Introductions - G'day from an old Aussie fart

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warrandyte
06-13-10, 02:14 AM
I just joined this forum because I needed some advice in relation to my new road bike assembly project. Looks like a good forum. I started cycling as an adult firstly on the occasion of losing my driving licence and subsequently for fitness. Bought an Apollo 1V with Shimano 600 stuff in 1980 or thereabouts, and saw no need to replace it until I saw this Specialized TriCross in a shop window while I was waiting for a pizza. 2007 Expert Double. Lovely bike. Also have a 2007 Stumpjumper FSR. I love the Tricross, great for all purposes. Not heavy - it weighs 9.8kg - but after riding the Audax Alpine Classic earlier this year I decided to indulge myself in a lightweight road bike. So I have the carbon frame, SRAM Red group, Specialized Phenom seat, 3T carbon bars, etc etc etc... Haven't fitted the shifters, the front derailleur or the cables yet, but it tips my kitchen scales at under 5kg! A bit limited in my actual riding at present, having broken my wrist trying to avoid a mate who fell in front of me as I proceeded down this mountainside on the Stumpy. For the last 7 weeks I've been riding the Stumpy on the road one handed because I can't change gear on the TriCross. My road riding is all hilly, and my biggest challenge is keeping up with my friends - which I currently can't do. I don't accept the 20 year age difference as the reason!

Juha
06-13-10, 08:12 AM
Cheers and welcome to Bike Forums. Who said pizza is not good for you? :D

--J
cwalton56
06-13-10, 09:53 AM
Aussie,
good to see your not accepting a 20 year difference when it comes to your rides. I definately would work on endurance riding, some long distance to strengthen your over all riding, and maybe work on improving your power to weight ratio, as most of your riding is hilly. Keep up the good work.Hope the wrist heals soon.

warrandyte
06-14-10, 06:46 PM
Aussie,
good to see your not accepting a 20 year difference when it comes to your rides. I definately would work on endurance riding, some long distance to strengthen your over all riding, and maybe work on improving your power to weight ratio, as most of your riding is hilly. Keep up the good work.Hope the wrist heals soon.

Thanks for your good wishes. Weather permitting I ride about 75kms during the week and 90 - 100 at the weekend. This is about right for me, given other demands. I'm 6' 1" and weigh 81kg and I don't leg press more than 200kg out of respect for my reconstructed knees. The consensus seems to be that to increase your power you need to do intervals. I always mean to but then I can't be bothered. But I'd like to know what's going on. We have a benchmark hill we ride up known as the 1 in 20, about 7 km long. My friend does it in 19', I in 23.5'. In the coffee shop at the top one time he and I arm wrestled - about the same, so that's not the answer. He's 48, I'm 67.