[Closed] So I want to try road racing + build a bike specifically for this

I got called into the club house for a cup of tea and biscuits - you twicks guys are so welcoming

Well you know where to come on Tuesday evening at 7PM! It's a very friendly club. Just sorry I wasn't able to attend after all. We have another one planned.

Oh, and I have a PhD in Theoretical Physics - so being a Physics Geek means that the Powerpod is the natural choice! Think I might get another.

@CH - uncool!!

@TiRed - I only turned up really late, didn't actually do any skills. Okay that's reassuring!!

There's £10 cashback with it too: https://www.topcashback.co.uk/probikekit/

So powerpod for £215 all in 😆

Just got back from a few days in Wales, no more races for me until after Tour of Flanders, need to do a few big rides in the next couple of weeks if possible. My road/training/winter/racing bike currently weighing in at 9.1kg, the 105 groupset did't shed any weight but is certainly nicer to ride. I have a studpidly light reynolds 32mm deep rim on a superstar hub that I picked up for £95 in one of their clearance sales to go on next, quite fancy one of those cheap cosine saddles with Ti rails, that should take it to sub 9kg. Once flanders is out of the way I will put my schwable one tyres back on.

[img] http://goo.gl/yHtDNP [/img]

Pics not working @Tomvet

Woo I'm a 3rd with 5 points to my name:
[img] [/img]

So I've just moved up to 3rd cat too, wahoo! Now I'm wondering what will happen to the race I've entered in a month, I've entered the 4th cat only... The 3rd cat race is fully booked so I can't move over to that one. Will they let me race and not get any points or am I just going to be refunded and told to jog on?

🙄 #fitguyproblems

😆

Well done though Rawka! Nice conundrum to have.

I'm getting excited and nervous about Saturday. I'm on an R+R week this week so I'm not going to be peaking but I should be well rested!

I just want a whif of a point 🙂

Will they let me race and not get any points or am I just going to be refunded and told to jog on?

So powerpod for £215 all in

You get get the 4iiii for £350 though, and I have been finding it useful having the same power measurements on the turbo as I do on the road.

My road/training/winter/racing bike currently weighing in at 9.1kg, the 105 groupset did't shed any weight but is certainly nicer to ride.

My bike has also got to (mostly) 105 from ancient 9-speed Tiagra and has lost quite a bit of weight although that was mostly to me being lucky in picking up a set of Dura-ace C24 wheels fitted with GT4000's and a Dura-ace cassette for £200 as a buy-it-now on Ebay. Not that it'll be getting raced in anything other than perhaps one of the club 10-mile TT's though! I'd get spat out of the back even quicker than weeksy did!

I can't seem to get the hang of adding photos, I can see the pic I added above on my phone and laptop. Will try again off Imgur instead of google pictures, can anyone tell me if this works?

[img] [/img]

Works for me!

Yep showing now mate. Very smart!

Can anyone advise the current STW 25mm tubeless tyre of choice for such bicycles...?
Ta!

For racing, Schwalbe Ones are the defacto choice. I preferred the first generation for robustness.

@rawka - congrats!!
@tomvet - bike looks really nice, you've proper slammed that stem!!

@epicsteve - that's for 105, I want Ultegra - so £429 for 4iiii or £455 for stages g2.

I decided against the powerpod, I want something I can use indoors as well as outdoors to monitor my fitness levels (FTP tests throughout the year). No rush though as I don't plan on doing a FTP for a while.

@epicsteve - that's for 105, I want Ultegra - so £429 for 4iiii or £455 for stages g2.

You can fit the 105 arm on an Ultegra chainset if you're not a tart...

Evans have an ex display Ultegra Stages (in a 170mm)

https://www.evanscycles.com/stages-power-meter-ultegra-6700-ex-demo-ex-display-EV299582

You can fit the 105 arm on an Ultegra chainset

Wash your mouth out!

You can fit the 105 arm on an Ultegra chainset if you're not a tart..

Cheers TiRed...no issue with 25s on propels is there?
And I'm guessing 28s is wishful thinking....
Cheers!

