Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
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![[Damien]](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Yep, but I've only got tomorrow and Fri free to ride so I guess someone's going to knock me off before Mon comes round.
I'll let you know how I get on doing the rake tomorrow. I wish it wasn't going to be so chilly though. I'm going to struggle once I start getting chesty.
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Suspended
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Right, on to another topic...
Which Spring Classic are you most looking forward to?
For me, it's Paris-Roubaix. Actually, this is probably my favourite race full stop. I get goose bumps just thinking about it; the lore, the pure battle between riders and against the cobbles, the energy and history of that area - amazing! This year I'm hoping for a riveting Boonen/Cancellera battle
Which Spring Classic are you most looking forward to?
For me, it's Paris-Roubaix. Actually, this is probably my favourite race full stop. I get goose bumps just thinking about it; the lore, the pure battle between riders and against the cobbles, the energy and history of that area - amazing! This year I'm hoping for a riveting Boonen/Cancellera battle
How many of those races get televised? Or get any television coverage at all? I watched the Vuelta highlights on ITV4 last year, and I know the Tour was well covered, and I imagine the Giro would have been as well (though I wasn't even paying any attention to cycling at that time last year!), but what about the less mainstream stuff? Do they get covered on Freeview, or do you need Eurosport or something?
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All of the Spring Classics are on Eurosport usually. The GTs are on ITV.
I either watch mine as a free stream on Cycling Fans, or d/l after in HD from cycletorrents.nl as we don't have SKY.
Soldato
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Eurosports are great for cycling coverage, leagues better than ITV with far more races covered.
Ronde Van Vlanderen.
Mainly because i'm going to be in Mallorca at the time and it's awesome watching cycling there. It's on in all the pubs like football over here.
I quite like watching La Fleche Wallonne as well.
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Are you taking your bike? There's an article about Mallorca in the latest Cycling magazine - looks blissful.
I'll be hiring a bike over there. It's such a brilliant place to cycle. Half of the island is pan flat and the other half is alpine style climbing. Roads are perfect and there isnt much traffic.
Leaving 11 weeks tomorrow, cant wait
Don
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I'll be hiring a bike over there. It's such a brilliant place to cycle. Half of the island is pan flat and the other half is alpine style climbing. Roads are perfect and there isnt much traffic.
Leaving 11 weeks tomorrow, cant wait
sounds to good to be true
enjoy
Is it Mallorca where Stephen Roche does his cycling holidays? My neighbour was going on about them a while back. It sounded like quite a good deal, all things considered. One for when the kids grow up a bit, perhaps.
Yes, i think it is. There are quite a few cycling tour guides there.
I think team sky are there just now. The photos from last week of their new rapha kit were from training rides in Mallorca. Unfortunately, there won't be any pro teams there when i go - the season will have already started for them.
Just ordered some of these in an L. Hopefully they'll fit my disproportionately large backside and thighs.
Soldato
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Made an attempt to get higher up the leaderboard on a segment on my commute route this morning, only to find Strava failed to upload my whole ride and lost it all! 
Made an attempt to get higher up the leaderboard on a segment on my commute route this morning, only to find Strava failed to upload my whole ride and lost it all!
You can contact Strava and get it fixed. Mine did that once and I contacted them and they said it was "stuck" in the server or something and then it was fixed.
Associate
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Chain Cleaning
I've had my bike (Felt Z85) since the Summer and have probably done about 2000 miles on it. I've kept it clean and its still in very good condition but havent really done any maintenance to it and I have a feeling I should.
I'm thinking of getting a chain cleaner set (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-cg-2-chain-gang-chain-cleaner-set/) to clean the chain. This will then clean the chain, then is there any need to relube the chain - any products/techniques you recommend?
Also what other products/routines do people recommend for self servicing bikes?
I've had my bike (Felt Z85) since the Summer and have probably done about 2000 miles on it. I've kept it clean and its still in very good condition but havent really done any maintenance to it and I have a feeling I should.
I'm thinking of getting a chain cleaner set (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-cg-2-chain-gang-chain-cleaner-set/) to clean the chain. This will then clean the chain, then is there any need to relube the chain - any products/techniques you recommend?
Also what other products/routines do people recommend for self servicing bikes?
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The Park chain cleaner is fine. Buy citrus chain cleaner from Halfords. I usually run the hose over the chain, then pop the cleaner on (with rear wheel off or I can't get the clearance), run the cleaner, hose chain again, dry with kitchen roll, wheel back on and lube with Teflon Dry lube.
Others will have their own routines obviously.
After each ride I run the chain through a rag and then apply some Finish Line Dry the night before a ride and wipe off the excess.
If I do a "proper" clean I use Finish Line Speed Degreaser which is an aerosol can that blasts the dirt and grease from the drive train and instantly evaporates ready for re-lubing.
If I do a "proper" clean I use Finish Line Speed Degreaser which is an aerosol can that blasts the dirt and grease from the drive train and instantly evaporates ready for re-lubing.
Well you couldn't make it up. I went down a pot-hole and pinch-punctured both tyres last night a couple of miles outside of work. I had to walk across Bushy park in the sludge and dark to get back to work and dump the bike. Then when I got the train there were signalling problems which meant long delays. When I finally got on a train someone decided to throw themselves on the line at the station ahead. Jaysus 
Buy tools as you need them but avoid the cheap ones. Park tools seem expensive but they never fail to do the job, they're usually less faff, and are a lot better quality than the cheaper ones.
It's a bit difficult to commit to doing much if you use the bike every day. I usually give mine a check over every few weeks, run the chain through a rag and get the muck off and then re-oil. Brakes and gears get an adjustment as and when they need it. I'm not too fussy about the oil I use, but for the next lot I might see if I can get one that doesn't wash off as quickly when it rains. For cleaning I usually use an oily rag on the frame to give it a slightly greasy film over everything and it keeps it protected. Obviously don't do this on a brand new carbon frame, but it's great for maintaining an older bike.
Buy tools as you need them but avoid the cheap ones. Park tools seem expensive but they never fail to do the job, they're usually less faff, and are a lot better quality than the cheaper ones.
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