The biking thread

[phillgt2002]

Been a while since I’ve stopped by this thread.

I have a Guerciotti 10 speed track bike with 700cc wheels that my dad built in the 80s. I have to do a replacement for the gear cables as of recent , so for now, I’m stuck in 10th gear, meaning hill climbs are a slow and grueling effort.

Also, I’m running racing slicks, which provide excellent all round grip, but just aren’t built for urban environments, so I got a rear tire puncture a week ago.

My rear wheel isn’t true due to a near accident a year ago which left both tires punctured. It isn’t that bad, and only noticeable when spinning the wheel at very, very high speed.

Needless to say, the streets where I live suck.

I’ll post a picture of the bike soon once I get it back up and running. I’ve done a lot of 30 minute and 1 hour sprints on this bike. It’s FAST, but it’s just not as efficient as newer bikes are.

I’m thinking of buying a classic Bianchi or Peugeot.

 

[phillgt2002]

Just after a tube change and a little inspecting. I had a spill last year and that scuffed the grip tape and a pedal.

My dad’s been riding his Cervélo to work from time to time. Considering he spent $3,000+ on it, he should be riding it every day.

I found a Peugeot and a Bianchi I want, but they’re in California. 💡

I need to head that way in a month for family stuff, so I might buy one and ship it on the plane

Gratuitous last-morning-commute-of-the-decade shots. And what a morning it was. Clear, dry, crisp. Lovely...especially now that I have decent colder weather gear and won't be shivering the rest of the day.

The Golden Gate is by far the prettiest at sunrise on a clear morning. It's also less windy to ride across in the morning!

I know this is old, but it’s gorgeous. I miss waking up and going to the battery and Lands End.

I didn’t get enough time to enjoy cycling in SF, as it was mainly for work commute.

Sadly, someone tried to steal my bike. They couldn’t get the Kryptonite lock off, so they decided to smash my Giant up. It was only two weeks after buying it....

I’m headed back out there to source out the Bianchi that I really want

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

1) Yes. My strong leg is the right one. It would seem my right leg is the one doing most if not all of the work...
2) i dont think either of my legs/muscles/thighs are bigger than the other, they both look to be the same, but then again i dont ride enough for them to be affected.
3) I could be that your legs are ever so slight just different, you might have to see a specialist about it just to check, when you get the chance.
4) you should just have a fellow bicyclist do a visual check on your position first before going to the fitting, or even you might not need it...

Good luck Buddy

On my latest ride, I made a conscious effort to see what my issue was. And....

It's my shoes. If I try hard to push both my feet as far forward as I can in my shoes, I feel like its consistent left to right as well as a better location relative to pedal axis. When I do this there is a 1/2-3/4" gap behind my heel to the back of the shoe! I'm not sure how I bought shoes so wrongly sized to begin with. Maybe I had thick socks on that day? In any case, I'm going to deal with it for now as I don't feel like shelling out big dollars for a slightly better shoe fit.

On the subject, I don't know whether there was a tailwind or just no wind (usually there's a headwind) I absolutely crushed a strava segment I ride very frequently. Its a 1-mile stretch that I knocked 30 seconds off my previous best, en-route to a #54 all-time (out of 10,000 riders!!). Its about a 1% grade and I looked down and I was trucking up it at 25mph according to my wahoo...almost couldn't believe it.

 

[phillgt2002]

Looking to be a beautiful morning to go on a ride tomorrow. Its been at least a month since I’ve last properly ridden, I’m scared I’ll get a flat.

Currently looking into ordering Gatorskins. I loved those on my old bike.

 

[TB]

Thanks, Obama Strava.

38.9 mph for just under an hour, huh? If I could do that for another 70 hours or so, I'd RULE the Tour de France!

 

[phillgt2002]

A few miles in. Woke up slammed down a quart of water and went on a ride despite feeling really tired. I feel much better as a result.

I can’t wait to order some new bits and pieces for this bike.

 

[TB]

Woke up slammed down a quart of water and went on a ride despite feeling really tired. I feel much better as a result.

It is amazing how a bit of physical activity helps.

I'd like to go out for a ride to try out some new bike shorts but at 10am, it's already over 80F, on its way to 90 and after a day stand up paddleboarding yesterday, my legs aren't up for it.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Yea, went outside this morning to help my dad with the garden and it's mid-80s already. No thanks. Maybe in the late afternoon

 

[phillgt2002]

It is amazing how a bit of physical activity helps.

I'd like to go out for a ride to try out some new bike shorts but at 10am, it's already over 80F, on its way to 90 and after a day stand up paddleboarding yesterday, my legs aren't up for it.

It definitely clears up the morning fog and grogginess. It was an intense ride, so I turned into a couch potato and conked out.

I’m in MO and the weather is so humid, it feels like walking in a steamy bathroom with a sweater on lol. Not only that, it’s really hot, to the point that I have a farmer’s tan from the sun.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Decided to do a late afternoon ride down to the marin headlands rather than my typical early morning one. The big advantage of this, despite the increase in traffic, was no fog! I finally got the hawk hill view.

Bonus shot looking down towards Rodeo lagoon

Clocked in 32 miles and about 2,000ft vert. Nothing tremendous but I'm actually pretty bonked....didn't eat much today.

 

[sesselpupser]

I'm finally getting around to buying all the stuff I need for my bike to make it into something I can commute on, in one sitting I've just bought a pair of Ortlieb hi-vis back rollers, a Tortec Transalp pannier rack, SKS Bluemels mudguards, lights, a phone holder, a Kryptonite New York Standard lock and two Rapha waterproof jackets (the Commuter and the Commuter Lightweight, the former for winter and the latter can be kept in a pannier for emergencies).

If anyone can recommend some waterproof trousers that I can get in the UK I'd love to know what's good, I'm honestly a bit fatigued from searching for stuff, researching to see if it's good, searching for somewhere to buy the stuff from then buying it so I haven't searched too hard for them just yet. I don't think I'll bother with waterproofs while it's warm enough to wear shorts everywhere as I can just change out of them when I get to work (note to self: buy more cycling shorts and some not-cycling shorts) but I doubt I'll still be wearing shorts in single digit/sub zero wet weather. My budget is... Modest, maybe £50-70. And I suppose now that my only pair of shoes have a hole in them I'll need to address that too.

 

[TB]

I'm starting to look into a set of replacement tires for the Roubaix. Any suggestions as to what to look for?

Edit: I needed more bike shorts so I grabbed two pairs from theblackbibs.com. They should be delivered Thursday.

 

[MrCrynox]

I'm starting to look into a set of replacement tires for the Roubaix. Any suggestions as to what to look for?

Edit: I needed more bike shorts so I grabbed two pairs from theblackbibs.com. They should be delivered Thursday.

Fulcrum wheels have always been value for money. My first wheel upgrade was racing fulcrum 5's, they were cheap enough & felt like a big upgrade in comparison to the stock wheels, much lighter & rolled better.

 

[TB]

Fulcrum wheels have always been value for money. My first wheel upgrade was racing fulcrum 5's, they were cheap enough & felt like a big upgrade in comparison to the stock wheels, much lighter & rolled better.

Tires, not wheels.

 

[MrCrynox]

Tires, not wheels.

Dowt. Obviously showing my intelligence...

 

[TB]

Dowt. Obviously showing my intelligence...

No worries, dude!

- - - - -

On July 3rd I signed up for the Trek Century Challenge and am gunning for 500 miles this month, which I've never done in my life. Looks like you have to be a US resident and the "prizes" are only worth about $5 but it's more about getting me out of the house and putting some miles down.

I know this isn't correct (but I also know I didn't get out much last year) so I'm assuming I just didn't use Strava when I did go but it has absolutely no rides for all or 2019.

2014 - 8.6 miles
2015 - 187.3
2016 - 106.2
2017 - 157.0
2018 - 2.3
2019 - 0
2020 - 235.6 so far, going for 600 THIS MONTH...

Yeah, this isn't going to be easy.

And because I'm a numbers junky, I had to put a spreadsheet together. I missed the first few days of the month so my average (and therefore my days needed) took a hit right out of the gate but I'm also shooting for 600 miles, not the 500 I need for the Trek Challenge.

