Dolan Seta carbon

"Took me 74 mins on 65 GI ...If I trained I might be able to go in under 60."

Getting all competitive now eh, how exiting. With the right training and bike configuration there's no reason why you couldn't smash the record!

"Nothing to be ashamed of. As far as I know, you've never done any structured training before."

Nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever. Obviously you need structured training… training, training, training. i.e. strength, technique, speed, endurance, interval training and so on. Bear in mind that there is a lot more to it, than pedalling around London for a few hours after school every day; loads of info on the interwebz of course, also you might consider joining a club, but perhaps that's not you? Will be training intensely myself this season, so please feel free to share and keep us posted about your progress.

"Don't be tempted to move to a bigger gear yet though."

What gear ratio are you running at the moment, 51/20 or something like that? Which of course is ideal for working on your technique and everyday training, or riding around town. For competitive racing and time trials however, you will definitely need something bigger. Not exactly sure what restrictions there are for your age group, but a configuration equivalent to 83-86 gear inches or 6.5-7.0 metres of development depending on your choise of tyres, can't be far off.

You will ned to try out different combinations and log your results. Ideally you want to measure or calculate your cadence as well as your speed with various ratios, and use a gear/cadence/speed/mod calculator to analyse your results and plan and target your training.

"Nah man never, I rarely ride more than 20 miles at a time at a very slow pace."

As slack as your chain... Never give up cycling just for fun, but be clear that pedalling about for 20 miles at a (very) slow pace will not improve you overall performance in a million years.

"The only thing you need to train is put a front brake on adjusting your saddle."

Ftfy!

Nothing wrong with riding brakeless; it's a different style of riding and may require more skills and experience, that's all. Alright, in all seriousness riding brakeless in a competitive situation is not necessarily commendable, nor sensible, thus fitting a brake for racing or training full whack on public roads, particularly if/when riding in a group, does make good sense and will more than likely be a requirement should you join a club. Do what's right for you, but be careful. Actually, considering your age, do what your mum tells you to.

;)

Just ride the bike

Sitting on the train after getting cold, wet and lost in Middlesex.
Will reply to lynch when I get home or my fingers warm up.

He wasn't lying about his inseam
Dropped the saddle height slightly, but Indra could do with a slightly longer stem, get stretching!
Nice to meet you Indra

Thanks Jack, also really appreciate the fit.
Nice to meet you too mate.

Getting all competitive now eh, how exiting. With the right training and bike configuration there's no reason why you couldn't smash the record!

It would be fun but I'm not really sure I'd be any good or have enough time to rain, as the days get longer that will probably change though.

Nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever. Obviously you need structured training… training, training, training. i.e. strength, technique, speed, endurance, interval training and so on. Bear in mind that there is a lot more to it, than pedalling around London for a few hours after school every day; loads of info on the interwebz of course, also you might consider joining a club, but perhaps that's not you? Will be training intensely myself this season, so please feel free to share and keep us posted about your progress.

I really don't consider any of what I do to be training, it's far too relaxed and irregular, I think I'll start by trying to make 5 laps of Richmond every saturday, just as somewhere to build from and make it more regular/more challenging, getting fitter and faster would be very nice. I'll strava it so I can keep a log and maybe make a graph, because I'm fucking odd and I love graphs. If I get round to that I will post here or might make a thread.

What gear ratio are you running at the moment, 51/20 or something like that? Which of course is ideal for working on your technique and everyday training, or riding around town. For competitive racing and time trials however, you will definitely need something bigger. Not exactly sure what restrictions there are for your age group, but a configuration equivalent to 83-86 gear inches or 6.5-7.0 metres of development depending on your choise of tyres, can't be far off.

Yeah that's what I'm on now because I really wanted to learn to spin, I think it's 65 gear inches. When the velodrome opens again I'll be on 51/16 first for training, that will probably change after a while though. I wasn't really aware that there were gearing restrictions, just guidelines but I'll have to check. To be fair time trials do look really fun.

You will ned to try out different combinations and log your results. Ideally you want to measure or calculate your cadence as well as your speed with various ratios, and use a gear/cadence/speed/mod calculator to analyse your results and plan and target your training.
I will get round to that eventually, I promise.

As slack as your chain... Never give up cycling just for fun, but be clear that pedalling about for 20 miles at a (very) slow pace will not improve you overall performance in a million years.

