walkerr

For training rides - I work off average speed. Generally do similar distances, and do a mental adjustment for weather e.g. how windy or hot. For fun ride/races, I also aim at a target average speed. To compare one year to the previous years I use % of my finish position compared to the field. If I'm finishing higher up the field I take that as progress, even if weather means I got a slower time.

Agree with the other guys here. I bought my Merida 5 years back from shop a few Kms from my house and thought "I'll ride it home" - not figuring the big uphills from there to here. I ended up walking most of the way. Now few years on, I'm comfortable doing 90km to 120km fun rides, and even look forward to the hills. Here's some of the things I learnt along the way that worked for me: training more was the biggest thing - building up gradually as other guys have mentioned already. spin classes initially helped quite a lot with my aerobic fitness, but didn't do a huge amount for my overall cycling ability (see the thread on Knees and spinning for some of the downside) on longer rides - your body needs fuel as well as water/hydration, so find out if there's an energy drink you like and works for you, or bars/chews, or bananas, or even as a friend of mine uses, a pack of small cooked potatoes. you'll also probably find on hot/long rides you need electrolytes too - to put back some of what yous sweat out. Again, energy drinks or gels etc have these. Wouldn't worry though for shorter rides - shouldn't be an issue unless you're out longer than an hour or two. at some stage, get a proper bike setup check done by a pro - it's amazing what a a little difference can make in cleat position, saddle height or fore/aft setting, handlebar reach or height etc. My LBS charged R250 and took close on a couple of hours doing it - money well spent. For hill climbs specifically: I tend to like to alternate sitting and spinning up the hill, with standing to stretch my legs out. When I stand I shift up two or three gears harder to keep a roughly equivalent rate of effort. If I don't stand, I often cramp later on in a ride from being sat in one place too long Check what gears your bike came with - my front crank was a 52/39 (outer/inner tooth count). As a middled aged guy who was used to mountain bikes that made for very very hard to turn pedals on steep climbs, putting a lot of strain on legs and lungs and not letting me spin. I swapped it out for a 50/34 (known as a compact crank) this season and have really enjoyed the change, even though it loses a bit of top end speed on the flats and downhill. This year specifically I started with a personal trainer (who is an ex-cyclist) at the gym to work on my core strength. I wouldn't advocate this initially. It's something I needed to give me a kick and get me working harder after I'd got some basic training and fitness. It has helped enormously with reducing cramps, and I find now I climb hills in a very different way - I seem to be working from my hips and stomach muscles not just pushing and pulling with my legs. Something to consider when you get fully bitten by the bug! Most important though - keep training and make sure you enjoy the rides and look up at the scenery. The only rides I really battle are the ones where I forget to look at our magnificent countryside. Edit: added bit I forgot about personal trainer.

Just did a quick Google on these, and they sound pretty durable - did you buy them locally in SA?

You got my interest in terms of price & weight - if the lesson with Easton's taught me anything though, it's the importance of after sales backup when stuff breaks (in this case luckily Helderberg/Omnico were really good). So what are we talking here?

I love all this talk of too much power breaking spokes ... in my case, I suspect it's "too much lardy ass" ...

Ah, but, every piece of string has a definite length - even if we don't happen to know how long that is. The roadworks on the other hand, seem much closer to infinite to me ....

Awesome, cheers. The brands/sizes I need aren't easy to get here, plus there's some other bits I have in my CRC basket waiting to order

I think some extra hill climbing just got added to the LSDs for my winter training

Anyone know what tax tyres carry if you order them from CRC etc? I know most bike parts just attract VAT and no extra duties, but am thinking tyres might be a special case.

I'll join your team Slowbee !

In general I agree - it's great ride to be a part of, and we choose to do it for just that reason. I'd differ on 1 part though - getting past slower bunches is one thing, that's part and parcel of riding. Getting through a solid block of charity riders who stop dead right across the road at the bottom of a dip starts to become risky to say the least. The logic of mixing seeded riders and fun groups beats me.

Def true - but you'll need to get a long way up into the single letter seedings to be ahead of the charities and corporates, a tail end seeding like I had still sees you unable to really put your foot down which is pretty frustrating having taken the time to do seeding rides. Anyhow, don't want to sound gripey - still had an excellent day and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

I reckon next time I'm probably get my LBS (William's) to build me up a set of Mavic Open Pros, that way I can get quick service if I have issues. I did some weight calcs, and a 28 spoke rear and 24 spoke front with Dura Ace hubs are only a bit heavier than the Easton's, are similar price, and should be quite a bit sturdier. Having said that, the Easton's roll really nicely - so hopefully they'll do me quite a bit longer before then.

I saw her .... forget exactly where. Not pretty, I blame her entirely for the extra 20 mins I took over my target time. Nothing to do with heat, no no, solely down to bad mental state

My old (now training) Shimano wheels that came with Merida were about 1900g. The Easton's I got are shade under 1500g I think. Have broken a spoke on the Easton's though, so I'd question their durability until they've gone some more KMs without further issues.

Very cool pics - thanks for posting. Some good memories of a hot year in the saddle Helmet cam also added to my wishlist ...

Further back in the field it was also frustrating - the TT group I started with, and couple of groups just in front/behind had some seriously quick riders. But we spent the first hour or more dodging and weaving through the charity and corporate groups, especially at danger points like that dip and sudden rise on Boyes. Regular riders know to shift down (if they need too) in the dip to power out and up the other side. But the fun riders just stopped dead in front across the whole road. Damn near a nasty pile up in my bunch, and from what I read a lot of other problems happened at that spot too. It's a great event and the fun riders have just as much right to enjoy it as anyone, especially when riding for a good cause. But I really think the organizers shouldn't have much faster riders starting behind them. There has to be a better way.

Also agree - all my problems get magnified on a spinning bike. Pretty sure it's a combination of not as thorough a setup, and also going from 0 to flat-out to 0 again in a 45 or 90 min period. On other rides the build-up/down is more gradual. Come winter weather, I'll also be back to it too - so maybe I'll do the measurement thing, no issues looking like a dork (as anyone who has seen me on a bike will know!)

Brilliant!

Ditto

I'd like to think it went to charity - or at least into the costs of preparing and running a good cycle tour. But that is probably hopelessly naive!

That's only true if the site which published it was using a legal copy - in which case it might be considered in the public domain.

They can - but if you shoot and keep RAW files, it's much much tougher for someone to produce a usable hack of them. Editing the EXIF meta info in a JPEG is trivial, but most raw formats have encrypted protection of some form

100% agree - unless the site or photo specifically states that copies may be used, then it's definifely not ok. Anyone using photographs they did not take should understand that the owner has a copyright and needs to grant their use. I tag most of mine with a "Non commercial, attribution" license i.e. anyone can use them for non commercial uses as long as they credit me, but if it's commercial than they need to pay for the rights.

BTW - you can send the SMS now apparently, don't have to wait for Sunday. That's what my g/f did at least, and she got a confirmation