I'm a tart ^^ 😆

(with clinical OCD 😳 )

I couldn't possibly comment or poor Nath is going to get a complex 😆

I'm interested to see what he thinks of my* build of the same frame- it's going to be farmer-chic 😀

*well, his advice 😉

Okay, just got the email about the weekend. Only 3 4th cats in the race....

It's clockwise!!!! Never ridden that way around before...

And I've just spotted Rupert from Sigma Sport (the machine) is in the race too!

Now I'm nervous! 😆

that will make the right hander by the clubhouse quite quick then as you've come down the slope and gained speed

Cheers TiRed...no issue with 25s on propels is there?
And I'm guessing 28s is wishful thinking....
Cheers!

25's fit fine. Most 28s will not go under the straddle wire for the brake. I've not tried my Schwalbe G One Speed (30c but really a 28 on Ksyriums). That said, the Giant rims are wider, and 25c Vittoria Open Corsa G+ come out as almost as wide and are lovely to ride on. I raced over some miserable Surrey Roads on mine on Saturday, and they were a fabulous (and popular) choice).

Think I won't be free on Saturday for Hillingdon. We hve a few rides and one chasing single point for second cat. I may come up later to fettle the TT bike.

25's fit fine. Most 28s will not go under the straddle wire for the brake. I've not tried my Schwalbe G One Speed (30c but really a 28 on Ksyriums). That said, the Giant rims are wider, and 25c Vittoria Open Corsa G+ come out as almost as wide and are lovely to ride on. I raced over some miserable Surrey Roads on mine on Saturday, and they were a fabulous (and popular) choice).

Cheers TiRed! Just looked up the corsas....Holy moly they don't come cheap in tubeless..!

I bought mine at the Ride London Vittoria stand and they were £35 each. These are the non tubeless G+ Corsa's and they are a very popular choice in the peloton. I ran Open Paves the winter before, and that included road racing, and they are very good tyres too.

The Corsa Speed Tubeless I've just fitted to my TT wheels are strictly NOT for road racing, only available in 23c and as fragile as eggshells! The tubeless option is designed to get you to the finish if/when you've punctured/shredded the sidewalls, in the hope that the lowest tested rolling resistance has saved you enough watts to get a PB (maybe).

I've got tubeless rims.... perhaps I should have looked at tubeless tyres over GP's ??

Tubeless comes across as a PITA for not much gain?

I was thinking if I ran them with no fluid it would be a lot lighter???

Idly reading this as I've a hankering to try road racing (which would need a new bike!) and can chip in on tubeless: I find my schwalbe S-ones dont hold air (on stans Iron Cross cx tubeless wheels as I've roadised my cx bike for the next few months) anything like as well as MTB tyres. Have to pump up before every ride, normally lost ~10PSI. So I'd not recommend no sealant.
Can't see why it's a pain in the arse though?

Some riders are using Schwalbe Ones tubeless, particularly in road races for fear of punctures (or pinch flats due to potholes). With sealant. I just ride with a tube and CO2. The best organised races have a service car, of course, but I still take my 80 mm valved tube and CO2.

Ferrals, you really don't need a road bike unless your cross bike has disc brakes. Here's one I raced earlier - attacking off the bunch to try and bridge to a break (in case you were wondering)

[img] ?oh=c002ef0d386a6d164e79103c0e3cf6b3&oe=595FEABB[/img]

Look at that tyre clearance 😯 running 25c Vittoria Open Pave 25c in the last Winter Series race (ever)

Ferrals, you really don't need a road bike unless your cross bike has disc brakes

That is the problem bloody uci rules 😆 maybe next year!

TiRed, thanks for the heads up (again!), It sounds like I may be better off with the schwalbe then..I've got the 28mm pro ones on my focus (discs hence the propel purchase) which i like, so may well stick with those....Decisions, decision...!

Well you can always fit a different fork, add some long drop calipers, remove the disks and away you go 😉 . Always a way 😈 Or borrow one of mine provided you are local.

I ran 25C Schwalbe Ones for two seasons on my Propel 1. Great tyres. I just fancied a change to Paves for winter, liked the feel, so went for Corsa G+ last summer. For tubeless, I'd definitely go with Pro Ones in 25c, as plenty of others in the peloton have already.

