The Cycling Chat Thread

[Cid]

Heated cycling shoes I’d go for.

 

[T & P]

You’re all welcome...

 

[maomao]

The Bike Club replaced my kid's Tadpole with one that's a hundred times nicer. If the last one had been thrashed to fuck by half a dozen kids this one's had one careful owner and been restored slightly more carefully (they didn't actually have any new ones available). And they haven't charged me for the last couple of weeks (he's been riding it daily) so that's nice.

Also my cheapo Planet X helmet turned up finally. Fits me perfectly on the largest setting so no excuses for not cycling the eight miles to uni tomorrow. If it doesn't get cancelled or changed.

 

[Cid]

Marina Zenovich's film/series Lance for ESPN 30 for 30 is up on iPlayer... Never watched it before, so coming in blind. Has a lot of Lance so far, which makes me wary. But I believe it was pretty highly rated, so assume there's a degree of just handing him a lot of rope.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I use dhb extreme winter gloves.

 

[Cid]

Quite enjoying this channel for training tips and the like. He does look about 15 (e2a: well he is only 25 now that the description shows), but actually bothers discussing the scientific literature. Which - while I do like them - is really more than you can say for GCN.

Dylan Johnson

My name is Dylan Johnson and I'm a 25 year old cycling coach. This channel is all about giving you the tools you need to become a stronger cyclist.

www.youtube.com

 

[Cid]

New achievement: broke land speed record on two wheels..:

 

[Cid]

Ignore my crap average speed

810m of climbing... Including a gravel section that hits 14%. I will admit to some walking.

 

[Cid]

And scenery of course.

 

[Cid]

Has anyone used an ISM saddle? I'm generally fine long distances outdoors... If I do a very extended stretch in the saddle I might get a bit of... discomfort. Wait, this is urban. The end of my nob goes a bit numb. But in this circumstance it's usually just a reminder to move about on the bike more, and not really a problem as yet. Turbo trainer different matter... That might start 40 minutes in, presumably because of the very static position. Once started it takes pretty regular relief. It's not particularly easy to stand in erg mode, and often doesn't fit with the kind of workout you do on there anyway. I'm going to update my chamois and have a bit more fiddling with position/see whether my gravel bike is better than the old road bike on there. But yeah, do ISM saddles actually work? Because if I'm going to do 2hr+ zone 2 stuff on there, probably going to need anything that helps.

 

[gentlegreen]

Spa Nidd (Brooks knock-off) and two pairs of pants works for me.

 

[Cid]

Spa Nidd (Brooks knock-off) and two pairs of pants works for me.

On your regular 2hr+ turbo trainer sessions?

 

[sleaterkinney]

Has anyone used an ISM saddle? I'm generally fine long distances outdoors... If I do a very extended stretch in the saddle I might get a bit of... discomfort. Wait, this is urban. The end of my nob goes a bit numb. But in this circumstance it's usually just a reminder to move about on the bike more, and not really a problem as yet. Turbo trainer different matter... That might start 40 minutes in, presumably because of the very static position. Once started it takes pretty regular relief. It's not particularly easy to stand in erg mode, and often doesn't fit with the kind of workout you do on there anyway. I'm going to update my chamois and have a bit more fiddling with position/see whether my gravel bike is better than the old road bike on there. But yeah, do ISM saddles actually work? Because if I'm going to do 2hr+ zone 2 stuff on there, probably going to need anything that helps.

I would try lowering your saddle, Also try improving your flexibility, it could be that you're rotating your pelvis too much.

 

[gentlegreen]

On your regular 2hr+ turbo trainer sessions?

40 mile hilly and bumpy day rides

 

[Cid]

40 mile hilly and bumpy day rides

They will get you out the saddle regularly. Even just grinding away outdoors tends to give a lot more relief because of the movement of the bike in response to terrain, and the need to shift weight in turns etc.

 

[Cid]

I would try lowering your saddle, Also try improving your flexibility, it could be that you're rotating your pelvis too much.

Yeah, that's possible. In the interim I might try the MTB on there.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

The end of my nob goes a bit numb...Once started it takes pretty regular relief.

Does it feel like you are tossing off someone else?

 

[Cid]

Does it feel like you are tossing off someone else?

I even get to feel the disappointment of both parties.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Has anyone used an ISM saddle? I'm generally fine long distances outdoors... If I do a very extended stretch in the saddle I might get a bit of... discomfort. Wait, this is urban. The end of my nob goes a bit numb. But in this circumstance it's usually just a reminder to move about on the bike more, and not really a problem as yet. Turbo trainer different matter... That might start 40 minutes in, presumably because of the very static position. Once started it takes pretty regular relief. It's not particularly easy to stand in erg mode, and often doesn't fit with the kind of workout you do on there anyway. I'm going to update my chamois and have a bit more fiddling with position/see whether my gravel bike is better than the old road bike on there. But yeah, do ISM saddles actually work? Because if I'm going to do 2hr+ zone 2 stuff on there, probably going to need anything that helps.

Better shorts (Pactimo) and a Specialised Power saddle cured all comfort problems for me, but saddles are such a personal thing it’s hard to recommend one over any other. I think I tired about 5 before I found “the one”.

 

[Cid]

Better shorts (Pactimo) and a Specialised Power saddle cured all comfort problems for me, but saddles are such a personal thing it’s hard to recommend one over any other. I think I tired about 5 before I found “the one”.

Yeah problem with saddles is they’re so bloody expensive. I’ll keep perusing eBay.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Yeah problem with saddles is they’re so bloody expensive. I’ll keep perusing eBay.

I was lucky in that various people from my cycling club let me borrow an assortment to try...

 

[Cid]

Also measured sit bones, which seem pretty wide (130mm), especially compared to the stock saddles I have.

e2a; well, somewhere between 125-130mm I think.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Also measured sit bones, which seem pretty wide (130mm), especially compared to the stock saddles I have.

How extreme is your riding position? Large drop from saddle to bars?

 

[Cid]

How extreme is your riding position? Large drop from saddle to bars?

Not particularly extreme. Certainly not on the gravel bike... road bike is slightly more, but since it’s on the trainer, I’m not in the drops. I might put the gravel bike on the trainer for a bit and see whether the change in position makes a difference. Gonna have a hunt about the workshop, see if there are any wider saddles I can pilfer for tests.

 

[gentlegreen]

I've had a dilemma this year as I'm retiring from work on the Friday before the clocks change and I didn't want to fit the front basket bracket I used to use on my old bike to house my substantial lighting assembly - even thinned-down - though it may yet come to that as it was handy for other things like mounting a video camera...

... so I had to come up with something else for the Philips Saferide 80 I paid £5 for and which came with no bracket of any description that I remember ...
So after failing to locate anything more suitable, I cobbled something together using a D-lock bracket and an AV speaker bracket with an adjustable ball-mount which has a convenient slide-out for the odd occasion when I have to lock my bike up outside a shop - or actually want to leave the lamp at home.
The remote handlebar switch (and 5 volt charging input) is connected using a PC power connector.

Annoyingly I have so far not managed to acquire a spare lamp of this ilk at any price ... long term plans were to upgrade the LEDs and power supply - as well as replacing the plastic "lens" while also taking a casting of the reflector with a view to making my own.

 

[DownwardDog]

It's ok, this will help.

 

[gentlegreen]

Perhaps with more time available I may evolve it into an elegant swan-neck moulding, but I felt that was a decent result for the minimal effort devoted to it.
I anticipate my colleagues will find amusement in it as we're parking our bikes indoors at the moment ...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I've had a dilemma this year as I'm retiring from work on the Friday before the clocks change and I didn't want to fit the front basket bracket I used to use on my old bike to house my substantial lighting assembly - even thinned-down - though it may yet come to that as it was handy for other things like mounting a video camera...

... so I had to come up with something else for the Philips Saferide 80 I paid £5 for and which came with no bracket of any description that I remember ...
So after failing to locate anything more suitable, I cobbled something together using a D-lock bracket and an AV speaker bracket with an adjustable ball-mount which has a convenient slide-out for the odd occasion when I have to lock my bike up outside a shop - or actually want to leave the lamp at home.
The remote handlebar switch (and 5 volt charging input) is connected using a PC power connector.

Annoyingly I have so far not managed to acquire a spare lamp of this ilk at any price ... long term plans were to upgrade the LEDs and power supply - as well as replacing the plastic "lens" while also taking a casting of the reflector with a view to making my own.

View attachment 232916

Well, it’s a unique approach to putting a light onto a bike, I’ll give you that

 

[gentlegreen]

Well, it’s a unique approach to putting a light onto a bike, I’ll give you that

I'll report back after a few of my rough semi-rural commutes ... someone needs to come up with something inbetwen hot glue and silicone ... whenever I use the latter, I always end up wasting most of the tube unless I have another job that needs doing ...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I'll report back after a few of my rough semi-rural commutes ... someone needs to come up with something inbetwen hot glue and silicone ... whenever I use the latter, I always end up wasting most of the tube unless I have another job that needs doing ...

Or maybe they could just come up with lightweight, compact and bright lights