Road Cycling

[Martynt74]

Ride done. The big climb Wasn’t really as bad as I’d expected although it did wipe me out and I struggled on the second big climb.

Not a route I’d do again. It was either big climbs or big fast descents (which were freezing!). Not much inbetween to just enjoy the ride.

 

[bastic]

Ride done. The big climb Wasn’t really as bad as I’d expected although it did wipe me out and I struggled on the second big climb.

Not a route I’d do again. It was either big climbs or big fast descents (which were freezing!). Not much inbetween to just enjoy the ride.

there you go, big one done and dusted

Essex lanes were glourious today, and sun did help...shouldnt have cleaned the bike yesterday...its 10x worse today...

 

[fez]

Weather yesterday was amazing and I would love to have been out on the bike but I was feeling like death along with my partner and one of my boys. All of us have some sort of bug and have been throwing up to various degrees since Saturday. Love this time of year when the sun is out. Especially since it hasn't got that cold yet.

 

[bastic]

Weather yesterday was amazing and I would love to have been out on the bike but I was feeling like death along with my partner and one of my boys. All of us have some sort of bug and have been throwing up to various degrees since Saturday. Love this time of year when the sun is out. Especially since it hasn't got that cold yet.

Many people out there with bugs or just recovering.

one of my guys - one of the strongest in our group - died of short death.. if i beat him and I was trying to pull him, that says a lot haha

 

[f666]

Got the youngest out to cyclo-cross training at weekend, he loved it. Signed up to the next youth CX race we can find.

Then I started looking for reasonable junior CX bikes and found that there is not much choice anymore.

Isla bikes have stopped selling bikes and will close after parts depleted. citing EU exit cost increases and other pressures.

Worx don't sell junior bikes anymore at all

Vitus and other brands have also pulled ranges and consolidated into MTB and adult frames.

So 2nd hand looks to be the only viable route unless wanting to spend a lot more from remaining brands such as Hup.

 

[AndyCr15]

Weather yesterday was amazing and I would love to have been out on the bike but I was feeling like death

I was still not well too and omg, it was horrible looking out at that blue sky but being stuck indoors

 

[Roady]

OK, I take it back, I think I am just knackered. Tried a zwift race and just died after 20 minutes at about 280w average. During the warm up I was pushing 200w and thinking "this can't be 200w, feels far too hard". Perhaps on the brink of getting some sort of bug. Will rest until next week and see how I feel.

Defo your body telling you it's time to get some recovery/rest. As bastic says, lots of bugs around there. My half has had something for a couple of weeks and just can't seem to shift it - thankfully I've somehow avoided it.

There was some sickness thing doing the rounds here, several people off work for weeks at a time. Thankfully again - dodged that one too!

Ride done. The big climb Wasn’t really as bad as I’d expected although it did wipe me out and I struggled on the second big climb.

Not a route I’d do again. It was either big climbs or big fast descents (which were freezing!). Not much inbetween to just enjoy the ride.

Would be far more fun to do it in the sunshine & 10 degrees warmer - good excuse!

Great ride, well done. You can say you've crossed off a Gran Fondo... Build now for the full one next year?!

Weather yesterday was amazing and I would love to have been out on the bike but I was feeling like death along with my partner and one of my boys. All of us have some sort of bug and have been throwing up to various degrees since Saturday. Love this time of year when the sun is out. Especially since it hasn't got that cold yet.

It was a really mild weekend here... Typical Pumpkin picking & finishing up tidying the garage took priority... Then sunday rolled around and I was going to do a few hours on Zwift, but as weather was so good took one look at the stack of pallets I've been clearing stuff from that I always said I'd build into a wood store... And built it! 7.5 hours doing that didn't leave much time left for cycling! Ladder race tomorrow, hope the legs are good!

I was still not well too and omg, it was horrible looking out at that blue sky but being stuck indoors

Rubbish, glad you're feeling well enough to look. Hope over the worst of it now and able to plan your return to riding!

 

[Martynt74]

Great ride, well done. You can say you've crossed off a Gran Fondo... Build now for the full one next year?!

Yeah, although am in the process of fitting some 40mm Hutchinson Caracal tyres with the intent of trying some routes for one of the bigger gravel events next year. The tyres were super easy to fit onto the rim, barely even needed any finger strength, but can get the bead to sit, so have chucked them to a local shop!

A shame we have guests really as this looks excellent this weekend. Would be a great intro. Assuming the weather gets better. Today is one of the worst days i've seen since i've been here

Festival Cabo de Palos - Iron Gravel

irongravel.com

 

[SoliD]

Got the youngest out to cyclo-cross training at weekend, he loved it. Signed up to the next youth CX race we can find.

Then I started looking for reasonable junior CX bikes and found that there is not much choice anymore.

Isla bikes have stopped selling bikes and will close after parts depleted. citing EU exit cost increases and other pressures.

Worx don't sell junior bikes anymore at all

Vitus and other brands have also pulled ranges and consolidated into MTB and adult frames.

