New to cycling

[ratter]

Hay Sneaky

just a tip, it may just be the pic but the seat looks like it is pointing up at the front, most people have the seat at least flat or slightly nose down, this is a personal thing to what is comfortable and your flexibility etc will have an impact on this. if it is actually pointing up the seat will be very uncomfortable on your lower regions and you will not enjoy riding

[ratter]

Well my cycling has slowed down a little lately due to weather and doing more windtrainer work but my Garmon report says I have done 3215.37 klms so far this year

[sneaky]

thanks guys.

for the moment i'll probably be just plodding along so i'll wait for the clothing - i think my brother has some older lycra i could try before i buy.

ratter - that is the pic from when the people were selling the bike. i have only had a 5 minute lap of the block and no chance to adjust anything on it. i wouldn't think a seat pointing up would be good for the 'lower regions' and i'll move the position of everything around once i get it back and have a longer ride my brother is keen to get me started on the fernleigh track in newcastle when i get my shoes.

fernleigh track wiki

[blueoval]

Hi guys, my cycling has been good and consistent but not making huge end roads due to lots happening in my life. Building a house, running a business and family commitments. That said, I still manage to get out every weekend even if its for a 30km smash. I find I need to ensure I continue to maintain my muscle conditioning and fitness especially since winter is approaching.

As for whats going on with my bike, its still riding well, and like rob im looking at wheel upgrades too. Considering some lighter carbon clinchers with some aero. Possibly looking at custom built ones. Find the cost for these is less than factory wheel options and getting them custom made here in sa will mean any warranty issues can be dealt with straight away.

Great to see u guys still going strong.

Looking forward to watching the start of the giro this weekend too.

Im headinh out for a ride tomorrow arvo. Looking to better my time up cox hill.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

How's everyone's cycling going?

I recently upgraded to a Kuota Kebel. Carbon Frame with Ultegra groupset, SRAM cranks and I've put my Pro Lite Bracciano wheels on there. I'm pretty happy with it. 7.6KG without bottle or computer, feels nice..

Thats a great looking bike mate. Those pro lites have a great rep too. Still considering these wheels as well. They are selling them cheap on chain reaction cycles online. But not aero enough for the type of riding I like to do.

[blueoval]

Sneaky - nice ride. What are the specs on this do you know?

As for lycra, even though you may dislike the idea of it to start with, you will find that:

A. Its super comfortable
B. You'll look like the odd one out on a group ride
C. Youll get used to wearing lycra so much that it becomes a non issue in public
D. You'll enjoy your rides more knowing you have the right gear.

A lot of guys are apprehensive the first time they don the tight stuff, but once you do it a few times you'll get over the fear.

[sneaky]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Sneaky - nice ride. What are the specs on this do you know?

As for lycra, even though you may dislike the idea of it to start with, you will find that:

A. Its super comfortable
B. You'll look like the odd one out on a group ride
C. Youll get used to wearing lycra so much that it becomes a non issue in public
D. You'll enjoy your rides more knowing you have the right gear.

A lot of guys are apprehensive the first time they don the tight stuff, but once you do it a few times you'll get over the fear.

thanks blueoval.

no idea on the specs of the bike other than the obvious - DiamondBack Racing it was the right price and about the right size for me, wasn't going to spend heaps to get all set up and lose interest. from the googling i did it looks like the 'interval' spec is more aimed at triathalon over racing, but i don't know what the difference would be. i do know it is heaps lighter than the $100 target mountain bike i had before

[Captain Stubing]

I started off wearing a Tshirt and shorts, riding up to 20km at a time. My Tshirt would hold the sweat, and would be heavy with sweat, particularly in summer. It was uncomfortable riding with a sopping wet shirt.
Since trying lycra, that never happens. I still sweat, but it doesn't get sponged up in my clothing. The lycra is also cooler to wear, and then there is the comfy bum syndrome!

[sneaky]

thanks swanny.

i think i'll see how much riding i do and let the bank account rebuild/wife forget what i've spent already, and then get some fast lycra

now, tell me about leg shaving

-tim

[Captain Stubing]

The lycra shorts I bought were maybe $30 each, same for the jersey. I went through Cellbikes.com.au when they had specials on.
Shaving legs... I've been told from some sources it's to help avoid infection if you come off, but the best advice I've heard, was from the dad of an international cyclist... because it feels good!

PS... My missus hates the lycra shorts... so I've also got a pair that I got from Anaconda, it has the inner lining, with a normal shorts outer. This pair isn't as comfortable.

[sgt_doofey]

Been off the bike since the Tour Down Under. Hopping back on it tomorrow for a ride with a mate. Hope to be on it a bit more often from now on, but most likely only on weekends.
My goal for this year is to do the 100km leg of Amy's Ride which includes the climb up Willunga Hill.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by prydey

such is my confidence i aim to have a crack at old willunga hill in the morning.

went out early thismorning and by the time i got to willunga it was raining and doing its best to blow me back the way i'd come. nevertheless, i stuck to the plan and continued on. long story short, i conquered the hill. mind you, with compact cranks and 12-28 cluster, it does make things a lot easier. i was very happy, considering the conditions. thanks to tour down under, most people are fairly familiar with old willunga hill so at least now when i list some of my exploits people will know what i'm on about.

