The biking thread

[W3H5]

Is it just some, or do all of us have dodgy knees?

I put mine down to playing too much football as a kid and wearing out the cartilage, the doctor told me that the operation is really painful and would reduce my ability to exercise hard so I skipped it.

I can't remember the last time I went a whole day without having to straighten my leg and crack it because my knee had locked.

So, new computer on the bike tells me my previous rough distance calculations were wrong.

Here's today's data:

Distance: 14.2km
Total time: 34.**
Top speed: 51kph
Average speed: 24kph
C02 saved: 2.20kg

I'm currently searching for some nice little rear indicators for when I'm in traffic but cannot find anything suitable so I've been pondering on designing my own. I've got a concept in mind but would need to take it to a factory to have it produced and they'd probably only take orders in the thousands. I'll show some sketches when I get time.

 

[Neal]

I'm surprisingly brand new at the moment considering I'm moving into the old duffer zone and the number times I fell off my motorbikes.

How far out were your estimations?

 

[daft biker]

Daftbiker - this may work but you'll need to check it matches your head tube internal diameter, there's a PDF guide in the site. http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=113

Thanks Neal...hadn't spotted that one whilst searching last night, or heard about the Cane Creek one.

I did find what looks to be the same as I have....
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25722
....think I'll play it safe and do a like-for-like replacement and avoid chainging the stack height though. I think the one on your link sounds more like one of those slightly more modern internal headset jobbies....or at least the lower at only 2mm does and that might sharpen the head angle just enough to notice (less than half a degree?). I may also have to trim the steerer tube if I reduce the stack height.

 

[Neal]

I think your head tube internal diameter would still be 49mm so the SSC one should fit but with nearly 10mm less lower stack I'd definitely go for the FSA headset which you know definitely fits. I think head angle changes by approx 1° per 20mm increase in axle to crown length so it probably would decrease it by half a degree, not what you want! I've got a semi-integrated headset and spotted this internal to external lower cup and race kit which would add 13mm to the axle to crown length so I may get one at some point to slacken the head angle a bit, much cheaper than an angle set!

I got round to fitting the new gear cable outers and inners and also did the remote lockout lever cable for the forks, it was quite a faff using a hack saw (must get proper cable cutters) but end result is good and shifting in much smoother. I also fitted some Middleburn Cable Oilers, what genius little gizmos! Once fitted in the middle of the cable outer you just roll the o-ring out of the way then spray WD40/GT85 through a hole in them to flush out all the crap and relube the cables, as the beaver said to the dog "It works".

 

[hellnback]

Neal, I'm normally riding on the same tracks or some variation of it. Longest I've done so far is 30.7km which I did in a little under 91mins a 20.4km/h avg. That ride contained about 5-6km road. I've done one all road ride, the 17.7km I mentioned in last post that was 43mins with 24.7km/h avg. Mondays one was 22.6km with about 8km road for 24.1km/h avg. So slowly building up that leg fitness as at the start of riding I was poked with only 18-19km/h avg over distances 18-20km...

Hopefully this weekend I'll do that 30km one again, but I want to tap on an extra 6.5km out and back tarseal section at end of it, as it has two gradient climbs (one out one back), which at the end of the ride will be a good endurance builder. However a mate wants to tag along and it's been awhile since he's been on his bike.

By far the hardest ride was the competition ride, there was no let up, anywhere. Even finding a place to steal a quick suck on the water bottle was a mission! The bike shop where I brought my Stumpy is trying to talk me into a 36km ride next weekend, one that has about 3 serious climbs (and subsequent downhill... oh yeah), and he reckons it's an easier ride than last weekends one... unfortunately I can't do it as I've got a 3 day golf trip.

On the lookout for another event...

 

[Neal]

I don’t get as much time as I would like for big rides and anything off road means driving for an hour to get there, it does make me appreciate the rides when I get them. My typical speeds are below...must try harder!

Road:
Distance 20.5km
Average speed 22.6km/h
Total climbed 184m

80% easy off road, 20% road:
Distance 18.5km
Average speed 14.8km/h
Total climbed 175m

Off road single track:
Distance 16.6km
Average speed 12.9km/h
Total climbed 282m

Off road single track:
Distance 22.4km
Average speed 11.6km/h
Total climbed 685m

If you’ve got a GPS device or GPS smart phone you should check out Strava as it automatically creates segments of big climbs or you can create your own for sections that are flat, here are some for NZ. Some 🤬 has just stole my King Of The Mountain from me for the hill by me I need to pump my tyres up rock hard and beast myself on it to take it back!

 

[Submerged]

Strava app also for Android?

Can't find it on the marketplace just yet

 

[daft biker]

Strava app also for Android?

Can't find it on the marketplace just yet

Aye, I have it on mine (a Motorola Defy FWIW). I downloaded it a few weeks ago but I think it's been available for a while.....does it only show you what's compatible with your phone?

