Road Cycling Essentials

PermaChanged · 9 Nov 2012 at 11:18

ShiWarrior said:
a cadence sensor is a god send!
i try and keep above 90 now

I love having a cadence sensor too, when out on my good bike I aim to average about 90 over the whole ride.

I'm really getting bike withdrawals at the moment, not been out on my road bike in over a month due to 3 weeks of holiday and poor weather! I've signed up to a 34 mile sportive which will be my first 20+mile ride in about 6 weeks, hopefully all my commuting on my heavy hybrid with a 8kg backpack will pay dividends when I finally get back on the good bike - aiming to go under the gold standard time of 1hr 54mins.

http://www.guernseyvelo.org.gg/files/Sportive_181112.doc

Shadowness · 9 Nov 2012 at 11:50

I had a spell where I was getting quite a lot of pain in the back of my left knee. I read that a common cause is pedalling in too high a gear (low cadence) and putting too much pressure on the joints.
I did consciously try to stop doing this, which must have helped as I've never had any pain since. Although I do sometimes grind away in a high gear when I probably shouldn't occasionally, but haven't had any more pain since.

Shadowness · 9 Nov 2012 at 12:29

Is a cadence sensor worthwhile?

One came with my Garmin 500, but it's till in the packaging as I've never bothered to fit it.

A HRM, despite being a bit of a gimmick initially, is really useful as I can pace myself on longer rides, knowing what HR zones to be in etc.

But what does a cadence sensor tell you? (apart from the obvious!)

Vonhelmet · 9 Nov 2012 at 12:39

ARGH. Don't think I'm going to make it out tomorrow morning because SWMBO has booked an electrician or double glazing salesman or some such balls for tomorrow morning and is insisting I'm in when they come round.

She gets the hump so much about me going out cycling... I'm really starting to get fed up of it.

VeNT · 9 Nov 2012 at 13:46

Vonhelmet said:
ARGH. Don't think I'm going to make it out tomorrow morning because SWMBO has booked an electrician or double glazing salesman or some such balls for tomorrow morning and is insisting I'm in when they come round.

She gets the hump so much about me going out cycling... I'm really starting to get fed up of it.

mines the same, that and games!

6thElement · 9 Nov 2012 at 14:32

Sell her on ebay and buy an upgrade :-p

[Damien] · 9 Nov 2012 at 15:39

Mine's happy to get me out of the house...

Then I come home and she's baked all manner of tasty treats. It's no wonder I'm not losing any weight. I scoffed down chocolate covered flapjacks last night to the point I felt sick. Then I had another one.

Edit: Although she did say last night that it's not fair that I eat the obscene amounts of junk I do and not put weight on, while she has to watch what she eats.

Considering I've done over 900miles since the start of Oct I'd say it probably is fair.

VeNT · 9 Nov 2012 at 16:24

take her with you! bonus!

ShiWarrior · 9 Nov 2012 at 16:38

Shadowness said:
Is a cadence sensor worthwhile?

One came with my Garmin 500, but it's till in the packaging as I've never bothered to fit it.

A HRM, despite being a bit of a gimmick initially, is really useful as I can pace myself on longer rides, knowing what HR zones to be in etc.

But what does a cadence sensor tell you? (apart from the obvious!)

yes!

i almost got a Edge 800 without the addons, but i thought id get them incase, when i bought the bike i got them to fit it at the same time, and i cant beleive how much a difference it makes, im constantly looking at it so i know if im either slowing down slightly or speeding up so what i can change gear at the right time.

As for Heart Rate, i didnt used to wear one, but speaking to my step day (swimming coach) i now know the importance of it, so i wear one now, and again its much better to have it, for example, your Heart rate will start beating faster if your going to be ill, its an early warning sign, so that you can change how much you ride, so you would take it easyier becuase if you still do the same level, you can potentially be out of the saddle for longer with an illness, it is so important!

[Damien] · 9 Nov 2012 at 16:50

VeNT said:
take her with you! bonus!

I'm trying but she's having none of it. She had a scare years ago when riding to work so between that, and only having ever rode on 2 ton cheapo bikes she's not taking me on at all.

I've been hit twice but for me wheels are as familiar as my own legs. It'd take an injury too serious for me to ride again to stop me.

grudas · 9 Nov 2012 at 19:21

platypus said:
Have you had a bike fitting?

nope! might do soon

in case this is the reason why i got the pain..

Shadowness said:
I had a spell where I was getting quite a lot of pain in the back of my left knee. I read that a common cause is pedalling in too high a gear (low cadence) and putting too much pressure on the joints.
I did consciously try to stop doing this, which must have helped as I've never had any pain since. Although I do sometimes grind away in a high gear when I probably shouldn't occasionally, but haven't had any more pain since.

i think this might be the reason why i got the pain.. took it a lot slower/lower gear and it was ok-ish

DIABLO · 9 Nov 2012 at 19:47

Vonhelmet said:
ARGH. Don't think I'm going to make it out tomorrow morning because SWMBO has booked an electrician or double glazing salesman or some such balls for tomorrow morning and is insisting I'm in when they come round.

She gets the hump so much about me going out cycling... I'm really starting to get fed up of it.

So she'd rather you sat at home and got fat?

grudas · 9 Nov 2012 at 19:53

Vonhelmet said:
ARGH. Don't think I'm going to make it out tomorrow morning because SWMBO has booked an electrician or double glazing salesman or some such balls for tomorrow morning and is insisting I'm in when they come round.

She gets the hump so much about me going out cycling... I'm really starting to get fed up of it.

that makes no sense? like what the hell, why would she stop you from cycling? its good for you.. i wouldn't listen, then again, I'm not you and i don't know what the situation is like..

Draeger · 9 Nov 2012 at 20:01

Knee joint pain and related issues can sometimes be attributed to incorrect cleat alignment. Worth checking (assuming your using SPD's).

grudas · 9 Nov 2012 at 20:10

Draeger said:
Knee joint pain and related issues can sometimes be attributed to incorrect cleat alignment. Worth checking (assuming your using SPD's).

nope running stock(For my triban 3) mini clips

it must be the high gear i really can't think of anything else

ShiWarrior · 9 Nov 2012 at 20:14

funnily enough, when i cycle i dont get pain as such, but my right knee feels different to my left, hard to explain but it doesent hurt, and when i pedal i think my right leg seems longer than my left becuase i sometimes feel as if i pedal so that my leg starts out and as i pedal my knee goes towards me if that makes sense? i.e. as i pedal it doesent go straight down?
and no im not using SPD pedals yet

no idea how to change pedals (havent got the paste or a touque wrench or what ever they are called)

On another note, as Christmas is fast approaching, I want to put a jersey down on my list but no idea what to get

My criteria is -
Summer Use (so up to 35 degrees)
Short sleeve
Rear pockets
Full zip ? or short ?

Thanks

InQ · 9 Nov 2012 at 20:29

Budget?

ShiWarrior · 9 Nov 2012 at 22:16

InQ said:
Budget?

no idea im not paying

not sure, just some ideas really

GTRacer · 9 Nov 2012 at 22:24

Vonhelmet said:
ARGH. Don't think I'm going to make it out tomorrow morning because SWMBO has booked an electrician or double glazing salesman or some such balls for tomorrow morning and is insisting I'm in when they come round.

She gets the hump so much about me going out cycling... I'm really starting to get fed up of it.

Rule 11!

Vonhelmet · 9 Nov 2012 at 22:31

Right, managed to swing it to go out tomorrow morning, so long as I'm around in the afternoon for entertaining the sister-in-law and her husband. I can live with that.

Close call!