Road Cycling

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My Elemnt re-routed me yesterday after a missed turn. Any other users here experienced the same. I was under the impression it wasn't capable of doing this but this definitely wasn't the first occasion it's done it.

(Route sync from Strava)
 
Previous ride's (https://www.strava.com/activities/704146030) average HR was 170... managed to keep this one down to 156, which still seems pretty high compared to a friend (who's quite a bit older than me, and was 19 stone, now about 15.5).

Am I just that unfit, and is riding at that kind of effort likely to do more harm than good?
Some people (me included) just have a naturally higher heartrate. When riding hard I'm usually around 170 bpm and can maintain it, when riding easier I hover around 150-160 and I'm hardly ever lower than 140 except if really tired/fatigued and going very easy. I've got a friend at work who rides, is in his late 50's and doesn't let his heartrate go over 150. Anything near 160 is about his max and in blow up territory, we always joke about it! Personally I've seen over 190 bpm but only on the turbo, doubt I can go that hard/deep very regularly, if at all now.

Usually you find heartrate drops with age.

The exception is very fit/pro riders, who generally have a very low heartrate, but even Contador commented his heartrate was 200 bpm when trying to follow Froome & Contador on one of the early Vuelta climbs! :eek:

the fix to adjust it involved a mallet, spanners and a piece of pole to smack the pieces off the seat post so you can level it up. Top job.
After doing a bit more riding on it last week, my lower back was also in pieces, so this weekend I decided to go at it.
All sorted now?

#canyonproblems
My Elemnt re-routed me yesterday after a missed turn.
Awesome! :eek::D

Pay day problems... Save for KICKR, Splurge on ELEMNT or save for PWM (next year)? :/

Think I can 'absorb' the ELEMNT cost (~£200) if I sell my 810 for £150... But I probably need to factory reset it really, if it decides to behave itself afterwards then I'd be silly replacing it.

KICKR is probably the more sensible route, should get good money for my KK RMII with it's InRide pod (thx FT, although still not used it!). Although still means ~£600 or more for the KICKR :/

Arguably I'd get more long term from a PWM, but the KICKR would encourage me to ride a more structured plan over the winter for better progress. Also good deals on KICKR now and new PWM's over the coming months meaning no better deals on them until next year.

EDIT: Trainer Tyres. I've always used a dedicated turbo tyre but I have a friend who doesn't swap. He had 3 punctures in the space of a week on this 6 month old tyre last year. Had probably only done 2500 miles:
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Just buy a S/H ~£40 wheel, a ~£30 cassette & a <£20 turbo tyre.
 
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Tacx T2180 turbo on route for the winter.

Bike24.com - £286 including shipping is good considering everywhere in UK it's £360.
Good deal, the Vortex is a very well regarded trainer.

Heading out for 'Bike Club' later, with my rest weekend going to tackle Bredwardine Hill I've set myself a goal on. Weirdly I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about it, I really need to get it conquered as I'm running out of days/time/weather and even form/fitness to a degree. I'm at my lightest since I started riding (so lightest for about 14 years) and hope I've got the power! :o

The only hill (so far) to beat me. I've used it as a challenge so far, but it has to go as I should be concentrating on other things - like The Tumble! :eek::rolleyes:

EDIT: Wha I'm saying is I really need to get an attempt done on The Tumble. I've been distracted considering hills like Bredwardine a training step towards it, in reality it's steeper and more of an anaerobic climb whereas the tumble is much longer so has to be paced.
 
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I really would like a nice turbo trainerer for winter, but the vortex only does up to 7%. The ironman does up to 20% but it's silly money (well x2 expensive). Anything around 15% would be great, and similar to my usual routes, I suppose. (Some go 25% but not for long)... I really don't want to skimp on my winter training this year/into next year... but as the nights draw in I probably won't want to be out in the dark all the time....
 
'Only'!

To be honest the majority of trainer work should be more interval based rather than cranking up the resistance. I'll agree that 7% is probably on the low side, but equally I don't think much over 10/15% is needed for 'hill training'?

There's only so much resistance a wheel/tyre based trainer can add before people will start wrecking tyres/wheels. Kinda why I'm going the KICKR route - standard & easily calibrated setup over the wheel based ones where even a 5 PSI tyre pressure change can make huge differences to reported/smart power. Take the wheel out of the equation.
 
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I really would like a nice turbo trainerer for winter, but the vortex only does up to 7%.

'Only'!

To be honest the majority of trainer work should be more interval based rather than cranking up the resistance.

This. Train to power or HR surely?

Can't see I'd justify the premium personally. You could double the slope on the Tacx to 14% by doing some single leg drills. Trollface :p

There's only so much resistance a wheel/tyre based trainer can add before people will start wrecking tyres/wheels. Kinda why I'm going the KICKR route - standard & easily calibrated setup over the wheel based ones where even a 5 PSI tyre pressure change can make huge differences to reported/smart power. Take the wheel out of the equation.

Not quite sure I follow this logic. Pressure against the tyre isn't increased, just a brake applied.

Equally a spin down calibration negates the need to run the same PSI & roller tightness as it is auto-compensated.

