double spin last night, fairly high intensity too - av, HR 84% of max.
Legs like jelly today.
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double spin last night, fairly high intensity too - av, HR 84% of max.
Legs like jelly today.
Finally got the new Scott out for a ride at weekend ...nice loop out to Skenfrith. Lovely ride, sora shifters easy to use but front mech needs adjusting. Does not want to go to big ring. Will take advantage of first free service.
Shocking commute yesterday. Got a flat halfway, put a new tube in and then my pump failed at about 20psi
Went to the nearest suitable shop(asda) and bought another pump a Bell one. It came with a crappy plastic Schrader to presta adapter which was so poor it didn't let any air in and then pulled the valve core out when removed...
Ended up getting someone else to look after my CAD lesson at 9, got a lift for the last bit and taught their CAD lesson (in my riding kit) at 10!
Ah yes, a perfect reminder of why I hated cycling as a kid! Sorry to hear about your bad ride Paul....just take comfort from the fact that a similar episode in a car would have been even more frustrating/expensive!
Sora shifters really wind me up... their design means you can't upshift from the drops.. one of my constant bike test niggles along with shitty wheelsets on top end bikes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Ah now that is worthy of entire thread topic. I live my life in a state of wheel based confusion (road not mountain, that is easy).
I know the Brits are fixated with rear mechs and possibly groupsets but obviously the frame and wheels are what matters. But what confuses me is the comparison of wheels between manufacturers. In the groupset world you can, broadly, compare Campy, SRAM and the big S but wheels are more difficult.
So, in the real world (ignoring carbon deep rims/trispokes etc) how do you compare wheels? For the sake of my sanity please lets stick to clinchers.
Second question, what do folk on the Forum prefer(again please keep quiet sponsored riders, you like what you are given) maybe for long sportives (sorry Hanneke) or racing even?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nikalas
Pick the wheels that are available in your favourite colour.
HTH.
Too true, bike manufacturers always try and seduce people with groupsets. I'd always drop a level or two on groupset and get some better wheels. The difference between say Shimano Dura Ace and Ultegra in weight/performance is negligible but in price very significant. The same frame with Ultegra group and the difference spent on better wheels will always be a better bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by Great Uncle Bulgaria
Comparing wheels comes down to a number of factors. Weight is obviously very important as they're rotating mass but you don't want to sacrifice stiffness and durability too much. For day to day wheels, I'd always prefer a slightly higher spoke count and for them to be hand built. They'll always be easier to true and maintain and should have been pre-stressed to a decent level. The pinging you often get first time out on new machine built wheels is because they haven't been adequately pre-stressed and will often go out of true first time out. Hubs should be decent quality but you don't need to pay through the nose for ceramic bearings etc.
Best all round wheels I've ridden in the last couple of years are these ones from Strada. Light and durable and, the slightly wider rim, gives a plusher almost tub quality ride especially with wider 25-28mm tyres in winter. Small company in Sussex, all wheels handbuilt by Darren and truing for life guarantee.
http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/v...-a23-wheelset/
So on this subject, my swanky new carbon BMC came with Mavic Aksiums (I didn't pay for a v swanky groupset - Ultegra and I'm very happy with it).
My mate said the bike 'deserved better wheels, so when you feel like you can justify it, upgrade them to Ksyriums'.
Will I honestly notice the difference? £450-worth of difference?
Aksiums are decent solid wheels that'll last and last but, guessing you spent well north of £2000 on your bike, your mate is right. A set of Aksiums will cost about £150 so represent about 7% of build cost (based on £2000). Hardly proportional when, after the frame, wheels contribute most to ride quality and performance. Trust me, you'll really notice the difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
OK gotcha, ta.Quote:
Originally Posted by nikalas
Being as I rarely use the drops, I don't find that a problem. Of course, I know they are cheapo but, in comparison with my ultegra set on my GT, they seem just fine. Probably won't be able to say the same in 10 years though! (the age of the GT)Quote:
Originally Posted by nikalas
Don't get me wrong, they perform really well but I just don't see the logic behind their design.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
It's for granny riders like me to give our thumbs something to do.
