment. If you can't break them then they won't break while you're riding. Carbon doesn't fatigue like metals and it doesn't deform plastically. It just breaks when it reaches its yield point. So basically you want to be able to confidently drop your weight on them as if you'd hit a deep pot hole.

They will break if you crash into something hard enough but then any carbon will do that because of the above properties, unlike a metal handlebar which will bend instead. They look like they are 3k weave anyway, so the impact resistance will be good.

Just my opinion, but at 370g that makes them as heavy as most aluminium drop bars. That makes the carbon quite thick and even if they're badly made I'd probably say they are way stronger than any aluminium bar. The carbon around the clamp area looks like it's massively thick so no worries there. I think if you wanted to play it safe then you could go for a bar without an integrated stem, because then the manufacturing is a lot simpler and you can then discount any twisting forces in the join between the stem and bar. We don't know how that set is made - basically, underneath that 3k skin, is it a separate bar with a stem bonded on (could be weak) or is it a monocoque design (strong)?
 
French Tart, i missed the first questions about China carbons and cant seem to find it?

I used the pvc pipe to get my crown race on.

My bike is from China and has been pretty good so far. I got a Denfu FM098, ive had it for 2 years now and never had a problem. done about 4.5k miles on it. I used Velo Build to order it. During that time ive hit some serious pot holes so im confident its its quality and any failure from here on out i would put to general use

The only issue i had with it was the installation of the cables to the rear mech. They are internally routed and dont have guides so that was a pita. Took me about a week to get it through lol.

Ive got frame and forks from China. Also ordered the Headset from there too. Rest of my parts are UK-Euro based.

Im not sure about carbon bars or stems, even with the confidence of my frame and forks im not sure i trust them, i dont have any experience of using them so cant really comment.

Little pic from last summer:) cant wait for the weather to change!
E4apmV3.jpg.png
 
Jonny69 said:
Re the handlebars, put them on the bike, get a hold of them and give them some rough treatment. If you can't break them then they won't break while you're riding. Carbon doesn't fatigue like metals and it doesn't deform plastically. It just breaks when it reaches its yield point. So basically you want to be able to confidently drop your weight on them as if you'd hit a deep pot hole.

They will break if you crash into something hard enough but then any carbon will do that because of the above properties, unlike a metal handlebar which will bend instead. They look like they are 3k weave anyway, so the impact resistance will be good.

Just my opinion, but at 370g that makes them as heavy as most aluminium drop bars. That makes the carbon quite thick and even if they're badly made I'd probably say they are way stronger than any aluminium bar. The carbon around the clamp area looks like it's massively thick so no worries there. I think if you wanted to play it safe then you could go for a bar without an integrated stem, because then the manufacturing is a lot simpler and you can then discount any twisting forces in the join between the stem and bar. We don't know how that set is made - basically, underneath that 3k skin, is it a separate bar with a stem bonded on (could be weak) or is it a monocoque design (strong)?
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Thanks for that (and all the other comments). I really do appreciate the information :)

I'm pretty much sold on the idea of an alu handlebar and stem (and separate ones). I guess I quite fancied the idea of an integrated one just for the simplicity, though I realise that there isn't really much to be gained from that.

One thing that I do really like on the Chinese carbon bars is the internal routing on the handlebars. Are there any decentish/lightish/cheapish alu bars that have that or something similar? I really like the idea of my bar tape not having the cables messing it up :p

edit: I've found this although I'd prefer something a little cheaper if possible.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/3t-aeronova-pro-alloy-road-handlebar/rp-prod123007

edit2: This is cheaper and lighter. I presume less good in terms of aero or stiffness or something? I'll have to read up on it.

http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/compo...ger-race-lite-aero-drop-vr-cf-handlebar-p6223

Kimi said:
French Tart, i missed the first questions about China carbons and cant seem to find it?

My bike is from China and has been pretty good so far. I got a Denfu FM098, ive had it for 2 years now and never had a problem. done about 4.5k miles on it. I used Velo Build to order it. During that time ive hit some serious pot holes so im confident its its quality and any failure from here on out i would put to general use

The only issue i had with it was the installation of the cables to the rear mech. They are internally routed and dont have guides so that was a pita. Took me about a week to get it through lol.

Ive got frame and forks from China. Also ordered the Headset from there too. Rest of my parts are UK-Euro based.

Im not sure about carbon bars or stems, even with the confidence of my frame and forks im not sure i trust them, i dont have any experience of using them so cant really comment.

*snip*
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That's a very nice looking bike... and good to hear that you've had no problems with it in 4.5k miles too. That internal routing sounds like a nightmare indeed :eek: I guess I'll just have to lump it.

My original question was here, along with the link to a Google Doc with some of my initial research/parts: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=27518233&postcount=55588
 
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FrenchTart said:
Slicks are better tyres with deep treads in the wet - more surface area in contact with the ground. The Pro4s have a sidewall compound that is softer/more grippy than the central strip too, so cornering is good.

