Straining rides

Guys.as Howard says we'll work something out to ensure we get across the line around the same time, clearly that means some form of a group starting before the faster groups. My company have been great and given me the day off as charity leave the day before the ride so if I can find some form of local accommodation (anyone in Penton Hook able to put me up for the night?), I can be there early doors to give the health and safety brief and wish the first group all the best for an enjoyable ride. The key is in my opinion is that each group has at least one person who has a reliable means of navigating the course e.g. one of you has a Garmin device capable of route navigation.

I'll start a thread on the subject
 
z1ppy said:
i have to say i have spoken to a few shops and they were wildly different in approach, one i went to in southampton today told me i needed a £2k bike as minimum to make it worth while and that anything less was a waste of money, others (like the one i bought this from) were very helpful and i know i am at the budget range of the market but was still treated with a great deal of attention to make sure it was the right bike.
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2k for a road bike to make it "worth while" ... yer right ... idiots like that are just putting people off from riding :( Oh well - at least you've got yourself a decent bike!

FWIW, my entry level Allez bought a few years ago has served me over 5800 miles so far - but it didn't cost £2k so probably not worth while.

Pedals - I'm going to be a little controversial here - I would go for either straps (flat pedals with toe cups & straps) - or Shimano SPDs - SPDs are now labeled "Mountain bike Pedals" - they're not, nothing like - although they are used for them - I used this system on my bikes for the last 3 years - including TTing - a comfortable pair of stiff soled shoes and you can ride any distance in them and with the recessed cleat you can walk in the shoes afterwards too. I've changed 2 bikes to the SPD-SL system for two of my bikes, but only because I needed new shoes and I thought the SL shoes may be a little more Aero for TTing ... (honestly it'll make no difference)
 
DJE said:
Glad to hear that amongst all this talk of high tech kit. I've been training for months and I still struggle to average anything better than 11 or 12 mph for rides of 20 miles or more. I reckon it will take me about 7 or 8 hours including stops. (But I am saving up for a titanium lunch box!) ��
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I was out with the club yesterday - and at the end 2 of us sprinted for the village sign - I topped out at 16mph ... :o
 
Gary, you are taking this far too seriously. You'll be doing the Etap in Jine next!!

Was going to do the same this evening, but too wet and windy here in the far north. Will hope for better weather tomorrow evening.
 
rafiki_ said:
Gary, you are taking this far too seriously.
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Hidden agenda buddy... I've promised myself the missus isn't going to have an excuse to spray me with fairy liquid and try to refloat me when sunbathing on the beach next week ;) nearly there, BMI reckons I should be 12st 4lb to be 'normal', down to 12st 5.5lb so far so a little extra effort this week to nip under the bar so I can nip to the bar when on holiday without feeling too guilty ;)
 
oGaryo said:
Hidden agenda buddy... I've promised myself the missus isn't going to have an excuse to spray me with fairy liquid and try to refloat me when sunbathing on the beach next week ;) nearly there, BMI reckons I should be 12st 4lb to be 'normal', down to 12st 5.5lb so far so a little extra effort this week to nip under the bar so I can nip to the bar when on holiday without feeling too guilty ;)
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Are you off somewhere nice and hot? If so, I now have full on envy. We are supposed to be going to Penarth in convoy at the weekend, but the forecast is not good, so lots of miles on the bike instead I hope.
 
rafiki_ said:
Are you off somewhere nice and hot? If so, I now have full on envy. We are supposed to be going to Penarth in convoy at the weekend, but the forecast is not good, so lots of miles on the bike instead I hope.
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Just Fuerteventura for a week Paul, hoping for 70 degrees plus but very hit and miss this time of year
 
z1ppy said:
Good work Gary,

Spent the evening putting new pedals on! Gonna try a pre work 10 miles tomorrow. Weather is not being kind tho...
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I've used Look pedals for years, but have just changed to Time on my new bike. Much easier to dismount, and to walk in. I'll be on the road at 06.30 tomorrow, so no chance of a ride. Hopefully if the wind has dropped, I can get out tomorrow evening.
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
Hmmm... have just ordered a new windproof cycling jacket... betting on some more winter yet!

Serious case of CBAs tonight.... too late to ride, so its either the turbo, a run or sitting on my backside on the sofa watching MasterChef!
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Snap... Easter holiday mode already! Did drag myself out of bed this morning for 9 miles before 6.30.
 
Sorry guys - I've got to pull out of the ride - didn't think I'd know this early ... !

SWMBO has booked us on antenatal courses and one of them is the day of the ride .... so whilst you're busting your arses up yet another hill I'll be practising breathing techniques or learning how to breast feed .... ;)
 
fireball said:
.... so whilst you're busting your arses up yet another hill I'll be practising breathing techniques or learning how to breast feed .... ;)
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Or you might be getting sworn at and your hand crushed by a grip you never knew she had. :) Hope it all goes well.
 
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