Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 21:08:13 GMT

Shamelessly resurected.

It's cold isn't it? So why not join in and watch a group of aspirational talks from the world of Cycle Touring courtesy of the fabulous Cycle Touring Festival. 15 glorious presentations, all free (though donations would be appreciated) on topics varying from Iceland (that'll be cold) New Zealand and life after a big tour and I can relate to that. On Sunday at 20:00 you might want to watch yours truly tell you why Mongolia really is a top destination. Go on, Strictly has finished and spring is a few months away, what have you got to lose?

https://cycletouringfestival.co.uk/whatson/

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:45:41 GMT

Hello Liz Who ..."he?" I am Making a presump[tion that it might be me with my well-known history? I am indeed back to racing but due to the development of left -sided paresis in 2015, a delayed-effect from the head-trauma and the implanted shunt failing I registered for cycling competition with British Cycling as a Para-cyclist. Much as I enjoyed road-racing I have lost my spatial awareness and would not feel safe in a bunch now. Nor would the other riders probably! So I restrict my events to para-cycling time-trials and in 2016, my first event was the National Para -TT championship at Sutton Bonnington. I was a DNF tough because I could not grip the bars securely and pulled out before I went off the road and damaged my bike! The following year had signed up with a local professional coach who got me to 11th place in the 2017 championship near Chester. I was both pleased and disappointed at the same time! To have finished this year burt just outside the top ten! I aimed to achieve that the following year. So in June 2018 I rode the Para-championship in Essex this year and hit my target ofby being 5th. That was undoubtedly the most pleasing result of my life! I would hardly have been happier with a win!! But the winner for the last 2 or 3 years, Matthew Roberts is under half my age and is very fast and strong for an able-bodied rider never mind a para-cyclist. He overtook me in 2018 in 2019 in South Wales he did it again. I set off very well, joined the A40 and was riding at over 22mph up the log dragf of the main road thinking this could be a good day for me! When Matthew flew past at what must have been 5-6mph faster uphill! Over the brow of that hill, I got up to 29mph for a couple of miles but Matthew was zooming off into the distance! I joked with him afterwards that I had thought about chasing him to get back past him , for all of 30 seconds! But I realised that if I could go fast enough to catch him, he would not have overtaken me in the first place!! A great rider who openly said he was aiming for the Tokyo Olympics! Matthew politely laughed at my saying I wanted to e-catch him!

There is also a National Series of events with points awarded for position in one's category. I have achieved second in my category called MC-2, so wanted to make the series my target this year but COVID-19 has scuppered all racing until August or September probably!! Grrr!

Thanks for your interest...

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 13:03:08 GMT

Puts my recent Lake District passes to shame. I was shattered at the top of this

No shame at all David. I can guarantee that every one finds the steep UK climbs harder than mountain passes in the Alps etc. he mountain passes are steepest at maybe 1in 6/or 16% eg at the base of Alpe d 'Huez and rarely reach 10% or more. On the longer climbs of which I've ridden very many, they are "only" perhaps 4 to5% for most of the climb. You just find a comfortable pace and keep going. Even the many miles of the Col d' Iseran are not so bad that way. nor even the Galibier, a lot steeper especially the last few km at the top on the side of the Col du Telegraphe which you've ridden first! But the Galibier there steepens up badly to add a real sting in the tail! I thought that the Galibier was the toughest climb in my life until I rode the Tourmalet in 2001 which we rode in an Etape du Tour and hitting great speeds down the other side! The group of us adult men were like big kids [even the ex-SAS - rider!] after the event!! "What speed did you get? All comparing our top speeds! 50mph!" Someone else, beat that 52!, 55! and so on! I claimed Top Trumps with my 56mph! The incredible thing was as we flew down all on our carbon race-bikes etc down the dead-straight 2km on this side at the bottom, probably 8% I think, as we let off the brakes and got in a tuck, some French kid, as judged by the tricolour pennant flapping on his seat-post, overtook the lot of us down the left-hand gutter! He must have been local to know that no pot-holes were down that side! But this bloke, the little so-and-so was on a mountain-bike not a race-bike! Crazy descending but it was a heck of a memorable day, hence this post!! We had ridden 10 miles to the start from Lourdes, then had 95 miles covering the Aspin, the Tourmalet and finishing up Luz Ardiden at the top of which we had an immense hail-storm! We tried sheltering in the post-event massage tent but they shooed us out of the tent, those nasty Frenchmen! From Luz back to our hotel we had another 35 miles to Lourdes again. Although torrential rain it was mostly flat or slightly downhill so fairly quick! The biggest climbs coming back were over motorway bridges! My Etape-certificate says 6 hours 46 for the 95 miles over those passes and 400th or similar out of 8,000 riders. I doubt very much whether I'd be up to a ride like that again , being a para-cyclist now.. Unless my wife accompanied me. Ha-ha-ha!!! Or Maybe not!

