So my new bike arrived from Germany..

[InjuredAthlete]

My new bike arrived from Germany a few weeks ago! Absolutely delighted with it so I wanted to make a post to say thank you to the people who recommended I look at Canyon bikes! I went for an ex display Canyon Ultimate AL which weighs 7.35Kg with Ultergra groupset. Really nice bike, i've already had my first crash on it too, no damage to the bike though just covered in blood! I'm relatively new to cycling, my normal route is 33 miles a time in the New Forest and i've been averaging over 300 watts for the whole 1 hour 25 minutes. Is that a good output (measured on my brother power tap). Here are some pics of my Canyon in the team colours:

 

[Vichingo]

Sorry, i know naff all about watts but just wanted to say thats a nice looking bike

 

[black'n'yellow]

Likewise, I know naff-all about powertaps and watts - but if your brother's got one and you borrowed it, presumably he would know whether 300w was any good or not..?

What I will say though is, if you can average 23mph for a 33 mile ride, then you should start racing straight away...

 

[The Brewer]

Very nice....

.....How much?

 

[black'n'yellow]

[QUOTE 2001057, member: 9609"]I had a go on a German bike, first time I tried to brake I went straight over the handle bars - the brakes were on the wrong way round! (and they were discs) Apparently bikes designed for the righthand side have the front brake on the left hand side - something I now know and will probably not forget.[/quote]

most calipers actually favour a left hand front brake cable routing and that is how the majority of bikes are set up on the continent. Not incorrect, just different...

 

[youngoldbloke]

Lovely bike! How was the whole 'buying experience'? I have a feeling my next bike will be a Canyon - either that one or the SRAM version - but in black for me .

 

[InjuredAthlete]

You really think i'd have a chance if I started training properly? I go to Loughborough Uni so i'm going to join the bike club there and see how good I am, they have an elite squad there i'd like to try and break into if I have a chance. The average speed was actually 22mph point something, but that was with my brother in front of me most of the way so I was in his slip stream. He's a very good cyclist but not elite, he said 300 watts average power for an hour and a half is very good. I got up to that after about my first 10 rides, although I did do some cycling up mountains in Majorca last year and I keep very fit down the gym which is probably why i'm quite quick to begin with, but i'm sure I could improve massively if I turned my efforts towards cycling instead of gym work.

Likewise, I know naff-all about powertaps and watts - but if your brother's got one and you borrowed it, presumably he would know whether 300w was any good or not..?

What I will say though is, if you can average 23mph for a 33 mile ride, then you should start racing straight away...

 

[InjuredAthlete]

Lol.. that is what happened with me, although the breaks on mine are on the correct way because they customise it for the country your in. I just wasn't used to how good the breaks were and when my brother slammed on the anchors infront I went straight over the bars and smashed into him, fractured nose and blood everywhere. Bike looks quite good with blood all over it now though, didn't bother cleaning it!

[QUOTE 2001057, member: 9609"]I had a go on a German bike, first time I tried to brake I went straight over the handle bars - the brakes were on the wrong way round! (and they were discs) Apparently bikes designed for the righthand side have the front brake on the left hand side - something I now know and will probably not forget.[/quote]

 

[InjuredAthlete]

Thanks, in total including shipping and the bike carrier they send it in it was £ 1,236.22
Mine was an ex display but it didn't have a mark on it when it arrived- exactly the same as a new one. It also had a triple on it which I think is usually £40 more. I was going to get the £800 one with Shimano 105 but that was completely sold out in my size so I was forced to upgrade to this

Very nice....

.....How much?

 

[InjuredAthlete]

Brilliant buying experience- arrived 3 days after purchase! Some of the models have waiting lists though and initially I was going to have to wait 8 weeks for it to be built but then I saw this in the discounted bike section and snapped it up. Comes with a torque wrench too! I'd have probably bought the black if I had a choice too, but I like the white now I have it.

Lovely bike! How was the whole 'buying experience'? I have a feeling my next bike will be a Canyon - either that one or the SRAM version - but in black for me .

 

[black'n'yellow]

You really think i'd have a chance if I started training properly? I go to Loughborough Uni so i'm going to join the bike club there and see how good I am, they have an elite squad there i'd like to try and break into if I have a chance. The average speed was actually 22mph point something, but that was with my brother in front of me most of the way so I was in his slip stream. He's a very good cyclist but not elite, he said 300 watts average power for an hour and a half is very good. I got up to that after about my first 10 rides, although I did do some cycling up mountains in Majorca last year and I keep very fit down the gym which is probably why i'm quite quick to begin with, but i'm sure I could improve massively if I turned my efforts towards cycling instead of gym work.

even on a flat route those are still good averages, so yes, go for it...

 

[InjuredAthlete]

Cheers- it's a route with alot of climbing on it (as far as the New Forest is concerned- no mountains! Lol)

even on a flat route those are still good averages, so yes, go for it...

 

[Drago]

Most pleasant!

 

[jdtate101]

I have a powertap (although it's had to go back to the wheel builder for a re-lace grrrr) and 300w is quite good for an avg. Many things play their part in an avg power reading, and it's important to see how you're recording the data. Most people recommend you record not only the data under load but also the zero's.

For example a ride I did recently:

With zero's (ie when coasting) avg 235w over 80miles
Without Zero's (ie just under power) avg 375w over 80miles

This was over the same course (same ride data). On climbs I can avg between 300-750w. Peak power on an avg ride tops out at over 1100w (when sprinting, measured at the absolute max, not sustained output).

Training with power is a great tool to measure gains, but as you're starting out it would serve you better to just get out there and build your endurance.

 

[InjuredAthlete]

Yer, my 303 watts average was with zeros- I'll have to have a look at the without zero stats. Power tap has gone now unfortunately, it was just being borrowed from Bristol Uni bike club. I'm sure i'll get another go on it soon though, want to see what I get up to on sprints (i'm good at sprinting)

I have a powertap (although it's had to go back to the wheel builder for a re-lace grrrr) and 300w is quite good for an avg. Many things play their part in an avg power reading, and it's important to see how you're recording the data. Most people recommend you record not only the data under load but also the zero's.

For example a ride I did recently:

With zero's (ie when coasting) avg 235w over 80miles
Without Zero's (ie just under power) avg 375w over 80miles

This was over the same course (same ride data). On climbs I can avg between 300-750w. Peak power on an avg ride tops out at over 1100w (when sprinting, measured at the absolute max, not sustained output).

Training with power is a great tool to measure gains, but as you're starting out it would serve you better to just get out there and build your endurance.