Ye gods Stolly...It hurts my wrists just looking at it! Ow, ow, ow, ow!
I think you'd enjoy it many times more on an eMTB...but hats off to you. Great film. I really ought to use my Go-pro more often.
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Ye gods Stolly...It hurts my wrists just looking at it! Ow, ow, ow, ow!
I think you'd enjoy it many times more on an eMTB...but hats off to you. Great film. I really ought to use my Go-pro more often.
To be honest my wrists were fine. It’s the track that all of the 3 peaks cyclo crossers go up and down when they do Penyghent
I also used my noddy bell at one point but that scene was left on the cutting room floor
Red, yellow, blue...so subtly understated!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Ive had the new road bike 2 weeks now, but still not sat on it! Peddles should arrive in the post tomorrow and I had a trip out to buy some cycling clogs today. Not much choice, just the one model so took that.
With little stock around in the mid range price and popular sizes have to give them a go. But this cycling kit does cost!
Have you any shorts? No, everyone wears the bib and brace now for the road, we have some starting at £135. Yeah right, I was a tight arse fell runner for 30 years, continue with my running shorts.
I had to buy a new saddle for my e-bike. Arse was in bits from the one that came with it.
Got to give a plug for Arragons in Penrith... i went in there with a blank cheque for the best saddle they had (which went up to £120 i think), and she recommended the £30 one instead, and it's been great.
Was so pleased with the service i splashed out 80 quid on a helmet whilst there.
Blimey, you've got a narrowboat in your spare bedroom!?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Noddy’s bicycle? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Indeed. One can't have too many high speed railway tracks. I am still mourning Ilkley losing its through lines in the 1960s to become a mere terminus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Like Euston.
Or Matlock. It would be so much easier for me to get to so many fell races if I could get a direct train from Derby to Bakewell, Miller's Dale, Buxton, New Mills Newtown, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Anthony FYI if you're interested in another attempt at Four Fans (July 10th), then entries open on the Fabian4 website on saturday.
Usually a relatively low turnout race, but in these days, there might be a rush so if you want a place then i'd suggest getting in early!
I lived in Cannock until I was 9 years so I knew the Chase and I am rather sad that I have never been back. I once planned to do the "fell race" on the Chase but decided at the last minute that I had spent too much of my life on motorways and ran something more local; but now in my declining years..? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Well I grew up in Church Eaton and went to school there until I was about 8. Typical village school with 3 years in one class. Highlight of the week was the fish and chip van that parked on the pub car park. Moved to Warwickshire then but it is a lovely part of the world and one I should visit on a bike one day. A bit far for a ride from home but maybe park outside Wolverhampton and explore north would be the way. I don't remember much in the way of hills out there - reasonably flat and quiet roads I suspect?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
First ride on new bike, put peddles on and checked it over (well a mate did all the work to be entirely honest). Clipped in my new clogs and wobbled off down the road, a nervous 16k and 250m and didn't fall over 👍.
Great to ride several kph faster than before simply by spending money, never worked like that for fell running, had to b****y train 🙁.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I'm not scathing about Lemond. He was a whiner but he brought decent money into the sport and kit innovations and helped bring down Armstrong - so that counts for a lot.
And he won a couple of Tours fair and square - so only one less than the gifted Laurent Fignon. :)
Today I planned a meandering country-road ride to take in those 20% climbs near Cononley and Lothersdale and the interesting little challenge up to Pinhaw (388 meters) via a route I have never followed before.
And naturally I ride with a super-duper "cycling" Garmin. So imagine my dismay when, shortly after setting off, my Garmin decided to punish me for neglecting her recently (running with my "running" Garmin) by switching off and pretending that her battery was flat. As if.
But what to do? If it aint on Strava then the ride never happened and so I obviously I had to urgently consider all my options; but eventually carried on without reference to time of day, speed or any data at all - and found it all oddly invigorating.
Obviously riding with such an unencumbered free spirit I climbed like Pantani and descended like Nibali - but, alas, the world will never see the proof.
