[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Motogull]

Is Team NSC turning out for this one?

It's fast becoming the best sportive in the South on reputation. Expect to sell out by Xmas.

http://puncheur.co.uk

Looks like a top route. What puts me off is the timing. Long way for me to go if its pissing down. Stuff that.

 

[Motogull]

I am a devote non-winter cyclists, but I do want to have a better year in '15.

Therefore I will:-

A) Diet, lose weight, and work on my core muscle strength.

And

2) suck it up, wear more clothes and just ride through the winter.

Having the December sportive in mind is helping with my motivation.
Which is why the Puncheur would be good for me, as it comes at just the right time to keep me going in the new year.

Corrected for you.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Is Team NSC turning out for this one?

It's fast becoming the best sportive in the South on reputation. Expect to sell out by Xmas.

http://puncheur.co.uk

I do this most years (I think I did it with you BS, a couple of years ago?), and so do most of my regular cycling buddies.

But in 2015 it's on my birthday.

I'm not sure that I want to forego the pampering, the massive breakfast and the present fest to get up at Piss Off O'Clock and ride through the icy wind (God, it was cold two years ago) for 70 odd miles, finishing up the Beacon.

I probably will, though.

 

[Stat Brother]

Corrected for you.

You might have a point assuming diet pork scratchings have been invented.

I do this most years (I think I did it with you BS, a couple of years ago?), and so do most of my regular cycling buddies.

But in 2015 it's on my birthday.

I'm not sure that I want to forego the pampering, the massive breakfast and the present fest to get up at Piss Off O'Clock and ride through the icy wind (God, it was cold two years ago) for 70 odd miles, finishing up the Beacon.

I probably will, though.

It sounds like an ideal birthday present.
Can't beat a bit of masochism.

 

[jameswestport]

Could someone please recommend me a good set of lights for my bike. I have been looking and the amount of choice is confusing the hell out of me. I need them solely for commuting in London, rather than lighting a dark road ahead. Hopefully NSC wisdom can shed some light on my problem.

 

[1066familyman]

Could someone please recommend me a good set of lights for my bike. I have been looking and the amount of choice is confusing the hell out of me. I need them solely for commuting in London, rather than lighting a dark road ahead. Hopefully NSC wisdom can shed some light on my problem.

Definitely definitely get the Smart Lunar R2 as your rear light. For a tenner here: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart-lunar-r2-rear-led-bike-light#reviewstab you simply will not get a better rear light in terms of quality, functionality and brightness.

I see there's even a USB version available now, which is almost twice the price but might be right up your street for commuting if you're an office bod.

My front light is a Cateye Nano shot. Great light, but more than you'd need for just urban commuting so you'd be wasting your money getting one of those to be honest when something half that price would still be more than adequate. As you say, the choice is mind boggling, so good luck. Let us know what you end up with.

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Could someone please recommend me a good set of lights for my bike. I have been looking and the amount of choice is confusing the hell out of me. I need them solely for commuting in London, rather than lighting a dark road ahead. Hopefully NSC wisdom can shed some light on my problem.

Having commuted in London, I'd go for a few cheaper lights on several points, rather than one front and one rear.

Knog are very good and you can attach to bike and helmet, for example. Paired with the light 1066 suggests on the rear should keep you visible.

 

[1066familyman]

Having commuted in London, I'd go for a few cheaper lights on several points, rather than one front and one rear.

Knog are very good and you can attach to bike and helmet, for example. Paired with the light 1066 suggests on the rear should keep you visible.

Actually that is a good point IL, about side visibility.

The alternative rear light option for that would probably be this : www.merlincycles.com/cateye-ld1100-...=Rear+Lights&gclid=CJjmoeaG9sECFQKWtAodbxoAoQ

I've not used it, but Cateye always produce good lights and this one gets great reviews.

