The biking thread

[Eunos_Cosmo]

That's crazy about the Specialized situation. 400 ordered cancelled? That's not an insignificant amount of money, lol.

It was a needlessly petty move, IMO. Rumor is that Specialized actually wanted to buy the store and felt jilted by Mike's when they went with Pon. I wonder if Mikes' used a bid by Specialized to leverage a better price from Pon...that would explain some bad blood.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Another slugfest at Flanders with the familiar faces. It's really something special to see Pogacar and MVDP WVA battle it out. Pogacar can go the longest and is best on the climbs, WVA is the fastest in a pure sprint, and MVDP is just good everywhere - to see them each try to bend the race to their attributes is just awesome.



I have to say, I've been very impressed with the quietly phenomenal season Neilson Powless has been having. He's in the mix at nearly every race he contests...

5th at Ronde van Vlaaneren
3rd at Dwars door Vlaanderen
7th at Milano-Sanremo
6th overall at Paris-Nice
3rd at Tour des Alpes Maritimes det du Var
1st at Etoile de Besseges
1st at Grand Prix cyliste De Marseille

Aside from a pair of early season warmup races, he's finished in the top 10 at every race he's contested this year, and the top 5 in 70% of those. Not only that, but he was in the breakaway group at both Ronde and Dwars for a combined 135km. This is all with an EF squad that is not exactly world beaters.

He's moved from 50th to 18th on the UCI points table and is now in the top 10 per procyclingstats methodology, with only the most elite riders ahead of him. He just seems to get better each season. I have to think EF will be looking at him to be their main GC man at TDF this year.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

My favorite race of the year, Paris-Roubaix is this Sat (women's) and Sun (men's) and one of the very few races widely covered in the USA. If you've got Peacock you can watch it live from start to finish...at least for the men's race. Here's a preview:





And just a reminder what it can look like at the end:

 

[Shaun]

My favorite race of the year, Paris-Roubaix

Yeah my favourite time of the year for racing full stop with my two all time favourite races back to back this year.
Absolutely love watching one day racing especially the classics as there is no riding for tomorrow like in some of the long tours.

It took three nights to watch Flanders (every km) while also avoiding the results. It was a great race I thought. Roubaix shouldn't take as long to watch as Monday is a day off, hoping for a bit of rain also to spice it up a bit.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Yeah my favourite time of the year for racing full stop with my two all time favourite races back to back this year.
Absolutely love watching one day racing especially the classics as there is no riding for tomorrow like in some of the long tours.

It took three nights to watch Flanders (every km) while also avoiding the results. It was a great race I thought. Roubaix shouldn't take as long to watch as Monday is a day off, hoping for a bit of rain also to spice it up a bit.

I agree. The 5 monuments (+Strade Bianchi) are more exciting than any stage race to me apart from the TdF...and the TdF definitely has some filler stages. It's hard for me to watch any stage racer lower than the TdF...I'll watch some of the Giro but I can't get into the Vuelta let alone the lesser ones. That said, if the Tour of California ever returns, I'll definitely go watch roadside! It's a shame there isn't any 1-day races in the US..or really anywhere outside Europe. Here's how I'd route a ~200km race around San Francisco

Start on the south side of San Francisco at Lake Merced/Olympic Club

Ride up great highway along the ocean

Divert into Golden Gate Park to do a loop of the polo fields and cycling track

Climb up lands end, past the cliff house and into the presidio

Head across the golden gate and climb the locals favorite climb, hawk hill to the northwest of the bridge, and then descend down conzelman road towards point bonita

Then steam up into the headlands via the gravel bobcat & marincello trails

Then race through tamalpais valley into milley valley to begin climbing Mt Tamalpais via Railroad grade, again, gravel

Then descend down ridgecrest (where every car commercial is shot) to highway 1

Then loops back towards east marin via lucas valley road, passing through a few redwood groves

Then wind your way around Marin's two large bay side peninsulas, San Pedro and Tiburon

Then finally the flat finish through downtown sausalito, with spectacular views of San Francisco across the bay

I mean...I would pay to watch that race!

 

[Shaun]

or really anywhere outside Europe

Yeah it's mostly a European thing, I'm lucky that we have one world tour one day race in my own backyard that I get to go watch.
It's nice to watch the pro's race on the roads you ride all the time.

It's normally a week or so after the Tour Down Under that is in Adelaide which is an awesome week of cycling fun, I often head over there for the week with family or friends to take it in and ride.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Paris Roubaix Spoilers -

Spoiler

I have to wonder if Jumbo Visma's decision to use onboard tire inflation tech did them in on Sunday. Poor Christophe Laporte had multiple tire failures and Van Aert suffered a puncture in the closing KMs. Maybe they lowered their tire pressure too much in the quest for compliance and it left the tires vulnerable on the cobbles? I'm just speculating, but the race was kind of anti-climactic for me..I was really hoping to see it go to the line between MvDP & WVA. In the end, Paris Roubaix has maybe the strongest "luck" criteria of any race on the calendar, and Jumbo Visma didn't have it on Sunday.

 

[Shaun]

Yeah I agree with the possibility with the tyre tech and low pressures could have been the cause for Jumbo Visma, they sure did have some bad luck.

I think the sting got taken out of the race when John Degenkolb was taken down giving MvDP the chance to create a small break. I felt sorry for Degenkolb as he was looking strong but that's a risk you run using the edge of the road off the cobbles.

 

[Omnis]

I'm youtube famous?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

3 or 4 tubes?? Jesus!

 

[Solo]

Yeah I agree with the possibility with the tyre tech and low pressures could have been the cause for Jumbo Visma, they sure did have some bad luck.

I think the sting got taken out of the race when John Degenkolb was taken down giving MvDP the chance to create a small break. I felt sorry for Degenkolb as he was looking strong but that's a risk you run using the edge of the road off the cobbles.

On the Watts Occuring podcast this week they reckoned it is related to the tubeless set up as much as it was the inflators. Might see a few teams switch back to tubs for the TdF.

Got my first 100 mile ride in for the year, averaged a steady 18.5 mph as a group of five of us. Definitely enjoyed that more than the 5.7 mile TT I rode at 23.6 mph the same week. I’m very much an endurance specialist not a sprinter, but can see how competing against the clock could get addictive.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

On the Watts Occuring podcast this week they reckoned it is related to the tubeless set up as much as it was the inflators. Might see a few teams switch back to tubs for the TdF.

Got my first 100 mile ride in for the year, averaged a steady 18.5 mph as a group of five of us. Definitely enjoyed that more than the 5.7 mile TT I rode at 23.6 mph the same week. I’m very much an endurance specialist not a sprinter, but can see how competing against the clock could get addictive.

What's the logic behind this? Intuitively, I would guess tubeless would have an advantage over tubs with regards to flats. For what it's worth, MVDP was on tubeless, as well, apparently.

Actually, that article mentions that WVA did not use the inflation system himself so ultimately I think it's purely down to bad luck and Paris-Roubaix witchcraft. Honestly part of the charm at P-R is seeing how the different teams try to game the cobbles, and how frequently the cobbles emerge victorious anyways.

Edit: @Omnis is ready to ride Paris Roubaix e'ry day with that tube supply

 

[Omnis]

Yeah bro.

1.) I have deep aero wheels, so need to make sure I have replacements with 80mm valves
2.) 300 lbs, so I need plenty of CO2 for high pressure.
3.) 80 mile rides in the middle of BFE prepping for the century in February.
4.) I can always offer to help someone with a flat.
5.) RideNow TPU tubes (Chinese tubolitos) cost 5 bucks and I can pack 4 of them in the same space that 2 of my conti butyl tubes take.

I believe that all of this preparation has blessed me with hundreds of miles on the same tubes that I bought the bike with.

 

[Shaun]

What's the logic behind this? Intuitively, I would guess tubeless would have an advantage over tubs with regards to flats.

My only guess would be that they could run lower pressure with the tubeless as you normally do for the comfort reasons over the cobbles.

I believe that all of this preparation has blessed me with hundreds of miles on the same tubes that I bought the bike with.

It's always the way
I got four punctures riding to work one day, it's a 57km ride with the first 20km being on a main highway which means all the crap gets kicked over to the edge of the emergency lane where I was riding.
Fixed three and changed the tube once as I only carry the one spare. My right arm got the biggest workout that day from all the pumping.

To make matters worse it was in the dark

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

My only guess would be that they could run lower pressure with the tubeless as you normally do for the comfort reasons over the cobbles.

It's always the way
I got four punctures riding to work one day, it's a 57km ride with the first 20km being on a main highway which means all the crap gets kicked over to the edge of the emergency lane where I was riding.
Fixed three and changed the tube once as I only carry the one spare. My right arm got the biggest workout that day from all the pumping.

To make matters worse it was in the dark

GCN actually just touched on this referencing the same podcast. The issue is not so much that tubeless is more likely to get punctures/flats, but how catastrophic an insta-flat could be, showing clips (from P-R) of tires just flying clear off the rim. Made me want to get cushcore for my upcoming 100k grinder...

