Road Cycling Essentials

[remy87]

Anyone have an Ortlieb Velocity or Messenger bag? In the market for a new backpack to replace my cheap no-name current bag, any recommendations?

Was using a chrome messenger bag for 2 years before discovering panniers!
For the messenger bag while its comfortable its normally one big shoulder strap and a smaller to keep it in place I would load it up usually around 5 to 10kg easily but be prepared for drippy wet back! It does look cool and keeps your balance perfectly on the bike. I wouldn't recommend using one for longer rides. Big plus is its massive and much better than backpacks in terms of stability.

if you can fit a rack and not worried about looks Panniers = win!

 

[whyscotty]

My new bike came today

Very nice

 

[Derek W]

New pedals arrived Just need to buy the shoes to go with them

 

[Vonhelmet]

I'm thinking of asking for some spd-sl pedals and shoes for my birthday. I'm currently using spds on both my bikes, and I'll put spds on the single speed when it's done, but I think I quite fancy proper road pedals for the summer long ride serious business bike.

 

[FrenchTart]

Personally I'd just purchase lighter SPD pedals and/or road-specific SPD-compatible shoes. A friend of mine that recently got a very nice road bike and got SPD-SLs for it after years of riding on SPDs has really regretted the decision.

 

[Jonny69]

What is this?

Vintage bike build, older than his PC spec (maybe)?

Lol, I haven't managed to nail down the exact model yet because it's missing its head badge and I haven't been able to decipher the numbering sequence. Pretty sure it's a 1938 BSA though, based on the components and it matches that model in the catalogue.

 

[SDK^]

New pedals arrived Just need to buy the shoes to go with them

I got some of those last week. I'm just waiting for the weather to improve before I put my bike into summer mode.

I'm thinking of asking for some spd-sl pedals and shoes for my birthday. I'm currently using spds on both my bikes, and I'll put spds on the single speed when it's done, but I think I quite fancy proper road pedals for the summer long ride serious business bike.

I'm doing the same. I've been riding 4 years with MTB SPD's (Crank Brothers, Egg Beaters) pedals on my road bike with MTB shoes.
Mid Feb road pedals and shoes will be fitted.

I'm looking forward to the added stiffness, larger contact patch and lower rotational weight.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Bikes used to be so long

What's the wheelbase on that? Reviewers seem to make a fuss about any bike with a wheelbase of more than a metre.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Hurrah, the Mrs has pretty much signed off on my spending half a grand on an asgard bike box for the driveway, so I can stop cluttering the conservatory up with my many bikes.

 

[oli collett]

Hurrah, the Mrs has pretty much signed off on my spending half a grand on an asgard bike box for the driveway, so I can stop cluttering the conservatory up with my many bikes.

They really are great! Got two and considering getting another!

Ended up in A & E for an x-Ray, hope it's just a sprain :/

 

[Shamrock]

Just found this video of legend Eddy Merckx setting the hour record in 1972. What a hero...

 

[FrenchTart]

PhysicHull has just linked me to this bike. It's so shiny *drool*

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/scott s...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/60047

 

[touch]

Specialized Zertzs apparently. They're on the forks too.

I think they've dropped the "zertz" from the new roubaix and just gone for a slightly wider profile tyre to soak up the vibration a bit more.

Spoiler

Or not

 

[ArmoVanBuuren]

Whilst were showing bikes my R3 is nearly built:

Just need ride some on the turbo before doing the bar tape and deciding where to cut the fork post. Then its wait for the weather to get better to ride outside.

Did a 20 min FTP test today on trainerroad, increased my (virtual) FTP to 271 and my LTHR to 160. It was 191 FTP and 171 LTHR when I last did an FTP test at the end of November (after 3 months inactivity due to an accident). Been doing an average of 4 hours a week on the turbo since then so have been getting fitter so nice to see a good improvement, though would love a power meter to tell the actual power than virtual.

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

Looks good! Been pricing up options for a new bike, R3 was one of them, but think I've decided on an S3 now.

What made you decided to go with the R3?

---

Edit:

Anyone had any experience buying bike kit from the EU (Germany for example). Cervelo S3 Frame works out almost £400 cheaper ordering in Euros and getting it shipped to the uk. (£40 shipping)

 

[PermaBanned]

Eyeing up the Felt F75 on Merlin. 105 for £600 is nothing to scoff at, even if it is "just" the 10 speed version...

 

[Jonny69]

What's the wheelbase on that? Reviewers seem to make a fuss about any bike with a wheelbase of more than a metre.

It's 42 3/4" / 108.5cm. So considering my track bike which is mega short at 37" / 94cm, it's actually not that long.

Short used to be considered a good thing. It made a lively, stiffer, lighter frame and even today they make quite a lot of effort to get the rear wheel as far forwards as possible on TT bikes. Besides which, bikes look more pro with tight clearances

 

[Vonhelmet]

I've just done 10 miles on the turbo in zone 2, which took about 45 minutes. My legs feel all toasty warm, but I'm barely sweating, where usually I'm dripping after a ride on the turbo. I had my iPhone in my hand watching Netflix the whole time, which was a damn sight more interesting than just listening to music. I'll have to see how riding like this works it, but apparently it'll make me faster in the long run so I may as well give it a shot. At least when it warms up a bit I can get out and do 15-20 miles of flat roads at this sort of pace.

 

[Calpol]

I've just done 10 miles on the turbo in zone 2, which took about 45 minutes. My legs feel all toasty warm, but I'm barely sweating, where usually I'm dripping after a ride on the turbo. I had my iPhone in my hand watching Netflix the whole time, which was a damn sight more interesting than just listening to music. I'll have to see how riding like this works it, but apparently it'll make me faster in the long run so I may as well give it a shot. At least when it warms up a bit I can get out and do 15-20 miles of flat roads at this sort of pace.

90 minutes of sweet spot intervals for me. Well over/under intervals I guess.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/1619995-Palisade

 

[FrenchTart]

I've just done 10 miles on the turbo in zone 2, which took about 45 minutes. My legs feel all toasty warm, but I'm barely sweating, where usually I'm dripping after a ride on the turbo. I had my iPhone in my hand watching Netflix the whole time, which was a damn sight more interesting than just listening to music. I'll have to see how riding like this works it, but apparently it'll make me faster in the long run so I may as well give it a shot. At least when it warms up a bit I can get out and do 15-20 miles of flat roads at this sort of pace.

Good stuff. Next winter when you get a better trainer I think you'll find Trainer Road and such a whole lot less tedious. You'll still need distractions but concentrating on the speed/cadence/power graphs does at least occupy some of your mind, and give you more confidence that the turbo work is doing what you want it to do

90 minutes of sweet spot intervals for me. Well over/under intervals I guess.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/1619995-Palisade

Nice. I did a shorter sweet spot session. I kind of wish I'd done a 90 minute version though as my legs felt pretty fresh by the end.

http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/1618733-Geiger

Then again, they don't feel fresh now after also going running after