[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

Sorry [MENTION=12656]Pantani[/MENTION], with all the tour stuff happening nobody has asked how Corsica was?

Did last year's Grand Depart do it justice?

 

[Pantani]

Sorry [MENTION=12656]Pantani[/MENTION], with all the tour stuff happening nobody has asked how Corsica was?

Did last year's Grand Depart do it justice?

Very beautiful place, I was in the South West corner though so nowhere near the Tour routes really. Unfortunately, I did not get to do any riding though. My bike was out there before me with my girlfriends parents, and one of their friends borrowed it and had a very serious accident. So they were not too keen on me going for any rides, which was understandable. Loads of walking instead though, and I would recommend it to any body as a place to visit, it is just mountains and beaches and not too touristy either.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I thought I'd keep this off the Tour thread, however it is tour related. This is the Giant team on a recce of Cote du Jenkin Road. Now that is steep, didn't appreciate that quite so much on Sunday…

 

[Stat Brother]

The evolution of Jnr Stat continues:-



The new Carrera TdF.JR LTD

and in true Halfords style the indexing is shocking.
It won't even go into the biggest cog on the cassette

Which is handy as clearly he's going to be a blooming menace going up hills.

 

[Bold Seagull]

The evolution of Jnr Stat continues:-

View attachment 55873

The new Carrera TdF.JR LTD

and in true Halfords style the indexing is shocking.
It won't even go into the biggest cog on the cassette

Which is handy as clearly he's going to be a blooming menace going up hills.

You also know a good bit of architecture for background when you see one!

 

[Stat Brother]

You also know a good bit of architecture for background when you see one!

It being the only bit of architecture for miles around, helps!!

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Mrs IL is out for the evening so I'm just watching the armstrong lie.

Knew the story but a very good account of it.

As an aside, I've decided Greg lemond is the only human being that I would be actually wee myself if I met them!

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Mrs IL is out for the evening so I'm just watching the armstrong lie.

Knew the story but a very good account of it.

As an aside, I've decided Greg lemond is the only human being that I would be actually wee myself if I met them!

Also, how massively juiced was contador on verbier 2009!

 

[Stat Brother]

I was tempted to watch, but it's still all a bit too soon, for me.

Not in a whole raw nerve way, just the fact we've had every single detail rammed down our throats, I just don't think I have any more room.

Velorama on BBC4 was fun.
Part social history, part historical document, very geeky.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Mrs IL is out for the evening so I'm just watching the armstrong lie.

Knew the story but a very good account of it.

As an aside, I've decided Greg lemond is the only human being that I would be actually wee myself if I met them!

Much as I want to see this, you are missing the most incredible football match ever on BBC1.

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Much as I want to see this, you are missing the most incredible football match ever on BBC1.

Bloody hell! You're not joking!

 

[Notters]

I'm thinking of giving the Beacon a whirl this evening, though I still don't feel that fit! Any tips?

 

[teaboy]

After some time off the race bike (about 13 months, but longer than that from bunch racing) today is marking my return to racing. The Lea Valley Velopark road circuit have kindly organised races on my day off, so I shall be embarrassing myself as part of the Olympic legacy. I'm slightly concerned, as my only riding has been either commuting the 7.5 miles to work on a track bike or going to the shop on my 1973(?) Elswick Hopper. I've raced before, but I used to go training too... My goals for the race are (as usual) finish the same day you start, and don't die.

I'm not entirely sure Stage 5 is an appropriate motivational tool for being borderline sensible....

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'm thinking of giving the Beacon a whirl this evening, though I still don't feel that fit! Any tips?

The biggest battle on the Beacon is a mental one as it seems relentless, but actually it is manageable even if you're not fully fit.

Take it easy and get in your lowest gear at the bottom. Make sure you're well watered before you get there. If you've got effort to spare, save it for an attack at the top rather than going to hard at the bottom. Use that early bit to get into a steady rhythm.

I try to hold my bars lightly as I can, try to keep reasonably upright and keep my body as still as I can concentrating on my breathing (not the the pain in my legs).

It doesn't seem like it, but the Beacon is a series of ramps followed by lesser inclines, supposedly for a horse and cart to rest when it was first used, and like the horse and cart use those bits to get your breathe back, don't increase you're cadence just because its got a bit easier.

There are a couple of steep bits you might have to get out of the saddle for, but the longer you can stay in your saddle the better.

