So I’m coming up the back of our local hill yesterday. I wasn’t pushing hard but I was at better than cruise when this person cruises by on a shopper style e-bike and says a cheery “Hi”!
I think she must have turned it up to max to catch and pass me as about 25 metres up the road she slowed to about the same pace as me.
Ideas needed – My wife’s Nr.1 rear mech/shifter issue. Shifts up and down the gears just lovely, until you put it in the biggest sprocket, and then it wont shift out again. As you press the shifter there’s no click. You can get it to move by pressing the shifter and manually pulling the cable through at the downtube, after which it shifts fine again until you move it to the biggest sprocket. One idea I had was that the top jockey was fouling on the biggest sprocket and causing a jam – but it’s not that. There is plenty… Read more »
1. Check the shifter by disconnecting the cables and check that the shifter clicks right through the range. If it does not spray in some teflon spray lube, dry it and check again. 2. With the cables disconnected push the rear mech through its full range (by hand) and check that it springs back easily. Lube the spring and pivots. 3. While you have the cable disconnected from the mech, put the shifter in highest gear (smallest cog), then push the cable back through the shifter to expose about 10 cm of wire (at the shifter end). Check for no… Read more »
I have to share this because it’s f*ing hilarious. https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a29021035/does-cycling-apparel-matter/ Style matters. In fact, many of us want to look good almost more than we want to go fast, and I can’t think of an activity or sport in which worrying about your looks while exercising matters just as much—or more—as doing the actual activity. Here is an example: If your friend drops you on a climb, you’ll settle into thinking that you are alone on a mountain looking as good as Fausto Coppi, and that will make up for the humiliation of being dropped by that same friend, who… Read more »
That is quite funny – not sure I ever thought I was Coppi but there was a time when I used to think, when someone passed me and distanced me “Yeah, but I bet he/she has not done / is not doing as many Km as me”.
Now I get passed more often so I think “Yeah, but I bet he/she is not as old as me”!
Thumthing thtung me on the lipth. I’ve always had an irrational (?) fear of swallowing a wasp/bee and getting stung in the mouth/throat. Given the number of flies that seem to have a death wish of flying straight down my throat I’m not so sure that it is totally irrational. Anyway, it was emphasised today when I got stung on the lip. Looking on the upside, I guess I should be grateful that said beastie dug its anchor into my lip in a desperate, last ditch attempt (successful!) not to end up going down my throat. On balance though, I’d… Read more »
All change for me. I have 1 week of work, then 2 weeks holiday, and then 4 remaining weeks in the job I’ve held for the last 12 years. So that will be the end of my regular extended (45km round trip) commutes that I use for training rides. So I expect I’ll be back on the turbo through the winter. I’ve also self-diagnosed my breathing problems as nothing more as a mild allergy to our guinea pigs. Doesn’t affect me at all in day-to-day life but when I’m on the rivet I’ve lost that bit of extra lung capacity.… Read more »
For anyone who listens to The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe… I’m on it this week.
One of their sponsors is an insurance company called Laka and after my recent claim they asked me to do a little segment about the experience (which was genuinely brilliant by the way).
Or you can get it through pretty much any podcast service.
It’s not a bad show – I don’t mean just the one with me – generally they have a pretty good take on things.
MangoDave
OK, so it’s not Alpe d’huez or Mt Ventoux, but I did about 350km last week in the very lumpy Ozark mountains, over 5000m of climbing in hot and humid conditions. I took a terrible snapshot from up on a ridge overlooking the lake. It’s a million dollar view, but in my photo shows about 100 dollars worth. I didn’t want to intrude on the people’s property to get a better vantage point.
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. A friend’s father lives about 40k from Mount Ventoux and has invited me to come and ride the mountain. He has also invited me to a ride tour of the Alps that he is organizing next summer. I have a feeling I know where my vacation will be spent next year!
Much better temp (cooler) today for a 100 Km ride. Came across a guy on the other side of the road fixing a puncture, called “Are you OK” as I went by and he replied “Just about”. Hmmm, so I thought I’d best loop back. He had ripped shorts and a lump the size of an egg on his forehead. Turned out he got a Bee in his helmet and was shaking his head to get it out and clipped the curb, punctured and went over the bars. His bike must have gone flying as both sides of his handlebars… Read more »
Ouch. That sounds sore. That’s a comedy crash I haven’t had yet. I did get a puncture 2 weeks ago riding a dirty jump too fast. On my road bike. Commuting.
