Bike Racing

[mr brightside]

...a screaming Cavendish

New cocktail for the Master's Lounge?

[mr brightside]

I keep coming back to the chain with this Cav Bordeaux sprint. If it's jumping between 11 and 12, then it's a badly adjusted derailleur but from what Ralf Aldag has implied, it was a chain issue?

I have always thought that changing gear under power will lead to metal fatigue in your chain. Whether it jumps or you are one of these people who change under full load doesn't matter, it bends it in such a way as to permanently damage it. This is slightly at odds with the hyperglide philosophy of simultaneous engagement of two adjacent sprockets, though.

[Marco]

It beggars belief for me. I can't understand people who fear the little ring like this, i'm on it quite a lot, and one of my bikes won't safely engage 53-25 due to me deliberately setting the chain length so as to limit me to 53-21. I think people just see stronger riders, mostly on TV, living on the big ring and think it's the way to go. I once saw someone grinding his way up otley chevin on the big ring at the front and what looked to be a 32 at the rear; his rear mech was as straight as a 6" rule!

Firstly, I must say that I ride almost entirely using the little ring. But it is a 44, which is ancient-school and a lot bigger than the 33/34 current standard offered by the manufacturers. Two nights ago I rode over 20 miles entirely on the small ring and topped 27mph on 44 x 15, but it is flattish around here.

Setting up your bike so there is insufficient chain links to ride big ring-big sprocket is not recommended. The reason is if you meet an unexpected steep uphill section, whilst riding on the big ring, you might panic and change gear faster than you think and end up on the big ring-big sprocket combination. If there isn't enough chain it will rip the rear derailleur off your bike as a minimum, but could snap the gear hanger or pull the wheel out if you're not using a thru-axle. However you look at it, it will be expensive and could be dangerous.

[Graham Breeze]

I use all my rings. I've paid for them so I am going to get my money's worth.

So today I did 50 miles (3500 feet) through Hellifield - Settle - Airton - Gargrave - Bolton Bridge - Ilkley. All the high fell routes between Settle/Helwith Bridge and Grassington/Halton Gill are steep and glorious and the isolation makes one glad to be alive. The ride from Halton Gill on the south east side of Pen y Ghent to Stainforth is my favourite and is better than the Grand Canyon - no tourists, no helicopters just lots of sheep!

[PeteS]

I use all my rings. I've paid for them so I am going to get my money's worth.

So today I did 50 miles (3500 feet) through Hellifield - Settle - Airton - Gargrave - Bolton Bridge - Ilkley. All the high fell routes between Settle/Helwith Bridge and Grassington/Halton Gill are steep and glorious and the isolation makes one glad to be alive. The ride from Halton Gill on the south east side of Pen y Ghent to Stainforth is my favourite and is better than the Grand Canyon - no tourists, no helicopters just lots of sheep!

Nice ride, that.

I had a problem with the front derailleur on my commuter (basically bent and needed replacing) so I looked at the gear ratios I actually used and there was surprisingly few. So rather than fork out on a new front derailleur I just bought a new 42T chain ring to replace the 50/34 and with a combination of the 11/32 cassette, I'm definitely sorted for anything the locale can throw at me.
No way I'd do that on the road bike but very pleased with the result

[PeteS]

Had a debate with Mrs S tonight over the fantasy team that we would pick from any rider competing this century. Mine was very much an entertaining mob whereas Mrs S was far more pragmatic - sprinter, climber and TT specialist and a selection of GT favourites.
So, if you could assemble any professional team of the last 23 years, who would you pick? Let's say a team of 7 but no domestiques necessary - stage winners and GC contenders only

[mr brightside]

I use all my rings. I've paid for them so I am going to get my money's worth.

Typical yorkshire fell runner

[Graham Breeze]

Had a debate with Mrs S tonight over the fantasy team that we would pick from any rider competing this century. Mine was very much an entertaining mob whereas Mrs S was far more pragmatic - sprinter, climber and TT specialist and a selection of GT favourites.
So, if you could assemble any professional team of the last 23 years, who would you pick? Let's say a team of 7 but no domestiques necessary - stage winners and GC contenders only

Pogacar, Kuss, Valverde, Pantani (oops! he's dead), Fignon (oh, he's dead as well), Cipollini (is he still in prison?), Ullrich (is he still in a mental hospital?)...this is bit hard!

[mr brightside]

Had a debate with Mrs S tonight over the fantasy team that we would pick from any rider competing this century. Mine was very much an entertaining mob whereas Mrs S was far more pragmatic - sprinter, climber and TT specialist and a selection of GT favourites.
So, if you could assemble any professional team of the last 23 years, who would you pick? Let's say a team of 7 but no domestiques necessary - stage winners and GC contenders only

Ian Stannard
Lance Armstrong
The Aussie guy who used to talk to the camera bikes
Wiggins
Tadej Pogacar
Chris Boardman
Mark Cavendish

[Witton Park]

Pogacar, Kuss, Valverde, Pantani (oops! he's dead), Fignon (oh, he's dead as well), Cipollini (is he still in prison?), Ullrich (is he still in a mental hospital?)...this is bit hard!

you are also timed out on the 23 years