[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[strings]

I would recommend wiggle.co.uk own brand called dhb.

My only problem with dhb (for shoes) is that they don't stretch to size 50. Boo.

 

[Notters]

Aldi is the place to go Notters. Can't go wrong there for the price and quality you get. Especially good for base layers/jerseys/bib tights. Most of it is made by Crane, and all my stuff from there has been just the job.

Good call. Do they have stuff all the time or just when there's a special on? I will pop up to the Lewes one on Saturday if so.

Have a great jersey from Lidl, but they've not had them again since. Would buy another if they did.

 

[strings]

Good call. Do they have stuff all the time or just when there's a special on? I will pop up to the Lewes one on Saturday if so.

Have a great jersey from Lidl, but they've not had them again since. Would buy another if they did.

I've got loads of Aldi stuff, they had a cycling event 2 weeks ago, so there is still some bits in my local store (Wolverhampton). They only have it from time to time. Best bet is to keep an eye on the aldi website and get there for opening time on the day, as they only tend to get a few of the better bits in each size.

 

[Bad Ash]

It certainly looks like the same one but mine is really hard. Even with really good quality bib shorts I just can't get on with it. Maybe it's just my arse!

When I got my first road bike (Triban 3) I bought a Brooks leather saddle. It's been extremely comfortable. However, it is pretty heavy and has a rather vintage look to it.

Therefore, I ended up buying a highly rated cheap saddle (Charge Spoon) and it's the most uncomfortable thing I'm had the misfortune to sit on. Therefore, this goes to show that this is a very personal thing. It was at this point I started to read up on saddle fits and found we all have different distances between our sit bones, how to measure them, and what saddle sizes to look for.

I have tried to measure my own using the foil/cardboard and stairs technique and found it pretty difficult, but it suggested that mine was a bit wider than average. So when I ordered my new road bike I did ask for a wider saddle and it's been very comfortable.

It might be worth going to your LBS for a saddle fit, I believe Specialized have a saddle fitting system, so any official stockists should be able to offer a measuring service. Specialized also offer a large variety of sizes in some of their saddles. This is what I was going to do if the new bike was uncomfortable, but fortunately haven't needed to.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

A workmate has just bought an entry level Carrera from Halfords, not sure whether it was the Virtuoso or Vanquish. He's come from a mountain bike and just wants to get fitter with short evening rides and commutes, nothing serious (yet, but he might get the bug). After just one short ride he came into work and was waxing lyrical at how much of a difference the road bike ride was. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face, he was just blown away!.

The Boardman's always get great reviews, and if you're up at that pro carbon price point then you can't really go wrong. But also, up at that price point you're open to a whole world of other possibilities too. It's definitely worth pushing the boat out as far as you can and getting something decent where you'll really feel the difference. Several on here have gone for full carbon Planet X bikes which have amazing spec for the price and every review has come back positive. October is also the optimum month to buy a bike as you get last year's models at knock down prices. Don't rule out secondhand too - bargains do come up occasionally, although a lot are way over priced at the moment in a sellers market.

I've recently purchased a 2013 Boardman MTB Pro, cracking value and a great bike, IMHO

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Did the Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice Sussex 100 on Sunday (although I did what was suppoed to be the 60km route, which ended up as 68km as I missed a turn!) Didn't use the Boardman took out the Dawes Road Bike. Found the hills around Bentley, Ashdown Forest, etc bloody frequent! (If anyone fancies sponsoring me it's www.justgiving.com/tim-breden)

Found the start very tough, with hill after hill, there was a pit stop at 18km, which was a bit too soon but welcome nonetheless. Another at around 48 km and then a flatter third section. Used endomundo to track it but seems everyone's using Strava these days.

That is all ....

 

[n1 gull]

B

Did the Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice Sussex 100 on Sunday (although I did what was suppoed to be the 60km route, which ended up as 68km as I missed a turn!) Didn't use the Boardman took out the Dawes Road Bike. Found the hills around Bentley, Ashdown Forest, etc bloody frequent! (If anyone fancies sponsoring me it's www.justgiving.com/tim-breden)

Found the start very tough, with hill after hill, there was a pit stop at 18km, which was a bit too soon but welcome nonetheless. Another at around 48 km and then a flatter third section. Used endomundo to track it but seems everyone's using Strava these days.

That is all ....

