The Road Cycling Thread

[Dujon]

Lovely, BP, lovely.

[Gravedigger]

Long time ago I bought a bike and thought I'd test it out on a good ride so chose London to Brighton. Took me four days, got to Brighton in a crippled state, sold the bike and came back on the train.

[Always hopeful]

Finally got around to riding up the Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen today. Only a short 10 mile blast to the top and back, but one of extremes.

5 miles and 1400ft of lung busting climbing to the top. Took about 35 mins and averaged just over 10 mph.

5 miles and 1400ft of absolute pleasure coming down. Took 12 mins and averaged 27mph.

Worth it for the view from the top, and the unadulterated pleasure of the descent.

[Gooner Girl]

Long time ago I bought a bike and thought I'd test it out on a good ride so chose London to Brighton. Took me four days, got to Brighton in a crippled state, sold the bike and came back on the train.

London to Brighton bike ride came through our village today, couldn't drive anywhere for cyclists!

It took my friends husband 3 and a half hours to do it Gravedigger, did your bike have any gears? Or wheels even?!

[Gary the Enfield]

A per pro of absolutely nothing I have decided to post this here for our male cyclists.

Call it a public service.

http://www.johnpolson.com.au/2011/11/05 ... ould-read/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Always hopeful]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

[bobo the clown]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Is this the one who uses his bike as a murder weapon ? Is this a good idea ?

[Always hopeful]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Is this the one who uses his bike as a murder weapon ? Is this a good idea ?

Yep. A couple of tubes poking out from the handlebars makes for a far more effective weapon.

[bobo the clown]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Is this the one who uses his bike as a murder weapon ? Is this a good idea ?

Yep. A couple of tubes poking out from the handlebars makes for a far more effective weapon.

mmmm Well, call me when it goes tits up. I'll fetch my camera.

[Always hopeful]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Is this the one who uses his bike as a murder weapon ? Is this a good idea ?

Yep. A couple of tubes poking out from the handlebars makes for a far more effective weapon.

mmmm Well, call me when it goes tits up. I'll fetch my camera.

Deal. You can give us a lift home.

[Andy Waller]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Just get in a good tuck?! It's better for road riding.

[Always hopeful]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Just get in a good tuck?! It's better for road riding.

I've tried, but I can't sustain it for very long as I find it uncomfortable. I used tri bars about 20 years ago and found them quite good. At only £30, I'm happy to give them another go and sell them on if I don't like them.

[Bruce Rioja]

I've inherited a mountain bike which currently gathers dust in my garage. I have this notion to clean it up and have a blast on it around the pastures of Bradshaw. Problem is - I've no idea how the gears work. There appears to be three different levers. We only had gears one to five when I was a boy.

[Andy Waller]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Just get in a good tuck?! It's better for road riding.

I've tried, but I can't sustain it for very long as I find it uncomfortable. I used tri bars about 20 years ago and found them quite good. At only £30, I'm happy to give them another go and sell them on if I don't like them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIATHLON-TRI ... 2ed49a75d0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How about something like this?

[KeyserSoze]

clip-on pedals and shoes. Worth the investment?

[Gary the Enfield]

clip-on pedals and shoes. Worth the investment?

Having recently converted I would say yes.

[Gary the Enfield]

Picked up my new ride yesterday.

It's a composite of a new frame, wheels and shifters with the rest cannibalised from my old bike.

Here it is:

[Always hopeful]

My 16 year old lad's just fitted tri bars to his road bike. I struggled to keep up with him before, but his 6'3" frame meant I got quite a good tow when slipstreaming him and could almost keep up with him.

That's all changed.

When he drops onto his tri bars, not only does he go about 2mph faster for the same effort, but the reduction in tow I get is incredible and he simply pulls away at a rate of knots.

Consequently, I've now got some on order

Just get in a good tuck?! It's better for road riding.

I've tried, but I can't sustain it for very long as I find it uncomfortable. I used tri bars about 20 years ago and found them quite good. At only £30, I'm happy to give them another go and sell them on if I don't like them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIATHLON-TRI ... 2ed49a75d0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How about something like this?

Well, I read this review

http://www.triradar.com/gear/best-clip- ... rs-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and subsequently bought these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/token-tk9741-2- ... -and-pads/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Always hopeful]

clip-on pedals and shoes. Worth the investment?

Having recently converted I would say yes.

Absolutely, 100% yes.

The biggest difference I noticed was with the shoes having a stiff sole, the power transfer through them is so much better than a soft sole.

Also, make sure you set them quite loose to start off with and practice getting in and out of them before you 'go public'. The first time I tried mine, I fell off at the first T-junction I came to.

[Gary the Enfield]

clip-on pedals and shoes. Worth the investment?

Having recently converted I would say yes.

Absolutely, 100% yes.

The biggest difference I noticed was with the shoes having a stiff sole, the power transfer through them is so much better than a soft sole.

Also, make sure you set them quite loose to start off with and practice getting in and out of them before you 'go public'. The first time I tried mine, I fell off at the first T-junction I came to.

Hasn't happened to me (yet) but I've been told when it does, and there are witnesses, you must stand and take a bow before proceeding.