For side visibility I've put reflective tape on my bikes in strategic places. It's black and so you don't really notice the tape on the frame, unless a light shines on it. This is the exact tape (there are many to chose from) and it really works: www.amazon.co.uk/Scotchlite-Black-Reflective-Tape-10mm/dp/B0093QJQMK

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Ok, I might be being controversial/a bike snob but there's been a lot of press round here (New Forest) about sportives etc. These stories are usually accompanied by photos and a couple of things have struck me -

- there always seem to be a string of riders randomly across several hundred metres of road
1) Why does no-one follow a wheel, they all seem about 6 feet apart and could clearly share some work
2) Even as a cyclist I'd find it very annoying as a car driver that the spread is so ridiculous
3) Why are people not in groups sharing the work?

Maybe these pics aren't representative but it looks ridiculous. For example this is on the sportive photo site for the New Forest 100!

http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/home.tlx?containerid=25897880826

 

[Bold Seagull]

Ok, I might be being controversial/a bike snob but there's been a lot of press round here (New Forest) about sportives etc. These stories are usually accompanied by photos and a couple of things have struck me -

- there always seem to be a string of riders randomly across several hundred metres of road
1) Why does no-one follow a wheel, they all seem about 6 feet apart and could clearly share some work
2) Even as a cyclist I'd find it very annoying as a car driver that the spread is so ridiculous
3) Why are people not in groups sharing the work?

Maybe these pics aren't representative but it looks ridiculous. For example this is on the sportive photo site for the New Forest 100!

http://sportivephoto.thirdlight.com/home.tlx?containerid=25897880826

I've done a few sportives and I would equate it to a golf society day, where you get the idiots fiddling about trying to find a ball or their tee while your teeing off, or they unfasten the felt-cro on their glove when you're about to putt, or walk straight across your putting line. You know, they've got all the gear, but no idea. I think sportives have more than their fair of cyclists in the same mould as said golfers…

I've always formed groups in the sportives I've done, and had 'words' with those not prepared to do any work - hey [MENTION=19321]Pogue Mahone[/MENTION], remember that **** toward the end of the Wiggle Long One - didn't do a peddle stroke on the front for absolute miles then shot off like there was a points banner up ahead! Although [MENTION=11738]Spreadbetting Seagull[/MENTION] did that to me at the puncheur a few years back, me and his mate kept dropping poor old spread, so we kept our pace steady made sure he was on. All the way from before Hurstpierpoint we guided up to the start of the Beacon – where he turned his afterburners on and left us for dust!

 

[Stat Brother]

It might be a modern thing, back in the day on the sportives we did, we always had small groups sharing the work.
With the exception of the odd mug.

A classic memory was when Colin strung out 20+ riders early on.
He was hammering down the road, nobody could get over him.
Everyone behind were moaning like drains.

Finally we reached a route split, me and Col turned left onto the 60 mile route.
Everyone else went right for the 100 miles.

I picture them all going round the corner and stopping for a rest, having done the first 30 miles of their 100 at well over 20mph.

 

[strings]

I wonder if it is something to do with all the 'newbies' coming into cycling. I'm new to cycling, and would fancy giving a sportive a go, but I'm not sure about the group riding side of things. Perhaps its a confidence thing?

 

[Stat Brother]

I wonder if it is something to do with all the 'newbies' coming into cycling. I'm new to cycling, and would fancy giving a sportive a go, but I'm not sure about the group riding side of things. Perhaps its a confidence thing?

Sportives are ideal for cutting your teeth on things like that.
That is certainly were some of my fondest (funniest) cycling memories come from.

Definitely give it a go, just off your 'usual' route.

They are not the be all and end all, just a slightly more organised step up from what you do now.

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

I've done a few sportives and I would equate it to a golf society day, where you get the idiots fiddling about trying to find a ball or their tee while your teeing off, or they unfasten the felt-cro on their glove when you're about to putt, or walk straight across your putting line. You know, they've got all the gear, but no idea. I think sportives have more than their fair of cyclists in the same mould as said golfers…

I've always formed groups in the sportives I've done, and had 'words' with those not prepared to do any work - hey [MENTION=19321]Pogue Mahone[/MENTION], remember that **** toward the end of the Wiggle Long One - didn't do a peddle stroke on the front for absolute miles then shot off like there was a points banner up ahead! Although [MENTION=11738]Spreadbetting Seagull[/MENTION] did that to me at the puncheur a few years back, me and his mate kept dropping poor old spread, so we kept our pace steady made sure he was on. All the way from before Hurstpierpoint we guided up to the start of the Beacon – where he turned his afterburners on and left us for dust!

