Author Topic: The cycling thread (Read 12876 times)

Karjala · « **Reply #625 on:** Sunday 27 November 2011, 10:57:59 AM »

The route for Britains first closed road Sportive has been announced.... Starting at Ushaw College just outside of Durham.

£61 is a bit steep like.

http://www.etapepennines.co.uk/coursemaps.html

je85 · « **Reply #626 on:** Sunday 27 November 2011, 04:48:32 PM »

I thought there was a closed road sportive in Wales this summer?

Edit: there was http://www.etape-cymru.co.uk/

Karjala · « **Reply #627 on:** Sunday 27 November 2011, 08:11:16 PM »

Sorry, i meant Englands...

je85 · « **Reply #628 on:** Wednesday 25 January 2012, 10:36:35 PM »


s*** Cyclists Say

madras · « **Reply #629 on:** Sunday 29 January 2012, 10:06:26 PM »

last tueasday was fantastic. first day in about 3 months i've been able to turn the corner from st james' boulevard onto barrack road without it turning into a wind tunnel.

anyway, when i take girl two to school i take my MTB to ride back over some farm tracks etc. now theres an uphill bit that is less of a track and more just where people have walked or rode as opposed to tractor tracks , very boggy at the bottom with thick grass on either side. straight away i was slowing and about 30yds in i just wasn't getting any purchase, rear wheel spinning when i peddled, for those of you used to SPD's you'll know ther sometimes comes a point when you know you'r not going to have time to unclip and that means hitting the deck which is what happened, at least it was just into the long wet grass and not the mud. it was when i was lying there i remembered "i haven't got SPD pedals on the MTB yet"

OpenC · « **Reply #630 on:** Sunday 29 January 2012, 10:59:44 PM »

I don't use those things for precisely that reason. Can't imagine just slowly falling to one side and being unable to put my foot down >_<

But

again

madras · « **Reply #631 on:** Sunday 29 January 2012, 11:02:59 PM »

only came off twice on the road bike and it's a doddle now i'm used to them (and what a difference they make). need to get more used to MTBing to put them on there though as at least a couple of times i think i'd have had some pretty nasty falls.

OpenC · « **Reply #632 on:** Sunday 29 January 2012, 11:05:38 PM »

Everybody says they make a huge difference, like

I'm sure I'll end up trying them one day when I'm about 58 and about ready to stop, and think, "f***'s sakes, these are ace".

je85 · « **Reply #633 on:** Monday 30 January 2012, 11:04:43 AM »

Only takes a few hours of riding to get used to them. just got to plan on the first few rides make sure you are stopping next to a lamp post/fence/tree something to grab.

Remember to back off the spring in the pedal to make it nice and easy to slip in and out and most importantly spend a lot of time getting the cleat position correct in your shoes.

Karjala · « **Reply #634 on:** Monday 30 January 2012, 02:00:05 PM »

Yeah u will have the knack of it within an hour. Really worth having a go.

wacko · « **Reply #635 on:** Tuesday 31 January 2012, 10:16:57 PM »

Quote from: madras on Sunday 29 January 2012, 10:06:26 PM

last tueasday was fantastic. first day in about 3 months i've been able to turn the corner from st james' boulevard onto barrack road without it turning into a wind tunnel.

anyway, when i take girl two to school i take my MTB to ride back over some farm tracks etc. now theres an uphill bit that is less of a track and more just where people have walked or rode as opposed to tractor tracks , very boggy at the bottom with thick grass on either side. straight away i was slowing and about 30yds in i just wasn't getting any purchase, rear wheel spinning when i peddled, for those of you used to SPD's you'll know ther sometimes comes a point when you know you'r not going to have time to unclip and that means hitting the deck which is what happened, at least it was just into the long wet grass and not the mud. it was when i was lying there i remembered "i haven't got SPD pedals on the MTB yet"

Hahaha! That's brilliant

Clearly, you're a very experienced clipless faller. The way you skipped straight past pulling-frantically-on-your-feet to resignation.

madras · « **Reply #636 on:** Tuesday 31 January 2012, 10:22:59 PM »

i've done well on them. had them on about 6 or 7 month, maybe more and came off twice.

wacko · « **Reply #637 on:** Tuesday 31 January 2012, 10:51:55 PM »

Quote from: madras on Tuesday 31 January 2012, 10:22:59 PM

i've done well on them. had them on about 6 or 7 month, maybe more and came off twice.

