Road Cycling Essentials

Status
Not open for further replies.
img1046ca.jpg


My 2nd bike!
Kona Paddy Wagon 2011
Might need some new tyres
anyone experienced Maxxis Detonator 700x28?
 
My current road bike has some Maxxis Detonator's on it. The blue ones! :D. Been great so far. Stuck them on in ~September as I had slicks on before that and not a single puncture or slip to date (I commute daily).

Edit: I got them from CRC: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=12534. Exact model I have is 'Maxxis Detonator Tyre - 700 x 23 - Folding Light Blue/Black'.
 
Last edited:
excellent! Can't wait to try this bike out.
I usually use continental ones but this one seems good so far by the looks of it.
I might eventually go for Shwalbes Marathon Plus tyres.
 
Last edited:
looks nice too bad you don't have anything else to match the blue tyres lol.
I've just checked crc they don't do coloured ones at 28c only 23c.
I might get a pack for my roadie though.
 
Pics from my ride on sunday. A measly 15 miles but plenty hills. I've been riding 5 miles each way for work for that last 4.5 months that takes me 15/20 mins but the ride on Sunday was 7.5 miles each way of just hills, horrible horrible hills. By the end on the way there I was really really tired. I just felt out of breath, my legs weren't tired or sore etc. It's very odd.

The speedo shot was from the hill I'd just ridden up, 46.5mph max speed on the way back down aparently. I was pedalling like a mad man for a small burst and loved it. Dunno how accurate that is but makes me feel good anyway.

ride1.jpg


ride2.jpg


ride3.jpg


ride4g.jpg



As a side note, I would really have hoped that cycling would have helped me get away from my skinny legs but this isn't the case. Is this the wrong type of exercise to get some more muscle down those calfs? The main reason I want this is I have a small belly on me and it just look out of proportion. I'd expect to at least lose the belly if not build some leg muscle. Neither seems to be happening :s
 
Last edited:
My quads\hamstrings have developed a lot since I started cycling. Virtually no change in my calves though. Wouldn't have expected it either as I don't use them to pedal. :)
 
How long have you been cycling and how much do you do?

I overed 6,500 miles last year and my belly has almost gone. My legs are about the same size, but you can see that they are now solid rather than wobbly.
 
I suppose thinking about it calfs won't see that much action. I know very little about the body.

I've been riding 4.5 months monday to friday 10 miles a day in all weather. First weekend ride was last weekend. Probably covered about 1000 miles so a fraction in comparison really. Eating hasn't really changed, not much in the way of junk, plenty of meat I suppose but a lot of home made stuff and local meat not supermarket crap. I'm thinking of going for a run once a week too, but it doesn't sound enough.

The bike has just been to get me to work and back thanks to my own idoicy and getting myself banned from driving but now I want to get fitter and better!
 
Russinating said:
How is the Boardman? Picking mine up on Sunday and getting pretty excited! Is the weight (or lack thereof) noticeable?
Click to expand...

It's my first road bike (Road Comp with the compact chainset, not the full carbon tho) but I've really got on with it. It's easy to ride a nice constant pace and it's reasonably comfortable with the stock saddle so I haven't needed to look into changing it, but I'm not a big lad so that's maybe why. I've not done more than 7.5 miles in one go though mind you, hoping to this weekend :)

I've had it 4.5 months and not even had it serviced (yet). I've cleaned it once a month and ridden all though winter. The chain is looking like it's seen better days but that's my own fault and it's absolutely filthy but it still changes gears smoothly, stops like it did from new and I'm hardly breaking a sweat over the 5 mile commute.

I've added some Crud Roadracer II mudguards. They rub the tyre a little bit, especially when there's stones going through them but it's not irritating. I've also added some Shimano MTB pedals to go with my MTB shoes and cleats (easier to walk on and double sided pedals are safer in rush hour!).

I've not had the pleasure of any other road bikes but for the money i believe it's very well specced and my experience so far is nothing but positives. I best get it cleaned this weekend too!
 
Russinating said:
How is the Boardman? Picking mine up on Sunday and getting pretty excited! Is the weight (or lack thereof) noticeable?
Click to expand...

I got the Team Carbon at the beginning of 2010 having upgraded from an old aluminium Specialized Allez (now relegated to my winter bike). The most noticable difference is the stiffness of the frame, I found that the Boardman accelerates and changes direction much faster. It felt a little 'twitchy' at first but quickly to got used to it.

As it's a lot lighter (my size XL is about 19 lbs), it also helps on the hills. I still need to lose some of the Xmas weight gain though!

Hope you enjoy your bike. ;)
 
Collected my bike from the bike shop this morning after it spent a few days there being serviced. Had the chain, cassette, brake pads, brake cables, and grips replaced.

Previous the cables and grips were white, now they are black and I have red brake pads. It all looks very nice and rides very nice now too. I'm also amazed at what a difference new brake pads have made compared to my old worn out ones!

 
Slowly building up my duathlon training. Just did 18km on the bike followed by a 2km run. Running after biking is very very hard - especially if you're new to cycling like me (only had my bike for two weeks!)
At the moment I'm just going to concentrate on getting some distance under my belt and then worry about pace a bit later. Looking at last years results for the race I've entered would put me last, on the bike section at least. I have until early April to improve!
 
I went for a run yesterday, first run I've ever undertaken. I've been cycling most of my life up until I was 17 to get where I want to go. Now I'm 25 and had a road bike for 4 months and done about 1000 miles since. I could hardly run a few hundred yards... I pushed on though and I did about 2 miles with a lot of stopping and starting. When I got back I realised my calfs felt like they had been set in concrete and now I can hardly walk today, 24 hours later. The back of my calfs in the middle are like wound up elastic bands and hurt when I walk.

Not quite sure what's going on. I want to go running in the mornings mabe 3 or more times a week, but if I can't walk then argh! Not sure what I've done, got some heat rub on to see if they will loosen up.
 
I promised myself a Boardman Team Carbon if i lost some weight but i didn't lose enough and put back on the stone i did lose over Christmas. So I still have my Specialised MTB that i haven't rode since the beginning of November :(

Wish I could motivate myself that boardman looks awesome :)
 
pumaz said:
I promised myself a Boardman Team Carbon if i lost some weight but i didn't lose enough and put back on the stone i did lose over Christmas. So I still have my Specialised MTB that i haven't rode since the beginning of November :(

Wish I could motivate myself that boardman looks awesome :)
Click to expand...

Meet yourself half way and lose the rest on the carbon ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom