Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.stapfam
06-10-07, 09:07 AM
Must be the thought of a new bike but went out for my hill training this morning and a couple of startling observations came about. I forgot the I Pod but actually turned round and picked it up. It's got the music I like to listen to on it And has a range of cadence on it from Slog up the hills at 70 to find a lower gear and spin- 110. It is set up to give me about 80 cadence for the first 5 minutes then a warm up for 10 minutes of 110.
Down for a coffee after 20 miles or so and just a lemon drizzle cake. Reason was for the next bit that was a 10%er that I have been trying out on multiple climbs. On the approach, cadence was running at around 70 in high gear and mashing in time to the music but just as I started- it went up to 100. Didn't think of it but I only have so many low gears on the bike but decided to try and keep to 100 up the hill. I did it. That was a shock but I did not fancy another trip up like that. So down to the bottom and find a more sensible bit of music. Can't remember the track but the cadence was more sensible this time. Only trouble was the first high speed in not a low enough gear had taken it out of me. Just as I was thinking of turning the I Pod off- the cadence changed to "These are the days of my life" by Queen. Boy was I glad, long slow mash and I made it again. That was enough for the day so it was back down to the cafe and another coffee and a rest- and another cake. It was crowded outside as the sun was shining and the temp was up in the high 70's. Found a table and seat and a couple of other cyclists joined me. Full roadies-you know the sort- 6' of muscle and sinew. and all the gear including the C.F. Bikes. A Trek and a Red thing- don't know what it was. Got talking and where have you been-Told them and that was where they were going. EXCEPT- they were taking the easy route up the Zig Zags and not straight up. I told them about the testing route but they had already done 15 miles and the zig zags were just going to finish the ride. Bl&&dy poseurs!!
Then it was time to get some miles in on the flat but boy was I tired. Slow ride back but that damn I Pod had different ideas. Then it was time to try out riding in the drops- Something I have done occasionally but not for long. Back ache comes in. Not today though- Except for where I had to slow down in traffic- I was in the drops for the whole of the 10 miles back. Didn't find it uncomfortable- Had full control on the steering and the only awkward part was when I wanted to change up on the sora shifters. Had to go onto the hoods to do it.
So getting ready for my climb tomorrow to give support to jppe. I have a hill I have only done on an MTB with lower gearing and this is a 20%er. The road only goes up to the top of the hill so would not be on a Roadies route. So believe me when I say- That I will know how JPPE is going to feel on his hard ride. Even if it is only for a fraction of the time that he will be riding.
Down for a coffee after 20 miles or so and just a lemon drizzle cake. Reason was for the next bit that was a 10%er that I have been trying out on multiple climbs. On the approach, cadence was running at around 70 in high gear and mashing in time to the music but just as I started- it went up to 100. Didn't think of it but I only have so many low gears on the bike but decided to try and keep to 100 up the hill. I did it. That was a shock but I did not fancy another trip up like that. So down to the bottom and find a more sensible bit of music. Can't remember the track but the cadence was more sensible this time. Only trouble was the first high speed in not a low enough gear had taken it out of me. Just as I was thinking of turning the I Pod off- the cadence changed to "These are the days of my life" by Queen. Boy was I glad, long slow mash and I made it again. That was enough for the day so it was back down to the cafe and another coffee and a rest- and another cake. It was crowded outside as the sun was shining and the temp was up in the high 70's. Found a table and seat and a couple of other cyclists joined me. Full roadies-you know the sort- 6' of muscle and sinew. and all the gear including the C.F. Bikes. A Trek and a Red thing- don't know what it was. Got talking and where have you been-Told them and that was where they were going. EXCEPT- they were taking the easy route up the Zig Zags and not straight up. I told them about the testing route but they had already done 15 miles and the zig zags were just going to finish the ride. Bl&&dy poseurs!!
Then it was time to get some miles in on the flat but boy was I tired. Slow ride back but that damn I Pod had different ideas. Then it was time to try out riding in the drops- Something I have done occasionally but not for long. Back ache comes in. Not today though- Except for where I had to slow down in traffic- I was in the drops for the whole of the 10 miles back. Didn't find it uncomfortable- Had full control on the steering and the only awkward part was when I wanted to change up on the sora shifters. Had to go onto the hoods to do it.
So getting ready for my climb tomorrow to give support to jppe. I have a hill I have only done on an MTB with lower gearing and this is a 20%er. The road only goes up to the top of the hill so would not be on a Roadies route. So believe me when I say- That I will know how JPPE is going to feel on his hard ride. Even if it is only for a fraction of the time that he will be riding.