Road Cycling

[Roady]

Brutal headwinds this morning pushed up average power by probably ~75W over my usual morning commute (with the other half in tow). Suffer score higher too. PWM data really puts things into perspective! When commuting I'm so used to holding approx speeds on sections, seeing wildly different power numbers day in day out is really getting interesting!

Got a couple of twinges in my knee and quite stiff this morning, need to tweak saddle position slightly on turbo. Will take it up half a cm as my feet are ok (tend to get numb feet when saddle too high!). Turbo needs to go back in the garage before she gets too annoyed by it (otherwise I'll not be allowed to do it again!).

Valentines day tomorrow fk fk fk, need to go buy a card from somewhere!

Anyone got a 'Voodoo' frame/bike?

 

[SDK^]

PWM data really puts things into perspective! When commuting I'm so used to holding approx speeds on sections, seeing wildly different power numbers day in day out is really getting interesting!

That is the advantage of a PM.
If you're going into a strong headwind your speed will be significantly lower but checking power data will give you comfort you are still putting effort in (or not maybe )

Yesterday I did a 26 mile ride with the highest avg power I have ever done over 1.5 hours but my avg speed was lower than normal due to the conditions.
Today will probably be the same.

 

[Saytan]

Were the old rims & hubs really that bad? Wouldn't a couple of new spokes solved everything?!

received wisdom is that if one spoke goes, replace it, if more than one goes, replace them all.

 

[lordrobs]

Finally got out for a decent ride on Saturday (the standard for 'decent' currently sitting at 30 miles + ) but it felt like hard work with headwinds and sub zero wind chill. Still... better than the turbo.

Speaking of the turbo I've finally made a decision, it is going. I admire those of you that can sit and spin away on Zwift but it just isn't for me. I was worried that might be the case which is why I only bought a basic second hand (but unused) unit. If I can get half my money back on it I'll only be £25 down and I've had a bit of use out of it. For those odd occasions that I've got the time for a ride but the conditions don't allow I'll jump on the wifes exercise bike

Just need to find the time to sort my rear brake issue that cropped up at the end of the last ride and I'll be all set for my first club ride on Sunday Strangely I'm a bit anxious about it As for the brakes - it feels like the pads are clamping the disc but there is a fraction of the retardation that there should be. So far I've just given it a blast of brake cleaner but it might be wishful thinking hoping that will sort it!

 

[SDK^]

Indoor training isn't for me either.
I was looking on the OcUK club data and noticed Richard Bower did a 3 hour indoor Swift ride

 

[Shamrock]

Damn those hubs are ugly!

Were the old rims & hubs really that bad? Wouldn't a couple of new spokes solved everything?!

You sound like my boss!

I don't like to waste money but I don't feel that 6800 miles of abuse is bad for a commuter wheelset.

The new set was £134 so not exactly breaking the bank compared to my carb0nz wheels.

 

[Saytan]

i know a few extremely classy riders who wont go near a turbo. It neednt be a barrier to being a class act on a bike, as long as you engage fully with rule 9.

 

[Roady]

Had a mental first day on a cycling trip in Morocco.

Sounds like an incredible start. Fingers crossed the rest of your trip is less 'eventful' with landslides & snow!

I don't like to waste money but I don't feel that 6800 miles of abuse is bad for a commuter wheelset.

The new set was £134 so not exactly breaking the bank compared to my carb0nz wheels.

Not bad at all if that's the kinda mileage and cost! Was just saying, loose/broken spokes shouldn't determine the life of a wheelset - hubs and rims should!

Then again at that price bracket, when spokes cost ~£1.50 each they are a substantial amount of a budgets wheelsets 'value'.

received wisdom is that if one spoke goes, replace it, if more than one goes, replace them all.

Quite valid on an older, high mileage & low cost wheelset. It equally could be two broken spokes from hitting a pot hole at some point!

Speaking of the turbo I've finally made a decision, it is going. I admire those of you that can sit and spin away on Zwift but it just isn't for me.

Turbo work isn't for everyone, for me I treat it as an 'alternative' to riding outdoors in conditions (rain/ice/wind) I would otherwise not enjoy and probably not ride in. It's not a direct 'replacement' to other riding for me so I don't feel like I 'missed' anything!

As for your rear, I bled my front brake of a little air and replaced a little missing fluid (basically topped it up) and it solved most of my issue with the pad 'rubbing' and the extra noises I was getting. Feel is now loads better, I hadn't really noticed as it had never been 'better' than the rear, but now it is. Will do the rear in time (doesn't need it currently).

Indoor training isn't for me either.
I was looking on the OcUK club data and noticed Richard Bower did a 3 hour indoor Swift ride

Richard is a machine on the turbo! Dave Ives & Alan Milligan racked up loads of turbo miles last year, but less this winter.

 

[FrenchTart]

Indoor training isn't for me either.
I was looking on the OcUK club data and noticed Richard Bower did a 3 hour indoor Swift ride

Check out BennyC's ride history

 

[BennyC]

I eat clean so don't tend to smell

Eh?! Wut?

That is the advantage of a PM.
If you're going into a strong headwind your speed will be significantly lower but checking power data will give you comfort you are still putting effort in (or not maybe )

Especially on false flats or really slow yet smooth surfaces

Indoor training isn't for me either.
I was looking on the OcUK club data and noticed Richard Bower did a 3 hour indoor Swift ride

Check out BennyC's ride history

I'm not on the OCUK Club

2.5-3hr session on a Sunday has become a staple for me over the winter unless conditions have permitted something outdoors. 80 mins on a Saturday and then usually a 75 and 90 min session on a Tues/Thursday too.

 

[lordrobs]

As for your rear, I bled my front brake of a little air and replaced a little missing fluid (basically topped it up) and it solved most of my issue with the pad 'rubbing' and the extra noises I was getting. Feel is now loads better, I hadn't really noticed as it had never been 'better' than the rear, but now it is. Will do the rear in time (doesn't need it currently).

My ones are mechanical and everything is doing what it should, there was just no friction. Hopefully it was just cruddy pads.

It is weird that air ended up in your brakes as it is a sealed system. I'd be hoping it wasn't setup properly from new, otherwise you may find you have a leak.

With regards to the indoor stuff, I'm sure a big part of the problem is my cramped, cold and damp garage! Maybe I'll give it another go when I can have a setup like a lot of you guys have indoors where you have a 36"+ screen with the turbo left setup etc. My 15" laptop propped on the chest freezer made the whole thing a little less immersive

 

[BennyC]

I'm in an unheated, non-insulated and far from air tight garage bout 5 degrees avg for 3 hours on Sunday. Genuinely don't think I would be able to perform at a respectable level if I were properly indoors. Even with a 20" floor fan as is I struggle.

The turbo & screen stays out there but walk the bike over along with my laptop and other bits and pieces every time. Bit of a faff but no more so than if I were to actually ride outside

 

[#Chri5#]

With regards to the indoor stuff, I'm sure a big part of the problem is my cramped, cold and damp garage! Maybe I'll give it another go when I can have a setup like a lot of you guys have indoors where you have a 36"+ screen with the turbo left setup etc. My 15" laptop propped on the chest freezer made the whole thing a little less immersive

I've put a lot more TT sessions in since getting my new man cave - it is more immersive having a big screen and decent sound properly setup. It's also nice not having to carry a pile of stuff (laptop, laptop PSU, speaker etc) outside for every session and I can leave the turbo setup on the garage all the time.

Unheated is good though - will start the a session in a fleece but that comes off inside 10 minutes and I'll be dripping wet by the end of the session (even with a decent fan).

 

[SDK^]

I can confirm the headwind today is pretty epic.
Going up a steady 12% climb into the wind I nearly had to get off as I couldn't maintain the 550+ watts required to stay upright

 

[Roady]

Eh?! Wut?

I'm not on the OCUK Club

I find eating junk/rubbish food seems to make my sweat smell, eating a good balanced diet with plenty of veg/fruit (5 a day? I have usually 8-9 a day minimum!) I'm fairly 'odourless'. Nobody else find this?!

