I do like the fit and forget bit. I realise I put HS33's in the wishlist but dropping to a set of HS11 is only barely more than a set of XT v-brakes & handles (The frame won't take discs). I never expected better stopping power.
Road Cycling
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I do like the fit and forget bit. I realise I put HS33's in the wishlist but dropping to a set of HS11 is only barely more than a set of XT v-brakes & handles (The frame won't take discs). I never expected better stopping power.
Ahh maybe I hadn't quite appreciated that, didn't realise the shifters you were using!
PB's are easy to beat when you're starting! Once you get into your commuting more they come very few and far between... Usually traffic/weather/fatigue dependent! I know I could push a few on a Monday's commute but then I know my legs would suck by Thursday/Friday so I only hammer it later in the week if I'm feeling good!
Before 18 months ago I hadn't ridden for around the same time, you'll soon get into it more and more if you're confident in continuing to cycle your commute! With fitness comes speed!
Found where grudas gets his commuting from:
Work for their parent company but based in the same place. Can't say I massively enjoy it. Probably explains why so many of my posts are during office hours
Some of those segments will be on chaingang routes so they might not be a true reflection of my cycling ability.
Pretty lucky with my work as well, loads of bike racks and excellent changing facilities with full size lockers and plenty of showers (more powerful than my one at home
). And a drying room for when it's wet!
Oh Jizer is bloody brilliant! Chain and cassette are as shiny as new.
yep, citrus bike degreaser can do one, chemicals are the way forward
I've just been out for a short, slow ride to test my new spd-sl pedals and shoes. It's a bit night and day compared to spds. Like, spd felt like I was so attached to the bike compared to flats, and this is all that again. The soles are way stiff so it feels weird compared to my soft spd shoes. I struggled a bit getting my left foot in when starting from the lights, and managed to nail my balls on the saddle when I slipped which wasn't too entertaining. I had to occasionally look down at my foot to get it right, which I remember doing with spd to begin with. These days with spds I can start from the lights and push down with my right foot and slot my left in as I'm stood up when the left pedal comes to the top... I'm a way off that with spd-sl just yet!
I need to tweak the position of the right cleat a bit - it's a bit too far to the centre of my foot, I need it a bit more under the ball. The left felt pretty good, though.
I'll be keeping spds on my TDF and single speed for now, particularly if they're going to be used for commuting.
I need to tweak the position of the right cleat a bit - it's a bit too far to the centre of my foot, I need it a bit more under the ball. The left felt pretty good, though.
I'll be keeping spds on my TDF and single speed for now, particularly if they're going to be used for commuting.
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I can't say I noticed a huge improvement in power when I tried (pretty much) SLs on the track bikes during my two velodrome sessions. You do feel more restricted/solid I guess and perhaps my experiences were altered by how different riding on a fixed gear bike is. Glad to hear you're happy with your SLs though.
Had a fun run out today to work (9.9-11mile commute normally)
Coming down a long 3.3%avg 1.1mile road I dropped down to the lower bars and wow was it fast! 32mph average throughout.
First time I'd dropped down to the lower bars this year and I think I need to do this more often, hoping to do a 40-60mile ride on Monday as I haven't had a decent ride out this year or in fact in a good 4-5 months due to a shoulder injury I gained in a crash last year.
Picking up speed and fitness again but I'm overweight which I feel is having a huge impact climbing hills, my bag that I take to and from work is overloaded too which is slowing me down slightly. I'd like to do my work commute without my bag on one of my days off to actually see the difference.
The bike needs to go in for a service I think, it isn't as responsive as it were 400 miles ago and I feel this is down to the way I rode it when I first got it.
Got some nice rides coming up, 30mile at Wetherby in June, 55miles at Leeds in Sept and 280 miles from Carlisle to Bingley in Aug with work over 3 days coming via the lakes which I'm hyped about, gonna get it in for a chain and cassette wash soon and then get a full service at the beggining of Aug giving me time to wear in the service parts for the big ride at the end of Aug.
Need to get myself a decent pump though, this is my next necessity as the only one I have is the one attached to my bike! Seen a couple in the local bike store where I got my bike and I get 10% off there so it's worth doing. All terrain cycles at saltaire if you take a look on there and see anything you like the look of message me and I can get you 10% off and post it you
They ain't the cheapest though.
My Giro Trebles came at the weekend, literally stared at them for like 10 mins, truely beaut! Genuinley excited for my pedals to arrive now! Got some Shimano SPD-SL pedals and cleats on their way. Never used them before so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference between those and strap pedals. My strap pedals already have rust on them. They're only 6 months old (came with the Bike) But I'm not bothered as I don't like them anyway, they make my feet ache!
