Tell us about your weekend ride

Continuing the sorta backpack discussion had my 1st ride out on my new road bike today. No bag!

Did London to Southend, 52 occasionally challenging miles including a much hillier ride than expected, riding a new bike and getting out of London - had some charming abuse from a bloke in a 4x4 in Chigwell who seemed to forget he had a trailer/horse box attached.

That aside, was pleased to do it in 4hrs (I'm pretty slow) and the weather was v acceptable for Feb and I'd forgotten how go it feels to have a decent length, challenging ride.

Question: where are all the females out their? Saw one other female out today amongst the total roadie sausage fest.

youre a growing bunch dont worry, !

My bike was busy having a makeover. Back on the road tomorrow. I am looking forward to the novelty of having functioning brakes and gears.

Also: I need road bike riding lessons. With my sweet fixer skidder I just get on and pedal.

With a road bike there are brakes and gears all over the place and no end of places I can hold the bars at...well, maybe 4 tops but you know what I mean.

4 tops were a great band werent they? oh, er wrong thread.

you must be able to 'friend' a road group next time youre out?
or just get some geek like D.J to give you some tips, on riding, a road bike

^^
Uphill:Gear down if your legs hurt too much, gear up if your lungs hurt too much.
Flat: Spinning too quick? Gear up. Spinning too slow? Gear down.
Downhill: Always gear up.

In terms of hand positions; whatever floats your boat..
Drops for fast/hard pushing.
Tops/hoods for comfortable cruising.

Just my 2p.

I had a fun ride with Catford CC once where one of their time triallists dragged me down an A road at about 28mph and then rode in circles barking guidance at me while I panted my way up an incline. It was mildly brutal but extremely useful.

Came back feeling amazingly exhilarated after today's rde; lbs's group ride with a great format, ride as far as you can on a set route for an hour, then turn round and ride back. I was the only one riding fixed, broke off the front of the fast group with ten minutes to go and stayed away. Turned round and had to make the gap back so the chase was on for a few miles, but gt back to them, rode in the wheels for a bit then attacked close to home and was first back o the shop. Even got my first kudos on Strava.

Really really want to go racing for real now.

Downhill: Always gear up.

Hmm...

Speedy innit?

Uphill:Gear down if your legs hurt too much, gear up if your lungs hurt too much.

What if your legs and lungs hurt?

^^But what about spin up in medium gear to flush out toxins then hold cadence into headwind at bottom as over-geared peers fade when the road flattens?

There's no 'always' about anything.

^If your legs and lungs hurt, so the received wisdom goes, you're in the correct gear.

^don't agree with generalisations though.

^sometimes

Just back from my longest ride since my prolonged exam / injury hiatus - 52 undulating miles around epping forest and surrounding villages in about 3 hours. Felt absolutely great, was just one of those rides where you feel super content and relaxed as you're riding, and being a bit warmer was nice too. Is really satisfying to feel the strength builidng up again week on week - it's so much more noticable than I thought it would be.

Quite a few people out and about, bumped into some folk from Rollapaluza three times in about 20 minutes... don't suppse that's anyone on here? I was wearing a blue Planet X jersey and had a quick chat with one of you.

Bring on the post-ride feasting!

Might have seen you at some point - was out on a 50-mile-ish loop around there myself, first time on the road bike since late October. Legs were having a bit of a moan but felt good man. Passed the raphaton coming the other way at one point, lots of waving and smiling, which was nice.

Might have seen you at some point - was out on a 50-mile-ish loop around there myself, first time on the road bike since late October. Legs were having a bit of a moan but felt good man. Passed the raphaton coming the other way at one point, lots of waving and smiling, which was nice.

i always see a rapha display room atop of very swanky bikes on saturday mornings, do you know who they are?

i was out from about 8.30 - 11.30 - what were you wearing / riding? there were quite a few peeps trundling around, more than likey we crossed paths at some point

^don't agree with generalisations though.

I agree.

Doh!

^^But what about spin up in medium gear to flush out toxins then hold cadence into headwind at bottom as over-geared peers fade when the road flattens?

Don't tell her all the secrets!

Oh yeah. What I meant was: 'stay in 53x11 at all times except Tuesdays (when you should be fitting a 55t)'.

i always see a rapha display room atop of very swanky bikes on saturday mornings, do you know who they are?

i was out from about 8.30 - 11.30 - what were you wearing / riding? there were quite a few peeps trundling around, more than likey we crossed paths at some point

Rapha organise a ride from the soho Cycle Club on Saturday mornings - on alternate weekends they go to Surrey and Essex, I think. Essex today.

I was in a group of four from about 9:30-12:30, started from Walthamstow. Was wearing all black, Rapha gilet, riding a black alu Colnago. Lots of people out this morning, for sure.

Rode out to Beaconsfield to hit the lanes today. Only made it back as far as Denham, but lucky with the weather, approx 80 miles in total and 2200ft of climbing.. Forgot how bad some of teh minor roads were condition wise, the amount of roadkill, sky full of red kites and also forgot how steep some of those climbs can be, like white pit lane, meh. But Polish doughnuts featured again, two up riding ftw.

I'll post route when we've worked out where we went. Recall places..
Kilburn, Shebu, Uxbridge, Beaconsfield, Marlow, Frieth, Hambledon, Frieth, Land End, West Wycombe, Naphill, Charlfont St Giles / Charlfont St Peter / Denham

^ Good to see you getting some decent miles in Al x

Off into the peaks shortly, fuelled by Jmf's mulberry jam. Exciting!