Road Cycling

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http://app.strava.com/activities/281524083

Ride of the year so far for me, felt incredible, even if I had a rattling cassette! Damn gears!

Roady said:
Tightening headset, possible with basic tools, no idea how, the Internet and my abilities? :p
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Good luck haha!

physichull said:
Really enjoyable extended commute on the way home, filtering excluded! Loved it. Some chap caught me up completely knackered exclaiming "Bloody hell you took some catching!". Was secretly pleased because I wasn't really trying! Hehe! Either way, a pleasant chap and got chatting for a fair bit on the East Lancs cycle path.
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I love catching people up, just doesn't happen often enough haha!

Saying that, I caught a guy up other day, overtook him, and stayed in front all the way up a 5% hill for about half a mile then I disappeared, that was good as its the first time i've ever done that!
 
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I can't seem to get up to speed! Guess it takes more than 3 days commuting!

Going to give it until next Tuesday before attempting the bundy training ride again, will probably get dropped quickly but it'll be a pull out as they say.
 
Amazing how fast fitness falls away when all you do is drive, eat and drink!

Seem to be around 20 seconds off a lot of shorter segments but still getting 2015 KOMs so can't complain that much.
 
ahhh very nice rides to/from work, new PB of 32mins to work, shall be getting that to 30 I hope soon (damn cat 4 hill)! Was feeling a little tired towards the end on the way home, but then I've not regularly cycled for a bit.

Opinion time....I can do 9 miles to work with a cat4 hill within the first mile (as per my to work today), or I can take a 12 mile route (reverse my home route) but no big climb and not much in the way of short climbs. So miles or hills be better for building my stamina and speed?
 
Hm, this may explain the lack of stoppage power and the awful noise.

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Seems rather greasy for new rotors and pads...
 
Not as bad as one I fixed today! Has someone been using some sort of aerosol lube near the bicycle?

They don't look too contaminated, have you done many big hard stops?
 
Eugh another day of tired legs, glad to have 4 days off now, think it is just what I need after a busy couple of weeks! Can't wait to get my legs on to some TTs from next Thursday now!
 
Jonny ///M said:
Not as bad as one I fixed today! Has someone been using some sort of aerosol lube near the bicycle?

They don't look too contaminated, have you done many big hard stops?
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Not sure, I received the bike from Planet X the other day, perhaps contaminated from the build? It's the same front and back. The pad also seems quite smooth, and not fairly textured like some images I've seen when googling!

I've done quite a few hard stops with just the front brake, maybe only around 10 from ~20 mph.
 
Not really sure, you wouldn't necessarily spray any lube near it on a build up. I don't like BB7s at the best of time as the pads never come out the caliper parallel to the rotor so you can get some minor scuffing.

Degrease the discs, fit new pads and go get some heat into them without coming to a complete stop. Drag them a bit, sprint down a hill and brake hard without stopping completely and you'll feel that come to life.
 
James07 said:
Good luck haha!
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Done! It was as easy as I'm kinda hoped (but was fully expecting it to be more difficult!) ;)

Vonhelmet said:
Allen keys should be all you need. Loosen the stem bolts, tighten the headset top cap, re-tighten the stem.
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Thanks Von, had already found the following guide on rcuk but that was essentially what I did... Although I fancied cleaning some of the grime from there but didn't go overboard as hadn't got any grease to regrease it. Initially refitted it in stand with back wheel in the air and it made no difference, redid it with bike on the ground (and some weight on it - me) and added more torque to the top cap (stem cap/bolt?) and it's cleared it up. Tightened to 7.5nm as 5.5 didn't seem cut it the first time, it was around 4nm before I loosened it so I think it had worked loose slightly?

http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/how-to-inspect-and-tighten-a-headset.html

Itchytrigg said:
Was feeling a little tired towards the end on the way home, but then I've not regularly cycled for a bit.

Opinion time....I can do 9 miles to work with a cat4 hill within the first mile (as per my to work today), or I can take a 12 mile route (reverse my home route) but no big climb and not much in the way of short climbs. So miles or hills be better for building my stamina and speed?
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Lose the CAT4 if you want to be commuting all week, let your body adjust (I was pretty unfit so could only manage 3 days for the few months). Milage and getting riding is all about small steps when you start - your muscles will need to build the right kinda twitch fibres for your riding.

You'll notice 'gains' the more you do, by gains I mean increased fitness and more stamina. You'll get it whichever route you choose but it'll be easier on your recoveries (and you'll find it easier to ride all week) if you miss the climb while initially building that stamina. By all means mix it up a bit and do it at the start of the week if you're feeling strong, or the end of the week if you feel you still have it in your legs! :)

Jonny ///M said:
Degrease the discs, fit new pads and go get some heat into them without coming to a complete stop. Drag them a bit, sprint down a hill and brake hard without stopping completely and you'll feel that come to life.
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He's not had it a week so would be surprised if it needs new pads? Worth degreasing the pads or would that be the worst thing to do (adding more residue/contaminants to them)?
 
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A shade under 21 miles this evening. Same route as last Friday and knocked 4 minutes off my time so I reckon I'm happy with that :)
 
I didn't feel like I pushed as hard as yesterday yet it was another quick one by my standards tonight - https://www.strava.com/activities/281686358 Would probably have been the same speed as last nights ride if it wasn't for a few hold ups along the way.

Seems like I may have a bit of a teething issue with the bike though. I noticed a slight noise right at the end of my ride so took the last bit easier to make sure I got home. Picked up the rear and spun the wheel and when free wheeling there is a graunching noise coming from the rear hub. Nothing major but I'll be keeping an eye on it. Gives me a reason to bother going back for the 8 week check up at least.

I also fitted my new mini pump/CO2 combo which was a bit of a faff :o I was going to mount it behind the seat tube bottle but there was no where near enough clearance, fitted it to the down tube and the mount fouls my bottle cage a bit on the CO2 canister side. If it rattles (as I'm expecting) I'll stick the CO2 in my saddle bag and just have the pump mounted... which of course goes completely against the idea of having it all frame mounted so I may as well have just kept with my CO2 inflator and bought a regular mini pump :p :o
 
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My saddle bag doesn't want to be on the bike anymore so I've done my last few rides with it in my jersey pocket! Really should get another one.

Made the most of my time off work - have some tan lines already :)
 
Heh, happened to me the other day. Zip on the saddle bag broke half way over a roundabout, multi tool fell out. Wouldn't even have noticed if it wasn't for a driver behind letting me know. But i was heading to the bike shop anyway so i picked up a new one ;)
 
Might cycle into the city tomorrow and have a look in Evans. Give me an excuse to get out of the house.

Already 700 miles down on my 2014 mileage :(
 
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