Cycling

[Gagger]

When your knees finally give out it comes down to swimming and/or cycling.

As a mid-life cyclist myself, thought I'd start a thread for all lycra freaks to share the fetish; the kit you use, the rides you've done, funnies, yadda yadda.

Here's something to get it started. You know this thread is for you if you've shared this experience

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6694173

 

[cyclopath]

Hmmm, I feel duty-bound to respond, strangely.
I have a custom built lightweight steel frame, Campagnolo carbon-fibre Record groupset, custom built wheels with American Classic aluminium hubs - whole thing about 8 kg so not ultra-lightweight but pretty good for 6 years old, and heaps of pretty gay lycra outfits to wear whilst riding it!!. I currently have unshaved legs, have lost weight so the man-boobs are not a problem, and completely identify with that video!!!
Best ride? Around the Bay in a day - Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, 210km.
Funnies? That video was painfully accurate - the husband of one of our friends skiing this week is an old cycle buddy, and his wife was relating just such a conversation the other night...classic!

 

[Gagger]

I only really started a coupla years ago and invested in a Specialized Roubaix Expert

Has been a great bike and even survived me coming off last Autumn and popping my shoulder out. Still have a hankering for something Italian though.
The wife has figured out that she cant go wrong buying Assos christmas and birthday presents, although currently waiting for this bad boy to arrive

Did a bugger of a ride over 80 miles and 6,500 ft of ascent in Wales a coupla weeks back. Great ride - called the Dragon Ride. Is the most popular sportive in the UK and sells out within a day each year!

 

[Nusadan]

Don't want to seem to hijack your post, Gags, but just like you guys to have a think about doing outrigger paddling/racing, I did this for six years, and it took me to Hawaii, NZ and Cook Island as well as all over Queensland and NSW, and have met many sorts of people and experienced different cultures, there is a very strong base of master aged and older paddlers involved...have a look at me below, second from the right, the Noosa main beach had the rare event of having 2 to 3 metre swell hitting directly onto the beach!

 

[Cutter]

Good thread Gagger. I like the clip too. Check this for some cycling gold: [video=youtube;Vn29DvMITu4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4[/video]

My bike is a Planet X SL Pro Carbon Euro with Ultegra throughout and Fulcrum Racing 1 wheels. Its not as schmick as Cyclopath's bike but I love it. I also own an old Trek, a tandem and a fixie project. I can't work out how to post a photo.

Favourite ride is tough. Probably from Bedoin to the top of Mont Ventoux, half way back down Ventoux then back to the top again (long story) and then to Avignon the day before the Tour de France went through last year. There were (we were told and I would believe) over 300,000 people on the mountain when we did it (700,000 the following day), dancing, drinking, singing, chalking, partying...Superb. 38C in Bedoin and 5C at the top of Ventoux. The ride back to Avignon at dusk was pure gold.

 

[Gagger]

So just the one ascent of Ventoux didn't do it?

 

[Jethro Tah]

My ride, 20 mins each way to and from work:

It's a free bike hire system they have in Paris.

Sorry guys, couldn't resist. :thumb

 

[Gagger]

I used them when last in Paris with Mrs Gagger - they rock!

 

[Reddy!]

I don't get road cycling. Everyone wants to get all kitted up, do you actually need all that gear? Do you race or just ride for fitness? If it's fitness why do you need an ultra lightweight bike, wouldn't it be better to have a heavier bike? It all seems a bit pretentious to me.

 

[Cutter]

Try riding long distances without the kit and then ask the question. I felt the same way once but a few hours on the bike in my cargo shorts and cotton t-shirts soon deprived me of my misconceptions.

Its not riding purely for fitness. Its also riding for the joy of it. Riding a light bike is fun. Riding a heavy, clunky thing may be better for fitness but wouldn't be as fun.

Gagger I was with a group on Ventoux and went back to the top with someone who got lost and would have turned around (thus depriving him of his dream to climb it) had I not gone back up with him.

 

[DPK]

I suppose it's like wearing a proper jersey to play footy in?

 

[Gagger]

I don't get road cycling. Everyone wants to get all kitted up, do you actually need all that gear? Do you race or just ride for fitness? If it's fitness why do you need an ultra lightweight bike, wouldn't it be better to have a heavier bike? It all seems a bit pretentious to me.

Social Tourettes strikes again!

Same as in any sport that includes testosterone and kit - you get into it, suddenly you need a better set of running shoes, golf club, tennis racket etc.

The competition is mostly against yourself I guess - trying to beat your time etc. Incredibly social as well; like golf you can chat and ride at same time, while motoring through some fantastic countryside.