I did the 100k which was knackering as it was extremely hilly and down single track country lanes covered in leaves, conkers, potholes etc

My bloody iPhone ran out of battery so didn't record the whole ride on Strava, gutted

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

How did you find the saddle on your first ride? It's definitely the worst thing about my bike and I find it so uncomfortable I've swapped it for my old Carerra one until I get a chance to get a new one (and figure out which one to get!).

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40091&sid=ee11b0ccf93faed560de0dbc2cce7091

Lots of people selling/swapping saddles here. Common problem trying to find a comfortable one.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

B

I did the 100k which was knackering as it was extremely hilly and down single track country lanes covered in leaves, conkers, potholes etc

My bloody iPhone ran out of battery so didn't record the whole ride on Strava, gutted

I thought that on some of the down hills, it was a bit scarey when you hit a pot hole on a road bike as I'm normally MTB with nobblies! Great effort on the 100k though, well done. Maybe a NSC Team next year?

 

[Bad Ash]

My bloody iPhone ran out of battery so didn't record the whole ride on Strava, gutted

Been there, done that, bought a Garmin! Happened to me about 60 miles into a 90 mile ride. After 70 miles my legs were starting to scream and there were times I didn't know if I was going to make it to the end of the ride and I was worrying about how to arrange a rescue without a phone. In addition to being able to record longer rides, and meaning a phone should work in case I ever need it, a Garmin (or similar) is much more accurate. I always take max speed recorded on a phone with a huge pinch of salt.

I also found that if the phone got damp (usually from sweat if keeping it in my jersey pocket) the battery drained much quicker. I've now taken to wrapping the phone in a plastic bag (and not using it for Strava) when taking it out on the bike.

Good effort on the ride though.

 

[Notters]

Did the Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice Sussex 100 on Sunday (although I did what was suppoed to be the 60km route, which ended up as 68km as I missed a turn!) Didn't use the Boardman took out the Dawes Road Bike. Found the hills around Bentley, Ashdown Forest, etc bloody frequent! (If anyone fancies sponsoring me it's www.justgiving.com/tim-breden)

Found the start very tough, with hill after hill, there was a pit stop at 18km, which was a bit too soon but welcome nonetheless. Another at around 48 km and then a flatter third section. Used endomundo to track it but seems everyone's using Strava these days.

That is all ....

Ha, looking at the route I inadvertently did a bit of the ride on Sunday afternoon. Those are the roads that got me into cycling. Will look out for the next one and perhaps join in.

http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/341487_chestnut-sussex-100-60km

I'm hoping to do some sportives next summer. Does most of this ring true?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/acti...lls-you-before-you-do-a-cycling-sportive.html

 

[pcol]

So what's people's view on strava-ing your commute?

I do about 50 miles a week around London (in mostly 5 mile stints) but don't log them for fear of constantly spamming any followers I have with boring to look at rides. On the other hand I would be interested to log my rides/mileage.

I've experimented with just pausing the ride on my phone and extending it over the week but not really sure that's the best way to do it. When you upload using a computer there is the options to tag the ride as a commute although i'm not sure this actually does anything.

 

[strings]

So what's people's view on strava-ing your commute?

I do about 50 miles a week around London (in mostly 5 mile stints) but don't log them for fear of constantly spamming any followers I have with boring to look at rides. On the other hand I would be interested to log my rides/mileage.

I've experimented with just pausing the ride on my phone and extending it over the week but not really sure that's the best way to do it. When you upload using a computer there is the options to tag the ride as a commute although i'm not sure this actually does anything.

I strava my commutes (only about 5k). Basically because I figure that all cycling is good, regardless of the distance, and because with a newborn baby in the house, commuting is the only opportunity I get right now to take the bike out.

I don't have that may followers, so convince myself that I'm not spamming!

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm hoping to do some sportives next summer. Does most of this ring true?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/acti...lls-you-before-you-do-a-cycling-sportive.html

Yes and no.
The writer wants to be seen as a bumbling amateur, but has in one year ridden in all the major continent sportives (borderline semi pro) events.

The crux of what he says is correct it just needs dialing down by factor 10 before applying it to the back roads of Sussex.

When starting out I enjoyed sportives.
They are fairly 'marmite' with numerous arguments against them:-

Just join a club.
Go racing.
Why pay to ride on the roads, etc.

But as said, in my newbie days, they suited me.
It's a 'safe' way to ride new roads.
Riding in a 'peloton' is thrilling.
At the time I was mostly riding alone.
The gold/silver/bronze target finish times.
Food stops.
All along with the camaraderie made for a great morning out.

