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The Cycling Thread
- Thread starter Big Steve - Raider
- Start date
DaveL485
Staff member
At one point yeaterday I rode alonside a field and I had a black and white horse running alongside me for maybe half a click, it was kinda cool! Maybe it thought I had some hay or something lol
No he thought you were a piece of straw riding a bike.. #lankeyfleabag
Giant haystacks
couldn't resist, but yes it's like almost being at one with nature
DaveL485
Staff member
I doubt I would be mistaken for anything other than a SEXY BASTARD, for that is what I am
I doubt I would be mistaken for anything other than a SEXY BASTARD, for that is what I am
First ride out on the new Grizl, oh wow! Better than I expected, much better than the Topstone. This time i went for a medium, the Canyon geometry and sizing chart recommended it.
With the Cannondale it was borderline M or L, I went Large as it just happened to have come up for sale and went for it. Although it was rideable it never felt 100% right, the bike just felt like it was big. I wasn't sure whether that was down to the geo being completely different to the road bike where that induces you to lean more forward and be a bit more aggressive. The gravel bikes are more endurance, taller and wider handlebars. I went with it, set it up and enjoyed the rides out.
The Canyon just feels more comfortable, more at home. A lighter bike so it's more agile, it wants you to ride it faster over over terrain which inspired confidence to push on. It has 45mm tyres opposed to the Topstone on 37mm, again the wider tyres absorbing the the terrain much better at a given psi. The Canyon have allowed for up to 50mm on 700c wheels, most people tend to go 650c to for a wider tyre but Canyon have allowed for this for better geometry on the 700c. Sadly Cannondale only go to 42mm, one reason for selling, again by the time I upgrade the Cannondale with better quality lighter wheels and a better quality crankset and components I'm into where I am with the Canyon.
The only upgrade to the Canyon for me purely on performance (ok and looks
) are the discs.
With the Cannondale it was borderline M or L, I went Large as it just happened to have come up for sale and went for it. Although it was rideable it never felt 100% right, the bike just felt like it was big. I wasn't sure whether that was down to the geo being completely different to the road bike where that induces you to lean more forward and be a bit more aggressive. The gravel bikes are more endurance, taller and wider handlebars. I went with it, set it up and enjoyed the rides out.
The Canyon just feels more comfortable, more at home. A lighter bike so it's more agile, it wants you to ride it faster over over terrain which inspired confidence to push on. It has 45mm tyres opposed to the Topstone on 37mm, again the wider tyres absorbing the the terrain much better at a given psi. The Canyon have allowed for up to 50mm on 700c wheels, most people tend to go 650c to for a wider tyre but Canyon have allowed for this for better geometry on the 700c. Sadly Cannondale only go to 42mm, one reason for selling, again by the time I upgrade the Cannondale with better quality lighter wheels and a better quality crankset and components I'm into where I am with the Canyon.
The only upgrade to the Canyon for me purely on performance (ok and looks
) are the discs. 
detailR
Well-Known Member
I managed to get put for a 5 mile power hour at the local trails on Sunday.
Signed up for the London to Brighton off road again this year so I better get in shape!
20210613_100115 by Richard Lewin, on Flickr
Signed up for the London to Brighton off road again this year so I better get in shape!
20210613_100115 by Richard Lewin, on Flickr
detailR
Well-Known Member
The off road ride is great @Ricardo
We done it in 2019. Raised over £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation too
IMG-20190922-WA0003 by Richard Lewin, on Flickr
(I'm the one in the white that left their medal hanging on the bike and realised ten minutes after this photo!)
Last time they had some sign up forms on the day. It might be worth calling up and seeing closer to the time of you wanted to do the event
We done it in 2019. Raised over £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation too
IMG-20190922-WA0003 by Richard Lewin, on Flickr(I'm the one in the white that left their medal hanging on the bike and realised ten minutes after this photo!)
Last time they had some sign up forms on the day. It might be worth calling up and seeing closer to the time of you wanted to do the event
Bought another 750ml bottle and some socks from Canyon. Now a pair of 750ml bottles if I don't use the frame bag as the 600ml is a better fit when I do use it.
First ride out for a couple of weeks, an improvised ride to start using OS and Google maps along the way picking out By ways, Bridleways and paths trying to stay away from main roads but having to use them to link up between gravel, off road sections. Luckily I tagged onto the Thames Estuary path which took me right to Tilbury Fort.
It's amazing that quite a few gravel riders will say oh yeah you can ride from A to B off road, oh yeah you can ride all the way to C off road...... But it's down to you to piece together the routes using the maps, it's quite the effort, it's nothing like road riding you really have to look for the off road sections, Google the areas and knit together a decent ride. Some people aren't quite forthcoming with their saved routes, GPX files.
