Straining rides

DJE said:
Slogged along Lee on Solent sea front against the wind yesterday. At least there were no pedestrians on the cycle path!
I am planning to stick with the Giant hybrid bike. Back tyre already changed to a smooth high pressure road type and front one to follow shortly. Front suspension locked for road use. It seems to fit me and I'm now doing about 40 miles per week.
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Good call, main thing on the day is to be comfortable. It is not a race!
 
oGaryo said:
I was going to go for a ride today but the strength of the wind has put me off, looks dangerous out there for a cyclist
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Very nasty here today Gary. Hoping it will dry up later on. Happy that I had no real aches or pains after yesterday's ride. Progress at last! Must be the new bike :)
 
Just come back. Was dry but very windy! Did 17.3 miles averaging just over 15mph. Pleased for first effort on new wheels and makes a big difference! In stretches where before I was struggling to get 15 mph I was pinging along at 20+ even in the conditions.

Currently have flat pedals but on the look tonight for some Clip in ones and shoes. Any recommendations? Not looking to spend big £££
 
z1ppy said:
Just come back. Was dry but very windy! Did 17.3 miles averaging just over 15mph. Pleased for first effort on new wheels and makes a big difference! In stretches where before I was struggling to get 15 mph I was pinging along at 20+ even in the conditions.

Currently have flat pedals but on the look tonight for some Clip in ones and shoes. Any recommendations? Not looking to spend big £££
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Well done Howard, sounds like a good ride.

I have used Look pedals and clips, but about to change to Time on the Echelon. I have Scott shoes, but they are 10 years or so old, and probably due to be replaced. Some cleats are easier to walk in than others, and the Time cleats are much better than the Look in this respect. Gary has Shimano cleats/pedals I believe. Some of the decision process is how much are yousre pared to spend. Shoes are going to be £50+, cleats are <£20, pedals £50 is, so you are already North of £100. Alternative for you is to use straps on your flat pedals. I use these on my mountain bike as I have to get off the pedal much quicker off road.
whatever you choose, you must have a very stiff sole for the ride in June, as 4 or 5 hours riding in trainers, will leave your feet badly bruised. I made this mistake in one of my earlier sponsored rides.
 
P4Paul said:
Crickey, I am lucky to average 10 to 11 mph on a long run so unless I start at Guildford you guys will be in Southampton 3 or 4 hours ahead of me.
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The Shimano cleats are a good option for beginners, as they do a 'high float' option that is a bit easier on the knees!

Too windy for me today for cycling (plus I spent most of the day cleaning out 38 year of accumulated oily **** from my boats engine bay after lifting the old and knackered engine out), so went for a run instead!
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
The Shimano cleats are a good option for beginners, as they do a 'high float' option that is a bit easier on the knees!

Too windy for me today for cycling (plus I spent most of the day cleaning out 38 year of accumulated oily **** from my boats engine bay after lifting the old and knackered engine out), so went for a run instead!
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Have Shimano A520 pedals and to be fair its my backside and not my knees that hurts! My average BPM on the 28 miles I rode on Friday was 161 at an average of less than 12mph, I am not unfit (but could be fitter!) but I need to be sensible as one of the side effects of my tablets is they push my heart rate up.

Currently I think I am in for about an 9 hour ride including refuelling stops so I am thinking that means a 6.00am start for me to give plenty of time for the unforeseen such as punctures.

I guess this leads back to Gary's question about riding groups, and start times.

My preference is for the slower group(s) to start earlier than the faster group(s) so that the actual finish times are much closer together, that way it would feel more like we had all made it together as a team, however I understand if that is not to everyone liking.
 
Paul, we will find a way to work this out. this is a charity ride and not a race, we will all be there at the finish to see each other over the line.

Need to have a chat with Paul and Gary as i have been a little lax lately with work commitments and we can put some ideas together.
 
z1ppy said:
Would be up for that too. But maybe in a few weeks yet?
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Depending on the weather, we are thinking about the first May Bank Holiday weekend (we have the following week off) if you are interested. Looking to start at East Cowes and finish back in the Lifeboat, probably still clipped into the pedals and with the bike leaning against the bar! :)
 
z1ppy said:
Thanks for pedal advise. it seems almost as much of a dark art as propellers!

I'm thinking some of these
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CMLon7GZzsQCFQHMtAodJlAARA&gclsrc=aw.ds

and will find some shows to fit my float like feet!
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They're perfect. They'll come with cleats to fit your shoes.... if they are capped with yellow, then they are the maximum float versions (6 degree from memory).. the blue one are medium float, and the red zero float. A new set of cleats are about a tenner.... nearly always IME entry level pedals come with yellow cleats
 
P4Paul said:
Crickey, I am lucky to average 10 to 11 mph on a long run so unless I start at Guildford you guys will be in Southampton 3 or 4 hours ahead of me.
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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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