 

[Neal]

Strava app also for Android?

Can't find it on the marketplace just yet

Here you go mate

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.strava

 

[Submerged]

Eventually, managed to find it on the Android Marketplace.

The search function was whacked out for a bit, wouldn't search for the actual name of the app! Had to use the "Strava Inc" instead, to get it to come up.

That was odd.

Now have it on the phone, hoping tomorrow is a clear-ish day and around 10 degrees to kick start my riding for the time being. Still slightly annoyed I have to sign up to use all the apps tracker and info system....

 

[W3H5]

I popped into the bike shop today only to discover that the tube they'd given me a few days ago was a dud and had a notch in it from when it was made. They still charged me for a new one but for £2.30 I can't really complain, they [the young lad] also speak a little English which is really helpful and saves me using a dictionary to explain what I need.

 

[daft biker]

Just stripped down, cleaned, greased and re-assembled my headset......and it's working again:tup:

The lower race was full of mud, completely dry and the bearing cage a bit bent but all the bearings were there and the surfaces they run on not too pitted so I just gave it a bit TLC. The lower seal seems to be past it's best so I reckon this is just a temporary repair.

The bad news is I found a snapped spoke in my rear wheel so now I've got that to fix too:tdown: (although one spoke down on a 36 hole D321 is hardly the end of the world....I'll still ride it)

 

[W3H5]

Jesus! You have 36 spokes on one wheel? Is that a lot? I think I have about 12!

 

[Neal]

I hate loose bearings with a passion, I know from an engineering perspective they can be better as they're serviceable and can be freer running if set up right but I'd much rather have cartridge bearings and just replace them when they're knackered. Hopefully your headset will stay smooth for a while but my old one had no lower seal and would be rough after the first mucky ride

Not had any spokes snap on a push bike but the scooter I used to deliver pizzas on as a yoof had half the spokes in the back wheen missing and the rest were nearly rusted through and that was fine...sort of!

Also I've finally taken the plunge and ordered some SPD shoes and pedals. Hopefully they'll arrive quick so I can fit and try them out before going to Coed Llandegla trail centre next Sunday.

 

[W3H5]

You got me thinking, Neal, what with summer coming up I could do with a pair of purpose made shoes, plus me Gazelles are knackered!

What do you guys reckon on these? They're SPD 2 bolt style clip shoes. I must say the pedals are half the price of the shoes!

 

[daft biker]

Jesus! You have 36 spokes on one wheel? Is that a lot? I think I have about 12!

32 spokes is probably standard for MTBs but 36 is common on wheels meant to take a beating and 28 or less on lighter wheels.

I've been running that same back wheel since 2001!.....no idea how many spokes I've replaced in it over the years but it still works fine (I originally got it for my Patriot but still use it on my Subzero)

11 years out a back wheel?! Probably helps that I'm a 72Kg scrawny runt too (how's the weight gain going anyway?)

 

[W3H5]

I'm up 3kg since 2 weeks ago. I've been shovelling pizza and fried chicken down me all day and hitting the weights and doing press/ sit-ups all evening for the last week. I'm hovering just below 63kg now. I think the 2 litres of chocolate milk each day is helping.

I'm meant ot be taking on 4k calories a day but I think I'm putting down closer to 5k.

Bulk here I come!

 

[boiltheocean]

You got me thinking, Neal, what with summer coming up I could do with a pair of purpose made shoes, plus me Gazelles are knackered!

What do you guys reckon on these? They're SPD 2 bolt style clip shoes. I must say the pedals are half the price of the shoes!

If they are anything like my Pearl Izumi's then they should hold up pretty well, I've not had a trouble with the quality of them for over 2 years now.

 

[W3H5]

You've sold them to me. Now I just hope they have my size available when I get paid in a few weeks.

 

[Neal]

You got me thinking, Neal, what with summer coming up I could do with a pair of purpose made shoes, plus me Gazelles are knackered!

What do you guys reckon on these? They're SPD 2 bolt style clip shoes. I must say the pedals are half the price of the shoes!

They look good mate and Pearl Izumi is very decent so you should be good with them.

 

[daft biker]

I'm up 3kg since 2 weeks ago. I've been shovelling pizza and fried chicken down me all day and hitting the weights and doing press/ sit-ups all evening for the last week. I'm hovering just below 63kg now. I think the 2 litres of chocolate milk each day is helping.

I'm meant ot be taking on 4k calories a day but I think I'm putting down closer to 5k.

Bulk here I come!

Nice one. I was telling SWMBO about the chocolate milk diet the other day and will be including more in my diet to help keep the weight up....I was down below 70Kgs for a while and it wasn't fun. Even going for a walk along an old railway was a struggle never mind going for a proper ride.