Anyway, 35 miles down mostly off road then the train back to Southend
First ride out for a couple of weeks, an improvised ride to start using OS and Google maps along the way picking out By ways, Bridleways and paths trying to stay away from main roads but having to use them to link up between gravel, off road sections. Luckily I tagged onto the Thames Estuary path which took me right to Tilbury Fort.
It's amazing that quite a few gravel riders will say oh yeah you can ride from A to B off road, oh yeah you can ride all the way to C off road...... But it's down to you to piece together the routes using the maps, it's quite the effort, it's nothing like road riding you really have to look for the off road sections, Google the areas and knit together a decent ride. Some people aren't quite forthcoming with their saved routes, GPX files.
Anyway, 35 miles down mostly off road then the train back to Southend
Not been on the road bike for about 5 weeks as the gravel bike has been centre of attention.
Popped out along the seafront Friday evening for an ice cream
Today a decent ride out, after 30 miles I checked the Garmin and surprised to see 18.6 average, checked again at 70 miles and was 18.2. Fatigued and ended up at 17.8mph, quite happy with that for the mileage, it wasn't really hilly.
Have an organised social gravel event in Cambridge next weekend, 60 miles, I bought the matching top tube bag to go with the frame bag.
Popped out along the seafront Friday evening for an ice cream
Today a decent ride out, after 30 miles I checked the Garmin and surprised to see 18.6 average, checked again at 70 miles and was 18.2. Fatigued and ended up at 17.8mph, quite happy with that for the mileage, it wasn't really hilly.
Have an organised social gravel event in Cambridge next weekend, 60 miles, I bought the matching top tube bag to go with the frame bag.
I think it's the 4th time I've done a century rideEpic ride over the weekend, a semi organised free event called the Dunwich Dynamo. It starts off at London Fields in Hackney with a start time of around 8pm, at its peak it's been known to have at least 3000 participants. The end point is Dunwich Beach in Suffolk, 112 miles.
So a ride through the night, my first attempt, lots of unknowns but sod it let's give it a go.
Train from Southend to Liverpool St then a ride to London Fields and arrive at 7
0pm
Start the ride out with a small group of riders just after 8pm heading NE out of the city.
Epping Forest
North Weald
Moreton
Great Dunmow
Finchingfield
Stopped at the Fox pub in Finchingfield to have a coffee, diet coke, home made chicken wrap. That was around 20 past midnight.
Castle Hedingham
Sudbury
Needham Market
Stopped at Needham Lake around 30am, double shot Espresso, Mango flapjack and another wrap. Bottle refill at a Shell services just outside Needham on the A14- A140
Coddenham
Framlingham
Then onto to Dunwich Beach where we arrive at 70am Sunday morning.
Loved every minute of it, main concern was buying a front light that would be good enough to last. I packed power packs just in case and that was for the Garmin Edge too as I knew it would be low after about 6 or so hours. I bought the Halfords 1600 lumen and have to say it did last, I had it on the 640 lumen option and that for me was enough to light up the road ahead. As I was in a small group with decent lights already it really helped light the way ahead. From about 5-6am onwards I had it on blink mode as it was light enough to see.
Amazing experience, plenty of support along the way to fuel up in all ways.
So a ride through the night, my first attempt, lots of unknowns but sod it let's give it a go.
Train from Southend to Liverpool St then a ride to London Fields and arrive at 7
0pmStart the ride out with a small group of riders just after 8pm heading NE out of the city.
Epping Forest
North Weald
Moreton
Great Dunmow
Finchingfield
Stopped at the Fox pub in Finchingfield to have a coffee, diet coke, home made chicken wrap. That was around 20 past midnight.
Castle Hedingham
Sudbury
Needham Market
Stopped at Needham Lake around 3
0am, double shot Espresso, Mango flapjack and another wrap. Bottle refill at a Shell services just outside Needham on the A14- A140Coddenham
Framlingham
Then onto to Dunwich Beach where we arrive at 7
0am Sunday morning.Loved every minute of it, main concern was buying a front light that would be good enough to last. I packed power packs just in case and that was for the Garmin Edge too as I knew it would be low after about 6 or so hours. I bought the Halfords 1600 lumen and have to say it did last, I had it on the 640 lumen option and that for me was enough to light up the road ahead. As I was in a small group with decent lights already it really helped light the way ahead. From about 5-6am onwards I had it on blink mode as it was light enough to see.
Amazing experience, plenty of support along the way to fuel up in all ways.
