Road Cycling

Roady · 9 May 2017 at 16:59

Interesting...

Campagnolo Discs groupsets released and they are 'complete' groupsets - ie, they include optimised chainsets with a different chainline to normal... Unsure how much the chainline is moved but it sounds very suspicious to Specialized with their SCS system?!

booyaka said:
Sounds like your glad to get that off your chest!!

Training bunch tonight - 1st time virgin.......

Haha, just a brand that in my 'experience' (groping garments in Evans') was vastly overpriced for no gain it quality. Most of their range made Castelli look like value.

Goodluck!

Hill reps for me... /sadist

Vonhelmet · 9 May 2017 at 17:47

Campagnolo are resurrecting the Centaur groupset as well, 11 speed this time around. Intended to compete with 105 and aiming for OEM bikes, much like Potenza going up against Ultegra. Looks like good news for me, as I'll be building a Campag equipped carbon bike in a couple of years.

SDK^ · 9 May 2017 at 18:18

Roady said:
Interesting...

Campagnolo Discs groupsets released and they are 'complete' groupsets - ie, they include optimised chainsets with a different chainline to normal... Unsure how much the chainline is moved but it sounds very suspicious to Specialized with their SCS system?!

The marketing BS machine continues

reckon their disc brakes decelerate 23 to 26 per cent quicker in wet conditions, depending on the competition, and between 14 and a huge 55 per cent in dry conditions

Steedie · 9 May 2017 at 20:50

https://www.strava.com/activities/978669394

So annoyed, felt like such a good ride. Felt much faster than last time I did it, using the tips Ben gave me and powering through the minor hills and bridges. Get back excited to see a load of gold medals, only to see on all but two I'm slower. Some even not in my top 3, and on one flat segment I was a minute slower. Genuinely angry and disappointed that I can be that much slower

Saytan · 9 May 2017 at 21:02

Vonhelmet said:
Campagnolo are resurrecting the Centaur groupset as well, 11 speed this time around. Intended to compete with 105 and aiming for OEM bikes, much like Potenza going up against Ultegra. Looks like good news for me, as I'll be building a Campag equipped carbon bike in a couple of years.

Given that potenza is more expensive than Athena used to be, it seems a little bit cynical to me. It's also really ugly....

Everything I want from a campag groupset only comes in at chorus level. Powershift and (less so) powertorque make me sad.

I'm a commited campag man, but ultegra Di2 gives me the odd quiver of doubt.

Saytan · 9 May 2017 at 21:05

Roady said:
Interesting...

Campagnolo Discs groupsets released and they are 'complete' groupsets - ie, they include optimised chainsets with a different chainline to normal... Unsure how much the chainline is moved but it sounds very suspicious to Specialized with their SCS system?!

Same principle but the other way of doing it. Means you don't get colossal problems finding wheels, you get the finding cranks instead

merlin · 9 May 2017 at 21:08

Steedie said:
https://www.strava.com/activities/978669394

So annoyed, felt like such a good ride. Felt much faster than last time I did it, using the tips Ben gave me and powering through the minor hills and bridges. Get back excited to see a load of gold medals, only to see on all but two I'm slower. Some even not in my top 3, and on one flat segment I was a minute slower. Genuinely angry and disappointed that I can be that much slower

Could be just fatigued/not hydrated or fuelled to same level as last time/tyre pressure drop etc etc.

Good days, bad days - you'll experience it all, its a bit of a roller coaster - especially as the weather/seasons change.

Lethal` · 9 May 2017 at 21:20

Steedie said:
https://www.strava.com/activities/978669394

So annoyed, felt like such a good ride. Felt much faster than last time I did it, using the tips Ben gave me and powering through the minor hills and bridges. Get back excited to see a load of gold medals, only to see on all but two I'm slower. Some even not in my top 3, and on one flat segment I was a minute slower. Genuinely angry and disappointed that I can be that much slower

Can definitely see your inexperience as you aren't making every excuse under the sun like most cyclists would

It happens. Some days, just slower than others. Possible it's a wind difference or other environmental factor or just an off day. You'll smash it soon!

merlin · 9 May 2017 at 21:31

Threw some Fulcrum Racing 5's on my Defy 1 tonight - feels a bit more spritely from a quick 1 mile test ride, further testing on track Thursday (subject of course the sodding the weather).