 

[Solo]

The issue is not so much that tubeless is more likely to get punctures/flats, but how catastrophic an insta-flat could be

Yeah this is it. As a tubeless rider I’ve had a few punctures lately and they do deflate pretty rapidly if it won’t self-seal, has made me consider a liner too. I wonder if it’s the perfect storm of the cobbles and low pressures though putting more lateral forces on the tyres and pulling them off the rim, causing a tubeless system integrity failure rather than a traditional sharp/pinch puncture.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Yeah this is it. As a tubeless rider I’ve had a few punctures lately and they do deflate pretty rapidly if it won’t self-seal, has made me consider a liner too. I wonder if it’s the perfect storm of the cobbles and low pressures though putting more lateral forces on the tyres and pulling them off the rim, causing a tubeless system integrity failure rather than a traditional sharp/pinch puncture.

Even more scary when hookless rims are used.

 

[Solo]

Even more scary when hookless rims are used.

Hookless rider here too… both the cadex race and Continental GP5000TRs I’ve used fit more tightly to the rim than clincher/hooked tyres I’ve used in the past. I’m not sure how much difference this makes. I’ve seen people with clincher/tubed tyres roll a tyre off the rim in a puncture situation.

 

[Greycap]

Not sure if those are even punctures, might be catastrophic cases of gambling with very low pressures leading to burping under heavy lateral loads on the cobblestones. Even MTB tyres feel very sketchy with low pressures, and we're talking about a 50+ mm tyres on a 25 mm rim with a lot of rubber "outside" the rim. Those guys are running ~30 mm tyres on ~20 mm rims, any serious lateral force will quickly lead to the tyre sidewall actually leaning towards the centreline of the rim and without a deep tubeless groove that's not going to end well.

My own tubeless riding came to an end last fall with a big cut too far from home. I realized that even with a tubeless setup I'll have to carry a spare tube anyway in preparation for such cases, and if I have to use it in the middle of nowhere I'll also have what's left of the sealant to deal with. While the slightly more supple feeling is nice when it works, the downsides of when it doesn't aren't really worth it. I bought a ten pack of lightweight tubes and realized that the feeling doesn't change all that much, nor do they weigh noticably more than the sealant. It's just a huge deal easier to replace a dry tube on the trail/roadside and get going again.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Speaking of tubeless tires, I finally pulled the trigger on some new ones. After speaking with some folks who run them and reading as much as reasonable online, I decided to give some Rene Herse tires a chance. 650bx48 "Juniper Ridge". Only 1mm wider, technically, than the 650bx47 Teravail Rutlands I had on before but they plump up far bigger and have way more volume. The terrain here can get pretty rough, and it's a rigid bike, so I wanted as much suppleness as possible from the tires. So off goes my 700C winter tire/wheelset (you can see them in the back) and on goes the dry season setup. I've heard conflicting notes about the ease/difficulty of installing Rene Herse tires, but they were actually a breeze to install unlike the absolute nightmare the 700C gravel kings were. These will be the tires that I run the gravel race in June on.

I've only ridden them around my neighborhood, but they roll remarkably well on pavement considering the tread pattern...probably better than the Teraveils did, which always had that kind of that 4x4 on the highway hum. Next weekend I'm hoping to actually properly test them, probably going to start with 25psi front and rear to see how that feels. Hopefully they will not wear down as fast as the Teraveils.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Tadej Pogacar is a monster. He has entered 8 races in 2023. He has won 6 of them.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Alright folks, need some advise on kit

I don't think I have the appropriate upper body kit for the race I'm doing in June. I have a handful of short sleeve jerseys and 2 long sleeve winter jerseys (fleece lined). I have a hardshell rain jacket, but nothing besides. This is a summer race up at elevation (5,000-7,000ft, 1500-2100m) that starts early in the morning. There isn't much tree coverage in the Sierra and the sun can be quite intense. The climate is very arid so I expect the temperature to be cool to chilly in the morning before getting warm to very hot in the afternoon. My thoughts are to have my arms covered at all times (UV protection more than anything), but I don't want to be wearing a jacket all the time. I decided to go with a hydration pack (this one) which has a ton of pockets, so I don't think I'll need Jersey pockets. Maybe I pick up a long sleeve summer base layer and then have a packable wind jacket (this one seems pretty good) for the morning or in case it gets cold up at elevation? Thoughts? @Shaun @Solo

@Shaun I finally checked out Above Category in Sausalito. Dream shop.

 

[Shaun]

Thoughts?

