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[TarpitCarnivore]

Yeah. Where you lay the bike down into a turn but keep your body more upright and counter. Some suggest using the opposite foot as your counter point. Whereas on a road bike you're leaning the whole thing into the turn kind of like a motorcycle.

Mountain: http://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mtb_cornering.jpg

Road: http://www.ilovebicycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Corner-300x200.jpg

 

[Stryder]

What about if it's malfunctioning? One bike forum I read had a poster talking about their electronic shifter not working and they were stuck in a really high ratio for an entire race.

You can manually shift the rear derailleur in the same way if you somehow cannot control them using your shifters.

 

[Gray Matter]

Question for those who can go into detail about components.

After doing some research and a few test rides, I have come to the conclusion that I will be buying the emonda alr. My question, besides the cassette difference (10 speed vs 11 speed) what's the difference between shimano tiagra and 105?

When I test rode tigra, it felt amazing compared to my shimano acera (8 speed) that I have on my hybrid, then I rode the 105 and I didn't "feel" a difference. So on a technical standpoint, what's the difference?

Mainly asking because the alr 4 which has tiagra is about $400 cheaper than the alr 5 that has 105. Both full group sets btw.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

The Tiagra that's on there is likely the 105 from a year or two ago. Similarly the 105 is Ultrega from a year or two. Shimano is good about having their higher end tech push down to the cheaper group sets.

You probably didn't notice a difference with the 105 because you already felt it in the Tiagra. The difference between is going to very marginal. So if money is a factor go for the Tagra.

TBH I feel like you can get a similar bike set up with 105 for the price of the Air 5. The Fuji Sportif 1.3 comes with a 105 groupset and has a MSRP of $1160.

 

[Mascot]

Whoah. It's been six weeks since I've been on the bike. The weather hasn't been great and I've had a bad back for the past two weeks, but I just can't seem to find the motivation to get out there.

Must.
Try.
Harder.

 

[HTupolev]

what's the difference between shimano tiagra and 105?

A couple hundred grams including some rotating mass, theoretically slightly cleaner shifts, and around $80.

You're not going to notice a huge difference because Tiagra already does what it does nearly as well as it can be done. There's a difference, but you'll find extreme diminishing returns as you look at better and better groupsets.

TBH I feel like you can get a similar bike set up with 105 for the price of the Air 5. The Fuji Sportif 1.3 comes with a 105 groupset and has a MSRP of $1160.

Similar-looking frames, but they're very different builds. That the Sportif has such wide rims immediately sticks out as quite opposed to what an Emonda ALR is: an entry-level racing bike intended to feel extremely snappy and tight.

Based on Fuji's weight listing, the Sportif is also somewhat heavier. My 56cm ALR 5 is almost exactly 20lbs after adding two bottle cages and a loaded mini saddle bag; the Sportif is listed as 23.2lbs, which most likely doesn't refer to the 61cm model, and probably doesn't even include pedals.

 

[thomaser]

Indoor training season is almost here. Boooring. There's a new kind of indoor training cycle that looks really cool, though, the Ebove by a company called Activetainment. It's like a spinning cycle, except that it moves around with a virtual terrain (you can watch it on a computer screen, a tablet or with vr-glasses), and you have to brake, shift gears, lean and shift position like on a real bike. It's released these days. But... it costs somewhere between $6000-8000. Gonna buy one when I get rich.

 

[Psychotext]

Jesus wept. lol

 

[HTupolev]

I should design a training bike that offers a truly authentic ride. It blasts you with ice cold water at speed, sloshes convincing highway shoulder grime into your face, randomly simulates the experience of a broken rear derailleur, and if you try to take a turn to hard on a slick surface, hurls you onto the floor.

 

[itwasTuesday]

FPS Trials Fusion + that trainer + Oculus.

I neeeed

 

[kottila]

, randomly simulates the experience of a broken rear derailleur, and if you try to take a turn to hard on a slick surface, hurls you onto the floor.

This just happened to me on my last outside ride of the year.. Landed on my shoulder and then slid on the asphalt. Luckily I wasn't going very fast and I had much more clothes on than usual (3-4oC). The derailleur hanger was broken off and I had to walk home, but I'm hoping the derailleur itself wasn't damaged.