I was lucky enough to race with a Mavic 5 spoke and disc on the track a few times and you could really notice the difference. Cheap wheels on a nice frame is a waste of time.Quote:
Originally Posted by nikalas
{prepares to open a wheel can of worms}
any opinions on Ksyriums versus equivalently priced Eastons, or other makes?
I guess you need to be a bit more specific about the model as they start at about £300 and go unto around £1100.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
When I was buying wheels I spent a lot of time on weight weenies and speaking to various shops. I was advised to avoid fulcrums as spare parts are hard to come by, mavic are bullet proof but repairs can be costly. In the end I went for Dura ace CL 24'S with planet x carbon/ti skewers, these were highly recommended by a hell of a lot of people. Amazing set of wheels, you won't be disappointed if they are in your price range. Brett has em now so ask him what he thinks.
You can get em for £539 which is a bargain as rrp is £749.
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sho...eels-pair.html
Skewers will set you back £17.49 if you want to upgrade them
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/..._carbon_levers
28k to work and same back. Only went steady on way there because quads were sore from running Scafell on saturday, but to my shock horror, I have just posted my fastest time comming home. Very strange!
Well done Trev, 8m steady, flat to work, quads are mangled also. 6m home. Got passed by some racing snake who never even aknowledged me when I said how do! Some folk are bloody miserable:thunbdown:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
2nd attempt on Mam Nick yesterday. Got to the dead tree this time at 311mtrs :-). That's 122mtrs higher than last time. Well chuffed with that. My speed was 1 second a k slower than last time but as I got higher I think that's not that bad. Ave 12.45mph in the peaks and need to get that to 15mph by September at Half Henley to finish in the time.
Anyone doing the Long Tour of the Peaks on Sunday? My partner is doing it and it goes right past our house. Dropped him off at the hill leading up to the cat and fiddle last week so he could cycle the 30mls part of the route back home. Drove to a friends for dinner last night in Holmthirth so we took a look at the drag up Holme Moss too. That looks so hard!!!!
Well done Race :)
I had a similar attempt at riding up the diagonal path up the hill behind my house, on the MTB... Haven't ridden that route for a few weeks, but been doing some long distance stuff with lots of climbing and lo and behold, I was able to ride a lot further yesterday :) 26 kms, 925 metres of climbing :-O That is 3000 feet in 16 miles for you mere mortals ;)
Loving the sun (at last)... 51 km on Monday evening and 57 km yesterday evening on the road... Have caved in to peer pressure and signed up to Strava.. bagging quite a few local KOM's.. probably head out on the mountain bike today.
I haven't caved in to Strava yet, but now that I have a Garmin bike computer the temptation is there!
Rode my bike to work for the first time in yonks! Twelve miles of traffic lights and cars with sharp little hill at the end.
Back to commuting by bike again after a week off in the car with a bad belly.
20 km each way, as usual. Just fitted some tougher tyres so expected to slow down a bit, pretty happy not to do so
4 weeks until my Ironman & my bike rides are peaking. 115 miles with 2255 mtrs climb, the heartrate is a bit low, but with todays heat - 27C - & the running & swimming I'm in a constant state of fatigue;
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/181855897
It is sensible to adapt to the heat!
I have a 12 hr MTB race tomorrow, building up the length of these things as training for MOuntain Mayhem 24 hrs. I am slightly apprehensive about it all... No pit crew, and solo-ing the whole 12 hrs. Was initially going to do the six hrs from 6pm to midnight but then a friend suggested I might as well go the whole hog, but see it as a training ride, like I did with the Gorrick 100 the other day.
I have new handlebar grips, ergonomic ones, that I will be testing, as well as different food stuff. Flapjack and rice pudding! I have also secured 2x 5 litres jerrycans for water, as I have enough bottles to make up energy and electrolite drink for 12 hrs in normal to cold temperatures, but I reckon I will need the extra water in this heat!
