Road Cycling - A couple of questions for you.

Are you useing a saddle bag when out riding? or just use your jersey pockets for the essentials cell phone, wallet, keys.
Second is what size gearing are you riding 12-24 etc etc... What do the pros use? I know it all depends on terrain but just give me ballpark.

How many of you ride with your hoods up high like Lance does. Or really low such as the track riders?

Are you useing a saddle bag when out riding? or just use your jersey pockets for the essentials cell phone, wallet, keys.

I use a small saddlebag for my minitool, glueless patchkit, spare tube and spare links and a small bottle of lube. Everything else typically goes in my jersey pockets. Sometimes on a really long ride where I expect to be far away from civilisation or if I need to carry layered clothing such as a jacket then I'll take along my CamelBak as well. I have both a MULE and Lobo.


Second is what size gearing are you riding 12-24 etc etc... What do the pros use? I know it all depends on terrain but just give me ballpark.

I ride a 39/53 double up front and a 12-27 Shimano 9-speed cassette in the back. I am in a pretty hilly terrain and all roads leading up to the plateau where I live exceed 9% grade.


How many of you ride with your hoods up high like Lance does. Or really low such as the track riders?

I used to ride with my drops set so they were level with the ground. This placed my Shimano brake levers in a fully vertical position with the hood pretty much level horizontally. However, last year I angled them up really slightly so that the drops better matched the angle of my wrists when I'm down on them. This also angled my hoods up by a couple of degrees.

Dont copy the gearing of pros, unless you can match their power output. If you have less power, use lower gears.

52-42-32 to 12-25.... 42 & 12-25 works in 90% of my riding. my hoods arent flat with the tops of my bar..but they arent so far down either... it doesnt matter because when i "ride the hoods" im actually gripping the corners of the bar so that im not actually on the hoods...

i split equal time between the drops, "the hoods", and the central flat bar

I use a Jandd seat bag for small stuff, with a tubular folded above it.
I refuse to keep hard objects in jersey pocket. Ever fallen on a minitool
in your jersey pocket? hurts. Cellphone? smashed.
No, I didn't do this but I've seen it.
Running 53/39 campy 8 speed 12-23 in the back. But then I'm in texas
where there really aren't many hills.
I concur don't mimic the pro's, it will kill you knees!

Marty

You should always pedal a 54x11.

Saddlebag for the basic tools, 52/39 up front and 12-25 in the rear, bars up a bit since I moved to Campy and the hoods don't have the Shimano Spike and that was what I was used to.

54x11 is optimal for fixed gear bikes.

And track bikes don't have brake hoods in competition.

i carry all my crap in my courier bag.

48/38 to 13-23. i might switch to a 39 on the inside, but probably not. the 38 gives me enough spin to get up to speed. the 48 allows me to stay there and cruise comfortably.

bullhorns, tilted slightly upward, with STIs on the ends, hoods pointed down, levers pointing back. makes me feel like i'm flying a space ship, everything's right at my fingertips. plus it's comfortable and unique.

i used to carry a saddle bag. Now, I just use my jersey pockets. I carry a cellphone, wallet, patch kit. In my camelbak, I have w/ me my DigiCam, just in case I want to take pics...

For the gearing, I have a 52-42Chain ring. Depending on the ride, I use a 12-21 on mostly flat terrain. But on hilly rides, I use a 12-30T.

Most of the time I'm on the hoods. At some point, I hold the tops for a relaxed position.. When Sprinting, or when there's a huge headwind, I go to the drops..

Are you useing a saddle bag when out riding? or just use your jersey pockets for the essentials cell phone, wallet, keys.

For quick rides or training rides, just a seat wedge bag. If I'm leading a group ride where I plan on taking pics, or needing to use a cell phone, I take an oversized fanny pack. It spins around fast to grab a ringing phone or camera really quick, big enough to hold a light jacket, Power Bars, etc. but a lot less cumbersome than a backpack. Hardly even feel it.


Second is what size gearing are you riding 12-24 etc etc... What do the pros use? I know it all depends on terrain but just give me ballpark.

53/39 Crankset with 13-25 for general riding, swap the cassete with a 12-27 if the ride's got big, steep climbs and fast descents.

If I'm leading a group ride where I plan on taking pics, or needing to use a cell phone, I take an oversized fanny pack. It spins around fast to grab a ringing phone


Taking a cell phone on a ride is like taking it to the movies. Why do you want anyone to call you while you are riding? I know some people will say they need them for an emegrency, in that case turn it off untill you need it.

Taking a cell phone on a ride is like taking it to the movies. Why do you want anyone to call you while you are riding? I know some people will say they need them for an emegrency, in that case turn it off untill you need it.

We do a number of group rides all around the greater Tokyo area that sometimes take considerable amount of coordination. The street system here is horribly complicated and most streets don't even have street names. When new riders come from all directions around the city, a cell phone is invaluable in directing people to where they need to go to meet. Then, when you have multiple ability levels in a fairly long ride, the group gets strung out, and for making sure those leading sub-groups are still on the right path, the fanny pack let's me communicate without having to stop riding. If I'm just riding by myself or with 3 or 4 others, I don't bother with it.

