Pedal Power Thread

menthel said:
Just did my nemesis hill 23 sec quicker than I have done it before. 2 weeks in and commuting and cycling are getting quite addictive. Oh dear.

Disclaimer: the hill is really a tiddler but it made me feel better!

Ps: I am Jim Swales on strava.
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I have my own nemesis hill. It's no more than 300m long but it ramps up to 30% on a completely blind, tight bend and to my shame I'm yet to make it up. I just don't seem to have the power in my legs to make it up the steepest 20m. This summer, thought, I will conquer it!

The only consolation is the number of cars I've also seen fail and struggle to get up it :D
 
TriggerHappy said:
I have my own nemesis hill. It's no more than 300m long but it ramps up to 30% on a completely blind, tight bend and to my shame I'm yet to make it up. I just don't seem to have the power in my legs to make it up the steepest 20m. This summer, thought, I will conquer it!

The only consolation is the number of cars I've also seen fail and struggle to get up it :D
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That sounds like a real hill unlike the pimple I am complaining about! ;)
 
menthel said:
Just did my nemesis hill 23 sec quicker than I have done it before. 2 weeks in and commuting and cycling are getting quite addictive. Oh dear.

Disclaimer: the hill is really a tiddler but it made me feel better!

Ps: I am Jim Swales on strava.
Click to expand...

I think everyone has a nemesis hill, but you will conquer it!
 
TriggerHappy said:
I have my own nemesis hill. It's no more than 300m long but it ramps up to 30% on a completely blind, tight bend and to my shame I'm yet to make it up. I just don't seem to have the power in my legs to make it up the steepest 20m. This summer, thought, I will conquer it!

The only consolation is the number of cars I've also seen fail and struggle to get up it :D
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I have often find myself refusing to get off the bike and going at such a pace that people are walking past me faster than I am moving, but I still feel satisfied when I get to the top, if I do!
 
akr said:
I have often find myself refusing to get off the bike and going at such a pace that people are walking past me faster than I am moving, but I still feel satisfied when I get to the top, if I do!
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That's what I'm like ordinarily (particularly if I'm being watched) but this hill in particular has me to the point I can't turn the pedal and would fall off.

There was one occasion I met a group of nuns (we have a catholic retreat very near by) who were walking down said hill. Not wanting to get off and push at the usual point I dropped a couple of gears, got out of the saddle and sprinted past with a smile on my face. As soon as they were out of sight I pretty much collapsed in a heap and needed a breather before even walking the rest of the way. :lol:

I feel like it's time I had another go now we're talking about it!
 
TriggerHappy said:
That's what I'm like ordinarily (particularly if I'm being watched) but this hill in particular has me to the point I can't turn the pedal and would fall off.

There was one occasion I met a group of nuns (we have a catholic retreat very near by) who were walking down said hill. Not wanting to get off and push at the usual point I dropped a couple of gears, got out of the saddle and sprinted past with a smile on my face. As soon as they were out of sight I pretty much collapsed in a heap and needed a breather before even walking the rest of the way. :lol:

I feel like it's time I had another go now we're talking about it!
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Well to be fair to you that climb sounds horrendous! I thought you were going to ask the nuns to pray for you to make it! :)
 
I've only done it once so far, but currently mine is a 1.3 mile 1.2% grade hill which I will go up again tomorrow morning. May not sound like much to you guys, but when you as unfit as me, it's a real killer, especially as it comes about 45 minutes into the ride.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
I've only done it once so far, but currently mine is a 1.3 mile 1.2% grade hill which I will go up again tomorrow morning. May not sound like much to you guys, but when you as unfit as me, it's a real killer, especially as it comes about 45 minutes into the ride.
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The 'wonderful' thing about hills is that they never hurt any less, you just climb them slightly faster in the same amount of pain.

I'm guessing to know such accurate distance and gradient measurements you're using something like Strava which will be great to see the numbers tumble once you have a bit of condition into your legs.
 
mine's probably this one - I don't ride it very often, because frankly I'm too old, fat and unfit to enjoy 3 miles of almost unremitting uphill - the 3.3% average gradient makes it sound far easier than it really is - there's plenty of 7-8% in there - though I have to admit, I'm actually quite looking forward to another crack at it, seeing as I'm maybe 18kg lighter than my last attempt...
 
