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.
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 paÃs 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 »
Alas, good luck with that. Strack burned most of the “keepers” and they were all apparently buddies. Very sad that it all had to end with such bad feelings and acrimony.
KogaLover
If he does, it may mean I get my cap and other stuff finally?
Stunning weather here. Only issue is that I’m not sure which was the palest – my legs or my (white) jersey………
Wiscot
I have a strategy for such early season situations as the ghostly guns: a pair of super white shoes and socks. Certainly helps diminish the glare!
davidbeers
A women’s cycling icon of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, Rebecca Twigg, has ridden a tough road for a number of years since winning two Silver Olympic medals. The author of this article in the Seattle Times has hinted at a possible effort for cyclists to support her. Watch this space…
So sad when anyone’s life goes off the rails but it’s got to be tough for any sportsperson who has to start a new life (usually quite young) when their sports career comes to an end. I’d like to think that more is done these days to prep people for the end of their sporting time but I’d guess the reality is somewhat patchy and varies considerably between countries too.
I’ve been riding my carbon tubs on my #1 for just about every ride the last two years. I had a fatal puncture a couple of weeks ago, so I have to wait for new tires. Stan’s sealant got me home, but the tire won’t hold full pressure anymore. So, I put on my Record/Ambrosio alum box section tubs last weekend – I had forgotten how good they feel, just wonderful. I won’t be in too much of a hurry to get the carbon wheels back on the road.
On my ride yesterday on a long uphill drag. Catching two other folk in the distance. As I near it seems that it is a couple and that the wife has been dropped by hubby some 50 metres up the road. The wife happens to be in a red jersey and black shorts, as am I. So as I pass I say “This might surprise your husband as someone in red and black passes him”. She replies “Yes, give him some real grief as you pass him”. Shortly later I pass hubby. Before I have a chance to say anything… Read more »
I think I’d have had to have pushed her, don’t think towing would have worked at the speed she was going!
sthilzy
My 13 year old Peldalwan leading me through Sandown racecourse (Melbourne) that I use to race with Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club as a Juvenile waaay back in 1985! Geez he’s got some kick! 45km/h out of the corner!
Sad news this week. We lost a friend and occasional riding buddy to Bowel Cancer, RIP Tim, my friend. May the wind be always behind you. Ride on my friend, it was a privilege knowing you.
sthilzy
Amen
Wiscot
I read that too. Pretty cool cruising around with BW and having a few coffee and cake stops.
Said farewell to Tim on Tuesday. Very moving ceremony. Next week I will have to go and do the Tuesday MTB Loop we used to do after work (most in the dark with lights) when we were working together in Dorking. Good memories.
Well now I’ve got some sort of diagnosis, it’s exacerbated asthma brought on by a lingering chest infection. Possibly since the illness at Christmas, probably not helped by my cracked rib after my argument with a car door. Anyway, antibiotics and bumped up asthma meds (TdF here I come). Fortunately I see an understanding nurse at my doctors who gets it that my breathing isn’t right even when my peak flow is around 700. It’s all fine when sub-threshold, but as soon as I go into the red my breathing is a real struggle. So racing is off the cards… Read more »
I finally, finally feel as if I’m over all injuries and illnesses and can start training. Our first RR of the year was last Sunday and I missed it – I was nowhere near race shape. Sad thing is, with any sort of form I think it’s the sort of race I could have placed top 10.
I’m not sure how motivated I am to Road Race this year – it’s more or less a whole day out, a whole load of stress and danger and the outcome is already known – I wont win.
Bummer about illness, injury, out-of-race-shape-ness, lack of motivation and so on, but I envy you about the road racing season having started. We are well over a month away from that here, today we have a weather and traffic warning due a massive blizzard!
I’m slowly getting back into it, and my legs are feeling fine but since Christmas I’ve felt like I just can’t get my breathing going properly. I have asthma so that sometimes happens but I feel like I’ve got a chest cold – but I’ve had it for months. Somewhat frustrating.
The middle 200kms are supposed to be some of the best riding in Wales!
MangoDave
My fitness so far is poor this season. I’ll be near Wales in late May for a week, but I doubt I’ll have enough time to ride in the area. First trip to the UK for me.
Yeah I saw that too. What an idiot. I wonder whether he was an objector to road closures or something. He was lucky not to be seriously injured (or worse) and similar for the riders.
If that’s his normal mode of road crossing then surely he will soon be selected out of the gene pool.
Wiscot
I don’t think the pedestrian even looked in the direction of the riders. I think the police/marshalls have to be faulted too. They were not paying attention or doing their job. I’ve marshaled a few crits here in the US (part of the America’s Dairyland series) – one thing that always freaks spectators out is just how fast riders can go – in this case almost 60 kph. The woman with the dog was a scary moment too.