@tired - wow that's incredibly generous!

Okay so I ordered a power meter yesterday, hopefully it arrives before 12:30 so I can fit it for the race! Yeah I should have ordered it a few days ago 😆

Today's objectives in order:
- Finish without being dropped or crashing
- Get used to riding backwards (clockwise)
- Finish in the top 20 (78 in the field)
Anything else is a bonus!

Good luck to all those racing today.

Good luck mate- you'll smash it! May have to do a little less 'Nathing' now mind you 😉

I'm looking forward to watching 🙂

Pressure!!!

@tired - wow that's incredibly generous!

That's the beauty of having plenty of road bikes and not worrying about them 😉 . I can easily put out five race bikes at an hour's notice and have another stored away from home. Two belong to the teens, but being the same standard Medium size, they are very adaptable!

Good luck this afternoon. Just enjoy it and try and stay top third - no hanging at the back in these races please! BTW I went last night for a quick Powerpod calibration, and OMG was it windy!!! Huge gusts across the field, it's a bit tamer now, but may not suit those 60 mm deep section wheels (I was struggling on 45mm).

I may be up later due to a change of family plans, as I'd like to calibrate my TT bike again. And just gain a bit more confidence in my position and the tubeless tyres.

Nath is looking very chilled at the back of a huge bunch. Rupert Graham and 2 others are 30 seconds off the front...

Meh - today was a learning curve. Felt like my first race all over again. Tactics from cat 4 didn't work, the circuit is weird the other way around and 80 felt like way too many people!

Took a few pics of the 4s and women's: https://m.facebook.com/nath89/albums/10158347738815557/?ref=bookmarks

I was pleased with my race.

My one goal was to 'not be a victim' and I certainly managed that- even when I did get punched and F'd at by a Henley rider for a Twickenham riders mistake!!

I soon caught him up, put a hand on his shoulder and firmly put him in his place though!!!!

Anyway, got boxed in on the last two corners and had to 'go' twice on my sprint so finished 18/44.

I had energy to spare though which is annoying!!

18th, that's bloody great fella!

Thanks!! Better than that though, I felt great!!
I had a game plan of sticking around 10th-15th wheel and managed it easily. The couple of times I did slide back, I was able to get back up to the front with ease.

My strength today was cornering. Thanks to TiRed's tips, I just blazed it past people through Brian's Bends every lap.

I'm gutted I let my positioning slide towards the end- if I'd known I was going to feel so good afterwards, I'd have pushed harder with 2 to go.

Tactics from cat 4 didn't work

What did you expect? It's a race 😉 . And yes it'as a new game. When I (finally) graduated to 3rd Cat, I'd raced so many Vets races there was no learning curve, the tactics were unchanged, just the pace.

when I did get punched and F'd at by a Henley rider

I did mention it to the Comm at the end of the 2,3,4 race but he didn't mention sanctioning him? To be honest, I'd already sorted it out with him and he had the grace to apologise so I'm not overly keen to make a fuss.

About 3 guys were like "Hey! That wasn't even your fault???" when it happened. And the Henley rider was half-wheeling me in my blind spot. I guess people's judgement gets skewed when their blood is up!

Congrats CH, hopefully next week you'll have the new bike and be in the top 10! Tactics worked really well!

I don't think I'm going to race next weekend, but I'm hopefully going to come and see you guys in action (with the camera) - I may borrow a bigger lens too haha.

Thanks Nath!
I have a tougher training week pencilled in for this week so I'm not expecting to be as fresh as today.

I should be excited I guess but now the dust has settled- I'm full of what-ifs 🙂

Guys, what is there I can put in my bottle to replicate the sugar hit of a gel?
I didn't run a bottle yesterday which wasn't an issue hydration wise but if I wanted a concentrated slug of energy without messing around with gel wrappers, what could I use?

@CH 250ml of energy drink will give roughly the same carb intake as a gel and be absorbed just as fast.

Thanks Fifeandy. I don't really know my energy products. Any recommendations?

