Road Cycling Essentials

[ShiWarrior]

quick question, do you guys have 'rest' days to help you recover or is it pretty much you're at a level where cycling ridiculous distances everyday doesn't matter?

with me (being really unfit)

I sometimes do 2 or 3 days in a row, most of the time I try and get a day off in-between

 

[oli collett]

For those setting PRs round RP at the moment, this might make some interesting reading:

http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html

What's particularly interesting is that losing 200g off the bike will save 1s.

Hmm, probably not too far off, of course it doesn't include the time lost to traffic!

One thing that probably also comes into play is when the power goes down and that probably doesn't come into account in the modelling, e.g. descending broomfield vs. ascending dark hill.

One thing is the hoods vs. drops. Given the biggest problem with frontal area is the horizontal area, I can't see why this makes such a big difference, and there's also the question of how you're on the hoods - if your forearms are horizontal then you're probably in an even more efficient position than the drops!

 

[Derek W]

At the moment, weekends are my rest days as family commitments mean I only manage my commutes.

In other news, Strava estimates my FTP at bang on 300w and from what I've read it's pretty accurate. Happy with that.

They're enforced though

with me (being really unfit)

I sometimes do 2 or 3 days in a row, most of the time I try and get a day off in-between

I'm in the same boat, just started cycling again and really unfit (although i do play 7s once a week and that knackers my knees!) but aiming to get out when i can after work. My main aim though is to lose about a stone in weight possibly a bit more so just enjoying it. Going to see about taking my camera out with me as well to get a few landscape photos in between peddling like a lunatic

 

[Jimbeam3678]

25ml for a new tyre.

Just have the tyre off and empty it and top it up again. It coagulates on the inside if the tyre, like a clot, so it's worth cleaning out every so often.

Why you did stop using tubeless just out of interest

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Why you did stop using tubeless just out of interest

I sold the wheel set and got some carbon clinchers instead.

Also, I blocked my pump.

I'll probably get them again someday as all my rims are tubeless compatible, but I don't really think they offered much benefit.

 

[Shamrock]

Anyone for a bargain bike? Surely a pricing error...

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/series/endurace-cf.html

 

[arknor]

quick question, do you guys have 'rest' days to help you recover or is it pretty much you're at a level where cycling ridiculous distances everyday doesn't matter?

I'm far from the fittest on here but definitely need my rest days as I recently found out...

Still never really recovered from last week lol

Legs feel like I probably need to rest tomorrow as well :|

 

[Phantom Shadow]

When do I have rest days? Probably easier and quicker to tell you when I have cycling days

 

[arknor]

When do I have rest days? Probably easier and quicker to tell you when I have cycling days

Upload all those missing rides then

 

[Phantom Shadow]

Hold on, I wen't riding today actually.

Much quicker to say I cycle once a week than detailing all my rest days

 

[FrenchTart]

Rest days schmest days

 

[arknor]

Rest days schmest days

commutes count as rest days btw

 

[FrenchTart]

commutes count as rest days btw

Zomgz... I extend my commute days to be 40-odd miles

Though to be fair I pretty much had rest days on Wed/Thu this week whilst trying to get my knee to heal. Didn't help so I may as well have gone out and enjoyed the sunshine on my bike.

 

[Vonhelmet]

I try to go twice in the week and once at the weekend. Sometimes I manage more. I rarely go less, unless the weather is horrific, or it's December, when I am pretty much boxed in by work.

I'd like to commute by bike at some point in the future, so I'm going to have to get used to riding back to back days at some point. I did Sunday, Monday, Tuesday earlier this week and got on OK, but have not been out since.

 

[Phantom Shadow]

Can anyone see where to upload a file manually on the new garmin connect site? Been stuck using the old site as I can't for the life of me find out where to upload just a file rather than doing it through a synced device.

I could just add my garmin, but I'm not always on windows and the plugin doesn't work on linux.

edit: had another look through after posting this and managed to find it this time. Not as easy to find as it used to be

 

[Vonhelmet]

What a beautiful morning! I was out of the door at half seven and I've done 46 miles down to Tatton Park in the glorious sunshine. Bare arms! Fingerless gloves! No overshoes! Lovely. I got minorly lost a couple of times, but figured it out between my Garmin and Google Maps, so it's all good. There were deer in Tatton Park and everything. Love it.

 

[grudas]

commutes count as rest days btw

some of your rides are shorter than my one way commute no way would I call my commute a "rest day" lol..

I used to have one rest day a week which was sunday.. now it's my leg day! brilliant

 

[physichull]

What a beautiful morning! I was out of the door at half seven and I've done 46 miles down to Tatton Park in the glorious sunshine. Bare arms! Fingerless gloves! No overshoes! Lovely. I got minorly lost a couple of times, but figured it out between my Garmin and Google Maps, so it's all good. There were deer in Tatton Park and everything. Love it.

Jealous.

It was a great day for it, went out for the skills ride with the North Cheshire Clarion today, in total about 60 km and had a great time. Already signed up for next weeks. Great bunch of people too and very welcoming.

Unfortunately one poor guy got two punctures after flying into a pothole which were both repaired with everyone lending a hand but unfortunately he was really unfit so had to pull out after about 8 km in. Hopefully it won't put him off, but he was knackered after 10 mins!!

If I'd been out any longer though I would have wished I had put some suncream on as its been a blinding morning. Off to watch the Giro/Rugby/FA Cup now with a cool beer.

 

[Berger]

Looks nice INQ, bet it stops on a dime with those pads and callipers!

I can only ride 3 days straight before I need a rest depending on ride length and effort.

Did 80km today, 55km race. Signed up for B grade as only 6 in A grade who were all national level and it was a hard course. Had a good ride in B, few guys who can make the jump up to A grade, we ended up with a 4 man break from maybe 15 in total. I rolled over the line in 4th after not sprinting, we spent the last 10km playing cat and mouse and attacking each other which was good fun.

Been told I'm back in A grade last week, my sob story of having a month off only for me a pass for this week to take it easier!

 

[Phantom Shadow]

Should have waited until today to go out, amazing weather. Now my cycling stuff is drying so can't go out

On another note away from GD, it's quite hilarious how low the IQ is in GD. Don't read the question and go straight to complaining about something pointless.