Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
That sucks
wise move in my opinion! Touch wood it looks pleasant currently and even if it does rain at least it'll be warm. With the volatility in the weather currently though who knows!...Agreed, it's all relative to fitness & strength though. If you're fairly well conditioned and specify a bit of training to some longer efforts at sustained power before hand there shouldn't be any need to tweak gearing. Losing weight is always cheaper
not necessarily faster though!
Please, 28 was fine for Majorca
Good, I was going to laugh at you for using a 32T in Majorca!
Also, someone on OcUK needs to beat my Coll dels Reis time.
Rubbish luck with the weather mate, hope you got some money back!
Just something I recall reading about and having been to VoTT in a 4x4 (but not up it on a bike) so what I remember of it!
Brag properly and link it, sheeesh!Also, someone on OcUK needs to beat my Coll dels Reis time.
Yeah, fortunately I was mostly just down on flights - one back from Madrid and the original I had booked back from Alicante.Rubbish luck with the weather mate, hope you got some money back!
Good, I was going to laugh at you for using a 32T in Majorca!
Also, someone on OcUK needs to beat my Coll dels Reis time.
Heh, I was out there for a week and rode pretty much solo for 90% of it
Will go back maybe in 2019 and give it some welly
probably still come up short! 
If you're seriously considering it then personally I'd pay more and get it from somewhere like Sigma Sport, currently £635 there. Mainly because of of their no hassle free returns. I have a Direto and it's been brilliant.
Hoppo is still riding but had Zwift & ZML issues last night having to relaunch Zwift and resetting his ride totals. Up to reset he was at 1762km (1095 miles), elapsed time 64 hrs 56 mins, riding time 59 hours. Think he's continuing onwards but scattered info around if that means the record is toast/lost.
Hate to say it and being brutally honest, but you're probably too heavy. No disrespect! Of the riders I know who've ridden it faster than Liam, Ben Osbourne is probably the heaviest (more of a CAT2 racer, than a climber but he can hurt & suffer a huge amount more than many others). Maybe more similar physically to you & a guess he'd be 75-80kg, but all of that muscle for a time of 33:49. The fastest guy I know personally is James Kirk at 31:54, he's pretty light (ZP has him at 68kg, but I'd say he'd be closer to 60kg at his best, maybe similar to you Liam?) and a very fit rider holding any number of local KOM's. He'll have ridden it numerous times as parts of training camps over there with lots of different riders (and coaches) so consider that his peak.
Sure looks like Ben's HRM wasn't working quite right (nor was Josh Sandmans PWM, he's strong but not that strong) lol
Although @One More Solo isn't far behind Liam! He may lose his OcUK crown sooner than he realises!
I wonder if Elite have caught up with demand and done a price drop on the Direto!? Certainly seems to be lots of deals on it now.
I may be out of luck anyway as CRC have asked me to fill in a 'warranty request form' while also providing evidence of the power fluxations. Which involves me buying the £40 Thru axle adaptor kit so I can mount my PWM bike on the trainer. Now as there are different kits for 135mm and 142mm hubs (and mine is between the two Specialized SCS) I'm unsure which.
Ouch, they're frequently the most expensive part!
Your time was at the end of quite a long week wasn't it?Will go back maybe in 2019 and give it some welly
Hate to say it and being brutally honest, but you're probably too heavy. No disrespect! Of the riders I know who've ridden it faster than Liam, Ben Osbourne is probably the heaviest (more of a CAT2 racer, than a climber but he can hurt & suffer a huge amount more than many others). Maybe more similar physically to you & a guess he'd be 75-80kg, but all of that muscle for a time of 33:49. The fastest guy I know personally is James Kirk at 31:54, he's pretty light (ZP has him at 68kg, but I'd say he'd be closer to 60kg at his best, maybe similar to you Liam?) and a very fit rider holding any number of local KOM's. He'll have ridden it numerous times as parts of training camps over there with lots of different riders (and coaches) so consider that his peak.
Sure looks like Ben's HRM wasn't working quite right (nor was Josh Sandmans PWM, he's strong but not that strong) lol
Although @One More Solo isn't far behind Liam! He may lose his OcUK crown sooner than he realises!
Hmm, that again is a great price. One of the main reasons I uses CRC was the BC 10% discount and even then the Flux was 'only' £570. I would've stretched that to £635 if Sigma had their price back then!
I wonder if Elite have caught up with demand and done a price drop on the Direto!? Certainly seems to be lots of deals on it now.
