New to cycling

[chrisvess]

We just bought some bikes for our small family to get out and about, absolutely love then compared to the old gear ended up with a giant boulder 3 for myself and a giant Sedona for the Missus hers being a hybrid is great for her back also being sized up by the shop has made riding feel effortless. Highly reccomend the bike shop over bigw or the likes

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by chrisvess

We just bought some bikes for our small family to get out and about, absolutely love then compared to the old gear ended up with a giant boulder 3 for myself and a giant Sedona for the Missus hers being a hybrid is great for her back also being sized up by the shop has made riding feel effortless. Highly reccomend the bike shop over bigw or the likes

Any pics Chris? Well done on your purchases. You wont look back

[ratter]

Had another race last night, my 5th now, temp at race start was temp 40 degrees average for the race was 38.9, my water bottle was hot after 4 laps, but was still fun anyway

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by ratter

Had another race last night, my 5th now, temp at race start was temp 40 degrees average for the race was 38.9, my water bottle was hot after 4 laps, but was still fun anyway

bloody hell mate. Top effort racing in that heat. You using camelbak water bottles? I hear they stay cooler for longer.

[ratter]

thanks mate, no I just use my local bike shop type bottles, got to try to keep the weight down where I can, the guy that won our grade weighs 62 kg, the guy I was sprinting against weighs 82 kg I weigh 92 kg

[blueoval]

so the others have a distinct weight advantage. I still think your a machine for giving it a crack in those conditions. Im about 80 myself but reckon another 5kg drop will aid my performance also. All in due time.

[ratter]

yeah, weight is the enemy of the cyclist

[LANKY 1]

Played around with my bike a little last night, was able to squeeze an extra 1/2 inch of height for the saddle, and also changed the angle of the brake levers, when then enabled me to mount my lights better. Makes it a touch nicer to ride. From looking at how to be fitted to a bike on the net I can see i really do need a bigger bike. But the cost of a new bike is the same as flights to NZ, and atm going to NZ next year is more of a priority, so will have to save for a bike as well now. would be good to take advantage of end of year sales though....

[ratter]

A seat post with more setback and a longer stem can help make a small bike closer to a better fit

[LANKY 1]

Will have to go see what I can find

[blueoval]

I understand how u feel Dan. Priorities get in the way. How ever I think u should look for a second hand newer bike to suit your size rather than brand new unless you intend on making riding a permanent part of your life. Cheaper to go 2nd hand but get some of the newer benefits.

[Streets]

Got my mountain bike the other day. Only rode it about 4km home, still got a sore backside from the seat. I'd like to go for another ride but I can't sit on the thing at the moment...

[LG17]

Originally Posted by Streets

Got my mountain bike the other day. Only rode it about 4km home, still got a sore backside from the seat. I'd like to go for another ride but I can't sit on the thing at the moment...

Buy a pair of padded mountain bike shorts!

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Streets

Got my mountain bike the other day. Only rode it about 4km home, still got a sore backside from the seat. I'd like to go for another ride but I can't sit on the thing at the moment...

Couple of things here.

First a bike seat is like a pair of shoes, they have to be broken in before they get their most comfortable.

You could also look at a replacement saddle that is more padded and a bit wider, saddles are not one size fits all.

It also takes time for your butt to become "hardened" to riding, the pain does settle down.

The padded MTB shorts are good, I have some but they are not the holy grail, a good saddle is the better option. Specialized have an excellent trial saddle programme where you get to try before you buy, see your friendly local dealer.

[LG17]

The combination of the 2 is best geckoGT - a good comfort seat and shorts or lycra if that is your preference - depends on the type of riding.

[blueoval]

You need to break in your 'sit bones' for cycling. There will always be pain to start with. But until your sit bones get used to it, all you can do reduce the amount of discomfort with padded shorts, lots more riding.

[HLC]

I did a charity ride in WA a couple of weeks ago. 400km's thru the South West to raise money for Ronald McDonald House in Perth.

