Soldato
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Cool, shall have a look around for the long cage version then get on youtube for some how too's
Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
Cool, shall have a look around for the long cage version then get on youtube for some how too's
Thanks! It's arrived and brought the car back to work this afternoon so you'll see some excited Zwift rides from me this weekend lolFingers crossed your new toy behaves,
I've been trying unsuccessfully trying to find some enthusiasm to ride this morning, no doubt almost certainly in the virtual world, I'm not sure if I've done an outdoor ride this year besides commutes!
Motivation is hard this time of year, I find having a goal/target is quite a good way to get the legs going. For me that's a weekly mileage target which I break down by doing 40-50 miles commuting, 1 zwift race (~30 miles) and then another 20-30 miles either Zwift racing/training ride or a saturday morning club/social ride (depending on weather).
That's around 3-400 TSS for me (according to TP) and I've find that quite a good base that is improving my power without too much fatigue, so I'm able to continue riding 6 days a week. Bigger rides and sessions (pushing my weekly TSS over 500 need an extra day of recovery, at least).
Alright big guns! Hard to tell with that spider as it looks huge! Crank arm also looks really long and I didn't think you rode 175mm.52? Pah! I only ride 55T.
it's a 50..
https://www.strava.com/activities/1127792897/analysis/101/188
5 minutes up 7% avg @66 rpm & 268W I'm guessing stood? Doesn't sound slow enough (9.7mph) for your 50*28. Without HR data it's hard to see how you coped, but sitting and spinning is key!
Hate to use one of my own as an example but my effort up The Tumble is quite a good example of how really not to do things...!
https://www.strava.com/activities/1156510527/analysis/7467/8926
- Riding with some friends and feeling good (also not knowing what to expect), I hit the bottom hard. We'd rested just before and I was last off the line so did some chasing. I went too hard and nearly blew myself up with my HR over 180bpm within the first 1/4 mile when trying to catch Mark.
- This was before the real climb started and as soon as we hit the 15%+ switchbacks I was in trouble. Nailed the first then holding 300W at 90rpm hit the second. HR over 185bpm I had to stand (60rpm) to keep myself moving before sitting and dropping the power to try and get things under control.
- I stood the whole middle section to the cattle grid as the gradient was fairly constant but I rode at my FTP (270W) rather than over it, knowing I should be able to hold it.
- As the steep eased back to 8% I alternated between sitting grinding at 80rpm and standing at 50rpm. I was in trouble, my HR not dropping and unable to sustain things.
- When things eased up to 5% I had no option but to sit, spin and recover, getting my HR back under control (back under 180bpm!). Barely turning 150W.
- Thinking I'd recovered enough (after 1 minute!) I nailed my FTP again but soon found it too hard having to ease before attempting to surge before eventually standing sprint to the top.
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bear in mind that Tiagra 4700 is completely incompatible with 4600
Soldato
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The closest hill segment I've done over the past year to Mucklow is a reduced section of The White Way. Unlike Haydn's approach in his example, I'm a spinner, plus while I've not got a power meter on the bike I know from the last few weeks with the Direto I'm far less powerful than Haydn. My best for that segment is 1sec quicker than this link, but on this ride I had to keep pedalling across the plateau before descending, whereas on the best segment ride I immediately freewheeled down Sailors Lane (which I would do under normal conditions, I'm very cautious/nervous at speed in real life, on Zwift I've gone far quicker in the past few weeks)...
https://www.strava.com/activities/1169980964/analysis/6661/7021
My rides tend to be very polar, in that I often hit close to my max heart rate of 189bpm on climbs and then recover by taking it very easy after the summit, depending upon how I feel.
Anyway, one last chore to do and then Zwift calls, I have a possibly a bit ambitious 400000 feet of climbing goal for this year... So up to the radio tower at least once beckons shortly!
Sat down the whole hill. Funny thing is I had a HR belt on but didn't realise the Garmin hadn't picked it up, battery could be on he way out. HR would probably have touched 170, at a guess, I wasn't hurting - I felt good.
Soldato
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what even the Cassette? I was going to get a 4601 RD and a chain and a 4700 11-32 cassette.
I've actually found a 11-32 cassette and kmc x10 chain with 300miles use which i think i might be able to get for about £22, what do you think?
Cassettes are ok, its the derailleurs etc that are different.
personally, I never buy second hand cassettes.
Soldato
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Yeah i think the 4700 is more like 105...different pull ratio or something...?
The cassette looks fairly clean and teeth ok i think, £15 saving over new cassette and chain, thought it might be worth a go. cheers
Soldato
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Reading about a lot of people getting away with 11-32 on short cage, so might try it with a new chain.
