Today's Bike Ride

[Hanneke]

Well, lovely 3.5 hour ride yesterday in good company, as well as a quick couple of hours before wirk this morning! Set off at 6 am, back just before 8... :w00t:

[Stagger]

Back on to bike after bad cold for a week.
2 x 28k approx 800m in total for the climb.
Felt a little tired but didn't get wet or battered by the winds so all in all a good days bike work.

[Hanneke]

I should probably start using my Garmin with HR monitor again, so that I actually know what I am doing, rather than potter over the lanes for a certain amount of time

[ZootHornRollo]

well done both of you

two hours' spin last night - hard and very sweaty work it was too...

[Hanneke]

Never tried spinning... problem is, nearest spinning class would be at Newport velodrome... If I drive all the way there (35 miles) I rather go and ride the track

[Masham Man]

Never quite understood the rollers thing - is there any resistance at all?

Well the resistance you get are your gears, so just ride the bike as if you were on a flat road. I've been weighing the two up turbo or rollers and just thought the rollers would be abit more interesting to train on. The reviews I read said that they were also good for core muscles and that you get a better work out on them. I must admit never tried a turbo so can't compare. Rollers easier for me because when finished I can slide them under the bed out of the way. I can't stand cycling in the winter and I also don't want to take my beloved Italian bike out on the shitie roads

[Askern]

Due to a totally innocuous calf strain whilst running in Derbyshire I've been out on the bike 3 times this week, 16 then 20 then 26 today. I've enjoyed the work and can feel it in my legs but my feet (mainly toes) have been falling to sleep and are pretty numb by the time I've got back home. I have a pair of Shimano shoes and they are "snug" but not overly tight when I'm walking around in them. Do the regular cyclist on here have any tips when picking shoes? I guess like most other sport shoes certain brands are narrower than others, are there any brands which are generally wider than others? I suppose it could also be down to the cold but I don't tend to get cold feet when running, even in long cold and wet conditions.

[ZootHornRollo]

Due to a totally innocuous calf strain whilst running in Derbyshire I've been out on the bike 3 times this week, 16 then 20 then 26 today. I've enjoyed the work and can feel it in my legs but my feet (mainly toes) have been falling to sleep and are pretty numb by the time I've got back home. I have a pair of Shimano shoes and they are "snug" but not overly tight when I'm walking around in them. Do the regular cyclist on here have any tips when picking shoes? I guess like most other sport shoes certain brands are narrower than others, are there any brands which are generally wider than others? I suppose it could also be down to the cold but I don't tend to get cold feet when running, even in long cold and wet conditions.

but feet tend to get colder on the bike in my experience askern, cos of the wind-chill, plus you are 'using them less' than in running - so I think it probably is the cold

a pair of overshoes are essential winter cycling kit, in my opinion

Endura do OK ones for £16-20 I think.

[Malcolme]

Well actually i prefer motor bike instead of bike, because i just love to ride my Honda on speed. I will share some pictures of my ride.

[ZootHornRollo]

Well the resistance you get are your gears, so just ride the bike as if you were on a flat road. I've been weighing the two up turbo or rollers and just thought the rollers would be abit more interesting to train on. The reviews I read said that they were also good for core muscles and that you get a better work out on them. I must admit never tried a turbo so can't compare. Rollers easier for me because when finished I can slide them under the bed out of the way. I can't stand cycling in the winter and I also don't want to take my beloved Italian bike out on the shitie roads

there's been some great riding weather this winter though - not much rain, lots of sun ... Missed out December altogether but other than that been out most weekends, sometimes both days.
But I agree riding in the dark and / or rain in the winter ain't much fun: if it's chucking it down I probably wouldn't go out, but once I'm out I'll stay out even if it starts raining.
Helps to have a crap bike.