KogaLover
Had that once too. Hurt the whole ride and stayed for 2 weeks or so
Rick
Knock on wood, I have not had that experience yet. I am allergic to bee stings and always pack and epipen in my jersey pocket
Wiscot
I’ve had the comedy tumble years ago when I got a fly or some insect in and under my glasses. That paled to the other night. Gorgeous evening and went for a ride after several days on work-related inactivity. About 10 miles in I was passing a house I’ve ridden by many times. Out of nowhere comes a boxer-mastiff hybrid barking like crazy. I start yelling to anyone within earshot to get their f*cking dog under control. The owner comes racing out yelling at the dogs (there were three, but only one threatening me). Just before the owner scared the… Read more »
I’ve been told that the thing to do in that situation is to get off your bike and put your bike between you and your dog. The fact that you’re not moving does a lot to make the dog not want to chase you down. And putting the bike between you and the dog creates a barrier of sorts that might put the dog off.
KogaLover
Indeed hope it will heal quickly. At least you have a valid excuse to run now!
I did a MTB downhill ride last Monday. Wearing cleats. No arm or knee protection. Not a good idea. Fell 5 times and chain dropped off twice. Won’t post pics of the wounds or the Picassos that are adorning my butt. Very colourful…
Saw a headline on one of the tabloids that 11 Football Stars (Soccer) had tested positive but none have been suspended. Always suspected Football (Soccer) likely had issues but with the money involved it would be covered up.
I did do the Limburg Eroica a couple of weeks ago too. 125kms in 34 degrees. And end of this week, going to France for Alpe d’huez, Mont Ventoux and the Tour de Meyrueis as described in The Runner written by Tim Krabbé. So still serious about cycling! Oh, I also did 814kms in a week in Mallorca end of April/early May.
KogaLover
Hey all ye… been busy so not spent a lot of time here but would like to announce a new born n+1, a Koga of course, my number 6, which on Strava will be lovingly referenced as the Koga #54 TeeTee
Wow. Love all the Dura-Ace kit. Very smart and good to see you around again.
KogaLover
Its nick Name already became The Mean Beast. I rode it 3 times before a TT I had last Saturday. I was 2.5 mins faster than last year. It was a relay triathlon (rule #42 and all) where I did the cycling leg (Company Triathlon, my Company won the overall competition. I organised it now for the 3rd time, we had 72 teams of 3 colleagues each). It did involve running from the transition zone to the road, I am reluctant to admit… Running in cleats is not great. But I took up a bit of running this year so… Read more »
Thanks for posting this. I do some weights?stretching over the winter. Apparently your skeleton needs some load-bearing activity to keep bones strong. (And I’m probably guilty of the underfuelling thing too . . .)
I decided this year to keep lifting after winter. Just once a week. And a very specific leg workout. Plus I’m actually increasing weight from what I was lifting at the end of winter. I’ve found that I have more power (based on feel, not actual power meter data) than I probably would’ve had otherwise. It’s more noticeable when I ride my #steelisreal Hollands that has old school 53-39 Belgian compact chainrings with 12-26 cassette (compared to 50-36 with 11-30 on my Felt). I have to muscle the Hollands up inclines and I’m surprisingly able to do that.
I have thought about this a lot. Some people seem to think that less food = lighter = better. On a long audax I spend virtually the whole ride eating and as a result I tend to be the strongest towards the end of the ride. Eating is not cheating, it’s common sense.
My main buddy does not eat on the go and a few of times we have been on out on long rides he has hit the wall. Like you I eat on the go and I think I can only remember hitting the wall once – and that was in dreadful weather when it was hard to eat.
I’m the guy that people look at wondering how I can eat that much during a ride…banana in one pocket, orange slices in the other. Peanut Butter on wheat shoved in a pocket with the spare tube. Pack of powered donuts at the gas station at the turn around….2 hour ride or 6 hours, i’m stuffing my face…
Yeh, that’s me too. But it pays off at the end of a long ride. One one 200km Audax I did a 50km turn on the front to drag everyone home when they were all flagging and going strong.
