Cycling

[RayP]

Need some new padded shorts. Suggestions? I won't be wearing them frequently enough that I'll need more than one pair, so I don't mind spending some money on a more expensive pair if it's worth it...?

 

[UnrealMachine]

Need some new padded shorts. Suggestions? I won't be wearing them frequently enough that I'll need more than one pair, so I don't mind spending some money on a more expensive pair if it's worth it...?

I'm a big fan of the Pearl Izumi Elite series spandex shorts. The padding is generous and they are intelligently vented near the top. I got really good deals on both of my pairs at EBay. If you haven't yet, look for a store on there called 'the Pro's closet'.

 

[RayP]

I'm a big fan of the Pearl Izumi Elite series spandex shorts. The padding is generous and they are intelligently vented near the top. I got really good deals on both of my pairs at EBay. If you haven't yet, look for a store on there called 'the Pro's closet'.

Never crossed my mind to look on eBay, thanks for the tip. Looking now... Is their a time/mile limit you'd put on those shorts? I want something I can sit in the saddle for a good 3-4 hours "comfortably."

 

[UnrealMachine]

Never crossed my mind to look on eBay, thanks for the tip. Looking now... Is their a time/mile limit you'd put on those shorts? I want something I can sit in the saddle for a good 3-4 hours "comfortably."

You'd have to read up on that. The most I've ever ridden in them is around 4 hours, but there were short breaks here and there, so it wasn't a continuous 4 hours and also you get out of the saddle frequently on a mtn bike. My experience with them is that they are very comfortable. I immediately bought a second pair after my first ride in them.

 

[RayP]

You'd have to read up on that. The most I've ever ridden in them is around 4 hours, but there were short breaks here and there, so it wasn't a continuous 4 hours and also you get out of the saddle frequently on a mtn bike. My experience with them is that they are very comfortable. I immediately bought a second pair after my first ride in them.

Good to know. That sounds good enough for me to give them a try. Thanks again.


IMP, if you're keeping up with this thread these days - what shorts do you ride in?

 

[Caps2Fan]

I love that there is a cycling thread on this forum. I spend my summers cycling the paths and roads of Arlington, VA, and the winters playing hockey. Also spend my summers on a cycling forum, so it's kind of fun to pop over here and see this.

To those who are not a fan of the maintenance, just take the bike to a local bike shop, eat the cost that it takes to have the bike professionally tuned up, and eliminate the headache. I basically only worry about cleaning my chain (literally just wiping it down with a cloth), and lubing it every 400 - 500 miles. Most chain lubes don't last that long, so invest in a 12 dollar bottle of Chain-L lube and you'll be good to go.

I second how good cycling can be for your body/endurance. Before I started, I could barely run 1/4 mile without having to stop. Last time I ran a 5k (I hate running, so I don't really do it very often) I made it through without stopping and felt great.

Here is my baby:

 

[RayP]

What cycling forum? I need a place to read up and learn more things about cycling and my bike. After this week is over, I can dedicate the next 2-3 months to getting stronger on the bike before I have anything goal specific to train for.

 

[Caps2Fan]

What cycling forum? I need a place to read up and learn more things about cycling and my bike. After this week is over, I can dedicate the next 2-3 months to getting stronger on the bike before I have anything goal specific to train for.

www.bikeforum.net/road-cycling

Lots of smart people over there. A lot of dumb ones too.

 

[jorbjorb]

I love that there is a cycling thread on this forum. I spend my summers cycling the paths and roads of Arlington, VA, and the winters playing hockey. Also spend my summers on a cycling forum, so it's kind of fun to pop over here and see this.

To those who are not a fan of the maintenance, just take the bike to a local bike shop, eat the cost that it takes to have the bike professionally tuned up, and eliminate the headache. I basically only worry about cleaning my chain (literally just wiping it down with a cloth), and lubing it every 400 - 500 miles. Most chain lubes don't last that long, so invest in a 12 dollar bottle of Chain-L lube and you'll be good to go.

I second how good cycling can be for your body/endurance. Before I started, I could barely run 1/4 mile without having to stop. Last time I ran a 5k (I hate running, so I don't really do it very often) I made it through without stopping and felt great.

Here is my baby:

sick bike man

 

[Caps2Fan]

sick bike man

Thank you thank you. She's fun to ride.

 

[Nunymare]

Leaves are starting to fall here in Winnipeg.
Does anyone still bike close to winter ? lol

I go all winter long. I've been out in -30C and I still love it.

Just can't seem to get myself on a stationary... just not the same at all. Every spring I seem to go a bit faster each year, so maybe there's something to going all year long.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I go all winter long. I've been out in -30C and I still love it.

Just can't seem to get myself on a stationary... just not the same at all. Every spring I seem to go a bit faster each year, so maybe there's something to going all year long.

Any advice on cold-weather gear? This will be my first winter commuting daily on the bike (a brand new CAAD-X Disc Ultegra ), and I'm not really sure what I need/what products are good investments.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Any advice on cold-weather gear? This will be my first winter commuting daily on the bike (a brand new CAAD-X Disc Ultegra ), and I'm not really sure what I need/what products are good investments.

1. Waterproof shoe covers
2. Balaklava
3. Waterproof gloves
4. Windproof jacket
5. Thermal tights
6. Willpower

 

[jorbjorb]

I go all winter long. I've been out in -30C and I still love it.

Just can't seem to get myself on a stationary... just not the same at all. Every spring I seem to go a bit faster each year, so maybe there's something to going all year long.

do you use a regular road bike or do you use one thats good for snow? snow/sand on the roads here really suck

 

[tsujimoto74]

do you use a regular road bike or do you use one thats good for snow? snow/sand on the roads here really suck

On snow/sand, I'd definitely opt for wider, knobbier tires if your bike has the clearance for them. I've seen plenty of folks use 700x28s on ordinary road bikes (ones that would usually have 700x23s) with no problems. There are also studded tires for really nasty/icy riding conditions if it gets that bad where you live. Also, it's generally a good idea to keep your tires at a slightly lower pressure on wet roads; you'll gain a bit more traction just by doing that.

 

[Nunymare]

I use a mountain bike. Suggestions for gear I'd say would be to get some windproof stuff. That is what kills, especially where I live.

A balaclava (need to cover ears at least), a good pair of cycling gloves (kind of like ski gloves) help too. They plow a bike path near me so I just use that in the dead of the winter. Not willing to take a chance on the roads when they're really bad (I have enough close calls in the summer/fall/spring months!). I need to take care of the bike better this year as last year the sand/slush really killed some parts...but if you cycle as much as I do then I guess it's pretty much a given for certain parts to have to be replaced. The stares of people I pass when it's -30 with the windchill out and I'm out on my bike are priceless...

I sometimes venture out onto the roads but there are some psychos behind the wheel here coupled with windrows of snow on the side so it's a challenge. I usually go back out onto them around late March/April...

 

[The Imp]

Any of you do spinning over the winter?

I had a real brute of a session today, with a couple of 4-minute intervals of sitting, at a cadence of 40, with really high load. Basically like going up a massively steep hill, only you had to stay seated. Coach wanted to make sure we used the muscles on the back of the legs to pull on the pedals.

 

[RayP]

Tips on getting stronger when it comes to cycling? I feel like I'm making no progress, if not regressing, with my pace.

 

[cassius]

Tips on getting stronger when it comes to cycling? I feel like I'm making no progress, if not regressing, with my pace.

Squats

 

[RayP]

Have a template you follow? I typically hate lifting weights.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Tips on getting stronger when it comes to cycling? I feel like I'm making no progress, if not regressing, with my pace.

What does your current training look like? Mileage? Climbing feet? Frequency & duration of rides? How do you measure progress?

 

[RayP]

What does your current training look like? Mileage? Climbing feet? Frequency & duration of rides? How do you measure progress?

I just finished my marathon and marathon training, so I'm basically going into this as if I've never biked before. I bought my bike over the summer, but I think today was only the 7th or 8th time I've taken it out. I have 7 days a week that I can either hit the gym, bike, or both in a day. My schedule is really, really flexible. The next 2-3 months I just want to get stronger on the bike, to where I feel comfortable. I'm going to start training for a half Ironman come January ish, so between now and then is really just about getting comfortable to start training for one on the bike. Will be buying a cadence sensor next paycheck, so will get that info going forward, but not quite yet.

I live in Atlanta, so I can find routes on the road that are RIDICULOUSLY hilly, or I can find a bike trail today that is on an old railroad bed and goes on for miles and miles and is pretty flat.


This was today's ride:

 

[UnrealMachine]

I just finished my marathon and marathon training, so I'm basically going into this as if I've never biked before. I bought my bike over the summer, but I think today was only the 7th or 8th time I've taken it out. I have 7 days a week that I can either hit the gym, bike, or both in a day. My schedule is really, really flexible. The next 2-3 months I just want to get stronger on the bike, to where I feel comfortable. I'm going to start training for a half Ironman come January ish, so between now and then is really just about getting comfortable to start training for one on the bike. Will be buying a cadence sensor next paycheck, so will get that info going forward, but not quite yet.

I live in Atlanta, so I can find routes on the road that are RIDICULOUSLY hilly, or I can find a bike trail today that is on an old railroad bed and goes on for miles and miles and is pretty flat.


This was today's ride:

You just need more time on the saddle for now. Your muscles need time to adapt. The most basic cycling training is to ride almost every day but have 1 day be a hard ride and the next day be an easy ride. The main problem is the people don't ride hard enough on the hard day and ride "too hard" on the easy day.

Go for altitude over mileage. Try to hit as many hills as you can and ride them in less time the next time you ride them. If you are on flats, do some intervals where you go very hard for a time period (30 seconds, 4 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) and then go easy for an equal or greater time period. Repeat that for 5-10 rounds. Try those for now and you'll get noticeably better with effort and experience.

 

[RayP]

You just need more time on the saddle for now. Your muscles need time to adapt. The most basic cycling training is to ride almost every day but have 1 day be a hard ride and the next day be an easy ride. The main problem is the people don't ride hard enough on the hard day and ride "too hard" on the easy day.

Go for altitude over mileage. Try to hit as many hills as you can and ride them in less time the next time you ride them. If you are on flats, do some intervals where you go very hard for a time period (30 seconds, 4 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) and then go easy for an equal or greater time period. Repeat that for 5-10 rounds. Try those for now and you'll get noticeably better with effort and experience.

Thanks man.


It might be a while before I routinely add some really challenging elevations to my routine, or until I can find a group to ride with. Don't trust myself riding solo in Atlanta traffic.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Thanks man.


It might be a while before I routinely add some really challenging elevations to my routine, or until I can find a group to ride with. Don't trust myself riding solo in Atlanta traffic.

Yeah, don't put yourself in any danger just to hit the hills. Like I said, you can easily substitute hills for intervals on flats. In many ways, the intervals can simulate the effort of hills if you program your workouts correctly.