I may be out of luck anyway as CRC have asked me to fill in a 'warranty request form' while also providing evidence of the power fluxations. Which involves me buying the £40 Thru axle adaptor kit so I can mount my PWM bike on the trainer. Now as there are different kits for 135mm and 142mm hubs (and mine is between the two Specialized SCS) I'm unsure which.
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Hmm, that again is a great price. One of the main reasons I uses CRC was the BC 10% discount and even then the Flux was 'only' £570. I would've stretched that to £635 if Sigma had their price back then!
I wonder if Elite have caught up with demand and done a price drop on the Direto!? Certainly seems to be lots of deals on it now.
I may be out of luck anyway as CRC have asked me to fill in a 'warranty request form' while also providing evidence of the power fluxations. Which involves me buying the £40 Thru axle adaptor kit so I can mount my PWM bike on the trainer. Now as there are different kits for 135mm and 142mm hubs (and mine is between the two Specialized SCS) I'm unsure which.
The Direto might drop further in price in spring/summer as trainers in general often get heavily reduced when its warmer
What kind of power issues are you having? Just in Zwift? Have you tried changing the power smoothing of the trainer itself, assuming it has a companion app? You can on the Direto with their app. I have mine set at 6 as it's really wild otherwise, but I've been told this is normal. Last night I did a comparison on my Direto and Vector 3s during a Zwift ride. Set my mind at rest a little knowing they are pretty even on power readings.
https://analyze.dcrainmaker.com/#/public/5937fbd8-4ba7-4f0a-421f-b24257f5c4a9
None taken, realistically I wouldn't expect to get anywhere close to that
It was yeah and I was just working my way up SweetSpot. I'd ridden the NorthCoast in 28 degree heat solo two days prior (including Puig Major) and had the ride to/from Calobra and ascending Batalla with a reasonable time on the table too.I could put 30-40w on that but weight won't change a great deal nor w/kg so unless the wind Gods are with me on the day high 30's/low 40's is a more likely attainable target
It's such a unique climb that the first ascent you should really take it all in rather than bury it with your head down and tongue in the spokes
Chest infection really starting to annoy me now, been two weeks since I was last on the bike & it's really not showing any signs of clearing up.
Had a good start to the year with nearly 800 miles for Jan/Feb (all road miles no trainer etc) but March is going to be a right off.
Had a good start to the year with nearly 800 miles for Jan/Feb (all road miles no trainer etc) but March is going to be a right off.
Yeah but as time goes on it'll be less likely CRC will give me a 'full refund'. Even now I'm beyond their initial 30 days so the refund will be in CRC 'credit'. Now as they don't stock the Direto (yet!) that's not very helpful... Wiggle stock both, so I'd hope they would eventually mirror stock/suppliers/ranges? Although who knows!
The power issue... My FTP previously (September) was around 275W (Vortex over-reading), along with outside efforts being around the same figure.
- Several of my Vortex 20 minute race effort averages being around 300W (3.7-3.8w/kg at the end of January).
- Switching to the Flux my race efforts dropped to around 260W with my 20 minute race efforts at the start of February around 3.3-3.5w/kg.
Totally agree, think that's the only time you've ridden it anyway so hardly a judge of your 'best'! Always an excuse to go back...None taken, realistically I wouldn't expect to get anywhere close to that
The power issue... My FTP previously (September) was around 275W (Vortex over-reading), along with outside efforts being around the same figure.
I was getting ill around the same time as that last race, but most of those race efforts where pulling hard to place teammates in overall (CVR League) or on climbs to try and keep in lead groups, so fairly constant threshold efforts. I've increased volume and getting back on track (really feeling like I've recovered) but none of my recent race efforts have hit back up to 3.5w/kg, nevermind 3.7-3.8w/kg yet!
- Several of my Vortex 20 minute race effort averages being around 300W (3.7-3.8w/kg at the end of January).
- Switching to the Flux my race efforts dropped to around 260W with my 20 minute race efforts at the start of February around 3.3-3.5w/kg.
I'll need to take a closer look at those links later but I will say that my FTP dropped quite a bit when I got the direto, previously had a Tacx Flow. I put this down to firstly being in the off-season so I'd slacked off a little, but mainly because the direto is much more accurate. The flow was rated around 10% -/+ in accuracy. Last night's test suggested that my devices are probably correct. Yours might be too?
Roady - excuse me not going on an in-depth search but what's the complaint with the Flux exactly?
Goes without saying the Vortex over-read by easily 8% (that's my estimate anyway - I saw a drop of at least 8%, maybe even 10% when going from Vortex to 4iiii) and you are aware of that - so if your power remains down (by Vortex standards) by let's say 8% / 10% ish, then what's the issue?