You know what the first rule of OCUK club is...

My ones are mechanical and everything is doing what it should, there was just no friction. Hopefully it was just cruddy pads.

It is weird that air ended up in your brakes as it is a sealed system. I'd be hoping it wasn't setup properly from new, otherwise you may find you have a leak.

Hopefully, what pads did yours come with?

It was a tiny amount so I think it may have just been slightly under-filled from day 1. I only noticed two tiny air bubbles when tilting it every which way, the 'air' out of the system was mostly from removing the bleed cap and not seeing any oil from the top, so when I put 5ml into the funnel around 0.25ml (or less) of it went straight in.

I'm in an unheated, non-insulated and far from air tight garage bout 5 degrees avg for 3 hours on Sunday. Genuinely don't think I would be able to perform at a respectable level if I were properly indoors. Even with a 20" floor fan as is I struggle.

I thought that, but when I was wearing thermal layers, winter shorts, overshoes and wooly hat in the 0 degrees garage, I found the 10 degrees of my office/lounge #2 totally fine in summer kit! Even had to put arm & knee 'screens' on (not quite warmers!).

The turbo & screen stays out there but walk the bike over along with my laptop and other bits and pieces every time. Bit of a faff but no more so than if I were to actually ride outside

All I need to carry now is laptop+drink+towel, it's bliss! Previously I had to unpack everything out of my garden shed, setup, use & pack away. That was a huge faff!

It's also nice not having to carry a pile of stuff (laptop, laptop PSU, speaker etc) outside for every session and I can leave the turbo setup on the garage all the time.

Makes a big difference when all you need to do is grab 2-3 things and be riding within 2 mins of getting to the garage doesn't it!

Was even easier not having to leave the house! Annoyingly that's was only short term!

My temporary setup (this weekend):

Spoiler

 

[Roady]

I can confirm the headwind today is pretty epic.
Going up a steady 12% climb into the wind I nearly had to get off as I couldn't maintain the 550+ watts required to stay upright

Yup! Strong and damn cold from the East this morning. Changed direction slightly from the South-East at lunch-time but sun was out. Wind is loads warmer, I cooked slightly in my windslam winter thermal into the headwind back to work! Around 8-10 degrees, beautiful to head out if the wind dropped a little (and we weren't all stuck at work)!

 

[booyaka]

Offically broken legs....

Back at local coach today after 9 days in a row of ToS2017, then coach put me through the wringer with a Vo2 max session.

30 seconds on as hard as you can, 3 mins rest.

Repeated 10 times. Aiming for 150% of my 3mins max power (340W) on each 30 seconds on.......legs are wrecked.

He uses Training Peaks - so will sign up for a free account and he's going to upload data to that to see progress/sessions etc.

His advice was to make sure I have 3 or 4 days of almost nothing (20 mins spin -low power etc) as it's been a hard effort the last 12 days.

Back next week for a power session!!

 

[BennyC]

He uses Training Peaks - so will sign up for a free account and he's going to upload data to that to see progress/sessions etc.

BC membership gets quite heavy discount too valuable and quite reasonably priced piece of kit for anyone, specifically with power, looking to get a handle on things, educate themselves and moderate or progress their training

Quite user friendly too, not just for cycling and more charts than you can shake your powermeter at

His advice was to make sure I have 3 or 4 days of almost nothing (20 mins spin -low power etc) as it's been a hard effort the last 12 days.

!

No doubt, your TSS and ATL will be through the roof

 

[SoliD]

BC membership gets quite heavy discount too valuable and quite reasonably priced piece of kit for anyone, specifically with power, looking to get a handle on things, educate themselves and moderate or progress their training

Quite user friendly too, not just for cycling and more charts than you can shake your powermeter at



No doubt, your TSS and ATL will be through the roof

Still need to really dig into mine, but I'm really liking the TP stuff and I've barely scratched the surface.

 

[One More Solo]

No doubt, your TSS and ATL will be through the roof

I can only speak for myself but ATL of 89 (103 at its peak this week) and TSB of -34.9 yesterday.