Road Cycling

Decent clothes. Go to decathlon and buy some pairs of bib shorts and some jerseys, 500 series, ideally 700. Shoes if you want to ride clipless, otherwise make do with trainers on flat pedals. Bottles, but they're dead cheap. Multi tool and puncture repair kit and mini pump. You can live without a computer for a long time, but they are money well spent in time.

Eyewear is tricky. If you can't see without them, then glasses are essential. However, they're also important for protection from stones or whatever gets kicked up, so you may not want to use your regular glasses for that! You can get prescription eyewear, but obviously that's pricey.
 
So this was the issue with my skipping gears. Did a crap job fitting new chain. Didn't notice it when fitting, it must have come apart more while riding. So I took this link out and replaced it, all good on today's 80 mile ride :)

 
I once had a chain break just a few yards from the top of a cat 3 climb. It was a shimano chain and I reckon it was their stupid linking pin that had broken. Fortunately I had a chain tool on hand to break things down and fix it again.
 
I've pretty much accepted I'm never going to do massive rides, a plonk out when it's nice is enough for me. My average speed is increasing slightly though.

I had no idea where I was going or what sort of distance I was going to do today, just trying to work out what my comfortable cruising speed is and how much effort I'm putting in while riding along on the flat. It looks as though a nice easy speed is around 16-17 mph for me. That's fine.

I did a fifteen mile loop this afternoon. Stopped for an ice cream and noticed two people in lycra heading back to their bikes so had a quick chat with them which started off by my asking if I'd see them on the Strava Flyby later on in the day. One of them has already appeared :)

Must get around to actually doing some maintenance, even just cleaning and lubricating the chain would be a start.

/edit - Edited because I commented about taking the chain off. I'm not sure if that's even possible to do without breaking it.
 
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Oh you know what I mean - not breaking it as in actually breaking it :p

Breaking it apart is what I mean, I don't want to do that.
 
Third times a charm fitting a new chain this evening.

Must have been less links in the last chain from new vs the replacement as too slack on the 34x11 after removing the same number of links. (Both HG601)
Fed round part of the outer of the rear derailleur second time.
Third time, sorted :p /Sunday

I know the quick links being reusable debate exists but fitting & removing without having actually used should be fine I hope :p 'clunked' in a little less assuringly the 2nd & 3rd time. Always got a spare on me when riding anyway.
 
Crap weather here has put me off my stride with the riding.

Last Tuesday me and a mate headed to 'The Bundy' but with the weather looking crap and being stood from 6.50 we left at 7pm on the dot. Turned out we had left a minute too early and there was 3 guys doing the same route behind us. Awk well it was still a hard shift, felt like I'd been out with them and my mate was putting it into me on strady drags at 300+watts :|. Beat him up the big steep climb as he tried to hold my wheel though :) https://www.strava.com/activities/1067875368/segments/26272808070

Thursday came and we decided to try the 'Southside Chainy' and went in the faster of the two groups, group 2 being slower and leaving 30 seconds later. I ended up chucking it and riding solo back from here

https://www.strava.com/activities/1071014507/analysis/3129/3491

That section is used for a 10TT so got me wondering where I'd be at on a 10 doing that speed back whilst being ******. It was a westerly wind so maybe a slight tailwind on my way in.

Happy with what I did as I didn't know the course and had nailed it to get in the 'break' which my mate missed. Trying to wheel about with guys that are racing is hard!
 
Feek said:
Oh you know what I mean - not breaking it as in actually breaking it :p

Breaking it apart is what I mean, I don't want to do that.
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Sorry, I mean if you could get it off without breaking it, then you'd probably have a broken frame, given its basically looped round the rear stays!
 
Back on the bike this week for work, forgot socks and pants didn't I. Now walking around the office wearing Loake ankle shoes with trainer socks.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Decent clothes. Go to decathlon and buy some pairs of bib shorts and some jerseys, 500 series, ideally 700. Shoes if you want to ride clipless, otherwise make do with trainers on flat pedals. Bottles, but they're dead cheap. Multi tool and puncture repair kit and mini pump. You can live without a computer for a long time, but they are money well spent in time.

Eyewear is tricky. If you can't see without them, then glasses are essential. However, they're also important for protection from stones or whatever gets kicked up, so you may not want to use your regular glasses for that! You can get prescription eyewear, but obviously that's pricey.
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Cheers. Trip to Decathlon this weekend then! Silly question time, underwear underneath bib shorts? I wear compression shorts for running etc without, presume these are the same?

On the glasses front, i've got some over the top 'covers' coming until I can sort something better.
 
Maxeh said:
Anyone got any feedback on the Elemnt vs 520?

Currently using my trusty 500 however due to a move I'm after something with decent European mapping capabilities.

I'm not overly fussed about huge amounts of data, clear and accurate mapping is a priority.
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I went from an 810 (when it broke) to an Elemnt Bolt. I'd never go back to any of the currently available Garmin devices. The few things that might seem to be advantages really aren't (colour maps, "proper" turn-by-turn (which you can still have by using RidesWithGPS or the like for routing) - the Elemnt maps are easier to read and worldwide without any messing about and turn-by-turn is unreliable on both Garmin and Elemnt units due to issues with the accuracy of road junction marking on maps. The Elemnt is cheaper, has an infinitely better interface for configuration, all the same or more features that matter and most importantly is far more stable. The amount of recordings that have been lost due to Garmins crashing amongst me and my friends is utterly crazy. I've had zero crashes on the Bolt so far.
 
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