The Cycling Thread

Thanks for the swift reply Maviczap, It's a bit hilly I guess but nothing quite Alpesque, could you perhaps elaborate on your answer regarding the teeth and gear ratio? Many thanks.

If you're buying online check out Dolan bikes. British and they supply bikes for the GB Track Team.

They seem to be selling a lot of Etapes and Tuono SL bikes.

Yes, I have Tuono. No, i don't work for them

[maviczap]

Ok, where I live, I can get around with a 53t front chainring and 25t - 12t rear 10 speed cassette. Smaller chainring is a 39t.

So the 53/12 combination will roll the wheel with one revolution of the cranks = 124inches, but its a big gear.

To get up hills, you need smaller gears, so a 50/12 combination is only 109 inches

50/30 only gives you 43inches, but its great for climbing up long steep hills.

Only pro riders use 53/39 front chainsets in the Alps.

It the UK the hills aren't as long or quite so steep (well some aren't) so a closer ratio cassette on the rear will give you smoother changes, and make the gaps smaller between the gears. On a wide ratio gear cassette, some ratios will be too easy and you legs will be whizzing round, the next one down will be slightly too hard to pedal comfortably.

http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Jabba

If you're buying online check out Dolan bikes. British and they supply bikes for the GB Track Team.

They seem to be selling a lot of Etapes and Tuono SL bikes.

Yes, I have Tuono. No, i don't work for them

Also Ribble Gran Fodo, another good well spec'd bike

[pookie]

i'd have a peek at the planet x carbon for under 1k
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLP...6800-road-bike

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by pookie

i'd have a peek at the planet x carbon for under 1k
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLP...6800-road-bike

Nooooooooo it's a pile of poo, IMHO!

Cheers Mav I think I understand. So basically uphill you'd be fine but downhill the gears would be too 'easy' and you wouldn't be able to pedal hard/fast enough?

Thanks Jabba will check those out too.

Pookie I did look at carbon frames but I was too scared of knackering it when I inevitably fall off.

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by tactcom7

Pookie I did look at carbon frames but I was too scared of knackering it when I inevitably fall off.

Wise choice, at that price point a decent Aluminium frame will be far better than cheap carbon one, I thought the Planet X carbon was fantastic value until I had one for a week, the frame really is bad. Also worth considering are Dolan, Ribble and Canyon, from reviews and knowing people who have them none of these companies make a bad bike.

Anybody train with power? I've just done an FTP test coming out at 223 W for 30 minutes, so 212 for 95% - which I was told to work out but not why....

Does anybody (Mavi I'm looking at you) know what sort of percentages I should be using and how long for?

[maviczap]

Nope, I'm old school and use Heart rate and good old fashioned 'feel'.

Because I'm not actively training to enter races, its a bit pointless training to power levels.

If I was racing again, I'd probably invest in a power meter, but its a lot of money for something I wouldn't use at the moment.