Search found 57 matches

by TheNissanMan
18 Jun 2018, 8:28pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: My London to Brighton experience
Replies: 76
Views: 5118

Re: My London to Brighton experience

I definitely won’t be stopping cycling, a couple of days down as a tad sore but will be out on the bike before the end of the week, will get some new cleats and keep going.

I cycle as I enjoy it, going out in the wet and the cold isn’t something I would do by choice so think the bike will be going away over winter until spring where will pick up again, may try find a time where the turbo doesn’t interfere with downstairs lol.
by TheNissanMan
18 Jun 2018, 9:30am
Forum: On the road
Topic: My London to Brighton experience
Replies: 76
Views: 5118

Re: My London to Brighton experience

I know the fags have to go at some point but after 27 years not easy (I know, excuses)...

I’ll have. Couple of days to recover and be back on the bike although need some new cleats as killed mine yesterday. It was still tough and could not believe the beacon, to people cycling all the way up I take my hat off to you, I was that out of breath walking up it was difficult to encourage people still peddLing...
by TheNissanMan
18 Jun 2018, 9:28am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

So feedback after a longer ride (l2b), what a difference, I was still slow uphill but then I’m unfit but downhill I found quite amusing, with the Hypers I was just coasting down at a rate of knots without peddLing and sitting up to have a rest, it was amazing how many people I was cruising past comfortably which were trying to sit down into the bike and still peddling.

An only really put that down to the rubber below as I’m a rather large wind break and was rather pleasant looking at what looked like expensive machinery rolling at a much slower speed :)
by TheNissanMan
18 Jun 2018, 8:43am
Forum: On the road
Topic: My London to Brighton experience
Replies: 76
Views: 5118

My London to Brighton experience

So it’s the morning after the day before and fist of all have to thank everyone on this forum for the help leading up to the L2B.

As mentioned on my previous posts, I’m not fit, I get very anxious over new things and this year have only logged 199 miles on the bike including yesterday’s 54.6 mile.

For anybody in a similar position or considering a challenge after yesterday the best advice I have from yesterday is get a decent set of bib shorts and a measured saddle. The only bit of me not hurting after yesterday is my backside which I didn’t expect to be the case. After a trip to the Specialized shop in Newbury I spent £60 Ona Specialized Avatar which made all the difference and some Endurance Xtract shorts.

Two days before the race I started drinking more water than normal to keep the body topped up and on the day regular small sips of water, there’s plenty of stops along the way to keep water bottles full. I had three on the bike to start which in reality wasn’t needed as there was never an empty bottle...

Following advice on here I had a variety of energy in a small pannier, I didn’t stop long enough at the rest stops for a burger knew if I stopped i would get going again lol, again regular small nibbles and didn’t feel hungry once, I was surprised that I couldn’t eat a thing after the event although a bit peckish this morning.

The event itself was great, I started at 8:30 and although doing the ride on my own was talking to guys ild been talking to on Facebook the days before by chance who were in the same boat, arriving at the event it was daunting as there is some serious machinery and some serious bikes all waiting to head off, there are also some seriously unfit peeps who were as nervous as me which made it a lot better.

The first 8 miles lull you into a false sense of ease as coming out of the common in the drizzle it’s mostly down hill where with good tyres on the bike very little pedalling is required to keep up with the bulk of the group, I was one of the first of the 8;30 lot of the gates with the faster guys getting away quickly, me pooling at my own pace. One of the good things having done all training rides on my own was that I know what my pace was and as mentioned on here before didn’t want to start to quickly.

The first hills were ok as rather than hills they were long in lines which kept going, it’s amazing how much of the course was uphill for a beginner. The other hills, my best advice if your not confident cycling up them, walk, there is no shame in it and makes sure you have enough energy to get to the end, after all it is a marathon not a sprint. Best hill advice from yesterday don’t get too dismayed when you see the beacon for the first time, you come around the corner this mountain appears from nowhere, it is very steep, it doesn’t end, it is painful. I had to stop numerous times just walking up it to take 5, have a drink and go again... you do feel great when you get to the top!

From the top of the beacon it’s plain sailing, it was very windy yesterday so even on the flat at the top it still felt like you were cycling uphill but once your got to the top of the beacon your energy levels seem to rise and it doesn’t matter and you’ve got a long drop where if you have the bottle you can get some serious speeds up, I bottled it and was riding the brakes so sitting at approx 27mph.

The most painful bits for me were the 20-26 mile section where I was tired and wanted to quit, once your through mile 30 you know your getting close and the families in the villages with their tables our cheering you along help massively. And the worst part the final mile and a half, I seemed to pick up every light going through Brighton which meant regular stops and with the amount of walking had killed my cleats so clipping in was difficult, unclipping almost impossible. When you get onto the final section into the finish line energy levels pop straight back up and one big push to the finish line.

Although I know I am seriously unfit I feel I’ve accomplished something, and I’ve got the medal to prove it lol.