This sounds interesting too, anyone got one?
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/roadlink
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/expand-your-road-bikes-gearing-with-roadlink-44957/
This sounds interesting too, anyone got one?
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/roadlink
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/expand-your-road-bikes-gearing-with-roadlink-44957/
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Well after 80 days indoors it takes just one ride to remind me of the tedium of winter riding 
And this is AFTER having rinsed my rims in a not-quite so muddy puddle after said patch of slurry because both wheels looked gumwall
I did actually empty half a bidon on to my chain & cassette on the fly because it was that concerning
And this is AFTER having rinsed my rims in a not-quite so muddy puddle after said patch of slurry because both wheels looked gumwall
I did actually empty half a bidon on to my chain & cassette on the fly because it was that concerning Sorry to bring this up again but any final thoughts on 35mm tyres before I pull the trigger on some Schwalbe G-One AllRound's?
Usage is >90% road <10% gravel path but the roads are of the slimy, muddy country lane variety. Puncture protection is key as the swap has been spurred on by anothe puncture just 60 miles since my last.
Usage is >90% road <10% gravel path but the roads are of the slimy, muddy country lane variety. Puncture protection is key as the swap has been spurred on by anothe puncture just 60 miles since my last.
Soldato
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The blurb suggests the new Bite variety. https://www.schwalbe.com/en-GB/road-reader/schwalbe-x-one-bite.html
No idea if it's the best price, but https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCX1BP/schwalbe-x-one-bite-performance-folding-tyre for £20 each looks decent.
Theres a G-One Bite, but it's 38mm https://www.schwalbe.com/en/road-reader/schwalbe-g-one-bite.html
Before ordering some replacement 25mm 4 seasons just thought I'd check if there's anything around that performs any better that's currently available?
Used them for the past few years & always found them to be excellent, but always happy to be told of newer & better options
Used them for the past few years & always found them to be excellent, but always happy to be told of newer & better options
Sat down grinding a climb for 5 minutes at 60-70rpm is very inefficient and putting a huge strain on your muscles & knees, then again it's possibly great training for track! But certainly not the best way to climb long climbs as you'll fatigue very quickly. Which pretty much sums up your problem!
Interestingly have been having a discussion over the weekend on fb regarding a zwift clubmate who'd progressed to standing for races to hold high power to be competitive. He's a light ~59kg guy who's a monster on the climbs but he finds it hard on the flats so has been pushing 60-70rpm stood @ ~300W on flat races of up to an hour per time. Funnily enough he's struggling with fatigue, but equally doesn't want to lose power by sitting and being less competitive.
Very interesting!
I'm assuming @Saytan knows about them but hard to tell if he was being sarcastic when he mentioned them further back?!
Pretty sure I said before, but 35mm is quite a big air volume! Can't remember if you where already running 32's, if you're running smaller I'd say step up to 32's first before going as large as 35. At least for road riding!
I'm running Specialized Roubaix Pro 25/28's and due to the price difference over the GP4Seasons they're now my go to winter tyre. Although quite a bit heavier they don't feel slow. They're not as 'squishy' feel but have similar grip, are loads tougher and I've so far found them pretty much bombproof.
Although 25mm they 'balloon' up to air volume of 28mm (actually labelled 25/28). There is a 30mm which has air volumes similar to 32mm but unsure if I'd have clearance under my guards for them...
Roads are terrible at the moment! I've cleaned mine once a week for the past 3 weeks. Considering I've only done 1 group ride in that time the muck accumulation is damn high!Well after 80 days indoors it takes just one ride to remind me of the tedium of winter riding
And this is AFTER having rinsed my rims in a not-quite so muddy puddle after said patch of slurry because both wheels looked gumwall
This was after only 8 days of commuting (past 2 weeks):
Was so bad I was quite conscious that my chain had maybe rusted in the past week as it had gone a brown colour rather than it's usual black... Quick blast with the chaincleaner and it's now shiny silver again lol!
I may need to fabricate an adaptor for the front/top of my front guard. When fitting it I drilled it around 3" lower at the back than Specialized intended to get more toe/foot coverage and not need a lower flap. Works well but now when the roads are wet I get a little spout of water from the front straight up in the air which you can see the result of. I dread to think what my headset bearings look like...
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Good point, hadn't noticed before but they don't recommend using over 40T. I was looking forward to using 42T! I wonder if possible with a 36 as opposed to 39...
With the amount of x1 going on, how long until we see clutches available for road chainsets!?
With the amount of x1 going on, how long until we see clutches available for road chainsets!?
I've switched from GP4 Seasons to Lifeline Prime Armour on my commuter. Cheaper and performs well enough to me.