Silly commuting racing

Feltup

lost_in_thought wrote:

linsen wrote:

biondino wrote:

Hello everyone. Back from a wonderful romatnic weekend in devon and Dorset with zero exercise and enormous amounts of eating. Currently 9 pounds above my summer low :shock:

Cycled in today - only made one w4nker gesture, which isn't too bad!

My weight fluctuates by that every week!
Aren't we supposed to have a bit more padding over the winter?

It's insulation, not padding!

That's why I can sit outside in a short-sleeved top while the rest of you wusses are shivering in jackets...

In skiing terms " Fat is Fast!" You never see a skinny downhiller now do you!

il_principe

m0scs wrote:

Discovered after my ride on Friday that my rear wheel was not true and on inspection that 2 spokes were broken. :twisted:

Rear wheel is now with LBS for repair so no cycling for me this weekend.

I seem to break alot of spokes, its it just me or does anyone else have this problem?

LBS said again "MTB wheels not desined for heavy road use etc."

I think they are trying to sell me a road bike.

Was very tempted to take out their Spec Roubiaux for a spin but resisted the urge.

Well MTFU and get one then! You'll not regret it.

Rich158

Feltup wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

linsen wrote:

biondino wrote:

Hello everyone. Back from a wonderful romatnic weekend in devon and Dorset with zero exercise and enormous amounts of eating. Currently 9 pounds above my summer low :shock:

Cycled in today - only made one w4nker gesture, which isn't too bad!

My weight fluctuates by that every week!
Aren't we supposed to have a bit more padding over the winter?

It's insulation, not padding!

That's why I can sit outside in a short-sleeved top while the rest of you wusses are shivering in jackets...

In skiing terms " Fat is Fast!" You never see a skinny downhiller now do you!

That's fine when you've got a mechanised uplift, have you ever seen a fat xc skiier.
The same goes for mtb's, downhillers just regard a layer of fat as extra padding on the body armour.

Feltup

Rich158 wrote:

That's fine when you've got a mechanised uplift, have you ever seen a fat xc skiier.
The same goes for mtb's, downhillers just regard a layer of fat as extra padding on the body armour.

I saw one in Lech, thought he was about to have a heart attack, sounded like Ivor the Engine.

itboffin

lost_in_thought wrote:

linsen wrote:

biondino wrote:

Hello everyone. Back from a wonderful romatnic weekend in devon and Dorset with zero exercise and enormous amounts of eating. Currently 9 pounds above my summer low :shock:

Cycled in today - only made one w4nker gesture, which isn't too bad!

My weight fluctuates by that every week!
Aren't we supposed to have a bit more padding over the winter?

It's insulation, not padding!

That's why I can sit outside in a short-sleeved top while the rest of you wusses are shivering in jackets...

I have the perfect solution to the bodies winter fluctuations, the credit crunch, cold weather, dark nights etc. etc.

Human hibernation

m0scs

jashburnham wrote:

m0scs wrote:

Discovered after my ride on Friday that my rear wheel was not true and on inspection that 2 spokes were broken. :twisted:

Rear wheel is now with LBS for repair so no cycling for me this weekend.

I seem to break alot of spokes, its it just me or does anyone else have this problem?

LBS said again "MTB wheels not desined for heavy road use etc."

I think they are trying to sell me a road bike.

Was very tempted to take out their Spec Roubiaux for a spin but resisted the urge.

Well MTFU and get one then! You'll not regret it.

I have come to the obvious conclusion that 1 bike is not enough. I have toyed with the idea of selling my MTB on ebay to part fund a road bike but having tracked a few auctions there doesnt seem to be much interest.

The MTB is a good alround utility machine - I'll look into the second hand road bike market early next year.

When picking up my newly mended wheel from LBS earlier I did spy a rather nice Langster. They seem to be very reasonable compared to any other road bike offerings.

Feltup luv at expression "sphincter winking two wheel drift"

Ley Hill is not far from Chesham

If you search Botley Bucks on Multimap Ley Hill is marked.

The whole area is very rural and great for cycling. Good local pubs for a cake stop or two.

itboffin

I've been thinking the same thing myself, sell the MTB (used twice in 2008) to fund the CX project, mmmm!

I know I should but what would happen next year when I decide to go real off road, I'd end up having to buy another one, oh what to do...!

Feltup

OK found Ley Hill, just off the route we used to take when heading north before they built the M40. Didn't quite make it that far on Saturday as I turned south at the Lees and went through Great Missenden, that would have pushed me well over the 80 mile and my feet were dying of cold after 4 hours on the bike. Might have to try some different overshoes.

cjcp

Rich158 wrote:

Feltup wrote:

Rich158 wrote:

Feltup wrote:

that is the planned route, should be good training if I manage to get a place on the Fred Whitton.

I'm aiming for a place next year as well, or alternatively the lakeland loop. I've been told that nothing can prepare you for Wrynose or Hardknott Pass :? , and having driven over both would have to agree. Getting a few Sportives under your belt with some good 1:16-1:20 ish climbs would be the best bet, that's what i plan to do, plus an awful lot of prayer

If only I was 15yrs old again! I cycled Wrynose east with my cousin on a 42x21 gear, no fear of hills back then although I did throw up at the top from the exertion. I think I might have put the family off their picnic :oops:

Sounds like fun, I'm always up for a bit of pain and suffering . If only the new bike had a 3 ring set up, I'm never going to make it with 39x25 as my lowest gear. It's particualarly vicious putting them about 100 miles in as well :evil:

I'm planning to enter the FW in 2009 too. Almost certainly going to get a compact for it; I don't think a 27 at the back will be enough on its own.

Without travelling up there, I imagine that, for me, reps of the likes of Whitedown and Leith Hill might give some insight to the pain, together with intense, 60min efforts around Richmond Park.

Feltup - I've never ridden up Bwlch y Groes, but have certainly heard of it. It's on the Gran Fondo Cymru sportif route, although there is more than one way up I think.

simon_ramsey

Only bike further up the FCN than me this morning that was worth some sport was a guy on a Condor road bike on Weymouth Street (just off Marylebone High St.). Lots of lights so we were just rolling along - thought he was gonna RLJ but didn't - both went our separate ways so that was the end of that.

On the way home picked up a Messenger/Fakenger near St.Pauls decided to slowly up the pace a bit as we headed downhill to City Thameslink and did a lot more filtering through the traffic than normal as I wanted to stay with him. Changed up a gear as stealthy as I could and put some effort in up Ludgate Hill and dropped him Guy caught up with me as I stopped at a set of lights and asked me if I was a messenger :? (On a foldup bike ?? My Airnimal Joey). I replied no and he asked me if I knew where he could get a job as a messenger - told him again I wasn't a messenger and dropped him a 2nd time as we headed down Fleet Street towards Chancery Lane.

Hope I see the guy on the Condor again tomorrow (although get the feeling I could be taking on a very worthy challenger - may be reporting lose of scalp tomorrow).

Rich158

cjcp wrote:

Rich158 wrote:

Feltup wrote:

Rich158 wrote:

Feltup wrote:

that is the planned route, should be good training if I manage to get a place on the Fred Whitton.

I'm aiming for a place next year as well, or alternatively the lakeland loop. I've been told that nothing can prepare you for Wrynose or Hardknott Pass :? , and having driven over both would have to agree. Getting a few Sportives under your belt with some good 1:16-1:20 ish climbs would be the best bet, that's what i plan to do, plus an awful lot of prayer

If only I was 15yrs old again! I cycled Wrynose east with my cousin on a 42x21 gear, no fear of hills back then although I did throw up at the top from the exertion. I think I might have put the family off their picnic :oops:

Sounds like fun, I'm always up for a bit of pain and suffering . If only the new bike had a 3 ring set up, I'm never going to make it with 39x25 as my lowest gear. It's particualarly vicious putting them about 100 miles in as well :evil:

I'm planning to enter the FW in 2009 too. Almost certainly going to get a compact for it; I don't think a 27 at the back will be enough on its own.

