I wear very lightweight full finger gloves, always. The fingers have a mesh back, and there is no padding anywhere on the glove. I see what you are saying about the dexterity, I guess I've just gotten used to it.

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/6719-307_d.jpg

I wear these, SixSixOne 401's

http://www.mmasports.com/sixsixone/i...love-White.jpg

you missed the cookies we brought...few can say no to visitors with cookies.


The wheelset is about a year and a half old, and while I've ridden it almost exclusively I thought the spokes would have a bit longer life than that since other spokes I've used on previous wheels lasted much longer, but I'll certainly consider that possibility too since it's happened so frequently. I'm suspecting it's probably due to the mechanic not checking the tension of the other spokes.

Wait you brought cookies? I didn't hear about any cookies...they better not have been oreo's....

They were PM'd to me. I ate them all, sorry. :burp:

umm...no...they weren't oreos.....of course not....
:innocent:

You Bast'rd!

+1. You'll know it's right when you feel like you're floating over the saddle with anything more than a minimal effort. Sit forward, more spin, sit back, more power.

Because I have been away.

Everything will be better now.... ;)

They are really good for a TT bike because you can make such tight bends with them. I just started running them on my road bike and I think there is something to the closed system. I'm not sure I saw any improvement in braking or shifting, but they do look really cool. If you are patient they are not that hard to install.

very stupid question that I hope cdr or someone can answer. I have a 305 and it has a "top speed" but it also creates a graph in training center and in garmin connect. If I trace along the graph my peaks are higher than my max speed.

Which is correct and why the discrepancy? (my recording is set to "every second")

Here is an example
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43060748

max speed 34.5mph but at time 1:01:55 on the graph the speed is 38.8 mph...almost every ride has a discrepancy this one happened to be pretty big. (also when cdr makes 40 mph comments I like to hope I am closer to 39 than 34)

There is speed smoothing occurring somewhere. Max speed is probably max 3s speed or something.

I didn't know that you carried such a big stick. It could get ugly.

I know your posts already rendered some good answers but I'll re-address them anyways. :)

My wife is an occasional racer. We're south of you in the Treasure Coast area.

For her the downer is that women's fields are so small that they usually get combined together (all category women) or are combined with one or the other men's masters categories. My wife has experienced both.

The downside is that it's real hard for a beginner to not get ruthlessly shelled. The upside is that it does force you to get fast. The advice of fast group rides is spot on.

Now that I've looked around a bit I might have over-estimated myself. :eek:

Jesus wept.

My wife's experience is similar. A lot of the races are 1-4, and she hates that.

:lol:

Should I put chamois cream in my underwear for long drives?

banned

banned +1000

Go away. The adults are talking here.

What I hate more is that W3-4 is a SCNCA Cup category, which actively encourages race directors to put Women's 3 & 4 together where they may not need to. W1-2-3 is also a SCNCA Cup category, so the 3s get to pick which race to do or do both if possible.

I generally only race if we're already going to a flat-ish race in NorCal, where I can do a W4 race. I don't mind the Dinuba W1-4 crit because it's a small group and they don't pull riders. You just try to find somebody to work with until the suffering ends, and try not to get a contact high from passing a house with pot smokers.

As counter intuative as it sounds if your area always combines 1-4 you could try your first race at your state chamionship. I believe they have rules making them keep the catagories seperate. As a guy, states were my best finish because it was the only cat 5 only race I did (the rest were all 4/5 combined). Also more people come so from what I saw the womens group looked much larger than normal.

Unfortunately not true--they just have to award jerseys for the individual cats/age groups.

One quick way to see the field size.. is to go to USA cycling.. and search for results from recent races in your area.

Here in central VA most of the races are combined Women's 1-4; if it is a VA cycling BAR race, then the race will be scored separately. If I drive an hour or so North to the MABRA area, the fields are much bigger and usually there will be at least two women's races, a 3/4 and a 1/2/3 or some combination.

It is tough getting started.. but do it.. knowing that everyone started the same place you are. We've all been shelled off the back very quickly, lapped in a crit, pulled.. etc... but as stated in another post.. you will get stronger very quickly because of the 'combined" field. What I've found out though is a lot of ladies still lack "peleton" skills because the fields are so small... so expect to hear lots of chatter about holding lines...

Good luck... looks like your from FL and they have TWO races season there..

My ass hurts. We're going on five years. Specifically the inner thigh where the nerves and vessels start heading down the leg. Oh yeah, and when I go to the poor man aerobars position (or whatever it's called) I last about 1 minute before everything is completely numb. I know no one can help me with this...I just want to share.

Really, has anyone used the MTB saddle - Phenom, to train and race with, on the road? I switched to the Romin (from the Toupe) about 6 months ago. Its turning out to be another fail. Toupe is the closest to no pain I've ridden, till it starts to sag. I'm hoping the Phenom, which is similar shape, is a little more sturdy and will stay solid without the bend that drives me to the brink.

- signed, tired of buying saddles.

any opinons refugees?