And yes, it's pretentious, but once you get that lycra on you just don't care!

 

[Nusadan]

And yes, it's pretentious, but once you get that lycra on you just don't care!

Or to show off your saddlebags?

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Reminiscent of the British rowing at the Sydney Olympics

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Amateur cyclist here - just starting to get into it again. Do it purely for fitness & enjoyment, although the enjoyment factor starts to wilt a bit in the 30 degree plu, 85% humidity HK summer days. Have both mountain & road bikes... both of pretty crap quality. Wasn't overly bothered about their weight (as doing for fitness, gut loss) until I rode my mates lightweight prof bike and the speed you can get to and maintain on the thigns is awesome - really motivating.

Still ride in loose fit tops and shorts, not moved onto Lycra yet. There are so many try hards in HK (people who have ALL the kit, none of the fitness/talent) who I love to laugh at & with my moobs/gut I'd be rather hypocritical if I bought into the lycra now... I suspect it's a matter of time though. I don't even have the clip on pedals yet, that's how amatuer I am! Might be a year end present to myself, a cervero (sp?), but looking at current markets/funds, it seems a long long way away!

Current bikes are a Giant 24spd mountain bike - weighs a ton or so, chain is rusty/rattley, shocks are bloody loose but it's good for commuting through the HK pot hole riddled streets for my daily commute to work (8km each way). Weekend road bike is a Fuji Newest 2.0 24 spd roadie (add on of a speedo!). Do love doing good pace on this bike & regularly do 50km on the weekends. Best ride ever done is also my biggest - round HK island. Loads of hills, which at the moment I FUCKING HATE, but as the fitness gets up, I do start to crave them a bit. The muscles do enjoy them, just the breathing is a prick - any tips you guys can offer I would definately appreciate. Ride also takes in villages, beaches, resevoirs and finishes off with 15km on teh flat stuff in traffic right through the guts of teh city. Can be a bit hairy, but get used to it.

So yeah, I'm amatuer as all hell, and as fit as Matt Dunning, but I love it & am getting into it... Any tips offered out there from others, would be gratefully received. I follow Will Carling on twitter, and I see he just finished a London - Paris ride for charity & my aim is to complete this within 2 years of my better half having her way and us moving back to London.

 

[cyclopath]

Main tip I'd give is to mix it up. I used to mainly just cycle, and was pretty fit for that, but it translates poorly to any other sport pretty much. I have cycled less lately, but done more gym work - weights and other cardio stuff, and I am much better off all round than I was then. But I really want to get back onto the bike more.
The lightweight bike benefits you more from a social point of view to be honest. Sure there is a certain wank value in having a 6.5kg bike, but as the bloke who built my bike said " I can't understand all you weekend warriors who want to save 25 g with a carbon fibre bidon-cage (the thing for your bottle Reddy!) when you'd be better off losing a couple of kilos!". But if you ride with a group, unless it's some sort of socialist collective, there will always be someone with a lighter bike, and let's face it, we all want to keep up with or beat the next guy.

 

[Gagger]

MR - still a beginner myself only being 2/3 years in, but what amazes me is how slowly but surely the legs build over time.

Do they do sportives (organised timetrial rides) in HK? A good way to accelerate things - they tend to find pricks of routes.

I'm with Cyclo on taking all the excuses away and getting a bike that's way better than you to grow into (carbon frame, good gear)

I have a mate who did the same ride as Will Carling. I believe there were only 250 of them and they paid £800 each. It's 110 miles a day over 3 days, although very flat. You do get a police bike escort in France though!

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

There are a few organised rides, but they tend to be done by the super fit years of cycling behind them guys. I need to do alot more work before can really take part.

Out of interest - how do you guys attack hills? I'm never sure if I should stick it in the lowest gear with bum on seat and just pedal my way slowly up, or go rip shit 'n bust til i'm knackered then stop for a drink then same again? Speaking to a few other guys on the bikes on HK's most popular routes on the weekend, there seems to be no consensus whatsoever.

 

[Moses]

I'm not really into cycling myself, but had a mate who went on a decent ride. Those Stormers supporters are a strange bunch!

 

[Reddy!]

Yeh no offence to anyone, just don't get the cycling thingy - or more accurately I'm not prepared, or can afford, to spend $8000 on a bike and kit. I did a 2.5hr intense ride on my mountain bike once, so I understand why going for a lighter bike is better, because it was like driving a car through quicksand - you can peddle as hard as you want, but you don't get anywhere!

The other thing with riding I find is that you have to ride for hours before you get tired. Whereas I can smash out some sprints on hills for 20minutes and be dead. Yeh I'm more of a running type...