The Cycling Chat Thread

[weepiper]

This is so good. Martyn Ashton back on a mountain bike despite being paralysed from the waist down.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-martyn-ashton-back-on-track-2015.html

'give us a push!'

 

[weepiper]

This morning I have been mostly doing this



Also, here is an article I contributed to about being a woman in the bike trade.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/...things-women-in-the-bike-biz-get-asked-44667/

 

[Artaxerxes]

20km ride up and around Epping Forest, sweating like a bastard but the view and moments of silence were amazing. Its my longest ride yet and I'd never have managed it back in May despite only managing to do 1-2 5k rides a week since.

Those hills man, those fucking hills...

 

[Sprocket.]

20km ride up and around Epping Forest, sweating like a bastard but the view and moments of silence were amazing. Its my longest ride yet and I'd never have managed it back in May despite only managing to do 1-2 5k rides a week since.

Those hills man, those fucking hills...

It's the views, moments of silence and the feeling all is right in the universe during rides that still fill me with awe after nearly fifty years of cycling!

Well done, keep it up and ride for the simple sake of the ride.

 

[braindancer]

My first Dunwich Dynamo on Saturday. Yikes! It's the staying up all night that'll be the challenge, really.

I did 100 miles in prep a couple of weeks ago and have been doing regular 50 mile rides every few weeks, so I think I'll be ok in terms of the distance . It's just the wanting to go to sleep bit... hmm. V excited though!

How did you get on Han? Perfect night for it wasn't it.... I loved it - especially the last third through beautiful Suffolk - amazing sunrise and arrived at the beach in blazing sunshine at 7 am - straight into the sea for a dip in the bib shorts. LUSH! Was very lucky as got on the 10 o clock coach - the minute I got on the heavens opened and it pissed it down.

Such a special ride - the joy of riding through the night with a couple of thousand other nutters just can't be beaten...

Not been home long - 130 miles all in including the ride home from the Surrey Quays drop off.

Beer in the garden time! Then snooze.

 

[Dogsauce]

A guy from my club did the Dynamo then turned round and rode back to Croydon, 15hrs in the saddle and 400km. Nutter. The photos at the beach looked amazing, I'd love to have a go at this some time (one way!) if I can get my fitness back up to coping with that kind of distance. I'd probably want to do it on the Pashley too which would add a few hours on.

I did a 60 mile ride recently so I think I'm getting there, it's just the recovery time seems a lot harder since the operation I had last year, a club social can leave me knackered for a couple of days.

 

[braindancer]

Yeah - over the last 30 miles or so you start to see the nutters on the return journey.... hardcore!

 

[han]

How did you get on Han? Perfect night for it wasn't it.... I loved it - especially the last third through beautiful Suffolk - amazing sunrise and arrived at the beach in blazing sunshine at 7 am - straight into the sea for a dip in the bib shorts. LUSH! Was very lucky as got on the 10 o clock coach - the minute I got on the heavens opened and it pissed it down.

Such a special ride - the joy of riding through the night with a couple of thousand other nutters just can't be beaten...

Not been home long - 130 miles all in including the ride home from the Surrey Quays drop off.

Beer in the garden time! Then snooze.

Sounds like you had an amazing one! Well done! And a swim in the sea at sunrise as well, bliss!!

I had a great time until just before the village hall halfway point, when I developed an unpleasant nausea and puked a couple of times. Then after that I just couldn't shake the nausea! Got to Needham Market just before 5 then baled out and got train home from Ipswich (which was Kafka-esque what with two trains and a coach and lots of tired cyclists - it was actually a hoot though and I made a nice new friend! )

Despite that major disappointment, I did the dd with a lovely bunch of friends and really thought the atmosphere was special, it was an amazing experience, and such beautiful countryside, especially with the sunrise. Ahhh.

 

[han]

It's weird, I'd done lots of training - plenty of 50 milers and a 100 miler so I felt beforehand that I'd be fine with the distance. I just didn't anticipate the nausea and of course that combined with no sleep made me struggle. Still, I managed 90 miles and can laugh about it now! I think I am going to stick to daytime rides from now on. I'm crap with no sleep!

 

[braindancer]

Gosh I'm tired today - glad I'm 'working' from home.

The coach home was pretty epic too - the traffic was horrific and it took 4 hours. The lorry took longer so had to hang around for ages in Surrey Quays shopping centre car park for ages waiting for the bikes.

Nauseous cycling from Sible Hedingham to Needham Market sounds pretty grim.... fair play for making it that far!

Not tempted to try again next year then?

 

[han]

Gosh I'm tired today - glad I'm 'working' from home.

The coach home was pretty epic too - the traffic was horrific and it took 4 hours. The lorry took longer so had to hang around for ages in Surrey Quays shopping centre car park for ages waiting for the bikes.

Nauseous cycling from Sible Hedingham to Needham Market sounds pretty grim.... fair play for making it that far!

Not tempted to try again next year then?

I trust you had a nice sleep on the coach though?

As wonderful as I think the DD is, and I'm glad I experienced the bits I did, I'm just going to stick to daytime rides I think.! [emoji3]

 

[braindancer]

Didn't sleep a wink on the coach! I'm crap at sleeping in transit...

I think an afternoon nap could be in order today.

 

[Dogsauce]

Cracked the climb this morning with the help of a moderate tail wind. Three sixth places and an eighth on that bit, plus a fifth on one of the stupid short sprints earlier in the ride. Now on 27/30 top ten places, just three short sprints left to collect, one needs a southerly tailwind or a GPS error (I've been a second off it four times), one I can probably get with a targeted effort, and another just needs a clear road.

