Road Cycling

[Jonny ///M]

I haven't ridden many of them for much distance but I find the spyres to be best of a bad bunch. They line up well, individual pad adjustment means you get it perfect. Massive improvement over the horrendous avid bb5/bb7. 90% of those had to have the lever pull to the bar so that the pad wasn't scuffing.

I've only had one bike that has the same problem as that but on a spyre. OEM caliper(black lever arm) replaced with a retail(polished lever arm) caliper and all was well. Most people just run standard cable but they'll benefit from compression less outer.


Rotors wise the post mount caliper comes with I believe. Flat mounts don't appear to on wiggle.

Make sure you get the correct mounting style 6 bolt(In the name) vs centrelock(like a cassette lock ring).

The trp use a tektro pad(who'd have thought) that is also used on lower end shimanp calipers so you could use shimano rotors of the same size.

Some combinations are weird where the braking area of the rotor is short and the pad is tall so it brakes on the rotor arms which isn't so good.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Another puncture this morning! Same spot on the rear tyre as the last one, so I think it's time to let the tyre go. Now that I look it's done about 3300 miles so it's due a change anyway. The joys!

 

[Roady]

Spent most of my weekend building a 6'4' glasshouse so missed any of the group rides, hard work with the number of parts and ***** instructions! Managed a good Zwift base session on Sunday catching up on some of the Rugby 6N. Just as I was finishing up I recalled seeing a 'WBR Fast Lap' listed so I jumped on it for an easy ZP result.
https://www.strava.com/activities/906585695

Spoiler

As I was well warmed up I smashed it early, a group of 5-6 of us working well, 4 of us held on but I'd done too much previously to finish any better than 4th. Two guys getting up the road around 2 miles before the end and the 3rd place guy putting a couple of seconds into me before I opened my finish, had to go for a long sprint but couldn't close him down. Looking at the results the power averages put me into CAT A so was racing CAT A guys! Not many in the race but I was well in front of the CAT B's I'd normally be racing!

300W avg for 19mins, might mean I need to do another FTP test... (FTP currently set as 271W!)

Sounds like all the group rides got soaked saturday and then the headwinds on sunday made things pretty miserable too! Most of them rode out to Abergavenny to support some of the locals riding in the 2017 #1 Abergavenny Handicap Road Race, best placed was Will coming in 6th. Sounds like a brutal race with only 65 finishers of the 100 starters!

Winds must have been coming from the south as of the 10-15 riders on my Strava (who rode down together in the morning), they had splintered into several groups for the ride back. A fast group of 4-5 smashing a load of KOM's on the way back!

While we're talking discs...

What are peoples experiences on pads & types? My 785 on the Diverge are 'Ice-Tech resin pads w/fins', I've had some wet weather noises again from them (still loads better after topping up my fluid levels!) and although I'm not changing them anytime soon, I think I need to start to build my understanding of pad compounds & types.

 

[uv]

All disc pad types will squeal in the rain - it's unavoidable. At least, all pad types I've tried over the years. If you're after new pads, save yourself some money and get non-shimano ones from Uberbike - they're great, and if you get the replaceable pads with separate shoes, they're really cheap in the long run.

These are £14 a pair: https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/...TRIX-ROAD-DISC-BRAKE-PADS-SHIMANO-RS785-RS685

and when they run out, you then only need to get a set of these at £9 a pair: https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/...-RS685-Finned-Replacement-RACE-MATRIX-INSERTS

..and each purchase gives you some kind of loyalty points that you can take off the next one

 

[Roady]

I was expecting to insta bin the cheap CX tyres on the winter machine but they've been alright really considering the conditions they've endured.

Which tyres are those? I've been very impressed with the Specialized 'Roubaix Pro' which came on my Diverge. Getting close to 1500 miles and the front still has the 'middle seam' marking in the middle of the tread from the join you see on some tyres when new...

Nah, only the one today was a legit puncture through the tyre.

Saw you had one this morning too, utterly dire luck or rubbish/debris still stuck in the tyre or inside the rim?