So 2nd hand looks to be the only viable route unless wanting to spend a lot more from remaining brands such as Hup.

Go 2nd hand frog or Hup, all the parents do locally, the kid only usually stays on it for a short while and you usually get back close to what you pay for it with other like minded parents when you come to sell it.

 

[Martynt74]

Vitus and other brands have also pulled ranges and consolidated into MTB and adult frames.

So 2nd hand looks to be the only viable route unless wanting to spend a lot more from remaining brands such as Hup.

Yeah, as above, i think it's a much better option for kids to go used and then keep swapping as sizing requirements change, rather than worrying you've spent a fortune and them riding a bike too small because of the expense to replace.

 

[dod]

Ride done. The big climb Wasn’t really as bad as I’d expected although it did wipe me out and I struggled on the second big climb.

Not a route I’d do again. It was either big climbs or big fast descents (which were freezing!). Not much inbetween to just enjoy the ride.

Well done, sounds like our day at the Contador We're looking at possibly doing that one next year, that or hiring campers and going to France, maybe Italy

 

[Martynt74]

Well done, sounds like our day at the Contador We're looking at possibly doing that one next year, that or hiring campers and going to France, maybe Italy

Yeah, i might consider the Valencia Gran Fondo. A little flatter at only 2000m over the full distance.

 

[f666]

Re CX junior bikes - thanks, now to find used. Had a frog before and it was a bit tatty after a while so not too keen on those. Might look at a cheap build and whatever comes up on eBay.

 

[SoliD]

Never heard that about a frog before! Where in the UK are you? Worth having a look at facebook as they come up regularly or posting in your local leagues facebook page, usually someones got one.

 

[Martynt74]

Spain is so weird. Some stuff is pretty expensive, but i took my wheels to a local bike shop as i couldn't get the tyres to seat. I already had the Muc Off sealant/valves, so just asked them to fit the tyres. Collected them yesterday, and they've seated the tyres and filled with sealant and only charger me €12 for both wheels.
At that price it's not worth even trying to do it myself!

 

[fez]

Spain is so weird. Some stuff is pretty expensive, but i took my wheels to a local bike shop as i couldn't get the tyres to seat. I already had the Muc Off sealant/valves, so just asked them to fit the tyres. Collected them yesterday, and they've seated the tyres and filled with sealant and only charger me €12 for both wheels.
At that price it's not worth even trying to do it myself!

That is crazy cheap even considering it was probably 10 minutes work. In a shop they will get those tyres on in a few minutes, sealant in and then air compressor to seat the beads, job done. Probably would have cost you double that in the UK though.

 

[Martynt74]

That is crazy cheap even considering it was probably 10 minutes work. In a shop they will get those tyres on in a few minutes, sealant in and then air compressor to seat the beads, job done. Probably would have cost you double that in the UK though.

Yeah, you'd think even the cost of the sealant wouldn't be that far off €10 for both tyres.

Is there an issue with mixing sealant? I'm unsure which they used and i have the Muc Off Road based stuff.

 

[Roady]

Re CX junior bikes - thanks, now to find used. Had a frog before and it was a bit tatty after a while so not too keen on those. Might look at a cheap build and whatever comes up on eBay.

As it's for CX don't some of the more cx-y EU brands do junior frames? Ridley, Vitus, Cube etc?

I know last time I was at my LBS they had wider range and a lot more kids bikes from Specialized and Trek than I'd ever seen.

Spain is so weird. Some stuff is pretty expensive, but i took my wheels to a local bike shop as i couldn't get the tyres to seat. I already had the Muc Off sealant/valves, so just asked them to fit the tyres. Collected them yesterday, and they've seated the tyres and filled with sealant and only charger me €12 for both wheels.
At that price it's not worth even trying to do it myself!

Great price - definitely 'keeping in' with them if that's their sort of pricing. Totally agree, not even worth buying the tools & having the hassle for that!

Yeah, you'd think even the cost of the sealant wouldn't be that far off €10 for both tyres.

Is there an issue with mixing sealant? I'm unsure which they used and i have the Muc Off Road based stuff.

Shouldn't be, but you never know. Could just ask them?

As it's road as well you don't tend to 'top up' as much as you would MTB/Gravel, I don't anyway. Tend to change it due to age when it stop sealing so then am stripping it all out & replacing so not mixing.

 

[Martynt74]

Shouldn't be, but you never know. Could just ask them?

As it's road as well you don't tend to 'top up' as much as you would MTB/Gravel, I don't anyway. Tend to change it due to age when it stop sealing so then am stripping it all out & replacing so not mixing.

Well the plan is a little more gravel. Am eyeing up this!

360K - Iron Gravel

irongravel.com

 

[Martynt74]

First attempt at a proper gravel ride yesterday. Not sure I trust Strava classification of terrain.
I’d have struggled on my Hardtail on this given lack of confidence!

Was around 9% incline and felt scary being clipped in. Then had to walk in carbon soles shoes which wasn’t ideal!