Preparing for this race seems to be taking longer than the actual race itself! Bike and spare bike now sorted and in the car, as well as camping gear.Going to stay there after the race tomorrow night and drive back Sunday morning, even though I have to work Sunday. I expect to be too tired to drive back, even though it is only 2 hrs.
Lights are on charge, fitting my helmet light and piggyback battery to one helmet, to use in the evening, while I will use the other helmet during the day... Should make for a smooth changeover and saves faffing mid race :)
Keep thinking I am forgetting something essential... not sure what... have plenty of drink and food for the race now, need to chuck in some 'normal' food for after the race and that's it I think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by (notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
Good luck HanQuote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
Oh and ENJOY
...............& tighten your cleats :wink: .Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
Have fun.
Good tip :) Will check them now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by (notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
28k to work this morning, on sore legs again.
How did you go Han?
Well, I have just come back from A&E, spent all day there :-O with a broken collarbone and torn rotator cuff :w00t:
But as that happened very early on in the race, and I was able to continue the 12 hours and finish 3rd again, I doubt it is very bad LOL
The A&E doc tried putting a sling on, but she didn't know how to do it, so I had to show her, then took it and said: as I need to drive to work now, I better just take it and put it on when I need it...
6 weeks rest, and physio in 2 weeks... well, errr, there is the monor matter of a 12 hour pairs race on 9 June and Mountain Mayhem 24 hrs 23/24 June... But I may just forego this Sundays road race for the sake of it...
Ouch ouch... twelve hours on a mountain bike with a broken collarbone ?!! wow that's determination. How did you crash in the first place?
Hope it heals up quickly and you can hang on to the fitness, be careful with it, I know from my own experience shoulders are effing complicated things.
Managed a 60 mile road spin myself over the Mendips and the levels before it got too hot on Saturday, then a nice sociable MTB group ride out on Exmoor yesterday, including my new favouritest bit of trail anywhere... flat out winding ribbon of singletrack down a primeval wooded valley, packed with little natural berms and kickers, straight into the river if you got it wrong :D
Oh dear Han.
Rest up and listen to physio.
Get well soon.
Elliptic, it isn't that bad... no more pain than usual anyway. I live with a chronic spinal condition that puts me in continuous pain anyway, so I am used to it :) I found the finger numbness more disconcerting to be honest and would not even have realised there was something amiss if it wasn't for the fingers...
Where do you live Elliptic? I sometimes go and ride in the Mendips/levels, with the lads from the suspension bridge ride in Bristol :)
Get well soon Hann, you are nails, well done on finishing:thumbup:
I'm in Wells just under the south slope of the Mendips...not a bad area for mountain biking as well as road riding actually, I'm involved with a couple of regular local groups though more social than racing scene. Feel free to give me a shout if you're down this way at any point :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanneke
Hann is not just nails!!! You've heard of Dutch courage???
Anyway, finally managed to get my leg slung over the new bike last saturday and got round a loop I have been coveting for a while. Starting and finishing in Monmouth, it was up to Hay on Wye the hard way (Garway and Craswall), over the Gospel Pass to Llantony and then back lanes to Abergavenny, up the Tumble and then the mountain road back to Llanover and lanes back to Monmouth.
77 miles, 7,750 feet of climb, 17% max gradient, 5% average (!!!) 6hrs 15. Temps in mid eighties, drank LOADS but still shed 5lb. Epic.
Ohhhh, that is a LOVELY ride Wheeze :)
How did the new steed behave?
Needless to say I haven't been on the bike today, or yesterday, or Sunday for that matter... I can ride, but on the turbo, no handed, and don't fancy that right now. No reason why I should need to, a few days off completely isn't going to make me loose my 12 hr endurance fitness, is it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
My OH is having a few friends up this weekend for his Stag. Sunday is a mountain bike ride with a couple of pub visits so I went out with him tonight to check out one of the routes. His reasoning "if you can do it babe anyone can!!". Edale, hope cross, hope, Shatton, Hathersage. I'm alive but still vibrating down my spine. Tomorrow I'm getting back on me road bike for a 25ml spin out to Tideswell. I'm a road bike lass :-). Hats off to them that zip down those trails but OMG!!!!!!!