Cycling thread

[Bruce Wayne]

Another noob question here: is my balance on the bike going to improve with time on the bike or do I need to practice this skill to improve it? Don't feel out of sorts around corners and such, but even simple things like pulling out food and opening packages makes me nervous, and I'd never try putting on or pulling off a jacket while moving. I did recently move up to larger continental 4-season tires (was riding bananaskins) so that should help some, but that won't solve poor balance.

If you have a local park or something, you might be able to find somewhere quiet to practice. I wasn't happy with my descending so in the absence of any decent switchbacks to practice on here, I found a circuit in my local park and did some laps to practice cornering, and as @Black Belt Jones says, looking out of the corner rather than into it. You could also practice getting things out of your pockets and stuff. In the meantime, if that is an issue, you can always use a bag on your top tube to put some food in.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Have you ever done a triathlon mate? If yes, then you'll never be able to handle a bike, they change people

IDK practice I suppose and time in the saddle will make you more confident. I learnt off-road, but the single biggest difference maker I can remember is looking where you want to go (round the corner), not where you don't want to go. You've prob heard that before but it is huge for bike handling - your whole body adjusts it's weight and balance according to where your head is focussing.

Yes, looking in the right direction is something I've read and experienced a little (no crashes yet) and will take some time. Not required as much for running.

I'm planning to complete a triathlon next year, although I have to learn to swim first. (And learn to run again.) After that experience I'll decide what to do going forward. There's a pretty large triathlon community locally, for better or worse.

 

[SerenityNigh]

If you have a local park or something, you might be able to find somewhere quiet to practice. I wasn't happy with my descending so in the absence of any decent switchbacks to practice on here, I found a circuit in my local park and did some laps to practice cornering, and as @Black Belt Jones says, looking out of the corner rather than into it. You could also practice getting things out of your pockets and stuff. In the meantime, if that is an issue, you can always use a bag on your top tube to put some food in.

Getting food out of pockets hasn't been too much yet (although I felt like I was going to pull a muscle reaching back there a few times) but trying to rip open the package while leaning on the bars without swerving and crashing. I guess I should just rip it open with my teeth. I actually feel ok on corners and such, when I'm focused on the exit (although I don't really take them fast) but it's the boring straights with other activities that make me worried.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Getting food out of pockets hasn't been too much yet (although I felt like I was going to pull a muscle reaching back there a few times) but trying to rip open the package while leaning on the bars without swerving and crashing. I guess I should just rip it open with my teeth. I actually feel ok on corners and such, when I'm focused on the exit (although I don't really take them fast) but it's the boring straights with other activities that make me worried.

I don't tend to use bars these days, but when I did and had worked out my feeding pretty accurately, I'd always open the bars before hand so it made it that bit easier to eat on the go. They're generally pretty processed anyway so no issue with them getting hard etc.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I don't tend to use bars these days, but when I did and had worked out my feeding pretty accurately, I'd always open the bars before hand so it made it that bit easier to eat on the go. They're generally pretty processed anyway so no issue with them getting hard etc.

I'm sure I will learn new habits but I like gels and small bars; never ate anything except a gel when running but then they're easier to handle when running as well.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

The UK 100 mile TT record was broken at the weekend - Jonathan Schubert did it sub 3 hrs at an avg speed of 33.7mph.

This humble custom TT bike has just been ridden to a new sub-3-hour 100-mile record

We take a close look at Jonathan Shubert’s record-breaking Giant Trinity Advanced SL

www.bikeradar.com

Ten sub-18min ten mile TT efforts back to back - an amazing ride from an amateur athlete. Interesting that he did the whole thing off a mere 282 W, meaning 4.2 W/kg for him, which is like a strong club level power output. But he's an absolute aero technician, which is what TTing is really all about.

Even more interesting - he used an aero-belly! Camelback down the front of the skinsuit. Anyone who's done a bit of TTing will have seen some chunky individuals going very fast, and the belly is a proven Watts-saver.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Well done Hugh Carthy on making the podium of a grand tour for the first time in his career, maybe a stepping stone for even better to come in the near future?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Well done Hugh Carthy on making the podium of a grand tour for the first time in his career, maybe a stepping stone for even better to come in the near future?

Apparently 24 British riders in the pro ranks now, with only 9 of those at INEOS. Shows the decent depth in talent in the country. Flying somewhat under the radar is James Knox, who was I think 11th in the Vuelta last year, and 14th in the Giro. That's decent as he was supporting other riders in both, and Quickstep aren't really a GT squad.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Dylan Groenewegen got walloped with a big ban for causing that crash in the Tour of Poland - 9 months.

Chopping the line is seen fairly regularly in sprints, just had severe consequences this time - guess the UCI felt it was time to make an example of someone and recalibrate things.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Time for another newb question: what are the ethics of handling an annoying dog on your regular circuit? Mostly it's been a game of how fast can he run, but I know this is a dangerous game. Can I pepper spray this dog or is there a better way? Sprayed him with a water bottle this morning but when I returned on the loop he was waiting for me.

 

[tommye]

Time for another newb question: what are the ethics of handling an annoying dog on your regular circuit? Mostly it's been a game of how fast can he run, but I know this is a dangerous game. Can I pepper spray this dog or is there a better way? Sprayed him with a water bottle this morning but when I returned on the loop he was waiting for me.

Shoot it and be done with the pest

 

[tommye]

Time for another newb question: what are the ethics of handling an annoying dog on your regular circuit? Mostly it's been a game of how fast can he run, but I know this is a dangerous game. Can I pepper spray this dog or is there a better way? Sprayed him with a water bottle this morning but when I returned on the loop he was waiting for me.

Oh and pics or GTFO

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Time for another newb question: what are the ethics of handling an annoying dog on your regular circuit? Mostly it's been a game of how fast can he run, but I know this is a dangerous game. Can I pepper spray this dog or is there a better way? Sprayed him with a water bottle this morning but when I returned on the loop he was waiting for me.

Do the same route in your car...swerve; job done.

 

[peteblue]

Another noob question here: is my balance on the bike going to improve with time on the bike or do I need to practice this skill to improve it? Don't feel out of sorts around corners and such, but even simple things like pulling out food and opening packages makes me nervous, and I'd never try putting on or pulling off a jacket while moving. I did recently move up to larger continental 4-season tires (was riding bananaskins) so that should help some, but that won't solve poor balance.

If you have a local park or something, you might be able to find somewhere quiet to practice. I wasn't happy with my descending so in the absence of any decent switchbacks to practice on here, I found a circuit in my local park and did some laps to practice cornering, and as @Black Belt Jones says, looking out of the corner rather than into it. You could also practice getting things out of your pockets and stuff. In the meantime, if that is an issue, you can always use a bag on your top tube to put some food in.

Eating is a doddle mate...



And I can get you some of these for balance...

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Do the same route in your car...swerve; job done.

And, to be clear...I'm implying vehicular dogslaughter.