Road Cycling

Shadowness · 1 Mar 2018 at 15:43

Yep....bit too fast on the ascents, and not to stuff my face with food lol!

BennyC · 1 Mar 2018 at 20:38

The halfway mark on any workout/ride is the mental hump for me. Home free in my mind after that, even if it is still half a mountain to go

Cracking effort.

Berger · 1 Mar 2018 at 21:05

Trek Checkpoint released, it looks so good! Pretty far tyres as standard. Not too expensive either, but I couldn’t see a SRAM option

Also, globally all the journalist reviews and photos were released today. Can I see options to buy one anywhere? No. Big fail.

I wanna know how much a frameset would be, now! Edit: £800 for the bottom end frameset which doesn’t come with the isocoupler. Bit more than expected but competitive with the market I guess. Maybe retailers will discount them slightly.

Adam-r · 3 Mar 2018 at 08:20

Shadowness said:
https://www.strava.com/activities/1431364282

11 repeats of the Epic KOM. Man it was tough even to do that. I got back in the country yesterday so I maybe it wasn't the best idea to do it today.

I think I also went a bit too hard. My average speed was over 13mph. Most people who have done it averaged nearer 10-11mph. I tried to stick to a religious 200W on the climbs though.

I think I also ate too much when I had a quick break, didn't really recover after feeling a bit crap after that. Still.....made it more than halfway. Next time.....

Top effort that!

Shadowness · 3 Mar 2018 at 12:14

Cheers!

BennyC · 3 Mar 2018 at 12:26

My 18 month old TickR has fallen to bits

I reglued a peeling sensor pad on the strap with flexible superglue about a month ago, it was still working but needed doing.

This week the sensor wouldn't pop in to the strap and then I realised the housing had come out of the strap itself. More skeptical supergluing but no joy, it fastens but isn't making sufficient contact to complete the circuit so requires pressing very hard and then the reading is erratic and incorrect.

Some conflicting information on the stated and legal guarantee so will see what Wiggle & Wahoo say.

SDK^ · 3 Mar 2018 at 20:43

merlin said:
I know it's not their fault but I'm really p*ssed off.

The organisers have setup a MMH virtual ride on Zwift at 8am tomorrow on the 3 sisters course. Get yourself on it : https://zwift.com/events/view/47130

merlin · 3 Mar 2018 at 21:31

SDK^ said:
The organisers have setup a MMH virtual ride on Zwift at 8am tomorrow on the 3 sisters course. Get yourself on it : https://zwift.com/events/view/47130

Unfortunately I've stood on the end of a usb extension cable which had my ant+ dongle in - dongle busted. Replacement won't roll up till Tuesday- been to Halfords and Maplin today trying to find one.

Bugger, I'd have liked to have done that.

Indigo · 4 Mar 2018 at 09:53

Entered the Rapha Hell of the North (Manchester) ride for Sunday 8th April

A mate is already doing it and it's only £20 followed by beer and chips at the clubhouse afterwards.

Berger · 4 Mar 2018 at 12:44

IndigoGorilla said:
Entered the Rapha Hell of the North (Manchester) ride for Sunday 8th April

A mate is already doing it and it's only £20 followed by beer and chips at the clubhouse afterwards.

Sounds good, how likely is it to be a massive mud fest or strewn with flats?

I’ve done quite a bit of groad riding (and a couple of races!) but not a wet/mud fan.

Indigo · 4 Mar 2018 at 14:20

Berger said:
Sounds good, how likely is it to be a massive mud fest or strewn with flats?

I’ve done quite a bit of groad riding (and a couple of races!) but not a wet/mud fan.

No idea, they only send a gpx file of the route a few days before it. Only detail they give that's it's a tribute to the Queen of the Classics ride and that to expect brutal roads and the toughest paves locally availible. Haven't done it before so it's all new to me.

I bought a CycloCross bike last month so I'll be doing it on that, not sure yet if I'll be using 32mm slicks or my knobblies. Will check the route and decide when they send the file over / release more info.

SoliD · 4 Mar 2018 at 16:29

Always definitely a slick ride, it won't ever be so bad roadies can't do it!

Berger · 4 Mar 2018 at 17:10

Ah well I entered, it’s only £20 and sounds good, better do a bit of training. 23mm slicks so pray no rain! I’ll pack a couple of tubes and a pump!

Also my Garmin 500 doesn’t really do maps so I’ll be following the signs/group.

Double booked with some friends coming as didn’t know they were but it should be OK!

Begbie · 4 Mar 2018 at 19:45

So bit of help if possible.

I want a road bike, but something I can pick up from a shop. I live abroad, and it's cheaper to bring back a bike from the UK than to buy out here.