Without travelling up there, I imagine that, for me, reps of the likes of Whitedown and Leith Hill might give some insight to the pain, together with intense, 60min efforts around Richmond Park.

Feltup - I've never ridden up Bwlch y Groes, but have certainly heard of it. It's on the Gran Fondo Cymru sportif route, although there is more than one way up I think.

I'm sure we did Leith Hill on the North Downs Sportive this year, to be honest it was hard but not insurmountable so I'm hopefull for the FWC. I'm planning on switching my inner ring to 34 and going for 27-12 out back, but I expect I'll still end up walking some of it.

Feltup

cjcp wrote:

I'm planning to enter the FW in 2009 too. Almost certainly going to get a compact for it; I don't think a 27 at the back will be enough on its own.

Without travelling up there, I imagine that, for me, reps of the likes of Whitedown and Leith Hill might give some insight to the pain, together with intense, 60min efforts around Richmond Park.

Feltup - I've never ridden up Bwlch y Groes, but have certainly heard of it. It's on the Gran Fondo Cymru sportif route, although there is more than one way up I think.

I have put a compact on and have a 12-27 ready to go for proper hills; around the Chilterns and up to 20% hills I stick with the 11-23.

Training wise I am slowly building up the hilly miles around here (70miles 3800ft ascent on Sat) before trying Bwlch y Groes and then double crossings of Holme Moss in the Peak with Snake and Winnats thrown in. If I can do those OK then I should be getting near the level for the FW. I would really like to ride a couple of the Lakes passes again to get used to the extra length and steepness. The first hurdle will be getting a place!

Hope to see you on it.

itboffin

After a what feels like a long time I will be back on the bike this morning, just hanging around Hungerford/Newbury not looking for scalps honest

lost_in_thought

What a lovely day! It's just stunning.

And, which is more, on a complete whim I put my saddle up by about 2cm last night, and the difference it's made is amazing! I'm accelerating a bit faster, and my average cadence is up. Hurrah!

However, I'm not sure if it's now too high.

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

What a lovely day! It's just stunning.

And, which is more, on a complete whim I put my saddle up by about 2cm last night, and the difference it's made is amazing! I'm accelerating a bit faster, and my average cadence is up. Hurrah!

However, I'm not sure if it's now too high.

Is that 2cm above the dead on accurate scientifically proven correct height for your leg length? :evil:

Littigator

I followed a lady with her saddle too high this morning, it's very obvious from the way your pedal stroke looks from behind. So get someone to follow you and have a look. If you are rolling from side to side slightly as you pedal then it's too high.

Can I make it QUITE clear that I do NOT make a habit of cycling behind ladies and staring at their a*ses though :oops:

jonginge

lost_in_thought wrote:

However, I'm not sure if it's now too high.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/fitness/a ... 4608?img=2

Way back when I used the Hinault method (very similar to the Lemond one) and have set up all my bikes since to the same measurements.

jedster

Well I've just done a spot of involuntary manning up.

For a variety of technical reasons which are too dull to mention I had to swap my chain ring on the MTB SS conversion. All I had in my spares store (aka bag of old bits) was a 46t compared to my prior 42t. Now running 46x14 on 26" wheels giving...(drum roll)... 85 ish gear inches.

Now I realise that I am still emasculated by LiT's prodigous gearing but I'm quite liking 85. I am a bit slower away from the lights but my cruising speed is now seriously dangerous to lower FCNs...

:twisted:

J

itboffin

Littigator wrote:

I followed a lady with her saddle too high this morning, it's very obvious from the way your pedal stroke looks from behind. So get someone to follow you and have a look. If you are rolling from side to side slightly as you pedal then it's too high.

Can I make it QUITE clear that I do NOT make a habit of cycling behind ladies and staring at their a*ses though :oops:

No it's usually men he follows :shock:

jedster

Can I make it QUITE clear that I do NOT make a habit of cycling behind ladies and staring at their a*ses though

Litts,

well you can certainly try but it's unlikey to wash.