 

[kottila]

Indoor training season is almost here. Boooring. There's a new kind of indoor training cycle that looks really cool, though, the Ebove by a company called Activetainment. It's like a spinning cycle, except that it moves around with a virtual terrain (you can watch it on a computer screen, a tablet or with vr-glasses), and you have to brake, shift gears, lean and shift position like on a real bike. It's released these days. But... it costs somewhere between $6000-8000. Gonna buy one when I get rich.

No road version, no buy

Spoiler

Not that I could afford one anyways

 

[jakonovski]

Piffle. We got the first inklings of snow here, in the form of a thin layer of sleet. It was ok on Maxxis Mud Wrestlers, but going up hills while standing was a bit slippy. Even so, stud tyres here I come. Maintaining 20km/h+ averages on those will be good training.

 

[Psychotext]

Winter cycling requires you to leave your ego at the door. Unless you want to get injured anyway. Increased wind speeds alone usually mean everything is harder, and that's before you even get into how your body works when it's cold and wet. Then obviously you have to consider the speed you take into corners, slippery turns, leaves, ice etc.

Just by getting out there you'll already be doing more than 90% of cyclists.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

We had our first 30F day in the NYC metro area and I was content to just be outside spinning. Did about 8 miles on the mountain bike over 90 minutes and have zero complaints. Before that I did 40 minutes on the bike trainer and wanted to throw myself into the wall. I forgot how mind numbingly boring indoor riding is.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

Winter cycling requires you to leave your ego at the door. Unless you want to get injured anyway. Increased wind speeds alone usually mean everything is harder, and that's before you even get into how your body works when it's cold and wet. Then obviously you have to consider the speed you take into corners, slippery turns, leaves, ice etc.

Just by getting out there you'll already be doing more than 90% of cyclists.

I don't mind the cold/ice, but fuck the rain, fuck it right up the butt, I'm fine with leaving the bike at home when it rains.

 

[tirminyl]

We had our first 30F day in the NYC metro area and I was content to just be outside spinning. Did about 8 miles on the mountain bike over 90 minutes and have zero complaints. Before that I did 40 minutes on the bike trainer and wanted to throw myself into the wall. I forgot how mind numbingly boring indoor riding is.

I just started and maybe I don't know the struggle yet, but I'm finding it to be a great way to catch up on movies and TV :-D

 

[Psychotext]

Depends how hard you're pushing yourself. If you're just getting on and randomly making your legs go around, you can watch TV etc just fine. But if you're doing trainerroad and actively having to set certain power levels on intervals then it becomes an entirely different story.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I just started and maybe I don't know the struggle yet, but I'm finding it to be a great way to catch up on movies and TV :-D

When you go from spending April - November outside on your bike it's very, very hard to adjust to being back indoors. Since I took two weeks off, on my road bike that is, I'm just doing some basic base work to get back into pedal strokes back in check. Problem is these are workouts that don't switch it up enough (12-16 minute sustained power intervals) so it's just staring at a wall/screen.

Once I get back out of these I'm sure things will get better again. But I'm yet to know of anyone who can do more than 90 minutes on a trainer. Most people bail at 60. Unless you're psychotext and do 10+ hours.

 

[Psychotext]

It makes my long rides in the real world a breeze by comparison.

 

[jakonovski]

What the hell is wrong with component pricing? The cheapest disc brake pads I could find in the local shops were 15€/pair, while the German online retailers sell them for 5€/pair. That kind of difference can't be explained with brick & mortar costs alone.

 

[Psychotext]

Same brand? If so, that's one hell of a difference.

If not, the third party stuff you can get online tends to be massively cheaper than the usual Avid / Shimano stuff.

Unrelated, was out in stormy weather yesterday. I'm being a good boy this winter and sticking with it no matter what!

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

What the hell is wrong with component pricing? The cheapest disc brake pads I could find in the local shops were 15€/pair, while the German online retailers sell them for 5€/pair. That kind of difference can't be explained with brick & mortar costs alone.

It cold be one of two things:

1. An online store has a lot more stock in other areas that allows them to sell products at low margins. So if they're moving larger priced items (bikes, frames, stands, etc) they can price the cheaper stuff even lower

2. Some companies require their distributors to not sell below a certain markup. So if your local shop gets them for 3€ they may be required to sell them at a minimum of 15€ (hypothetical). They'll follow the rules because vendor relations are more crucial and important to them. Meanwhile some online store wont care if they break the rules because they can just go to another vendor and find similar products.

 

[jakonovski]

It's the same model Shimano pads in both cases. Truly mind boggling, and if it's some shitty policy, why does Shimano want to kill brick&mortar? Because no amount of loyalty will make me pay three times the price.

 

[teepo]

you'd be surprised at the type of clientele brick and mortars bike shops attract

in most cases, they're probably selling that part in addition to servicing your bike

 

[HTupolev]

Try to ride hard in dry freezing weather, does things to lungs.

Get balaclava, air flow is a bit restrictive for high intensity.

:/

 

[Psychotext]

HTFU

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

It's the same model Shimano pads in both cases. Truly mind boggling, and if it's some shitty policy, why does Shimano want to kill brick&mortar? Because no amount of loyalty will make me pay three times the price.

There's added benefits that come with shopping at a LBS often. For example: My shop often, very often, sells me stuff at cost or will do work at little to no cost. Recently they helped fix up/update my old as hell (1997ish) Cannondale for nothing. There's also been times I've come in there mid ride because of an issue and they've thrown my bike on the rack and started helping fix.

 

[jakonovski]

I'm sounding like a crotchety old scandinavian, but I also really hate haggling and the idea of paying too much for some things to maybe get freebies. I'm more than glad to pay the going rate for quality work.

edit: in other news, I ran again and my old army knee started acting up. Luckily it goes away by cycling on an easy cadence.

 

[Psychotext]

Shit. I just did an FTP test and managed to put out about 1 watt more power than my last test... and that's after six weeks of about 10 hours a week training. Worse is that I'm currently bulking so in real terms I'm putting out less power per kg now than I was 6 weeks ago.

I am a less than happy bunny.

Oh, and TrainerRoad say in their blog that if you hit the target of the FTP test it equates to about a 5% increase in FTP (for the 8 minute version of the test). It doesn't. I was over the target in both segments (6 watts first time, 3 watts second time). So next time I think I'm going to manually increase the target by a couple of percent to give myself something harder to aim for.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

Was thinking of trying Zwift since you get 2 months free for being a strava premium user.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Try to ride hard in dry freezing weather, does things to lungs.

Get balaclava, air flow is a bit restrictive for high intensity.

:/

Or, for those of us with glasses: get balaclava and can't see shit for the fogging.

I found if I take my inhaler about 15 minutes before a run/ride then it's not as bad.

Speaking of, went for an 11 mile run last Sunday and my knee swelled up so bad I had trouble dog paddling in the pool.

 

[CvGz]

Shit. I just did an FTP test and managed to put out about 1 watt more power than my last test... and that's after six weeks of about 10 hours a week training. Worse is that I'm currently bulking so in real terms I'm putting out less power per kg now than I was 6 weeks ago.

I am a less than happy bunny.

Oh, and TrainerRoad say in their blog that if you hit the target of the FTP test it equates to about a 5% increase in FTP (for the 8 minute version of the test). It doesn't. I was over the target in both segments (6 watts first time, 3 watts second time). So next time I think I'm going to manually increase the target by a couple of percent to give myself something harder to aim for.

I exclusively do the 20 minute test but I was under the impression that the tests require you to ignore the target power and just putout your best effort for the duration of the interval?

 

[Psychotext]

I exclusively do the 20 minute test but I was under the impression that the tests require you to ignore the target power and just putout your best effort for the duration of the interval?

Sure, but when you're not starting out (like, first year of them in my experience), target power pretty much feels like your best effort most of the time anyway. It's the difference between 98% and 100%. It all feels like hell.

The point was that TR state that target power for your FTP should give you a 5% increase in FTP by the end of it if you hit it (4% for 20 minute test). It doesn't.

 

[thomaser]

Spent the last few days setting up a shelving system in my garage, and making everything organized. Put all the small items in a number of labeled boxes, so things are easy to find. Also hung the bikes from hooks. So now I can actually get my car in there without bumping into the bikes, as I had to do before. Also installed better lighting and more electrical outlets in preparation for getting a workstand later. It's so roomy and bright and nice now. At the very least, it should cut down my pre-ride find-everything-I-need phase by half.