One little trick I’ve found for getting the calories in on a long ride is taking some sachets of energy drink with me and putting them in every time I refill my bidons. I can carry 1000 calories like that, folded up in my pockets.
Having had to cancel my spring training camp because of work I had a narrow window in July where I could possibly go away. I was thinking of looking for a last minute vacancy on something related to the Tour but then this came up: https://pyreneesmultisport.com/tours/tour-of-the-basque-country/ Basically Vuelta al país Vasco. 100-120km per day and about 2000m climbing. I figure it will be a good mid-season thing – not so hard you need weeks to recover from it, but nice to get away and have a week of cycling. We’ve also booked a holiday to Yorkshire later in July. Mainly… Read more »
Chronicling Advent with my Kwaremont beer glass. Let Advent-ing begin!
Day 2
Third day of Advent
This is shaping up to be a great collection!
Today’s beer is a Belgian white, which is appropos for my Kwaremont glass!
Fourth day of Advent
Catching up … Day 5. I’m not the biggest fan of wheat beer, but this was good. Plus … beer.
Sixth day of Advent is an IPA … my fave.
Seventh day of Advent … only 18 more to go!
Hic!
So I’m coming up the back of our local hill yesterday. I wasn’t pushing hard but I was at better than cruise when this person cruises by on a shopper style e-bike and says a cheery “Hi”!
I think she must have turned it up to max to catch and pass me as about 25 metres up the road she slowed to about the same pace as me.
But on a SHOPPER?!
Ideas needed – My wife’s Nr.1 rear mech/shifter issue. Shifts up and down the gears just lovely, until you put it in the biggest sprocket, and then it wont shift out again. As you press the shifter there’s no click. You can get it to move by pressing the shifter and manually pulling the cable through at the downtube, after which it shifts fine again until you move it to the biggest sprocket. One idea I had was that the top jockey was fouling on the biggest sprocket and causing a jam – but it’s not that. There is plenty… Read more »
1. Check the shifter by disconnecting the cables and check that the shifter clicks right through the range. If it does not spray in some teflon spray lube, dry it and check again. 2. With the cables disconnected push the rear mech through its full range (by hand) and check that it springs back easily. Lube the spring and pivots. 3. While you have the cable disconnected from the mech, put the shifter in highest gear (smallest cog), then push the cable back through the shifter to expose about 10 cm of wire (at the shifter end). Check for no… Read more »
Or just turn it into a fixie!
I have to share this because it’s f*ing hilarious. https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a29021035/does-cycling-apparel-matter/ Style matters. In fact, many of us want to look good almost more than we want to go fast, and I can’t think of an activity or sport in which worrying about your looks while exercising matters just as much—or more—as doing the actual activity. Here is an example: If your friend drops you on a climb, you’ll settle into thinking that you are alone on a mountain looking as good as Fausto Coppi, and that will make up for the humiliation of being dropped by that same friend, who… Read more »
That is quite funny – not sure I ever thought I was Coppi but there was a time when I used to think, when someone passed me and distanced me “Yeah, but I bet he/she has not done / is not doing as many Km as me”.
Now I get passed more often so I think “Yeah, but I bet he/she is not as old as me”!
Not withstanding I have had a decent excuse recently per https://ontherivet.net/rediscovering-the-hum/
Thumthing thtung me on the lipth. I’ve always had an irrational (?) fear of swallowing a wasp/bee and getting stung in the mouth/throat. Given the number of flies that seem to have a death wish of flying straight down my throat I’m not so sure that it is totally irrational. Anyway, it was emphasised today when I got stung on the lip. Looking on the upside, I guess I should be grateful that said beastie dug its anchor into my lip in a desperate, last ditch attempt (successful!) not to end up going down my throat. On balance though, I’d… Read more »
All change for me. I have 1 week of work, then 2 weeks holiday, and then 4 remaining weeks in the job I’ve held for the last 12 years. So that will be the end of my regular extended (45km round trip) commutes that I use for training rides. So I expect I’ll be back on the turbo through the winter. I’ve also self-diagnosed my breathing problems as nothing more as a mild allergy to our guinea pigs. Doesn’t affect me at all in day-to-day life but when I’m on the rivet I’ve lost that bit of extra lung capacity.… Read more »
Best Wishes for the new venture.
