Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you
Comments
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Agreed, stupid gearing for non-racers back in the day. Plenty hills around here at 10%+, one hits 16% 1-1/2 miles from my door. I regularly use the 34x29. 😉pinno said:
*There's not much 'flat' here.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
You are all mashers.pinno said:
34 x 27 is my smallest and i'm rarely in it.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
I think I pay more attention to cadence than mph nowadays. I average 87+ on a flat(ish*) ride and 79 to 82 on a hilly ride.
*There's not much 'flat' here.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.
On a steady climb I'm 80-85 over a whole ride low 90s average.
If you are in a good rythm and just getting out of the saddle to stretch, your cadence need not drop.0 -
Curious about your cadence, gears and speed going up 15%?First.Aspect said:
You are all mashers.pinno said:
34 x 27 is my smallest and i'm rarely in it.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
I think I pay more attention to cadence than mph nowadays. I average 87+ on a flat(ish*) ride and 79 to 82 on a hilly ride.
*There's not much 'flat' here.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.
On a steady climb I'm 80-85 over a whole ride low 90s average.
If you are in a good rythm and just getting out of the saddle to stretch, your cadence need not drop.
I have no choice but to mash. I dream of 80 RPM on 34x29. This is why I don't race. 😉The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
I used to have a bottom gear of 42 x 21 so 2:1, I now have 34 x 32 and it feels just as hard but I'm going even slower. When I eventually got a compact I had visions of sitting in the saddle spinning up gradients as you read people mentioning a lot on Road General / Road Beginners but the reality is short bursts out of the saddle to keep momentum going before sitting back down as my legs can't handle the strain of carrying my weight all at around 60rpm.0
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The spinning up climbs is a bloody myth.
I also run 34:32 with lots of steep climbs round our way.
I sit for everything but there ain’t a lot of spinning on the steep stuff.0 -
I find if I ride up a hill in 36 x 24 or 36 x 30 I end up with same pedal revs, so I tend to just grind it out.0
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Up a 15% hill I walk at about 60 steps a minute I think.pblakeney said:
Curious about your cadence, gears and speed going up 15%?First.Aspect said:
You are all mashers.pinno said:
34 x 27 is my smallest and i'm rarely in it.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
I think I pay more attention to cadence than mph nowadays. I average 87+ on a flat(ish*) ride and 79 to 82 on a hilly ride.
*There's not much 'flat' here.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.
On a steady climb I'm 80-85 over a whole ride low 90s average.
If you are in a good rythm and just getting out of the saddle to stretch, your cadence need not drop.
I have no choice but to mash. I dream of 80 RPM on 34x29. This is why I don't race. 😉0 -
This I can understand. 😉First.Aspect said:
Up a 15% hill I walk at about 60 steps a minute I think.pblakeney said:
Curious about your cadence, gears and speed going up 15%?First.Aspect said:
You are all mashers.pinno said:
34 x 27 is my smallest and i'm rarely in it.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
I think I pay more attention to cadence than mph nowadays. I average 87+ on a flat(ish*) ride and 79 to 82 on a hilly ride.
*There's not much 'flat' here.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.
On a steady climb I'm 80-85 over a whole ride low 90s average.
If you are in a good rythm and just getting out of the saddle to stretch, your cadence need not drop.
I have no choice but to mash. I dream of 80 RPM on 34x29. This is why I don't race. 😉The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
So a 34:32 at 60 rpm with 700c wheels is pretty much 8kph or 5mph which for a very steep gradient and not giving a hard effort is quite a realistic speed.
So any bigger gearing and you’re either seriously grinding or knocking out a decent rate of climb.0 -
I think as bad as it gets in the UK are the pitches on Great Dun Fell, Lowther Hill or the Bealach. I go up those with a 34x28 and more or less 60 on the steep pitches avoids falling over sideways.morstar said:So a 34:32 at 60 rpm with 700c wheels is pretty much 8kph or 5mph which for a very steep gradient and not giving a hard effort is quite a realistic speed.
So any bigger gearing and you’re either seriously grinding or knocking out a decent rate of climb.0 -
Yeah. Last time I did my local steep one. Spinning is not an option.morstar said:So a 34:32 at 60 rpm with 700c wheels is pretty much 8kph or 5mph which for a very steep gradient and not giving a hard effort is quite a realistic speed.
So any bigger gearing and you’re either seriously grinding or knocking out a decent rate of climb.
15.5%, 6.5 mph, 362 W, 156 bpm, 72 rpm. On 34x29.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
I beg your pardon ya bloody Chookta.First.Aspect said:
You are all mashers.pinno said:
34 x 27 is my smallest and i'm rarely in it.pblakeney said:
Out of the saddle in the biggest gear possible was my (flawed) technique 30 years ago.pinno said:
I'm the opposite. If I don't stand on the pedals, I loose speed but I often change up before doing so.morstar said:Followed a guy up a reasonably long hill today going at very similar speeds.
Was surprised that every time he stood on the pedals I closed up to him quite rapidly before he sat down and pulled away again.
I am a very metronomic seated climber and was quite intrigued by this pattern.
I know the contemporary emphasis is on cadence but when you've been doing it old school for so long, it's hard to change.
But, it's prep for when I get older and more feeble.
Isn't that right Blakey?
I now only get out of the saddle if I'm on a 15%+ in bottom gear (34-29) or my rear needs a rest/change of rhythm. But yes, change up a couple of gears if getting out of the saddle.
I think I pay more attention to cadence than mph nowadays. I average 87+ on a flat(ish*) ride and 79 to 82 on a hilly ride.
*There's not much 'flat' here.
So my pedalling style has, 'evolved' shall we say.
Given that my first bikes were 42/52 and the smallest at the rear, 25. I couldn't imagine riding on those gears now.
This ^.morstar said:The spinning up climbs is a bloody myth.
If you are Froomy sustaining 300+ watts and have peak fitness.
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?0
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Same reason they talk about carbon frames I suppose, without mentioning the hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen/sulphur, as the case may be.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
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That doesn't compare though. The thing that intrigues me is the use of the term 'alloy' as shorthand when all three materials are alloys. People have come to understand that it means aluminium alloy but it would make more sense to call it aluminium (or alu if you want to be lazy). I'm not expecting people to start talking about aluminium alloy or titanium alloy but it seems logical to shorten it to its main component.First.Aspect said:
Same reason they talk about carbon frames I suppose, without mentioning the hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen/sulphur, as the case may be.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
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Aluminium 'alloy' because of the addition of Silicone and Magnesium.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
But yes, they are all alloys so we should either take that as a given or add the word 'alloy' to all 3 metal based frame materials when mentioning it.
I prefer the former 'cos it's less typing innit.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Yes it does compare. It is just short hand. Carbon fibre composite is a mouthful. So is a full recitation of the type of alloy, so people plump for the fewest syllables.Pross said:
That doesn't compare though. The thing that intrigues me is the use of the term 'alloy' as shorthand when all three materials are alloys. People have come to understand that it means aluminium alloy but it would make more sense to call it aluminium (or alu if you want to be lazy). I'm not expecting people to start talking about aluminium alloy or titanium alloy but it seems logical to shorten it to its main component.First.Aspect said:
Same reason they talk about carbon frames I suppose, without mentioning the hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen/sulphur, as the case may be.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
I suppose the distinction could be made that more of an aluminium alloy is something other than aluminium than is the case for steel or titanium alloys.
There's no point trying to get the cycling industry to be remotely scientifically accurate though, because that would ruin sales of new wonder materials that make absolutely no difference whatsoever.
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Silicon.pinno said:
Aluminium 'alloy' because of the addition of Silicone and Magnesium.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
But yes, they are all alloys so we should either take that as a given or add the word 'alloy' to all 3 metal based frame materials when mentioning it.
I prefer the former 'cos it's less typing innit.0 -
My bad. But pedantry aside...First.Aspect said:
Silicon.pinno said:
Aluminium 'alloy' because of the addition of Silicone and Magnesium.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
But yes, they are all alloys so we should either take that as a given or add the word 'alloy' to all 3 metal based frame materials when mentioning it.
I prefer the former 'cos it's less typing innit.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
If you put pedantry aside, where would we be?? "Alloy", that's where we would be. And no one wants that.pinno said:
My bad. But pedantry aside...First.Aspect said:
Silicon.pinno said:
Aluminium 'alloy' because of the addition of Silicone and Magnesium.Pross said:Why is it that when discussing bike frame materials so many people refer to aluminium as alloy when steel is by definition an alloy and titanium frames are also made from alloy tubes?
But yes, they are all alloys so we should either take that as a given or add the word 'alloy' to all 3 metal based frame materials when mentioning it.
I prefer the former 'cos it's less typing innit.0 -
Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
At least someone gets the point I'm making. I'm not bothered about being technically accurate I just don't understand why one of three alloys seems to get shortened to alloy. It's like asking which is the best material for roof beams and listing options as oak, pine and timber.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
With wheels it could be a carry over from the term alloy wheels being used on cars so much.First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
Possibly. But that is also incorrect. We should start a petition on gov.uk.veronese68 said:
With wheels it could be a carry over from the term alloy wheels being used on cars so much.First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
I'm seeing it regularly on Facebook bike groups "should I go for a titanium, steel or alloy frame" or one I saw this morning where someone's bottle cage bolts had seized and one person's sage advice was "avoid alloy bolts".First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
I think you should avoid Facebook. It is just an upsetting place.Pross said:
I'm seeing it regularly on Facebook bike groups "should I go for a titanium, steel or alloy frame" or one I saw this morning where someone's bottle cage bolts had seized and one person's sage advice was "avoid alloy bolts".First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
I pretty much do, deleted all my friends a year ago other than immediate family and generally use it for keeping up to date with organisations I'm involved with. However, I joined a few cycling groups recently for a bit of advice and that's where I saw these comments.First.Aspect said:
I think you should avoid Facebook. It is just an upsetting place.Pross said:
I'm seeing it regularly on Facebook bike groups "should I go for a titanium, steel or alloy frame" or one I saw this morning where someone's bottle cage bolts had seized and one person's sage advice was "avoid alloy bolts".First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.0 -
Equally wrong of course, advertising blurb referred to light alloy wheels. That became alloys to the average punter.First.Aspect said:
Possibly. But that is also incorrect. We should start a petition on gov.uk.veronese68 said:
With wheels it could be a carry over from the term alloy wheels being used on cars so much.First.Aspect said:
I've only ever heard it to distinguish what was then a normal wheel material, steel, from a fancy lightweight "alloy" wheel only used by cyclists who advertise breakfast cereal.veronese68 said:Because some people find aluminium hard to pronounce and spell, steel is easy. Titanium is fancy and they want you to know it.
Just a theory, I don't think I have ever referred to an ali bike as alloy.
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