Road Cycling Essentials

[Berger]

Out of interest, what's your FTP and w/kg (without bike weight)? I know it'll be ridiculously higher than mine but y'know..goal to aim for



23mm tyres here and I was fine Then again, central Manchester often doesn't get the weather quite so bad as other places nearby.

Taking primary a lot and sticking to the main roads usually is safe as long as you take things slowly.

Without bike weight, I'd expect to do just over 4w/kg FTP, 320w/80kg. Hard to say without doing an FTP test or a 20 minute TT then taking some off! I was around 320-330w for a 20 minute TT this time last year and I'm riding a lot better now!

When I went to the Tour Of Bright the Strava power estimate (no power as racing wheels) was just under 300w for an hour on the climb which seems pretty accurate.

No problems fitting my Pro 4s, maybe it's your rims. Slipped on the Hplusson rim really easy! Maybe they are smaller and harder when cold

Lots of sprinters going to the tour of Qatar, I want to see a French punch up between Demare and Bouhanni now they are riding for different teams!

 

[physichull]

ok pro4's were a hell to fit! my rubino's took ages and were painful but these! jesus.. I don't ever pinch my tubes but I got so frustrated that I forced the thing on after 30ish minutes of fighting it! and to my surprise, front was flat this morning

rear got pinched yesterday too.. amazing.

well, the tyres are now and seem to be quite sticky.. hopefully I'll got no punctures as that'll be a pain up the bum

I have the pro 4 service course ones and they are much harder to fit than my old giant tyres. I'm always worried about pinching the tube with them. My giant ones I could fit just by hand, these require brute force on the tyre levers.

 

[FrenchTart]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-edge-500-red-with-premium-heart-rate-and-cadence/

Good stuff. Coming with HRM and cad sensors makes sense for your training I quite like my 810 but buying all the extra bits I needed for it soon increased the price a lot.

ok pro4's were a hell to fit! my rubino's took ages and were painful but these! jesus.. I don't ever pinch my tubes but I got so frustrated that I forced the thing on after 30ish minutes of fighting it! and to my surprise, front was flat this morning

rear got pinched yesterday too.. amazing.

well, the tyres are now and seem to be quite sticky.. hopefully I'll got no punctures as that'll be a pain up the bum

Sometimes they can be a little tough to fit the first time but they quickly stretch to the point that they're easy to get on and off. Will be interesting to hear how you find them in the next few days anyhow.

Without bike weight, I'd expect to do just over 4w/kg FTP, 320w/80kg. Hard to say without doing an FTP test or a 20 minute TT then taking some off! I was around 320-330w for a 20 minute TT this time last year and I'm riding a lot better now!

When I went to the Tour Of Bright the Strava power estimate (no power as racing wheels) was just under 300w for an hour on the climb which seems pretty accurate.

No problems fitting my Pro 4s, maybe it's your rims. Slipped on the Hplusson rim really easy! Maybe they are smaller and harder when cold

Lots of sprinters going to the tour of Qatar, I want to see a French punch up between Demare and Bouhanni now they are riding for different teams!

Obviously taking it with a pinch of salt as my power readings are from Trainer Road's virtual power but that isn't crazily higher than me. I don't doubt for a minute that there's no way I'd keep up with you in a race though I really need to do a new FTP test as I think I can get a bit higher than my 315 from the last test now. As you say, it's hard to take enough of a rest to do a proper one though.

I have the pro 4 service course ones and they are much harder to fit than my old giant tyres. I'm always worried about pinching the tube with them. My giant ones I could fit just by hand, these require brute force on the tyre levers.

They really aren't *that* hard to fit - or haven't been for me. Are you guys using the stretching the tyre around the rims trick to make them easier to fit?

 

[Roady]

Any pics of the jacket?

I'll take some tonight for you, I believe a tart is interested too but it might be a little large for him?

Totally forgot to take some last night, will get it done tonight and trust you them! Sorry!

Caved in last night and bought a Garmin with gubbins for my rides and turbo trainer sessions.

Awfully expensive this cycling malarkey

Does it have the newer S&C (or the GSC10?). I'd be very interested how you find it (as I very recently got the 810!)

Guy at work today road in on his road bike with 23 tyres on, in the snow. Utterly, utterly crazy. Its just not worth the broken collarbone or smashed up bike. Madness.