Not a bad upgrade for £190, probably 200g saving, hopefully won't need truing every 2 minutes like the OE wheels.

Vonhelmet · 9 May 2017 at 22:07

Saytan said:
Given that potenza is more expensive than Athena used to be, it seems a little bit cynical to me. It's also really ugly....

Everything I want from a campag groupset only comes in at chorus level. Powershift and (less so) powertorque make me sad.

I'm a commited campag man, but ultegra Di2 gives me the odd quiver of doubt.

I thought the same about this new version of centaur. It's hard to know why you'd go for potenza except to save a few grams, unless there's some major difference in the quality of the parts or their durability. I also have to agree that it doesn't look great - these 4 arm chain sets are just dire, but apparently they're better so I guess we're stuck with them. The new centaur actually has ultratorque rather than powertorque, so that would definitely push me away from potenza to centaur as powertorque just looks like a nightmare.

I want to try campag on the next bike I build, which will be a carbon affair, so I will be looking for something decent that will last, but I also don't want to spend a fortune if I don't get on with it. It looks like I'll go for centaur at this rate. That'll at least give me a chance to see what I make of it. I'll then have a bike with each of campag, sram and shimano so I'll have a good idea of what I like best, which will dictate what goes on the custom steel bike I intend to get myself for my 40th. The funny thing is with the differing prices on groupsets I could look at chorus, force or ultegra di2 so that's quite a range of things to look at. Mind you, road.cc had some leaked shots of the new ultegra groupset and it's hideous, so that idea might get shelved right away.

Saytan · 9 May 2017 at 22:21

Vonhelmet said:
I thought the same about this new version of centaur. It's hard to know why you'd go for potenza except to save a few grams, unless there's some major difference in the quality of the parts or their durability. I also have to agree that it doesn't look great - these 4 arm chain sets are just dire, but apparently they're better so I guess we're stuck with them. The new centaur actually has ultratorque rather than powertorque, so that would definitely push me away from potenza to centaur as powertorque just looks like a nightmare.

I want to try campag on the next bike I build, which will be a carbon affair, so I will be looking for something decent that will last, but I also don't want to spend a fortune if I don't get on with it. It looks like I'll go for centaur at this rate. That'll at least give me a chance to see what I make of it. I'll then have a bike with each of campag, sram and shimano so I'll have a good idea of what I like best, which will dictate what goes on the custom steel bike I intend to get myself for my 40th. The funny thing is with the differing prices on groupsets I could look at chorus, force or ultegra di2 so that's quite a range of things to look at. Mind you, road.cc had some leaked shots of the new ultegra groupset and it's hideous, so that idea might get shelved right away.

Interesting about the UT crank. I'd assumed it would be the same as the potenza crank with the self extracting powertorque. Bizarre that it isn't if I'm honest, but that's campag for you.

On the basis I'd almost say potenza has no point, centaur or chorus are the choices.

Jonny ///M · 9 May 2017 at 23:41

xdcx said:
Yeah, going over data with my coach and I was off the power for 54 seconds crawling behind the queue at the roundabout and finished with 310w NP which is only a 1w increase on my best for a 10. That would have led to a substantially quicker time not getting stuck in the traffic.
The guy in front of me I caught at the line is usually a 21min guy and he was a 22:5something..... Only other bloke I have spoken to is a mate up here from another club who was off 12 mins before me, he only equalled his power from a 25 the week before due to getting caught up at the roundabout.

Westferry, Cambusbarron or the Kildary course up here on the A9 where Nationals was supposed to be this year! All flat, decent surface courses on big roads/roundabout turns. I have Kildary a week tomorrow, shifting focus to that for a fast time if the weather is kind. 315w long 20 is there I just need a break from all the course/lorry drama that's plagued my season so far.

Who are all the guys you know from down your way?

Yeah I had Gordon Murdoch in today for a longer stem on the TT bike and tweak of his position on the extensions as he felt he wasn't creating power in that position. He commented on riding down the white line of a road with cars lined up next to you being a bit cagey. He has certainly went faster but he is older now I guess.