I'm actually taking it as a challenge to get back to my old (Vortex) FTP of 248w, last FTP using my 4iiii was 222w. Make it more fun and less costly by keeping what you've got and just trying harder.
Goes without saying the Vortex over-read by easily 8% (that's my estimate anyway - I saw a drop of at least 8%, maybe even 10% when going from Vortex to 4iiii) and you are aware of that - so if your power remains down (by Vortex standards) by let's say 8% / 10% ish, then what's the issue?
I'm actually taking it as a challenge to get back to my old (Vortex) FTP of 248w, last FTP using my 4iiii was 222w. Make it more fun and less costly by keeping what you've got and just trying harder.
I'm starting to get annoyed now.
MMH sportive postponed, so whilst re-arranged date was being decided I booked a B'ham St Marys Hospice mini (75 km) sportive for this Sunday - now that's under threat of beast from the east mark II. FFS what do I have to do to get my bike and me out into the fresh air?
MMH sportive postponed, so whilst re-arranged date was being decided I booked a B'ham St Marys Hospice mini (75 km) sportive for this Sunday - now that's under threat of beast from the east mark II. FFS what do I have to do to get my bike and me out into the fresh air?
I'm starting to get annoyed now.
MMH sportive postponed, so whilst re-arranged date was being decided I booked a B'ham St Marys Hospice mini (75 km) sportive for this Sunday - now that's under threat of beast from the east mark II. FFS what do I have to do to get my bike and me out into the fresh air?
Wait until August probably...
Sunday's weather is not looking great with 20mph easterly winds and zero degrees. Not looking forward to running a half marathon in that :/
Been emailing round trying to get wheel recommendations/costs... see what the collective on here think.
I was holding out on DCR wheels but it’s been a few days now and he does say 24 hrs usually. Might have to call him, as he seemed to be the most highly recommended and keenly priced.
Buying the hub separately would be cheaper, but then you pay a premium to have your wheel built which may outweigh the savings....
Royce Venus - Best lifespan, most weatherproof, very bling, highest costing (just) a little heavier than others.
DT240 - Best cost/performance?
DT350 - Heavier but cheaper and same performance as the DT240
White Industries T11 - Alternative to the DT240 - Matches front wheel - Not as waterproof as some others perhaps.
Hope RS4 - Cheaper than most, not sure on negatives.
Shimano 6800 or 9000 - No Kudos!?
Tune - Little too lightweight, weather resistant and odd/small bearings sometimes.
Discounted - DT180 & Chris King as both are too expensive and the CK needs special tools to rebuild.
This is just the hub, don’t get me started on rims... Hplusson I am 90% set on as it seems to offer the best price/strength and matches my other.
Or I just buy the FFWD F2A with the DT240 hubs front & rear and sell my current front wheel...
I was holding out on DCR wheels but it’s been a few days now and he does say 24 hrs usually. Might have to call him, as he seemed to be the most highly recommended and keenly priced.
Buying the hub separately would be cheaper, but then you pay a premium to have your wheel built which may outweigh the savings....
Royce Venus - Best lifespan, most weatherproof, very bling, highest costing (just) a little heavier than others.
DT240 - Best cost/performance?
DT350 - Heavier but cheaper and same performance as the DT240
White Industries T11 - Alternative to the DT240 - Matches front wheel - Not as waterproof as some others perhaps.
Hope RS4 - Cheaper than most, not sure on negatives.
Shimano 6800 or 9000 - No Kudos!?
Tune - Little too lightweight, weather resistant and odd/small bearings sometimes.
Discounted - DT180 & Chris King as both are too expensive and the CK needs special tools to rebuild.
This is just the hub, don’t get me started on rims... Hplusson I am 90% set on as it seems to offer the best price/strength and matches my other.
Or I just buy the FFWD F2A with the DT240 hubs front & rear and sell my current front wheel...
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It's such a unique climb that the first ascent you should really take it all in rather than bury it with your head down and tongue in the spokes
That's why I climbed it three times whilst there, all sub-40 mins.
I need something to brag about since I can't seem to compete with you lot when it comes to absolute power.
Soldato
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@Shamrock your KOM is safe for now as I’m not planning on Majorca this year. I’m 3kg lighter these days though so next time it’s on.
@Shamrock your KOM is safe for now as I’m not planning on Majorca this year. I’m 3kg lighter these days though so next time it’s on.
My asthma is pretty bad these days, the salbutamol just isn't cutting it anymore! Gonna visit the GP before my Majorca trip and ask for some triamcinolone.