Road Cycling

SDK^ · 12 Mar 2015 at 16:59

Here is an example of how a power meter helps you ride faster.
The pink line is my PR today with a power meter and the thick black horizontal line is my first attempt, two weeks ago without a power meter.

On my first attempt I thought I was pacing myself but I went out too fast; by 1/3 of the way up I was 12 seconds faster which dropped to equal time by half way up and then at the top I was 15 seconds slower.
Today I stuck to 300W (my FTP) all the way up, had an average HR rate which was 7% lower and was 15 seconds quicker overall.

Saintbury Hill - average 9% for 1.2 miles

Roady · 12 Mar 2015 at 17:16

FrenchTart said:
Today should have the best weather of the next few days - cloudy with rain later on.

Yeah today looks like quite a surprise, was pleasantly warm this morning (8 degrees) so I'm not at work with only thermals as on tuesday (was expecting rain)!

Asprilla said:
Sun's out, guns out.

Don't encourage grudas! :rolleyes:

janp said:
Charge Spoon got dispatched today Unfortunately, won't be here for the weekend. Also ordered a couple more pairs of cheap sports direct shorts, they'll no doubt go up in price soon. I need cheap shorts for commuting everyday, so these are perfect
Now onto sourcing some more High 5 tabs.

Let me know how you get on with the Spoon. I keep saying about changing my turbos saddle but it may depend on how much I ride it over the next month or two, if I don't there's probably no point! What made you choose the Spoon? I was prob heading towards the Madison Flux after several people recommended it...

I got some of the Wiggle tabs and although I've only had them a couple of times I'd recommend them. I like High5 tabs, but not SiS ones, the Wiggle ones are more similar to the High5's.

grudas said:
seeing as the weather is getting better, the number of cyclist really does increase! *awaits turbo junkies to come out and pwn me* ;(

grudas powah in full effect! Nice speeds man!

FrenchTart · 12 Mar 2015 at 17:28

Knackered and feeling kind of ill all day. Started my turbo session but just couldn't face it. Feels a bit of a waste but probably better to get some rest I guess.

SDK^ said:
Here is an example of how a power meter helps you ride faster.
The pink line is my PR today with a power meter and the thick black horizontal line is my previous attempt without a power meter.

On my first attempt I thought I was pacing myself but I went out too fast; by 1/3 of the way up I was 12 seconds faster which dropped to equal time by half way up and then at the top I was 15 seconds slower.
Today I stuck to 300W (my FTP) all the way up, had an average HR rate which was 7% lower and was 15 seconds quicker overall.

Saintbury Hill - average 9% for 1.2 miles

**image snipped**

Hoping to get a power meter later this year. That's a pretty impressive improvement.

physichull · 12 Mar 2015 at 18:28

Dan Lloyd tweeted something quite funny today:

When you're bored, why not get on the indoor trainer?

That way, after 10 minutes, you'll realise you weren't actually bored at all.

In other news, I've been feeling rotten these last few days and am full of cold now so may have to skip the Saturday club ride to Rivington

was really looking forwards to it.

Vonhelmet · 12 Mar 2015 at 18:38

physichull said:
Dan Lloyd tweeted something quite funny today:

When you're bored, why not get on the indoor trainer?

That way, after 10 minutes, you'll realise you weren't actually bored at all.

In other news, I've been feeling rotten these last few days and am full of cold now so may have to skip the Saturday club ride to Rivington was really looking forwards to it.

I'm not gonna be out much this weekend, but will be out on the morning of he 21st. I could take you up rivi if you aren't out with your club.

Shamrock · 12 Mar 2015 at 18:40

Roady said:
grudas powah in full effect! Nice speeds man!

It's measuring in KM/H

physichull · 12 Mar 2015 at 19:05

Vonhelmet said:
I'm not gonna be out much this weekend, but will be out on the morning of he 21st. I could take you up rivi if you aren't out with your club.

That'd be cool. I'll confirm later next week as I'm not sure when and where the club rides are going from on sat. But if they are from stretton then I'll give you a shout.

Got my rear wheel on my defy trued today. Guy at the shop said it was pretty bad and skewed completely to one side. I guess it badly needed doing then!!

Dunks · 12 Mar 2015 at 19:20

Woop, cycle to work scheme voucher fully issued! Now to sort out delivery with Planet X.

DaleTheWhale · 12 Mar 2015 at 19:38

Dunks said:
Woop, cycle to work scheme voucher fully issued! Now to sort out delivery with Planet X.

Still waiting for mine! Ah.

Dunks · 12 Mar 2015 at 20:01

ThaReaperGuy said:
Still waiting for mine! Ah.

Last time it took HR about 3 weeks approve the request, then finance around 3-4 to approve the payment, this time the turn around was 2 weeks!

Noticed in your posts that you're planning on doing Birmingham to Derby, then a cycle to Sinfin? Another Rolls-Roycer per chance?

touch · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:20

Roady said:
Don't encourage grudas!

I wonder how long it takes before he turns his camera around and starts uploading videos of his commute where all you can see are his chest+arms?

(<3 you really Gurders)

Thomas. PLease. · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:24

touch said:
I wonder how long it takes before he turns his camera around and starts uploading videos of his commute where all you can see are his chest+arms?

(<3 you really Gurders)

hahaha quoted for the lolz. Made me chuckle out loud!

DaleTheWhale · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:44

Dunks said:
Last time it took HR about 3 weeks approve the request, then finance around 3-4 to approve the payment, this time the turn around was 2 weeks!

Noticed in your posts that you're planning on doing Birmingham to Derby, then a cycle to Sinfin? Another Rolls-Roycer per chance?

I hope the turn around is 2 weeks for me, dying to get cycling now that I've planned it and yes that'll be my route, but I'm not RR, one of the contracted vendors instead.

FrenchTart · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:48

touch said:
I wonder how long it takes before he turns his camera around and starts uploading videos of his commute where all you can see are his chest+arms?

(<3 you really Gurders)

Never gonna happen - you'd need a wider angle lens to fit in all the guns baby

James07 · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:55

Zero leg power today so i had fun around town getting from one train station to the next

Just watched Line of Sight which was pretty cool haha

Gonna give it a blast tomorrow morning up the dual carriageway and then leave it until Monday when I try a 40-60 mile route I've planned before my commute starts again Tuesday! I'm not having enough fun at the moment need to get out more, need a blast along the canal on the MTB soon too as I don't wana neglect that thing!

Cycling has got my ankle and isn't letting go, had fun downhill yesterday, 32.5mph average on a 1.1 mile stretch, loved it!

James07 · 12 Mar 2015 at 21:58

http://www.strava.com/athletes/5669888

For anyone that wants to follow me. I wana follow more people so follow me so I can follow you back!

Asprilla · 12 Mar 2015 at 22:30

Was there an easterly wind in London today?

Because, if not I rocked once I hit clear roads.

https://www.strava.com/activities/267133508

lordrobs · 12 Mar 2015 at 22:42

I had a quiet few minutes at work today and decided to see what my commute would be like if I could cycle in. 8.5 miles of country road, cycle path and a little bit of quiet(ish) city roads or in other words pretty pleasant all round

Would only take about 10 minutes more too.

FrenchTart · 12 Mar 2015 at 22:46

Why can't you cycle in again?

lordrobs · 12 Mar 2015 at 22:51

I've got a company car and the nature of my job (Field technician) means that I'm expected to have it on site.

Reality is that I haven't driven to a site job in over a month and I haven't been to an "off the cuff" visit since November and I could have taken the van for that as it was just up the road.