Bicycle thread

[Chisenhallw]

More shakedown rides on the ernge-handled silver bullet. CAAD9 frame with Ultegra drivetrain.

Once you get used to the stiffness of the ride, HOOBOY will the thing move. Way less cushy than my Sirrus, but the bloody thing almost pedals itself. Notes to self from build;

Rotate bars upwards 5 degrees.
Figure out squeak coming from front axle.
Tune front derailleur
Get better at clipping in without looking down.
True up front wheel.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

Spring Classics forum NOW!!!!

All on NBCSports (old Versus channel).

Tour of Flanders: April 1 at 8:30 a.m.
The Tour of Flanders is a Flanders Classics road cycling race held in Belgium every spring, a week before the Paris-Roubaix road race. It is part of the UCI ProTour and one of the so-called monuments of the European professional calendar, and contributes to the UCI World Ranking points. It is the most important cycling race in Belgium and, along with Paris-Roubaix, the world's most important cycling race held on a single day.

Paris Roubaix: April 8 at 9 a.m.; 3-hour race analysis at 7 p.m.
Paris-Roubaix is one of the oldest races of the professional road cycling calendar. First run in 1896, it has been stopped only by the two world wars. The race usually leaves riders caked in mud and grit, from the cobbled roads and rutted tracks of northern France's former coal-mining region. However, this is not how this race earned the nickname l'enfer du Nord, or Hell of the North. The term was used to describe the route of the race immediately after World War I. The organisers give levels of difficulty to the cobbled sections, evaluated by length, irregularity of the cobbles and the condition of each section and its position in the race. The course passed through ruins, craters and destruction. Every year seems to bring a new controversy and greater glory to the victor. This is truly a cobbled classic race that should not be missed.

Fleche Wallonne: April 21 at 12:30 a.m.
The Flèche Wallonne is an international cycling race of one day, a classic, which takes place in Belgium during the spring. 2010 saw Team BMC'sCadel Evans resplendent in the rainbow stripes of the world champion, didn't hit the front until the last 100 meters of his victory in the northern classic.

Liege Bastogne Liege: April 22 at 12:30 a.m.
The oldest of the classics, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, draws an end to the spring racing season. La Doyenne is one of the "Monuments" of the professional racing calendar and is part of the Belgian Ardennes Classics series. Don't miss the arduous climbs riders will be facing throughout the route.

...and if you don't get OLN/VS/NBC Sports there's always www.cyclingfans.com with a list of live feeds.

I had the US TV show and the Dutch web feed going at the same time. LOTS of stuff happened in the commercial breaks.

Actually scouted trail for my next hare date for the Hillbilly H3 yesterday. Then went and played UW Hockey last nite. No, it won't make me a better cyclist, but since I'm never gonna be pro anyway, I may as well have fun while I'm here.

M

[Aurelius]

This video was made by a rider in my area. I found it hilarious to watch a couple of total n00bs go through what has become my favorite local off-road trail. Loved his wife's reaction at one point where she says, "I just wanna get out of here!"

The trail is actually MUCH more challenging and dangerous than it looks in the video. The first time I rode it I almost turned back only a minute into the ride, thinking it would end in another trip to the hospital.

[Jim Moore]

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

The cruelest month was particularly cruel to my bicycling plan. 2780 as of this morning. 166 miles in Feb, for a total of 430 in 2012. That hurt. I should be at 583 already. I need a couple big (for me) months to get back on track.

Fuck. 2921 as of this morning. 141 pitiful miles in March. I've been sick, I've been hurt, the weather sucks, blah, blah, blah. Bottom line, I'm not getting the job done. 571 miles in three months ain't cutting it. I may need to rethink my whole strategy. Here's hoping for a good April.

[Mr Head]

I could walk most of that first trail.

If I didn't have my bike.

Well, I got out for a ride yesterday.


Finally. I have not ridden since the 29th of January. Back then I thought I'd be a slim-trim 150 pounds and riding 300 mile weeks.

So much for dreams and half-assed plans.



I won't get another ride in until next weekend if I am lucky. This will be another week of 12 to 14 hour days.
Just what I need a little more pressure...

We had a slab-leak, this means the plumbing, i.e. water supply piping began leaking. Well such that we could see it. A week or so ago then the plumber fixed it over the course of 4 days, now tomorrow the re-construction begins.
The leaks were in two fire walls and four manifolds. This is the 4th house in the build to experience this.

Once the dust settles I'll be out a couple grand. I don't know about you all, but I had other plans for any couple of grand that happened to turn up unclaimed.

Oh and just to keep things interesting my aging Adventure, (181,000+ miles) has been wafting the aroma of burning gear oil off the CAT. So the leak doesn't show at either end, so that's good. No idea where the drip is coming from..

On the good side of the scale I found a pair of jeans I bought about 10 years ago and they fit!
I'm wearing them today as my anti-fatbastard reminder to myself.

I should get lots of riding in once this project is done since there isn't any work to do after.

[rbrsddn]

You gotta wear protective eyewear when you put on those old pants, in case a button blows off and ricochets!!
I got out for 55 miles yesterday, and it was windy as hell. By mile 40 my legs were killing me, and it was a tough 15 home. We did 50+ two weeks ago, and I felt great the whole ride. Funny how that works.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

This video was made by a rider in my area.

Too painful to watch. Just couldn't do it.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by ducnut

Too painful to watch. Just couldn't do it.

You haven't seen MY video yet.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

You haven't seen MY video yet.

[Bimble]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

...

The trail is actually MUCH more challenging and dangerous than it looks in the video....

You know the reason why that trail is right on the edge of a stream, right?

Because there wasn't a thousand-foot vertical drop around.

[Askel]

Hey Bimble!

http://gravelconspiracy.blogspot.com...s-edition.html

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Askel

Hey Bimble!

http://gravelconspiracy.blogspot.com...s-edition.html

That looks cool!

[mud]

Originally Posted by Askel

Hey Bimble!

http://gravelconspiracy.blogspot.com...s-edition.html

That sounds fun! Some great roads up there. Some very evil ones as well. Lots of elevation changes..... Not big, but, up and down and up and down and....

[fullmonte]

Originally Posted by mud

That sounds fun! Some great roads up there. Some very evil ones as well.

I love this description of the ride:
"There is no sag, there is no support, no one will come to get you if you get a flat. At times you will be 40 miles from the nearest gas station.
You could get eaten. Bugs. Bears. Cougars (not the sassy, middle-aged kind either)."

[Aurelius]

One more day.