Definitely go for it if you feel you want to get more from cycling but are unsure about your commitment to anything other than just riding your bike 'when you feel like it'.

Some of our favourite and most told stories come from our sportive days.

 

[1066familyman]

How did you find the saddle on your first ride? It's definitely the worst thing about my bike and I find it so uncomfortable I've swapped it for my old Carerra one until I get a chance to get a new one (and figure out which one to get!).

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40091&sid=ee11b0ccf93faed560de0dbc2cce7091

Lots of people selling/swapping saddles here. Common problem trying to find a comfortable one.

Not sure much success ever came of that thread IL. I read a few comments a while back about whether anyone has actually managed a swap yet or not.

This is where we have an advantage, all being Albion fans. Glanders lent me a Fizik Arione once to try out and I met him at a game for the swap. It was useful in ruling out an Arione for me. I currently have a Selle Italia Flite Gel spare that I'd be quite happy to lend anyone on here who needs to try different saddles to find the fit for them. Just PM me.

A Fizik Aliante might be the saddle for someone seeking a wide fit? They describe it as their 'bull' shape type, suitable for heavier less flexible riders, although Sagan rides an Aliante I think. I currently have an Aliante on one bike and an Antares on another. Like the Selle Italia Flite Gel, both are comfy enough but I feel them after about 40 miles or more in the saddle. I think perhaps an Antares versus could be the ideal model for me as it might beat my current Antares by having that relief channel. At some point I will pick one up secondhand and see if it works. Saddles are so hard to get right but I believe there is a perfect saddle out there for everyone, and once I finally find mine I'll be selling on all others.

 

[1066familyman]

Notters - Aldi and Sportives.

Yes, Aldi and Lidl have specials rather than stock all year round. Aldi had a special a couple of weeks ago that had some decent stuff in. Just have to keep your eyes peeled.

Sportives - I fall into the camp about the paying to ride on free roads thing that SB mentions. I just can't quite get my head around that, especially in a world where everything is over priced and charged for as it is. I'm a passionate believer in free sports for all kids as our true Olympic legacy for example and get very frustrated that so much sport for them requires constant fees and expense, thus ruling some kids out. Free open roads are a big attraction for me in cycling so paying for Sportives would seem weird for me, unless it's a charity ride. I did once do a 40 mile charity ride and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can also see the value in Sportives as a safer way to ride with your kids, and this would be one way to tempt me in, but for myself I can't really get the whole concept. Each to their own though.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I thought that on some of the down hills, it was a bit scarey when you hit a pot hole on a road bike as I'm normally MTB with nobblies! Great effort on the 100k though, well done. Maybe a NSC Team next year?

Definitely. I would have done it this year, but at this time of year I am all sportived out, and hadn't noticed that it was on.

I taught a lad who spends a lot of time at Chestnut Tree. Lovely lad, and a fantastic Hospice, well worthy of anyone's support. I donate to them, other teachers at my school donate to them and Calde supports them.

What's not to like?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Ha, looking at the route I inadvertently did a bit of the ride on Sunday afternoon. Those are the roads that got me into cycling. Will look out for the next one and perhaps join in.

http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/341487_chestnut-sussex-100-60km

I'm hoping to do some sportives next summer. Does most of this ring true?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/acti...lls-you-before-you-do-a-cycling-sportive.html

Sportives are fun. I do two or three each year, usually as training for something that is a bucket-list target. Most of that list is bollocks, though. If you can ride 50 miles regularly, then 100 should be ok.

The food stops are so well stocked that I never eat any of the food I take myself - same goes for drinks.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So what's people's view on strava-ing your commute?

I do about 50 miles a week around London (in mostly 5 mile stints) but don't log them for fear of constantly spamming any followers I have with boring to look at rides. On the other hand I would be interested to log my rides/mileage.

I've experimented with just pausing the ride on my phone and extending it over the week but not really sure that's the best way to do it. When you upload using a computer there is the options to tag the ride as a commute although i'm not sure this actually does anything.

Strava every ride. Otherwise you didn't do it.

 

[Notters]

Sportives are fun. I do two or three each year, usually as training for something that is a bucket-list target. Most of that list is bollocks, though. If you can ride 50 miles regularly, then 100 should be ok.

The food stops are so well stocked that I never eat any of the food I take myself - same goes for drinks.

I can't see me having any problem with 100 miles on my new bike next summer. I managed 50 on my old one when it was falling apart with no cycling gear and no cleats!