Wankelschrauben
Guest
I completed my first club run on Saturday, we did a rather hilly route from Marden to Bewl Water in Kent about 30-33miles.
The route involved quite a few hills which brought the average speed down. I was quite pleased to be able to spin up some of the hills with a bit of pace on a 39/53 chain ring from a near stand still but I think this may have upset some of the other riders who were able to slog it out slowly on their triple chain rings.
I have discovered that if I fall to below 5mph on a hill and the cadence drops to near nothing, i.e the slower I go up a hill, the harder it is and the more strain I put on the bike and the more energy I use. Spinning up the hills is both quicker and less tiresome.
My GF insisted on coming too which which wasn't a brilliant move on our part, her bike is rubbish and she hasn't done any more than about 10 miles in one journey.
However I am very proud to say that we both completed the task, she has been recovering these past few days by getting me to massage her legs every hour, and I was tired but otherwise perfectly fine and able to continue cycling, which I did later that day and did a 14% hill in the area with relative ease.
I would really like to get her a decent road bike on the second hand market, she has finally seen the advantage of drops have over flats and is not just "OK" with getting a drop handled bike but now wants one.
Things I've realised I now definately need are:
Saddle bag for tools and stuff to keep my rear pockets clear for food and non pokey in the back things.
Extra bottle holder and bottle.
A book on riding etiquette.
The route involved quite a few hills which brought the average speed down. I was quite pleased to be able to spin up some of the hills with a bit of pace on a 39/53 chain ring from a near stand still but I think this may have upset some of the other riders who were able to slog it out slowly on their triple chain rings.
I have discovered that if I fall to below 5mph on a hill and the cadence drops to near nothing, i.e the slower I go up a hill, the harder it is and the more strain I put on the bike and the more energy I use. Spinning up the hills is both quicker and less tiresome.
My GF insisted on coming too which which wasn't a brilliant move on our part, her bike is rubbish and she hasn't done any more than about 10 miles in one journey.
However I am very proud to say that we both completed the task, she has been recovering these past few days by getting me to massage her legs every hour, and I was tired but otherwise perfectly fine and able to continue cycling, which I did later that day and did a 14% hill in the area with relative ease.
I would really like to get her a decent road bike on the second hand market, she has finally seen the advantage of drops have over flats and is not just "OK" with getting a drop handled bike but now wants one.
Things I've realised I now definately need are:
Saddle bag for tools and stuff to keep my rear pockets clear for food and non pokey in the back things.
Extra bottle holder and bottle.
A book on riding etiquette.