Yeah flexibility is the key to rides with variable temps.
Definitely avoid the winter jersey as you would likely overheat while climbing. If you absolutely want your arms covered all the time you could also get arm screens, think arm warmers but lighter. That way you could wear one of your short sleeve Jersey's and also a gillet for any descents to keep the chill off your chest.

The jacket you link looks ok for the job too, my only concern would be it might be slightly too warm but I think it would work.

You can also get long sleeve summer jersey's which are about UV protection not warmth. Just because I have one that's what I would use along with a gillet when needed.

I finally checked out Above Category in Sausalito. Dream shop.

Funny you mention that.
This video popped up on my YouTube feed the other day and I was going to tag you.
It does look like a great shop with some stunning gear.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Yeah flexibility is the key to rides with variable temps.
Definitely avoid the winter jersey as you would likely overheat while climbing. If you absolutely want your arms covered all the time you could also get arm screens, think arm warmers but lighter. That way you could wear one of your short sleeve Jersey's and also a gillet for any descents to keep the chill off your chest.

The jacket you link looks ok for the job too, my only concern would be it might be slightly too warm but I think it would work.

You can also get long sleeve summer jersey's which are about UV protection not warmth. Just because I have one that's what I would use along with a gillet when needed.

Funny you mention that.
This video popped up on my YouTube feed the other day and I was going to tag you.
It does look like a great shop with some stunning gear.

The long-sleeve jersey with gillet actually sounds like a great combo, and probably one I would use a lot in NorCal. Surely I could get a gillet for a similar price as that jacket.

 

[Solo]

You can also get long sleeve summer jersey's which are about UV protection not warmth. Just because I have one that's what I would use along with a gillet when needed.

This would be my ideal go to for the scenario you’re discussing @Eunos_Cosmo. Possibly add a mesh under shirt too if you’re really worried about the cold at the start. I’d probably try and skip the gillet or rain jacket entirely though if it’s dry on the day, they’ll only annoy you later when you have to carry them in a pocket or stuffed in the front or back of your bib. On any climbs you’ll be wanting rid of them pretty quickly.

Out of curiosity - why the hydration pack? Can only think it’ll make your back super sweaty and not allow you to cool as well in the warmer weather. Two decent bottles and the feed stops on a race should be enough? Or do they not have regular food/water stops?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

This would be my ideal go to for the scenario you’re discussing @Eunos_Cosmo. Possibly add a mesh under shirt too if you’re really worried about the cold at the start. I’d probably try and skip the gillet or rain jacket entirely though if it’s dry on the day, they’ll only annoy you later when you have to carry them in a pocket or stuffed in the front or back of your bib. On any climbs you’ll be wanting rid of them pretty quickly.

Out of curiosity - why the hydration pack? Can only think it’ll make your back super sweaty and not allow you to cool as well in the warmer weather. Two decent bottles and the feed stops on a race should be enough? Or do they not have regular food/water stops?

There are feed stops. However, I tend to go through a ton of water (I sweat a lot, sometimes I'll drink something like 3L /hr) so I wanted to be extra prepared. I might skip it, as what you are saying is definitely a good point. I normally carry 2x 26oz bottles, but I'm planning to use my half frame bag in this ride (instead of a handlebar bag) and that means I can only carry 1x 26oz and one smaller bottle. So to mitigate that, I was thinking hydration pack. I guess I could stick another cage on the bottom of my down tube (there are mounts) instead? Not sure yet. I want to carry more than just energy gels so I want some generous on-bike storage.

 

[Shaun]

I might skip it, as what you are saying is definitely a good point.

I'd agree with @Solo and skip it also if you can just for the comfort reasons.
Ultimately though it comes down to if you can carry enough water on your bike as it's obvious the last thing want to run out of is water. Does the route map show all the stops so you can work it out?

 

[Greycap]

Another place to carry a bottle, although not possible on this very moment as you'll need to get mounts for it first, is the seatpost. I have two sets of such clamps but haven't used them in years, nice to have just in case though. Of course it can take anything that normally bolts to the bottle cage mount, at one point I had a holder for a folding lock there on my daily bike.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I think I found a solution. I just need more parts.

I already have one one Wolf-Tooth bottle cage mount relocation bracket. I just need one more. Then I can tetris my water bottles around in the frame, like below, and should have enough clearance for my Apidura half frame bag and 2x 26oz bottles. I might pick up a third bottle cage to run under the downtube like this too.

(The one on the top tube in this pic is hilarious)

 

[Greycap]

(The one on the top tube in this pic is hilarious)

Pfft, amateurish effort. At least one on the seatpost and these two to top it off.

https://cdn.topeak.com/storage/app/media/product/tri-backup/tri-cage/TBU-ELT_main-mnt-2b.jpg