Official Road Cycling Thread

[M_Six]

I did a 2 hour, 34 mile ride yesterday. I wad going to repeat it today, but after an hour my butt was killing me. I really need a new saddle. Mine is cracked and badly worn. Still got 21 miles in.

[Vindicator3]

Back to back bike commutes yesterday and Monday. First time all year for that. Feels like the legs are coming back a bit. Sadly, the gut hasn't gone anywhere...

[chassis]

29 miles on a nice trail we haven’t visited in a while. Perfect conditions. Temp low 70s, light wind, some clouds.

12.3mph, 73rpm, 750 calories.

[M_Six]

Was beautiful here today as well. A bit windy, but it made for a good tailwind in one direction. Got 25 miles in. Next two days are supposed to equally nice, so I'm hoping to ride both days.

[6SPDG82]

Just saw this thread. I’m an ex-competitive cyclist, specialized in TT. I’m retired from racing now but up until my late 40s raced competitively as an elite amateur.

National podium winner in TT (2nd place), 4 x provincial medalist, raced at GFWC worlds 4x in Europe etc.

I just ride for fun and lift weights now but cycling is such a great sport.

[Vindicator3]

Great commute this morning, finally cooler. Hit some "recent" PRs on a few of the uphill Strava segments along the way (that is, PRs for the last 2-3 years, I'm not going to touch the PRs from my racing days).

[Vulpe]

Doing 30-40 weekly. Gotta start increasing that to get ready for a Century in September.

Built a new bike on my own for the first time a couple weeks ago and enjoying riding it. Still a little bit of tweaks to work out with the fit, but mostly good so far. Feels real nice to have something completely my own.

Today's ride I happened across the local group ride and latched on for a few miles. Got a couple PRs in those sections by a minute or so.

[chassis]

Looked at road bikes a few days ago. My wife test rode a Specialized Allez. She liked it.

Our bikes are 15 year old Cannondale MTB (me) and hybrid (her) so quite a bit has changed. We ride a fair bit but are far from bike nerds.

We don’t seek out gravel and both prefer paved surface riding. Although short gravel stretches show up now and then. The “gravel bike” category seems to have heavier frames and doesn’t speak to us. A road bike seems to fit our use case better.

I want full hydraulic brakes, that is the only tech requirement. Besides the brakes, we are looking at entry price tier aluminum road bikes from the main brands Trek, Giant, Cannondale and Specialized.

We will likely keep our current bikes as backups. They are completely ridable, just at the end of their service lives.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by chassis

Looked at road bikes a few days ago. My wife test rode a Specialized Allez. She liked it.

Our bikes are 15 year old Cannondale MTB (me) and hybrid (her) so quite a bit has changed. We ride a fair bit but are far from bike nerds.

We don’t seek out gravel and both prefer paved surface riding. Although short gravel stretches show up now and then. The “gravel bike” category seems to have heavier frames and doesn’t speak to use. A road bike seems to fit our use case better.

I want full hydraulic brakes, that is the only tech requirement. Besides the brakes, we are looking at entry price tier aluminum road bikes from the main brands Trek, Giant, Cannondale and Specialized.

We will likely keep our current bikes as backups. They are completely ridable, just at the end of their service lives.

You can get gravel bikes that have tires with tread only on the sides. Gravel bikes tend to have a more relaxed geometry. Something like a Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 Gen 3. They make great road bikes. The heavier frame makes them more stable. And unless you go carbon fiber, a similar aluminum frame road bike, like a Trek Domane, is close to identical weight wise. Gravel bikes also allow for wider tires, which can be more comfortable.

[freakystyly]

I made my old steel hardtail MTB into a rigid fork hybrid with carbon bits and road wheels, lol. Don't recommend it for everyone but it's fun and maneuverable for urban riding. I've put about 3k/yr on it and it's holding up.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

I made my old steel hardtail MTB into a rigid fork hybrid with carbon bits and road wheels, lol. Don't recommend it for everyone but it's fun and maneuverable for urban riding. I've put about 3k/yr on it and it's holding up.

My first road bike was an aluminum frame commuter that I turned into a gravel bike with a new drivechain, wider tires, and a gravel handlebar. Then I discovered I really don't like riding gravel. LOL. So that bike is permanently mounted on my indoor trainer. I have an e-MTB now that I'll take onto gravel roads every now and then.

[freakystyly]

After the frankenstein project, I get why people say N+1 (get another bike). It helps to have the right tool for the job and there's no such thing as a 1 bike for all types of riding.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

After the frankenstein project, I get why people say N+1 (get another bike). It helps to have the right tool for the job and there's no such thing as a 1 bike for all types of riding.

I got caught up that N+1 thing. Of course the other end of that is D-1. (The number of bikes that would cause a divorce, minus 1). I was up to 6 at one point. Now I have 4. Two road bikes, an e-MTB, and the aforementioned aluminum frame bike sitting on my trainer.

[Vulpe]

No kidding. I started in February last year and I've got 4 bikes already..

I was trying to upgrade my hybrid bike that's been relegated to guest use. I got a Deore XT Di2 upgrade kit to make it 12 speed and more range. Oh the cassette needs microspline but these wheels are the Shimano HG.. Ok I'll get some cheap chinese wheels with a microspline hub. Oh man these wheels don't fit cause they're 12mm Thruaxle and this frame uses some weird QR sized thruaxles. Bought some adapters, front fits yay!... Damn it the rear doesn't fit.. I already ripped out all the mechanical bits from the frame.. I'm ready to buy a new frame to transfer all the parts over but I don't want to spend more than $1k on it and would prefer carbon/titanium.

I saw Lynskey was/is doing a sale, cool a titanium frame for $900. But then they don't include a fork in that sale, went to find a fork. Buying a separate fork makes it cost the same as the none sale frame with the fork anyway and comes out to $1800 after shipping and taxes.

Man what a headache.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by Vulpe

No kidding. I started in February last year and I've got 4 bikes already..

I was trying to upgrade my hybrid bike that's been relegated to guest use. I got a Deore XT Di2 upgrade kit to make it 12 speed and more range. Oh the cassette needs microspline but these wheels are the Shimano HG.. Ok I'll get some cheap chinese wheels with a microspline hub. Oh man these wheels don't fit cause they're 12mm Thruaxle and this frame uses some weird QR sized thruaxles. Bought some adapters, front fits yay!... Damn it the rear doesn't fit.. I already ripped out all the mechanical bits from the frame.. I'm ready to buy a new frame to transfer all the parts over but I don't want to spend more than $1k on it and would prefer carbon/titanium.
Man what a headache.

Been there, don't want to talk about past trauma.

[chassis]

20 miles today, nice ride. Mid-70s and gusty winds but the trail was well-covered by trees and some hills so the wind wasn't a problem.

New-to-us trail, 80% paved and 20% packed gravel.

11.5mph, 74rpm.

[chassis]

22 miles today on country roads. The route included 1 mile of climb with approx 1/3 of the length at 14% grade. Tough climb! Low-mid 70s and clear blue sky. Light winds.

[M_Six]

35 today. Nice day for a ride. Mid-80s, low humidity, nice breeze out of the northeast.

[LCB]

Just came across this forum .... interesting!! I do a bit of riding, averaging ~ 250 km/week this time of year. Slower in the winter when I am on the trainer and skiing. I will have to track this group and see what the focus is.

[M_Six]

25 miles today. More perfect riding weather.

[M_Six]

Another day of great weather. A rare calm day. 20 miles.

[chassis]

Hoping for 26 miles today. A bit warm but lowish humidity.