[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[1066familyman]

Of course... I had a ton on him!

If only.

I saw someone elsewhere had £5 e/w on him. Returned about £600 odd. Very nice. Yet like you say, seems so obvious now. Not a massive shock win that's for sure.

 

[Stat Brother]

Being a workshy, lazy, easily distracted goon, I forget how therapeutic an afternoons felting can be.

As predicted Lil Miss Stat wasn't up for school today putting the kibosh on my ride.
Eventually I turned my attentions to finding the intermittent knocking coming from the front of my bike.

2 hours of stripping down, degunking, 80+ tiny ball bearings polished, regreasing, and rebuilding, the knocking is gone, and it handles brilliantly.

It's amazing what you put up with when over time you don't notice the subtle changes in performance.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

After a long winter on the aluminium, Secteur since you ask, I brought the Roubaix out of hibernation today.

Oh my bloody God. I knew I loved cycling, but I had forgotten just how beautiful it could be. I will NOT be lethargic again.

Unless it's raining and I can't use the Roubaix.

 

[RandyWanger]

We had a week of sunshine last week and +20 I was very excited to get the bike out, then it started to snow again
Maybe the week after next, fingers crossed.
Went for a Wilier Izoard XP in the end after much talk about the Giant TCR.

 

[Motogull]

After a long winter on the aluminium, Secteur since you ask, I brought the Roubaix out of hibernation today.

Oh my bloody God. I knew I loved cycling, but I had forgotten just how beautiful it could be. I will NOT be lethargic again.

Unless it's raining and I can't use the Roubaix.

I like this a lot.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We had a week of sunshine last week and +20 I was very excited to get the bike out, then it started to snow again
Maybe the week after next, fingers crossed.
Went for a Wilier Izoard XP in the end after much talk about the Giant TCR.

Are you in the mountains? Sounds like Alpine weather. How's the Willier?

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

We had a week of sunshine last week and +20 I was very excited to get the bike out, then it started to snow again
Maybe the week after next, fingers crossed.
Went for a Wilier Izoard XP in the end after much talk about the Giant TCR.

Proper winter today. Thermal jacket, tights, gilet, gloves+liners this morning for the ride to work.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Proper winter today. Thermal jacket, tights, gilet, gloves+liners this morning for the ride to work.

And tomorrow's going to be colder, by all accounts. Still, I don't mind that, as long as it doesn't start raining again.

 

[Stat Brother]

After a long winter on the aluminium, Secteur since you ask, I brought the Roubaix out of hibernation today.

Oh my bloody God. I knew I loved cycling, but I had forgotten just how beautiful it could be. I will NOT be lethargic again.

Unless it's raining and I can't use the Roubaix.

I've never ridden a Secteur how do the 2 compare?
I swear my other bike is considerably faster than my 'proper' one because it is so rigid.

Went for a Wilier Izoard XP in the end after much talk about the Giant TCR.

Mate of mine has a Wilier, which he's always kept hold of irrespective of the latest machine to arrive in his stable.
I have no idea how many times it's been stripped down, and the components moved onto another bike.
But they always find their way back to the Wilier, eventually.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I've never ridden a Secteur how do the 2 compare?
I swear my other bike is considerably faster than my 'proper' one because it is so rigid.


.

The Secteur is great - it has the same geometry as my Roubaix, and is fairly comfortable for an aluminium bike, having the Zertz inserts that the Roubaix has. A perfect winter bike. I genuinely didn't think I'd notice the difference, getting back on the Roubaix.

But the weight distance is noticeable when you pick the bikes up. I love my 105 set up on the Roubaix, it's Sora on the Secteur. It's just better, and faster.

 

[RandyWanger]

Are you in the mountains? Sounds like Alpine weather. How's the Willier?

Yes, Chamonix. Bike's nice, but then I don't have much to compare it to, I feel comfortable and confident on it. More of a MTB guy but can't ride the trails this time of year so dabble in road riding when it's nice.

 

[Stat Brother]

The Secteur is great - it has the same geometry as my Roubaix, and is fairly comfortable for an aluminium bike, having the Zertz inserts that the Roubaix has. A perfect winter bike. I genuinely didn't think I'd notice the difference, getting back on the Roubaix.

But the weight distance is noticeable when you pick the bikes up. I love my 105 set up on the Roubaix, it's Sora on the Secteur. It's just better, and faster.

That's what I was wondering.
From the outside looking in they do seem very similar.
Even though I've never ridden a Secteur, they always catch my eye when a 'what bike' pops up (that the SoB's never get back to us ).
My 2, aluminium and carbon, feel and ride very differently.