From OS maps I know my mileage was in the mid 30s but I don't know the total climb - I guess 10,000 feet? - so I will have to repeat the exact ride all over again.
After all, if it aint on Strava,...:)
Well my ride ended up on Strava. Unfortunately the download of my route gpx to my computer failed so had a ride not quite as intended and got lost a few times but at least I saw some areas of note for future rides. After going over the Clent hills, I strayed out if Worcestershire and into neighbouring Warwickshire. Tardebigge, Alvechurch and then on to the Wast hills before returning home via the Lickeys. 77km/1200m on a scorching afternoon.
Still not running so bike is getting a fair bit of action!
As an aside, does anyone on here use Look Keo cleats/pedals? Have a sore Achilles and I think some more float would be helpful. I think look go up to 9% whereas my SPDs are only 5%
Thanks for that Marco, will have a read. I need a few rides and get it set up properly this next week.
And this time I had charged my Garmin so 34 miles, 2850 feet of climb, max pulse 141, average pulse 103,maximum speed 44 mph descending from Pinhaw.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Oh isn't data comforting?
As I was bouncing down the tarmac from Pinhaw into Carleton-in-Craven I could see a huge SUV waiting to turn right across my path. First I hoped the driver had seen me, secondly I hoped that he wasn't in a hurry and finally I hoped that his mental arithmetic was up to concluding that if he set off to complete the turn then for every second he would be crossing my path I would have travelled 20 yards towards the side of his large, hard barrier of steel and glass.
His sound judgement was rewarded by my friendly (and relieved) wave. :)
During the Eurosport coverage of the Tour de Suisse Magnus Backstedt, in response to a question from Rob Hatch (commentator), suggested that for that day's downhill time trial he would have fitted a 60 or a 65 big ring, "yeah, probably a 65". Which is certainly "big" as rings go.
He was later asked what was the fastest speed he had ever descended and he said on a 5K straight downhill road he thought he had touched 128km/hr* during which time he had given thought to the thin width of rubber that was holding him upright and the thin piece of polystyrene that would be all that was protecting his head from contact with the road should the aforementioned sliver of rubber let him down.
Thinking on a bike is good!
(* or as close to 80mph as makes no difference).
I am trying to imagine driving a car down a hill at 60mph and having a kamikaze rider on a pushbike pass you with ease. Obviously in a country without speed limits.
I do recall being in Snowdonia at the same time as some cycle event.
Driving from Pen-y-Pass back to Capel Curig, struggling to keep up with the cyclists on the gentle downhill section after Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel... though that was possibly 50mph, certainly not 80...!
Btw on youtube there are GCN interviews with around 20 World Tour riders (including Mark Cavendish) and an explanation of the physics of terminal velocity on a road bike. The venue of choice seems to be the Tour of Switzerland and TV seems to be around 130K (say 81mph).Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
I once hit 50.4 mph on the steep A53 down past the Roaches (I remember because it is a 50 mph zone). I had similar thoughts about "what happens if..." and decided I shouldn't go that fast again. It wasn't so much about the polystyrene helmet, it was something I'd heard about motorcyclists crashing. I forget the numbers but it was something like, unless you're wearing the right kit, you lose Xcms of skin/flesh for every metre you slide.
Better cyclists must be much more inured to speed than I ever was. These days 30mph feels fast, and on the tandem I have a built-in safety system that tells me to slow down if we're going anywhere near fast.
I have one of those
So much so that I had to disconnect the rear drum brake that was controlled by the stoker...
Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Hot, heavy cloud and humid, but planned a toddle up the hill. Which I managed with much sweat, stopped, turned around and did the classic novice with new clipless pedals mistake. Couldn't get my left foot in, stalled, wobbled and toppled over. Nobody watching 👍.
Very bent rear ultegra, that lasted 3 rides before I bust it!!