@CH I've been using these in my water (got a couple of boxes in my batch):
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/science-in-sport-go-electrolyte-sachets-box-of-18-x-40g/

Think it's the same as this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/science-in-sport-go-electrolyte-16kg/

Thanks Nath- I'll order some up!

Everyone was popping gels with 5 to go yesterday which I would imagine is too late??

I was thinking of my usual start line gel and then a slug of magic drink at a lull close to half way. As much for the mental boost as anything.....

TiRed - Member
Well you can always fit a different fork, add some long drop calipers, remove the disks and away you go . Always a way Or borrow one of mine provided you are local.

Thanks for the offer! Not local to you guys though. Realistically it's not something I have time to dabble in at the mo anyway, enough on my cycling plate with xc and cx 🙂

CH - I use lemon and lime, it's perfectly drinkable.

Personally I think 5 to go is too late? I have one 5 mins before the race and use that energy drink during - has worked so far.

On a side note the amount of cat 2/3 lobbing empty gels into the bushes was disgusting - should be DQ'd IMO.

Congratulations CH!!

Officially 18th: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/159575/West-Drayton-Specialized-Crit-Series---Event-1

You can now tick off the finishing in the top 50%!! 😉

I got 45th out of 78, 58 finishers. 😳 At least I wasn't dropped/last/no cat 4 finished above me 😆

Baptism of fire then Nath. Anything you can do differently to get higher next time?

Yes, LOADS. I know what they are:

1) Sort my job out - couldn't get into it on Saturday, really affected my mindset.
2) Get more comfortable in the bunch - in the 4's I could sit in the wind all day not getting close to anyone, or at worst we were cornering 2/3 abreast which was a breeze. In the 3's we were cornering 4/5/6 abreast. I did NOT feel comfortable in this so I safely removed myself from such occurrences by sitting at the back.
3) Improve my fitness - this is mainly from diet as my diet sucks at the moment.
4) Put more time in clockwise at Hillingdon.

So I don't think I'm going to try another 2/3 race yet - will do 3s and 3/4s to get more confidence and engage more in the bunch.

In other news my position on the bike is now officially very comfortable, did 2hr 15 min yesterday at least 75% of it on the drops and felt fine.

On a side note the amount of cat 2/3 lobbing empty gels into the bushes was disgusting.

Seriously? Report them! Not something I've noticed before.

And cornering five abreast is just confidence. You really do have to trust the other riders not to be stupid. It's why bad riding is not tolerated. And it is always nice to gain a reputation as a "safe wheel". Slow in my case, but safe 😉

So, acouple of race reports
[b]
University of Birmingham 1-day Stage race - 11th March[/b]
In short, I sucked. Rode a terrible TT, and then got got blown out the back of the crit in the 1st 10 minutes, partly through starting at the back, not being able to clip-in at the start, and having a load of massive engines in the pack (winning time for the 4th cat TT was 22.30, which I think was faster than the course record). My only chance of getting back on ended when I inadvertantly went back to my cx racing roots. ended up in a group of 4 which wasn't making much progress, so I decided to make some friends by attacking a couple of times. got lapped with about 3/4 aps to go
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/895595009 ]TT strava[/url]
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/896129838 ]Crit strava[/url]

[b]Mid Shropshire Wheelers Sunday Series - Sundorne, 19th March[/b]
This went better. I was on the front row, and clipped in on the 1st attempt for a start. For the 1st 10 minutes I felt pretty ordinary (which I'm used to from cx), but felt pretty good from then on, to the point that I was able to follow an attack (even all I achieved was to drag the bunch up to the attacker), and not get blown out the back straight after. The riding was a bit sketchier than the 2 races I've done at Stourport (including a couple of bits of bad riding from myself), and with about 3 to there was a compression coming out of the bottom hairpin, and the guy in front of braked suddenly. I went straight into the back of him. He went over the bars but I managed to stay upright and sprint back on, but couldn't hold on to contest the sprint.
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/906721671 ]strava[/url]
weird sidenote - got strava kudos from Jacob Tipper for my [url= https://www.strava.com/activities/906487948 ]pre race warm up[/url].

havent been able to find any pics, so for your amusement here's one of me pulling my 'hurdles face' from the midlands cx champs 🙂
[url] http://www.mikeadamsphotography.biz/Cycling/Cyclo-Cross/JunSeniorWomen-Midlands-Region/i-TFwRkhC/A [/url]

Well done for getting stuck in JD. Are you addicted?