I tested a Roubaix, back in the day, although I can't really remember, I don't think I was all that taken with it.
I know previously I'd tested a Principia that was stupidly fast, but was so hard I assume it was cut from granite.
I think the Roubaix might have been next and between them the bikes cancelled each other out.
I certainly remember the Roubaix's comfort more than the speed.

I'd have loved to have bought the Principia if only for occasional rides like today (a 10 mile 'sprint').
Although had I done so, I'd be looking in a jar at the crumbling remains of my spine, it really was nuts.

 

[1066familyman]

Might as well join in with all the positivity around today.
After nearly 3 weeks of riding 20 odd hilly miles 3 times a week (it's about as much as kids' clubs will allow) things are really starting to look up. 30 miles tonight which inlcluded 2 horrible climbs in the shape of chick hill and stonestile lane. Felt bloody fantastic and loved every minute of it. Even the last steep climb home felt a breeze to how it used to feel. I'm gobsmacked in the change that just a few weeks regular riding can bring and loading up on hilly terrain.
Shovelled in the food when I got home, bathed and now looking forward to Catalunya highlights. Happy days

 

[Stat Brother]

After a long winter on the aluminium, Secteur since you ask, I brought the Roubaix out of hibernation today.

Oh my bloody God. I knew I loved cycling, but I had forgotten just how beautiful it could be. I will NOT be lethargic again.

Unless it's raining and I can't use the Roubaix.

Very apt for this appear on my twitter timeline.
I assume this is the direction your stable is heading, Pogue:-

[tweet]448200135726485504[/tweet]

 

[Motogull]

Might as well join in with all the positivity around today.
After nearly 3 weeks of riding 20 odd hilly miles 3 times a week (it's about as much as kids' clubs will allow) things are really starting to look up. 30 miles tonight which inlcluded 2 horrible climbs in the shape of chick hill and stonestile lane. Felt bloody fantastic and loved every minute of it. Even the last steep climb home felt a breeze to how it used to feel. I'm gobsmacked in the change that just a few weeks regular riding can bring and loading up on hilly terrain.
Shovelled in the food when I got home, bathed and now looking forward to Catalunya highlights. Happy days

Go on, rub it in.

I can't wait to get back out.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Very apt for this appear on my twitter timeline.
I assume this is the direction your stable is heading, Pogue:-

[tweet]448200135726485504[/tweet]

I would kill for one of those...

You're right that the Roubaix is not as quick, or as twitchy as some bikes - but it's quick enough for me. I bought it when I was training for LEJOG - my previous bike's frame broke a month before the off, and 1000 miles over 10 days seemed to be crying out for comfort. I tried a few bikes, but the Roubaix just 'fitted' and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

Then last year I did the Paris Roubaix sportive, and was substantially more comfortable than [MENTION=225]Hamilton[/MENTION] was on his Allez (he has since upgraded to a Tarmac, and now says he's gonna buy a Canyon...)

But bloody Hell, that is one beautiful bike in the picture. If it's good enough for Orlandi...

 

[Stat Brother]

I would kill for one of those...

You're right that the Roubaix is not as quick, or as twitchy as some bikes - but it's quick enough for me. I bought it when I was training for LEJOG - my previous bike's frame broke a month before the off, and 1000 miles over 10 days seemed to be crying out for comfort. I tried a few bikes, but the Roubaix just 'fitted' and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

Then last year I did the Paris Roubaix sportive, and was substantially more comfortable than [MENTION=225]Hamilton[/MENTION] was on his Allez (he has since upgraded to a Tarmac, and now says he's gonna buy a Canyon...)

But bloody Hell, that is one beautiful bike in the picture. If it's good enough for Orlandi...

Deffo, I don't think there's to many 'issues' real or imaginary with that bike.

I don't think I had a speed issue with the Roubaix, as such, I certainly don't want you thinking I'm putting your pride and joy down.
It was probably more to do with the crazy nature of the previous bike.
An M5 BMW is going to 'pedestrian' straight after a Lambo, but also a lot safer and more comfortable.


Fella at last weeks Sportive was on a new Canyon, matt black with minimal red outlined writing.
Certainly very striking.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yes, Chamonix. Bike's nice, but then I don't have much to compare it to, I feel comfortable and confident on it. More of a MTB guy but can't ride the trails this time of year so dabble in road riding when it's nice.

Nice. I'm glad to hear it's snowing - I'll be skiing in Val Thorens in two weeks, so the more the better!

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Blighty meets the Tour, marvellous stuff

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...ter-harrogate-gears-up-for-the-tour-de-france

 

[rrruss]

Men in Lycra? Not for me!

But for those who like cycling, take a look at my blog from today: http://www.mataroaming.com/2014/03/25/men-in-lycra-la-volta-comes-to-mataro/