TheBigYin said:
mine's probably this one - I don't ride it very often, because frankly I'm too old, fat and unfit to enjoy 3 miles of almost unremitting uphill - the 3.3% average gradient makes it sound far easier than it really is - there's plenty of 7-8% in there - though I have to admit, I'm actually quite looking forward to another crack at it, seeing as I'm maybe 18kg lighter than my last attempt...
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Fair play to the guy who tops that KOM!

Having lost so much weight you're sure to see a big difference. What was your previous time?
 
lets just say it's not on the first 3 pages... :lol: 17:39... - bloody useless. Even before I had the (race career ending) crash, I suffered from CCFS - and back then I was under 80kg and riding sub hour 25mile TT's with monotonous regularity, but i'd still get dropped off the back riding over a railway bridge :lol:
 
TheBigYin said:
lets just say it's not on the first 3 pages... :lol: 17:39... - bloody useless. Even before I had the (race career ending) crash, I suffered from CCFS - and back then I was under 80kg and riding sub hour 25mile TT's with monotonous regularity, but i'd still get dropped off the back riding over a railway bridge :lol:
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17:39 is quite respectable for this sort of distance-incline. Will be interested to hear how you get on once you've tackled it again!
 
Up early prepping the bike for today's club run. 60 miles with 3500ft of climbing, can't wait. 1st outing for the summer wheels too (as its dry), Campagnolo Zonda's.

Today is going to be a good day.
 
TriggerHappy said:
The 'wonderful' thing about hills is that they never hurt any less, you just climb them slightly faster in the same amount of pain.

I'm guessing to know such accurate distance and gradient measurements you're using something like Strava which will be great to see the numbers tumble once you have a bit of condition into your legs.
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Yeah...sounds wonderful :0) . You are correct, I am using Strava, and think its great for analysing your rides. I'm off out on the bike again at 8am and will be trying this hill again, so hopefully I'll do it slightly quicker this time.
 
So got out for a quick (or slow dependent on your point of view :) ) 7 miles to try out the spds.

Didn't fall off :thumbs: Decided to cycle to the park with feet not locked into pedals, realised after a few minutes on south circular they were now in fact locked in :eek:

Actually found it fairly easy to get the feet in and out, found it harder to get the foot back in than out. Didn't actually both practising in the park as had the red lights to practise on the way there, which was a good thing as there was a fun run going on and seemingly the world dog walkers convention going on.

Cycling wise was a slightly out feeling as I am used to simply pushing down, as opposed to also pulling up - I found myself at one point wondering which to do, whether to do both, one or the other etc. Does it just come naturally in time, what's comfortable etc?

As everyone else seems to be having a go, I thought I'd try my mini nemesis hill in Forest Hill, got my time for it and something to aim for - I was on the verge of death at the top of it - my lack of cycling this year and over winter is evident. Going to get swimming again this week and start running next month so hopefully will build up some decent fitness over the next 3-4 months.

Feel confident for the commute next week with the spds on the shoes which was the aim of today, thanks for all the previous on this thread all :thumbs:
 
Got out today for a 25km ride but half way around I began getting pains in my chest. I'm plagued by chest infections so I suspect this is another coming on. Took the edge off a lovely day for a ride but it was still quite pleasurable, if a little more leisurely than normal!

Well done on taking 2+ minutes off your nemesis hill!

Al, I found the tendency when starting with cleats was to push down too far through the stroke rather than pulling back (scraping mud off the bottom of your shoe, as some people describe it) at the right point, which becomes an energy sap. Practice trying to spin the perfect circle with your legs and don't worry about your speed. When you get the motion right it'll feel very smooth and a little more effortless. Once you get a bit more tired you'll find you start 'peddling squares', which again isn't the most efficient motion so focus on technique when fatigue kicks in.

