Road Cycling

[howler]

Back from Majorca, had a great time. The hire bike from Pro Cycle Hire was pretty good no complaints there although it has convinced me that Di2 isn't really worth the money. The only really advantage was the ability to easily click downshifts while braking

Anyway day 1 ride was just to find my way around a bit and didn't get out until about 2pm

https://www.strava.com/activities/733046345

Long ride (for me anyway) on day 2, didn't realise quite how long the climb went on for

https://www.strava.com/activities/734076331

Legs didn't have too much energy left on day 3 so took it easy on pace (no other choice) but the ride to Cap Formentor was great

https://www.strava.com/activities/735185788

I already want to go back, the roads over there are so great to ride and the weather was amazing except for the thunderstrom on the last day but I had to give the bike back then anyway

There was a local race going on while I was out there and some people told me that Peter Sagan was over there and might be racing, no idea if that was true or not

 

[Vonhelmet]

Urgh, low sun on the commute in, pretty scary at times. Need it to get a bit lower or, ideally, properly dark. Better than riding round not seeing where you're going and unsure whether cars can see you.

 

[FrenchTart]

Winter is coming, as some might say. Only means one thing. A stupid ride out to Southport in the worst weather imaginable and with inadequate equipment. I can tell you are looking forwards to it as much as me.

Well.. I should be back on my bike in November so after a couple of weeks making sure that my shoulder doesn't fall off on longer rides I could be up for a trip. I might even have proper winter gear this time

 

[BennyC]

Majorca

I arrive Saturday, can't wait Rides & scenery look good.

 

[Roady]

Summer bike demoted to turbo duties for the Winter

Spoiler

Looks good! But inside turbo'ing!? :E

good day out today, did the Culloden Challenge Big Battle
https://www.strava.com/activities/738353689

Awesome riding! How were the conditions!?

I think the last batch of Aldi buys may have finally cured me of buying their cycling gear.

Finally!

I've been cured for a while, they're ok for 'comsumable' type accessories - secondary lights, bag covers, base layers etc but not really for gear/equipment you need to rely on. For things like main lights, jerseys & bibs it's better to buy more quality brands. Most of it I think is 'Crane' anyway?

I ate many cake yesterday so today felt I needed a zwift, so did Jons mix with the upped 296w FTP and think I might lower that lol 3 bursts of 890w nearly broke my tired muscles.

Haha *ouchy*!

Did my first stint on Zwift/Turbo this season, lots of fiddling around setting things up & getting stuff working so only had around 45 mins. Need some more CR2032's too! Also might need to put a bigger tyre than the spare 23mm ~I had on the front as getting loads of squeaking from it on my stand...

Good fun just to spin around, strange how it's such a different sensation, I'm finding it hard to 'adjust' to it than I remember previously, might be due to the large (for me) amount of riding I've done this year after so little turbo work last spring. Used an old monitor/desk arm to hold the 21" crappy TV I have closer to me... The 1920x1080 resolution is pretty dire on it so I really will replace it soon...

https://www.strava.com/activities/739164787

Found with my turbo 'twisted 4 times' from initial touch on the wheel (@100psi) that I struggled to even hold 300W when sprinting (I'm stronger than that!). Loosened things a turn and it felt better. Really need some calibration methods, if anyone has any recommendations? Apart from that I enjoyed racing around, sprinting for landmarks, holding zpower levels and then attempted to hold 250W up the big climb, cramped & stood, recovered and powered over the top. Spent the last couple of miles cooling down.

Need to adjust my layout a bit - need more space (next to the wall) to aid with airflow after moving from my initial setup (where I found the width of the garage not quite wide enough). Possibly set up another fan so I can have one each side (1 high, 1 low?).

Also waiting for a replacement InRide to arrive (FT ) but the play around I'd had with it prior to sending it away I wasn't that amazed by, mostly the android software being slow and pretty pants... Might read up online and if the iOS software is better I'll dig out an old iphone3GS to run it on.

