Road Cycling

physichull · 23 May 2018 at 12:35

Saytan said:
Important to remember that it's s leisure activity and if it isn't working for you, don't do it for a bit...

Couldn't agree more with this post.

In autumn of last year I massively lost any enthusiasm for cycling, to the point where in the last 6 months I've hardly done anything. Other things were interesting me and I generally couldn't be bothered, particularly with it being cold, dark and wet. That enthusiasm seems to have returned to me for the time being and I'm stepping up my training again but I am still fairly unfit and have little endurance.

What were just ordinary rides last year are gigantic struggles this year.

Saytan · 23 May 2018 at 12:39

I also find that the less I am enjoying my riding, the more I want a new bike. I've had a lot of bikes and none have been a magical panacea that suddenly made me enjoy riding lots more. There've been a couple that made it really miserable though....

DanF · 23 May 2018 at 12:43

One More Solo said:
Can anyone recommend some bluetooth non-noise isolating earphones? I used to have some wired Sennheiser earbuds that were secure in your ear but allowed in ambient noise but I'm struggling to find an equivalent wireless version.

I'm using Jaybird X3 which sound pretty nice. They kill a lot of noise with the soft comply tips so I just have the left ear in on the bike. Tried some others from Amazon last year but didn't get on with them (Betron DC950 & AfterShokz Trekz Titanium).

randomshenans · 23 May 2018 at 12:52

Jonny ///M said:
Last touched my bike last Wednesday and had a heavy night on the sauce on Saturday, absolute fear on the Sunday and licking my wounds from falling off a little tikes cozy coupe(apparently) flying down a big hill near my house.

TBH sat night I was out for "ä couple of pints" and that turned into 15. Rode home after that, caught my front wheel on a lowish curb, pinch flat and luckily had my shoes with me in my backpack so could walk home

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 12:53

Shadowness said:
I've had that before, my front derailleur was even twisted due to the force of me pedalling as the chain was caught up.

I think a sticky chain might have caused it. Has it been cleaned recently?

Its worrying stuff when you see the front derailleur flexing when the chain gets caught up in it like that. But you may be on to something. I've not cleaning it for a couple of weeks due to the weather being so great. But I was planning on doing it once I got home tonight anyway. Seems crazy that it could be sticky enough to stay engaged with the chain-ring despite the force of the rear derailleur acting against it.

Saytan said:
Well that's a new one on me... nice groupset though!

a friend of mine got chainsuck so bad the other day that there was a 45 degree twist in the chain after I TOOK THE CRANK OFF to release the chain from being wedged down by the BB

Sheesh! That sounds bad. Did he need a new chain too?!

When I initially got off the bike I thought the rear derailleur had snapped to get it into such an extended position! Luckily not.

Saytan · 23 May 2018 at 12:59

topgun06 said:
Sheesh! That sounds bad. Did he need a new chain too?!

yup.

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 13:31

And no doubt damage to the paint

Roady · 23 May 2018 at 14:24

topgun06 said:
But how on earth this this happen?? It's as though the chain became glued to the outer chainring as I pedaled and ended up jammed in the front derailleur. I can't work it out!

Brutal! Sticky link maybe with some dust debris causing some pretty significant chain suck. Teeth ok on the chainring? Worth checking that the first link with the chain seems stuck on for any damage/bend, the one by the o of Campagnolo.

Your groupset is significantly cleaner than mine 90% of the time! What chain lube are you using?

Saytan said:
a friend of mine got chainsuck so bad the other day that there was a 45 degree twist in the chain

Didn't @FrenchTart see something similar not too long ago? I remember seeing a picture of a bent chain outer plate.

topgun06 said:
And no doubt damage to the paint

Check your chainstay where the arm of the RD is in case it hit it?! Fingers crossed it didn't

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 15:03

Roady said:
Brutal! Sticky link maybe with some dust debris causing some pretty significant chain suck. Teeth ok on the chainring? Worth checking that the first link with the chain seems stuck on for any damage/bend, the one by the o of Campagnolo.

Your groupset is significantly cleaner than mine 90% of the time! What chain lube are you using?

I'll give it a good clean later. As you elude to, I bet there are many many chainsets which are dirtier than mine. I've ridden my winter bike in much worse conditions.

Chainring teeth look good. I'll check the chain out later for damage. It is getting due for a replacement, so it might be a good opportunity.

And as for lube, I use the Finish Line lubes, always have. Wet and dry. But on this bike I use Finish Line Dry lube.

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 15:07

Chain Suck. I think this is what happened: http://fagan.co.za/Bikes/Csuck/

Steedie · 23 May 2018 at 15:35

topgun06 said:
I was cycling to work this morning and began to head up a bank, shifted down at the front and the chain seized. Cue 20 minutes of trying to un-jam the chain. I had to take a jockey wheel off to give myself enough slack in the chain to be able to remove the back wheel and was eventually able to get things moving again.

