Finished 1st 200K Brevet - Some Questions
06-21-16, 08:15 PM
#26
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Probably I come too late into an extinct thread but nonetheless.
On gears : an easy change that should make things a little bit more comfortable is swapping the 11-32 cassette for something like 12-28. Less big holes between ratios.
Overall, being exhausted during this long return leg against the wind makes me think of a pattern: You are tired. You are not really sweating consciously so you forget to drink, and against the wind you do get dehydrated. So you get more tired without noticeing it. You stiffen your arms and shoulders. You forget to lift your butt from the saddle from time to time.
In difficult conditions like those you have to consciously force yourself to drink frequently, and to relax those arms and shoulders. And those shoulder and back issues will also improve with exercise.
On gears : an easy change that should make things a little bit more comfortable is swapping the 11-32 cassette for something like 12-28. Less big holes between ratios.
Overall, being exhausted during this long return leg against the wind makes me think of a pattern: You are tired. You are not really sweating consciously so you forget to drink, and against the wind you do get dehydrated. So you get more tired without noticeing it. You stiffen your arms and shoulders. You forget to lift your butt from the saddle from time to time.
In difficult conditions like those you have to consciously force yourself to drink frequently, and to relax those arms and shoulders. And those shoulder and back issues will also improve with exercise.
Last edited by Fullcount; 06-21-16 at 08:19 PM.
06-21-16, 10:11 PM
#27
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I think a compact crank with 11-32 on the back is a good idea. the thing about using bigger gears on hills is it means you use up your readily available energy, and eating more is the cure. No call for that. Last year I rode with a mountain bike crank 42/28 chain rings, with an 11-32 cassette. I am pretty sure I used low gear on every ride. This year, I was back to a compact crank 50/34, and the same cassette. I wish I could get cassettes with 13 tooth small cog, but the available ones don't go to 32
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