Nice for the lad, hope he’s thrilled.
You going afar or over to the New Forest?
Down to Cornwall, the lizard. I expect to be doing more surfing and paddleboarding but I’ll have room for the bike.
For anyone who listens to The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe… I’m on it this week.
One of their sponsors is an insurance company called Laka and after my recent claim they asked me to do a little segment about the experience (which was genuinely brilliant by the way).
Do you have a link to it?
I do: https://audioboom.com/posts/7336176-a-sad-week-in-cycling
Or you can get it through pretty much any podcast service.
It’s not a bad show – I don’t mean just the one with me – generally they have a pretty good take on things.
OK, so it’s not Alpe d’huez or Mt Ventoux, but I did about 350km last week in the very lumpy Ozark mountains, over 5000m of climbing in hot and humid conditions. I took a terrible snapshot from up on a ridge overlooking the lake. It’s a million dollar view, but in my photo shows about 100 dollars worth. I didn’t want to intrude on the people’s property to get a better vantage point.
Stunning steed, by the way.
Drove to Bédoin where I did Mt Ventoux
Nice!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. A friend’s father lives about 40k from Mount Ventoux and has invited me to come and ride the mountain. He has also invited me to a ride tour of the Alps that he is organizing next summer. I have a feeling I know where my vacation will be spent next year!
Awesome and inspiring pics!
Much better temp (cooler) today for a 100 Km ride. Came across a guy on the other side of the road fixing a puncture, called “Are you OK” as I went by and he replied “Just about”. Hmmm, so I thought I’d best loop back. He had ripped shorts and a lump the size of an egg on his forehead. Turned out he got a Bee in his helmet and was shaking his head to get it out and clipped the curb, punctured and went over the bars. His bike must have gone flying as both sides of his handlebars… Read more »
Ouch. That sounds sore. That’s a comedy crash I haven’t had yet. I did get a puncture 2 weeks ago riding a dirty jump too fast. On my road bike. Commuting.
Had that once too. Hurt the whole ride and stayed for 2 weeks or so
Knock on wood, I have not had that experience yet. I am allergic to bee stings and always pack and epipen in my jersey pocket
I’ve had the comedy tumble years ago when I got a fly or some insect in and under my glasses. That paled to the other night. Gorgeous evening and went for a ride after several days on work-related inactivity. About 10 miles in I was passing a house I’ve ridden by many times. Out of nowhere comes a boxer-mastiff hybrid barking like crazy. I start yelling to anyone within earshot to get their f*cking dog under control. The owner comes racing out yelling at the dogs (there were three, but only one threatening me). Just before the owner scared the… Read more »
Yikes! Hope you heal up OK and no infection.
I’ve been told that the thing to do in that situation is to get off your bike and put your bike between you and your dog. The fact that you’re not moving does a lot to make the dog not want to chase you down. And putting the bike between you and the dog creates a barrier of sorts that might put the dog off.
Indeed hope it will heal quickly. At least you have a valid excuse to run now!
I did a MTB downhill ride last Monday. Wearing cleats. No arm or knee protection. Not a good idea. Fell 5 times and chain dropped off twice. Won’t post pics of the wounds or the Picassos that are adorning my butt. Very colourful…
Saw a headline on one of the tabloids that 11 Football Stars (Soccer) had tested positive but none have been suspended. Always suspected Football (Soccer) likely had issues but with the money involved it would be covered up.
Weather today….
Today Alpe d´Huez, 6 mins faster than yesterday-
Nice – cooler weather helped?
Yes and just not stopping!
Were you also watching the TdF mountain stages?
No time and still quite far away
I did do the Limburg Eroica a couple of weeks ago too. 125kms in 34 degrees. And end of this week, going to France for Alpe d’huez, Mont Ventoux and the Tour de Meyrueis as described in The Runner written by Tim Krabbé. So still serious about cycling! Oh, I also did 814kms in a week in Mallorca end of April/early May.