- Ralph

We do a number of group rides all around the greater Tokyo area that sometimes take considerable amount of coordination. The street system here is horribly complicated and most streets don't even have street names. When new riders come from all directions around the city, a cell phone is invaluable in directing people to where they need to go to meet. Then, when you have multiple ability levels in a fairly long ride, the group gets strung out, and for making sure those leading sub-groups are still on the right path, the fanny pack let's me communicate without having to stop riding. If I'm just riding by myself or with 3 or 4 others, I don't bother with it.

- Ralph

Thats cool. ;)

Are you useing a saddle bag when out riding? or just use your jersey pockets for the essentials cell phone, wallet, keys.
Second is what size gearing are you riding 12-24 etc etc... What do the pros use? I know it all depends on terrain but just give me ballpark.

How many of you ride with your hoods up high like Lance does. Or really low such as the track riders?
I'm not lance and cant ride like him so i wouldnt do what he does. Saddlebags,hate the weight of stuff in my pockets. 12-23 i think,as lance i dont race so i dont worry what the pro's do.

I have a small, underseat wedge bag for my flat kit and mini-tool and carry everything else in a fanny pack. For some reason, I cannot easily reach into jersey pockets while riding and when stopped, I look like a very large, ungainly dog chasing its tail.

The fanny pack if perfect for id's, a Clif bar or two, extra Gator-ade powder, cell phone, keys, a $5 bill, an aspirin, a few bandaids and a few wet towelettes. It doesn't really weigh that much and it rides above my rearend quite nicely.

I have been sneered at by those who consider themselves to be "pros," but, then I have rescued a few of them with aspirins, Clif bars, Gator-ade powder, etc.

I also have an under the seat wedge bag. A spare tube, patch kit, medical card, photocopy of my ID, multi tool, $10 bill in a bag, tire levers, some duct tape, and a cut up piece of old tire to use as a boot. The only thing I ever have in my jersey pockets are granola bars.

small seat wedge bag for spare tube, tools, etc.
jersey pockets for ID, med card, money, cell phone (in case of an emergency only, I never answer while on the road), nibbles if I need em, my sleeves when I was done with them today, etc. etc.
my hoods are higher than low. it's a matter of your fit on the bike, what feels good to you.

I also have an under the seat wedge bag. A spare tube, patch kit, medical card, photocopy of my ID, multi tool, $10 bill in a bag, tire levers, some duct tape, and a cut up piece of old tire to use as a boot. The only thing I ever have in my jersey pockets are granola bars.

Same here pretty much, except I stuff the bag - Pedro's race version - in my middle jersey pocket - I hate having stuff on the bike. A few bucks cash is an often overlooked essential.

Oh yeah, and I run a 12-25 usually. I had a 12-23 on my bike for a few days and my legs are still feeling the 10% hill I have to climb to get home.

Small saddlebag to hold:
* spare tube
* patch kit
* mini tool
* tire levers
* zip ties
* A $20 bill, a fiver and 3 singles (for either emergency food, emergency spares, or a temporary tire boot)
* copy of ID and medical card
* mobile phone (fortunately it's a tiny Nokia, so fits nicely)

Jersey pocket only holds food most of the time, occasionally a folded lightweight wind jacket too.

I run a 53-39 crankset with either a 12-27 or 12-23, depending on the riding I'm doing. I don't really care what the pros do - just picked the gearing combination that I liked the best.

Small saddlebag to hold:
* spare tube
* patch kit
* mini tool
* tire levers
* zip ties
* A $20 bill, a fiver and 3 singles (for either emergency food, emergency spares, or a temporary tire boot)
* copy of ID and medical card
* mobile phone (fortunately it's a tiny Nokia, so fits nicely)

Jersey pocket only holds food most of the time, occasionally a folded lightweight wind jacket too.

I run a 53-39 crankset with either a 12-27 or 12-23, depending on the riding I'm doing. I don't really care what the pros do - just picked the gearing combination that I liked the best.

When you change your cassettes from ride to ride, do you have to readjust the b-screw on the rd?

When you change your cassettes from ride to ride, do you have to readjust the b-screw on the rd?
Nope. Very conveniently for me, I can change without any adjustment.

You should always pedal a 54x11.

One legged

Seat pack: tube, patch kit, multi-tool, tire levers, spoke wrench, chain tool, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, and 16mm cone wrenches (2 total)
Left pocket: Fig Newtons/powerbar, room for vest
Middle pocket: plastic bag w/ cell phone, clean bandana/handkerchief, $$$, and ID
Right pocket: chapstick, contact lens cleaner, room for arm warmers

Gearing: 30/42/52 x 13-26. Thinking about replacing cogset with 11-23.

Brake hoods: just above parallel to ground.