Unless I'm missing a trick? :confused:

I did a quick check this weekend when tweaking position to see how the Vortex Smart VP compared to my P1's RP and have to say it was pretty close. I should have really set the 5-10s avg display on my Elemnt so it matches the refresh intervals on the Tacx app rather than being 1s/instant. With a completed calibration I couldn't see that it was far off the mark at all. Definitely single digit watts so within 2-4%.

I'll keep tabs on both when I next get a turbo session in and compare the two files :cool:
 
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I've already got that one starred :D

Shout when you're next over that way and I'll come join you :) I take it you've been further East in to the Chilterns before towards Princes Risborough?

I've not really explored much really. Watlington is about the furthest in these two rides:
https://www.strava.com/activities/405551565
https://www.strava.com/activities/629163093

Certainly interested in a little Chilterns rideout. I could probably do either this coming weekend or beginning of October?
Weather is starting to get worse so some of the smaller lanes are going to start getting very muddy soon!

I've been considering something like this: http://www.wlondoncycling.co.uk/the-chilterns-one



The only hill (so far) to beat me. I've used it as a challenge so far, but it has to go as I should be concentrating on other things - like The Tumble! :eek::rolleyes:

The Tumble isn't that bad :p Toughest part is probably the cattle grid if it's wet!
 
hi all,

ive got a 61cm singlespeed bike with a 60mm +6degrees rise stem atm. It feels very twitchy and i am looking to replace it.

will i see a noticeable improvement to a 75mm +10degree rise stem or would a 90mm stem be better.
looking for comfort and control. The bike originally came with 110mm stem but the reach was too far and i wanted to be seated more upright
 
Pay day problems... Save for KICKR, Splurge on ELEMNT or save for PWM (next year)? :/
it.

KICKR is probably the more sensible route, should get good money for my KK RMII with it's InRide pod (thx FT, although still not used it!). Although still means ~£600 or more for the KICKR :/

Arguably I'd get more long term from a PWM, but the KICKR would encourage me to ride a more structured plan over the winter for better progress. Also good deals on KICKR now and new PWM's over the coming months meaning no better deals on them until next year.

.

I really would like a nice turbo trainerer for winter, but the vortex only does up to 7%. The ironman does up to 20% but it's silly money (well x2 expensive). Anything around 15% would be great, and similar to my usual routes, I suppose. (Some go 25% but not for long)... I really don't want to skimp on my winter training this year/into next year... but as the nights draw in I probably won't want to be out in the dark all the time....

I too am looking at a better turbo to give me some inspiration this winter. Kickr snap is about as much as I am prepared to spend though, The Kickr is almost double the price and I cant see the benefit. A mate has a snap and seems happy with it. It does the 10% gradient sim that the Tacx Vortex wont and its considered a sturdier unit.

Just need to sell my Cyclops Fluid 2 first.
 
I've not really explored much really. Watlington is about the furthest in these two rides:
https://www.strava.com/activities/405551565
https://www.strava.com/activities/629163093

Certainly interested in a little Chilterns rideout. I could probably do either this coming weekend or beginning of October?
Weather is starting to get worse so some of the smaller lanes are going to start getting very muddy soon!

I've been considering something like this: http://www.wlondoncycling.co.uk/the-chilterns-one

That One Sportive looks pretty joocey. Would be happy to ride the route with you next year at some point, probably July or August so the weather is fair, light lasts and we're not still carrying around Christmas dinner & unconditioned ;). Won't be able to fit it in this year I'm afraid. Lots of punchy climbs, most of which I've done, safe to say you'll have an empty tank by the end ;)

Looks like we ride around the same sort of speed (1 2 3) so could get something in the few weeks? Got a club run this weekend and plans the next but free the first two weekends in October. Though off to Majorca the 3rd weekend so need to keep some reserves :p Agree to stay off the small lanes at the surfaces get awful and stay quite damp.

Setting off from Tring or Thame is a good shout though you're in central London. I'm on the Chiltern Line in Aylesbury so could always save the legs and get the train out or part of the way? Let me know where you want to start & the distance and I'll plot something up with a mixture of climbs :cool:
 
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Blasted ear & back ache are keeping me from going out. I can barely hear a thing in my right ear, extremely helpful if I have to listen for traffic!
 
Couldn't be arsed going into the office this morning, so I jumped on the trainer and did an hour round London, then rode into work. Beats being in the office. I was going to go out at lunch but have to leave the office to take the Mrs to the hospital, so that's that plan scuppered.
 
Last night, coming home, I took primary through a pinch point at a pedestrian crossing island which meant the bus behind me had to wait. He was then in such a hurry to overtake me that he sailed right past a bus stop where some poor guy was waving at him to stop. What a dumbass.
 
so this addison lee driver nearly wiped me off today.. I caught up to him at the lights and I was like "that was a bit too close don't you think?" he was like "yeah but did I hit you?" I was like "that's not the point, come sit here in my place and let me do that to you and see how you feel" he was like "okay I will" and speed off.. nob end

eh gotta love london commuting :O been doing it for so long but it still grinds my gears.
 
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