Look what landed on my doorstep today

Spoiler

2017 Canyon Aeroad 8.0 Di2 Disc

- Ultegra Di2
- Shimano R785 Hyro disc brakes
- Reynolds Strike Carbon wheels – disc
- Canyon Aero Cockpit

Weight: 7.8kg

The one piece aero cockpit with intergrated Garmin mount

Beautiful bike, really pleased it turned up for you and in perfect condition! Fast first ride too! That's the benchmark set...

The cables are sorted now

Good! Better pics now?

Actually really like the stealth look of those Reynolds rims, usually I don't like the look/decals of Reynolds.

 

[Roady]

All disc pad types will squeal in the rain - it's unavoidable. At least, all pad types I've tried over the years. If you're after new pads, save yourself some money and get non-shimano ones from Uberbike - they're great, and if you get the replaceable pads with separate shoes, they're really cheap in the long run.

Spoiler

These are £14 a pair: https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/...TRIX-ROAD-DISC-BRAKE-PADS-SHIMANO-RS785-RS685

and when they run out, you then only need to get a set of these at £9 a pair: https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/...-RS685-Finned-Replacement-RACE-MATRIX-INSERTS

..and each purchase gives you some kind of loyalty points that you can take off the next one

At that price part of me wants to change them already (after only 2300 miles!), just to see the difference... Due to the high mileage from discs (compared to rim pads) are reusable fins really required at that price point? Or do they wear particularly quickly to warrant the cheap cost of changing? It doesn't talk much about the pad compound, are these 'organic'/sintered? Which I've heard are better in the wet?

 

[SDK^]

Beautiful bike, really pleased it turned up for you and in perfect condition! Fast first ride too! That's the benchmark set...
Good! Better pics now?

I will get some this week. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the wind was so high the bike was at risk of getting blown over out of the stand.

 

[BennyC]

£8.50, 4 Powerlinks, free delivery and two packs of Tangfastics (Quidco too for the pennies )

 

[grudas]

I think I've fallen out of love with cycling actually looking forwards to binning it and not commuting anymore..

the terrible commute is getting on my nerves with close calls everyday!

starting a new job in may and commute would be 16ish miles each way which I could do but I just cba

will probably sell my bikes and keep one for some weekend cycling if I ever feel like it.

 

[booyaka]

Last of my 6 week block today

Working on increasing power/decreasing time then a balls to the wall cadence drill.

Warm up then

4 mins @ 240W - 2 min rest
4 mins @ 250W - 2 min rest after each one.
3 mins @ 260W
3 mins @ 270W
2 mins @ 290W
2 mins @ 300W

Working Vo2 max etc. Felt hard but ok on these.

Then a horrendous session - no gear at all - this was all about leg speed to produce the power. "on" parts were full gas - hard as you can.

30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, 30 seconds on -
25 seconds on, 35 seconds off, 25 seconds on -
20 on, 40 off, 20 on
15 on, 45 off, 15 on
10 on ,50 off, 10 on

Can't even remember the numbers - it was horrible but I did get upwards of 170rpm average cadence at one point and the last 2 ten second efforts were over 700W at 165rpm!

Legs like rubber after that.......retesting next week to see how things have improved over last 6 weeks.

 

[lordrobs]

Which tyres are those? I've been very impressed with the Specialized 'Roubaix Pro' which came on my Diverge. Getting close to 1500 miles and the front still has the 'middle seam' marking in the middle of the tread from the join you see on some tyres when new...

These ones. Seem to roll well on the road and after a route plotting fail last week I can confirm that they do ok on mud too!

I think I've fallen out of love with cycling actually looking forwards to binning it and not commuting anymore..

the terrible commute is getting on my nerves with close calls everyday!

starting a new job in may and commute would be 16ish miles each way which I could do but I just cba

will probably sell my bikes and keep one for some weekend cycling if I ever feel like it.

Pretty sure I'd feel the same if I commuted. I avoid busy times and ride in the sticks so I can avoid traffic. Even with the vast majority of drivers giving space I still find city riding stressful.

