Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
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Has anyone here ridden in Majorca? I'm going at the end of August and unsure whether to invest in some new Alu rims or go with my carbon clinchers - don't really want to melt my wheels.
Soldato
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I was a little worried about that when I went to Spain this year. We were riding int he mountains just outside Alicante.
The weather there was hot, and I had no issues with my CCs on the long descents. I wasn't braking any worse than those on alu wheels either.
Take the carbons!
The weather there was hot, and I had no issues with my CCs on the long descents. I wasn't braking any worse than those on alu wheels either.
Take the carbons!
Mad, I've not heard of it and it's been running 8 years and 'as well as being the UK's only televised sportive'! (I grew up in mid-wales and previously worked around much of south-wales).
Unfortunately I don't know any of those roads, the only slightly known one being around Narbeth and then I only know the A road in from the A40. Although I don't recall the roads around Narbeth being particularly bad. Like much of South-Wales the roads can be quite old but in generally better condition than the broken up and 'patched' roads of England.
Although I'd note the A477 is a VERY busy road with lots of lorries and ferry traffic on it, I'd avoid it but you don't really have that option! The A4075 (which part of the route follows) you might also find busy, often people will race between Pembroke and Fishguard if a Ferry is cancelled or running behind schedule. Although they tend to get cancelled more frequently from Fishguard than Pembroke so the traffic would be going the other way. I guess much of these depends on the Ferry times and how they coincide with the Sportive time.
Your prep ride over the weekend looked superb, kudos
I've ridden around Fishguard many times and as far as Haverfordwest as my mum lives near Fishguard, which is where I will be staying. The roads, even the narrow lanes aren't bad around there, unless they have been tar sprayed....
It was the TV coverage last year (watched it on Eurosport) that made me sign up for it this year. Should be an epic event, just hoping for some nice weather, but not too hot... I'm looking forward to the bike part the most as you might expect, just got to remember to save something for the run.
You'll be fine unless you drag a brake everywhere, my cheap chinese rubbish
survived just fine. Alps this summer will be a test, but I'm sure not braking will ensure their survival.
You should be able to grab the gpx from the strava rides:
Day 1- https://www.strava.com/activities/1020136082
Day 2- https://www.strava.com/activities/1020136219
Day 3- https://www.strava.com/activities/1020136242
Day 4- https://www.strava.com/activities/1020136421
Day 5- https://www.strava.com/activities/1020136407
Day 6- https://www.strava.com/activities/1021438415 (this hasn't uploaded properly for some reason, I think there's something wrong with my edge 800, and my next steps are to factory reset it and hope it's not on its way out (it is quite old now).
Unfortunately my ride to LL won't upload to Garmin at all but the route should be viewable here: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/15269840.
The only thing I would say about the National Cycle Route 1 that I took for some of the way is that its absolutely atrocious and not fit for any cycling, especially between Newcastle and Berwick. Bear that in mind if taking <28mm tyres!
The best take away from the trip though was that my knee gave me no issues at all. So, need to find the next challenge now!
Noticed on my new bike last night a warning sticker under the stem that said there should be a minimum of one spacer above the stem if steerer is carbon (which it is).
The bike came with all spacers under the stem, nothing over, so am I ok to completely ignore this or is there something to it?
/edit - ignore, pretty sure it's actually an alloy steerer.
The bike came with all spacers under the stem, nothing over, so am I ok to completely ignore this or is there something to it?
/edit - ignore, pretty sure it's actually an alloy steerer.
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Soldato
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Looked out the window within the last hour? Its been alternating from "just raining" to " all out torrential" every 10 minutes or so. Instead of the nod or slight raising of the hand to passing fellow cyclists, tonight, I shall be fist pumping in tribute to all the hardcore loonies like us out in this.
Soldato
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Glad I wasn't able to ride in today. It looks freakin windy out there! And I would be cycling straight into it.
Soldato
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Dont mind the wind so much, its more the driving rain soaking all my gear. Nothing worse than having to put on wet shoes to go home. Overshoes mostly did the job though. Maybe I should just ride home shirtless and keep my jersey dry.
Soldato
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I think I prefer rain to wind. It doesn't help that I cycle SW to go home, exactly into the prevailing winds......which are rarely calm!
And nothing dents your ego more than struggling to do 16mph on dead flat roads!
And nothing dents your ego more than struggling to do 16mph on dead flat roads!
Brilliant, thanks for the info. Added you on Strava, hope you don't mind.
I don't mind the rain so long as I can get stuff dry before the ride home. I have two pairs of shoes and enough clothes that I can usually rotate stuff to cope with it. Wind drives me nuts though - I hate slogging away and doing 14mph into the wind!
Same. Going to do tonight and wednesday I think. Legs are feeling a bit tired from saturday but feeling powerful today so will be a shame to waste them by just commuting in the winds!
Ah, sounds like you know the roads far better than my memory possibly could!
The 2.4 mile swim at the start sounds brutal enough, nevermind the marathon after the bike! It's like a 'mini weekend' Ironman?! Will see if I can catch any of it on the Eurosport app, give us a wave!
What could possibly go wrong...
**virtual fist pump**
I'm not quite counting my feathered egg laying mammals before they spawn, but I've not got soaked yet today...
Winds have been horrific though, tending to be from the South-East here, so a block headwind on the exposed road just before work this morning & at lunchtime. Crazy high intensity & power for commuting when I'm been going fairly gingerly due to the gusty winds. Glad I'm feeling strong today!
Just went and bought a KickR Snap, this weather is awful and preventing me from going out so what a great excuse to spend some money...
Need to go out and get a floor fan now ready for tomorrow. Can't wait to try Zwift
Need to go out and get a floor fan now ready for tomorrow. Can't wait to try Zwift
Turbo later... I should probably do intervals (still need work on my active recovery & sweetspot) but while I'm feeling fresh I'm tempted by the EVR race tonight at 7.35pm if anyone else is Zwifting? Take it to the Indoor riding thread if so...
Good choice, have you got Speed & Cadence sensors already? Although the SNAP is a Smart trainer I've found a separate wheel speed & cadence give better readings on my Vortex...Just went and bought a KickR Snap, this weather is awful and preventing me from going out so what a great excuse to spend some money...
Need to go out and get a floor fan now ready for tomorrow. Can't wait to try Zwift