Road Cycling Essentials

Saundie · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:14

platypus said:
Hands up if you braved the commute then...o/

I'm not sure it was sensible in retrospect. I also had moments when I felt as though I was on the verge of losing control. It doesn't help that my front tyre isn't properly seated on the rim; I will have to sort that out when I get home. On the plus side, it means I've maintained my "cycle every single day" resolution

InsomniaCalls · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:16

George Hincapie said:
Nasty

Get well soon!

Cheers! I'd best do - I'll get fat if I can't cycle. Can't be cutting out the cake...

George Hincapie · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:16

[DOD]Asprilla;20937026 said:
Everyone knows he hangs off the support cars when it comes to the mountain stages, just ask Francisco Ventuso of Movistar.........

He'd certainly be carrying the Lantern Rouge up the Alpe or Ventoux with Bernie Eisel towing him round.

I suspect it's largely sour grapes.

There are a lot of riders in the pro peloton who get a tow or a sticky bottle.

As Cav says himself, he can't blow his nose without a camera being in his face, yet no images or video of him getting a tow has been released that I've seen. And Cav isn't a poor climber. He could leave any of us standing. He's only poor by comparison to Alberto or Cadel or the Schlecks; so the very best climbers in the World. By way of comparison, when the riders did the Etape last year (so a stage from the 2011 TdF), the fastest finisher was still over an hour slower than Cav's finish time for that stage.

I did see a brilliant image from last year, may have been during the Vuelta, of four riders from different teams clinging onto a team car. A BMC rider was holding on to a wing mirror, another rider was clinging on to the rear windscreen wiper etc.

InsomniaCalls · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:20

My RSP Astrum just arrived. Made the mistake of staring directly at it when I turned it on. Now have purple spots in my vision!

Jesus that's bright... thanks for the recommendation.

[DOD]Asprilla · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:23

George Hincapie said:
I suspect it's largely sour grapes.

There are a lot of riders in the pro peloton who get a tow or a sticky bottle.

As Cav says himself, he can't blow his nose without a camera being in his face, yet no images or video of him getting a tow has been released that I've seen. And Cav isn't a poor climber. He could leave any of us standing. He's only poor by comparison to Alberto or Cadel or the Schlecks; so the very best climbers in the World. By way of comparison, when the riders did the Etape last year (so a stage from the 2011 TdF), the fastest finisher was still over an hour slower than Cav's finish time for that stage.

I did see a brilliant image from last year, may have been during the Vuelta, of four riders from different teams clinging onto a team car. A BMC rider was holding on to a wing mirror, another rider was clinging on to the rear windscreen wiper etc.

I was being slightly facetious. Movistar accused Cav of getting a tow up Mt Etna, which is probably the last place he would since it's where he does his mountain training.

It is fair to say though that Cav will always be in the Autobus, if there is on, on the mountain stages. Of course he'll leave any of us for dust (there were only 6 Etape riders who finished within the Tour Stage qualification time) but he's not a hill climber even when compared to the rest of the peleton, not just the mountain goats at the front.

Actually, that's a little unfair, since he has finished up the rankings to prove a point before. Cav doesn't try to climb mountains because there isn't anything in it for him; it's just about conserving his legs and not getting disqualified.

George Hincapie · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:31

[DOD]Asprilla;20937342 said:
I was being slightly facetious.

That went right over my head then. I thought you were being serious

Jonny69 · 3 Jan 2012 at 13:05

platypus said:
Hands up if you braved the commute then...o/

Not me. I was looking forward to a ride today, but we've all seen how retarded drivers get when the weather worsens, so I think I was quite sensible

Lead_Head · 3 Jan 2012 at 13:10

platypus said:
Hands up if you braved the commute then...o/.

I did, it was susprisingly mild and I just missed the massive downpour in Nottingham.

I seemed to breeze in to work with relative ease, I'm sure it was a nice tailwind blowing me along - fingers crossed the wind changes as per the forecast.

I ride a Boardman Team R, It's a mountain bike frame with carbon forks and hybrid semi-slick tyres. I quite fancy joining a cycling club, do you think I'd be laughed at if I turned up on this instead of a normal road bike?

touch · 3 Jan 2012 at 13:16

Lead_Head said:
I ride a Boardman Team R, It's a mountain bike frame with carbon forks and hybrid semi-slick tyres. I quite fancy joining a cycling club, do you think I'd be laughed at if I turned up on this instead of a normal road bike?

You'd most likely be welcomed along to the club, but you'll find it hard work as most people will have road bikes which are a lot easier/faster to ride than a mtb/hybrid. Check if the club do any introductory runs for newcomers and see how you get on.

