Nice one!
Any of you Tossers ride a pushbike?
- Thread starter y2blade
- Start date
Nice one!
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
Thanks, I really want to try and take something good out of what has happened. Following my being taken to hospital in the middle of the night two weeks ago today and being told I couldn't drive for 6 months I was heartbroken, 6 months seems such a long time. I have now decided that if that is the worst part of the whole episode then I'm ok with it and use the summer to walk and cycle my way to a fitter me. Been walking loads and today was a trail ride to work which is 11 miles from home. Going to leave the mountain bike I have just bought with the idea of spending rest days on the hills at work now, can't get it to the hills and moors on the car so I'll use it for my Taunton run about until November. The hybrid did well today so not sure I'll bother in changing it for a road bike.
You could maybe look for an organised ride near where you live in a few weeks time. It doesn't have to be a long ride, but it kinda makes you ride most days in training/preparation. Until last year, I hadn't ridden more than 3 or 4 miles for several years, but getting a place on last year's Boris 100 (as I have this year too) forced me to ride more and more. I felt fitter than I had for years as a result.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
That's a good idea, I'll do that.
I got a new bike a couple of weeks ago - a Cannondale CAAD-8 105. My 25 year old Dawes bike which I kept at work for lunchtime rides finally gave up the ghost after numerous rebuilds so it's been replaced by what had been the "new" bike from home which is 10 year old a Giant Peloton, and the CAAD is now in pride of place in my garage. I had thought that a Cannondale Synapse might have suited my ageing physique but it just didn't feel right whereas the CAAD-8 does, apart from perhaps the saddle so I've got a Charge Spoon to try this weekend. The challenge now will be to fit in a week in France at some point in the summer to do a couple of big climbs 
I wasn't out on the cycle, but I was out on the GS in my Hi-Viz helping to look after all 5,250 of this lot!
I got a new bike a couple of weeks ago - a Cannondale CAAD-8 105. My 25 year old Dawes bike which I kept at work for lunchtime rides finally gave up the ghost after numerous rebuilds so it's been replaced by what had been the "new" bike from home which is 10 year old a Giant Peloton, and the CAAD is now in pride of place in my garage. I had thought that a Cannondale Synapse might have suited my ageing physique but it just didn't feel right whereas the CAAD-8 does, apart from perhaps the saddle so I've got a Charge Spoon to try this weekend. The challenge now will be to fit in a week in France at some point in the summer to do a couple of big climbs
A mate bought the same bike a few months ago and loves it. He's had a bike fit at a place I used which has improved it further.
I use a charge spoon on my road bike and it's been great.
I have a road circuit that I've ridden a couple of hundred times. The best I've ever done it is 46½ minutes, but if I'm just cruising it'll take 50 minutes. Whatever I do, my time is within this 3½ minute window.
This week, I ride the same circuit on my new carbon bike and wow! 40½ minutes - a whole 6 minutes quicker than I've ever done the ride before!
The new bike is 4kgs lighter than my old hybrid, but , either way, I'm still a fat bastard, so the all up weight is only slightly different. So why am I now massively faster?
I have a road circuit that I've ridden a couple of hundred times. The best I've ever done it is 46½ minutes, but if I'm just cruising it'll take 50 minutes. Whatever I do, my time is within this 3½ minute window.
This week, I ride the same circuit on my new carbon bike and wow! 40½ minutes - a whole 6 minutes quicker than I've ever done the ride before!
The new bike is 4kgs lighter than my old hybrid, but , either way, I'm still a fat bastard, so the all up weight is only slightly different. So why am I now massively faster?
I think it is the weight that makes the difference - my new CF Ridley is about 1.5mph average faster than the alu Boardman on the same circuit. It can't be me so must be the bike. Its about 3Kg lighter which makes a big difference on the hills.
Gonzo
Registered user
I have a road circuit that I've ridden a couple of hundred times. The best I've ever done it is 46½ minutes, but if I'm just cruising it'll take 50 minutes. Whatever I do, my time is within this 3½ minute window.
This week, I ride the same circuit on my new carbon bike and wow! 40½ minutes - a whole 6 minutes quicker than I've ever done the ride before!
The new bike is 4kgs lighter than my old hybrid, but , either way, I'm still a fat bastard, so the all up weight is only slightly different. So why am I now massively faster?