After that waffle, excellent on getting up that 20% climb. They never get easy!

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:27:48 GMT

People get hung up on the make of the bike, when in reality, it's the components that you need to look at, but most of all choose the frame as everything else will eventually wear out.

Just agreeing with Neil. The frame will affect your ride most of all. the right size, of course, and the right material. Steel: durable, plentiful, repairable.

Aluminium: light, relatively cheap but tends to produce stiff frames where you feel the bumps and vibrations.

Titanium. Expensive, light, does not fatigue nor corrode, good ride quality absorbing vibrations from the road surface; fairly light, not very common in road-bikes or mountain-bikes. A Special choice. only really. If you want a recommendation, maybe a second-hand Orange Vitamin T. A fabulous mountain bike, but not made any-more. So only available used probably. Mine is absolutely not for sale! I bought in way back in 1995 and it is as good as new. See my comment about no corrosion etc. Anyone who is allowed to ride it comments on how good it feels and handles! My local shop threaten to sell it , or just "lose it"if I leave it there for fitting anything new! I think that they are joking!

Carbon fibre. Arguably the best: Light, good ride quality, Plentiful choice nowadays. Not cheap! For full-on Race-bikes only usually. If it breaks, it breaks badly as in; into lots of pieces!

Good luck and/or careful consideration in your choice!

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Clive Ansell — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:15:43 GMT

True - I've been riding many A roads and dual carriageways which have been pretty much deserted. As you say, now getting busier though.

I thought the 1 hour limit was a general recommendation and not legally enforceable.

Audax events are all suspended still, going to be reviewed in July. Glad I got my Morocco trip in back in November.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 10:02:35 GMT

That hour was never official, it was a type of urban myth.

I've been out and about like never before and the number of families cycling has been quite amazing. I keep cracking the gag 'keep it up after the lockdown' A particular pleasure was cycling the A Roads. Great tarmac, good gradients etc. I did the A39 a month ago for 10 miles and 2 cars passed me, it's gotten busier again now.

This years tours have been affected. managed to squeeze two in before the lockdown and have had to push another back to next year simply because of the 2 week isolation period (We were only going to Normandy) Maybe I should have said we were playing golf or driving an F1 car.

Hopefully many have discovered the bicycle again and if the government can just follow up on their words of billions it's a better future

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Clive Ansell — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 09:40:43 GMT

Looks like a great ride Neil, but I'm way behind with cycling this year, being confined by the lockdown and limited up until mid May to an hour a day. Starting to increase length of rides now. Most years will do the first 100km in February, first 100 mile in March, and first 200Km in April.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 22:08:55 GMT

So have you missed this thread?

A re entry at number 1, pushing, 'blocked cat bladder' from Top of the Pops, to number 2.

Anyone in South Somerset, check out this 80 mile route, a great way to do something positive during lockdown, by auditing this Sustrans route and create a GPX and Route Sheet.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32836117

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 15:40:01 GMT

If you've done LEJOG and fancy something similar then try West to East or as I've named it W2E. It's 1000km exactly. Includes Mull, Arran, Dumfries, Eden Valley, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Hull, Lincolnshire Wolds and finally Lowestoft.

