Road Cycling Essentials

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First ride on the Garmin complete: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/244391294

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it. The navigation is good although it did spaz out once right near my flat when I went a different way and it failed to re-calculate.

Other niggles I encountered were mainly due to visibility. Glare from the sun was pretty bad and the default mounting position on the stem is just dangerous! Going to order an "out front" mount tonight I think.

I didn't plan the route beforehand and instead just asked it to take me to Box Hill which it did, however, I was hoping it'd do something more creative on the return journey than follow the exact same route.
 
Shamrock said:
First ride on the Garmin complete: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/244391294

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it. The navigation is good although it did spaz out once right near my flat when I went a different way and it failed to re-calculate.

Other niggles I encountered were mainly due to visibility. Glare from the sun was pretty bad and the default mounting position on the stem is just dangerous! Going to order an "out front" mount tonight I think.

I didn't plan the route beforehand and instead just asked it to take me to Box Hill which it did, however, I was hoping it'd do something more creative on the return journey than follow the exact same route.
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Could you cut a matte mobile phone screen protector to reduce the glare?
 
Shamrock said:
First ride on the Garmin complete: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/244391294

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it. The navigation is good although it did spaz out once right near my flat when I went a different way and it failed to re-calculate.

Other niggles I encountered were mainly due to visibility. Glare from the sun was pretty bad and the default mounting position on the stem is just dangerous! Going to order an "out front" mount tonight I think.

I didn't plan the route beforehand and instead just asked it to take me to Box Hill which it did, however, I was hoping it'd do something more creative on the return journey than follow the exact same route.
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I love mine. They take a bit of playing with the settings and getting to know it, but one you do they are really a good bit of kit. For me the best is planning the route and following it turn by turn. Wouldn't be without it now. Also good if you have more than one bike to swap over.
 
What is the most effective (read: laziest) way to plan a route and download it to the device?

I think I like using it tomtom style and just putting in a destination as I can't be bothered to plot a route, hence getting a device that does it for me!:D
 
[Damien];23192253 said:
Well come on then, don't hold out on us!

I spent 20 mins trying to figure it out and gave up...
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Menu > Spanner > Bike Settings > Training Pages

Since the map pops up anyway when it beeps to give you directions I think I might just leave the stats screen showing instead of the map.

Edit: Oooo, Garmin's own course planner looks promising.
 
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[DOD]Asprilla;23192190 said:
I use bike route toaster. Plan route, export and drag and drop into 'new files'.
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Remember to tick the turn-by-turn box otherwise you wont get notifications at junctions.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;23188492 said:
If you can figure out how to use a Lezyne pump without removing the valve core or letting the tyre go flat as you unscrew the hose end then please tell me.
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Whoa whoa whoa whoa, im about to order a steel lezyne track pump as ive had enough of my BBB track pump not clamping onto presta valves or letting more out than putting in - am i making a mistake???
 
Shimmyhill said:
Whoa whoa whoa whoa, im about to order a steel lezyne track pump as ive had enough of my BBB track pump not clamping onto presta valves or letting more out than putting in - am i making a mistake???
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I picked up a Blackburn air tower 2 on eBay for £25. It goes up to 140psi, fits both schrader and presta valves with one head, is fully re-buildable. Solid as a rock so far.
 
[Damien];23192527 said:
Yeah, I just reread his original post. Anyone know a way to set it on the 500?

Also Vonhelmet, you around next Sat? I'm free and I'll be up for a mooch round Anglezarke/Rivington etc if you're around. I went up Moor Rd again today but didn't do much better than on my first attempt.

http://app.strava.com/activities/28283743
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Looks like a good ride!

I should be around next week, all being well. I'll let you know later in the week. I'm usually out with my neighbour and some of his friends, but they're all a friendly bunch and it's all good fun, so you'd be most welcome.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Looks like a good ride!

I should be around next week, all being well. I'll let you know later in the week. I'm usually out with my neighbour and some of his friends, but they're all a friendly bunch and it's all good fun, so you'd be most welcome.
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Sounds like a plan. I'm used to riding by myself though so it'll be a bit weird riding in a group. Should be fun though :)
 
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Newbie checking in.

Just ordered a bike on the cycle to work scheme, a Focus Culebro SL 2.0 Ultegra 2013 Compact.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/focus-culebro-sl-2-0-ultegra-c-13

Planning to use it as an alternative to running to mix up training a bit. I'm moderately fit (run 25 miles a week), but don't cycle at all just now. It's my first road bike, and everything is extremely confusing. Doubt I'll ever get into it enough to blast out 100 mile runs, but perhaps a couple of 15-20 mile runs a week is a realistic starting point.

Just wanted some opinions on it. Is it sensible enough for a first road bike? Am I silly not going for a triple? Is there anything on it so bad it needs upgraded straight away?

There's plenty of time to cancel and change for something else if it's a daft buy.

Thanks. :)
 
Thats a nice bike for a 1st one, no doubt. You should be fine as it stands, ride it for a bit and see if you dont like some aspect then decide to change a part.

A compact is all you need IMO, you will be fine.
 
sloth said:
Newbie checking in.

Just ordered a bike on the cycle to work scheme, a Focus Culebro SL 2.0 Ultegra 2013 Compact.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/focus-culebro-sl-2-0-ultegra-c-13

Planning to use it as an alternative to running to mix up training a bit. I'm moderately fit (run 25 miles a week), but don't cycle at all just now. It's my first road bike, and everything is extremely confusing. Doubt I'll ever get into it enough to blast out 100 mile runs, but perhaps a couple of 15-20 mile runs a week is a realistic starting point.

Just wanted some opinions on it. Is it sensible enough for a first road bike? Am I silly not going for a triple? Is there anything on it so bad it needs upgraded straight away?

There's plenty of time to cancel and change for something else if it's a daft buy.

Thanks. :)
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Looks like a nice bike!

Start with short rides, sure, but I'd reckon you could easily build up to 40 miles rides. I say that based on my own experience - I was doing that sort of distance within weeks of starting on a road bike.

A compact chainset is absolutely fine. A couple of the guys I ride with have triples, but they barely ever get into the bottom ring anyway, and most of us can keep pace on the hills on our compacts. If you're reasonably fit, as your running suggests you are, then you should manage fine with a compact.
 
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