Don't let your mind tell you you need to stop. I've often felt bad half way up, but you're body is adjusting to the demand even though it feels like you won't make it. You have to battle through that and your muscles will hopefully do the rest.

I hate and love the Beacon in equal measure. It's a tough climb but a great feeling at the top.

 

[armchairclubber]

Have any geeks attempted or achieved Butts Lane in Willingdon ? Comfortable with Firle and Ditchling and the like but went to take a look yesterday and it's an absolute wall for me only got about half way up, still entertained the motorists coming down Will try keep at it but not really built for it and could do with some more gears.

 

[Notters]

Thanks [MENTION=16159]Bold Seagull[/MENTION]. I really don't like getting of my bike and certainly don't intend to. I imagine I may attack the steeper bits and try to recover on the flatter bits.

 

[teaboy]

The biggest battle on the Beacon is a mental one as it seems relentless, but actually it is manageable even if you're not fully fit.

Take it easy and get in your lowest gear at the bottom. Make sure you're well watered before you get there. If you've got effort to spare, save it for an attack at the top rather than going to hard at the bottom. Use that early bit to get into a steady rhythm.

I try to hold my bars lightly as I can, try to keep reasonably upright and keep my body as still as I can concentrating on my breathing (not the the pain in my legs).

It doesn't seem like it, but the Beacon is a series of ramps followed by lesser inclines, supposedly for a horse and cart to rest when it was first used, and like the horse and cart use those bits to get your breathe back, don't increase you're cadence just because its got a bit easier.

There are a couple of steep bits you might have to get out of the saddle for, but the longer you can stay in your saddle the better.

Don't let your mind tell you you need to stop. I've often felt bad half way up, but you're body is adjusting to the demand even though it feels like you won't make it. You have to battle through that and your muscles will hopefully do the rest.

I hate and love the Beacon in equal measure. It's a tough climb but a great feeling at the top.

I'd avoid the lowest 2 gears personally. That way you will have an emergency one to drop into. The absolute smallest one is for extreme cases only! Find your rhythm, keep your feet moving and keep your head up - contrary to what Chris Froome may think there's nothing useful or helpful written on your stem!

Remember, however you ride, it's YOUR legs, not mine or anyone else's that will get you to the top. Enjoy it!

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

After some time off the race bike (about 13 months, but longer than that from bunch racing) today is marking my return to racing. The Lea Valley Velopark road circuit have kindly organised races on my day off, so I shall be embarrassing myself as part of the Olympic legacy. I'm slightly concerned, as my only riding has been either commuting the 7.5 miles to work on a track bike or going to the shop on my 1973(?) Elswick Hopper. I've raced before, but I used to go training too... My goals for the race are (as usual) finish the same day you start, and don't die.

I'm not entirely sure Stage 5 is an appropriate motivational tool for being borderline sensible....

Starting off with a crit is hard going - full of max efforts. Have you been doing any of these on the commute? Is it a 4th cat race?

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'd avoid the lowest 2 gears personally. That way you will have an emergency one to drop into. The absolute smallest one is for extreme cases only! Find your rhythm, keep your feet moving and keep your head up - contrary to what Chris Froome may think there's nothing useful or helpful written on your stem!

Remember, however you ride, it's YOUR legs, not mine or anyone else's that will get you to the top. Enjoy it!

Don't know about that teaboy, depends on your ratio's / compact / triple I guess. I nearly always climb in my lowest gear or gear I think I'll use for the whole of the climb trying to keep a good cadence - I'll have to check what my lowest ratio is, because I've still managed a pb of 6:43 up the beacon not so long ago which I was fairly pleased with (given my 13.5st frame!). No point pushing a bigger gear in my opinion, better to have a lower gear and faster cadence at the start I've always thought, changing up if you're going well.

ps good luck with the race - full report expected!

 

[Notters]

I'd avoid the lowest 2 gears personally. That way you will have an emergency one to drop into. The absolute smallest one is for extreme cases only! Find your rhythm, keep your feet moving and keep your head up - contrary to what Chris Froome may think there's nothing useful or helpful written on your stem!

Remember, however you ride, it's YOUR legs, not mine or anyone else's that will get you to the top. Enjoy it!

Have to admit I tend to start on the hardest gear I can and gradually work my way down as I go up a hill. I have pretty low gears through as I have a touring bike rather than a roady.