Cycling (Road Bike) Thread

So finally had my first pissed driver confrontation Saturday morning. This lady in a bmw comes to screeching stop at a crossing as I was going across and almost hits me so I just look at her and then on my way. About a mile down the road she comes flying past me and I swear I felt her mirror just barely scrap my hand on the turn downs. (Pretty sure she didn't actually hit me but that's how close it was). Needless to say scared the piss out of me. I get it you're in a hurry I get it I'm probably inconveniencing you but Jesus at what point did you brain stop working and you forget I'm 220lbs on a bicycle and you're in a 2000+ lb car. /rant

 

I look at bicyclists now a lot differently than I used to since I ride now. My bias against bicyclists was because the kids and some adults around vcu do not pay attention to anything around them. I have seen them go in between 2 moving cars with maybe a foot on each side, running red lights, stop signs, riding in the middle of the street instead of off to the side holding up traffic. etc.......

 

Here's my Giant Defy Advanced 1. Love it. It's a dream. I also have a regular Defy and a Trek Fuel EX7. I love riding.

 

I'm daydreaming about how long that bar tape will stay white...........Lizardskin DSP FTW!!! Comfy as hell, 3 thicknesses - 1.8mm, 2.5mm, 3.2mm. Each thickness has different pattern (2.5mm pattern in pics) Comes in camo patterns too........lovin my 3.2mm, so so comfy. Got 2.5mm for another bike.

 

White always looks super classy and clean, until it's not. Haha. I'm sure I'll change it out soon.

 

Seems like the Lizardskin tape is much more cleanable than other kinds of cork or suede tape so it wouldn't matter if it got a bit dirty every now and then.............I hated the thought of even getting that suede stuff sweaty or wet because of how it probably wouldn't hold up to that very long.

 

Hey Gang. I commented on this thread a long while ago, when I was getting ready for an Ironman race. Something I was able to finally complete a month ago. So here is my Ironman MD race report:

The week leading up to the race I was traveling for work in Clearwater Beach Florida. Cambridge got slammed with storms while I was there, leading to serious flooding in the region. Race day the weather was terrible as well. It was very windy and cold with rain on and off. The swim was delayed, then canceled due to unsafe conditions. That was disappointing, but the right call given the storm. It'san outdoor sport, so these things happen. Around 100 people quit right then, which in my opinion is totally lame considering the investment you put in to get to that starting line. Sore losers!

There was a brutal “time trial” bike start. Racers were released sequentially by race number. I say “brutal” because, I was number 1204, and many of the people between 1 and 1203 were slower than me. It was also brutal since it was wet and windy while we were waiting to start, and we didn’t have access to our morning clothes anymore. I was shivering by the time I got on my bike. I passed over 500 racers on the bike, which was difficult given the stormy conditions. I guess all my wet and winter weather riding paid off. I saw several crashes, bloodied riders still pushing on, and one guy being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher.

By the time the run was starting, the tide had rolled in flooding the three sections of the course with some spots nearly knee deep in water. It was a three loop course, so you had to run through the flooded portions a total of nine times!

All that to say, I crushed my anticipated times – ending with a 5-hour bike split and just under 4-hour marathon. I finished 23rd in my age group and 241 out of 2500 overall. Top 10% - not bad for my first Ironman distance race.

I’m very pleased despite the weather challenges. I will do another one, both so I can do one with a swim and because I learned a lot pushing myself past my limits. Maybe I'll shoot for a Kona slot next year! The other thing I’m pleased about is I felt great. No stress fractures, no toenails falling off, not even a blister! Way better than the Marine Corp Marathon last year.

And lastly here is my reflection on it all:

Triathlon came to me unexpectedly. Where some see obsession, sinking and time wasted, I experience dedication, buoyancy, and freedom. We all have to work; we have to do chores and taxes; we all spend a lot of time getting from A to B. The distance in between should be filled with what you love. Dreams don’t need to make sense, but you do need to dream them. And if you're going to have dreams that take up 10-15 hours a week for six months, you need a very patient and supportive wife. Now back to truck projects, camping, and eating bacon - at least for a few months.

 

Wow Rocco!! That is a crazy amount of adversity that you had to deal with - and yet you overcame!! Bloody impressive!!

This sport requires a MASSIVE amount of mental toughness. That's something that was instilled in me, as I trained for my Full Ironman last year. One can train the body to handle the different elements. The swim, the bike, the run. But one cannot be fully prepared for the obstacles and adversity that you can be challenged with, on race day. You just have to reach a certain level of mental toughness, that can help carry you over those things. And it would appear that you did that....in Spades!!!
I had a ton of weather issues on my Full Iron. And it spawned several smaller issues from it. But I kept reminding myself of what I learnt while training. You simply have to overcome!! Even though there's nothing simple about it!!!

Well done on the times. You definitely have a talent for this sport. And a Kona spot is not out of your reach. I look forward to hearing about your next races!! And with that......did you know we have a Triathlon Thread going? I'll link you to it.

 

Sub'd

Teach me....

 

I was at the Tour of CA a few years ago to spectate, took this shot. Thought you guys might like it...

 

Pickle Juice. Anybody try it to prevent or relieve leg cramps?

 

PJ sponsors a big Mountain Bike event I do every year - usually 65-70 miles in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas called the Ouachita Challenge. One year, despite a lot of training for the event, proper hydration, and the normal electrolyte/craming supplements I use, I was in the hurt locker with cramping quads by about mile 35. I started downing Pickle Juice at the time checkpoints every 8-10 miles or so and I kept the cramping manageable enough to finish the ride.

 

since kidney failure, i suffer from chronic muscle cramps/spasms and mustard packets or pickle juice work wonders for my cramps over the pills prescribed by my docs...

in my saddle bag, i carry a 2 ounce shot bottle of pickle juice and in my daily carry backpack, i carry an 8 ounce bottle...

 

I'm not a fan of sour, but they had cups of it at the last race I was at, so I guess there is something to it.

 

i couldn't stand the juice straight from a pickle jar, but the prepacked juices go down easier... plus given the pain of a cramp, anything tastes good... mustard works better i think, but i would never use it as a condiment... it took me some time to get used to sucking on them packets, but considering you can snag them for free, im all about it... hahahaha

 

Lizard skins are the way to go. I've used many different brands/types over the years and 2.5mm seems to be most comfortable. My only complaint is that after a while it yellows, but by then, it's dirty enough from chain lube/ grease /road grime, you'll want to change it anyway.

 

Feeler:
I have a bunch of World Cycling Productions DVDs for sale. Any interest in here?

 

My Colnago C64 from Italy. Just getting back to the states and cannot wait to ride again.

 

That is a clean machine.

 

Some pictures of my hybrid. Would love to upgrade to an actual road bike one of these days.