We have all done it I'm sure. I fell over at the bottom of my road, waiting at the junction to cross over and come home. Having to give way to a stream of cars, this initiated an attempted track stand which rapidly went pear shaped. A kind lady passer by helped me pick my bike and broken pride up off the tarmac and I scurried off home to lick my wounds.
I knew there was some reason why I have stuck with old-fashioned toeclips. :o
I once fell over with my feet clipped in, and fell onto another cyclist while we were all waiting at a traffic lights on a sportive (!!). He was very nice about it, but of course I kept seeing him again and again for the next four hours of riding. Lesson learned that day: unclip early!
First ride on the road bike in ages last night. 21km, 439m ascent, 53'45".
I got 17 PBs on Strava! Which shows how little cycling I've done in recent years.
Today took it apart and learnt all about bent rear mech hangers - could be a lot worse!
Of the three hills out of Settle, Simon Warren chooses to feature the one from Langcliffe Scar so this is the one I have done but my son has also done Albert Hill - one of the steep country roads out to Malham - so naturally.
I chose to start the ride from near Malham Tarn (Street Gate) which provided a route down Langcliffe Scar to Settle (during which I passed a nervous car driver) and then the longer of the climbs to the North out of Malham up to the Tarn. It was a hot day and was surprisingly busy for a working day Thursday.
Just a short gentle pootle round gorgeous North Yorkshire: 2180 feet of climb in 20 miles, maximum speed 39 mph, maximum pulse 143bpm.
Earlier I had noticed a (parked) WF Holdsworth steel bike, fixed wheel, just the one Weinmann brake, Brooks saddle to cut one in half, a huge saddle bag, Bluemels pump with the three coloured bands...it must have been 60 years old and, for the avoidance of doubt, I did not encounter this historical relic on any of the (allegedly) 20% climbs today.
I think any offer would have been expected to be in guineas but mea culpa I obviously meant "classic".Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Brett rides a F/W - perhaps he is the relic?
39 miles and 4900ft, much of it rough forestry gravel. Surprised I was 30 minutes quicker than 7 months ago (when I last rode the route).
Oh well, mustn't grumble.
Can't have been me cos my fixed at the moment is a new Cinelli Shark
I have owned a couple of classic track bikes inc a Woodrup
I also have a 1953 Ellis Briggs road bike and an early Mike Burrows Windcheetah
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Very nice. I don't see many of those outside La StazioneQuote:
Originally Posted by brett
A decent week despite breaking the new bike!
Total of 96 miles for 10900ft ascent which is my best this year and I feel ok.
Careful Moley...you might get invited to some naughty 2 wheeled adventures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Thank you. Although even 10 metres of climb can count if there are enough of them.
Some years ago my then club aspired to list a race on clear paths through a local wood in the FRA Calendar as a short "C" ("fully marked"). I think the RO must have counted every divot to get the minimum height for inclusion in the Calendar.
The race was held but a young boy whose mother assumed that he was following her reached the finish funnel alone and started hysterically berating the funnel marshal (me) and the RO because her son was lost and therefore fire, police, ambulance, mountain rescue and Air Force 1 * should be instantly summoned to save her child (* I remember well that she was a North American lady).
Fortunately for the emergency services the RO and I resisted instantly calling out the helicopters and her husband arrived shortly at the other end of the finish tunnel accompanied by, of course, the "missing" son.
After extensive therapy the RO decided that the experience was too searing to risk any repeat and the race (with my approval) was never held again.
But after that stimulating experience marshalling/collecting all vest numbers for other events like the first CP on Sedbergh Hills was - well, just a walk in the woods. :)
You'll have to take your batteries out before I come along!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Great story. Reminds me of the time i was holding a gate at Sedbergh Gala BORFA when some farmer with a terrible attitude towards runners drove a flock of ewes across a field of U11s running up towards me. One of them bolted through the open gate and he went mental and blamed it all on me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Mmmh. Either you read this on a sign, you've used google or you own eg Railway Clearing House - Atlas of England & Wales 1904:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco