Today's Bike Ride

[daz h]

Ahhh, Daz, well... initially, being used to hairy fellrunners legs, I thought the shaven legs were odd... Now I find them strangely attractive

Well, I went to the track and it wasn't great but I found out that my left leg isn't engaging, so in a way it was good. Now working on that...

Did manage a solid three hours and almost 100 kms on Saturday, followed by a nice hilly 50 odd kms on Sunday, knocked off in 1.45, 5 minutes faster than the week before... and the last ride I was on my own, so harder to maintain a nice pace... Managed to get the leg to engage at times, which I think worked

Turbo tonight, as the weather was not conducive to riding this afternoon...

well done Hann, thats two very god sessions, sat and sun

[daz h]

oh and today i finally changed from a 12 / 25 to a 13 / 26

[Ady In Accy]

Did a cold 78 today. 16 set off, 8 returned. We got lost somewhere south of Wigan and did a lot of messing about on busy roads. Not my preferred route choice but not too bad a ride out.
1/2 Tour route yesterday, shortish run Tommoz and then 9 mile FR race at Dufton Saturday as long as it's not interrupted by adverse weather.

[Ady In Accy]

oh and today i finally changed from a 12 / 25 to a 13 / 26

You'll be getting a triple next

[Hanneke]

13/26??? I have either 12/25 or 12/27 on mine... depending what hilleage I am going to encounter...

[Al Fowler]

I think mines 19/ something. Still dont know what it means.

[daz h]

13/26??? I have either 12/25 or 12/27 on mine... depending what hilleage I am going to encounter...

The 12/25 isnt a problem but by fitting a 13/26 it helps keep the more commonly used sprockets on the big ring for when your tramming along. I would very rarely use the 26 sprocket or the 25 for that matter when climbing as I always like to keep one in hand.
Normally climb steep hills on the 23.

And to be honest if your using the 12 sprocket your doing 50mph .
I think the only time Ive ever used the 12 tooth is when a certain forumite past me doing 50mph and threw a bidon at me. She had her chin on the bars at that time, it was a blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

It does amaze me though how many newcomers try and climb in the big ring and cross there chain.
Just having a new chain and cassete on my Rourke after nearly 4 years and god knows how many thousands of miles. Thats not bad especially as most of my riding is in the Peak District and the pressure you put on the climbing sprockets is a hell of a lot.

Keep up the training on bike Hann, and you should do a more in depth report. Oh and a picture or two of your bikes please.
We need more pictures of everyones bikes.

[daz h]

I think mines 19/ something. Still dont know what it means.

AL
On your back wheel

Big sprockets and little sprockets mate yes.

Okay mark a tooth on the little sprocket with tipex or marker, turn the sprocket and count the teeth, should be either 12 or 13 usually.

Same on big sprocket and that could be 25, 26 even 29

Or if you clean your bike and the sprockets arnt covered in crap it should say the num,ber on them. Although some dont.
Campag ones usually do.

The 25/26/ 29 ones are your climbing sprockets

hence the bikie 12/25 or 13/26
Not much difference and everyone is different in there preference.

[Nathaniel Lee]

Can't you just get on your average road bike and be able to cope with the hills or is the average bike ill equipped.

[daz h]

Can't you just get on your average road bike and be able to cope with the hills or is the average bike ill equipped.

You can indeed
Depends on what you class as average. Most road bikies that ride a lot buy a lightweight road bike with 10speed gearing. ( Apart from Brett who rides a fixed and thats just an age thing).
If your doing lots of miles then your average bike becomes hard work. Weight, tyres and other things become issues.

Ive converted many a cyclist who has been struggling with a heavy bike with knobbly tyres on and have just about given up. They have a little go on my road bike and think God its a lot easier. In reality its not easy but for your general average cyclist who just wants to do a few miles at a steady pace it is.
You can now purchase a lightweight good quality roadbike fairly cheap.