Team BKool CycleChat

[Insomina]

I like the versatility of a cyclo-cross bike. Large tyres upto 40mm usually. Room for mudguards/racks.

My dream Road bike would be a titanium frame for disc brakes with eyelets and internal wiring with di-2 When my boardman frame gives up the ghost, I will commission a bespoke frame and build it from my gearset on the Boardman.

Any preference for the frame at the moment?

 

[Monte]

@gbrown - I'm going to attempt to set up my bkool for next Tuesday's handicap race as it too good to miss out, can you give me a calculated weight. Many thanks Carlo

 

[Goldwolfie]

I use my cyclocross on the the turbo and for winter rides as it isn't really a cyclocross, the gearing isn't right for that game. It is comfy and would work well for touring, it can take full mud guards and a rack on the back. I used to use it for commuting. The latest trend is for gravel bike which are supposedly somewhere between road and cross bikes. I don't think you'll go far wrong with a bike designed for audax or touring, they will be plenty comfortable enough, probably a nice steel frame set, but it might be worth a look at a gravel bike.

Generally cross bikes will have smaller chainsets (48 or 46 or 42 big ring and a 36 or 34 small ring), perhaps coupled to a wide ratio cassette, tourers /audax might have triples (50-39-30) or compacts (50-34). Cassette range may depend on what gearing you want, ie a 30 X 32 will most likely get you up steep hills at a relaxed pace.

A road bike might not have room for a rack, so where will the packed lunch go?

Thanks for the pointers @kipster - I think I will look at a steel frame with a wide range of gearing to get me up some of climbs around here.

 

[gbrown]

The Kg Handicap League is up and running!

Anyone in the Handicap Group can have a go, but we'll need to establish a weight for each entrant to set before riding. Probably best if you either PM me (if shy) or post here with your average power from your (representative!) fitness level FTP value, and the highest power you've recorded on constant climbs like Merry Harriers, Haytor Vale, Alpe d'Huez or the like.

Then I'll try and establish a weight that will give the target watts/kg for Stage 1, and we may tweak them before Stage 2.

Once you have agreed a Handicap weight, you are free to ride the stages as often as you like, but it will be the Tuesday evening group climb that should be the most fun, when we will see how close together (or not) everyone's performance is.

I've set the league parameters to ensure that every ride will need to be approved, so the weight and watts/kg can be checked. The winner will be the one with the fastest overall time on both stages.

Hopefully both stages will be completed in less than 30 minutes, so should not affect fitness levels.

Geoff

 

[Goldwolfie]

A road bike might not have room for a rack, so where will the packed lunch go?

But the other half could cart it all around in the Team Car so that she does not get too board either![/QUOTE]

Good point and it could double as a Broom Wagon in case I can't make it back

 

[Goldwolfie]

The Kg Handicap League is up and running!

Anyone in the Handicap Group can have a go, but we'll need to establish a weight for each entrant to set before riding. Probably best if you either PM me (if shy) or post here with your average power from your (representative!) fitness level FTP value, and the highest power you've recorded on constant climbs like Merry Harriers, Haytor Vale, Alpe d'Huez or the like.

View attachment 128321

Then I'll try and establish a weight that will give the target watts/kg for Stage 1, and we may tweak them before Stage 2.

Once you have agreed a Handicap weight, you are free to ride the stages as often as you like, but it will be the Tuesday evening group climb that should be the most fun, when we will see how close together (or not) everyone's performance is.

I've set the league parameters to ensure that every ride will need to be approved, so the weight and watts/kg can be checked. The winner will be the one with the fastest overall time on both stages.

Hopefully both stages will be completed in less than 30 minutes, so should not affect fitness levels.

Geoff

FTP power 249.22 W at 102 kg

Best effort recently - Alpe d"Huez. 251 W when 106 kg

Current weight 100 kg

Geoff - is this what you need

 

[gbrown]

FTP power 249.22 W at 102 kg

Best effort recently - Alpe d"Huez. 251 W when 106 kg

Current weight 100 kg

Geoff - is this what you need

Spot on!

 

[BILL S]

Mine:
FTP power of 355.07 W at 77kg
Current Weight 77kg

• 
  

 

[theboxers]

Lard 131kg
Previous FTP was 199 watts
Highest power has been on the flat @230 watts/20 minutes
Uphill was stage 5 @190 watts but I'm having issues with high gradient climbs, resistance levels and blue numbers.

 

[Randyberlin]

I like the versatility of a cyclo-cross bike. Large tyres upto 40mm usually. Room for mudguards/racks.

My dream Road bike would be a titanium frame for disc brakes with eyelets and internal wiring with di-2 When my boardman frame gives up the ghost, I will commission a bespoke frame and build it from my gearset on the Boardman.

This is my touring/ everything bike. A steel frame with Sram 53/39 and 11/32 cassette. I carry 3 days worth of clothes and eat at restaurants and stay in hotels.
The steel frame is custom made in Seattle for only $1300. You can send them your measurements if you can't go in person. I bet there are similar builders in england.

 

[berty bassett]

Your fitness level in Cycling isActive 8

• Your last FTP value update was on 05/05/2016 19:55. You developed an average power of 259.36 W

going up
Provincia di Udine / Friuli-Venezia Giulia / Italy
current weight 64kg
but that was 107%
fancy making me ride a grueling 107% then using it as punishment !! wouldn't you rather be tying young damsels to railway lines
joking apart - i really appreciate all this effort as its way way way beyond me
if my weight gets changed i presume i just change it this end and pedal like mad ?

 

[Insomina]

Hi Geoff. My reading is as below.

• Your last FTP value update was on 08/03/2016 20:45. You developed an average power of 255.73 W

To get to the next level, you need to do the following:

• Take a FTP test developing an average power over 252.66 W

I'm 90 KG at the moment but not done any of those rides mentioned.
Also to go to the next level I have to ride a lower FTP?

 

[bobinski]

Ftp of 304w at 77kg as of 5th may.

 

[bazzer99]

@gbrown. HI Geoff, Not sure how many I'll be able to make but my last ftp was at 93KG:
Your fitness level in Cycling is Active 1

• Your last FTP value update was on 06/04/2016 17:19. You developed an average power of 299.39 W

I'm currently around 92KG

Hope this is enough.
Cheers

 

[gbrown]

Also to go to the next level I have to ride a lower FTP?

If your FTP was set at a higher weight, i.e. you have reduced your weight setting since then, then you will need to make less power to go up a level, as the levels are based on watts/Kg. Therefore lower Kg can give a higher fitness level, if power stays the same (or even goes down a bit).

Reducing non-muscle weight is the most important thing you can do to improve your cycling abilities, as the Kg Handicap should demonstrate!

P.S. Unless you already have a body fat percentage already in single digits... probably not a problem for most of us here!