Traffic lights were shite today mind, I had three go off that have never stopped me before. I hope they haven't dicked with the sequences, that's a game changer.

 

[tangerinedream]

A quick question about a dilemma. I have a much loved vintage (about 92 I think) rigid diamondback ascent ex. I use it for road and towpath riding but I'm getting to the point where it needs a really good overhaul and bits replacing. Am I chucking good money after bad? Would I be better off with a new bike or should I refurb this one? I do love the bike very much but it's getting harder to get bits...

 

[IC3D]

Joined some Dynamo'ers as far as the Essex sign then cheered the rest on from outside the pub, took over an hour for most the ride to go past it was pretty impressive. One 50 mile training run didn't feel enough.

 

[Sister Midnight]

Ooh just found this thread!
To add my tuppence on Dun Run - did it for first time - magical experience riding on quiet roads (fewer angry/aggressive drivers) through sunset and sunrise. Festival-like too - had a cuppa in a yurt at 4am! I'd been apprehensive beforehand - thought I might nod off 'at the wheel' (especially as been in early shifts) or struggle with seeing all the lights in the dark but it was fine - I guess the adrenalin keeps you up and the night is short (& slightly moonlit).
We did it fairly speedily on road bikes - full of admiration for those on fixies, bromptons, tandems etc who must have taken ages longer!

 

[han]

Not tempted to try again next year then?

Actually, a few days later, yes I am! After speaking to various people, I realise I did the food and drink all wrong. Huge tuna mayo sarnie made with jalapeño and cheddar focaccia 5 mins before the start is a huge no-no! [emoji23]

 

[han]

Plus gulping tons of water with Nuun in. Little regular sips....

 

[Sister Midnight]

Very hard to eat on the bike. I had terrible indigestion - I looked 4/5 months pregnant!

 

[braindancer]

Huge tuna mayo sarnie made with jalapeño and cheddar focaccia 5 mins before the start is a huge no-no! [emoji23]

Is it?

 

[Dogsauce]

A quick question about a dilemma. I have a much loved vintage (about 92 I think) rigid diamondback ascent ex. I use it for road and towpath riding but I'm getting to the point where it needs a really good overhaul and bits replacing. Am I chucking good money after bad? Would I be better off with a new bike or should I refurb this one? I do love the bike very much but it's getting harder to get bits...

I've had a series of battered old bikes and never had much of a problem getting parts (even with some quite obscure ones), and steel will last for decades. Is there anything particularly bespoke about the design or parts that make it hard to get bits? I'd say keep it running. Plus you can always get a new bike and keep it for pub runs.

 

[sleaterkinney]

How did you get on Han? Perfect night for it wasn't it.... I loved it - especially the last third through beautiful Suffolk - amazing sunrise and arrived at the beach in blazing sunshine at 7 am - straight into the sea for a dip in the bib shorts. LUSH! Was very lucky as got on the 10 o clock coach - the minute I got on the heavens opened and it pissed it down

It was great, for the first 100k I could see myself doing the double with a bit more training but the last 10 miles were hell, its the sleep deprivation more than anything.

 

[han]

Is it?

According to some of my nerdy cycling mates, yes! Apparently plain, non fatty, slow release carbs a couple of hours before is the best. Plus quick release carbs hourly, and little sips of water.

I've never eaten so much before a ride (except on the DD). And I've never got sick before on a ride. I just pigged out too much on food and water I think.

This is good advice :

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-eat-cycling

 

[han]

the last 10 miles were hell, its the sleep deprivation more than anything.

Yes. That ride would be much much easier in the day. A completely different ride of course.....

 

[sleaterkinney]

According to some of my nerdy cycling mates, yes! Apparently plain, non fatty, slow release carbs a couple of hours before is the best. Plus quick release carbs hourly, and little sips of water.

I've never eaten so much before a ride (except on the DD). And I've never got sick before on a ride. I just pigged out too much on food and water I think.

This is good advice :

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-eat-cycling

The temperature at the start didn't help either, I drank way too much water. I would have eaten my food if I had remembered to bring it.

 

[han]

Also I wonder if my mayo-tastic sarnie might have gone a bit off, in a black pannier for an hour in blazing heat....

What a wonderful occasion the DD is though. It's really special!

 

[braindancer]

Yes. That ride would be much much easier in the day. A completely different ride of course.....

I think I'll do it in the day soon - although might finish in Southwold or Aldeburgh... although I'd change parts of the route as there are nicer ways of getting to Great Dunmow than using the B184...

 

[Sister Midnight]

"Fill your pockets not your stomach" - I had lots of chewy bars etc but struggled to carry enough layers. Downside of it being so warm in the day- couldn't imagine how chilly it would get!

 

[Artaxerxes]

Almost had first traffic collision a few minutes ago, approaching a 4 way crossroads, oncoming car, jeep on the right stopped with queue behind it and a silver car following me for the last couple of minutes.

Its clear ahead and theres plenty of time, the jeep is stopped, I check behind to make sure its safe, I stick my arm out to turn right and its clear all the way... I hear a screech behind me as I turn right and have to swerve left as the silver car behind me chooses this moment to overtake.

Fucker.

 

[Dogsauce]

Overtaking when you're signalling right is a proper cunt's trick. I've not had that one for a while.

Tonight I just had an oncoming taxi turn right in front of me (some loud swearing) and a dick on the main road who hooted his displeasure because I was in the middle lane for going straight on rather than hugging the left side of the left lane which peeled off in a few hundred metres. 'Get in Lane' applies to bikes too, dick.