That sounds good for an MTB, not so much for a road bike.

geordiemonster · « **Reply #638 on:** Friday 10 February 2012, 09:10:05 PM »

Possible Cyclone rival for this year:

The Northern Angel Sportive is new for 2012. Starting from the stunning Kirkley Hall, you will be guaranteed quiet roads from the offset. The route heads North West straight into the amazing Northumberland National Park where the sportive is centred.

Event Name: Northern Angel Sportive (Road)
Date: 22nd July 2012
Location: Newcastle Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, Kirkley, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE20 0AQ
Maximum Number of Riders: 1500
Registration Opens: 7.30am
Start Time: 8.00 - 9.30am
Course options: Epic (92 miles), Standard (80 miles), and Fun (66 miles) distances are approximate
Entry on the Day: Yes, if event has not sold out. (+ £3 surcharge, no Wiggle Discount)

Difficulty Rating:236
Event Format:243

At the enchanting and spectacular Harwood Forest the Fun route splits off and the Epic and Standard routes circumnavigate the breathtaking Simonside Hills which provide a dramatic jagged constant background. The Epic route briefly splits off once more to take in an extra northerly loop towards Kirdland Forest.

All 3 routes then rejoin and cross the awe inspiring, Rayless Common, Corsenside Common, Troughend Common, Hareshaw Common and Chester Common. Riders will feel a sense of remoteness with virtually traffic free roads, but will have their senses constantly overloaded with the endless picture postcard views.

With 3 route options (92 miles, 80 miles and 66 miles), you choose the amount of fun you can handle.

£26 entry

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/wiggle-super-series-northern-angel-sportive-road-epic/#more

Keefaz · Quote from: Greg on Friday 22 January 2010, 07:30:55 PM

Can't imagine using those clippy-on pedals when in traffic. You guys must be nuts. Bikey's been locked up in town while I've been off sick for a week.

geordiemonster · « **Reply #640 on:** Friday 10 February 2012, 09:54:39 PM »

Quote from: Keefaz on Friday 10 February 2012, 09:40:55 PM

Can't imagine using those clippy-on pedals when in traffic. You guys must be nuts. Bikey's been locked up in town while I've been off sick for a week.

I loosen my pedals right off when I am cycling to work in case I need to unclip in an emergency (pedestrians walking in front of me, cars pulling in front of me, cars stopping suddenly etc).

Everyone comes off when wearing them sooner or later. I came off during my one ride so far this year when the wind caught me and I hit a kerb. Luckily I managed to fling myself to the left to avoid falling into traffic, but there was no way I was unclipping in time there!

je85 · « **Reply #641 on:** Friday 10 February 2012, 10:57:43 PM »

It becomes second nature, before you know it you can unclip without thinking. Found myself unclipping mid crash on the mountain bike loads.

Mowen · « **Reply #642 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 01:00:14 AM »

Signed up for bike to work this year, balls out got a £1k roadie when the leg's not so poorly again. Really looking forward to chilling out on the Andre.

Village Idiot · « **Reply #643 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 09:49:47 AM »

Maybe I was doing it wrong, but clippy pedals really seemed to f*** up my knees (I had a major injury as a teen and I have glass knees), probably didn't adapt my pedaling posture well, but they seemed to add more tension to my knee.

je85 · « **Reply #644 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:03:30 AM »

You definitely were doing it wrong. The cleat needs to be aligned in the shoe so it's comfortable. Hardly anybody stands with their feet facing perfectly forward, most people are slightly pigeon/duck footed and should have the cleats positioned accordingly otherwise it can do a lot of damage to your knees/hips all the way up to upper back and therefore your shoulders.

je85 · « **Reply #645 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:04:52 AM »

Bad bike fitting is a real pet peeve of mine. It's ridiculous at sportives how many people you see on £3,000 bikes that fit like s****. Most good shops should have an expert in there that can help, otherwise there are an ever increasing number of places cropping up that specialise in bike fit like my friend Adrian in this vid, based in the midlands.


Cadence Sport - Bike Fitting from Tour de France Rider Adrian Timmis

cp40 · « **Reply #646 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:09:03 AM »

anybody know any good sites, or maps for some off road riding in the lake district/ kielder?

je85 · « **Reply #647 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:11:57 AM »

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/

cp40 · « **Reply #648 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:13:04 AM »

nice one cheers- book marked

je85 · « **Reply #649 on:** Saturday 11 February 2012, 10:21:08 AM »

You're welcome, that site helped me loads when I moved to Liverpool for a year and didn't know the area at all but wanted to find some nice lanes to ride on.

Anyone venturing out on the road this weekend be super careful though. Black ice is f***ing lethal last January I saw my Dad slip off his road bike at very low speed and smashed his elbow to pieces.