 

[FrenchTart]

Spent most of my weekend building a 6'4' glasshouse so missed any of the group rides, hard work with the number of parts and ***** instructions! Managed a good Zwift base session on Sunday catching up on some of the Rugby 6N. Just as I was finishing up I recalled seeing a 'WBR Fast Lap' listed so I jumped on it for an easy ZP result.
https://www.strava.com/activities/906585695

Spoiler

As I was well warmed up I smashed it early, a group of 5-6 of us working well, 4 of us held on but I'd done too much previously to finish any better than 4th. Two guys getting up the road around 2 miles before the end and the 3rd place guy putting a couple of seconds into me before I opened my finish, had to go for a long sprint but couldn't close him down. Looking at the results the power averages put me into CAT A so was racing CAT A guys! Not many in the race but I was well in front of the CAT B's I'd normally be racing!

300W avg for 19mins, might mean I need to do another FTP test... (FTP currently set as 271W!)

Sounds like all the group rides got soaked saturday and then the headwinds on sunday made things pretty miserable too! Most of them rode out to Abergavenny to support some of the locals riding in the 2017 #1 Abergavenny Handicap Road Race, best placed was Will coming in 6th. Sounds like a brutal race with only 65 finishers of the 100 starters!

Winds must have been coming from the south as of the 10-15 riders on my Strava (who rode down together in the morning), they had splintered into several groups for the ride back. A fast group of 4-5 smashing a load of KOM's on the way back!

While we're talking discs...

What are peoples experiences on pads & types? My 785 on the Diverge are 'Ice-Tech resin pads w/fins', I've had some wet weather noises again from them (still loads better after topping up my fluid levels!) and although I'm not changing them anytime soon, I think I need to start to build my understanding of pad compounds & types.

Most of this stuff should really be posted in one of the other threads Zwift/turbo thread for instance.

 

[Roady]

That's why I put the one bit in spoilers afterwards

I tend to flow everything together and chucking things in the trainer thread is a fairly new thing, I do go into it there in more detail (usually afterwards), I'll try and leave it out in future

 

[Vonhelmet]

I think I've fallen out of love with cycling actually looking forwards to binning it and not commuting anymore..

the terrible commute is getting on my nerves with close calls everyday!

starting a new job in may and commute would be 16ish miles each way which I could do but I just cba

will probably sell my bikes and keep one for some weekend cycling if I ever feel like it.

Not gonna keep pushing?

 

[FrenchTart]

Popped out for a flat metric earlier. Weather was pretty grim right up until 10 minutes before I got home... which I guess I shouldn't be surprised by

Feeling the effects of the stag weekend I think (and to be fair, my lack of activity lately). HR was a bit high for the power output and it felt like harder work than it should do. First metric of the year though so I'm happy on that front

https://www.strava.com/activities/907521568

 

[booyaka]

Popped out for a flat metric earlier. Weather was pretty grim right up until 10 minutes before I got home... which I guess I shouldn't be surprised by

Feeling the effects of the stag weekend I think (and to be fair, my lack of activity lately). HR was a bit high for the power output and it felt like harder work than it should do. First metric of the year though so I'm happy on that front

https://www.strava.com/activities/907521568

real pathetic effort 18.2mph average......come on....who you kidding - that's a great effort!

 

[Roady]

I think I've fallen out of love with cycling actually looking forwards to binning it and not commuting anymore..

the terrible commute is getting on my nerves with close calls everyday!

starting a new job in may and commute would be 16ish miles each way which I could do but I just cba

will probably sell my bikes and keep one for some weekend cycling if I ever feel like it.

The amount of commuting miles you used to do, had to be done from the love of the challenge and intensity. Now that's gone the commuting can really feel like a chore, especially in traffic during the winter and stinky weather. Once it starts to feel like 'a slog', rather than 'a challenge' that can really be it - the enjoyment goes straight out of it! Don't make any rash decisions matey, just drive to work possibly until after starting the new job, although you could pick and choose when to ride once the weather really turns out nice or the traffic bugs you. Just think how much money you'll lose if you flog everything on a whim and get sick of driving after a couple of months!

