Team BKool CycleChat

[CXRAndy]

I will mostly be mountain biking in Wales tomorrow instead of the re-run

I'll be doing more of this when I finish building my full suspension Scott LT 700. Just fitted the brakes, Hope 4 pots, they are like motorcycle brakes

 

[bridgy]

Hmmm I was absolutely flat out yesterday Paul. My only chance is a bit of tweaking with tyre and psi.
My theory is that you are a stronger rider than me, but you struggle against me on the flat because your tyre is good for going up hills but produces high friction at speed which is the case in most chaingang rides.
If by any chance I can match your speed, I doubt I can match your w/kg.

I don't know about that Bill - there are obviously variables with tyres etc etc on bkool but I suspect the usual leaderboard placings are a pretty good reflection of rider ability overall though - and you're usually a few minutes ahead of me! This particular course is a bit of an oddity though.

As for my improved performances - I wish I could point to what's changed as I don't really feel much different. I hope it's just a gradual increase in fitness and not Bkool flattering me somehow! The only thing I can think of that I have changed recently about my setup is road shoes and pedals instead of the mtb shoes & spd's I've always used previously.

 

[bridgy]

I'll be doing more of this when I finish building my full suspension Scott LT 700. Just fitted the brakes, Hope 4 pots, they are like motorcycle brakes

I have a Scott too Andy - looking down on the M5 on yesterday's ride (I might have missed the live race but I still climbed a big hill!):

 

[Add]

I think I take a fairly relaxed approach to this whole blue numbers thing. I suspect that the advantages due to variations in weight, relative to incline or flat kind of balance out over a league like this one where the riding is so varied. I am cool with people flagging up or deleting their rides. But i don't expect it.

I disagree! Bridgy had a flash of blue on his ascent, so I demand he deletes the ride and returns his Pro 5 helmet immediately.

Pffffft!

 

[AAAC 76C]

HI Lars the GS long cage can take upto 36t, or with a modified hanger 40t XT or XTR cassette

I've managed this before even though it is outside of the OEM specs.
The problem is, if you want to call it that, in order for cage to clear the larger sprockets on the cassette you have to screw in the b screw which swings the derailleur arm to the rear which in turn decreases the chain/cassette sprocket engagement and thus increases wear as your engagement area decreases.

 

[bridgy]

I disagree! Bridgy had a flash of blue on his ascent, so I demand he deletes the ride and returns his Pro 5 helmet immediately.

Pffffft!

Well if that's where a bit of honesty gets you I'm not doing that again!!

 

[bobinski]

I disagree! Bridgy had a flash of blue on his ascent, so I demand he deletes the ride and returns his Pro 5 helmet immediately.

Pffffft!

 

[AAAC 76C]

I have a Scott too Andy - looking down on the M5 on yesterday's ride (I might have missed the live race but I still climbed a big hill!): View attachment 127479

I hope you only use that bike off road as it has no bell!

You must have washed your chainring with your shorts as well because its shrunk.
Either that or you have a bike that is designed to go slower than you can walk uphill.

Mind, could be worse, I used to come a bunch of lads where I walked my dog that liked creating interesting downhill courses in the side of a sandy hill. Looked great but they all pushed their bikes back to the top which to me kind of defeated the idea of cycling.

 

[RamirezAGC]

Ramirez, I think our riding styles are very similar, I can only get sustained power down if I stand up and dig deep. If I try to drop to an easier gear, and spin it out, my legs implode very quickly.

Low gears and spinning are for losers

 

[bridgy]

I hope you only use that bike off road as it has no bell!

You must have washed your chainring with your shorts as well because its shrunk.
Either that or you have a bike that is designed to go slower than you can walk uphill.

Mind, could be worse, I used to come a bunch of lads where I walked my dog that liked creating interesting downhill courses in the side of a sandy hill. Looked great but they all pushed their bikes back to the top which to me kind of defeated the idea of cycling.

I think most mountain bikes are geared to go slower uphill than you can walk! You need it to get up that hill without getting off and pushing believe me! Granny ring uphill and freewheel down!

 

[CXRAndy]

I have gone for 36t chain ring and 11-42 cass

 

[AAAC 76C]

I think most mountain bikes are geared to go slower uphill than you can walk! You need it to get up that hill without getting off and pushing believe me! Granny ring uphill and freewheel down!

Sorry Bridgy I am just a bit old, the bicycle is a form of transport intended to be more efficient or quicker than walking (where efficiency could be load carrying).
If your only load is yourself then as your gearing approaches 1:1 then the concept of using a machine that can only add to your all up mass just becomes inefficient.
I was going to say pointless but riding a bike tethered to a turbo trainer, and thus going absolutely nowhere , is totally inefficient as a mode of transport.

 

[AAAC 76C]

I hope you only use that bike off road as it has no bell!

Sorry, you have probably got a 'bell app' on your Garminy thingy that lets everyone know where you live so they can nick all your other bikes when your out on this one.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Just to let you all know I have finally found the one picture I have left of me actually racing on a bicycle in the real world.
The reason why I don't have too many pictures is because when I was young my mum and dad couldn't afford printer cartridges and even if they could they hadn't invented either digital cameras and or home computers so it was probably just as well anyway.
The good news is that there are no cars in the picture because no one could afford those either.
I am going to take it to work and scan it and it will soon become my Cycle Chat 'Avatar'.

Spooky thing is I did look like a young Alf Engers (The King).

 

[AAAC 76C]

Low gears and spinning are for losers

As Chris Froome has so adequately illustrated on several occasions in the not so distant past.
I was going to mention Armstrong then but that would no doubt be a bit emotive.