Top ten guys that I've ridden with would be Steven Lawley and Dougie Watson, more so Dougie as he's a bundy boy. Helped me get back on the bunch tonight so he's a good guy, it may have been him that made me ****** here https://www.strava.com/activities/978718645/segments/23984717382 so he owed me!

Others would be Kyle Johnston who does the bundy and the club apr thing, Lewis Duff goes well for an older guy too! Matched Kyle's time for being double his age. Graham Smith was out last week but I don't know if TTs are his thing or not.

I kinda just gave up tonight. I was on the front of the bunch catching 3 who were a few meters off but when I got to the front guy they took the speed up a bit more and the second guy went too.

I didn't have the energy after hammering it towards the big hill, trying to stay on a pro vision guys wheel to catch the slow guys once up the climb and then that section Dougie put the but in with a headwind destroyed me.

Highlight of the night was two girls jogging towards me and the boss as we pedaled home through Strathclyde park, some set of **** on the first one. Utterly mesmerizing.

iBSOD · 9 May 2017 at 23:42

Just bought marathon plus tyres. They are 28c and the tyres they are replacing are 25c. I'm assuming they fit the rim and I won't need new inner tubes?

Jonny ///M · 9 May 2017 at 23:52

Should be fine if you're going from a 23/25. There are slightly wider tubes that are 25+ if you were being fussy.

Does your bike have the clearance for them as they will fit the rims? Had issues with 25c Marathons on 'race' bikes wheels that sit close tot he seat tube.

Vonhelmet · 9 May 2017 at 23:53

They'll fit the rim and the tubes should be find unless you've currently got the narrowest tubes in the world.

Marathon Plus are serious business. Heavy but bombproof.

iBSOD · 9 May 2017 at 23:58

Haven't checked the frame clearance but i don't remember the wheel being tight to the frame

and yeah Just had a puncture today after not even a week of owning the bike, so decided to go for some puncture resistant tyres. not fun having to walk home 3 miles after work

Jonny ///M · 10 May 2017 at 00:08

The Durano plus is a slightly faster running tyre that doesn't look too out of place on a road bike.

Marathon plus will be more bombproof if that's all you're looking for.

UTmaniac · 10 May 2017 at 06:17

Steedie said:
https://www.strava.com/activities/978669394

So annoyed, felt like such a good ride. Felt much faster than last time I did it, using the tips Ben gave me and powering through the minor hills and bridges. Get back excited to see a load of gold medals, only to see on all but two I'm slower. Some even not in my top 3, and on one flat segment I was a minute slower. Genuinely angry and disappointed that I can be that much slower

Some days you are the pigeon, some days you are the statue.

Could headwinds be a factor? What does mywindsock.com say?

uv · 10 May 2017 at 06:41

If you install the Stravistix Chrome plugin, it will tell you on what the weather/wind was like on your Strava page for that ride

booyaka · 10 May 2017 at 08:34

Well 1st Training Bunch ride last night and man, that was a whole other level!!

About 35 people there, 2 laps with a about a mile and a half lead in and out to the start/finish bit. Off in the first group (3 groups total) and it was "balls to the wall" from the off. About 14 in the group, rolling through and off reasonable well. On the climbs it strung out a bit into a single line and I was OK. 2nd lap started and I was hanging on a bit and missed a few turns. Need to work on my group position because each time I end up following a woman who was about 6 stone dripping wet and got bugger all draft off her!!

Top of the climb about 2/3 into the 2nd lap I was on the limit, caught them on the small descent but then the fast 2 groups came roaring round the corner. Dear god they are fast, think it was around 24mph the fast group averaged last night. They caught us and I just couldn't hold the wheel any longer. Dropped off the back and ended up with another chap just 2 upping it back to the finish. Had I managed to cling on another 500m or so it would have been downhill to the finish and would have had a chance at making it I think.

https://www.strava.com/activities/978659837

240W weighted power, 20.9mph average for the 27 miles.

Legs are done this morning - it was enjoyable but brutal at the same time. I will be back for more!!!