 

[girabyt3]

Guys, any tip on how to repair the kickstand??

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

No worries, dude!

- - - - -

On July 3rd I signed up for the Trek Century Challenge and am gunning for 500 miles this month, which I've never done in my life. Looks like you have to be a US resident and the "prizes" are only worth about $5 but it's more about getting me out of the house and putting some miles down.

I know this isn't correct (but I also know I didn't get out much last year) so I'm assuming I just didn't use Strava when I did go but it has absolutely no rides for all or 2019.

2014 - 8.6 miles
2015 - 187.3
2016 - 106.2
2017 - 157.0
2018 - 2.3
2019 - 0
2020 - 235.6 so far, going for 600 THIS MONTH...

Yeah, this isn't going to be easy.

And because I'm a numbers junky, I had to put a spreadsheet together. I missed the first few days of the month so my average (and therefore my days needed) took a hit right out of the gate but I'm also shooting for 600 miles, not the 500 I need for the Trek Challenge.

View attachment 938455

That's a big number! Good luck!



I've joined the cycling distance challenge every month I've been a Strava member. I haven't come close, ever, to hitting the target.

I'm typically hitting between 170-300 miles a month lately. Set an ambitious 80 miles/week goal which I'm struggling to find time to meet consistently.

 

[TB]

Guys, any tip on how to repair the kickstand??

I suppose it depends on what's wrong with it but it might be easier to just replace it. Or be like me and not even have one in the first place.

That's a big number! Good luck!

Thanks, man. On paper, it seems doable - when I go out, it's usually for about 20 miles or so.

BUT.

This means doing that every single day. When you average closer to .05.

For some reason I'm feeling motivated, though. And if I can knock out 25+ miles stints when it's decent, like last night, that makes the end of the month that much easier.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I suppose it depends on what's wrong with it but it might be easier to just replace it. Or be like me and not even have one in the first place.

Thanks, man. On paper, it seems doable - when I go out, it's usually for about 20 miles or so.

BUT.

This means doing that every single day. When you average closer to .05.

For some reason I'm feeling motivated, though. And if I can knock out 25+ miles stints when it's decent, like last night, that makes the end of the month that much easier.

It seems you at least have topography working to your advantage. I literally can't leave my house without climbing at least 150'. I have to work really hard to put together a 20+ mile route without something like 600' of climbing. Of course, sometimes climbs are fun

edit: Might as well share my last ride...from Sunday

There's a 7 mile segment on the north side of the Tiburon peninsula and I pushed like hell on it chasing this old guy. I didn't keep up (I'm sure he was a former pro )but I beat my previous best by over a minute - my hamstrings are still feeling it. Tiburon is a stunning ride if anyone is ever in the area - undulating but not too brutal and with eucalyptus groves and awesome views of the bay. Not too much traffic either.

 

[TB]

It seems you at least have topography working to your advantage. I literally can't leave my house without climbing at least 150'. I have to work really hard to put together a 20+ mile route without something like 600' of climbing. Of course, sometimes climbs are fun

I took this picture a few years ago (edit: long enough ago that my son is using that bike now!). Click for larger.



About the only place I have elevation change is going over the interstates. If I don't do that, it's incredibly flat here. I'm not sure if this link will work but this was one of my rides from this weekend.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3714648637

22 miles, 117 feet.

edit: Might as well share my last ride...from Sunday

There's a 7 mile segment on the north side of the Tiburon peninsula and I pushed like hell on it chasing this old guy. I didn't keep up (I'm sure he was a former pro )but I beat my previous best by over a minute - my hamstrings are still feeling it. Tiburon is a stunning ride if anyone is ever in the area - undulating but not too brutal and with eucalyptus groves and awesome views of the bay. Not too much traffic either.

Nice! Further, faster and higher than any of my rides.

And that looks like absolutely terrible scenery.

Trying to pump myself up for a ride tonight but the ligament behind my left knee is strained. I'll take some ibu later and hopefully be able to head out.

 

[girabyt3]

Good/Bad news!!

Bad: Time to say goodbye to the Jafi ... My brother (the owner) said he's gonna sell it and I've been cleaning, painting, and oiling it today to give it (possibly) one last hurrah...

