Road Cycling Essentials

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Fred Whitton

Anyone here entered the Fred Whitton Lake District challenge? 112 miles and 4300 metres of climbing....

http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/

I've entered and after my lard fest over xmas can hardly climb the stairs let alone Lake District mountains !

Other than running training on dark nights do any of you guys ride at nightime in the country side over the winter? Just seems to dangerous to me,...

Can't see how else to get the fitness....
 
Anyone here got an Altura Nightvision waterproof?. I tried on a mates one as I wanted to treat myself to a new high viz jacket for my commute. His was a medium and it fitted very well indeed, nice and snug without being too tight. However when I sat on the bike and went down on the drops, it felt far too tight around the shoulders. Even when I had my hands on the hoods which is where I ride most of the time, it still felt too tight. So I ordered a large from the Edinburgh Bike Co-op ( got gift vouchers for Xmas so thought I may as well use them plus they were doing 10% off for a few days after New Year :cool: ).

It arrived today and it's labelled a Large but it feels like an XL. :( Very loose fitting and baggy, kinda like they have skipped a size from "L" and went straight to "XL". Anyone find this happens with Altura jackets?. I'm in two minds what to do now, either send it back or stick with it. I'm 6 ft with a 42" chest and quite well built with big shoulders so maybe its just me!!. :D
 
Bike gear seems to be sized for whippet-esque built people... I have some Endura shorts and gloves and I had to go to XXL for them (34-35" waist) and they fit ok although the gloves are... snug.
 
If I remember what the book said today the sleeve length is only a half inch difference between medium and large but the M is 38-40" chest and the L is 41-43" chest so going by that the Large should fit you best.
 
kirkster said:
Anyone here entered the Fred Whitton Lake District challenge? 112 miles and 4300 metres of climbing....

http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/

I've entered and after my lard fest over xmas can hardly climb the stairs let alone Lake District mountains !
Click to expand...

This is a loooong long day out and very challenging route. Good luck! Amazing scenery though so take your time.
 
Draeger said:
Anyone here got an Altura Nightvision waterproof?. I tried on a mates one as I wanted to treat myself to a new high viz jacket for my commute. His was a medium and it fitted very well indeed, nice and snug without being too tight. However when I sat on the bike and went down on the drops, it felt far too tight around the shoulders. Even when I had my hands on the hoods which is where I ride most of the time, it still felt too tight. So I ordered a large from the Edinburgh Bike Co-op ( got gift vouchers for Xmas so thought I may as well use them plus they were doing 10% off for a few days after New Year :cool: ).

It arrived today and it's labelled a Large but it feels like an XL. :( Very loose fitting and baggy, kinda like they have skipped a size from "L" and went straight to "XL". Anyone find this happens with Altura jackets?. I'm in two minds what to do now, either send it back or stick with it. I'm 6 ft with a 42" chest and quite well built with big shoulders so maybe its just me!!. :D
Click to expand...
I was looking at those, but they seem to be geared up for wearing normal clothes underneath. I think this is why you're finding them baggy. I went for a North Face torpedo jacket, because they are a very slim fit but allow a lot of flexibility, so work well for me on the bike. My one isn't the waterproof one, but they do one in their Goretex equivalent.
 
This is cuttings things pretty fine but:

I got a Verenti Kilmeston recently. Great bike, very happy with it. I return to university tomorrow. Due to college rules the only place I can store the bike is in a gated and fenced card access only with CCTV but crucially *outdoor* bike lock up area. I'm not allowed to store the bike in my room. Keeping the bike at home without insurance is low enough risk. Keeping the bike at university without insurance seems like asking for trouble (especially as I've already had one bike nicked there, though from a lower security lock up area that was open to the main road).

So, I'm looking for bike insurance that will cover a bike when locked up outside. I've just been on the phone to Endsleigh but found their policy doesn't cover outside storage except on student bikes of value less than £400. Can anyone recommend a suitable insurer? I need to get this sorted today (been meaning to for a while but I had work to do, you know how it is...)

Cheers,
Mr. Brightside
 
Personally, I'd look for a cheaper bike to keep at uni and keep it well locked up. Universities are notorious for bikes being stolen.

One other thing you can do, if you don't mind spoiling the paint, is to give it a damn good coat of urban camo so it's not as noticeable.
 
Jonny69 said:
Personally, I'd look for a cheaper bike to keep at uni and keep it well locked up. Universities are notorious for bikes being stolen.

One other thing you can do, if you don't mind spoiling the paint, is to give it a damn good coat of urban camo so it's not as noticeable.
Click to expand...

agreed - you can easily urban camo most of it in a reversable way with masking and ducktape but tbh i'd get a cheap SS or similar - doesn't have to be rubbish, just look it ;)
 


To say I'm happy with my purchase would be an understatement. :D

It feels so unbelievably fast, but it's much less stable in a crosswind than I'm used to!
 
I thought I was going to buy a new bike ... and now my bike from UK is on its way to me here.

Heathrow > Abu Dhabi > Kuala Lumpur

Should be able to clear it through customs and pick it up at the airport on Monday .... hope all goes smoothly
 
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