Road Cycling Essentials

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Gribs said:
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.
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That's it and it's one of the oddest things I've ever heard of. Surely going fast should be because of your legs, not because of passing traffic? It's like going "oh yeah, I rode a 9 minute 10 mile" but then ignoring the fact you drafted a lorry the whole way.
 
Tough bunch ride this morning.

6am, 3c, 40kmh wind, rain sideways.

The Castelli Sorpasso bibs really are the best, so warm, wind proof but don't get too hot in them. They zip up on the back of your legs and have grips to stop them moving, just a pity I have only one pair. I was lovely and warm apart from my face, need a scarf thing and/or a cap with a peak for the rain.

Trying to race the guy who won A grade at the weekend up a CAT3 was never going to end well. Managed for 5 minutes doing 370w average, then started to crack a bit as he turned up the pace out the saddle accelerating away while I stayed sat down cranking away. Dropped to about 355w for the full 8 mins of the climb and lost 5-10 seconds by the top.

Got new PR though, time and power wise, so my training is going the right way!
 
Jonny69 said:
I've decided it's summer enough to put the Brooks saddle back on the bike. Apologies if it rains tomorrow :p
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No sign of rain yet. Snow later? :p

Phantom Shadow said:
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.
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You should junk the quick link. People are always complaining about those damn things coming apart.
 
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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Had a few on dual carriageways, the quickest courses around here are on the A3, usually the longer 50 mile ones are won in well under 1 hour 50, with 20 minute 10s happening each week. It isn't as disconcerting as you think, as you're so in the zone you don't think twice about what is coming past you.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;26503352 said:
Is that how long you reckon it will take for the feeling to come back? ;)
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Excellent didn't even proof read that before I posted it.

Here is said pic of the steed, it isn't a road bike, until I am more confidant (read slim) I'm sticking with this, I do ride 99% on the road however, slimmer less knobbly tyres are going to be ordered at the months end.

It is helps I am 5ft 10 but have a short set of stumps, 29" leg.

YchLNiI.jpg


Josh
 
JOSH86 said:
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?
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In my experience it is normal and you will slowly be able to sit in the saddle for longer and longer until eventually you can sit for many hours without really feeling it.

I once heard a story about someone going for an xray and the nurse mentioned she could tell they were a cyclist because of a calcium build up around the sit bones.

no idea if true or not but I guess it could be.

You still might want to look into a more comfortable saddle though just in case it isn't right for your sitbones, try to find a store that will measure the imprint you leave after sitting down on there test thing

also don't be afraid to sit on your saddle at slight angles etc slowly move your sitting position as the ride goes on and try to do some riding standing up to give your butt a slight rest every 5-10minutes which will also likely stop it getting soaked with sweat.

also check the angle of your saddle as someone else said above when sitting on it you should feel like you are not about to fall forwards if you remove your hands from the bar.

most people seem to have a completely straight saddle or a slightly upwards tilt at the front, often it depends on the curvature of the saddle as some have a slight dip in the middle
 
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FrenchTart said:
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.
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sure fire way to hit a drain cover , pot hole , or various other obstacles that like to make their home along the side of the kerb which could cause you to wobble a bit and whack into the side of a car.

it's amazing how **** some people are at overtaking on one country road the other day some guy in a little red van overtook me with like 2 inches to spare even though the road was about 1.5 cars wide on each side.

then you get the amazing people which in my experience so far are driving 4x4's that patiently sit behind you to the side for a few seconds before powering past obviously making sure the cyclist is aware a car is about to pass and not startling them , I've even had a few people that sat behind me a few metres back until I've glanced behind and noticed them
Gribs said:
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.
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TT hero :D getting sucked along by a truck


oops forgot to edit my post and made another sorry!
 
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That moment your descending at 43mph loving it then go into a speed wobble and think my dads going to be ****ed if I total his bike then it's **** I could die. Then you recover and all is right with the world again :D
 
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