Welcome, please read before posting.

Different strokes..

I can't tell any difference riding with/without caffeine. But I probably consume far too much normally to get the benefit. I quit coffee before the 2nd last Dunwich and all it did was give me a headache for a week. :)

studies in the past few years indicate caffeine before exercise helps with burning fat.

hippy is proof that doesn't work then ;)

Its the "re-hydration" with beer that does not help! I'll drink to that...

some spanish scientists did a test and found that 1 pint of beer re-hydrates a person after exercise just as well as a pint of water and the carbs contained in beer will also help.

the problem is, after that 1 pint things go downhill rapidly and you have to be de-hydrated in the first place.

You could look at it this way:
Bradley is well known for his love of a pint, and I've actually heard both Chris Hoy and Craig Maclean mention wanting a beer. So we don't have to kid ourselves that one must be teetotal to be an athlete, however, 20pints a week is not recommended if you want to improve fitness.

The average 15 year old in the North West drinks 177 pints a year.
That's my interesting fact for the day.
I think I've drunk too much coffee, and have exceeded the 'optimum' point.

Hi, As I'm a newbie to this social forum I thought I'd introduce myself here, rather than starting a new thread.

I'm taking the plunge and about to start training on the Amsterdam Velodrome. Which should be interesting as the classes are in Dutch and I hardly speak a word.

I've never ridden Drome's before, so this should be fun teaching an old dog new tricks.

I have all I need as far as pedals, shoes, gloves; and will rent one of their sexy Giant bikes to start off with (my Hipster vehicle not being track suitable at the moment. Too much neon puts the other riders off apparently :)

And will go out this week and look at a really unattractive road helmet to buy. No feckin helmet debate here, no helmet no riding the track mo fo!!.

So please forgive my soon to come inane questions and stupid updates as they come in.

Ta ever so,

Mr A Pelago

p.s. which helmet should I buy :)

hippy is proof that doesn't work then ;)

i'd just be even fatter without my coffee... imagine earth with two orbiting moons..

hello AP

buy the most expensive helmet you can afford, they feel lighter and more comfortable. try a few on.

some people like Giro, some can't wear them cos of a funny shaped bonce.

Spesh Chamonix is £30 and gets one of the best Snell safety rating and only 50g heavier than my 2D which is three times the price.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/protection/helmet-standard/product/chamonix-helmet-10108

I was looking at the 2D so this is a much cheaper option. adoublethanks!

what's that new Met that dale's got?

it looks really small and low profile, even on his massive swede

actually,fuck all this cheap noddy shite.

it's all about the casco warp.

^ Thats fucking lovely!
Make your suede sweat, those holes are never enough for the airflow

Ta all for above info!

I'm going anti-hipster with the helmet bling.
Reckon I'm gonna be pretty crap at first, and for some time. So the last thing I want to do is buy a shit hot helmet, to then fall over while trying to get my foot in the pedal :)

Seems that most people in the Amsterdam Drome ride with road helmets. Haven't seen any slick TT helmets yet? Was looking at a normal coloured Giro Atmos, but cheapest I've seen is 80 quid. So don't reckon I'll go to that. Spesh Chamonix looks good value.

Off to the LBS tomorrow to check out what lids they've got.

^ Thats fucking lovely!
Make your suede sweat, those holes are never enough for the airflow

175 quid of loveliness :(

everyone wears roadie lids for training really

the aero ones pop up at races of a higher level, but if we turned up with a warp at HH there would be piss take + high expectation!

Can't rep ya! But that's good to know. I thank you!

There were some good deals on TT style helmets. But was pretty sure I'd look like a complete plum if I wore one!

Roadie style it is then.

Casco Attack for 2D money, leather lined and aluminium reinforced.

And if you crash at 40mph on concrete you will survive

or this from the conflict of WW2

get rid of the maltese cross and put a pineapple on instead

I find this one quite comfortable. The moutache tickled though.

All very good and practical ideas. But I've decided to go for this one...

Right, just popping some photos up of last Saturday's session.
A few of you are in this photo somewhere:

And super large for those that care

The bikes getting a bit of an outing

I'm feeling that casco attack helmet, anyone know any stockists in london, where I can try one on, that ebay sellers got three more to give away and really need to see if it suits my head before I drop the money on it...

I'm feeling that casco attack helmet,

Me too. And a good price on ebay.
Don't know any UK/London stockists sorry!

But seeing as it's designed for Theo Bos, there's no way I'm going to be turning up at the Amsterdam Velodrome wearing that on my first induction ;)