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[frontieruk]

My favorite kind of bikes these days.

Not had a chance to ride one yet, so getting my hands on one of giants top end bikes will hopefully be a pleasant experience.

Just did one of the most painful and frustrating trainer rides I've done for some time. Really hard to get the output right when alongside the weight draining.

Bleh. Feel terrible now.

I've given the weights up while I adjust to riding, i just can't do both at the moment

 

[Psychotext]

I'm spending a lot of time on glute activation... because my ass basically doesn't work properly (which is fucking my back up when cycling). Problem is, the more general posterior chain stuff I do, and the more I stretch my hip flexors etc; the weaker I am by the time I get to the bike.

 

[frontieruk]

I'm spending a lot of time on glute activation... because my ass basically doesn't work properly (which is fucking my back up when cycling). Problem is, the more general posterior chain stuff I do, and the more I stretch my hip flexors etc; the weaker I am by the time I get to the bike.

Don't be telling me that it's my next target area as stretching the hip flexors stops my back spasms after my accident, so every few months I go through a concentrated spell of working the posterior chain and as I can feel I'm really working my quads when I'm not feeling quite so tired I'll be back to the gym to try and balance myself out.

 

[Psychotext]

I really just need to be sensible and step it back to say 95%, hell, even 90%... I've just never really been that good at sensible.

 

[frontieruk]

I really just need to be sensible and step it back to say 95%, hell, even 90%... I've just never really been that good at sensible.

Ah like yesterday when I said just a gentle ride to work... I then chased a Jimmy through 6 of the 11 strava sections settingng new PBs in every section, just because I thought he doesn't look too be going that fast I'll match him... My legs were burning

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I'm spending a lot of time on glute activation... because my ass basically doesn't work properly (which is fucking my back up when cycling). Problem is, the more general posterior chain stuff I do, and the more I stretch my hip flexors etc; the weaker I am by the time I get to the bike.

What are you doing for this?

 

[Mascot]

What are you doing for this?

You really want to know how PT strengthens his butt-clench muscles..? This is PT we are talking about so it probably involves a blow torch and a poker.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

You really want to know how PT strengthens his butt-clench muscles..? This is PT we are talking about so it probably involves a blow torch and a poker.

he sits on a toiler suspend over a wall and throws cinderblocks over, using his butt cheeks to stay sitted to the toilet

 

[Psychotext]

What are you doing for this?

Well, aside from the standard workout stuff of glute bridges, kettlebell swings and Romanian deadlifts, I'm also doing exercises throughout the day so as to combat all the time I have to spend seated for my job.

Those being...

Lunges, Banded Sumo / Monster Walks, One Leg Stands, One Leg Hip Press.

I plan on messing around with a few alternate options as I get stronger. One leg stands are becoming reasonably easy now (so I'll probably start to do them with my eyes closed to add a balance component) and I've gone up two band strengths on the sumo / monster walks. I'm considering sticking a box in my office for one leg step ups, or maybe a light band or kettle bell for pull throughs / swings.

 

[Mascot]

One leg stands are becoming reasonably easy now

.

 

[Mascot]

Yep, this 50 litre bastard should do the job, and if it doesn't I can always ride it into town...

 

[Psychotext]

I think I just heard the faint sound of an explosion in the distance...

 

[Mascot]

Instant fat bike!

 

[Mascot]

Mascot & PT's annual Neogaf MTB meetup!

Freezing temperatures + pissing rain = 32 hard muddy miles of terrific funnage.

The clean-up will take days.

 

[Psychotext]

I'm still so goddamn cold. lol

 

[Mascot]

I'm still so goddamn cold. lol

I'm currently squatting over a camping stove waiting for my plums to make an appearance.

 

[jakonovski]

Why are you loons wearing shorts in freezing weather? And looking so damn happy too!

 

[Psychotext]

Not dead yet. That's all that matters.

 

[broony]

My lezyne rear bike light exploded while recharging in my MacBook today. Luckily the Mac recognised it was drawing too much power and disabled the USB slot. Emailed wiggle to see what they will do about it. Not sure how to handle it.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I was going to ask who is who, but then I just looked at the pedals

 

[Mascot]

Why are you loons wearing shorts in freezing weather? And looking so damn happy too!

Because wearing leggings is how Jimmy Savile started. "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" (Sir Winston Churchill, Bike Park Wales, 1943)

I was going to ask who is who, but then I just looked at the pedals

Yeah, PT thought we were going to a BMX park, the silly sausage.

 

[Psychotext]

Instead, we went bog snorkelling!

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I was expecting bog snorkling today, but instead it's just going to be 28 degrees and 40mph winds. Time to bust out the heavy duty gloves.

 

[Mascot]

Aye, today is by far the better day, despite what the fucking Met office had been saying all week. No wind, no rain, and much warmer. Still would have involved bog snorkelling after yesterday's deluge though.

Anyway, it was a good test for my new rain jacket which passed with flying colours (mainly lime green) and amazingly came up like new (along with the rest of my muddy kit) after a 40 degree rinse cycle with no soap at all. My fucking suede MTB shoes will take forever to dry out though. Should have work my mesh Scotts, those buggers would by dry by now.

 

[Psychotext]

I have one of these, as Five Tens pretty much never dry...

http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Shoe-Dryer/18-4300

 

[Mascot]

That's pretty cool.

I see eBay has 10w fanless shoe driers from China for less than a fiver delivered. I guess you leave them chugging away overnight. I wonder if they work without bursting into flames?

 

[jakonovski]

Shimano MW81 is the gold standard in bad weather spd shoes. Until the neoprene rips that is.

 

[Mascot]

Shimano MW81 is the gold standard in bad weather spd shoes. Until the neoprene rips that is.

Doesn't water still get in around the ankles though?

I don't mind getting wet feet as it's pretty inevitable. It's drying the bloody shoes afterwards that's the pita.

 

[jakonovski]

Doesn't water still get in around the ankles though?

I don't mind getting wet feet as it's pretty inevitable. It's drying the bloody shoes afterwards that's the pita.

It does, but slowly if you've got ankle socks and pull the neoprene sleeve tight.

Of course, I usually have water repellent tights on top of the neoprene.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

Shimano MW81 is the gold standard in bad weather spd shoes. Until the neoprene rips that is.

Today I was rocking Giro Proof (http://www.giro.com/us_en/products/accessories/shoes/proof-winter-mtb-shoe-cover.html) over my VR 90s and I think I'll be good in them down to 20ish. The neoprene was very insulating.

 

[Psychotext]

I was saying yesterday that it's one major advantage of wearing SPDs. I used to love just chucking on the thick neoprene covers and knowing my feet would be toasty, even in the snow.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I guess you could technically wear a surf booty but that will be destroyed super fast.

 

[Lonely1]

Is power/hill climbing training significantly different to speed training?

Apart from commuting during weekdays, I have been taking time during weekends for hill climbing and I have noticed improvements in that area. However, when it comes for going for speed and sustained pedalling, I feel that I just tire as easily.

 

[Psychotext]

In short... yes. Different muscle emphasis (especially on very steep hills).

Also, physiology comes into play. I'll never be as fast as a bigger guy on the flats (they have more power available), but I can beat most people up hills. Also, in reality you can only really be good at one vs the other. Being quick on the flats takes a decent amount of muscle (and aero skill), but being quick on climbs is more about power to weight ratio. Whilst most people would assume that bigger guys would also be more of an aero drag, in reality, once in aero position you find that the slightly increased drag of a larger guy (frontal area) is easily covered by the increased power they have available to them.

Edit - I had a really good link on the science behind this but I can't find it anywhere.

 

[thomaser]

Shimano MW81 is the gold standard in bad weather spd shoes. Until the neoprene rips that is.

Yeah, I have those, and they have been great in all kinds of bad weather.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

Also, in reality you can only really be good at one vs the other. (

I think you can be remarkably average on both (that's me in a nutshell). I don't excel in either area, but can perform well enough on both.

 

[Psychotext]

Average isn't good though. Who wants to be average?

Maybe we can get Strava to introduce "Middle of the Road" (MOR) awards to go along with KOM.

 

[Mascot]

Finally got the shoes dry. Had them outside on the line all day which made fuck-all difference in this cold weather, both were still absolutely sodden. Then took inspiration from PT's shoe dryer and stuffed an old weaksauce travel hair dryer into each shoe in alternating ten-minute shifts. One hour later both shoes were bone dry, and at 700 watts it cost less than 10p to do it. Sorted.

Also saw these on eBay for less than £4 delivered, but they must take forever. Similar ones have decent reviews on Amazon though.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

Average isn't good though. Who wants to be average?

Maybe we can get Strava to introduce "Middle of the Road" (MOR) awards to go along with KOM.

That hurts

 

[Psychotext]

It's OK, it's extremely rare that I'm KOM material either. I guess most of us just aren't destined for virtual greatness.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

A riding buddy is selling his Kono Honzo St, $1400, not even a year of use. If this was 2 months later I'd be jumping all over it.

 

[Mascot]

A riding buddy is selling his Kono Honzo St, $1400, not even a year of use. If this was 2 months later I'd be jumping all over it.

HTs are gaining popularity again but I don't know if I'll ever go back.

 

[kottila]

I use this alpenheat thingamajib to dry my shoes, gloves etc. Also has cold air so it won't mess up your leather shoes or your glued running shoes

 

[Mascot]

I use this alpenheat thingamajib to dry my shoes, gloves etc. Also has cold air so it won't mess up your leather shoes or your glued running shoes

Are you sure that's not PT's glute strengthening device..?

 

[Psychotext]

On the subject of, most youtube vids on glute exercises are basically softcore porn.

Edit - Unrelated, have finally cancelled my Canyon order. Bit gutted, but I'll live.

Now to set about earning enough money for some ridiculously expensive boutique bike!

 

[Mascot]

What's on the shortlist?

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

HTs are gaining popularity again but I don't know if I'll ever go back.

I know there are a lot of shorter travel soft tails, but for where I am they're still kind of overkill.

 

[Psychotext]

What's on the shortlist?

Loads. Will try and remember to list them later today.

 

[Psychotext]

Fucking mentalist...

Fabio Wibmer downhill shredding on an old city bike

 

[Mascot]

and