The Cycling Thread

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

I achieved a time of 29:06

Well done Mike.

Thats my aim for this year is to try and do a sub 30 minute 10 miler. Trouble is nowhere around here is billard table flat so I'm struggling a little.

Best I've done was 32 minutes the other week so not far off now.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

I did my first time trial last Thursday (and probably my last!). It was 10 miler over a fairly flat course so I set myself a target of sub 30 minute and to not be last. I achieved a time of 29:06 and was 44th out of 49 so my modest targets were achieved I reckon I can get at least a minute faster now I know better what pace I can sustain, then a bit more if I went for aero-bars etc, so not too shabby. I won't be doing many so not likely to get TT equipment, but I'm happy with the result. Mav, please don't take the mickey out of my time!

I never take the mickey out of anyones times, its more about the ride you did and also how well you did against the course record. If it was a fast couse, say a 19min course, then 29mins doesn't look so good, but if the course record was a 21min then 29 is pretty good for a first TT. Our post TT converstaions were always about how our ride was (good,bad etc)

Anyway 10's are a young mans event Its all out, flat out until the finish and judging your pace takes quite a few TT's

Aero bars will take a significanct chunk of time off that 29mins, so doing it without makes 29mins a good time

Originally Posted by Luckypants

What impressed me about the event was the mix of ability, from me to an Olympic champion! Yep I raced against Rebecca Romero!

Yep, anyone can enter. Alex Dowsett rode a TT in his Team Sky colours the other month, no surprise he demolished the field.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

They are a dedicated bunch as well these time trial types, one chap brought his bike on the back of his Dullsville...

Yes, but there are a few too many stick in the muds in TT's, the old guys who won't bring it into the 21st century. But these are the guys who do the timekeeping and organise the events, so we can't do without them

Trouble is round our way there aren't many young guys & gals racing I understand, so the future isn't great

I thought Id give a little update in this thread following my recent commitment to ride to work, I am aiming for a minimum of 3 times a week.

I bought my 2010 Kona Dew Duluxe about two months ago, and have since covered about 220 miles, its a really good bike abut I think i could have done with the next frame size up, but Ill learn for next time.

I am doing 6.5 miles each way and aiming for 3 times a week, I am on my 12th or 14th day of doing it now and have managed to drop my time from 27 minutes each way to 23 or 24 minutes, and I have lost just over 4kg in a month, including a week in France eating a lot of cheese and bread.
I am using Smartrunner to track my rides which is nice to see the miles stack up and the average times come down as the average speeds go up.

Couple of questions,

I currently have Hybrid tyres on the bike, but i was wondering if a slick centre with a bit of grip at the edge will make a difference as the rolling resistance seems quite high on these tyres...

And how much of a difference do SPD's make? or just shoe clips? as my feet keep slipping and turning the pedals over?

Many thanks All

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by 454697819

but i was wondering if a slick centre with a bit of grip at the edge will make a difference as the rolling resistance seems quite high on these tyres...

Go for a full slick, you'll get more grip over what you are looking at and theoretically you'll get less rolling resistance due to be able to run the tyres at a higher pressure. IMHO.

Originally Posted by 454697819

And how much of a difference do SPD's make? or just shoe clips? as my feet keep slipping and turning the pedals over?

IMHO alot, increased comfort and better efficency of your pedal stroke. SPD's are by far the easiest things to clip in and out of so no need to worry about that IMHO.

You dont need to spend alot of money either, but look for a SPD pedal that is double sided so that you dont have to flip it over before clipping in.

[Luckypants]

Regards the tyres, if you are on roads all the time then slick tyres will be faster. You might also look at your pressures, cycle tyres run very high pressures, especially if they are narrower ones. I would run about 60psi in my MTB 2.35" on the road and I run 110-120 in my road bike 700-23c tyres. The high pressure reduces the contact patch and do reduces rolling resistance.

Clipless pedals (there are other types besides SPD) make a big difference to you, especially if you are slipping off the pedals now. Being attached to the pedals allows you to lift on the upstroke, so you give power right around each revolution, you can pedal faster without slipping off and are more comfortable IMO.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Go for a full slick, you'll get more grip over what you are looking at and theoretically you'll get less rolling resistance due to be able to run the tyres at a higher pressure. IMHO.



IMHO alot, increased comfort and better efficency of your pedal stroke. SPD's are by far the easiest things to clip in and out of so no need to worry about that IMHO.

You dont need to spend alot of money either, but look for a SPD pedal that is double sided so that you dont have to flip it over before clipping in.

Ok many thanks,

Trouble is I have 700 x 35 tyres, cant find any slicks...

Ill do another search..

Right off to find SPD's in size 14

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by 454697819

Trouble is I have 700 x 35 tyres, cant find any slicks...

Thats fine, you dont need the width with a road based tyre, so you could fit something narrower on it. It depends on the rim, but I'd think you'd get a 28mm tyre onto that OK.

Or you can get a Conti Gatorskin in 35mm see here :

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-...kin-road-tyre/

[Luckypants]

Conti Gatorskin is a great tyre, almost puncture proof! However, check the stock level at Wiggle....

I've got Shimano MT32 shoes and Shimano M520 pedals on my training / commuter bike. If you want something that is fairly priced, reliable and easy to use I dont think you could do much better.

Slicks are defo worth having.

Good work on the TTs lads.

I started taking my cycling more seriously at the end of last summer, trained through winter and started road racing at the start of the season. Had some good results and have earnt myself 33 points this year (a win, 5th, couple of 7th's, an 8th and a couple of 9th's in a mix of cat 4, 3/4, 2/3/4 races)

At the end of last year I did a fairly hill 10 in 29.33 (course record 23 min something, also I think its only really a local course). Haven't done it again, but have done a sporting 25 (1.0 and 3 sporting 12.5's (33.33 is the best), on a road bike, which has got me in the top 5 twice out of 25 or so (not when the aerobike lot are out in force).

Its great though, nothing like seeing your performances improve!

I need some more shorts for cycling...any recommendations?

I have soem rubbish ones from decathlon and some from wiggle (bib one) which are ok at the moment.

Bib ones from wiggle are about £30.