Road Cycling

I actually taped the front vents on my shoes with electrical tape the other night. Worked fairly well... couldn't find the duct tape but I'm guessing that would be better.

I guess that does the same job as toe covers but with SPDs (not SLs) I'm wondering if toe covers would actually stay on as there is no cleat they can attach behind?
 
Berger said:
My favourite bartape is the supercaz stuff over the lizard skins dsp.

Pretty soft and comfortable and easy to wrap. Doesn't soak up water like cork or felt tape.

I have some cheap Deda stuff I put on the TT bike, I wouldn't buy it again, once it's on it's on, trying to peel it off causes the tape to rip (I used the removal sticker stuff on the rear).
Click to expand...

Supercaz is brilliant. But not cheap, but lasts very well. Think I've done a good 5000 miles and doesn't show any signs apart from fading of the orange. I have some Deda stuff on my TT bike but didn't have the issues Berger had. Zipp Service Course is great all round grippy/comfy tape as it is for CX.
 
Just bought some new tyres because the OE ones on my bike don't inspire confidence beyond bone dry roads, don't seem to roll too great either unless there's a million psi in them. Gone for Michelin Pro4 Endurance V2.
 
^ Good choice of tyre :)

So, apparently my FTP is 281 right now. Not really that bad given my utter lack of activity. I had a bit more in the tank too.

Today is the first day of a TR training plan which I'll be running probably until we get through winter (assuming I don't get ill/become lazy). Hoping to be back to my old 315 FTP or higher pretty quickly as I recover my fitness. Need to simultaneously shed quite a bit of weight though as my W/KG is now pretty low :p
 
Another thumbs up for the Supercaz super sticky cush tape here. Nice and grippy, doesnt soak in water, seems to last well and nice and comfortable and you get nice aluminium bar ends that you tighten up with a allen key.

Sorry to hear about your off Roady, hope you recover quickly
 
FrenchTart said:
^ Good choice of tyre :)

So, apparently my FTP is 281 right now. Not really that bad given my utter lack of activity. I had a bit more in the tank too.

Today is the first day of a TR training plan which I'll be running probably until we get through winter (assuming I don't get ill/become lazy). Hoping to be back to my old 315 FTP or higher pretty quickly as I recover my fitness. Need to simultaneously shed quite a bit of weight though as my W/KG is now pretty low :p
Click to expand...

I hope to one day get to 315 in general :D
 
merlin said:
Just bought some new tyres because the OE ones on my bike don't inspire confidence beyond bone dry roads, don't seem to roll too great either unless there's a million psi in them. Gone for Michelin Pro4 Endurance V2.
Click to expand...

They should do you well. I was getting punctures all the time until I swapped to them, no punctures in over 850 miles since.
 
SoliD said:
W/Kg and CDA is where it's at!
Click to expand...

But being a fat **** that makes my w/kg even worse ahaha

I've been on the phone to Garmin about my broken screen 520. They were like, you can have a discount on a new product or 60eur to get a refurbished 520. I thought I'd look at the possibility to get an 820 if it's a decent deal!
They offered 20% off in their store... which, when you look they're selling the 820 for 400 euros! I can get it online for 294! So it's not worth me doing it in any way.
I might pay the 60 and get a refurbished one, sell it (I have 2 520s... one's the wife's and other is mine, but she never uses it) and use that against a new 820 maybe.

Hmmm
 
All,

what precautions and what preparation do you do for riding in the dark evenings? I have only been cycling 6-7 weeks and tend go do two hours before work when I am out (5-7) so haven't been too affected by the dark as it got light fairly quickly. However, now I am planning on changing my training to the evening to give me more time but I am apprehensive about cycling at night.

I have reflective clothing and good lights but I think it's more to do with the poor visability (a lot of the places I will be cycling will be no street lights) so I think I'd be scared to really push incase I come a cropper on a pot hole or badly placed grid etc. Am I overthinking this? I will probably be going out around 8 for 2-3 hours so traffic shouldn't be an issue.
 
I generally take it slowly in the dark for the very reasons you've mentioned.

You could get a bright light (for example, I have this) which will help you see pot holes and make you a bit more visible via a pool of light on the road. Just be sure that you aim the angle of the light as far down as possible so that you don't dazzle other road users.
 
Or take two lights, and cover the sun power one if some idiot dares to be on your road at the same time as you.

I wear a Reflect 360+ Gilet and it's awesome. Can be seen from hundreds of yards away, if not half a mile if they have their main beams on you and there's a clear line of sight.
 
I'd argue that if you're riding on the road (rather than an MTB trail or something where you're extremely unlikely to run into other cyclists/etc) then you should keep your light aimed a fair bit down at all times.
 
I have my light casting a beam a fair way off into the distance when riding the unlit lanes at night. I find it way more stressful to be ready to react to whats in my limited range of vision than to have a good view of whats up ahead.

Even with 1000 Chinese lumens and no real beam shaping the light I'm kicking out is far less blinding than your average HID equipped car.
 
New winter hack is getting cheaper... just had an email with photo attached to say that there is a paint chip on the caliper mount and do I want £35 off or a new frame. As its a cheap winter / off road bike rather than a nice summer bike I took the money off.

Clearance price of £390 - 4% Quidco - £35 = just under £340 :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom