London-Edinburgh-London 2013: The thread

[Alberto]

Hi Alberto,

I use a Selle Italia nowadays. I think it is called Gel Flow or something like that. Main thing it has is the cut-out bit in the middle which works for me in a more leaning-fowards position. I also use their TT one on my TT bike.

I got the Gel Flow because I knew the brooks wouldn't work for the 24-hour TT (I remember being thoroughly sick of it by the end of the Dean and not able to lean forward on the last third of the ride without it being painful), but TT saddles wouldn't be right either as they are really designed for short distances.

But it is trial and error. The Selle Italia suits me but I am sure it would be torture for some people.

I've had the same gel flow for about 10 years on the mtb, and another one with the cut-out hole in the middle on the road bike for years too. Not bad at all, except on very long rides, when they become uncomfortable. I am going to experience with a swift for a few months to see how that goes for >10 h rides. The B17 on the tourer is good also, yet I kind of feel it rubs a bit much on my legs after a while, so got a more racey one instead...will see...

 

[wilkyboy]

If anyone would like to appear on the potential particpants map, PM me with an approximate location (/village/town/city name will do) and I'll add you. I'll assume it's ok to label with your forum name, unless you ask otherwise.

Go on then, count me in for the map: just north of Cambridge. [edit: NW of DrMekon and WSW of Tonyg52]

I told Her I am doing it and she said she can't think about anything that far away, so I am taking it as a "yes" Now just need to find some hills around Cambridge to practise on

 

[middleagecyclist]

I've had the same gel flow for about 10 years on the mtb, and another one with the cut-out hole in the middle on the road bike for years too. Not bad at all, except on very long rides, when they become uncomfortable. I am going to experience with a swift for a few months to see how that goes for >10 h rides. The B17 on the tourer is good also, yet I kind of feel it rubs a bit much on my legs after a while, so got a more racey one instead...will see...

I've got a spare B17 so I'll be putting that on the new audax bike and will see how it goes. I was thinking the Swift or even a B17 narrow might be the one to go for but the standard saddle which came with my Verenti Rhigos 0.3 road bike is very comfy and has been ridden on a couple of 100+ rides with no issues. I wonder if I should really try for something lighter than a Brooks? Decisions, decisions!

 

[Alberto]

I've got a spare B17 so I'll be putting that on the new audax bike and will see how it goes. I was thinking the Swift or even a B17 narrow might be the one to go for but the standard saddle which came with my Verenti Rhigos 0.3 road bike is very comfy and has been ridden on a couple of 100+ rides with no issues. I wonder if I should really try for something lighter than a Brooks? Decisions, decisions!

I would try the Verenti saddle for longer rides, and if it is still comfy after that then it should be ok. My Flite is absolutely fine for up to 10 h or 200 km rides, but becomes very uncomfortable after that. Still plenty of people I've ridden with over the last year seem perfectly happy with cheap-looking saddles and long distances..!

Regarding weight, I would not bother that much. After all, an audax bike is never light after you put on lights, water bottles, mudguards, carradice etc...

 

[middleagecyclist]

Regarding weight, I would not bother that much. After all, an audax bike is never light after you put on lights, water bottles, mudguards, carradice etc...

Yep. I agree an audax bike is never going to be the lightest steed but neither do I want to use components and luggage which add weight without compensatory benefits. Of course getting another 10kg off me will be the best weight saving I can make I reckon

 

[wilkyboy]

My saddle-sore two pennies: I think soft saddles don't necessarily equate to long-distance comfort (in the scheme of things).

I went through a pile of saddles since the DunRun this year when my Flite gave me a tingle in my dingle for a week afterwards: I went back to the one that came with the bike (ouch), the one that comes with new versions of the bike (too slippery), the one from my MTB (nnnnngggghhh). Eventually I popped down my LBS (more local to Tonyg52 than me, really) and they told me that I could buy a Bontrager saddle and try it for 30 days and return it for any reason and get my money back. Bonus! So I got measured for sit bones and tried a couple of their saddles around the car park (big car park) and opted for the hardest one -- a Bontrager Affinity RL, hollow Ti rails (for a bit of bounce). I took it out on a very windy Wiggle Rut (72mi sportive) and it was very good -- still some soreness, but more down to lack of miles than anything to do with the saddle, methinks. Now need to try it on some 200s and 300s.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but I think sitting on soft surfaces when your legs are pumping is more likely to causes rubbing sores, which can be more painful than pressure sores from resting your weight on a harder surface and I get the feeling any saddle -- even a deck chair -- is going to hurt after 1400km.

Now, if only the Bontrager was available in brown ...

 

[PpPete]

Ooooh !
Arrivée, the Audax UK magazine, tells me the route feedback I provided last year on a DIY over first & last stages has won me a free LEL jersey.
Very happy !

 

[Bar from the Gar]

Right. Anyone mad enough to be even considering the LEL 2013, pile in here, and hopefully any questions can be answered, training plans shared, and fevered brows mopped.

Edit: If anyone would like to appear on the potential particpants map, PM me with an approximate location (/village/town/city name will do) and I'll add you. I'll assume it's ok to label with your forum name, unless you ask otherwise.

The map is here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Saint Pauls, Greater London, United Kingdom&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106088710563736732072.0004805b07a6256f45c55&z=6

Hi Arch, not sure how to PM you. So i will put it up here, can you add me to your map. Town is Mullingar (Midlands) Rep of Ireland. Training going well, cant wait !

 

[RoyW]

Hi Archie. I've been out of action on my bike for about 6 month now with a muscle problem in my shoulder but hope it will be sorted in the next couple of months so I can start training up for LEL. Having done pretty much nothing for that long I'm guessing I'm going to have to start almost from scratch! But feeling optimistic - can you put me on your map. I'm in Ivybridge, Devon (10 miles East of Plymouth).
Cheers
Roy

Good site for training for long distance rides - www.landsend-to-johnogroats.co.uk.

 

[RoyW]

My saddle-sore two pennies: I think soft saddles don't necessarily equate to long-distance comfort (in the scheme of things).

I agree with this. Fit/shape is the thing. If it fits its fine. Trouble is the only way to find the fit for you is to keep trying different saddles.

I ride with an all carbon saddle - no cushioning at all. Have managed up to a 600k ride without problems. However, recent tandom purchase with cushioned saddles gave me a sore in 5 miles!

 

[compo]

I am not considering doing this ride for one second, although many years ago I did ride London to Kirkaldy over a very long weekend!

I followed the LEL advert at the top of this page and found out that they are looking for volunteers for the event. I live a short ride from the start/finish at Loughton, am retired so free most days, so I may well volunteer and see if they have anything I can make myself useful doing. I assume that once everyone is off things will quieten down at the start until riders begin to reappear at the finish.

 

[2oldnslow]

My first post on the forum so be gentle Moved back to the UK after a year in Cyprus following early retirement. Put in over 12,000km during my time in Cyprus (well it's easy to get out on the bike when the sun shines) but less than 10% of that since arriving in the UK in June so have registered my intent so ride LEL 2013 and will hopefully get a place as a means of motivating myself to get out on my bike on a cold/wet/dank NW morning here's hoping it works. Never ridden and Audax but used to me a CTC'er so plenty of their reliability rides 144 in 12 etc etc Just done a very silly thing and sold my sensible car that I could throw a couple of bikes in the back and bought one that won't accommodate a single bike so my training will have to be based in the NW (not a great problem there's some great cycling country here) or possibly ride out train back or vice versa. Just ticking over on the bike right now averaging around 200m a week rain permitting but will hopefully start doing a lot of longer multi-day rides once the worst of the winter has passed so fingers crossed Hmmmmmmm wonder how mad it would be to ride my Pashley

 

[Banjo]

Good Luck. thats 400 km further thanI have ever ridden. Hard to imagine.

 

[Banjo]

My first post on the forum so be gentle Moved back to the UK after a year in Cyprus following early retirement. Put in over 12,000km during my time in Cyprus (well it's easy to get out on the bike when the sun shines) but less than 10% of that since arriving in the UK in June so have registered my intent so ride LEL 2013 and will hopefully get a place as a means of motivating myself to get out on my bike on a cold/wet/dank NW morning here's hoping it works. Never ridden and Audax but used to me a CTC'er so plenty of their reliability rides 144 in 12 etc etc Just done a very silly thing and sold my sensible car that I could throw a couple of bikes in the back and bought one that won't accommodate a single bike so my training will have to be based in the NW (not a great problem there's some great cycling country here) or possibly ride out train back or vice versa. Just ticking over on the bike right now averaging around 200m a week rain permitting but will hopefully start doing a lot of longer multi-day rides once the worst of the winter has passed so fingers crossed Hmmmmmmm wonder how mad it would be to ride my Pashley

good Luck and welcome on the forum. farking Pashley? that is hard core. Theres a guy does PBP opn vintage bikes, amazes me I couldnt even think of it on a modern bike.

 

[2oldnslow]

Thanks and at least the Pashley has gears (well three of them) and a B17 but no I'm sure common sense will prevail and if I do get in I'll chose something less mad and a lot more appropriate. Mind you it is the ideal opportunity to hmmm buy another bike .