He tried to keep a speed of 18mph for 18 hours a day and did 43 hours on the last days. He did not even stop for toilet breaks.I have to go to work
That's almost my years riding in a week
Pass me the stabilisers… I’m an Amateur…
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The Cycling Thread
- Thread starter Big Steve - Raider
- Start date
Pass me the stabilisers… I’m an Amateur…
Thank you! The Canyon has been amazing so far. It's been soo worthwhile and cemented my reason for digging deep and treating myself to (what I see as) a decent spec road bike.
The Grizl gravel bike has been epic so for me it was a no brainer to go Canyon again, also their customer service has been on point. They've been a massive help when I was compiling parts for the build, for an online only company selling a range of bikes, accessories and parts they have all departments dialled in.
Gloves! Yes will do, I associate the likes of Altura, Endura and Gore as quality v price for winter products so hopefully they'll do the job. I did buy a pair of winter gloves very early this year but they were far too bulky hence the Altura.
I did have a convo with Bill J actually about winter layers and he's on the same wavelength hating the cold and cold hands and feet.
He has these and says they've been brilliant.
Castelli Diluvio C Gloves | Wiggle
Buy your Castelli Diluvio C Gloves from our Gloves range at Wiggle. £38.50. Free delivery available.
I have a lightweight pair of gloves so I might use them as a liner glove inside the waterproof ones when it's really cold.
Getting a bit fresh on the weekend rides so I've bought a few bits from Canyon and Wiggle.
Bib tights
Base layer, Snood, MTB overshoes and road bike overshoes
Had a right result with the be seen front light, it's from a company called Fabric, perfect. It's discreet, clips into the out front mount then the Garmin piggy backs onto it. I like it as it's discreet, keeps the bike looking tidy and does the job nicely. Personally I can't stand accessories bolted all over the handlebars.
The light's been discontinued but put a wanted and on a cycling Facebook group, a chap had one to sell, £20 later and it's now on the bike.
Bib tights
Base layer, Snood, MTB overshoes and road bike overshoes
Had a right result with the be seen front light, it's from a company called Fabric, perfect. It's discreet, clips into the out front mount then the Garmin piggy backs onto it. I like it as it's discreet, keeps the bike looking tidy and does the job nicely. Personally I can't stand accessories bolted all over the handlebars.
The light's been discontinued but put a wanted and on a cycling Facebook group, a chap had one to sell, £20 later and it's now on the bike.
Been out on the Ultimate a few weekends now and absolutely love it, the latest ride was a bit different and came around pretty quickly! Checking the weather apps it was showing as raining today (Sunday) but overnight and very early morning until 7am down as dry, 10 degrees and little or no chance of rain.
So, maybe I could ride to London then get the first train back out of Fenchurch St? National Rail Planner says 06
8, cool so if I head off about half 3 that should give me enough time.
03:47 start time
06:12 arrive at Fenchurch St
068 train departs
Weekend engineering works means the train terminates 4 stops before Southend so I have to ride the rest of the way which is about 4 miles. In that time on the train back the rain starts, good job I packed my roll up lightweight rain jacket! The Canyon overshoes and Altura gloves worked a treat, the McDonalds double sausage and egg meal with an added bacon and egg Mcmuffin also hit the spot too!
So a decent night ride out which mixes it up between the usual local loops
now that winters drawing in with early nights it won't be the last.
Crossing the M25
So, maybe I could ride to London then get the first train back out of Fenchurch St? National Rail Planner says 06
8, cool so if I head off about half 3 that should give me enough time.03:47 start time
06:12 arrive at Fenchurch St
06
8 train departsWeekend engineering works means the train terminates 4 stops before Southend so I have to ride the rest of the way which is about 4 miles. In that time on the train back the rain starts, good job I packed my roll up lightweight rain jacket! The Canyon overshoes and Altura gloves worked a treat, the McDonalds double sausage and egg meal with an added bacon and egg Mcmuffin also hit the spot too!
So a decent night ride out which mixes it up between the usual local loops
now that winters drawing in with early nights it won't be the last.Crossing the M25
Thank you, really appreciate it. I like to think I've put in the same kind of passion and dedication as I did with my cars. Since the departure of the Mégane over a year ago it left a massive void, buying a brand new gravel bike then building up essentially a new road bike has mostly filled that. Add in the usual rides then the much longer efforts that's really pushed me, I've loved every minute of doing it.Absolutely awesome dedication man, obviously you enjoy doing it too but well done
I was fascinated as a teenager about cycling, I loved the Tour De France and would dream about building up my own road bike just like the Pro tour riders. Aside of that I did a hell a lot of BMXing from the age of 12 to 19
I guess now I've realised that dream of owning and riding a high quality road bike. I absolutely love it, it's done wonders for my mental health since the Mégane went, those massive rides that make you dig deep take you to some dark places but it certainly helps flush out any toxins.
It's all come at just the right time, that window of opportunity.
It actually is! Hardly any cars on the road between 2-5am so you're left just to crack on. I remember riding into London on that big ride a while ago, it was funny seeing groups of people getting a cab at 3-4am post bar or club or people walking home at 5-6am or that walk of shame
No limits really, nothing stopping anyone from going out at any time of the day or night. It certainly opens up the opportunities, my mind is always thinking of new ideas.
DaveL485
Staff member
Other than the fact it's dark, cold, and you should be fast asleep in a cosy warm bed?