Makes sense. I'm sure there's quite a spread of abilities - I'll admit that my biggest fear about doing one is getting my arse kicked and realising how far I've fallen!

A boss at work did the first ride London and covered 27 miles in the first hour, couldn't hack that these days!

 

[Bold Seagull]

Makes sense. I'm sure there's quite a spread of abilities - I'll admit that my biggest fear about doing one is getting my arse kicked and realising how far I've fallen!

A boss at work did the first ride London and covered 27 miles in the first hour, couldn't hack that these days!

I did the first RideLondon, and probably had my best time on a bike hanging on for dear life as a cycling club from Rugby just tore into London, where similarly I think we did the last 28miles in an hour. I've never had such a heightened sense of how much advantage you have on the wheel, and getting it even slightly wrong had you dropped. I barely even dared to reach down to grab my bidon! Brilliant fun though and a great team of friendly riders thoroughly enjoying their day, I think they loved the fact at some points they had about 20 of us desperately trying to stay in their wake.

What would probably annoy you about sportives having ridden at such a competitive level, isn't the riders who don't do any work, it's sometimes the riders who get ready to take their turn on the front, but instead of steadily blending in their pace, take the front at such a kick they drop the lot of you, hammer down for 10mins, then drop back in having felt like they've done their turn, but basically haven't helped anyone!

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

What would probably annoy you about sportives having ridden at such a competitive level, isn't the riders who don't do any work, it's sometimes the riders who get ready to take their turn on the front, but instead of steadily blending in their pace, take the front at such a kick they drop the lot of you, hammer down for 10mins, then drop back in having felt like they've done their turn, but basically haven't helped anyone!

That's an age old problem! Half wheeling, putting the hammer down, wheel sucking .........

 

[banjo]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dNFaAqS2f18
And I thought car drivers were bad. Ouch!

 

[Motogull]

Today I learned a lesson. Despite a promising forecast with a dry start, pop your overshoes in your pockets. Especially if you are using a route with a known flooding history.

I got pretty wet. Maybe I should think about some new kit. That said, even in the pissingest rain today, I realised I was smiling.

Anyway, we shortened our ride a little due to our being drenched. Were were going to do another challenging hill but my mate opted to swerve it. The good news is PRs where I would have wanted them elsewhere.

 

[1066familyman]

Today I learned a lesson. Despite a promising forecast with a dry start, pop your overshoes in your pockets. Especially if you are using a route with a known flooding history.

I got pretty wet. Maybe I should think about some new kit. That said, even in the pissingest rain today, I realised I was smiling.

Anyway, we shortened our ride a little due to our being drenched. Were were going to do another challenging hill but my mate opted to swerve it. The good news is PRs where I would have wanted them elsewhere.

What overshoes you got Moto? I'm now in a position again to commute a possible 3 days a week on my bike and I'm determined to do that come rain or shine (whereas normally I'd try to avoid the rain).

Any overshoe recommendations from the geeks are appreciated, but think budget and enough to keep the wet out on short rides. Nothing super duper and mega expensive please. All the reviews I've read have been very mixed bag.

Btw Moto, nice work again on yet another ride

 

[Pogue Mahone]

What overshoes you got Moto? I'm now in a position again to commute a possible 3 days a week on my bike and I'm determined to do that come rain or shine (whereas normally I'd try to avoid the rain).

Any overshoe recommendations from the geeks are appreciated, but think budget and enough to keep the wet out on short rides. Nothing super duper and mega expensive please. All the reviews I've read have been very mixed bag.

Btw Moto, nice work again on yet another ride

These are the ones that I have used for the last two years. They work very well.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/endura/road-overshoes-ec011695

All dressed up in my Lycra this morning, and then down came the rain. I bottled it. So kudos to you, Moto!