The 15kg of excess biological matter around my middle was the reason I held off so long from getting a bike that was 3kg lighter. I felt that the benefit would be somewhat academic.
Sooooo not the case. I share your wonder at the difference. All of a sudden I can keep up with my mates.
Aurelius
Registered user
I have a road circuit that I've ridden a couple of hundred times. The best I've ever done it is 46½ minutes, but if I'm just cruising it'll take 50 minutes. Whatever I do, my time is within this 3½ minute window.
This week, I ride the same circuit on my new carbon bike and wow! 40½ minutes - a whole 6 minutes quicker than I've ever done the ride before!
The new bike is 4kgs lighter than my old hybrid, but , either way, I'm still a fat bastard, so the all up weight is only slightly different. So why am I now massively faster?
Hybrids are not designed to be fast bikes. Speed requires a specific geometry designed to maximize pedaling efficiency and limit aerodynamic drag. I'm considerably faster on my Specialized S-Works Venge than I am on my Roubaix, but after 35 miles on the Venge, I'm knackered. On the Roubaix I managed 60 miles on my first ride. Had it not gotten dark, I could probably have gone another 40.
Gordon T
Registered user
Been out again today in the rain, if for nothing other than being outside. Im trying out different saddles on the new MTB as I have a sore hoop after covering 100 miles (in 3 stages) recently. Was lent a Brooks B17 saddle and boy what a difference. An order is going in this week for my own. No pain after 35 miles even though I got soaked to the skin. I was expecting to be walking like John Wayne when I got off but no, everything is in order without the sore behind.. Now Im officially a Brooks saddle convert. It may be an old design but it works for me.
STUBBS
undead
towpath riding combined with work inspections
Aurelius
Registered user
My first 100 mile ride
Well, 102 miles to be precise.
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://www.strava.com/activities/145996521/embed/f218e1b000084d09fdd5b1b7cb605dcb6258a605'></iframe>
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://www.strava.com/activities/145996499/embed/ba0d4a8e63e6a66c000f3ee1c7454797b99cd88c'></iframe>
Well, 102 miles to be precise.
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://www.strava.com/activities/145996521/embed/f218e1b000084d09fdd5b1b7cb605dcb6258a605'></iframe>
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://www.strava.com/activities/145996499/embed/ba0d4a8e63e6a66c000f3ee1c7454797b99cd88c'></iframe>
When you get a faster bike it is not possible to "just cruise". The bike won't let you.I have a road circuit that I've ridden a couple of hundred times. The best I've ever done it is 46½ minutes, but if I'm just cruising it'll take 50 minutes. Whatever I do, my time is within this 3½ minute window.
This week, I ride the same circuit on my new carbon bike and wow! 40½ minutes - a whole 6 minutes quicker than I've ever done the ride before!
The new bike is 4kgs lighter than my old hybrid, but , either way, I'm still a fat bastard, so the all up weight is only slightly different. So why am I now massively faster?
Train on the heavy bike and keep the light bike for special occasions.
Gonzo
Registered user
Agreed. That's what I *should* do but it feels too much like hard work on the old bike.
And the feeling of making more progress on the new one gives me more of a reason to get out on it.
Either that, or it's just the shininess of it.
How to make a bike
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/39401575?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/39401575">How a Bicycle is Made (1945)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10739281">British Council Film</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/39401575?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/39401575">How a Bicycle is Made (1945)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10739281">British Council Film</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Just over a month to go until I'm doing my first organised ride (Sportive)
http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-magnificat-sportive/
Wish me luck
http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-magnificat-sportive/
Wish me luck
Epic, Standard or Short?
ROUTE: EPIC - GPX FILE
Dist: 125 Miles, Elev. Gain: 6587 ft, Rating: 5/5
http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/ma...p?routefile=ukce-wss-magnificat-2014-epic.gpx
ROUTE: STANDARD - GPX FILE
Dist: 82 Miles, Elev. Gain: 4183 ft, Rating: 4/5
http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/ma...hp?routefile=ukce-wss-magnificat-2014-std.gpx
ROUTE: SHORT - GPX FILE
Dist: 44 Miles, Elev. Gain: 2273 ft, Rating: 3/5
http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/ma...?routefile=ukce-wss-magnificat-2014-short.gpx
I'm booked to do the Standard but realistically and considering the rating I'm prob going to change my booking to the short...I've yet to ride more than 30miles in one hit.
Feel free to take a look at the route files and see what you think
