The Bicycling Thread

[Lee]

18 mph winds from the SE today. Gusts to 25. Yuck. Maybe only a short ride today (since I can't find anywhere NW of here I want to go!).

Had 20 to 25 mph winds on my ride yesterday.
It's good for you

[955i]

If you don't have hills, you can train with wind. It is like a hill that doesn't end! (Although, at 20-25, Lee, your hill is steeper than mine.)
Speaking of hills, did you see the Vuelta on the Alto de l'Angliru or the stage today, the Alto de la Covatilla? Now those are some "hills!"

[Lee]

[QUOTE=955i;n26384]If you don't have hills, you can train with wind. It is like a hill that doesn't end! (Although, at 20-25, Lee, your hill is steeper than mine.)

About 2/3 of the route I take near home is hilly. 25 to 35 mph winds today but still went out because it was upper 60s and sunny.
Hate to waste the warm weather this time of year.

[955i]

Just got in. 64F here with the winds only being about 8 mph with gust higher. I sheltered in a city circuit I use sometimes at night. Not much traffic and some smooth pavement. Each lap is about 5.5 miles. I can barely average 16 mph given traffic, curves, etc. But, it's fun.

[wildbears]

Chris Froome, growing up in Africa, used to ride while using the brakes.

This was to prepare him for climbing as the area was flat.

[955i]

That was a horrible crash Froome had. I was never a fan, but I am growing to like him because of his grit and how he did not whine at his bad luck. He had a decent Vuelta and took some good turns at the front for Ineos. Hope he makes a complete comeback.

[wildbears]

Five hour ride-along bicycling video for indoor training, Coleman Valley, CA.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUJa3N3TOM

[Bobby]

We rode the Jabberwocky Trail here in Ashland OR on Tuesday. Not as fast as these guys, but still a blast with it's big banked turns. Now that we're into the "rainy" season the trails are in great shape. We went 5 months with virtually no precipitation...... which made the trails loose and dusty. Trails àre nice and tacky now.
https://youtu.be/bdXw2KO0adU

[wildbears]

Does it make sense that staying in shape by bicycling would help keep you motorcycling longer.

What say you?

[Bobby]

Is this a trick question?

[Bobby]

Besides the fact that I HATE to run, bicycling provides good exercise without pounding on your joints.......and biking's fun.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

I love to run but can no longer pound my right knee. Bicycling provides good exercise without pounding on your joints.......and biking's fun.

[955i]

I do both about equally. I am convinced absolutely that it keeps you in shape for long fast days on the motorcycle. I am not (by my definition) an exercise "nut," but this year I am going to do 350 miles of running (usually 3 miles at a time) and 3500 miles of cycling (about 45% road, 40%gravel, and ugh! 15% indoor trainer.) Being on two wheels never gets old!

[Bobby]

Being on two wheels never gets old!

Right on! Anything on two wheels.

[955i]

Funny, but when I am on the motorcycle, it seems that I am in my 20's (and imagine every semi-truck driver is older than I LOL!!). When I am on the bicycle it seems that I am still in my teens! It's my opinion that it is unseemly to try to act young, but damn, if you are just having fun, it's not really acting>

[wildbears]

How to get the rear derailleur to handle larger sprocket cogs.

(Also see follow-up post #34.)

My vintage Trek 970 has a vintage Campy Record Groupo.

The rear derailleur uses a short cage with a suggested maximum sprocket cog size of 26 teeth.

I'm currently using a 28t for my lowest gear but want to use a 32t in cases of strong headwinds on a long ride.

I was considering a whole new group set, Ultegra or Dura-Ace, which could run up close to $2,000 including installation.

However I stumbled across the components that can increase the range of any derailleur.

One is the MIARHB Road Bike Rear Derailleur Converter Tail Hook Extender Lengthen Lug.

Got one ordered from Walmart and it should be here is several days.

[955i]

That might work, Wildbears. Let us know. I need some extra teeth on my smallest cog on the Merckx. It's Campy, and not friendly to "unapproved" mods.

An unsolicited opinion? The new 105 group sets are awfully good. I think I would be very happy with new 105 and save the money for a bicycle trip someplace.

[Flyboy]

Got a few hundred miles in last week while in Florida...nice to be able to ride this late in the year outside...even if it’s flat!

[Lee]

Good weather the last two days so got out for a little ride each day.
Only got out a couple times in November.
Highs in the low 30s for the next week so I'm probably done for 2020
A little over 1,900 miles for the year.