In the end we raised over $200k for RMH which was fantastic. I also got a good work assisting some of the newer riders pushing them up some of the hills :

Good times.

[blueoval]

Great work henri but movember is over bloke. :-P

[ratter]

I've gone on a training programme to try to help my racing, I've been on it for 2 weeks, me legs have ached for 2 weeks and my coach told me to expect that until christmas until I get an easy week, Can't wait for christmas.

I've gone from doing 30-50 klms a week to 190-200 klms a week and most of it with higher intensity

[Sprint]

Just joined a group

80km ride last week showed im unfit lol aslo 92kg

87km trip this saturday planned.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by ratter

I've gone on a training programme to try to help my racing, I've been on it for 2 weeks, me legs have ached for 2 weeks and my coach told me to expect that until christmas until I get an easy week, Can't wait for christmas.

I've gone from doing 30-50 klms a week to 190-200 klms a week and most of it with higher intensity

That a big jump, and one you'll notice straight away. I have done the same where I used to only ride weekends. Found it to always be a bit lacking. Now including mid week rides and my average speed, endurance, cadence, and times have improve immensely. So much so that one of my mates who I ride with occasionally has said he is amazed at the improvement I have made over a 3-4 week period.

Keep up the great work Ratter. The effort will pay off when you WIN events instead of placing in the top 5-10.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Sprint

Just joined a group

80km ride last week showed im unfit lol aslo 92kg

87km trip this saturday planned.

That's fantastic. Welcome to our little group.

doing an 80k ride straight off the bat is huge mate. Well done on that effort. Another 87k ride will really kick start your fitness in the saddle. If you keep doing these sorts of rides often, you'll be shedding weight off in no time at all.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by blueoval

That a big jump, and one you'll notice straight away. I have done the same where I used to only ride weekends. Found it to always be a bit lacking. Now including mid week rides and my average speed, endurance, cadence, and times have improve immensely. So much so that one of my mates who I ride with occasionally has said he is amazed at the improvement I have made over a 3-4 week period.

Keep up the great work Ratter. The effort will pay off when you WIN events instead of placing in the top 5-10.

thanks mate, did 1.5 hr strength set on the windtrainer this morning, my legs are sh7t at the momment.

The problem is as soon as I win a couple of races I go up a grade like last time and then reality sets in again, but the plan is to eventually be good enough to compete in C grade, well that's the plan at this stage

[TZENU]

Well done guys on getting out and spending more time on the saddle!!!.. You are certainly guaranteed to see improvements...

I went out to our local crit track on Sunday to watch a morning of racing and gain a better understanding on how the days are run. It does look exciting and challenging at the same time so i'll probably get myself a 3 race pass and go from there in the new year.

Will be spending the next month or so focusing on some HIIT mainly changing up between pyramid intervals and 5min intervals with the "Cafe" ride on the weekends. Hopefully I can persuade the boss to get me a power meter (or even better an SRM setup) on the basis that it is an integral part of developing my competitive edge!!!!

[ratter]

crit racing is all about tactics and having enough left in your legs to last the distance, normally several strong riders that are not sprint fast, will try to push the group hard to drop the sprinters or weak off the back, a couple of times i have thought another lap or 2 and I'm gone but then the group slows down enough to let my legs/lungs/heart recover a bit

good luck with the christmas present

[TZENU]

I did notice that on Sunday... Constant surging and the higher the grade the harder and longer the surges!!!