Another advantage of a trainer is you can do 1 minute intervals peddling with a single leg and alternating back and forth so that you can really nail the technique of applying the right pressure through the full 360. If you have a relatively quiet and flat section of road there's no reason to need a trainer for this practice.
 
out for a proper test of the new toy this afternoon... just over a metric century in the end - http://app.strava.com/activities/42800878

13 minutes faster than the old bike on the same loop... not bad bearing in mind I kept stopping to check that I hadn't got a rear wheel puncture - carbon frame was just that much more comfortable than the old aluminium girder I'm used to...

http://app.strava.com/activities/42800878
 
Got back into my cycling over the last couple of years, on and off road (just bought my new MTB!).

Apart from padded pants and a more comfey saddle (both of which I have employed), does anyone have any tips to avoid the dreaded saddle ache?!?
 
TriggerHappy said:
Got out today for a 25km ride but half way around I began getting pains in my chest. I'm plagued by chest infections so I suspect this is another coming on. Took the edge off a lovely day for a ride but it was still quite pleasurable, if a little more leisurely than normal!

Well done on taking 2+ minutes off your nemesis hill!

Al, I found the tendency when starting with cleats was to push down too far through the stroke rather than pulling back (scraping mud off the bottom of your shoe, as some people describe it) at the right point, which becomes an energy sap. Practice trying to spin the perfect circle with your legs and don't worry about your speed. When you get the motion right it'll feel very smooth and a little more effortless. Once you get a bit more tired you'll find you start 'peddling squares', which again isn't the most efficient motion so focus on technique when fatigue kicks in.

Another advantage of a trainer is you can do 1 minute intervals peddling with a single leg and alternating back and forth so that you can really nail the technique of applying the right pressure through the full 360. If you have a relatively quiet and flat section of road there's no reason to need a trainer for this practice.
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Thanks for that Jamie - the scraping the mud analogy is one I think I'll remember. Hope to get out again tomorrow morning, if not will give it a go on Monday's commute. No trainer at present and no prospect of getting one in the next few months, but do have some flats bits near here I can practise on.

Hope the it's not an infection on the way and you get out some more. :)
 
TheBigYin said:
out for a proper test of the new toy this afternoon... just over a metric century in the end - http://app.strava.com/activities/42800878

13 minutes faster than the old bike on the same loop... not bad bearing in mind I kept stopping to check that I hadn't got a rear wheel puncture - carbon frame was just that much more comfortable than the old aluminium girder I'm used to...

http://app.strava.com/activities/42800878
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Good stuff :thumbs: You are averaging a faster speed with a higher elevation over 4 hours than I did over 30 minutes :gag:

On one of my longer rides last year I kept stopping to check if I had a rear puncture, and sadly cam to the conclusion I was just knackered and my legs were saying no!
 
Just back from a night MTB ride, couple of hours out on some single track of the South Downs, same area as they run the Brighton Big Dog 6hr MTB race. Great time :)
 
I haven't done much night riding this winter, have been getting out more though, been going to Rivington at least once a week. Going to take on Snowdon this month, then April im going to Glentress for the weekend.

Did get some new bars though, some Easton Haven Carbons, very light and comfy. Im on a mission to shed some weight, next up the forks (drop 800grams) then swap my slx cranks for XTR (drop about 250grams).
 
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danmon_81 said:
It's time in the saddle mate... I Don't even notice it now... For long rides people swear by chamois cream/ butter.
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Ah, but I have memories of that famous scene from Last Tango in Paris... No butter near my butt cheeks :)
 
I fancy buying some proper road biking shoes but don't want to clip in with cleats. I assume I will still benefit from the firmer soles ?
 
alpina said:
I fancy buying some proper road biking shoes but don't want to clip in with cleats. I assume I will still benefit from the firmer soles ?
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In principle yes. Whether there'll be any measurable performance difference is questionable, but depending what you're wearing now then at the least they'll probably be more comfortable.
 
Probably not with road shoes as the soles are usually totally smooth and hard (eithe carbon or fiberglass) so would struggle for grip on the pedals. MTB soles are made for walking in so are rubber and grippy and would be a better option but are not as stiff as road shoes.

Why not clipped in? It really is the best system and takes very little time to get used to. I use Time pedals but they're all much of a muchness and shoes and cleats are interchangable as the mounting system is standardised.
Pick a shoe and pedal combo to suit your budget and get clipped in!!
 
actually, compared to my Sidi's, they actually look quite good value for a bit of hand-made craftsmanship...
 
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