But how on earth this this happen?? It's as though the chain became glued to the outer chainring as I pedaled and ended up jammed in the front derailleur. I can't work it out!

That happened to me the other day, although not quite that bad, still a mess. Came up to a junction, dropped down a cog and I heard a crunch. Took me ages to free the chain and it threw the FD out a bit as it was rubbing on the chain after so had to adjust it a bit. Was not happy as it took all the paint off one of the chain ring teeth

so it's noticeable now, have to be clever with photos

I think mine was due to a sticky chain as it was quite dirty, annoying as I had planned to give it a good clean the next day

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 15:37

Steedie said:
I think mine was due to a sticky chain as it was quite dirty, annoying as I had planned to give it a good clean the next day

More common than I had thought then.

Same, had planned to clean it tonight! It is definitely chain suck. Lots of info and detail here http://fagan.co.za/Bikes/Csuck/.

In my case I think it was a combination of worn chain and dirt. I hope I get home okay without a reoccurrence!

Roady · 23 May 2018 at 17:10

Wow, so suddenly Roady changing his chains every ~3000 miles doesn't seem like too crazy an idea!

topgun06 · 23 May 2018 at 17:20

Roady said:
Wow, so suddenly Roady changing his chains every ~3000 miles doesn't seem like too crazy an idea!

The chain is the same one from when I first built the bike. Strava says it has done 3400 miles. I checked a couple of months ago with a chian wear tool and it wasn't worn enough to replace it then.

Bear · 23 May 2018 at 19:17

Anyone wanting to watch cycling on Eurosport, use PLAYER20 to get 20% off. Offer ends on the 27th May

Saytan · 23 May 2018 at 19:51

Roady said:
Wow, so suddenly Roady changing his chains every ~3000 miles doesn't seem like too crazy an idea!

Back when we were mocking you for changing your chains a lot you were changing them with your socks!

BennyC · 24 May 2018 at 07:55

Spent the evening at Lee Valley with the club yesterday evening, about 30 of us with the track to ourselves for 2 hours. Great fun!

Feeling an N+1 vibe, noimsayin?

merlin · 24 May 2018 at 08:37

BennyC said:
Spent the evening at Lee Valley with the club yesterday evening, about 30 of us with the track to ourselves for 2 hours. Great fun!

Feeling an N+1 vibe, noimsayin?

Slippery slope alert

I'm enjoying my track cycling at the moment - I've entered into a Vets league, scoring a few points, sat at the right end of the league table as of last Friday (only three rounds so far though, long way to go).

Fitness is improving fast, 'HIT' training gets results.

Roady · 24 May 2018 at 09:46

Bear said:
Anyone wanting to watch cycling on Eurosport, use PLAYER20 to get 20% off. Offer ends on the 27th May

Good shout.

Saytan said:
Back when we were mocking you for changing your chains a lot you were changing them with your socks!

Pfft!

Admittedly the first KMC only lasted 1800 miles but one SRAM PC1130 since lasted 2500 miles. I did kill the other one at 1900 miles after it had a ton of winter abuse (it even got rusty!) and broke a link.

merlin said:
I'm enjoying my track cycling at the moment

Could see, you even rode with a derny! Pro track rider now!

I've committed myself to riding some MTB with a friend on monday at the FoD. Not sure what I've let myself in for but he's promised not to take me on any Blacks...

Will be hiring a bike, but as a MTB newbie and never hired before is there anything I need to watch out for?

I have all the kit I should need - pads, helmet, shoes (trainers & SPD) so I'm hopefully prepared. I don't have a hydration pack though, so hopefully I can carry a bottle somehow?

I'll be trying to keep up with my mate on his e-MTB... A Specialized Turbo Kenevo. :eek:

#prayforroady

In other news, wtf is that wet stuff out side?

merlin · 24 May 2018 at 10:01

Roady - as a MTB noob I'd be leaving the SPD's at home fella! FOD is a fair few hours of riding - I wouldn't want to do it without a hydration pack tbh, carrying a bottle (you'll need more than one) is a PITA, Halfords do a rucksack with a bladder included for around £25 ish? Take gloves for when you fall off and put your hands into horse/fox/badger/rabbit shi*.

The Derny is super fun mate - scary at first but you soon learn the closer you're tucked behind it the more cocooned you become - it's an incredible feeling riding literally 6 inches off the back of a motorbike. According to my Garmin I hit 41mph behind it last night on a sprint lap. I also managed to hang onto it for a 2.6 mile stint at 26.4mph, and a 2 mile stint at 27mph.