Unfortunately the XY won out this Xmas so may have to wait a little longer for the power meter

[blueoval]

This article is a bit of a good read for cyclists.

http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/...614-20bk6.html

“Pay yer rego!”
It's a cry I've heard many times while cycling, and it always confuses me.
For starters, I've already paid rego twice this year: for a car and a motor scooter. When I'm on my bike, these vehicles are at home, taking a break from clogging the road or burning fossil fuels (in fact, my car was getting so much rest, I got rid of it).
Secondly, there is no rego fee for a bicycle. So how am I supposed to pay it?
The idea that cyclists should pay registration is a perennial one for bike-bashers, and seems to revolve around two pet theories.
The first notion, that of “user pays”, falls down on a vast number of points, including:
1. Road construction is paid for out of general taxation. We all fund the roads, even those who only ever walk. Besides, rego revenue falls far short of the amount spent on roads, and is swallowed up by administration fees and third party insurance.
2. Local road repairs are paid for by councils – your rates are subsidising people who drive through your suburb (the bludgers!).
3. Cars are charged by weight and the damage they do. In NSW, a 1.51-tonne car costs $459 to register and a 950-kilogram vehicle, $243; on that sliding scale, what might the owner of a 10-kilogram bicycle pay?
The second theory regards registration plates being used for law enforcement: “I could report the number of a cyclist breaking the road rules, and they'd get a fine.”
This idea fails in so many areas it's hard to know where to start. Have you ever noted the number of a car that breaks the law, and phoned it in to the police? They will sigh and tell you there's nothing they can do.
If visible registration plates prevent traffic violations, then surely we should never see car drivers speeding, tailgating or texting while driving? Besides, cyclists who cause accidents are likely to do the most damage to themselves; in a car crash, the culpable driver has a good chance of escaping unharmed. Is a massive, costly logistical exercise, registering the 1 million bicycles sold in Australia every year, really worth it to maybe catch a few cyclists who treat red lights as give way signs?
Then there are the practical considerations. Would it be the cyclist or the bicycle that is registered? Does three bikes mean three regos? For a number plate to be visible to a red-light camera, it would have to be large and transversely mounted. Where and how would it attach? How many riders and pedestrians would be injured by those plate edges, not to mention car paint jobs scratched?
While we're at it, why not register pedestrians? As was pointed out in a hilarious column on Monday, they're always jaywalking, demanding separate paths and getting themselves run over. Register the lot of 'em!
Wait … if boats have to pay registration, isn't it about time surfers paid too? And displayed registration, so we can film and fine them if they stray into swimming zones?
And it's about now that I should ask you, dear reader, with tears in my true-blue eyes:
What kind of an Australia do we want to live in?
Imagine renting a beachside holiday house, finding a couple of bicycles in the shed … then realising you don't have a bike licence, or forgot to bring it.
Imagine having to explain to foreigners that we are the only nation in the world where riding a bicycle - a global transport solution that is way older than the car - requires a licence.
It would be nanny-stateism gone bonkers. A redefinition of the concept of world's worst practice.
Why hinder a form of transport that has doubled in use in the Sydney CBD in the past year, and makes up an impressive 11 per cent of vehicles in the Melbourne city centre?
Registering cycles would instantly cause use to plummet. Instead of filtering through side streets or using paths over major bridges, former cyclists would be putting more cars on the roads and more people on our struggling public transport networks.
Yes – motorists would suffer.
Happily, despite the mouthings of shock jocks, Shane Warne and people who should know better, there appear to be no official moves to bring in such a retrograde move.
And even though the NSW government is sending mixed messages on bike lanes (while doing nothing), and the Victorian government has cut funding for cycle infrastructure to a big fat zero, sparking protests, cycling participation continues to grow.
Healthier citizens, less pressure on public transport, a reduction in pollution, congestion and parking problems – who would want to put a price on that?

Discuss

[ratter]

I know where you got that from ;)

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by ratter

I know where you got that from ;)

hehe....where?

I actually got it off Adelaide Cyclists, not BNA to be honest.

That article has good points though, ones I will use in my defense against the ignorant.

[jimt3te50]

Picked up a couple of bikes for the kids for Christmas today and a new set of Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR's for the new Felt. Been riding heaps since I got it and am really enjoying it. My first real ride was 45km and I actually handled it a lot better than I thought.

Really enjoying this cycling thing and the whole technical aspect of cycling and the equipment really appeals to me- the new Mavics look (and sound) awesome!