With changes of priority and interest it's hard to continue such a time and energy sink like a long commute. Take stock, drive your commute and enjoy the car for a while (know that's still fairly new for you!)

As you're getting older, lazier and fatter (after a few months time) drag the bike out in some good weather and go for a ramble with your brother. You may rediscover the challenge and thrill, not to mention some new areas to discover around where you're moving to. If you're still feeling like this in the late summer then it may be time to move on. Although it's much better if you can work out a balance between the two!

Feeling the effects of the stag weekend I think (and to be fair, my lack of activity lately). HR was a bit high for the power output and it felt like harder work than it should do. First metric of the year though so I'm happy on that front

https://www.strava.com/activities/907521568

If that's an 'average' kinda metric ride after your recent lower volume, change to running and in this gusty/windy weather then you really should be chuffed with yourself!

How is the running going anyway? Shake that injury you picked up?

 

[Vonhelmet]

My best speed for a metric - in a similar neck of the woods as it happens - is 16.7mph. That was on my old single speed bike which was geared at 48*18. I'd probably be slower on my current single speed as it's only 42*17.

 

[Robzere31]

I think I've fallen out of love with cycling actually looking forwards to binning it and not commuting anymore..

the terrible commute is getting on my nerves with close calls everyday!

starting a new job in may and commute would be 16ish miles each way which I could do but I just cba

will probably sell my bikes and keep one for some weekend cycling if I ever feel like it.

I feel exactly the same, my milage this year is shockingly low. I've bummed a lift into work with the wife so much this year even when the weather has been ok.
Really need some motivation to get out on the bike, but it's just not there.

 

[grudas]

The amount of commuting miles you used to do, had to be done from the love of the challenge and intensity. Now that's gone the commuting can really feel like a chore, especially in traffic during the winter and stinky weather. Once it starts to feel like 'a slog', rather than 'a challenge' that can really be it - the enjoyment goes straight out of it! Don't make any rash decisions matey, just drive to work possibly until after starting the new job, although you could pick and choose when to ride once the weather really turns out nice or the traffic bugs you. Just think how much money you'll lose if you flog everything on a whim and get sick of driving after a couple of months!

With changes of priority and interest it's hard to continue such a time and energy sink like a long commute. Take stock, drive your commute and enjoy the car for a while (know that's still fairly new for you!)

As you're getting older, lazier and fatter (after a few months time) drag the bike out in some good weather and go for a ramble with your brother. You may rediscover the challenge and thrill, not to mention some new areas to discover around where you're moving to. If you're still feeling like this in the late summer then it may be time to move on. Although it's much better if you can work out a balance between the two!
If that's an 'average' kinda metric ride after your recent lower volume, change to running and in this gusty/windy weather then you really should be chuffed with yourself!

Yeah I guess I'll be keeping one bike or selling all and getting a "nice" bike I do like cycling don't me wrong but it's getting a bit too much lately with the amount of close calls I experience and all the random tyre blowouts, rescues by my gf etc

I'm planning to move further south, deeper into surrey so nicer cycling roads etc.

as far as exercise goes I am going to stick with my gym/bodybuilding and focus on that! I have this theory that my body struggles to do both well at the same time, I can't get heavier/bigger yet keep the same flexibility/speed that is required for cycling so right now I'm bang on in the middle and I feel like I can't be "epic" at either sport haha

my brother has been of the bike for the past 6 weeks, some ankle/foot injury that physio said will go away on it's own in the next 3-4 weeks so his bike is very dusty compared to mine

I feel exactly the same, my milage this year is shockingly low. I've bummed a lift into work with the wife so much this year even when the weather has been ok.
Really need some motivation to get out on the bike, but it's just not there.

I've been sticking to it but as soon as my notice is out and I start my new job I'll be in the car..

I guess once I get used to the new workplace etc I'll jump on the bike a couple of times a week in nice sunny mornings as that is a pleasure to cycle. But heavy congestion streets through central london? no, horrible.. my face is always covered in black dots I guess diesel fumes? or crap from trucks/buses etc.. it's not healthy