 

[Darth Pinche]

Here are some winter riding photos:
Here is a water drop that flash froze on a wooden bridge . The ice melted on the sun at the tree tops but froze at it hit the bottom. It was about 28 degrees.

Here is foggy day on Lake Washington. It was about 30 that day.

 

[Psychotext]

Pretty

 

[CvGz]

The point was that TR state that target power for your FTP should give you a 5% increase in FTP by the end of it if you hit it (4% for 20 minute test). It doesn't.

I'm on week 5 of Sweet Spot Base 1, I'm also curious about what kind of gains or lack there of I will see when I retest on week 1 of Sweet Spot Base 2

 

[thomaser]

Exploring a new path in the dark. Fun stuff!

Can you people see the photo, by the way? Or do I have to change image host again.

 

[HTupolev]

Exploring a new path in the dark. Fun stuff!

Can you people see the photo, by the way? Or do I have to change image host again.

Your photo is visible.

 

[Psychotext]

Pretty cool... I took my (adult) nephew back to one of the first trails I ever took him on. First time around he took 22m 04s to do the segment. Today? 6m 54s. He's really hard on himself because he doesn't think he can go fast (I'm still a fair bit quicker than him), but that's an amazing improvement.

 

[Karakand]

Tinkov announced his exit from team ownership after this season. Post if you're OK, Cheebs.

 

[jakonovski]

The last time was a false alarm, so first time riding on spikes today. The combination of cold and increased rolling resistance sure takes its toll, I could eat a horse right about now.

I also want to brag a bit, as one of my Christmas gifts for myself arrived, a set of color coded PB Swiss hex keys. These featured in some tool guide, and they are so sexy it's almost pornographic. Even if the pic isn't.

 

[Incognito]

Tinkov announced his exit from team ownership after this season. Post if you're OK, Cheebs.

I'm not Cheebs, and I'm not ok. Sucks! Although to be expected given the departure of Saxo Bank and the pummeling Tinkov's bank has taken the last year or so. Sagan and Majka are only two under contract past 2016 so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Will Riis come back? And Contador is claiming this is his last year but I wouldn't be surprised to see him team up with Alonso of F1 fame and start a team of his own.

 

[Psychotext]

I also want to brag a bit, as one of my Christmas gifts for myself arrived, a set of color coded PB Swiss hex keys. These featured in some tool guide, and they are so sexy it's almost pornographic. Even if the pic isn't.

Ha, funnily enough I have those on a wish list right now. I think I only want them because they're colourful.

 

[jakonovski]

It's a good idea in any case. I was thinking, why am I spending thousands on bikes and then poking at them with terrible bargain bin tools?

 

[Karakand]

I'm not Cheebs, and I'm not ok. Sucks! Although to be expected given the departure of Saxo Bank and the pummeling Tinkov's bank has taken the last year or so. Sagan and Majka are only two under contract past 2016 so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Will Riis come back? And Contador is claiming this is his last year but I wouldn't be surprised to see him team up with Alonso of F1 fame and start a team of his own.

After I posted I thought to myself, "Wasn't that Incognito?" :jnc Sorry breh.

With the Murdoch involvement with Sky uncertain, the omnipresent rumors about BMC losing their sugar daddy, Katusha "going international" with their marketing (read: setting the stage for sponsors to walk away), Trek possibly washing their hands of their zombie team, and this news of course, there's a lot of uncertainty about elite / marquee names in the sport that has to be addressed at some point at the administrative level whether the UCI wants to fuck with ASO or not. It's not exactly like there's much Pro Conti you could realistically promote to World Tour atm.

 

[Mascot]

It's a good idea in any case. I was thinking, why am I spending thousands on bikes and then poking at them with terrible bargain bin tools?

That's a nice set. Can I ask how much?

Lidl have these at the moment for £3.99. Very nice quality.

 

[jakonovski]

That's a nice set. Can I ask how much?

Lidl have these at the moment for £3.99. Very nice quality.

About 40 euros with shipping. Still far cheaper than Park Tool.

 

[Psychotext]

I actually have those Lidl ones, they're not bad, but the smaller ones are a little flexy.