"Dear Carleton"
11-24-11, 11:04 PM
#1576
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Hey Carleton,
I figure you would know as much as anyone about good training technique. I know next to nothing, so bare with me. What I do know is that I want to still ride my Soma in the winter and I can't do it outside and I'm too far from an indoor track. It looks like the two options in my price range (around or under $150) are rollers or resistance trainers. If I use one of those regularly over the 3 month snowy season, which would provide me with the most noticeable gains when I get back on the road in the spring?
I figure you would know as much as anyone about good training technique. I know next to nothing, so bare with me. What I do know is that I want to still ride my Soma in the winter and I can't do it outside and I'm too far from an indoor track. It looks like the two options in my price range (around or under $150) are rollers or resistance trainers. If I use one of those regularly over the 3 month snowy season, which would provide me with the most noticeable gains when I get back on the road in the spring?
These are quality rollers for $150. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Plus they aren't over-sized barrels, so you'll get a fair amount of resistance.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1028745_-1___
Work on spinning at higher cadences than normal. Try to become fluid and relaxed. When the weather breaks, you will look effortless on the bike.
After some practice, you'll be able to watch TV/Laptop for entertainment while doing longer efforts.
11-25-11, 01:13 AM
#1577
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dear carleton,
because of your post above, i finally pulled the trigger on the rollers you mentioned seeing as there was a 20% sale for 'merican thanksgiving.
there goes my paycheque!
because of your post above, i finally pulled the trigger on the rollers you mentioned seeing as there was a 20% sale for 'merican thanksgiving.
there goes my paycheque!
11-25-11, 02:17 AM
#1578
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Rollers.
These are quality rollers for $150. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Plus they aren't over-sized barrels, so you'll get a fair amount of resistance.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1028745_-1___
Work on spinning at higher cadences than normal. Try to become fluid and relaxed. When the weather breaks, you will look effortless on the bike.
After some practice, you'll be able to watch TV/Laptop for entertainment while doing longer efforts.
These are quality rollers for $150. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Plus they aren't over-sized barrels, so you'll get a fair amount of resistance.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1028745_-1___
Work on spinning at higher cadences than normal. Try to become fluid and relaxed. When the weather breaks, you will look effortless on the bike.
After some practice, you'll be able to watch TV/Laptop for entertainment while doing longer efforts.
11-25-11, 09:33 AM
#1579
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Thank you Carleton, I just bought those rollers based on your advice. Seriously, you should get a referral code or something 
And thanks, Epic, for asking the question.
And thanks, Epic, for asking the question.
11-26-11, 02:16 AM
#1580
Would you just look at it
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What do you think of this?
Specifically, preseason pricing.
https://www.pedalconsumption.com/PDF/...ge_Cycling.pdf
Specifically, preseason pricing.
https://www.pedalconsumption.com/PDF/...ge_Cycling.pdf
11-26-11, 02:40 AM
#1581
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What do you think of this?
Specifically, preseason pricing.
https://www.pedalconsumption.com/PDF/...ge_Cycling.pdf
Specifically, preseason pricing.
https://www.pedalconsumption.com/PDF/...ge_Cycling.pdf
I would imagine that very little engineering went into it outside of picking the common track bike angles. The tube shapes just looks cool.
Refer to this thread for more info on the process: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...e-back-side!!!
Oh, and MSRP of $3,000 but "Pre-Season Pricing" of $1,200 tells you 2 things:
1) The cost of the bike is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY less than $3000. They are probably still making a profit off of the $1,200 pre-season "discount" price. Jewelry stores run this game. "This necklace is normally $500...but today it's only $100!!"...and that sign is so old that it's faded.
2) The company is under-capitalized. Meaning they don't have enough cash to pre-order the stock up front like normal businesses, so they ask customers to front them the money. It's a group buy.
I'd pass. There are a lot of better bikes that cost a lot less which come with much better nation-wide service and support.
Last edited by carleton; 11-26-11 at 02:44 AM.