Otherwise I'd have suggested a trip to Ohio.....only time I've ever really put weight on was there one February because there's sod all else to do but eat and drink. Well that and the company gave us £50 a day to spend on meals so I gave it my best shot

But then I came back and I could swear I just glanced at the bike and the 2Kgs I'd gained were gone

 

[Submerged]

I'm up 3kg since 2 weeks ago. I've been shovelling pizza and fried chicken down me all day and hitting the weights and doing press/ sit-ups all evening for the last week. I'm hovering just below 63kg now. I think the 2 litres of chocolate milk each day is helping.

I'm meant ot be taking on 4k calories a day but I think I'm putting down closer to 5k.

Bulk here I come!

.... Fried chicken? Pizza?

Can't you get healthy meat instead?

For weight gain and mass check out food like omelettes, chicken salad, high protein beans, jacket potatoes, lean chicken, turkey (sandwiches or salad stuff), tuna pasta (60% tuna, 40% pasta) and stuff like that. Things that has high protein stuff but relatively low fats. You want to gain muscle and increase the muscle tone, not simply just add on fat on top of the muscle. Fried Chicken and pizza diet isn't really going to get what you want, with the massive amount of oil they use in cooking and also the unwanted additives.

Oh, for a real protein morning, porridge actually does wonders. Helped a lot when I was swimming 9 sessions a week, had a massive bowl of that every morning and sorted me out for two hours.... then back to eating again! Remember, was still 65 to 70 kilos of lean muscle then!

Strangely, oats are really popular in China....

 

[Neal]

It could be worse, if he was in Scotland it'd be fried pizza

 

[Submerged]

Thought it was a fried Mars bar...?

 

[lbsf1]

Had a fun day cycling today.

I wanted to go down to watch the raceday at my local(ish) kart track, some of my mates were racing, and it was either do that or sit at home. However the only hitch was neither of my parents could take me.

So I cycled there and back, 13 miles each way, about 3 of those through a forest of which I didn't have a clue on which direction to go. My legs don't feel like they are going to work now that I'm at home, but oh well, interesting day and I successed with my challenge.

 

[W3H5]

Can't you get healthy meat instead?

I can if the wife cooks. She makes awesome omelets and curries with lean meat, but when I'm at work fast food is the only real option. I could go to Subway and get a sandwich but it's nowhere near the calories I need for a meal and to get 2k calories worth of Subway would cost me a fortune!

The way I see it, my body burns calories (and fat) so fast that eating anything right now to gain the weight is OK, when I reach my optimum level then I will focus on healthy foods in my diet. I'm sure all the cycling is keeping my arteries clear, anyway.

 

[hellnback]

Forced myself to go out today, as the weather was abit dodgey after teeming down last night... but it held off ok and no rain.

Did the ride I wanted to do and it ended up being 37km which took 1hr 39mins 59secs, a 22.1km/h avg. This was quite surprising as I didn't really 'hit' it hard as didn't know what the legs maybe like at the end of my longest planned ride in both distance & time.

I suppose the near 240km & 11hrs 30mins on the bike over only 4 weeks, I'm just more conditioned than the first couple of rides...

 

[W3H5]

It was raining here today so I took a taxi to work instead of the bike. I'm debating whether to get my old slicks with a little bit of tread put onto some quick release rims so I can swap my current full slicks for something that would cope OK in the wet.

 

[Mike Rotch]

I saw your new pedals/ shoes in the other thread Neal - interested to hear how you get on with them [/T.Rex]

 

[Submerged]

Might as well, nothing worse than sliding all over the place at some speed!

Edit:

Man! Just did a road ride, decided to go for a 10 or 15 miler, just to slowly get into it. That didn't happen.

Ended up doing 21.2 miles (33.92 km), from that Strava App. 751 ft Elevation gain (whatever that is) and an average of 14.6 mph (23.36 kph).

First 10 miles was a massive shock as I really was struggling to control my breathing and my lungs were all in a panic at all of this extra work I decided to do to it and was loudly and clearly making themselves felt. I hadn't really been doing any exercise over the past three months as I just felt lazy... obviously I was paying for it big time. The really ironic thing was, I was taking it very steady and taking my time with it, but obviously it was still bloody hard work.

As soon as I hit the ten mile point, everything just clicked and it was plain sailing all the way. It was almost like I never had that long hiatus off the saddle and I was actually enjoying the feeling of just pedalling along and making some progress.

Additionally I also made a wrong turning for my planned route, so as a punishment for my stupidity (I know the area rather well) I decided to make a loop and an extension of the original route. Glad I did that though, as it felt rather nice.

Hills are still hard work, goddammit. On the extra loop I made, I went down a hill that I went up previously after some time and it was the first time I had actually gone down this hill as I always seem to be going up this particular one. I was extremely surprised that I was easily maintaining 15mph+ for what felt like half a mile as when you go up this particular one, you know its uphill for a distance, but not actually when the up bit starts and when it actually finishes (as it is so long...)

Time for a shower!