Road Cycling

I had two sets of the endurance v1.

I did buy some v2 but got 28s by mistake and returned them and bought v1s locally.

The V2s are meant to be a substantial improvement but I didn't mind the V1s personally. I haven't directly compared with the Vittorias however.
 
Michelins are more supple, grip about the same, Michelin roll better I think and weigh bit less going off feel, but cost double.
 
Your ride would be starting from Horley? That's a bit further out than Great Bookham.

I agree that it'd be worth doing Barhatch Ln as that is probably the toughest climb in Surrey (yes it's nothing compared to "real" climbs before someone comments :rolleyes:).

Nah probably wouldn't start from Horley, would drive then park up.

Are you able to send a route or somethign that incorporates what you're on about, bit difficult with strava segments to actually add them when you don't know exactly where they are not being local! :D
 
Yeah but I need a rough route start point.:D

Oh! Well anywhere I could park for free between Horley and Portsmouth via M25/A3, or south via M23/A272. I previously started in Great Bookham last time I rode. ie not that fussed, but preferably south of the M25.
 
Didn't fall off today. Winner.

I switched over bikes though, I need to adjust my brakes on the ultimate, 28s are rubbing but only once per revolution, so I think the rear wheel needs spokes adjusting slightly. I'll take it in to have a look at it
 
Oh! Well anywhere I could park for free between Horley and Portsmouth via M25/A3, or south via M23/A272. I previously started in Great Bookham last time I rode. ie not that fussed, but preferably south of the M25.

Okay, I just started it in Great Bookham again for simplicity.

Not the most creative route but it takes in climbs I believe are new for you.

Climbs in order Staple Ln > Shere/Peaslake > Barhatch Ln > Newlands Corner South > Crocknorth Rd > Chapel Ln North > Ranmore Common North

Barhatch Lane was in the ToB and Ranmore Common featured in the Surrey Classic last weekend.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15601690
 
Chaps, there's a cat 3 climb near me I want to try.

Is there anything I need to do, other than to simply go and do it?

https://www.strava.com/segments/685539

I decided to try and cycle up Birdlip last night, which for those that don't know is a big massive hill in Gloucestershire (little Witcombe to Birdlip). It's a category 3 hill on Strava (although some segments show as 4?), god knows what 4 and HC are like! I've never attempted anything like it before but I fancied a go. I'll keep going back every fortnight and see how I get on. As for progress, well, you guessed it, I didn't make it up. I got to the final right hand corner and I could literally see the end, but I was exhausted, borderline puking and had nothing left. I could have probably dug in and carried on, but I didn't want to be in the situation of having to cycle home without any wits about me.

Maybe next time I'll try some gel or an energy bar. I stopped 4 or 5 times to have a rest, it's by far the hardest thing I've done so far on a bike! Quads were burning & heart pounding. In my feeble defence, I tried to fix the indexing on my bike before I went out and mostly succeeded, except it wouldn't stay in the granny cog so I did it all in one below. I could get it to go on the granny cog which made much more of a difference than I expected but it didn't stay there for long. My bike goes in for a service on Saturday and I pick it up two weeks after with a holiday in between, so my next attempt won't be for 3 weeks or so.

According to Strava, it was just under 500 feet of elevation in a mile, not sure what the entire thing is.

I will be back (with a fixed granny gear and some gel/energy bars.
 

I'm not far away but won't have time to drop in. Though I will be at their MK store collecting on Sunday ;)

It's a category 3 hill on Strava (although some segments show as 4?), god knows what 4 and HC are like!

The lower the number the harder the climb. The order is HC - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.

Hence portions of a Category 3 may be categorised as a Category 4 climb in their own right.

Sounds like you might need to pace it a little better, climbs are not sprints :) The elevation profile on that segment is totally borked but it looks mostly fairly consistent in gradient so if you can get a good rhythm going and not fully open the tap early on you should be fine.
 
I decided to try and cycle up Birdlip last night, which for those that don't know is a big massive hill in Gloucestershire (little Witcombe to Birdlip). It's a category 3 hill on Strava (although some segments show as 4?), god knows what 4 and HC are like! I've never attempted anything like it before but I fancied a go. I'll keep going back every fortnight and see how I get on. As for progress, well, you guessed it, I didn't make it up. I got to the final right hand corner and I could literally see the end, but I was exhausted, borderline puking and had nothing left. I could have probably dug in and carried on, but I didn't want to be in the situation of having to cycle home without any wits about me.

Maybe next time I'll try some gel or an energy bar. I stopped 4 or 5 times to have a rest, it's by far the hardest thing I've done so far on a bike! Quads were burning & heart pounding. In my feeble defence, I tried to fix the indexing on my bike before I went out and mostly succeeded, except it wouldn't stay in the granny cog so I did it all in one below. I could get it to go on the granny cog which made much more of a difference than I expected but it didn't stay there for long. My bike goes in for a service on Saturday and I pick it up two weeks after with a holiday in between, so my next attempt won't be for 3 weeks or so.

According to Strava, it was just under 500 feet of elevation in a mile, not sure what the entire thing is.

I will be back (with a fixed granny gear and some gel/energy bars.

I am sure you will get up it next time! I actually have descended that segment and thought it was quite hairy! For an easier challenge I'd recommend climbing from Stroud to Birdlip. It's a long steady ascent which is very picturesque - https://www.strava.com/activities/568761643/segments/13792613790
 
Okay, I just started it in Great Bookham again for simplicity.

Not the most creative route but it takes in climbs I believe are new for you.

Climbs in order Staple Ln > Shere/Peaslake > Barhatch Ln > Newlands Corner South > Crocknorth Rd > Chapel Ln North > Ranmore Common North

Barhatch Lane was in the ToB and Ranmore Common featured in the Surrey Classic last weekend.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15601690

Thanks very much! May cut out the final loop depending on how I feel/time of evening! Hopefully get away from work about 3 with some luck so shouldn't be too busy!
 
IThe lower the number the harder the climb. The order is HC - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.

Hence portions of a Category 3 may be categorised as a Category 4 climb in their own right.

Sounds like you might need to pace it a little better, climbs are not sprints :) The elevation profile on that segment is totally borked but it looks mostly fairly consistent in gradient so if you can get a good rhythm going and not fully open the tap early on you should be fine.

What I need to do is lose more weight and get properly fit! And keep putting miles on. It's all pretty new to me.

I am sure you will get up it next time! I actually have descended that segment and thought it was quite hairy! For an easier challenge I'd recommend climbing from Stroud to Birdlip. It's a long steady ascent which is very picturesque - https://www.strava.com/activities/568761643/segments/13792613790

Cheers, I do need to venture out more and up into the Cotswolds.

Not sure this is viewable?

https://www.strava.com/activities/663400312
 
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