It would be impossible for me to give up cycling for fun, think I'm gonna have to get a turbo or rollers though.

Nothing wrong with riding brakeless; it's a different style of riding and may require more skills and experience, that's all. Alright, in all seriousness riding brakeless in a competitive situation is not necessarily commendable, nor sensible, thus fitting a brake for racing or training full whack on public roads, particularly if/when riding in a group, does make good sense and will more than likely be a requirement should you join a club. Do what's right for you, but be careful. Actually, considering your age, do what your mum tells you to.

;)

I'm not really thinking to join a club because I'm odd in groups of people that I don't know, also I think I'd be in way over my head because I know nothing about cycling, I know a little bit about fixed gear bikes but haven't ridden anything geared for 5 years and don't follow any competitions or professional cycling.

Nothing wrong with riding brakeless; it's a different style of riding and may require more skills and experience. Alright, in all seriousness riding brakeless in a competitive situation is not necessarily commendable, nor sensible, thus fitting a brake for racing or training full whack on public roads, particularly if/when riding in a group, does make good sense and will more than likely be a requirement should you join a club. Do what's right for you, but be careful. Actually, considering your age, do what your mum tells you to.
;)

I agree, nothing wrong with brake less, I rode brake less before I got trained as an instructor, however it's more about putting even more unnecessary stress on your legs if he want to ride to Brighton which he seemed to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

tl;dr

In regards to your comment about not doing any regular training, how long is your ride to school? Can you not take a longer route or something?

Exaxtly what Jake suggested, my g/f occasionally stay at my house so she can have a nice 9 miles commute to work with over her usual 2.5 miles commute from her house.

I agree, nothing wrong with brake less, I rode brake less before I got trained as an instructor, however it's more about putting even more unnecessary stress on your legs if he want to ride to Brighton which he seemed to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Yeah I know what you're talking about but when I asked that I\d never ridden more than 15-20 miles now I have.

In regards to your comment about not doing any regular training, how long is your ride to school? Can you not take a longer route or something?

It's only around 5 miles but afterschool I usually extend the route and just head east for for a few miles, then south, then I head west and up across the river back home, it's usually around 15-20 miles.

Exaxtly what Jake suggested, my g/f occasionally stay at my house so she can have a nice 9 miles commute to work with over her usual 2.5 miles commute from her house.

Can I stay at your house to have a 10 mile commute? xxxx

I get what you're saying though, I do ride where I can and would like to do longer rides, I find it hard to stretch my legs in the city.

Only if you share the bed.

May have to ask if she minded.

Don't you live near Regents Park? Can get well stretchy legs there! Or just hop on the train and get out to the country.

Fairly near but I am a bit OCD about stopping at all red lights I come to.
I will be hitting Richmond more often though.

if he want to ride to Brighton which he seemed to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Be fair Ed. That's a long way if you haven't ridden any distance before.

I'm not entirely sure Indra's ever ridden further than his local takeaway?

Be fair Ed. That's a long way if you haven't ridden any distance before.

I'm not entirely sure Indra's ever ridden further than his local takeaway?

lolz

HOP will be starting up again around now.

Easily do 20-30 miles.

Im going at 5.10 on Thursday - if you want to tow me round for an hour, you'll be more than welcome....

stopping at all red lights I come to.

as if

you'll be more than welcome....

not without brakes

#canofworms

"Just ride the bike."

It's not one or the other. Done sensibly "structured" training i.e. higher fitness level and performance will only add to the fun...

HOP will be starting up again around now.

Easily do 20-30 miles.

Im going at 5.10 on Thursday - if you want to tow me round for an hour, you'll be more than welcome....

I'm a n00b, not sure what that is...

not without brakes

#canofworms

Mmm can

It's not one or the other. Done sensibly "structured" training i.e. higher fitness level and performance will only add to the fun...

I ride it daily, improve my riding and I'd get to ride it more, it's a win win.

I'm a n00b, not sure what that is...

http://www.lfgss.com/thread46763.html

Thanks Apollo and Tenderloin.
I'm definitely up for trying it, may not be able to make this week though.

Don't you live near Regents Park? Can get well stretchy legs there! Or just hop on the train your bike and get out to the country.

.

Indra we are doing some odd rides from time to time, I can let you know about the next one if you want to ride more.
yesterday we did some swains reps and then regents for around 1h, pissing rain but good fun.