Hey all ye… been busy so not spent a lot of time here but would like to announce a new born n+1, a Koga of course, my number 6, which on Strava will be lovingly referenced as the Koga #54 TeeTee
There be a beast for sure! Can you catch up with it to actually ride it?
Wow. Love all the Dura-Ace kit. Very smart and good to see you around again.
Its nick Name already became The Mean Beast. I rode it 3 times before a TT I had last Saturday. I was 2.5 mins faster than last year. It was a relay triathlon (rule #42 and all) where I did the cycling leg (Company Triathlon, my Company won the overall competition. I organised it now for the 3rd time, we had 72 teams of 3 colleagues each). It did involve running from the transition zone to the road, I am reluctant to admit… Running in cleats is not great. But I took up a bit of running this year so… Read more »
I see Frank has tidied up the old site but removed all the comment features.
Did it seem to you like there was more advertising there?
Yeah, that did strike me too when I took a peek.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/49026538
Bet Wiggo is happy.
If that had been the result on the day, would he have been leader in the TdF the following year(s) over Wiggo?
Brailsford has just said that Froome has been sat on a bike turning over the pedals one legged already.
Just stuck a photo of my bike up:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/british-road-championships-2019/elite-mens-road-race/results/
So unless I misread this, Swift basically chased down his teammate who was on his way to a national RR championship? Nice.
You can imagine it the bar – “Sorry mate, I thought you were giving me a leadout there”………
Happy Birthday to Eddy Merckx.
Interesting read. I knew there was a reason I planned my rides around Coffee and Cake stops…….
Thanks for posting this. I do some weights?stretching over the winter. Apparently your skeleton needs some load-bearing activity to keep bones strong. (And I’m probably guilty of the underfuelling thing too . . .)
I decided this year to keep lifting after winter. Just once a week. And a very specific leg workout. Plus I’m actually increasing weight from what I was lifting at the end of winter. I’ve found that I have more power (based on feel, not actual power meter data) than I probably would’ve had otherwise. It’s more noticeable when I ride my #steelisreal Hollands that has old school 53-39 Belgian compact chainrings with 12-26 cassette (compared to 50-36 with 11-30 on my Felt). I have to muscle the Hollands up inclines and I’m surprisingly able to do that.
I have thought about this a lot. Some people seem to think that less food = lighter = better. On a long audax I spend virtually the whole ride eating and as a result I tend to be the strongest towards the end of the ride. Eating is not cheating, it’s common sense.
My main buddy does not eat on the go and a few of times we have been on out on long rides he has hit the wall. Like you I eat on the go and I think I can only remember hitting the wall once – and that was in dreadful weather when it was hard to eat.
I must do an article on my home made energy bars.
I’m the guy that people look at wondering how I can eat that much during a ride…banana in one pocket, orange slices in the other. Peanut Butter on wheat shoved in a pocket with the spare tube. Pack of powered donuts at the gas station at the turn around….2 hour ride or 6 hours, i’m stuffing my face…
Yeh, that’s me too. But it pays off at the end of a long ride. One one 200km Audax I did a 50km turn on the front to drag everyone home when they were all flagging and going strong.
One little trick I’ve found for getting the calories in on a long ride is taking some sachets of energy drink with me and putting them in every time I refill my bidons. I can carry 1000 calories like that, folded up in my pockets.
Having had to cancel my spring training camp because of work I had a narrow window in July where I could possibly go away. I was thinking of looking for a last minute vacancy on something related to the Tour but then this came up: https://pyreneesmultisport.com/tours/tour-of-the-basque-country/ Basically Vuelta al país Vasco. 100-120km per day and about 2000m climbing. I figure it will be a good mid-season thing – not so hard you need weeks to recover from it, but nice to get away and have a week of cycling. We’ve also booked a holiday to Yorkshire later in July. Mainly… Read more »
I’ve fancied the Raid Pyrenean but I’d struggle to string those days together at the moment.
Cool collectors item, anyone know if/where they are on sale?
This seems like an appropriate place for this. My latest review for PEZ. DannyShane. Classy and classic. https://www.pezcyclingnews.com/technspec/dannyshane-classic-and-classy-kit-cycle-clothing/
Simply and classy. I like.
I’ve been a bit absent but I have been riding, and I’ve put up a new ‘Rides’ article.