Road Cycling Essentials

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Changed down gears to go up a hill today and had the dreaded sudden spinning legs with no resistance, dropped chain. Pulled over and could hear a weird metallic sound as I did so, look behind me to see my chain trailing along the ground behind my bike :( Hadn't dropped but broken

Chain didn't break though the quick link came undone. No sign of any damage to the quick link either, wasn't bent, no cracks, and just went back together no problems. Rode the remaining 10 miles home with no issues, how odd.

Chain is full of grit though and I should probably replace the quick link.

Did manage a 14.7mph average over 40miles and 2100ft climbing which is fairly good going for me.
 
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physichull said:
For my information, (I know nothing!), what will fast response fibres do for me?
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The previous replies pretty much cover this, the official detail from the training guide I had is.....

"By using a big gear and slowing before you start, you will place more strain on your muscles and force them to ‘recruit’ more muscle fibres, making more of them active"

Phantom Shadow said:
Changed down gears to go up a hill today and had the dreaded sudden spinning legs with no resistance, dropped chain. Pulled over and could hear a weird metallic sound as I did so, look behind me to see my chain trailing along the ground behind my bike :( Hadn't dropped but broken

Chain didn't break though the quick link came undone. No sign of any damage to the quick link either, wasn't bent, no cracks, and just went back together no problems. Rode the remaining 10 miles home with no issues, how odd.

Chain is full of grit though and I should probably replace the quick link.

Did manage a 14.7mph average over 40miles and 2100ft climbing which is fairly good going for me.
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If the chain had a lot of grit in it, it's possible the links jammed up briefly letting the quick link close up and come apart? or it snagged on the front mech if you dropped to the small ring. They cost peanuts so replacing it isn't a big issue, maybe cleaning the chain bit more often may help too. Even though I live on a dusty lane I get away with mainly wiping the chain down with baby-wipes then lubricating with GT85. Or if it's a bit grubbier use GT85 on a rag to wipe it down first :)

I always carry a couple of spare links and a chain tool so you can re-join a chain to get you home if it breaks.
 
tl45 said:
If the chain had a lot of grit in it, it's possible the links jammed up briefly letting the quick link close up and come apart? or it snagged on the front mech if you dropped to the small ring. They cost peanuts so replacing it isn't a big issue, maybe cleaning the chain bit more often may help too. Even though I live on a dusty lane I get away with mainly wiping the chain down with baby-wipes then lubricating with GT85. Or if it's a bit grubbier use GT85 on a rag to wipe it down first :)

I always carry a couple of spare links and a chain tool so you can re-join a chain to get you home if it breaks.
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Sorry didn't make it clear, chain is full of grit now after I dragged it along the road for a few metres so needs a good clean, was clean before (well, as clean as a chain usually is, hands were filthy after putting it back together). I do have a chain tool and a spare quick link in the saddle bag, which I've had to use before :(

On the club ride at the weekend the ride leader mentioned the clubs TT each wednesday is a good way to meet other members of the club. Just had a look on their website and looks like for June and July they use a dual carriageway for their TT which got me thinking, how many of you here would do a TT on a dual carriageway? Think I'll give it a miss, trying to ride as hard as I can with cars going past at 70-90mph is not why I have a bike.
 
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You had all the important stuff covered there then. I've just about managed to squeeze a pair of latex gloves into my saddle bag, handy for mucky repairs, handling an injured rider if it's led to ketchup leakage, and an extra layer in winter if you get caught out with thin gloves. My saddle bag weighs about a kilo with all the bits and pieces (junk) in there that hardly ever gets used, but can be real handy when myself or someone else in a club group has a problem out in the middle of nowhere.

Hopefully a 1-off with your quick link deciding to make a break for freedom.

:)
 
The nearest TT run to me is on the Rainford Bypass. Dual carriageway. One of my mates does it quite regularly. Not sure I'd fancy it. I rode that way the other night and deliberately planned my route to avoid actually riding along the bypass.
 
I was browsing some local cycle cafes facebook page and came across this photo
BbZrtVp.jpg


grudas you should do it and get someone to take a pic :P we know you like posing
 
Near miss again this morning, twice in a week at the same spot. Drivers always trying to overtake me and nip in front of me before some traffic islands on the upwards slope of a flyover (bridge coming out of Winwick over the A49).