Thinner tyres = more pressure to push through the snow? Like ice tyres for agriculture - they're thin with very pronounced 'grips' for stud mounting

23mm tyres here and I was fine Then again, central Manchester often doesn't get the weather quite so bad as other places nearby.

Bet you don't have snow in manchester though!? None here but people say its forecast, our local weather guy says it's going to be rain with some slush content but as we had rain overnight it won't freeze. I'd trust him over some weatherman every day as it's his livelihood to get it right (looking after soft italian grown plants, in glasshouses, irrigation and heaters in our 75 acre site!)

I did that yesterday:

https://www.strava.com/activities/247230648

First time cycling to work, did the same route home but Garmin died half way back. I just make sure I'm running 120psi and away I go.

Good ride, well done, keep it up! Can see you've done 'some' leisure riding before (and still done a bigger ride & one with more climbing than me too lol)

Back to cycling jackets... this one looks quite tempting though I may wait for a sale:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-highline-waterproof-jacket/

I wonder how tight a fit you could get with a smaller size.

The only disadvantage is that I just know that my friends will all call it a DHB fleshlight jacket.

The Flashlight (and Cosmo) are pretty much the only jackets in the DHB range I haven't tried... The sizes are all similar but I found the Commuter and Minima tighter than the EQ2.5, the Clear race and Active were much thinner and a looser fit than all of the others (strange for the 'race' to be loose!). The Flashlight range were on sale leading up to xmas (as most of the DHB range were 30% off, but think they were only 20/25%).

ok pro4's were a hell to fit! my rubino's took ages and were painful but these! jesus.. I don't ever pinch my tubes but I got so frustrated that I forced the thing on after 30ish minutes of fighting it! and to my surprise, front was flat this morning

rear got pinched yesterday too.. amazing.

well, the tyres are now and seem to be quite sticky.. hopefully I'll got no punctures as that'll be a pain up the bum

Maybe it's not just me with my feeble fingers then!

Good stuff. Coming with HRM and cad sensors makes sense for your training I quite like my 810 but buying all the extra bits I needed for it soon increased the price a lot.
<snip>
They really aren't *that* hard to fit - or haven't been for me. Are you guys using the stretching the tyre around the rims trick to make them easier to fit?

That's kinda why I bought the GSC10 about 6 months ago, HRM soon after and then only recently the Garmin. Spreading the cost as the unit with sensors cost more than the bike I was using back then!

What trick is this? Please share your black magic with us!

 

[FrenchTart]

Has anyone been following the New Forest billox of late? This is hilarious. Cycling is currently at 92% in the poll:

http://road.cc/content/news/141420-poll-cycling-favourite-new-forest-activity-4-5-people

Bet you don't have snow in manchester though!? None here but people say its forecast, our local weather guy says it's going to be rain with some slush content but as we had rain overnight it won't freeze. I'd trust him over some weatherman every day as it's his livelihood to get it right (looking after soft italian grown plants, in glasshouses, irrigation and heaters in our 75 acre site!)

We do actually. I was lucky on my way in and missed the worst of it but it has been snowing heavily for a couple of hours now.

 

[SoliD]

Frenchtart Jacket wise I have the EQ2.5, the Pearl Izumi and Minima S. Through the winter the EQ2.5 is perfect for my commute, wear a merino layer underneath and that's it, keys go in inside pocket and phone and cleat protectors in the back, fully water and windproof. Although my commute is only 5.5 miles so don't get a chance to really overheat in it.

Berger you must try harder, Stannard is massive compared to you

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

For anyone in London Vulpine have a sample sale on this Friday-Sunday on Brick Lane.

Probably be mayhem, but might be worth a look for some commuter stuff.

 

[daveski]

Anyone ridden a Dolan Prefissio bike?

I have one, done maybe 3500 miles on it now.

Nice enough frame, nothing really special about it so I'm not sure what you would gain from your current bike? Maybe a bit lighter?

 

[grudas]

Sometimes they can be a little tough to fit the first time but they quickly stretch to the point that they're easy to get on and off. Will be interesting to hear how you find them in the next few days anyhow.

well they were REALLY hard.. to a point where even my blue park levers started chipping off..

my rims are hard to get any tyres on.. never mind some of the tighter ones!

amazing! she does this every day

 

[Roady]

We do actually. I was lucky on my way in and missed the worst of it but it has been snowing heavily for a couple of hours now.