I thought I would post an update to keep the thread ticking over whilst Nath concentrates on more important things 🙂

I'm actually pleased with my progress. What I've realised is that, I ain't going to be getting to the top of any significant trees any time soon- so I'd better find enjoyment in the journey.
And actually, I love having the focus of something totally unrelated to my day job.

My cadence has improved. I've added 10rpm to my race speed.
My position has improved. My core strength is much better and despite the lack of good photo evidence, I can go a lot more aero when needed.
My bunch riding has improved beyond recognition. It took a few weeks to regain my confidence after that sketchy race at Hillingdon but I feel much happier riding in shelter and can tell when I'm properly 'in' which wasn't always obvious in my first couple of races.
My fitness has improved. I'm about 7 points higher on Strava F+F than when I started and it feels like it too.
My weight has dropped slowly but surely. I'm running a very conservative 300calorie deficit and don't count calories on race days or one other day per fortnight yet have dropped from 90 to 87kg.
My race results are gradually getting there! From getting lapped four times to 18/45 is solid progress I'm sure.
I'm slowly ticking of TiRed's list 😆

1. Buy a race license and enter a race (this IS the biggie) [b]Yes, and upgraded to Silver + race[/b]
2. Not get dropped (took me a few races) [b]Yes, sometimes [/b] 😉
3. Finish mid pack (needs skill not fitness) [b]Yes, at long last![/b]
4. Finish top third (Yes!!! I'm a "racer")
5. Work on the front (actual training required)
6. Contest the sprint (try not to lose position)
7. Bridge to a break (more training)
8. Attack (You have to be able to do something in the race)
9. Contest the points (Cat 3 here I come!)
10. Win! (Hmmm, still working on this one)

Many weeks of exciting adventures and training focus left in this yet 🙂

Jesper tried his luck for the first time too and finished with the bunch 🙂
Of course he made a #cringe vid about it!
He had already posted a vid saying he was hoping to run his GoPro but somebody dobbed him in 😆

Luckily the commissaire was very light hearted about it 😉

Hahahahaha!!!!!

I drove to Hillingdon and did 30miles Clockwise on Tuesday afternoon.

So of course- this weeks race is anti-clockwise 😆

The com said they were all clockwise to us!?

I know!!!!

Soooooo close to racing on my new bike tomorrow. I'm in the starting blocks waiting to try and buy the correct BB and get it fitted in time.

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Oh, didn't realise you were due to use it this weekend. !

If you need one collecting, i'm heading into either Didcot or Newbury not long after 9am, i don't mind which i head to as they'll bboth have what i'm heading into town for.
I'll give you till 9.30 to ring them.

Ok cool. Banjo don't have one in stock... I'll ring MM @ 9am.

At a push, after that, try Rotec Cycles in Reading.... I could shoot over there but DAMN you'll owe me 😉

I can drive wherever myself if needed.... I've given myself the day off 😆

I just need to find one first and get it to Weeksy's cycle shack before it closes..... 😉

Looks familiar @CH 🙂

🙂
I'm most thankful for all your help with this Nath! But it is about £800 over budget 😆

What's that on the floor behind your back wheel?

Hair dryer 🙂 Lol!!!

I wondered that, but thought "surely not". No harm in looking your best on your day off though I guess!

Whats up with the taped chainstay?
Never experienced chain slap on a road bike before, but can't imagine you just added it for decorative purposes.

You don't bunny hop enough. 🙂

I don't even have tape on my cross bike, and i bunnyhop that a lot........

OK then you do it too smoothly! 🙂

I taped my first road bike, with electrical insulation tape because that's all I had handy and wanted to ride it. When that didn't get chewed up by the chain, I realised that it was unnecessary.

It's a Lizard Skin.

I've got a wonky leg so I can't help but rub my chainstay 🙁

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