Details in https://www.cyclinguk.org/publication/cycle-magazine-december-2019january-2020

Nice pictures as well

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 15:33:28 GMT

If you like cycle touring and wish to either find out a little bit more about it or mix with like minded folk then the Cycle Touring Festival is a lovely event.

There are a number of lecture streams from adventure cyclists to cooking on stoves and as last year, I'll be giving a couple of talks.

Camping on site, catering and entirely voluntary based, it's the equivalent of BSAVA

24-27 May in Clitheroe

http://cycletouringfestival.co.uk

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 19:34:15 GMT

See the audax cycle ride thread Tricia Goulden. The more the merrier!

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Tricia Goulden — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 18:57:39 GMT

I'd be interested

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Robin Grimmer — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:24:21 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

Well it's the start of the year

Would anyone be interested in a meet up? Maybe an audax ride, 100km?

3 of us did this 2 years ago

Thoughts?

Neil

[/quote]

Defo - maybe early spring when the days are a bit longer before everyone heads off on their summer jollies?

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:00:21 GMT

Well it's the start of the year

Would anyone be interested in a meet up? Maybe an audax ride, 100km?

3 of us did this 2 years ago

Thoughts?

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 11:22:54 GMT

Blimey Neil, I get vertigo just looking at that image! = The best emoticon for someone in that position on a bike?

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 18:59:09 GMT

Not sure why he needs a helmet!!

www.youtube.com/watch

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 21:30:06 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Anyway, I've done with racing now - I haven't got the motivation to do the top end training to remain competitive.[/quote]

Haha Martin! I must have a personality defect because my life now revolves around my competitions. Well, that and my family of course! After nearly dying, I needed targets and racing was the obvious choice! Being a para-cyclist now is not easy but it does provide a new context for my aims and results. IfI did not ride and race, what on earth would I do? I really have no idea, except die of boredom and frustration! Every completed event is now a success. I might suggest that my results have not been too bad for a "dead-man" so to speak! The consultant is delighted with my progress and is very encouraging. Nothing, but nothing annoys me more than people suggesting I should not do it!

P.S. sorry to hear about your neck! A painful neck is not very good on a bike is it?

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:29:36 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]Perhaps you should use Dave Nie as your coach? Just without the crashing-part first![/quote]Well I've done plenty of crashing but only broken ribs and limb bones and lost a lot of flesh. I think I was very lucky when I crashed at 35 mph in a race, got thrown in the air and landed directly on my head smashing my helmet. I probably came very close to breaking my neck as it was very painful and I've suffered from a stiff neck ever since. Rather foolishly I refused to go with the St Johns Ambulance based on the fact that I wasn't paralysed therefore I couldn't have done anything too serious!!

Anyway, I've done with racing now - I haven't got the motivation to do the top end training to remain competitive.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:23:37 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] Guy Martin broke the British record because he ticked those boxes rather than because he's good cyclist.[/quote]

What do team Sky say 'It's all about the margins' The fact that she beat that record and many others by so much shows nerves of steel, so should be recognised as such. I wonder what gearing she used?

Neil

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:17:48 GMT

I saw this. I think it is a bit of false record as it is more dependent on the vehicle they're drafting, the bike, the course and the courage/madness of the rider than their legs. Guy Martin broke the British record because he ticked those boxes rather than because he's good cyclist. That said Beryl Burton was the outright 12 hour record holder for several years beating the best male time triallists of the time. But then she was one of a kind, the sort of physical phenomenon that only pops up once in a lifetime let alone a generation.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:39:21 GMT

A 45 year old woman has just smashed the land speed record for a bike - in excess of 180mph!!

