You need to train harder? Then try this.

geoff_ss

It was warmer than we thought yesterday so after climbing for half a mile we stopped to adjust our clothing. As I doffed my jacket and Avice decided she didn't need the skull cap under her helmet I clicked on the drag brake (a rear V brake on a ratchet control) to stop the tandem running away.

I'd stopped at the top of a short descent to make restarting easier so we set off OK again to tackle the the rest of the 2 mile climb (Longways Bank for those who know it). Now, we hadn't been out properly for 3 weeks so I expected to suffer a bit but it was really hard. Much harder than I remembered. The road steepens a bit and I just had to stop even though we were in an unbelievably low gear. It wasn't until we got off I realised the drag brake was still firmly on! My stoker wasn't best pleased! I reckon we climbed for about 3/4 mile like that.

So there you are. If you really need to get fit, ride with the brakes on. It didn't help that we'd had a late night on Saturday after driving back from the velodrome. Wiggins inspired us but not enough

Geoff

brucey72

It reminds me of the time on our club run when I was finding it a real struggle to keep pace with everyone (more so than usual anyway). It felt like I was cycling through treacle and it wasn't until I stopped at a junction, tried to pull away and the bike just didn't move that I realised that a build up of mud and dirt between my rear mudgaurd and tyre had made it impossible for the wheel to spin....................................good training though!!!!

shockedsoshocked

When I first fitted mudguards I didn't realise the wheel was planted firmly in the side of one of them. A club mate waited till we got to the cafe 60 very hard miles later to tell me.

Anonymous

I remember once when started cycling and I really struggled on a chaingang for ages despite loads of encouragement from some of the other club members. I just felt that I was going flat out yet riding through treacle.

Turns out I was a fat, unfit ba5tard.

Nowt wrong with the bike...

shockedsoshocked

NapoleonD wrote:

Turns out I was a fat, unfit ba5tard.

Nowt wrong with the bike...

First rule of cycling:

If you're going like crap, it's the bikes fault, always and forever.

The reason you got dropped up that hill? The annoying clicking emanating somewhere from your BB, or slight unidentifiable rattle, or the scratches on your STIs

benno68

NapoleonD wrote:

I remember once when started cycling and I really struggled on a chaingang for ages despite loads of encouragement from some of the other club members. I just felt that I was going flat out yet riding through treacle.

Turns out I was a fat, unfit ba5tard.

Nowt wrong with the bike...

That's me now - except that I've been cycling for a year and I don't have the bottle to go on a club run!