gamecat
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Alone Again with the Dawn Coming Up
Posts: 618
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Post by gamecat on Jan 11, 2024 18:44:28 GMT
Traineroad is alright now, it suits my needs anyway. They have polarized training plans and a 'masters' toggle, which is a bit condescending but gives you longer recovery between harder sessions. I use it for maybe 4 months a year tops so don't mind the cost too much.Oh, and it has their AI FTP thing, which is pretty accurate and avoids killing myself on a test every 6 weeks or whatever you're supposed to do.
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Post by mothercruncher on Jan 11, 2024 20:23:01 GMT
They nicked that from Xert!
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Post by Wizzard_Ook on Jan 12, 2024 18:35:36 GMT
Urgh. After a bit of a time of the bike, I did a 40 mile ride last weekend. Felt ok and actually got a bit of enthusiasm to have a good year on the bike. Lined up ride London to work towards and crack my first century ride and sportive. This week. Got a cold. Fuck sake.
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Post by mothercruncher on Jan 12, 2024 18:42:51 GMT
I quite like a “pointy” ride at the *end* of a cold, feel like it helps clear it.
A tricky time of year, I’d say just do what you can in terms of mileage and don’t overthink it- when the weather gets better a little bit of riding under your belt will be a decent leg up for something more consistent.
Struggling with motivation here- took last week off. Spent this week doing, well, not that much in the garage, in a coat in an effort to get back on track. I bloody hate the cold.
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Post by Triarii on Jan 25, 2024 15:57:00 GMT
Is there anyone here with touring/bike packing experience?
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
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Post by Vortex on Jan 25, 2024 16:12:53 GMT
I think Psychotext used to do that and Trafford (possibly) . Not seen either for a long time, so may have had meltdowns/bans.
PT definitely did, but not sure about trafford, he was usually fairly chilled, so may have just drifted away.
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chug666
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Eurogamer Nomad
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Post by chug666 on Jan 25, 2024 17:09:24 GMT
I do a few long weekends away each year (on a train to Wales with a loaded up mountain bike right now as it happens). What are you after?
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gamecat
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Alone Again with the Dawn Coming Up
Posts: 618
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Post by gamecat on Jan 25, 2024 19:34:17 GMT
North to south of Spain and Portugal last couple years, none of that camping lark though, all hotels.
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Post by mothercruncher on Jan 25, 2024 19:35:07 GMT
I’ve got all the kit, the fancy bags, the little titanium stove, the lightweight bivvy, the lot…. but yet to get around to it.
I hate being cold 😰
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
is apparently a mangina.
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Post by Vortex on Jan 25, 2024 21:15:34 GMT
North to south of Spain and Portugal last couple years, none of that camping lark though, all hotels. This is how to do it! Not sure I fancy this bike packing malarkey. You need a bit of luxury at the end of the day! 😀 |
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Post by Triarii on Jan 27, 2024 0:23:21 GMT
Amazing! I'm planning to go to bike packing/camping for a few weeks in Japan from early April to early May, with the odd night in hostels.
I'm hoping to travel light but honestly not 100% sure what exactly I'll need. I managed to get a pannier rack for cheap in the Chain Reaction closing sales, Decathlon sell a 2x20L pannier bag but I don't think it's waterproof - is 40L too much or too little? Any recommendations?
Same goes for a lightweight tent, I suppose?
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gamecat
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Alone Again with the Dawn Coming Up
Posts: 618
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Post by gamecat on Jan 27, 2024 11:54:06 GMT
For 2 weeks of hotels in Spain I used a combined approx 23L (sausage style saddle bag, bar bag, small frame bag, top tube bag), you really don't need that much if you get in the habit of just hand washing your kit every day. Even that I could of trimmed down, as some stuff just wasn't used. Not really sure on the camping side of things, but 40L sounds like plenty unless you taking the full wilderness survival type kit. Though you will also want some sort of handlebar storage, as digging into panniers for everything will get on your nerves pretty quickly. Edit: I just finished Jenny Graham's, rather good, book on her round the world trip, she bivvied and used hotels 50/50, obviously she was going as light as possible, but her kit was in the 20-30L range. www.apidura.com/journal/jenny-grahams-around-the-world-record-breaking-kit/ |
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Post by Triarii on Jan 27, 2024 15:26:13 GMT
gamecatThat's actually really helpful, thank you! I had planned on getting a handlebar bag and phone mount but maybe a frame bag would be good for spreading the weight out instead of having it all over the back wheel...
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Post by mothercruncher on Jan 27, 2024 15:42:51 GMT
Frame bags are ace but keep things narrow- any alteration to your pedalling to account for it interfering with your knees will add up o er time. Find a frame bag is much better than a top tube bag though for that reason.
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Post by elstoof on Feb 2, 2024 15:51:40 GMT
Had a week off sick so restarted the training plan I was on. I think I got a bit too keen and pushed myself through some long sessions without easing into it properly, battered myself a bit, didn’t give myself much chance to adapt to the load. Turns out 90 minutes constant effort is pretty tiring when you’ve only ever ridden on the road with coasting time and traffic lights etc. Still, weight dropped to 73kg, 2 down since new year
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Post by mothercruncher on Feb 3, 2024 11:45:21 GMT
Indoor stuff is odd- yes, you miss all the little steadying motions you do with your core and upper body so it’s easier there, but constantly being on the pedals is some compensation.