Sun is out here! Still freezing cold though... Winds have died down too!

 

[FrenchTart]

Frenchtart Jacket wise I have the EQ2.5, the Pearl Izumi and Minima S. Through the winter the EQ2.5 is perfect for my commute, wear a merino layer underneath and that's it, keys go in inside pocket and phone and cleat protectors in the back, fully water and windproof. Although my commute is only 5.5 miles so don't get a chance to really overheat in it.

Berger you must try harder, Stannard is massive compared to you

Isn't the EQ2.5 quite loose fit? I also wanted something that has underarm zippable vents...

well they were REALLY hard.. to a point where even my blue park levers started chipping off..

my rims are hard to get any tyres on.. never mind some of the tighter ones!

amazing! she does this every day

Wow, that's some awesome parenting :/ You should say something. Even if she thinks you're an arse you'll be doing her child a favour.

Sun is out here! Still freezing cold though... Winds have died down too!

Going to go and see how bad it is outside in a minute and decide whether or not it's safe for me to cycle at lunch...

 

[platypus]

ok pro4's were a hell to fit! my rubino's took ages and were painful but these! jesus.. I don't ever pinch my tubes but I got so frustrated that I forced the thing on after 30ish minutes of fighting it! and to my surprise, front was flat this morning

rear got pinched yesterday too.. amazing.

well, the tyres are now and seem to be quite sticky.. hopefully I'll got no punctures as that'll be a pain up the bum

I have absolutely no idea how you had trouble fitting them. They slip on like a breeze.

 

[grudas]

Wow, that's some awesome parenting :/ You should say something. Even if she thinks you're an arse you'll be doing her child a favour.

its not so much that those two are dangerous but the fact that she's teaching her kid that its ok to jump/cycle through reds is not going to help her she's very dangerous tho.. must at least 3 times when she nearly hit me! - the woman not the kid.

I have absolutely no idea how you had trouble fitting them. They slip on like a breeze.

depends on the rims, my rims have a very high wall, add tight tyres to the combo and you've got a problem.

 

[SoliD]

Isn't the EQ2.5 quite loose fit? I also wanted something that has underarm zippable vents...

It's not race fit tight, but has a nice closing around the waist, I prefer something looser for the commute, and it has underarm zippable vents.

 

[physichull]

Thinner tyres = more pressure to push through the snow? Like ice tyres for agriculture - they're thin with very pronounced 'grips' for stud mounting

In theory, its still thoroughly idiotic in my opinion. Its just not worth the risk.

 

[Vonhelmet]

I have one, done maybe 3500 miles on it now.

Nice enough frame, nothing really special about it so I'm not sure what you would gain from your current bike? Maybe a bit lighter?

Cheers. Any weight saving would be good. The TDF has the heaviest ass in the world, though I may find that's just the low end mech and whatnot on it... It's as much vanity as anything else, and wanting a project. At some point I'll want a new winter bike, and this is as good a way to get there.

I think between your and touch's comments I'll have to accept I'm paying for the fun of re-building a bike, and any benefits in terms of ride quality and so on will be a bonus.

 

[FrenchTart]

So, for those that registered an interest in the TdY cycle we can apparently book tickets on the 2nd of Feb....

It's not race fit tight, but has a nice closing around the waist, I prefer something looser for the commute, and it has underarm zippable vents.

Hmm... I thought it didn't for some reason. I'll have to go and have another look at it.

In theory, its still thoroughly idiotic in my opinion. Its just not worth the risk.

As someone that rides in all weathers I don't really agree with that statement. Depending on your bike set up and how careful you are it's really not that bad. Overnight frost/ice leaves you with a far more dangerous surface to attempt to cycle on.

 

[physichull]

I'm not saying that everyone shouldn't but I've weighed out the arguments in my head and personally, I'd rather not risk slipping about in the snow risking serious injury.

 

[FrenchTart]

Fair enough. I've come off due to ice before and it wasn't fun. Snow isn't such a big deal....

....and now to go out for a lunch time ride in the slush/snow. If I come off during this ride I'll feel like a massive twit after saying all that

 

[physichull]

As the snow starts getting compacted into ice!