Me thinks he doth protest too much...

In any case, isn't this a Darwinian compensation for the testosterone reducing effects of being scalped by a girl?

J

lost_in_thought

But it's so much more comfortable! And I put my saddle down a couple of months ago to try to spin faster... to the 66 laboratories approved 'spin' saddle height. So I'm effectively putting it back up.

I don't think I'm rocking in the saddle when I'm pedalling - nearly crashed into a bus this morning trying to see if my leg was straightening at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Failed, obviously. I blame the bus.

And I can still touch the ground with my toe for balance when I'm stopped.

So it must, therefore, be fine!


(disclaimer: I realise that the above is not strictly true.)

lost_in_thought

jedster wrote:

Well I've just done a spot of involuntary manning up.

For a variety of technical reasons which are too dull to mention I had to swap my chain ring on the MTB SS conversion. All I had in my spares store (aka bag of old bits) was a 46t compared to my prior 42t. Now running 46x14 on 26" wheels giving...(drum roll)... 85 ish gear inches.

Now I realise that I am still emasculated by LiT's prodigous gearing but I'm quite liking 85. I am a bit slower away from the lights but my cruising speed is now seriously dangerous to lower FCNs...

:twisted:

J

Hmmmm yes but I think you get extra points for pushing that gear on an MTB... :shock:

Greg T

Littigator wrote:

Can I make it QUITE clear that I do NOT make a habit of cycling behind ladies and staring at their a*ses though :oops:

Speaking of which I haven't bumped intto the Littigator family convoy for a while.

I'd make a habit of following your wife's bum - she's lovely.

You want to get your mojo looked at - I think your man juice pressure is down.

Littigator

Greg T wrote:

Littigator wrote:

Can I make it QUITE clear that I do NOT make a habit of cycling behind ladies and staring at their a*ses though :oops:

Speaking of which I haven't bumped intto the Littigator family convoy for a while.

I'd make a habit of following your wife's bum - she's lovely.

You want to get your mojo looked at - I think your man juice pressure is down.

I'll ignore that but any more of that smut-chat and I'll set my dog on you!!!



Anyhoo, I think the next 3 weeks spent in sunny SA thrashing about some serious offroad trail action will duly restore and reinvigorate the old Littimojoator!!! 8)

cjcp

First day back on the bike since last Monday. Heavy backpack, it's slippy and half a stone heavier to boot. Talk about slow going this morning...

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Talk about slow going this morning...

Yeah, that makes me feel better :evil:

fatgrimpeur

On my usual SE london thrash, saw a guy on a bike that I could not recognise on the FCN chart. Almost swerved into the path of overtaking Bus, such was my open mouthed amazement.

It was a Brompton with Tri bars! Does it get a special category purely for comedy value??

biondino

Wonder why bikeradar is so quiet today? Personally I am slacking off something rotten.

On my journey in today I made decent time, but felt for the first time that perhaps my age is beginning to make a difference to my fitness. I'll be 35 next birthday and I've grown up with the whole "footballers have to retire at 36 because their bodies stop working" concept, so I'm a bit nervous about how this will manifest itself. Certainly my stamina is pretty feeble right now - I can burn down the road at good speeds but then need twice as long bimbling along at 15mph to recover. Is this normal?

lost_in_thought

It is quiet, isn't it? Rather odd...

Everyone must have work to do. I do, I'm just really good at procrastinating. Like, really good.

Biondino, really, 35 is not old by any stretch of the imagination.

Footballers retire at 36 because they are overpaid pansies, not because they're 'broken'.

The most recent Mr LiT is in his 40's and although now retired from professional sport still competes with surprising levels of success.

I'd put down your 'feeble' state to your recent excesses, and probably a lack of sleep! 'Tis the season and all that.

R34PER

lost_in_thought wrote:

The most recent Mr LiT is in his 40's

is it Don Don?