George Hincapie · 3 Jan 2012 at 13:19

This is the image I was thinking of. Note the BMC rider clinging to the car door mirror as well!

Robzere31 · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:01

platypus said:
Hands up if you braved the commute then...o/.

**** ME! There were a few brief moments where I had a tail wind so sailed along ridiculously fast, and then there was most of the ride where I was cyling into a headwind. Times when I felt patently unsafe, and times when I was amazed I stayed on, and times when I had to lean a good 20-30 degrees into the wind to stay on. 15 miles felt like 100 today. But...I feel like more of a man .

Tell me about it!
Wind caught me out once or twice & nearly blew me into the path of a car overtaking me,
Still I'd rather cycle into work than catch the bus! Lol

Lead_Head · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:16

Do you tend to leave locks where you keep your bikes or carry them around with you?

Streeteh · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:22

Lead_Head said:
Do you tend to leave locks where you keep your bikes or carry them around with you?

Carry them with me most of the time unless i'm out purely for cycling for two reasons:

1. I often suddenly think of things i need to buy when passing the shops on my way home, so i like the option to stop and lock up whenever i need to.

2. I've got an Abus Granite X-Plus which weighs a ton and a fairly hefty Abus chain. The extra weight just improves my fitness gain and makes me much faster when i head out purely for a cycle and therefore don't need them.

Lead_Head · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:27

I've got two Kryptonite locks, a cable and a D lock and I find it a pain to carry about. They came with a bracket but I'd rather not put it on my bike as it'll get in the way of my drink or pump mount, but I suppose that's the most efficient way of carrying it.

Streeteh · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:39

I bought a nice big backpack on recommendation from someone in this forum. Has loads of compartments and fits everything i need for cycling in it so no need for fitting anything to my bike at all. Even with all my locks, spare inner tube, a laptop (macbook, pointing this out not for elitism but more to point out it's got an aluminium case so weighs a TON), some fruit, a 2 litre camelpak and a change of clothes (can't fit shoes in with all that though) because it's an excellent backpack it doesn't feel that heavy.

Not cheap though and rare as hell:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vaude-bike-alpin-air-25-5-rucksack/

I'm sure there's plenty of other brands that do just as good a job too though.

InsomniaCalls · 3 Jan 2012 at 15:06

Lead_Head said:
Do you tend to leave locks where you keep your bikes or carry them around with you?

I have 3 locks:

1 heavy duty number at home to secure all my bikes to ground anchor. This stays where it is.

1 for work - it's a mid-range thick cable lock which stays put. My workplace is pretty secure and in the middle of nowhere so I'm not too worried about security. Plenty of people don't lock up at all.

1 very lightweight retractable cable lock which is used purely as a minor deterrent to casual opportunistic thieves. It wouldn't stop someone tooled for the job. I take this out when I'm doing training rides etc. and intend to have a cake stop. I always stop in little villages in the middle of nowhere, and can usually keep the bikes in line of sight.

platypus · 3 Jan 2012 at 15:10

I don't have a portable bike lock. I have chain/anchors at home, and the bike stays in the office at work.

Jonny69 · 3 Jan 2012 at 15:23

I leave my two at the station. I have other locks for when I'm out an about.

touch · 3 Jan 2012 at 16:30

Some interesting predictions for 2012 on road.cc

BlackDragon · 3 Jan 2012 at 18:52

Streeteh said:
I bought a nice big backpack on recommendation from someone in this forum. Has loads of compartments and fits everything i need for cycling in it so no need for fitting anything to my bike at all. Even with all my locks, spare inner tube, a laptop (macbook, pointing this out not for elitism but more to point out it's got an aluminium case so weighs a TON), some fruit, a 2 litre camelpak and a change of clothes (can't fit shoes in with all that though) because it's an excellent backpack it doesn't feel that heavy.

Not cheap though and rare as hell:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vaude-bike-alpin-air-25-5-rucksack/

I'm sure there's plenty of other brands that do just as good a job too though.

My recommendation :cool:

Still got mine, although the white on mine isn't looking so white anymore!

Lead_Head said:
Do you tend to leave locks where you keep your bikes or carry them around with you?

I leave mine at work, mainly because I carry a lot of stuff some nights so things can be a bit tight in the bag.

Still on holiday from work at the moment, so I'm glad to not be cycling this morning. If it is windy, it is guaranteed to be a headwind on my commute to work. I remember cycling in on a very windy day a few weeks back, and at some points I felt like I was barely moving because of the strength of the wind.