Pedal Power Thread

neil_g said:
tell me about it, i keep buying lighter parts to offset things like donuts :suspect:
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Gah, don't talk about donuts, its a 600 calorie day! 2 weetabix and an apple so far and I am rather hungry! Still last one for a couple of weeks.
 
Hi all!
I ride more than I shoot, so thought it best to chip in to this topic.
I have:
Giant Bowery 48x15 fixed (road bike)
Specialized Allez Elite (road bike)
On One 456 carbon (mountain bike)
DeathBike (cobbled together mountain bike from spares, feels like it s going to fall apart whenever I ride it, hence it's name)
Plus spares to knock up another at some point.
I take the n+1* rule seriously


*n= the number you currently own
 
I'm not doing too bad at the moment.

Dolan Tuono SL Roadbike (mothballed for the winter)
Cannondale CaadX 105 Cross / Winter Road Hack
Planet-X Superlight Alu. (On the Indoor Trainer for the foreseeable)
On-One Inbred 456 / XT (for more serious off-tarmac excursions)
Frankencrosser - Raleigh Thunder Road MTB from years ago, singlespeeded, 26" wheels and skinny slicks - Pub Bike

plus a couple up in the loft awaiting parts for restoration...

Raleigh Dynatech 701 Frame, partial Campag groupset, still requiring correct front/rear mech and levers.
Bianchi Columbus frameset (old enough to qualigy for entry in L'Eroica - again missing certain oily bits)
Raleigh "Funny Bike" TT frameset and Campag Disc rear wheel. Beautiful, uncomfortable and totally and utterly non-competition eligeable (and frankly you'd NEVER Ride it for fun!)
Dawes Super Galaxy Touring frameset - could be peice together by canibalising other bikes if I felt the urge to go touring.

And a Couple of bikes on long term/semi permanent loan to friends

Raleigh Dynatech Odyssey / XT (7 speed circa 1992) MTB
Dawes Custom 531 / Shimano 600 (old enough that it's the "arabesque" pattern 600 if that helps date it!)
 
With the commuter being in the bike shop for ministrations I rode in on the best bike this morning. The Italia felt lighter and more responsive. With the lack of traffic I flew in so much faster and racked up 4 strava PBs, something I haven't done for some time on the commute route!
 
well, after riding the CaadX for a month or so, I took my final FTP test of the year, and fully expected a slight tapering off of power (as per normal, as the mileage etc drops, and a 1 month "easy riding only" program in Nov) only to find I'd actually gained around 3%, which I can only attribute to the slightly heavier bike (and a fortnight on the REALLY heavy cross tyres) So I'm hoping it's going to bode well for the winter...
 
TheBigYin said:
well, after riding the CaadX for a month or so, I took my final FTP test of the year, and fully expected a slight tapering off of power (as per normal, as the mileage etc drops, and a 1 month "easy riding only" program in Nov) only to find I'd actually gained around 3%, which I can only attribute to the slightly heavier bike (and a fortnight on the REALLY heavy cross tyres) So I'm hoping it's going to bode well for the winter...
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I think my legs are just tired for the year! Coming back from Aus after a rest (well a couple of easy 5k runs) and my legs were shot. Plan to keep on getting some rides in over winter- I have another 100km Audax in feb but will go out before then. I then plan to go up to 200km events when the weather improves!
 
I know what you mean Jim, I've had pretty much the biggest year on the bike distance wise that I've done in 20 years... Only marginally compared to last year's totals, but the quality's definitely been upped - more hills, more long fast rides and the overall figures brought down by carefully managed recovery stuff - frankly I nearly burned out in June as I'd a lot on my mind, and just spent all my time out on the bike just riding to avoid thinking about other problems - the overload hit me in July, and I pretty much had to take 2 steps back and regroup a bit.
 
Tried one of these in my local bike shop http://www.amazon.co.uk/Velo-Comfort-Wide-Seat-Saddle/dp/B00CVVF5YW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

They dont have a website so cant link to it

only cost £13 as well, only rode with it about 5 miles yesterday and a couple of miles today but got to say its absolutely brilliant, so, so comfortable, im not a big mileage rider, a few miles on towpaths is about my limit, the pain i normally get usually kicks in within 5 mins or so but this was such a relief, was waiting for the pain to kick in but it never happened, so far so good
 
Lewis has had his bike since the start of the year but have changed a few things from when it was originally bought.

now runs an RST first 24 fork (has compression and rebound adjustment) rather than the god awful suntour XCT JR. The suntour's spring was too hard and they don't sell different springs for the fork. it had preload but not adjustable compression or rebound damping. Bike would be better with a ridged fork.