TLDR; Failed miserably to hit my 80 mile target for the week, even with turbo session. #excuses

 

[topgun06]

@BennyC et al. Got my Endura long bibs today, they are utterly awesome in quality and material. Had them tried on today and can't wait for it to be colder now. They're amazing. They get the Ross stamp of approval.
I ate many cake yesterday so today felt I needed a zwift, so did Jons mix with the upped 296w FTP and think I might lower that lol 3 bursts of 890w nearly broke my tired muscles.

Which bibs did you go for? I've always gone for the bibshorts + leg warmer combination. I've never owned full leg bibs.

 

[FrenchTart]

Lol Roady. Can't believe you're getting it replaced...

If you've got a proper PC get the recommended bluetooth adaptor and use the InRide with that. It's substantially better than virtual power

 

[touch]

There was a local race going on while I was out there and some people told me that Peter Sagan was over there and might be racing, no idea if that was true or not

One of the guys from our club was out there racing. I think it was a 3 day stage race mainly around the north end of the island. (He was riding for the ProCycleHire team and finished 2nd on GC!).
If this was the same race you saw, Sagan wouldnt have been racing. I expect he's probably in Quatar just now acclimatising.

 

[howler]

I might have chatted to him, got speaking to a guy in the Pro Cycle Hire café and someone he was riding with had just placed 3rd in the TT event but there weren't totally sure, he was wearing Pro Cycle Hire gear so may well have been him

 

[Kimi]

Just back from Mallorca, the race was on when we were there and the 3rd day TT i think it was started and finished outside our hotel. That was awesome until the mother of all storms hit and the road was under half a ft of water! incredible!

I had a great time over there. Managed to do the Calobra twice and a few other routes, next time i dont think ill go to Pollenca tho, ill try maybe Soller and take on some climbs that side.

Only downside was loosing a stem bolt on the way back that must have fallen out of my bike box. Apart from that everything came back fine.

Highly recommend the Italian restaurant next to Hotel Romantic along the sea front. Cassa Villa it might be called? the pizza in there was incredible!

Ill get some pics up later.

Heres a couple quick ones tho

 

[randomshenans]

Which bibs did you go for? I've always gone for the bibshorts + leg warmer combination. I've never owned full leg bibs.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/endura-pro-sl-biblong-medium-pad/

Having worn them in this morning, the pros:

• Pad is superb, just feels comfy & seamless
• Multiple materials (backside of leg is different to the front), so nice flex & movement
• Windstopper material on the front, keeps you warm but not too hot
• Fleece lined
• 10/10 would buy again

 

[randomshenans]

TLDR; Failed miserably to hit my 80 mile target for the week, even with turbo session. #excuses

Dude, you need to move your trainer back as well, you trying to make contact with your virtual rider?

I washed the padding on my helmet at the weekend (ooow eerr) man that smelt so bad.

 

[physichull]

Urgh, low sun on the commute in, pretty scary at times. Need it to get a bit lower or, ideally, properly dark. Better than riding round not seeing where you're going and unsure whether cars can see you.

Yup, totally get that. Fortunately this period doesn't last long. I'm already commuting in the dark (before sunrise) in the mornings.

 

[Roady]

Lol Roady. Can't believe you're getting it replaced...

If you've got a proper PC get the recommended bluetooth adaptor and use the InRide with that. It's substantially better than virtual power

Yeah, I even got a new gromet & magnet for free out of them ('I've lost mine so don't know what version my InRide is') xD

Really can't complain with the support I've had so far, but equally I don't think I'll be getting the SMART unit, at least not without a big price drop. It is Zwift/TR/etc compatible but uses their own BTLE closed protocol and isn't BTLE open/ANT+ FEC backwards compatible. Not a problem for most but straight away means it's not Garmin head unit/ANT+ sensor compatible for any future control/data/sync which might use it (think re-riding a route from info recorded on your Garmin head unit). For the expensive unit (to make an existing Road Machine a SMART trainer) to be as restricted out of the box I think I'd rather spend 'less' and replace with a totally different one (more initial outlay, recoup difference with RM sale).

