The Cycling Thread

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by MisterTommyH

Bl0ody cleats!!!!!!

That is all.

Oh dear! You'll get used to them, until then refer to Rule #5 .

Well now I've gone and done it, only racked up about 75 miles so far.

Thank heavens for padded shorts is all i can say!

[maviczap]

Cool, at least the weather has improved this month.

Finished putting this together today .

After my brown trouser moment descending Ventoux, I decided a stiffer frame was required. I also fancied disc brakes, so when this frame popped up, I went for it. Wheels & brakes are the only brand new parts, the rest are off the deadly Litespeed or sourced from Bike Radar or Ebay


IMAG0278 by maviczap, on Flickr

[pookie]

very shiney .. i guess the hydro brakes on road are going to be an eventuality.. How do you find carbon v titanium?

I must resist as N+1 does not compute

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by pookie

very shiney .. i guess the hydro brakes on road are going to be an eventuality.. How do you find carbon v titanium?

I must resist as N+1 does not compute

Well it wasn't quite N+1, as the Litespeed had to go. It wasn't a Titanium one, just a cheapo thin walled alu & carbon Litespeed. Because of the thinness of the tubes, it was prone to scary speed wobbles

But I've got a Planet X titanium frame, which is ok, but carbon wins it hands down every time for me. I don't know if its because the Planet X is a budget Ti frame, but its not what I was expecting from Ti.

It has a steel springy-ness to the ride. Don't get me wrong, its still a nice ride, better than alu, but not the same as carbon.

[pookie]

small selection of cycling gear in lidl 7th july
http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?id=332

TLDR at the bottom

Some of you may know that I've moved to Austria for the summer to work for a cycling company. The work isn't really that strenuous, and so I've had plenty of time to cycle.

But (why is there always a but?!) The problem is, around this time last year, I suffered an injury that restricted my cycling for a year. I was getting intense pain in the outside of my left foot, and I've sort of cured it by using a Specialized Body Fit insert in my left shoe, although it's still not quite right it at least allows me to get out and cycle without having to jump off the bike in pain.

The sad thing is, I'm back to the weight I was when I started cycling 4 years ago. I weighed in at 18 stone 3 pounds just two months ago. Without really trying too hard, just exercising and keeping track of calories so I don't splurge 1,500 in a day on coke (guilty pleasure), I've managed to drop down to around 15 st 7-14 (I'm not too sure on the accuracy of the scales. (I was around 14 stone last year)

Not all that long ago, I went out for a cycle with my old cycling group. I'm a lot slower than I was this time last year, and they have got a lot quicker! I knew the pace was too fast early on, and I had to hop off and walk up a climb that I would never imagined would defeat me. I then had to walk up a further two climbs. (Climbs in Essex terminology this is, so nothing very long - Dipper can vouch for how bad this ride was as he kindly came and gave me a push back).

I went out on a few more rides and struggled along, although nothing quite so hilly.

So, this brings me to Austria. Here I am, living at 740 metres above sea level. The unfortunate thing about this is the scenery is lovely, I have such fantastic roads and climbs in every direction, yet my fitness is lacking so I cannot enjoy it as much as I would like. I went out and did a 60 mile ride last week, and at the end had to come back up a climb to my village. It's 6km at 9%. I couldn't do it. It took me an hour and a half to complete a mixture of excruciating slow cycling, and walking.

I decided today was going to be the day I was going to conquer it. My motivation was waning in the afternoon; it had been a glorious warm day, 30 degrees no less and it hadn't really cooled down. I'd sat on my balcony watching the World Superbikes, Tour de France and Formula One and thought I could do the ride another day. But then I realised fitness doesn't come by itself!

Out I went, and hence this post. It's rare that I think I have accomplished something worthy of boring other people with. Although in this case, I'm proud of what I've done. In such a short space of time, I've managed the climb. The overall ride is here on Strava - http://www.strava.com/activities/162527592/overview

My next goal out here is to cycle the söllpaß which is a nice climb near Moosheim. It takes you up to 1,770 metres with max gradients of about 14% and an average of around 10%. I want to try for the first time next month - wish me luck!

TLDR version

I've put on a lot of weight. Struggled with hills in Essex. Living in Austria, I have a 6km 9% climb right by me, managed to do it and I'm proud so here I am shouting about it. What ya gunna do?

Linky: http://www.strava.com/activities/162527592/overview

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by EssexDave

TLDR at the bottom
I decided today was going to be the day I was going to conquer it. My motivation was waning in the afternoon; it had been a glorious warm day, 30 degrees no less and it hadn't really cooled down. I'd sat on my balcony watching the World Superbikes, Tour de France and Formula One and thought I could do the ride another day. But then I realised fitness doesn't come by itself!

I've put on a lot of weight. Struggled with hills in Essex. Living in Austria, I have a 6km 9% climb right by me, managed to do it and I'm proud so here I am shouting about it. What ya gunna do?

If I had that on my door step, I'd be out all the time

But I've struggled with motivation this year, not having a cycling holiday planned or booked hasn't helped. But its been one of those year when I've been both busy at work & at home, with little time to fit rides in it seems?

Crashing didn't help.

Luckily I don't put weight on

Keep up the good work & enjoy those roas whilst you're there Dave, I'm bloody envious

[pookie]

well done for getting out there..just think the hills of essex will be a piece of pie when you get back

I always find the extra speed comes from getting a new bike .. always helps with the motivation too. I'm sure the hill climbing beast will be back soon.

I did the essex section stage 3 of the TDF on friday which was as fun and the hills resembled shakira's mountains. Scenery was great and they were still laying new tarmac

Apparently me and the other 400 riders thought it was a good idea to ride through

Keep up the good work

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by pookie

I did the essex section stage 3 of the TDF on friday which was as fun and the hills resembled shakira's mountains. Scenery was great and they were still laying new tarmac

Apparently me and the other 400 riders thought it was a good idea to ride through

work

I'm going out to see it today

Although I know they'll just whizz by, so its not much to go and see really