Watch the video, it's mental.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45572277

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:18:30 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]My Bete Noir was Dave Nie in our local LVRC races. I targeted him as the man to beat and stuck to his wheel much to his annoyance but he always beat me.[/quote]

I found a novel way of dealing with my bete noir! Paul Wakefield is a very classy local rider, having won numerous races nationally since being a junior and almost invariably wins the local hilly time trials. In LVRC races I have often seen him attack on the hills and disappear into the distance to win alone, because no-one wanted to chase him down! MI used to compare my TT-results with Paul's and on the very rare occasions I beat him it was a great result. So my method to deal with Paul? I had a major crash then enlisted him as my coach and he has been instrumental in me getting back to where I am now! Paul is very patient, encouraging and sympathetic to my difficulties because his brother Steve, who is also an extremely good rider and a classy sprinter, having ridden in the Peace-Race back in the day, was knocked off his bike by a Dobermann and sustained serious injuries. So Paul has watched his brother recuperate and understands my battle to do the same! Perhaps you should use Dave Nie as your coach? Just without the crashing-part first!

I hope that helps?!]

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:42:04 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]I'm really not sure that they are less serious! [/quote]Not that they don't race seriously its just more fun orientated and not the end of the world if you don't win. My Bete Noir was Dave Nie in our local LVRC races. I targeted him as the man to beat and stuck to his wheel much to his annoyance but he always beat me.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Julian Earl — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:30:37 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] I did enjoy LVRC races as they all seemed less serious, even the organisation was more relaxed, I guess everyone had done their thing and just wanted to enjoy themselves.[/quote]

I'm really not sure that they are less serious! Having competed in races with Mick Ives, the winner of several world titles he just tthrashed everyone and then afterwards was loudly slagging off those who were there just to make up the numbers! Which included me! I don't want that sort of criticism of my ability, I can get that from my club-mates at home!! In the end I was usually pleased to merely finish in the bunch. If one is lucky enough to be gifted the talent to be so strong as his age, about 70-odd I think one should understand that others are trying just as hard if not as fast! It was far better racing in the League International with races grouped according to age and ability and in those the competition is a lot more equal. I achieved a silver in their National road-race way back in 1993, losing the sprint to Dave Marsh a good veteran, by half my front wheel. not that I've had a chip n my shoulder all these years you realise?!! Grrr!!

The French?/ I rode the Etape de Tour in 1999 , 130 miles across the Massif Centrale. The first time over 100 miles for about 20 years! We [ as in 500 in our pen] set off from Galmier down the main road doing about 25mph and the French riders were going past on our left and right in the gutters about 5-10mph faster! We jut smiled and thought, idiots, there's 120 miles left yet! Sure enough, we passed them easily on the first pass about ten miles later! The last few miles along the valley towards the St Fleur finish up a 2km 8% climb was in a bunch of 100 at 25+mph again and up the final climb of this so-called non-competitive event, the riders opened up and it was fantastic taking part in the charge upthe climb before a 100-up sprint across the market square! My best mate finished about 5 minutes ahead but I claim to have won the sprint against the rest for773rd place out of 8,000 riders! The real " winner" was an ex-professional who received a huge trophy! As I sprinted across the square I could not help but smile at the Frenchman looking at me as I overtook him , shaking his Gallic head in disgust! Not a race? Who are they trying to kid? This day was, until this year the most pleasing ride of my life and done on a training-diet of local road races up to 35 miles once a fortnight.

RE: Cycling thread - Tours, tyres, technical, anything cycling related

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 09:31:22 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"] Gatorskins are excellent tyres, unless you're a weight weenie (700 x 25 wired 300g, folding 250g) I think the Grand Prix 4 seasons are a better bet, better puncture protection and 240g. [/quote]Its not just weight Clive, it is rolling resistance that really counts. You may not notice it if you're used to riding heavy, puncture resistant tyres but to me it feels as though I'm riding through treacle. And those extra grams are revolving weight which is much more noticeable than dead weight.

The Mavic Yksion UST tubeless tyres weigh 290gm in a 25mm but I've lost the inner tube which weighs well over 100 gm and rolling resistance is improved even more because there is no friction between the tube and the tyre and you can run them at much lower pressures.