Twice in a week that a driver has pulled alongside me (despite me adopting a position in the middle of the road), see the traffic islands then slam on the brakes. Its getting really scary and one day could lead to an accident. Drivers always try to overtake on the top of it too, most likely unaware that there is a similar island on the downward slope so I always stay in the middle and get drivers beeping at me.

Does my nut in. Tempted to write to my MP to recommended double white lines in the middle of the road to perhaps go some way to stopping overtaking on there.

:(
 
I had my first near miss today, driver in a ****** yellow minibus had to overtake me 3m before a junction he was turning into - *****.

Did my 11.7km this morning, was hard work fair amount of wind facing me all the way, did it in a terrible 38m, stopped at every traffic light (godsend) it felt like and some of the hills killed me.

More work to be done - but I managed it to work and didn't die! Huzzar

P.s sorry for the newcommer question but even with the padded shorts I still lost all feeling in the groin about 10mins in, still can't feel anything around my "member" now. This normal?
 
physichull said:
Near miss again this morning, twice in a week at the same spot. Drivers always trying to overtake me and nip in front of me before some traffic islands on the upwards slope of a flyover (bridge coming out of Winwick over the A49).

Twice in a week that a driver has pulled alongside me (despite me adopting a position in the middle of the road), see the traffic islands then slam on the brakes. Its getting really scary and one day could lead to an accident. Drivers always try to overtake on the top of it too, most likely unaware that there is a similar island on the downward slope so I always stay in the middle and get drivers beeping at me.

Does my nut in. Tempted to write to my MP to recommended double white lines in the middle of the road to perhaps go some way to stopping overtaking on there.

:(
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Sounds annoying. I literally go to the right side of the road sometimes if I'm in an area where I know drivers will try to squeeze past otherwise. They seem to be less pro the idea of undertaking unless there is a huge amount of room.
 
FrenchTart said:
Sounds annoying. I literally go to the right side of the road sometimes if I'm in an area where I know drivers will try to squeeze past otherwise. They seem to be less pro the idea of undertaking unless there is a huge amount of room.
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the trick is to not give them space to overtake.. if you feel uncomfortable and try and squeeze to the curb the driver will try and take a chance! :)

I never give enough space if I feel like there's not enough space to safely overtake me, cocky? yes.. but necessary sadly..
 
grudas said:
the trick is to not give them space to overtake.. if you feel uncomfortable and try and squeeze to the curb the driver will try and take a chance! :)

I never give enough space if I feel like there's not enough space to safely overtake me, cocky? yes.. but necessary sadly..
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Yup. Exactly that. I used to feel I should move right over and take up as little space as possible but eventually realised that doing that is a sure-fire way to get knocked down.
 
Phantom Shadow said:
On the club ride at the weekend the ride leader mentioned the clubs TT each wednesday is a good way to meet other members of the club. Just had a look on their website and looks like for June and July they use a dual carriageway for their TT which got me thinking, how many of you here would do a TT on a dual carriageway? Think I'll give it a miss, trying to ride as hard as I can with cars going past at 70-90mph is not why I have a bike.
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That's entirely normal for TT's as the fast moving traffic can help to suck you along and improve your times. There's quite a few run on the A1 ffs. It's certainly not something I'd fancy.
 
I think I know the bit of road physichull is referring to. It's difficult to adopt a super aggressive position on that road because there's those speed cushion things, so if you want to be in the middle of the road you've got to bump over them all. That of weave back and forth around them which is probably even more dangerous.
 
I rode on the A1 for 5 miles once. I was literally crapping it the whole time and thought I was going to die.:D

Also, in California, a large chunk of the ride took place on highways/freeways but the hard shoulder was a lot wider than it is in the UK.
 
Vonhelmet said:
I think I know the bit of road physichull is referring to. It's difficult to adopt a super aggressive position on that road because there's those speed cushion things, so if you want to be in the middle of the road you've got to bump over them all. That of weave back and forth around them which is probably even more dangerous.
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Yeah that's right.
 
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