The Cycling Thread

Just intrigued to ask fella's, before you took on this challenge, what kind of mileage were you doing a week?

[maviczap]

Not that much, although I'd been riding all year. For me no more than about 100 miles per week average

I did change to riding up hills in the big ring and also sitting on the turbo in the biggest gear (53 x 12) peddaling slowly

My training was a bit curtailed due to personal circumstances.

Our guide Rob said if you could ride 60 miles you'd be alright. I'd say better off being able to ride 75 miles

Because I live in the flatlands I fitted a triple front 50, 39, 30 which was my saviour, although I might have been alright with a compact.

If you're used to bigger hills then you'll be fine

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Now I know photos work...

Here's Mav having coffee at Gavarnie

Attachment 9863

And the one with the helmet hair I've been dying to post LOL

Attachment 9864

Yes, well the first photo is after the leisurely climb to Gavarnie, the other is after that mega climb to Chambasque, one required considerably more effort than the other

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Funny how you slowed down when you caught that nice young lady on the MTB...

I was just admiring the scenery

[maviczap]

Back to reality today, normal cycle ride Although pleasantly warm for the time of year

Aldi selling cycling stuff next Thursday, looks to be better with arm & leg warmers, we'll have to see what the quality is like. But I bought the gloves last year and they're fine, keep my hands nice and warm

http://uk.aldi.com/uk/html/offers/of...?WT.z_src=main

I need some warmers, so will be heading to Aldi in search of some! Might also get a stand if they have them

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by robchester

Just intrigued to ask fella's, before you took on this challenge, what kind of mileage were you doing a week?

I've been doing regular spin classes on Tuesdays for an intense session, then a 30 mile hilly ride on Thursdays and my club run at the weekend. Probably around 200km a week. All my rides are hilly given where I live. As Richard said, if you can do a 60 hilly mile ride you would be OK, you will have to push yourself but you can do it.

Carbon Fibre Bike Repairs......

I gave my carbon fibre mountain bike (An 06/07 Giant XTC - hard tail) a clean the other day. I noticed that the lower rear stay on the chain side has taken a bit of grinding where chain suck has occurred over the years, and it has started to grind into the carbon fibre. From my limited knowledge of composites I know repairs can be effected. Given that the strength is still there (well it hasn't snapped and it is only ever used in anger, not as aroad or city bike).

So does anyone know of any companies that will do repairs to carbon fibre frames?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by MR UKI (1)

can't wait for LP's Ventoux pictures, that is the one I would love to attempt. Such an eerie looking mountain coupled with the history of it

Well we drove down from Carcassonne towards Ventoux last Monday and we got our first view of the mammoth somewhere near Montpellier, 100KM away! Got this photo from the car on the Autoroute.....



We were staying about an hour away from Ventoux, but the mountain was clearly visible from the windows of our hotel! We went for a leg stretcher up the Ardeche gorge to ease the cramp of all the travelling...


and we got this little chance for a cyclists 'in-joke'



So off for a nice dinner before turning in for a bit of kip before Ventoux.

It took an hour to drive to Ventoux, with the mountain looming ever larger as we went. It looks huge from the base, as there are no other mountains around to lend scale...



From here its 22km of riding and 1617m of up. The first 3-4km are a nice gentle 2-3% that warms you up nicely, before the road takes a sharp left and suddenly you are really climbing... 8%, 9% before a hard 3km of 10% before easing off to 8%, then 9, 10 etc... There is not a lot of respite on this climb, you just knuckle down and grind it out. The cafe at Chalet Reynard with 6km to go seems to give a false flat and the gradient eases for 1500m or so, before we turned a corner and the wind hit us in the face, great 20mph headwind just as the gradient hoofed up again! However after 500m the mountain shelters you from the wind and I soon passed the Tom Simpson memorial with the summit only 1500 away, so dug in and was cajoling myself up the climb (out loud it turns out! ) As I turned the last corner I was stunned to see the snowcapped Alps in clear view...

Stats : I took 2 hours 10 minutes for the climb, my average heart rate was 155 (86% of maxHR) and my maximum heart rate was 174 (97% of maxHR) and I used 2400 calories. Average speed was just over 10kph on the climb.

Photos:

The view to the south ..



The Alps..



Simpson Memorial (taken on way down)



View of summit from memorial



Proof....



and finally, this is a bit of a heart breaker. This is my first view of Ventoux while climbing the mountain that comes after 3 km of 10%, 10km still to go.... (again taken on way down)



EDIT: More pics here, public link to the Facebook album.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...2297e47&type=1

I still like your bike LP, is it comfy?

[Luckypants]

Yep Tim it is, the Gran Fondo frame is very forgiving, no road buzz but stiff for climbing. The steering is quick but not twitchy, she holds a line well and there are no wobbles even at 90+kph. The San Marco saddle is a little narrow, but plenty comfy for 6+ hours riding.

You can spec up any Ribble bike to your taste to order, totally bespoke. So bars, stem, seat post, saddle, wheels, groupset etc. is totally customisable.