Road Cycling

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Off work, woo. Had a massive lie in (which was a bad idea..hideous headache now). Going to have a lazy morning and then get out and about after lunch. Not sure where I'll go yet...so many sunny possibilities :p
 
Beautiful day out yesterday - first day in s/s jersey and arm warmers and the gilet came off after the first half a mile in the sunshine. Had a nice chat with a guy just returning from his ride as I was heading out, and spent a pleasant couple of hours in the countryside looping down towards Hitchin and back.

My personal best ever avg speed too - finally cracked 16mph for a ride of over 20 miles. I always include my warm up and my 1 mile knackered spin home from the local 10 mile TT finish like which I always push towards at the end of a ride, so not too bad - getting better anyway.

It took me 3 years of semi-regular riding to crack on from my beginner 10-11mph pace to finally crack 15mph avg last summer, and my new job is providing me with the free time and the reduction in stress necessary to build some motivation - aiming for regular rides out 3 or 4 times a week this summer, rather than the 3 or 4 times a month I've managed for the last few years.

Onwards and upwards :)
 
Been really slacking this week and didn't get out for a ride until last night. I think I actually dehydrated myself on Sunday's ride (12 hours out on and off the saddle) as I really hadn't planned for 12 hours... I just stupidly planned food for 80 miles at my usual pace and I never really felt thirsty so didn't consume much water either. I felt terrible Monday morning in office and opted to go home... was sick just before I left the office! Hopefully it was just dehydration anyway and not the pub roast I had.

Anyway, quite happy with last night's ride as I managed to PR my usual Richmond Park lap again (this time by more than 3 seconds - 56 seconds!) down to 18:01. Happy to join the top 1000/23000 club on the leaderboard. I've still got a fair amount of weight to lose so hopefully I can improve it by the end of the year!
 
FrenchTart said:
Off work, woo. Had a massive lie in (which was a bad idea..hideous headache now). Going to have a lazy morning and then get out and about after lunch. Not sure where I'll go yet...so many sunny possibilities :p
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I get massive headaches if I have a long lie in, no idea why, it seems to last me most of the day
 
uv said:
Well, two di2 cables cost the same as the carbon handlebars, and I had a spare set of bars, so I broke the bars apart with a hammer, saw and chisel to get the cables out.
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ROFL you nutter, really no way to 'fish' them out or was one of the connectors stuck? Messy!
tedmaul said:
Still unable to ride so not been around much. But it's worth checking in occasionally for this type of insight to the noble world of cycling.
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Should've seen the chaos yesterday when they all thought Chloe Hunter was their new training partner...
FrenchTart said:
Off work, woo. Had a massive lie in (which was a bad idea..hideous headache now).
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Headaches from lie ins!? Doesn't sound very good, suffering from a virus or such?
timbob said:
It took me 3 years of semi-regular riding to crack on from my beginner 10-11mph pace to finally crack 15mph avg last summer, and my new job is providing me with the free time and the reduction in stress necessary to build some motivation - aiming for regular rides out 3 or 4 times a week this summer, rather than the 3 or 4 times a month I've managed for the last few years.
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Regular riding really does do wonders for your average speed. Without my commuting my 'ability to suffer' wouldn't be as good. I only have a short commute (<20 mins) but quite regularly I'll be riding it fatigued and will do efforts like cadence drills, power tests and sprints as part of it. Without these and just riding my commute 'easy' (like I used to) I really wouldn't have progressed like I have :)

Roady said:
Shimano RS81 24's going through on Ribble for £260 (instead of £360, reduced from £512)
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I caved and actually bought myself a set of these... Fingers crossed they come through & the order doesn't get cancelled! ;)

Guessing I need to sort my old Giant P-R2 wheels out and flog them as I want to keep the Khamsin for winter use and then I'll have 2 summer sets of wheels, one light (RS81) and the other deep (Rovals). Gonna have to keep 1 set 'hidden' at work for a while lol :o
 
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I rode my Flyer in to work this morning. The ride quality is good, the steel absorbs a lot of the road noise, as I'd expect based on my experience riding my Pompino. I need to fiddle with the fit a bit more, and the cleats on my new shoes need adjusting, but otherwise it's all good. The gearing is a bit lower than my Pompino (42*17 compared to 48*18) so it's a bit more spinny at speed, but it should be better for riding into the wind and up hills.
 
Deals spotted:
Sportful Fiandre jacket. Windproof, warm & waterproof. RRP £175, Wiggle price £70 but only small sizes left.
Sportful R & D jacket. Windproof, warm & showerproof. RRP £185, Wiggle price £92.50. I already own this jacket I snagged on a deal for £65 (bikeinn.com). I have a feeling once some of the other Sportful stock sells out they'll do a drop on this one too as it's 2014/15 range!

Truth is I have a dilemma for this kinda weather (10-16 degrees but cold/strong winds). My Windproof jerseys (DHB ASV Roubaix, Windslam Blade and Sportful R&D) are just a bit too warm for after work/weekend efforts. My non-windproof jerseys (DHB Macro Roubaix, Sportful thermal) are better providing the wind is cool enough. For less windy days where I want my arms covered or windier warmer weather I need some lighter (non-roubaix) windproof options. Windproof gilet over short sleeve and arm warmers is good but cold shoulders/cooked arms is getting tiresome already.... :rolleyes:

I think the problem is I don't own many 'normal' long sleeve jerseys! :)
 
Roady said:
Deals spotted:
Sportful Fiandre jacket. Windproof, warm & waterproof. RRP £175, Wiggle price £70 but only small sizes left.
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THAT is an utter bargain.... I have the yellow version of it which I paid full whack for (£170) but I had £100 of vouchers from work award thing so cost me £70. It's a superb jacket, worth every single penny of £70. I used it in -5 temps with nothing but a base layer undearneath and it was perfect.

