Slipstream Sean

Did you warm up...you cant just start riding hard uphill. You need to go for at least a 10min leg loosener before the race. Sounds like you had a slight tear in your hammies.

Yeah, well I'm riding outta H and aiming for 3:15. I think that's a realistic goal. Obv time is weather dependant. Otherwise attempt to get a top 5 or 10 in your group. The time will take care of itself.

Take the car to work on wednesdays for a few weeks

You get stronger when you're resting not when you're training...remember that!

Yeah, look, there's no doubt that the ladies riding with the men must really discourage the ladies to attempt to break away. They know the men will close them down without even trying, their pace is just too high. Their only hope is to get into a small break with some stronger men, but even this presents it's problems. The sport is compromised by the ladies riding with the men...I think I'm right in saying it's always destined for a sprint for the line.

HAHA! Dont be fooled. All risk isn't actually 'all' risk. It's all risks that these insurance companies will pay out for, they look for any excuse to point fingures at rider neglegiblity. Using an IDT will be a great excuse for them not to pay for a cracked frame.

So...is that verdict - If you ride your carbon bike on an indoor trainer there's a good chance nothing will happen...but it might just crack? Great, so I have to buy/use an alu bike for IDT. That's annoying!

What about a carbon frame, is it safe to use IDTs with a carbon frame or will they eventually cause the frame to weaken and crack?

I won a MTB and just started riding. My rear wheel was rubbing against my rear stay, so I took it to the LBS and they said that you should always have a new bike set up properly. But in your case if you bought it from the shop, they should have set it up properly for you. I'd take it back and explain the noises...sure its just a few adjustments, if you paid that kinda money for a bike sure they'll do it free of charge.

A few weeks ago I was ill for a few days...felt better for about two days or so...thort I was 100%. Went on a training ride with my club, and absolutely fell flat after about 90minutes...felt absolutely terrible...cud barely make it home. I'm sure you're looking forward to this race, but if this happens to you, it a) wont be enjoyable and b) you cud risk your health seriously. Your decision tho.

WOW, I think I've finally located the source of my cramps. For the entire season I've been trying to figure out why I've been cramping in races...trying all sorts of anti-cramping stuff. I never suspected the gels were the culprut, but it makes sense when I consider the evidence. In races earlier in the season, where I was averaging about 2...maybe even 3 gels per race I was cramping towards the end. But I've been going very sparingly on them of late, perhaps because they're so expensive...so I haven't been using em unless I really need em. And I haven't been cramping lately. This thread just made me realise that. Lately I've been averaging between 0-1 gel per race without cramps...cant believe this. Could it be this simple?

If you've been for a bike setup and your stem is too long and the guy doing the setup hasn't picked it up...then you seriously need to consider where you go for you bike setups.

I take it you're a beginner, at least to the road. I only started riding last season, my first long race was 99er - 121km. My neck was k@k sore, along with my back etc. Bottom line is if you ride enuf you muscles will get used to the stress and the pain should dissappear. I never get a sore neck anymore. In fact of all the pain I went through in the Double Century I dont remember any pain in my neck. If you've been for a bike setup...you're good...just keep riding.

I dont know, but I'm currently sorting out my indoor trainer wheel, so I've had to get out on the road midweek. Went out this morning and it was so frustration...tried to do a hard 1hr ride(as you have about an hour from sunrise to peak hour traffic) but kept getting stopped by freakin robots...I cant wait to be back on my trainer, ridin midweek(apart from hill repeats on a sucluded hill) sucks balls IMO

Hey guys, would a freehub of a campag 10spd volace be compatitble with a campag 11spd group set. I'm sure we have some meachanics on the hub that can shed some light on the issue. Would there be any issues in doing this. Thanks in advance

I'm feeling week this weak! LOL

I think because mountain bikes are more comfortable to ride for the average person, more people buy mountain bikes. Then it stands to reason that more people will do MTBing. I think MTBing is also more social...going slower...more time to chat, but take nothin away from those that race. I'm a roadie but have just started MTBing...it's tough...full respect for the technical difficulty.

Look at the Charmichael Training Systems DVDs, there's quiet a range.

Terminator I would do the races...you wont do any more damage as all that can happen is the tendon can become inflamed...that's all. Bear in mind that it may get to a point where it is too painful to continue, then you might be wishing you never started it and began the healing process. But if I were in your situation I'd also do the race, and once it's over then seriously begin the healing process.

Arthro Ease is the generic I think...or an alternative product, both claim to stimulate the repairing of cartilage, which is ground away by the incorrect tracking of the patella. These supplements never worked for me...but everybody is different. Dont get into a habit of taking everything under the sun that claims it can help you...natural means...your body adapts to things, give it time and treat it well and it'll repair itself.

Headlines: 'Terminater pulls out of battle due to knee pain' No seriously, I feel for you, I've been there and in many ways still am. It's a chronic injury, i.e. develops over time from overuse. In my case it came from playing too much touch rugby and more particularly squash. The constant jarring causes the patella tendon to become inflamed resulting in patellafemoral pain. You cant get rid of it completely, but you can certainly learn to live with it. Here's what I'd recomend: 1. Rest for 3-4 weeks(swim/rowing to keep fitness up, give knees rest) 2. Climb back on bike, make sure the saddle isn't too low as this can be the cause of patellafemoral pain on a bike, spin easier gears i.e. train to increase cadence gradually. But slowly return to your usual training dont just jump back into it, u'll need to do more base training again. 3. Stretch after exercise...calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes. 4. Physiotherapy can help stimulate bloodflow, but one of the reasons this injury doesn't really heal is because there is no bloodflow accross the front of the knee. I partly started cycling as a strengthening method for my patella tendonitis, then I got seriously hook on the sport. But cycling has healed my knee pain to a large degree. I never get pain from cycling, if I have pain I cycle to get rid of it. My knees are worse in the off season...go figure! So keep resting(when inflamed), keep stretching, keep strengthening and most importantly keep fit. Google patellafemoral pain syndrome. Good luck

I think you'll find if you remove you pink lenses and replace them with clear one's, that the solution is water

How cud I ever doubt you Jon0

Thanks, yeah santa...I do all my climbing outside...hill repeats. I hate climbing on an IDT, unless its only seated climbing, standing climbs on a IDT feel horrible