Lunatic
Plenty more nights when it's raining to do thatOther than the fact it's dark, cold, and you should be fast asleep in a cosy warm bed?
Lunatic
So a year ago I tried the double century on the Flanders, back then I was relatively new to road riding. Everything about it was wrong, the clothing, the gearing on the bike and accessories like the lights. It makes me laugh and cringe at the same time now thinking I could do it, but hey ho you have to try these things. I think the Garmin sat nav ran out of power by 2pm with no power pack back up, from then on I had to keep stopping to check Google Maps to progress. I knew then it was over so I arranged to be picked for sundown at 4pm at 139 miles.
From that day on 200 miles has stuck with me, 180 miles on the Canyon Grizl with 45mm. That day by 150 miles I was both physically and mentally gone. The body felt ok but the head had given up and talked myself out of carrying on.
With the arrival of the Canyon Ultimate things had changed, the bike is obviously better than the Flanders in every way and a couple of rides in it was massively confidence inspiring. Maybe the double century could be done, so with that idea coming back to the forefront of my mind I decided to give it a go.
Weather checking all week and it kept saying single digit percentage chances of rain, light cloud cover and temps from 10 degrees early morning to 12 degrees during the day. Theme of the day? Drizzle and rain! For the 16 hours I was out I'd say 15 of those it rained and drizzled in varying strengths, it would blow in as drizzle for a time then stop. It was pretty much like that all day, well apart from Hunstanton. I think from there heading back south the sun was out, the roads were dry for about 10 miles or so.
This time I took a power pack to charge the Garmin and the front light. Remarkably the 2 rear lights between them lasted all day.
Anyway I won't bore you anymore
Some stats
205.8 miles
Total Time: 15h 52m
Ride Time: 13h 8m
Ave speed: 15.7mph
To think approx 7 hours of that was in the dark.
No time for fancy photos! I didn't want to take off my gloves too many times but did have to stop after the first century every couple of hours just to put some power back in the Garmin.
From that day on 200 miles has stuck with me, 180 miles on the Canyon Grizl with 45mm. That day by 150 miles I was both physically and mentally gone. The body felt ok but the head had given up and talked myself out of carrying on.
With the arrival of the Canyon Ultimate things had changed, the bike is obviously better than the Flanders in every way and a couple of rides in it was massively confidence inspiring. Maybe the double century could be done, so with that idea coming back to the forefront of my mind I decided to give it a go.
Weather checking all week and it kept saying single digit percentage chances of rain, light cloud cover and temps from 10 degrees early morning to 12 degrees during the day. Theme of the day? Drizzle and rain! For the 16 hours I was out I'd say 15 of those it rained and drizzled in varying strengths, it would blow in as drizzle for a time then stop. It was pretty much like that all day, well apart from Hunstanton. I think from there heading back south the sun was out, the roads were dry for about 10 miles or so.
This time I took a power pack to charge the Garmin and the front light. Remarkably the 2 rear lights between them lasted all day.
Anyway I won't bore you anymore
Some stats
205.8 miles
Total Time: 15h 52m
Ride Time: 13h 8m
Ave speed: 15.7mph
To think approx 7 hours of that was in the dark.
No time for fancy photos! I didn't want to take off my gloves too many times but did have to stop after the first century every couple of hours just to put some power back in the Garmin.
Haha thank you! Erm, today it feels a bit tender bit to be fair if you spend the money on a quality seat that's half the battle. I bought mine from a company called Fizik, on the website they'll ask specific questions like width of bum bone, style of riding, average length of rides to narrow down a specific seat.
It's absolutely spot on, what I can feel the most though are my knees. 13hrs of rotation has probably worn the cartilage and the muscle but over than that I feel ok.
The most important things of the day are hydration and food, you'll divebomb mentally and physically if you don't. I used bigger bottles to help, on the stops I varied what I was drinking while refilling the bottles, smoothies and milk, Costa for warmth.
The last 80 miles I switched to gels which are calorific heavy without the need to eat, on earlier stops I'd full myself with food and plenty of hydration but then feel sick for about 20 minutes afterwards as I was soo bloated.
DaveL485
Staff member
Worst part for me is usually elbows oddly enough, probably as my bike frame isnt really big enough (despite being an XL).
Though since I have stopped riding now (fair weather cyclist) and picked the swimming back up I seem to be getting a lot of achy knee syndrome!
It's the only activity that uses all the muscles.
And I guess you're tilted in a way that the arms are taking the weight as you say the bike is the wrong size. On rides I tend to change hand positions on the bars to help them out
DaveL485
Staff member
Yeah I have an XL frame with the saddle post out 2" past the max extension point for my leg length, it does squish me forward a lot to the point my breathing capacity is about 15% more if I sit back with no hands on the bars!
New to me bike day! Sadly I sold the Canyon Grizl before Christmas, stupid decision really thinking it was for the right reasons when buying the Clio. Fortunes changed which meant an opportunity to buy another, scouring the sites everyday this 2021 Specialized Diverge Carbon Comp came up. A bit dubious from the start with a potatoesque picture on the ad and all week leading up to picking it up I still wasn't sure. But it turned out to be legit and everything it should be and at a far lesser price than the 4k new tag. It's only been used 4 times and bar a couple of lacquer scuffs it's mint.
New side loading bottle cages fitted
New side loading bottle cages fitted