6 hours and 6minutes including the mile I rode to the start line and a massage booked later this morning, would I do it again, maybe, bout would want to do a lot more training first!

https://www.relive.cc/view/1645061077
by TheNissanMan
14 Jun 2018, 7:40pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Who are the best/worst drivers on the road?
Replies: 273
Views: 43522

Re: Who are the best/worst drivers on the road?

The trouble with the question in tends to be down to the local demographic rather than the national stereotype these days, Audi/bmw/Volvo seem to be top of the tree but around here it’s the dominos delivery drivers that are the ones to watch out for, have been tempted to suggest they are driving without business insurance on a number of occasions...
by TheNissanMan
13 Jun 2018, 5:35pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Nutrition on a long ride
Replies: 69
Views: 3657

Re: Nutrition on a long ride

Alan O wrote:
TheNissanMan wrote:Only downside is that if I feel this rough today, what am I going to feel like on Monday :) :)

Would a sports massage Monday or Tuesday help aching muscles?

Don't know, but the important thing to remember is to log in here and tell us how it went, before your body contorts into a mass of screaming muscle spasms and leaves you incapacitated for days - or hopefully not that bad :D


Based on the way I feel today following yesterdays 30, I think that is a strong possibility although with work have walked a few miles throughout the day albeit slowly lol. Will definitely be logging on at some point on Monday ;)

Thirdcrank, will definitely be taking my time lol. Looking at the elevation map I’m thinking it shouldn’t be too bad and working on a 47 mile ride as it looks as if once at the top of the beacon you can hang on and cruise down to the finish (fingers crossed)...
by TheNissanMan
13 Jun 2018, 4:11pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Nutrition on a long ride
Replies: 69
Views: 3657

Re: Nutrition on a long ride

Think I’ve been overthinking it, woke up again at stupid o’clock yesterday which this week unfortunately is turning into a bad habit so rather than eating or drinking anything went straight out on the bike for the last (what I would class as) long ride before the L2B, a quick bottle of water in the car before the ride and two snack bars along the ride and finished 30 miles later which is the furthers I’ve been so far with some decent elevations in there every 5 miles as doing laps.

To be fair felt OK until I got home where had some eggs on toast and then flaked for the rest of the day! My logic now if I can do that yesterday and looking at the elevations during the L2B bar the beacon, a good breakfast at 5am and a reasonable lunch and snacking throughout should be fine. Only downside is that if I feel this rough today, what am I going to feel like on Monday :) :)

Would a sports massage Monday or Tuesday help aching muscles?
by TheNissanMan
13 Jun 2018, 9:51am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

Just as a quick further update, yesterday I did a 30 mile (suffering today) cycle trying new tyre pressures at 75R 55f, although the bike felt as comfortable as the lower pressures from Sunday looking at the energy useage and avg speed over various Strava segments the lower pressures definitely look as if they respond better and provide a quicker ride.

Will be lowering them on Friday ahead of Sundays ride, getting closer now!
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 4:06pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

Would it not be possible to calculate as the revolutions vs the speed with gps giving elevation must give a close estimation to power or is that what strava is already doing?
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 3:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

Samuel D wrote:So there you go, Strava thinks the tyres saved 165 W minus 144 W equals 21 W. Sounds about right although Strava is famously bad at power estimation (the problem being unsolvable without a power meter).


I have the wahoo cadence and speed sensors fitted to the bike, stupid question but is there another sensor to measure power as the power meters I can see look to be exactly the same.
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 3:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

thelawnet wrote:
TheNissanMan wrote:The last two rides before the new tyres recorded 144kwh so power output has increased...
.

Presumably that is an average output of 144w, rather than a total output of 144kwh


Yes, Avg 144/165 claimed...
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 2:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

The last two rides before the new tyres recorded 144kwh so power output has increased...

Have had the bike service and would never have found the clicking or gear issue. Apparently when bikes are built they use a link on the chain that makes it easier to fit the chain on the bike which was overly stiff and not sitting straight which was rotating slightly diagonally. This has now been replaced with new link and gear cable also re tightened. Will get out on Tuesday and see how it goes.
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 12:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

Getting technical for me but if it helps strava believes my avg energy usage to be 165w
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 11:43am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

thelawnet wrote:
Samuel D wrote:
TheNissanMan wrote:My average speed has increased from 10.3mph to 12 which over any distance will help.

Yup, that’s the sort of difference I would expect in this case. Nice.


The OP has reduced perhaps 10 watts rolling resistance from the tyres. Most of the increase is likely to be psychological. Also good chance previous tyres were underinflated, so that will make a difference as well.


Possibly, previous tyres were similar pressures after reading the forum so like for like ish, difference quoted was based on strava segments, even on the shorter sectors which generally are rolled rather than pedalled the difference is small but notable.
by TheNissanMan
10 Jun 2018, 11:19am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Changing tyre sizes...
Replies: 60
Views: 2854

Re: Changing tyre sizes...

Amazing the difference to be fair, the route I took this morning was longer than my normal route with some slight inclines and a bigger one at the end so suspect it may get better still. Am popping the bike in for a service this afternoon as clicking quite a bit from the cogs which I suspect is adding a bit of further resistance which will get sorted... every little helps lol.