[sgt_doofey]

Time to come up to the Barossa and tackle Mengler's Hill prydey. Once you've done that, then the other one to try is Corkscrew Road. Those three are the only category 1 climbs in the TDU.
I've done Mengler's, I aim to do Willunga later this year, but I don't think I'm game enough to even think about trying Corkscrew Road!

[prydey]

one step at a time hey

next on the list will probably be crafers and lofty.

[LG17]

Thanks to Torpedo 7's big sales for the last couple of weeks, I bought myself a new computer with everything except how often I should pee

Set it up on my bike today (took me over an hour which will give you some idea of my current medical status) so that when the doctors finally let me get back on it's ready to go.

I am really hoping it's sometime in the next month because I'm going stark raving mad!

[blueoval]

Only cyclists know how much it annoys other cyclists in not being able to go riding. God speed my friend

[DBourne]

^ Agree. I hate missing any length of time on the bike, let alone being forced off it.

All the best with your health mate and hope you're eating up the miles in no time.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by sneaky

thanks guys.

for the moment i'll probably be just plodding along so i'll wait for the clothing - i think my brother has some older lycra i could try before i buy.

ratter - that is the pic from when the people were selling the bike. i have only had a 5 minute lap of the block and no chance to adjust anything on it. i wouldn't think a seat pointing up would be good for the 'lower regions' and i'll move the position of everything around once i get it back and have a longer ride my brother is keen to get me started on the fernleigh track in newcastle when i get my shoes.

fernleigh track wiki

Fernleigh track is good, used to ride along there quite often when I lived down in Newcastle! Most of the time I turned around at Red Head though because the Track ended just south of the old railway station until midway through my last year there before moving back to Coffs.

[blueoval]

How many of you are enjoying the Giro this year? Do you think Cadel can beat Nibali in the ITT and final hill stages this weekend?

[LG17]

[blueoval]

While I am an advocate of the 1.5m rule with cars passing riders, how will the cops police this?

[LG17]

It's not really a matter of policing, it's a matter of education.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by LG17

It's not really a matter of policing, it's a matter of education.

correct. unfortunately many feel that the size of your vehicle is what gives you the most rights on the roads. a car driver doesn't like to be intimidated by a larger vehicle and yet doesn't have a problem telling cyclists they don't belong.

i started a thread on this topic in 'the pub' a while back and it got closed within a page or 2 due to the general consensus of car drivers thinking they had right of way.

bringing it to the public attention is a good start.

[LG17]

We've got NQX (a division of Toll), Down Under Coaches and other trucking/bus companies on board helping to spread the message.
They've got big signs on the sides or back of their vehicles.
We are lucky with some of the high profile business folk who ride doing their bit.

[sneaky]

with the 1.5m buffer, if a bike rider is in the bike lane should the car driver change lanes/cross doubles to get 1.5m or should the bike rider be 1.5m from the 'fog' line?

seems like a good idea in theory, but can't see the logistics working.

i'm all for giving room, i drive a 11t truck for work and give riders room where i can by changing lanes/moving over because on the odd occasion i ride a bike i would like people to do the same..

[LG17]

...and that's what it's ultimately all about Sneaky.
Making drivers very aware of cyclists and doing what you do where you can.
Unfortunately there's always going to be squeeze points somewhere.

[ratter]

Been off the bike a bit recently due to health but earlier this week I clocked up 4000 klms since the start of the year

4,011.15 km to be exact

which 1,025.53 km has been on the windtrainer which can be quite boring at times

[blueoval]

Thats an awesome effort Mick. Congrats mate.

As you probably already know, I have been doing some work on the trainer which I borrowed from a mate while he is over seas. I think its helping keep the fitness up but hopefully wanting it to reduce my HR and overall my resilience on harder climbs.

[LG17]

Just a few more bikes than usual up our way this weekend for Ironman Cairns.
I think there's around 1400 odd starters for the big one on Sunday.

[mik]

Evenin guys and gals , i used to do a bit of cycling myself in younger years, i would still do it but years jumping up and down off the back of flat top trailers has kapputen the knees, ankles, shoulder joints are knackered from a life of labouring ,If i was a building i'd be condemned lol.
my doc who is a mad biker seems to think that by not over stressing the joints , ie changing down through the gears and treating the joints gently it will actually allow the worn out cartilage's to expand, not grow.......... just sort of swell what cartilage is left a tad and improve function, dunno i may have another go one day .
i really dislike the area i'm living in but one thing it has going for it is endless dedicated bike tracks, i can just about get the whole way to the city from reservoir by bike track no problems.
i wouldn't mind trying one of those recumbent bikes, i reckon they might be a bit easier on the old bod, any of you guys have one for a comment?