KogaLover
Ditto and ditto
KogaLover
Yo @Teocalli… I just want to upload a normal picture for my profile but why do I need to go via Gravatar. Me no wants to Globaly Recognised Avatar. Me wants to be able to hide in the pain cave.
This should now be fixed. If you go to your profile (top right) you should find an Avatar option and be able to upload an image locally (or even use an existing image in the media library).
KogaLover
Mmmm. I see 3 options when I click right upper on “Howdy, KogaLover”: KogaLover, Edit My Profile and Log out. Option 1 and 2 link to the same page, where I still only can see the Gravatar option to change the picture.
Ah – try again now I have tweaked the settings………….
KogaLover
Awesome!
KogaLover
Planning to go cycling for a week in Mallorca; last week April-early May, Saturday till Saturday. Anyone else happens to be there then? Will be alone so looking for some post ride recovery drink banter partner.
I had booked a place and then also booked an event that does the first stage of the Tour de France with my main cycling buddy and subsequently realised they were the same day.
Doh!
So will not be in Limburg this year.
KogaLover
Q: what page should I look at if I want to see all posts? I prefer not to have to go from page to page to see whatsa’been’happening?
Hmmm – you can’t! I guess that’s the downside of having more pages/topics but if you click on “Recents” to the right of “Comments” on top right of the page you can see the summary of what has been posted.
I wish the Plugin would let me change the heading for Recents but it doesn’t. Nuts that it does allow me to change the Comments one. Will have to complain to the authors on that one.
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.
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 paÃs 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.
How far does 6 week’s training get you…………
`‘
Been thinking of having another trip to the Lakes sometime………..
It’s all in the mind anyway.
I had hoped we were moving to early Summer but we seem to be back to Winter.
Actually it wasn’t too bad out but I did have full leggings, windproof jersey and gilet…….
Thought I posted it yesterday but must gotten lost: the bus to pick me up from the airport at Mallorca yesterday was late. No wonder
Brilliant!
From the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia 2019
There’s a strong Ozzie connection with these steeds!
Anyone else visited recently?
Big banner saying Velominati.com having emergence updates. By who? For what purpose?
Strange…
Been like that for quite a while now……oh, I see what you mean.
Maybe Frank is going back to the core of The Rules or at least needs them visible as a vehicle for his other stuff.
F*ck Frank! Wanker!
Ditto!
Still owes me dough for “cuff-links”!
Alas, good luck with that. Strack burned most of the “keepers” and they were all apparently buddies. Very sad that it all had to end with such bad feelings and acrimony.
If he does, it may mean I get my cap and other stuff finally?
Stunning weather here. Only issue is that I’m not sure which was the palest – my legs or my (white) jersey………
I have a strategy for such early season situations as the ghostly guns: a pair of super white shoes and socks. Certainly helps diminish the glare!
A women’s cycling icon of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, Rebecca Twigg, has ridden a tough road for a number of years since winning two Silver Olympic medals. The author of this article in the Seattle Times has hinted at a possible effort for cyclists to support her. Watch this space…
So sad when anyone’s life goes off the rails but it’s got to be tough for any sportsperson who has to start a new life (usually quite young) when their sports career comes to an end. I’d like to think that more is done these days to prep people for the end of their sporting time but I’d guess the reality is somewhat patchy and varies considerably between countries too.
An article about Bradley Wiggins cruising around in Flanders……..
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/apr/06/bradley-wiggins-tour-of-flanders-cycling-climbs-cafes-flemish-ardennes?fbclid=IwAR2izmXZQhF2xWTrGhA4iblc5eRi6RukZxNyoeZaU0SD_C0wfLUgq97I3vI
I’ve been riding my carbon tubs on my #1 for just about every ride the last two years. I had a fatal puncture a couple of weeks ago, so I have to wait for new tires. Stan’s sealant got me home, but the tire won’t hold full pressure anymore. So, I put on my Record/Ambrosio alum box section tubs last weekend – I had forgotten how good they feel, just wonderful. I won’t be in too much of a hurry to get the carbon wheels back on the road.
On my ride yesterday on a long uphill drag. Catching two other folk in the distance. As I near it seems that it is a couple and that the wife has been dropped by hubby some 50 metres up the road. The wife happens to be in a red jersey and black shorts, as am I. So as I pass I say “This might surprise your husband as someone in red and black passes him”. She replies “Yes, give him some real grief as you pass him”. Shortly later I pass hubby. Before I have a chance to say anything… Read more »
You should’ve towed his wife up to him and then taken her past him.
I think I’d have had to have pushed her, don’t think towing would have worked at the speed she was going!
My 13 year old Peldalwan leading me through Sandown racecourse (Melbourne) that I use to race with Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club as a Juvenile waaay back in 1985! Geez he’s got some kick! 45km/h out of the corner!
Sad news this week. We lost a friend and occasional riding buddy to Bowel Cancer, RIP Tim, my friend. May the wind be always behind you. Ride on my friend, it was a privilege knowing you.