If you want to go all-out for wet grip you could try the Pro4 Service Course Grip. Sadly only available in 23mm though.

edit: My grip and cornering is fine at the moment to be honest. Including on icy days. I'm using Pro4 Endurance 25mm tyres, which are meant to be less grippy/good at that kind of thing than any of the others in the Pro4 range.
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I have some part-worn 700x23 Pro4E's I'm swapping onto my Giant this weekend, the new Giant 700x25 P-R3's it came with have noticeably less grip! I've never had a problem with my P4E's in the wet, but never ridden with them on proper icy roads (I've not commuted this week for this very reason).

tedmaul said:
If you have TR set up with the sensors etc i wouldn't pay much attention to heart rate at all for your efforts. It's too variable and responds too slowly on short efforts and drifts on longer ones - not great for judging your effort level. Power is always better for this, even if it's just virtual power. Keep your set up exactly consistent (bike, tyres and tyre pressure, wheel clamp set up etc) and you can trace improvement over time.
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Thanks ted, I've never really ridden with HR much anyway... Only a couple of times when on the trainer for some recovery-style rides! Most of the time I'm analysing it later to try and gauge my progress as I get fitter. FTP is a much better way of doing this so TR will be perfect for that - same rides & standards for monitoring/testing it! :)

Dunks said:
Had a stab at trying to keep in zone 3 or below (<170 bpm) on the commute today instead of just gunning for it just to see what the 'effort' required felt like, had to keep my cadence down to around 80-85 rpm instead of ~100 rpm as well which felt strange.

Its only 25 minutes (~8-9 miles) so obviously more suited towards harder efforts than slow and steady I assume?
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I find this hard too and hardly ever do it - the only occasions have been at the end of a tired week as my commute is only 4.4 miles! I tend to push myself for all of it... Which also explains why I've struggled with my stamina/endurance on longer weekend rides! ;)

Vonhelmet said:
The weather is finally improving. I'm hoping to get out a couple of times over the weekend. It's gonna have to be early morning trips due to otherwise busy schedules, but I've got to get out before I forget how to ride a bike altogether...
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Improving?! It was -5 here this morning (according to phone - uWeather app) and -4 when I got to work (car)! :eek:

Kimi said:
E4apmV3.jpg.png
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I'm not usually a fan of darker bikes but that pure black/carbon look makes it look like a real machine! Nice! :D

Side note: my Wiggle orders turned up today! Woop! 810 etc! :D :cool:

LifeLine Essential Bar Tape Black/Blue - bar tape for my trainer
dhb EQ2.5 Fluoro Waterproof Cycling Jacket Fluoro Large - high-viz jacket to replace my Black commuter I've been wearing with a high-viz vest over top (paranoid about not being seen)
dhb Clip Long Sleeve Jersey Blue Large - good price and I fancied a nicer jersey!
dhb Vaeon Padded Bib Tight Black Large - good price and I fancied some nicer bibs! Might grab another paid before the price goes back up...
Clarks V-Brake Threaded Brake Pads - spares for the mrs'

Cateye Rapid X RC Front - additional front light for better front visibility, very impressed by my RC rear mini
Garmin Edge 810 GPS Cycle Computer Black - Was only a matter of time... ;)
Garmin Handlebar/Rollbar Mount for VIRB - ride footage coming to a forum post near here soon!
 
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Final day on Mallorca today, finally a sunny day again, although was 4c for most of the morning! Rode over to Soller via the flatlands, saw Trek Factory Racing on my way over, and also led one of their boys over the Col de Soller, he didn't pass me, but was not putting any effort in whatsoever! :P Couldn't figure out who it was and looking on the team page hasn't given me any clues.

Had a nice sandwich at the Port, then decided to go for it and climb the Puig! Looked cold up there! The climb is about 10 miles long and goes from sea level to 2800ft! The board says this is about 6.2% average. Pretty much done it at Threshold power for the hour of climbing! Then came all the way home, knew once I got to the top was about 30 miles home with about 15 of those downhill! So was happy when I got to the top!

Will add some pictures once they upload to Photobucket!

https://www.strava.com/activities/244970515

Stats for the week

429.4 Miles/691.1 KM
24600 ft/7500 M
 
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Roady said:
I'm not usually a fan of darker bikes but that pure black/carbon look makes it look like a real machine! Nice! :D
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I wasn't to start with but my new bike is going to be pretty much all black. One of the benefits to that is that it doesn't get all the oily smears all over the frame and look permanently filthy like my WHITE Giant Defy!
 
My better bike has a white section on the downtube which is constantly mucky. When I get round to buying a carbon bike in a couple of years it is going to be black black black.
 
My first CX bike was completely white and it got dirty very quickly. Then again, the full coverage mudguards meant it was a lot better than my current bike in some ways.
 
SoliD said:
Final day on Mallorca today, finally a sunny day again, although was 4c for most of the morning! Rode over to Soller via the flatlands, saw Trek Factory Racing on my way over, and also led one of their boys over the Col de Soller, he didn't pass me, but was not putting any effort in whatsoever! :P Couldn't figure out who it was and looking on the team page hasn't given me any clues.

Had a nice sandwich at the Port, then decided to go for it and climb the Puig! Looked cold up there! The climb is about 10 miles long and goes from sea level to 2800ft! The board says this is about 6.2% average. Pretty much done it at Threshold power for the hour of climbing! Then came all the way home, knew once I got to the top was about 30 miles home with about 15 of those downhill! So was happy when I got to the top!

Will add some pictures once they upload to Photobucket!

https://www.strava.com/activities/244970515

Stats for the week

429.4 Miles/691.1 KM
24600 ft/7500 M
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Incredible! You did a 6 hour 93.7 mile ride with 6600ft of climbing! Amazing for your last day - you've obviously not tired much as the week has gone on?! Trek guy might have just been one of the support guys, or you never know - a ringer! ;)

Transferred you the pennies for the USB ANT+ stick, a few quid more to cover the postage/a beer/pizza too on me! :)

Edit: this made me lol (facebook link as couldn't find on youtube)
 
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I've not commented on it yet but all of your updates SoliD have been pretty amazing. It must have been a really awesome experience. Very impressive riding too :)

@Roady - that is so very true :p Squats and deads always make me dread the next day or two of riding.
 
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