Good: I'm gonna replace it with a (finally) full-suspension trail MTB!! (Already bought it and it's gonna arrive on Friday!! ♥)... It's gonna be a great canvas on its own despite having good gear for its price already!

 

[TB]

Congrats on the new ride, @girabyt3!

Trying to pump myself up for a ride tonight but the ligament behind my left knee is strained. I'll take some ibu later and hopefully be able to head out.

Took the ibu as I was leaving work, changed and headed out before I didn't.

Ended up at 26.6 miles and 144 feet of elevation, which I don't think is correct. It felt every bit of 146.

That ride put me over the first 100 miles milestone! Bring on the next 400/500!

 

[girabyt3]

Congrats on the new ride, @girabyt3!

Thanks bro!!

Funny thing: A new bike wasn't in my mind tbh, I already bought a new flagship-killer phone with my quarantine money (which is supposedly arriving this week too from Hong Kong). But my brother came with this thing and here I am 2 weeks later... Life things, right??

 

[TB]

Amazing how something so small can ruin your ride.

Had to have my wife come pick me up. Now I really need to get new tires. Bike rides are on hold until that happens, which is not awesome.

Unless I commandeer one of the kids' bikes.

 

[girabyt3]

Amazing how something so small can ruin your ride.

View attachment 938983

Had to have my wife come pick me up. Now I really need to get new tires. Bike rides are on hold until that happens, which is not awesome.

Unless I commandeer one of the kids' bikes.

Really??...

 

[TB]

Really??...

The rest of the tire looks fine so that's really the only thing it could be.

 

[sesselpupser]

On our last ride I got a bit over-excited overtaking some slow people and shifted up while pushing pretty hard, the chain skipped over the last two gears and jammed between the last gear and the frame, taking nice big bite out of the latter. Not difficult to fix by the roadside (my pride was probably worse off than the bike) but when I got home I adjusted the derallieur's limit screws, tracking and body angle screw, I think whoever built my bike for me just didn't even touch any of that stuff because it was all way off. I haven't actually ridden it since but after testing it without a load it sounds smoother so I'm hoping I've done it properly... I guess I'll find out eventually.

Also all my kit arrived this week, it'll be a shame to ruin the look of the bike but it has to be practical for me to commute on (although I dont think I'll go as far as to add a stand... Yet) and I did at least colour code all the stuff - which means when given the choice between silver or black, I chose black. Only thing is it all predictably came with bright stainless steel fasteners so I'm going to probably end up spending a (very) small fortune on replacing all of them with black ones because I'm bad at choosing my battles, I might also put black heatshrink tubing on the stainless steel mudguard stays. Too much? Nah. Looking forward to getting my tools from work so I can get started!

 

[phillgt2002]

This was a before work ride at around 4am. I tried Strava for the first time. It’s neat app, but I find it kind of useless without a fitness tracker, and the GPS speed tracking is wonky.

I’ll give it a few more tries.

That evening, I went on to the bike shop for wheel trueing, then I did a tuneup on my own, I ended up fixing quite a few things. I stripped some dirt and gunk from the cassette and chain and put fresh lubricant on.

Much better, much faster. It’s still time for new tires. These Specialized ones are showing huge knicks out of the rubber from all the debris

Decided to do a late afternoon ride down to the marin headlands rather than my typical early morning one.

I made a specific trip there last week, always so serine there, especially during sunrise.

Got a nice pic from the GG bridge that morning.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

This was a before work ride at around 4am. I tried Strava for the first time. It’s neat app, but I find it kind of useless without a fitness tracker, and the GPS speed tracking is wonky.

I’ll give it a few more tries.

That evening, I went on to the bike shop for wheel trueing, then I did a tuneup on my own, I ended up fixing quite a few things. I stripped some dirt and gunk from the cassette and chain and put fresh lubricant on.

Much better, much faster. It’s still time for new tires. These Specialized ones are showing huge knicks out of the rubber from all the debris

View attachment 939273


I made a specific trip there last week, always so serine there, especially during sunrise.

Got a nice pic from the GG bridge that morning.
View attachment 939272

Gahhhh I need to get my lazy ass up early enough for that view. That must have been before 5am!