Amen
I read that too. Pretty cool cruising around with BW and having a few coffee and cake stops.
Said farewell to Tim on Tuesday. Very moving ceremony. Next week I will have to go and do the Tuesday MTB Loop we used to do after work (most in the dark with lights) when we were working together in Dorking. Good memories.
Well now I’ve got some sort of diagnosis, it’s exacerbated asthma brought on by a lingering chest infection. Possibly since the illness at Christmas, probably not helped by my cracked rib after my argument with a car door. Anyway, antibiotics and bumped up asthma meds (TdF here I come). Fortunately I see an understanding nurse at my doctors who gets it that my breathing isn’t right even when my peak flow is around 700. It’s all fine when sub-threshold, but as soon as I go into the red my breathing is a real struggle. So racing is off the cards… Read more »
Sounds encouraging to have a route forwards.
Not sure where to put this, so I’m throwing it out here. MSR by the numbers.
I finally, finally feel as if I’m over all injuries and illnesses and can start training. Our first RR of the year was last Sunday and I missed it – I was nowhere near race shape. Sad thing is, with any sort of form I think it’s the sort of race I could have placed top 10.
I’m not sure how motivated I am to Road Race this year – it’s more or less a whole day out, a whole load of stress and danger and the outcome is already known – I wont win.
Bummer about illness, injury, out-of-race-shape-ness, lack of motivation and so on, but I envy you about the road racing season having started. We are well over a month away from that here, today we have a weather and traffic warning due a massive blizzard!
I ought to arrange to come over to Cardiff or the Gower for a ride before you get too fit again!
Sounds good. I’m doing this in May if you fancy coming. http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-288/
I’m slowly getting back into it, and my legs are feeling fine but since Christmas I’ve felt like I just can’t get my breathing going properly. I have asthma so that sometimes happens but I feel like I’ve got a chest cold – but I’ve had it for months. Somewhat frustrating.
Errr – I’ll have to see if I can arrange something else for that weekend so that I’m not available……..!
The middle 200kms are supposed to be some of the best riding in Wales!
My fitness so far is poor this season. I’ll be near Wales in late May for a week, but I doubt I’ll have enough time to ride in the area. First trip to the UK for me.
Near Wales? Assume you mean England. Let us know if you want any tips for your visit.
Could be going to Lundy………
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pedestrian-takes-out-majka-gatto-in-tirreno-adriatico-ttt/
WTF? As far as I can see, the pedestrian didn’t even look in the direction of the riders!
Yeah I saw that too. What an idiot. I wonder whether he was an objector to road closures or something. He was lucky not to be seriously injured (or worse) and similar for the riders.
If that’s his normal mode of road crossing then surely he will soon be selected out of the gene pool.
I don’t think the pedestrian even looked in the direction of the riders. I think the police/marshalls have to be faulted too. They were not paying attention or doing their job. I’ve marshaled a few crits here in the US (part of the America’s Dairyland series) – one thing that always freaks spectators out is just how fast riders can go – in this case almost 60 kph. The woman with the dog was a scary moment too.
Ditto and ditto
Yo @Teocalli… I just want to upload a normal picture for my profile but why do I need to go via Gravatar. Me no wants to Globaly Recognised Avatar. Me wants to be able to hide in the pain cave.
As far as I know that is the way WordPress works but I’ll see if I can find some option or Plugin that lets us use a local one.
Hmmm – just did a quick search and seems here are some Plugins I can look at. Will look next week or the following when I get back from Tuscany.
This should now be fixed. If you go to your profile (top right) you should find an Avatar option and be able to upload an image locally (or even use an existing image in the media library).
Mmmm. I see 3 options when I click right upper on “Howdy, KogaLover”: KogaLover, Edit My Profile and Log out. Option 1 and 2 link to the same page, where I still only can see the Gravatar option to change the picture.
Do you not see Avatar per the following under Edit My Profile……
Ah – try again now I have tweaked the settings………….
Awesome!
Planning to go cycling for a week in Mallorca; last week April-early May, Saturday till Saturday. Anyone else happens to be there then? Will be alone so looking for some post ride recovery drink banter partner.
I was toying with something like that sometime but possibly next year not this one.
What about Eroica Limburg this year?
I had booked a place and then also booked an event that does the first stage of the Tour de France with my main cycling buddy and subsequently realised they were the same day.
Doh!
So will not be in Limburg this year.
Q: what page should I look at if I want to see all posts? I prefer not to have to go from page to page to see whatsa’been’happening?
Hmmm – you can’t! I guess that’s the downside of having more pages/topics but if you click on “Recents” to the right of “Comments” on top right of the page you can see the summary of what has been posted.
I wish the Plugin would let me change the heading for Recents but it doesn’t. Nuts that it does allow me to change the Comments one. Will have to complain to the authors on that one.