I always find the first thing I’m lacking if I’ve done an extended period indoors in just grip strength.
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Post by elstoof on Feb 5, 2024 13:20:00 GMT
Week 1/12 knocked out, got my legs back used to twiddling around again a bit better. The months of neglect sees me at an ftp of 240, 3.1w/kg. Quite a way off where I used to be, still have a couple of kilos to shift and I’m very interested to see where I end up power wise by the end of April - especially now I’m largely a plant based wanker
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Feb 5, 2024 13:41:15 GMT
Solid start elstoof, good stuff. I am still just doing a bunch of Z2/3 stuff to build an aerobic base and starting to feel a bit fitter after my most recent bout of covid. HR is staying down for longer with a bit more effort at long last. Hopefully once it warms up a bit more up here in the north, probably march I guess, I will start getting out on the gravel bike occasionally which always helps. I should start to get the occasional run outdoors soon too now my lungs seem to be working better again. The rain and wind have not helped at all with getting fresh air so it's mostly all been gym or indoor cycling, or a bit of rowing of late. Indoor cycling is effective, but a bit boring, so it would be nice to venture out again. yes, yes Rule 5. I know.  |
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Post by elstoof on Feb 5, 2024 13:48:18 GMT
I’ve not ridden outside in forever, gone a bit soft. Tbh the alarming number of bike mugging around my way doesn’t inspire me to get out in any hurry either. I’d usually be out doing a couple of hours base building each day at this time of year, I wonder if I’ll be missing that when summer comes around
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Post by mothercruncher on Feb 5, 2024 14:33:35 GMT
I think your base carries over significantly more from pervious years than any Z4,5 stuff. You’ll be grand.
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Post by elstoof on Feb 5, 2024 14:37:01 GMT
We’ll see just how much it’s carried when I’m huffing and puffing around Chipping Ongar while hanging off the back of the bunch at 7am
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Post by mothercruncher on Feb 5, 2024 16:13:26 GMT
That’s your zone 4/5, base (largely) gets you home because there’s still something in the tank after big efforts.
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Post by elstoof on Feb 5, 2024 16:42:41 GMT
Built some training wheels for an upcoming track bike build, old school Campagnolo Pista hubs with Mavic tubular rims  |
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Post by elstoof on Mar 11, 2024 13:11:20 GMT
Finally got my frame out of customs  |
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Buu
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Post by Buu on Mar 14, 2024 15:21:28 GMT
I like the look of what you've got there. What brand is it?
I'm in the middle of a TR plan and my Kickr decided it wanted to turn into a helicopter. So it's in the workshop getting repaired. Turns out the axle was damaged and the bearings were not OK... £200 lighter wallet.
Don't want to really stop training and luckily it's happened on a recovery week but I expect I'll have to do a few sessions outside. Was planning to go on a gentle spin tonight but it's vile out there.
So I've been pricing up new a new bike and buying the individual parts.
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Post by elstoof on Mar 14, 2024 15:28:22 GMT
Which kickr was it?
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Buu
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Post by Buu on Mar 14, 2024 16:09:07 GMT
Kickr 2018, so it was quite old and when I brought it to the workshop they said they had seen this a few times. It was 2nd hand so best Wahoo would offer was 20% a full priced one, which is more than fair I thought. Just seemed more sensible to get it repaired and a few more years out of it rather than pay double for a Kickr Core. Also spoke to them about getting a bike built up. They said it would be about £200 for a full bike build if I supply the parts. Was thinking of an SL8 or Aethos. It's £8000 for a ultegra build but I quite like my current wheels so looked at individual pieces. I know I'd look like a chump but it would be cheaper than their 'Pro' ultegra build to buy an S-works frame and rest of the components separately. At least when I'm going slow people can see if thrown money at trying to get faster and not succeeding. |
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
is apparently a mangina.
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Post by Vortex on Mar 14, 2024 16:21:41 GMT
So long as you look good while doing it! Just be sure to keep loudly proclaiming that 'today is a Zone 2 day, I went full bore yesterday'.  |
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Buu
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Post by Buu on Mar 14, 2024 16:40:09 GMT
I wouldn't usually consider spending as much as I think it should be on a bike but some external reasons mean I'm likely to have a decent amount of spare cash to piss away on a bike.
Though this isn't for maybe 8 months at best and more likely next year.
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gamecat
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Alone Again with the Dawn Coming Up
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Post by gamecat on Mar 14, 2024 18:32:28 GMT
Also spoke to them about getting a bike built up. They said it would be about £200 for a full bike build if I supply the parts. Was thinking of an SL8 or Aethos. It's £8000 for a ultegra build but I quite like my current wheels so looked at individual pieces. I know I'd look like a chump but it would be cheaper than their 'Pro' ultegra build to buy an S-works frame and rest of the components separately If you're getting the frame & bits, I'd just grab bargains as they appear over the 8 months or so. There is bound to be some sales on pre-builts over that time though, due to the industry crapping the bed collectively. Also, 8 grand on a 'pro' Specialized gets you bang average wheels, so you current ones may be better anyway.
Edit: 200 quid for a full build is pretty good price.
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