Road Cycling Essentials

FrenchTart · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:26

grudas said:
so you're saying that wind is different up north? please! it can get just as bad in london.. actually its unpredictable too due to high buildings so when you go through junctions massive gusts can give you a nice kick up the bum

Yeah, but up north the wind is laced with coal dust and grimness

arknor · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:33

grudas said:
so you're saying that wind is different up north? please! it can get just as bad in london.. actually its unpredictable too due to high buildings so when you go through junctions massive gusts can give you a nice kick up the bum

the gusts being on the coast tend to come from the sea and are pretty much constant if you want I can try to record the sound coming from the vent in my window with my mobile phone

looks like 15:00 is not the ideal time for a northerner to ride as the winds will not yet have peaked.

I can only imagine how easy it would be to go out and improve on some PB's with a nice hefty tailwind but the headwind would likely kill me on a hybrid

grudas · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:40

arknor said:
the gusts being on the coast come from the sea and are pretty much constant if you want I can try to record the sound coming from the vent in my window with my mobile phone

looks like 15:00 is not the ideal time for a northerner to ride as the winds will not yet have peaked.

I can only imagine how easy it would be to go out and improve on some PB's with a nice hefty tailwind but the headwind would likely kill me on a hybrid

wind is wind.. it simply drives me nuts

its not that I can't cycle through it or I cry every time I see a windy day but I simply don't find it fun when my face is full of leaves, dirt, and other crap of the road

iguanoid · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:04

Pulled the trigger on a set of Soul S4.0 wheels last week. Hopefully will have my hands on them by next weekend for some added bling on the bike

uniQ · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:08

platypus said:
Initial impressions are that these are a quality piece of kit.

Which Castelli gloves are they?

Rusty_Noob said:
62, 58, 54?

Where have you been hiding? And more importantly do you even still ride?

platypus · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:17

Shamrock said:
One thing I hate with some gloves is the liner comes away when your fingers are sweaty and you remove the glove. So when you put them back on the fingers don't go in properly!

From the reviews I've read and my tests today that doesn't seem to be a problem. The test will be when/if I sweat in them of course.

Shamrock · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:22

For anybody that uses wet lube on their commuter bikes...

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle...7_1381407742_2e4484dbeaaa75818a5728739d512865

platypus · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:24

uniQ said:
Which Castelli gloves are they?

Estremo Winter gloves. The next stage of me trying to find a winter gloves that actually keeps my hands warm.

olv · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:41

Shamrock said:
For anybody that uses wet lube on their commuter bikes...

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle...7_1381407742_2e4484dbeaaa75818a5728739d512865

Thanks, I did need some.

topgun06 · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:45

Shamrock said:
One thing I hate with some gloves is the liner comes away when your fingers are sweaty and you remove the glove. So when you put them back on the fingers don't go in properly!

Yep a real pain! You end up having to take each finger out individually.

Vonhelmet · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:58

Remember that div who got caught on video nearly cycling under a train?

She's come forward and has been interviewed by the British Transport Police who are deciding what to do next.

remy87 · 10 Oct 2013 at 14:07

Shamrock said:
For anybody that uses wet lube on their commuter bikes...

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle...7_1381407742_2e4484dbeaaa75818a5728739d512865

Excellent ordered 2! Bought one last year for £5 this is a bargain. Thanks

PermaChanged · 10 Oct 2013 at 14:16

uniQ said:
Where have you been hiding? And more importantly do you even still ride?

Boo!

I've not been riding properly in quite a while to be honest

I went on a 3 week holiday from the 23rd of August to the USA, came back very fat. I then had a marathon relay race to train for, and running really isn't my forte so had to spend a bit of time training for that - that was just this weekend gone and I'm still feeling it now.

I'll be aiming to get back out for some proper rides soon, rather than the normal commuting.

arknor · 10 Oct 2013 at 14:23

Shamrock said:
For anybody that uses wet lube on their commuter bikes...

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle...7_1381407742_2e4484dbeaaa75818a5728739d512865

they have the dry at £2.21 too
http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle...inish-line-teflon-dry-lube-60ml/10776491.html

may as well get one of each if your getting the 99p one

Shamrock · 10 Oct 2013 at 15:22

How packable is the Rapha Rain jacket? Will it fit into a jersey pocket?

Does anyone have a recommendation for an emergency rain jacket that does easily fit into a jersey pocket?

uniQ · 10 Oct 2013 at 15:37

platypus said:
Estremo Winter gloves. The next stage of me trying to find a winter gloves that actually keeps my hands warm.

Personally I prefer Castelli for most clothing bits and these look excellent. Surprised you didn't go for Rapha's new winter layered gloves though?

uniQ · 10 Oct 2013 at 16:00

Rusty_Noob said:
I'll be aiming to get back out for some proper rides soon, rather than the normal commuting.

WB. Be interested to know how your weight loss is coming on and maybe a recap of where you started and where you are now?

Shamrock said:
How packable is the Rapha Rain jacket? Will it fit into a jersey pocket?

Does anyone have a recommendation for an emergency rain jacket that does easily fit into a jersey pocket?

It's packable, but will take up an entire pocket and stick out a bit. It's a jacket you take when you know its going to rain.

If you just want an emergency rain jacket something like Castelli Squadra, Sportful hotpack jacket etc should do the trick. Or if you're feeling rich then a Castelli Pocket Liner is the bees knees.

Shamrock · 10 Oct 2013 at 16:13

Hmm I guess if I know it's going to rain I'd go for the Gabba or Gore-Tex jacket so the Rapha one would be redundant.

Those cheap ones all look a bit boil in the bag but that pocket liner is extortionate! I guess if it's only for emergencies they will do.

The Darkness · 10 Oct 2013 at 16:42

Shamrock said:
How packable is the Rapha Rain jacket? Will it fit into a jersey pocket?

Does anyone have a recommendation for an emergency rain jacket that does easily fit into a jersey pocket?

Endura helium is great.

platypus · 10 Oct 2013 at 16:50

uniQ said:
Personally I prefer Castelli for most clothing bits and these look excellent. Surprised you didn't go for Rapha's new winter layered gloves though?

It was on the horizon, I just rate Castelli very highly and these are proven. I'll be honest, for most clothing I prefer Castelli too. Just not found anything to compare to the Rapha jerseys/jackets.

I got these in a Medium, but I shouldn't have any issues getting a liner in should I really need one! So if it gets really bad I may yet get the rapha merino liners.