2012-05-27 - Norwich 100

Always brings a smile to my face.

Also anyone keen for a ride out tomorrow? Weather doesn't look too bad, bloody cold, could do with a few miles in the legs if anyone fancies it? So long as you wrap up fine and take some food it'll be a good day out.

Too cold for me. My hands were useless by the time I got into work this morning. Took me 5 mins to get the bike shed lock open.

Too cold for me. My hands were useless by the time I got into work this morning. Took me 5 mins to get the bike shed lock open.

Get some tenn outdoors gloves, seriously best gloves I own for deep winter. Cost me less than £15 and keep my hands toasty warm.

I can testify to seeing this, mainly as I span past on my £300 Claude butler. Hilarious. There is a strange joy to overtaking a £2000 bike, on one that cost £300.

If I could afford a really expensive carbon bike, I'd have a really expensive steel bike. It's good that they're spending their money on bikes though, the more the merrier.

Too cold for me. My hands were useless by the time I got into work this morning. Took me 5 mins to get the bike shed lock open.

What spenceey said, invest in gloves. My dhb ones are great until minus figures, only downside is they're far too hot above a few degrees.

If I could afford a really expensive carbon bike, I'd have a really expensive steel bike. It's good that they're spending their money on bikes though, the more the merrier.

Not ti? That was my choice, hopefully it'll last me for years, If I can get 20 years out of it I'll be happy.

What spenceey said, invest in gloves. My dhb ones are great until minus figures, only downside is they're far too hot above a few degrees.

Yep your right about the temps, my gloves are completely wind/ water proof but my god do your hands sweat in them if It's warm.

Not too much trouble just turn them inside out to dry them off on a rad.

Plan for tomorrow is merino wool base layer, long/short sleeve jersey and windproof gore jacket. Then merino cap under helmet + DHB bib tights, thick socks and overshoes.

Should keep me warm. If I warm up too much I'm hoping the merino will wick the majority of the sweat away and moderate my temp.

It's not so much the lack of gloves (I use Sealskinz Winter Gloves) but that I have Raynauds. Doesn't matter how hardcore the gloves are, if it's cold and I'm touching a cold metal bike then they are likely to go numb.

If I could afford a really expensive carbon bike, I'd have a really expensive steel bike. It's good that they're spending their money on bikes though, the more the merrier.

I can see your point regarding expensive steel. I think it basically comes down to a choice between Stainless Steel and Ti, if you want a bike for life.

It's not so much the lack of gloves (I use Sealskinz Winter Gloves) but that I have Raynauds. Doesn't matter how hardcore the gloves are, if it's cold and I'm touching a cold metal bike then they are likely to go numb.

Have you tried layers and prewarming your hands? Aka inners, then lobster gloves and adding warmers on the inside of the inners?

It's not so much the lack of gloves (I use Sealskinz Winter Gloves) but that I have Raynauds. Doesn't matter how hardcore the gloves are, if it's cold and I'm touching a cold metal bike then they are likely to go numb.

Recumbent!

Dammit, I miss norfolk

+1

Have you tried layers and prewarming your hands? Aka inners, then lobster gloves and adding warmers on the inside of the inners?

Tried layers but that doesn't work either. Compression on the hands seems to cause a poor flow of blood and then numbness. It's counter intuitive but looser gloves that allow air flow seem to work better. I think that lobster gloves is what I will go for next, although as it hadn't been as cold as last year so far, I was hoping to get through the winter without having to buy another pair of gloves.

Haven't tried hand warmers yet so may do that on my next longer ride to see what happens.

Only a month to go.

I need to get some practise rides in.

1. Sparky
   
2. Tenderloin (gears or fixeh skidder...)
   
3. jdp
   
4. colr
   5.Joe (Heythrop bike polos soc)
   
5. Benjaminbunny
   

Anyone south london based want to go for some training rides in may leading up to it?

Anyone south london based want to go for some training rides in may leading up to it?

Yep. I'm in Tooting - when do you fancy it? Also, how are you traveling up to or which for this?

I've got a CAR (Shocker) so in exchange for petrol, I'd be happy to give some londoners a lift? I'm based in Camberwell, so I'll give you a PM next week to sort out some training rides? I've done little training.

Rather petrol money. You can supply me with actual petrol in jerry cans if you really, really want to, however.

I was planning on hanging around the day after, so depending on when you're going I might be up for that - in return for an old squash bottle full of unleaded, of course.

Definitely up for the training rides though - it's been a long time since I did anything approaching even half that distance. Let me know when you're free.

Cool, I'll give you a bell next week when I've sorted out my may plans and we can arrange some rides before the event

Last week did Sheringham to Norwich on Monday and Norwich to Yarmouth on Saturday as training (plus the normal commute) and felt great......this week I have had a cold and have done nothing at all :(

I've ridden six miles each way to work for a week. That should do for my training, if you lot would be good enough to let me draft the entire 100 then I'll be fine. Thanks in advance.

I rode yesterday.

Safe to say recently I've had no motivation.

I haven't ridden further than 20 miles in months and months and months. Just nowhere nice to do it here in London (excuses, excuses). So I'm pretty much buggered. I'll be drafting Col again.

Yesterday was lovely - 40 odd miles in the sun. Like cycling should be.

Most of winter I was doing at least 50 miles on the weekend but recently I just haven't had the urge to get out, honestly no idea why.

I should be going out for a bit tomorrow afternoon as long as it isn't pissing down.

If it goes badly then I'd like to book my place after Sparky in the drafting line please.

No skin off my nose.

On the plus side though - 45 miles yesterday no knee pain. Was spinning at around 90-100 the whole time and still averaging 20mph.

My gear cables need changing though, I can't get in to the biggest ring any more.

I'm going to be signing up for this, need to get some more miles under me belt first though - what news of training rides? I'm based in Tooting and/or London Bridge.