The OE bars were actually quite light but not wide enough at 580mm so they were swapped for a 620mm scandium bar from eXotic.

the original brakes were useless so swapped to avid elixir 3s pretty much straight away, while the grip shifts where swapped for SRAM X3 along with the rear mech and front mech as hand me downs

F tyre is a swchalbe rocket ron and the rear is a kenda smoke. We also changed the pedals to superstar nanos and the grips to uberbike lockons.



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this was pre forks, bar and pedals which he got for his birthday today

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Just picked up a brand new Carrera Crossfire 3 on the cheap with over £100 worth of extras, was considering buying a new one just for the lockout suspension but this one came up so jumped at it, will now be selling my as new 6 month old Crossfire 2 with extras, if anyone interested let me know and ill put an ad in the classified section to keep within the forum rules.
 
Brendan Mulachy said:
that saddle looks a touch "nose down" to me, does he find it comfortable like that
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combination of slant on toptube and the image not being level makes it look like that. my saddle is a bit nose down though TBF. never asked if it is comy and he has not complained
 
menthel said:
Just had a wiggle delivery. It had 5 packets of haribo in it. Happy Christmas! ;)
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You must have spent a shed load of money mate - I only got 3 bags when I bought the Tacx Bushido and all the computer-ey bits with it, and at the time that cost more than the bike I was strapping to it did!
 
do they test other 16mm chains or 18 mm locks etc. the one I seen they only tested thinner sizes.
 
TheBigYin said:
You must have spent a shed load of money mate - I only got 3 bags when I bought the Tacx Bushido and all the computer-ey bits with it, and at the time that cost more than the bike I was strapping to it did!
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Only a couple of tyres, some in era and some patches! My boy's eyes lit up when he saw the haul!
 
Well, I've bitten the bullet and ordered one of these: http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-4400-2014/aid:692484
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I've ordered light blue pedals, bottle cages, bottles and bar tape because the stealth black look isn't my thing. It was a hard choice deciding on a colour but all except the pedals are cheap accessories I can change in future!

Now the waiting begins for it to be built!
 
Does anyone know anything about custom decals? I'm considering adding a couple of light blue bands to the above bike when I see it to break up the black a bit but everywhere I've looked for bike decals tend to either be brands, rider's own names or national flag decals. What I want is just a roll or a few strips of the right colour to apply myself.
 
So did anyone get anything bikey for Xmas ?

Waiting on my post Xmas voucher purchases to arrive:

Hope Lockon Grips
Hope seat post clamp
Hope rear derailuer jockey wheels
Endura Thermalite Leg Warmers

Oh and my Almax chain has arrived. It's HUGE. Need a new storage hook for my bike, it's bending uncontrollably under the extra weight :lol:
 
I got some neoprene overshoes, a bike themed drinks mat and a mug that reads "I'd rather be cycling" for use at work.
 
Had my acl/ knee reconstruction in August and the bloody thing hasn't gone to plan. Not chuffed! Apparently I've got to look into alternative methods of sorting my cartilage (or lack of it now) out before considering a knee replacement in the very near future. Oh, I'm 19 too.

Have any of you guys had anything similar happen?
 
neil_g said:
So did anyone get anything bikey for Xmas ?

Waiting on my post Xmas voucher purchases to arrive:

Hope Lockon Grips
Hope seat post clamp
Hope rear derailuer jockey wheels
Endura Thermalite Leg Warmers

Oh and my Almax chain has arrived. It's HUGE. Need a new storage hook for my bike, it's bending uncontrollably under the extra weight :LOL:
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Bit book heavy this year;Both Ned Boulting books,this( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclepedia-Tour-Iconic-Bicycle-Designs/dp/0500515581/ref=pd_sim_b_2)big coffee table book.
Also got a set of Crud road racer2 mudguards and a Halfrauds bike cover oh and a Sportful gillet.
and I bought myself a Castelli jersey and shoe covers for myself:).

And went for a nice little ride on Boxing Day afternoon.
 
anyone used Castelli Compatto Lite Jacket ? it is on sale at the moment at half price - £80
 
Not used it but have other castelli stuff and it is all top quality and well made. Go a size up from your usual though!
 
menthel said:
Not used it but have other castelli stuff and it is all top quality and well made. Go a size up from your usual though!
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I agree, on both counts - excellent kit, if a little depressing when you look at the size label - a 46" chest shouldn't qualify as a XXXL surely... :lol:
 
My cycling stuff varies between m (dhb) and xl (castelli) with my torm and rapha stuff in between! Mind you most makes are good with their size charts- makes life a little easier!
 
thanks
I wonder if that and base layer would do...it is not cold cold outside and am warm blooded ;)
 
bastic said:
thanks
I wonder if that and base layer would do...it is not cold cold outside and am warm blooded ;)
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Maybe but as it is a rain jacket they tend to be a little boil in the bag whatever they are made of. Personally I would save it in a pocket for rain!
 
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