Good until the finish.
The ride to Hampton is fine. Hampton to Esk is gorgeous (and a lot downhill). The 30km from Esk to Wivenhoe is dreadfully boring and I spent the hour concentrating on my sore legs and filling my head with self doubt. Finally the Dam appeared and spirits picked up.
Then turned off towards Mt Glorious and it starts getting a little lumpy and I felt okay. Take the last turn before the climb and the Mrs caught me (was going to meet her at the top). Dumped all my winter gear and began the climb…
Got 2km into that first 4.4k/11% section and NOPE. Couldn’t do it. Kept going a bit but the option to call the wife too tempting! She came and collected me.
Would’ve finished the climb but would’ve taken me another hour (or more). I like to climb but that is dead set beyond me. Especially when I’d done 135km and 1500m elevation before it started.
Maybe one day, but not yesterday!
Had to cut the ride short at 30km this morning, the guts decided to not play nice so I came home when I was close.
Looking outside now I'm tempted to kit up and have a slow roll around though. It's beautiful
Checked your Strava and looks like you covered a few of my usual tracks today, i only got out on Saturday this weekend for 25km. Was suppose to do a Father's Day ride with the old man and 2 brothers in law out to Williamstown and back for breakfast, but feeling under the weather so didn't happen for me.
We need to make that ride happen too.
For those that have been riding for awhile, how long do components last? I know my bike did a million km’s before I got it, and I ride it heavily too. But it is only a 2012 model bike. I take care of it but I do wonder what benefit I’d see from replacing parts of the drive train – like bottom bracket and chain rings.
(Read: Give me an excuse to get a more compact set of front cranks 
I've replaced most of the dive train of my bike, although I think I went a bit overdue on most areas.
I replaced my chain at around 5,500km, but I believe this should be done every 4,000 or so (actually, probably due for another new one now...) My BB just started clicking and grinding around 7,000km, so that was replaced and the cables were also long overdue at nearly 9,000. I've not touched the cassette, but am pretty sure that should have gone long ago as well.
Why do you want to go full compact? I have 52/36, mid-compact, and although I btch and moan about wanting an extra, lower, gear when climbing, I reckon this gives a pretty good spread for climbing and flatland speed/sprints (cassette is 11-25). At 50/34, I reckon you'd run out of gears pretty quick in a proper sprint battle...
Nah mid-compact is what I want. The Tarmac I rode had a 52/36 and I really liked it, I've currently got a 53/38. I do have a 29/11 on the back too so laugh away :D
52/36 & 30t here.
I'm the one laughing when I can stay on the big ring an entire race, not have to faff about shifting big/small and put in attacks when everyone has to ease off for their FD shift :) Split seconds count.
Getting about 4000-45000km out of the chain, and double that for the rear cassette. Haven't had to change the front rings yet. Can't really see much wear.
Cables called it quits at the 2nd service (12 months), just short of 10K km.
45000km?? She-ite! :lol:
I am still toying with the idea of swapping to a 28 cassette. My mate has the same on his new Bianchi and just spins up hills (full size rings). I’m finding though, that climbs that I once struggled with in 25, I’m now able to complete mostly in 23, dropping down occasionally for a small rest. Quads of iron!
4500 :D
I have a 50/34 compact, and I find I only ever use the small ring on long, sustained climbs.
I have 52/38. I would like to stay on small ring when it is undulating, but I find when I am on the small ring the chain starts to scrape on the inside of the big chainring when I shift to smaller than about 16 on the rear..
Is this still the case with more modern bikes?
Ate you sure it’s rubbing on the big ring and not cross-chaining against the FD…? You should have a trim function in your left (FD) lever that will alleviate this. Once you get further down the cassette, the rubbing may return though…
Ate you sure it's rubbing on the big ring and not cross-chaining against the FD...? You should have a trim function in your left (FD) lever that will alleviate this. Once you get further down the cassette, the rubbing may return though...
Yeah I'm sure it's big chainring - I'm friction shifting so it's easy to adjust the FD cage when it's not in right place. Plus I've had it up on a stand and replicated situation as I shifted down the cluster.
Then there is also question of distorted chain angle running from small chain ring to smallest cogs on cassette. Are you guys taking right to 11 while on small front ring?
Also on the topic of kits near you, there is a Cairns Cycling Club skinsuit going around in the Womens National Road Series that looks pretty good, although I suspect part of the reason is the wearer.
Had to cut the ride short at 30km this morning, the guts decided to not play nice so I came home when I was close.
Looking outside now I'm tempted to kit up and have a slow roll around though. It's beautiful
Checked your Strava and looks like you covered a few of my usual tracks today, i only got out on Saturday this weekend for 25km. Was suppose to do a Father's Day ride with the old man and 2 brothers in law out to Williamstown and back for breakfast, but feeling under the weather so didn't happen for me.
We need to make that ride happen too.
Yeah, my plan was to go out that way, then either go east and down the Merri Creek path and back or just down Beach Road. My guts felt like crap on the way back so I came in.
And yeah, It might be easier for me to ride up and meet you for one of those loops you do in the morning.
Also: I can't wait until I get guns like you bastards. I'm running 11-25 cassette and 34-50 at the cranks and I struggle on climbs. I reckon that's got more to do with my lack of endurance fitness than my gearing or actual leg strength
Ate you sure it's rubbing on the big ring and not cross-chaining against the FD...? You should have a trim function in your left (FD) lever that will alleviate this. Once you get further down the cassette, the rubbing may return though...
Yeah I'm sure it's big chainring - I'm friction shifting so it's easy to adjust the FD cage when it's not in right place. Plus I've had it up on a stand and replicated situation as I shifted down the cluster.
Then there is also question of distorted chain angle running from small chain ring to smallest cogs on cassette. Are you guys taking right to 11 while on small front ring?
Also on the topic of kits near you, there is a Cairns Cycling Club skinsuit going around in the Womens National Road Series that looks pretty good, although I suspect part of the reason is the wearer.
Yeah, the general rule is not to go little/little or big/big...although I am often in little/little into winds, or if I'm just being lazy. I don't have the big ring rub issue though...
And those CCC suits are dayam sexy...as is any cycling kit on chicks :)
Zipp 30's arrived! :D So excited I didn't even pull them outta the box. Straight down to the bike shop...
I’m afraid we’ll need to see pics, Rolo…
Once I have them (and clean my dreadfully filthy bike) I will do.
BTW they're Zipp 30's, not 303's :P poor man's Zipp's.
Dropped off my bike for a bit of work today (bottom bracket inspection for click, new headset and maybe new stem).
I also said I thought the drivetrain was spinning a bit stiffly. But while I was waiting to be served I rotated the pedals of few of the new bikes backwards and decided they were stiffer than my bike. So I mentioned this to the mechanic who spun my pedals backwards then laughed and said - that's really good, they don't get any better than that!
So given the age of my bike that's a win for my maintenance skills and 'ride mechanic' cleaning and lube products (as mentioned before).