Roady the best thing I done was buy a Castelli sleeveless base layer. Just use that, short sleeve jerseys and arm warmers and I have been out in as low as 6 degree's with that alone and I feel fine. I really feel the cold as well as anyone would tell you and I am doing fine with the combo... It saves buying long sleeve jerseys at all and you can whip arm warmers off easy enough or even the base layer if it gets hot, and if it gets cold chuck on a rain jacket or gillet that's stashed in jersey pocket.
 
Vonhelmet said:
I rode my Flyer in to work this morning. The ride quality is good, the steel absorbs a lot of the road noise, as I'd expect based on my experience riding my Pompino. I need to fiddle with the fit a bit more, and the cleats on my new shoes need adjusting, but otherwise it's all good. The gearing is a bit lower than my Pompino (42*17 compared to 48*18) so it's a bit more spinny at speed, but it should be better for riding into the wind and up hills.
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Yup, I'm of the same opinion with regards to the gearing. Went out to Dunham the other night and it was hard work on the flat into the wind on the way back. I doubt I'll change it though as I'll only moan about how unnecessarily hard i'd made it!
 
xdcx said:
THAT is an utter bargain.... I have the yellow version of it which I paid full whack for (£170) but I had £100 of vouchers from work award thing so cost me £70. It's a superb jacket, worth every single penny of £70. I used it in -5 temps with nothing but a base layer undearneath and it was perfect.

Roady the best thing I done was buy a Castelli sleeveless base layer. Just use that, short sleeve jerseys and arm warmers and I have been out in as low as 6 degree's with that alone and I feel fine. I really feel the cold as well as anyone would tell you and I am doing fine with the combo... It saves buying long sleeve jerseys at all and you can whip arm warmers off easy enough or even the base layer if it gets hot, and if it gets cold chuck on a rain jacket or gillet that's stashed in jersey pocket.
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Is this the equivalent of the Gabba?
 
Berger said:
Talking of Rapha.....

Anyone tried the core range?

I need some more bibs but didn't want to fork out for the full price pro teams $335, I have one pair already and a pair of the thermal pro teams.

The core bibs share the same pad and are only $180, I thought they might make good training shorts.
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There is a 20% off bibs code going round at the mo. Doesn't work for Core though.

BIB-751N-2BE5-E598

SoliD said:
Is this the equivalent of the Gabba?
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I have one too.

It's basically a Gabba + fleece lining for added insulation and nicer feel against bare skin.
 
Roady said:
Truth is I have a dilemma for this kinda weather (10-16 degrees but cold/strong winds).
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I'm hearing you here buddy, struggling myself especially as I have to drag a backpack with me constantly so my efforts to stay cool in this weather = cold arms, sweaty back and shoulders which is a pain! :(

I'm finding the DHB windslam with a On-One S/S base layer to work OK, could use some arm warmers to beef up the thin material on the arms (but don't want to be too warm). The thermal/Roubaix stuff I have is just that little bit too warm and some of the long sleeve stuff I have is too big (I'm starting to realise how jerseys should be fitting me... :o... I'm a skinny ****).

Think the best mix right now is a 150 merino base layer + S/S jersey + arm warmers and a gilet just in case, think that would do the trick, however add a backpack and bam, it's almost pointless.
 
xdcx said:
THAT is an utter bargain.... I have the yellow version of it which I paid full whack for (£170) but I had £100 of vouchers from work award thing so cost me £70. It's a superb jacket, worth every single penny of £70. I used it in -5 temps with nothing but a base layer undearneath and it was perfect.
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Exactly. The R&D I have is superb and I've worn it in similar conditions. Even showers, it's not waterproof but the NoRain treatment means I'm still mostly dry after a couple of hours. I'd happily pay £60/70 for another, but not £90... They had the Neoshell 'short sleeve' jacket with arm warmers at £90 (RRP £227) yesterday but they should out fast and only had small sizes left. :eek:

xdcx said:
Roady the best thing I done was buy a Castelli sleeveless base layer. Just use that, short sleeve jerseys and arm warmers and I have been out in as low as 6 degree's with that alone and I feel fine.
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That's what I'm doing at the mo, usually with a windproof gilet but I usually find myself too hot (thermal/roubaix norain arm warmers) or with freezing cold shoulders from the winds. Might investigate a windproof t-shirt base layer as that'd protect them. :cool:
ThaReaperGuy said:
however add a backpack and bam, it's almost pointless.
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I think that's it as commuting with a pack I dress slightly warm as I'm not usually pushing too much. The last couple of weeks with the weather nicer (+more light) I've been envigorated into more efforts/sprints in my commuting gear and overheated if there's less wind than expected. :rolleyes:
lordrobs said:
Full 105, Khamsin wheels and a penny change from £600

It has been a while since I've been bike shopping but isn't that a bit of a steal?
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Very good deal, 105 = ~£200, wheels = ~£100. They sell the frame for £300 alone so you're getting the saddle, build, bars, stem, seatpost etc for 'free'. Shame they don't do the RT-58 carbon frame in the same build for £700 (frame is £100 more than the alloy). :eek:
 
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