Looking at the Decathlon 540. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-road-bike-grey-black-105-id_8377756.html

Anything better for the money? Mostly be used for when I can't be bothered to go mountain biking.

Adam-r · 4 Mar 2018 at 21:18

Begbie said:
So bit of help if possible.

I want a road bike, but something I can pick up from a shop. I live abroad, and it's cheaper to bring back a bike from the UK than to buy out here.

Looking at the Decathlon 540. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-road-bike-grey-black-105-id_8377756.html

Anything better for the money? Mostly be used for when I can't be bothered to go mountain biking.

The triban gets a good write up for the money

Roady · 5 Mar 2018 at 08:52

Well to coincide with the snow in preparation for a 'snow day' or two I brought my turbo inside. Thankfully the illness which had really hampered my riding the previous 2 weeks abated so when the snow was finally too thick to go to work on friday I was away! Cue 4 sessions, almost 300 TSS from a couple of training rides and a couple of races. Does feel like I've 'turned the corner' and actually feel pretty good now, just need to continue some volume. Fingers crossed I'll be allowed to keep the turbo inside this week to get a couple of rides in, it's so convenient & easy being able to ride inside! Just jump on after 5 mins prep! :cool:

Fitted new bar tape - Lizard Skins DSP thick stuff. Coming from the fabric Fizik stuff I had before (that aged badly and wore away from the sweat) it feels very plush, but also quite slippy. Guess it doesn't help that while riding inside I've not ridden with gloves so it has got quite sweaty...

Berger said:
Trek Checkpoint released,<snip>Edit: £800 for the bottom end frameset which doesn’t come with the isocoupler. Bit more than expected but competitive with the market I guess. Maybe retailers will discount them slightly.

Yeah you should be able to get it a bit cheaper than that, but still a good price! Why would you want one without the isocoupler? I know when I bought my Diverge the Domane SL6 or 7 framesets where ~£1500 from my LBS and had clearance for 32mm tyres (with the isocoupler). Sigma have them for ~£1700 but prices have gone up since then (and 2018 versions).

BennyC said:
My 18 month old TickR has fallen to bits

Contact Wahoo directly, I hear they're pretty good support wise. Although does look like you only need a replacement strap! If they want to charge you then let me know how much, my strap is starting to rot away in the middle (eww!) :eek:

SDK^ said:
The organisers have setup a MMH virtual ride on Zwift at 8am tomorrow on the 3 sisters course. Get yourself on it : https://zwift.com/events/view/47130

Saw that and nearly jumped on to it, looked quite a busy & popular ride! Quite a cool idea, glad they tried it as it's things like that which draw interest and riders to Zwift.

Begbie said:
So bit of help if possible.

I want a road bike, but something I can pick up from a shop. I live abroad, and it's cheaper to bring back a bike from the UK than to buy out here.

Looking at the Decathlon 540. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-road-bike-grey-black-105-id_8377756.html

Anything better for the money? Mostly be used for when I can't be bothered to go mountain biking.

Decent spec and wheels for the money. I'd consider changing out the brakes if you find them lacking (did the same on my Giant which came with tektro's).

Where about's abroad and why is it hard? Company I work for (wholesale horticulture) have been known to ship UK bikes to some of our Irish customers (along with their deliveries) lol

Know a guy in Estonia who could get some great looking spec Stevens bikes for crazy cheap money. Also when looking into bike hire in Spain the prices on Focus' seemed very good. Saw a carbon framed Ultegra spec selling for €800!

Berger · 5 Mar 2018 at 09:16

Just the cost to get it without the iso decoupler, half the price of an aluminium frame; are those Domane disc frames?

Roady · 5 Mar 2018 at 10:21

Yeah they where Domane 2017 disc frames with the then new front isocoupler (as it was late 2016 I was looking). Without the price drop on the Diverge I'd have ended up with one (LBS tend to push Trek & Giant). I was looking at around £2500 for a complete SL6 with full Ultegra and hydra discs. Ended up with the Diverge with 105 but better discs (785's) for £1750 (huge Specialized price drop on 2016 models).

EDIT: Lunchtime reading http://road.cc/content/news/238153-damning-report-mps-slams-team-sky-and-sir-bradley-wiggins

jpaul · 5 Mar 2018 at 15:12

Some slipping in compacted snow sections on bald tyres - picked up some reasonable Vittoria Rubino P3 150tpi tyres on sale at Merlin
... it was all good handling practice.

Trying to lube the chain, after rinsing off salt, disappointed to find the finish line teflon pots I have seem to have congealed,
maybe I have to take more care shaking before use ?

Roady · 5 Mar 2018 at 15:26

Could be due to the cold, I've got a Finish Line green that is at least 4 years old (and nearly empty!)

Never had a lube congeal, although they do separate. Always do lots of shaking! Shake & bake!