11-26-11, 03:22 AM
#1582
Would you just look at it
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Cool beans. I didn't know anything about the frame, so I thought I had stumbled upon a deal of the century. Oh well 
.
I am in the process of bidding on an aluminum frame right now anyways.
.I am in the process of bidding on an aluminum frame right now anyways.
11-26-11, 06:07 PM
#1583
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Carleton,
What say you about chain tension? Is it one of those things that you have to vary for different situations or is there an ideal amount of slack you always shoot for?
What say you about chain tension? Is it one of those things that you have to vary for different situations or is there an ideal amount of slack you always shoot for?
11-26-11, 06:15 PM
#1584
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Originally Posted by GMJ
11-26-11, 09:21 PM
#1586
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There is an ideal amount. There should be about 1" of up/down play in the chain to keep it free enough to keep from binding, but not too loose that it might jump off the chainring or cog.
11-26-11, 09:26 PM
#1587
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Wide bars cause the bike to wave back and forth during sprinting. Wide bars also make it difficult in tight situations when space is narrow. Wide bars are also less aerodynamic than narrow bars. Aerodynamics are very important on the track.
11-26-11, 10:15 PM
#1588
Would you just look at it
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What diameter bars do you train/race with?
Any comparison to what you would rock on a roadie?
Any comparison to what you would rock on a roadie?
11-27-11, 03:19 AM
#1591
:)
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A guy on the road forum made his own with plywood, L brackets, roller skate wheels, and bungee cords. It looked pretty neat, but i didnt see the practical use for it. Does it mimic the real road more?
11-27-11, 03:32 AM
#1592
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It allows for out of the saddle pedaling, which is hard to do with standard rollers due to the body weight shifting during standing/sitting.
11-29-11, 01:26 AM
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Dear Carleton,
I currently ride a road bike with a ~58cm top tube and a 110mm stem. I found a new bike I want, but only the 56cm size is available (~55cm top tube). Would it be wise to buy said bike and just toss on a 130mm or 140mm stem? Or should I keep looking?
Thank you
I currently ride a road bike with a ~58cm top tube and a 110mm stem. I found a new bike I want, but only the 56cm size is available (~55cm top tube). Would it be wise to buy said bike and just toss on a 130mm or 140mm stem? Or should I keep looking?
Thank you
11-29-11, 01:29 AM
#1597
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Dear Carleton,
I currently ride a road bike with a ~58cm top tube and a 110mm stem. I found a new bike I want, but only the 56cm size is available (~55cm top tube). Would it be wise to buy said bike and just toss on a 130mm or 140mm stem? Or should I keep looking?
Thank you
I currently ride a road bike with a ~58cm top tube and a 110mm stem. I found a new bike I want, but only the 56cm size is available (~55cm top tube). Would it be wise to buy said bike and just toss on a 130mm or 140mm stem? Or should I keep looking?
Thank you
No. Your handling will be adversely affected. Bikes come from manufacturers in 2cm (and sometimes 1cm) increments for a reason.
11-29-11, 08:36 AM
#1598
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Dear Carleton,
I have some Sugino XD2 road cranks on my fixed and have been noticing a little bit of flex in the arms when resisting a lot down hills or zig zagging down them. should i invest in a nicer track crank? or is this fairly normal?
I have some Sugino XD2 road cranks on my fixed and have been noticing a little bit of flex in the arms when resisting a lot down hills or zig zagging down them. should i invest in a nicer track crank? or is this fairly normal?
11-30-11, 02:22 AM
#1600
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Dear Carleton,
This bike got posted in the jackass thread a few days back and we've been trying to figure out what the engineers behind this were thinking. I figured since it was a Rossin there was probably some reason why this design could've at least in theory been a good idea. Do you have any idea whats up with this?
This bike got posted in the jackass thread a few days back and we've been trying to figure out what the engineers behind this were thinking. I figured since it was a Rossin there was probably some reason why this design could've at least in theory been a good idea. Do you have any idea whats up with this?