Back from Majorca, had a great time.

Great riding, kudos! Not monster mileage (like most I see go over) but much more sensible! The sorta mileage I'd be allowed to do if I went over with the other half (who I doubt would want to ride)...

Which bibs did you go for? I've always gone for the bibshorts + leg warmer combination. I've never owned full leg bibs.

Padless tights all the way, just chuck them on over your shorts! Also great when shorts+warmers isn't quite enough!

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Got back on the bike today to commute to work. I got full power-rangered up expecting it to be massively cold. I think i slightly over-did it.

Was quite toasty towards the end, still at least it means it can get colder and I will be ok!

 

[dod]

Awesome riding! How were the conditions!?

Thanks. Conditions were pretty good, about 12-14 degrees and only light winds on the way out with a tail wind home, just one of those good memory days

 

[Roady]

Dude, you need to move your trainer back as well, you trying to make contact with your virtual rider?

Gotta get on his wheel mate! Aero innit!

I set it up close saving some space (even though I've got lots now lol). Screen is on an arm so I can move it forwards and backwards so started with it just over my hoods but was a wee bit close as when I got out the saddle I almost bashed my nose!

I got full power-rangered up

I've been Blue Power Rangering it today in my Fawesome vest. Really impressed with it, it's thinner than I recall the fabric I felt on a Gabba/Gabba 2 (in a shop), still with awesome wind protection. I'm basically using it as a windproof gilet over a normal jersey and thick arm warmers in this ~10 degree but cold-wind kinda weather.

Thanks. Conditions were pretty good, about 12-14 degrees and only light winds on the way out with a tail wind home, just one of those good memory days

Stop it! You're making me even more jealous! So is my damn sister - got a Whattsapp during my lunch saying "in Cyprus, tell mum" with a typical thumb up infront of a great view. GAH! I didn't even know she was going! How on earth do students have so much money!?

 

[BennyC]

I washed the padding on my helmet at the weekend (ooow eerr) man that smelt so bad.

I can virtually wring mine out by running a firm finger over each pad after a ride, so gross :X

Spoiler

 

[randomshenans]

Mine was the same. It smelt so bad. Even if I didn't have a massively sweaty ride, it was embedded in too much my head just stank lol niiiiice.

 

[Roady]

I can virtually wring mine out by running a firm finger over each pad after a ride, so gross :X

Mine was the same. It smelt so bad. Even if I didn't have a massively sweaty ride, it was embedded in too much my head just stank lol niiiiice.

Lol mingers! I sweat tons but my pads don't stink... I always cycle with a cap on, but a headband on trainer (Castelli of course!). Just a clean sweater I guess (even though I eat tons of garlic)!?

Pricing for the Kinetic SMART Control upgrade unit is kinda released now. £350-£400 ish (Wiggle & Sigma) puts it into the ballpark of the Elite Rampa & Tacx Vortex as direct replacements. But as it's an 'upgrade' to my existing Road Machine (which I should be able to sell on for £100) maybe it's best to consider it in the same ballpark as the Wahoo KICKR Snap (£450ish Wiggle discount)? Tough sell.

Anyone with a Vortex or KICKR Snap here? Do they auto-tension on the rear wheel and feature a calibration/rolldown kinda zero-test afterwards? I'm basically after an on-wheel turbo I can calibrate/zero-offset (relating to turbo tyre pressure) for virtual/zpower consistency.

What other trainers should I be looking at in the £250-£450 ballpark? I'm after full smart resistance for control on Zwift/TR. Ideally ANT+ FE-C & BTLE compatible (future-proof), able to handle minimum of 800W (guessing 600W sprints?) and ideally over 5% elevation simulation (anything close to 10% or over would be a big plus). Vortex/Neo (or whatever Tacx one they're currently shifting) always seems to fit the bill, just they're so damn ugly in white and look flimsy...

EDIT: Can't 'justify' a full KICKR (other half said no) but equally if I did I couldn't justify then looking at PWM's next year...