This is me if you wana follow my poor uphill stats
http://www.strava.com/athletes/5669888
Coming down a long 3.3%avg 1.1mile road I dropped down to the lower bars and wow was it fast! 32mph average throughout.
First time I'd dropped down to the lower bars this year and I think I need to do this more often, hoping to do a 40-60mile ride on Monday as I haven't had a decent ride out this year or in fact in a good 4-5 months due to a shoulder injury I gained in a crash last year.
Picking up speed and fitness again but I'm overweight which I feel is having a huge impact climbing hills, my bag that I take to and from work is overloaded too which is slowing me down slightly. I'd like to do my work commute without my bag on one of my days off to actually see the difference.
The bike needs to go in for a service I think, it isn't as responsive as it were 400 miles ago and I feel this is down to the way I rode it when I first got it.
Got some nice rides coming up, 30mile at Wetherby in June, 55miles at Leeds in Sept and 280 miles from Carlisle to Bingley in Aug with work over 3 days coming via the lakes which I'm hyped about, gonna get it in for a chain and cassette wash soon and then get a full service at the beggining of Aug giving me time to wear in the service parts for the big ride at the end of Aug.
Need to get myself a decent pump though, this is my next necessity as the only one I have is the one attached to my bike! Seen a couple in the local bike store where I got my bike and I get 10% off there so it's worth doing. All terrain cycles at saltaire if you take a look on there and see anything you like the look of message me and I can get you 10% off and post it you
They ain't the cheapest though.
My Giro Trebles came at the weekend, literally stared at them for like 10 mins, truely beaut! Genuinley excited for my pedals to arrive now! Got some Shimano SPD-SL pedals and cleats on their way. Never used them before so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference between those and strap pedals. My strap pedals already have rust on them. They're only 6 months old (came with the Bike) But I'm not bothered as I don't like them anyway, they make my feet ache!
This is me if you wana follow my poor uphill stats
http://www.strava.com/athletes/5669888
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Any suggestions for what tools to put in a saddle bag for a single speed bike? I'm not one for bringing everything with me, but I'm figuring that at the very least I need tyre levers and a spanner of some kind for undoing the track nuts. An Allen key for the brakes probably wouldn't go amiss, if it comes to that. The park ss-15c looks ok.
Any other thoughts?
Any other thoughts?
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This is pretty much what I have for my regular bike. Obviously a pump too but that's strapped to the frame.
Anyone doing to RideLondon 100 this year? My Spesh Allez roadbike has a double crankset at the mo, i've never ridden leith or box hill before, would you recomend a compact crankset?
I missed out on the ballot but managed to get in via a charity place. Its given me a nice target to train and aim towards.
I'm down 6 stone in 6 months through cycling and eating well. Currently commuting to work 4 days a week, 20 miles a day.
I'd like to lose another 4 stone by August, that will take me to just under 20 stone!
I missed out on the ballot but managed to get in via a charity place. Its given me a nice target to train and aim towards.
I'm down 6 stone in 6 months through cycling and eating well. Currently commuting to work 4 days a week, 20 miles a day.
I'd like to lose another 4 stone by August, that will take me to just under 20 stone!
You lost 6 stone in 6 months!?! Well done, that's some impressive weight loss. Never done Leith of Box Hill, so can't really comment.
Legs are screaming today, think it's a well deserved rest day (minus the usual commute).
Wow. Well done. Good luck with the next 4 stone.
I'm absolutely shattered this morning, commute average was just 14mph
That's all I have, I have a pump too, other than that I can't think what you'd need?
Well done with the weight loss, took me 4 months to loose two stone so you've done brilliantly! Keep it up and good luck with the next 4!
All the best for RideLondon, I contemplated it but I'm doing 280mile in three days from Carlisle to Bingley.
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Congratulations.
I'm doing the RideLondon for the third time this year. I got a ballot place but I'm raising money for Bliss (I had a charity place with them last year).
A double should be fine. Box Hill is quite long but with a few miles in your legs it's not hard. Despite whet it looks like when you ride it the first section is the most difficult so once you get to the first hairpin you are sorted.
Leith Hill isn't very long, but it's bumpy and the road surface isn't great so that makes it difficult to get a rhythm. It means you'll be up and down in the saddle a lot. The road is also pretty narrow there so make sure you keep to the left as there may well be some people absolutely flying up the right.
I very rarely have a drafting fairy. I think id just be tempted to slow down/stop so they are forced to overtake, then continue
But then I guess, you may catch them up again.
4.7km he sat on my wheel for this morning. Into a head wind.
And then he cut me up at Piccadilly Circus when he decided he wanted to turn right from my left despite the fact we were in the straight on lane.
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