Cycling (Road Bike) Thread

It's Tour de France time. Any other followers out there?

 

Here here

 

Hasn't been too bad so far.

 

Here is a great source for racing news, if you don't already know about it:
http://www.steephill.tv/

 

First pic is my brand new to me but used Giant Defy 3
Below was my first road bike Trek 1.5
So far carbon prevails.

 

I cannot defy the like of the defy. Nice lines on it.

 

Very nice bikes! ^^^

I haven't posted a photo of mine in a while. I've been extremely busy, training for my first Full Ironman - coming up in 2 weeks (Ironman Canada - Whistler, BC). My best friend (and coach) is letting me borrow his Zipp wheels for the race. So my bike is actually looking decently legit.

 

Carbon wheels make a HUGE difference I have a friend that is also doing an ironman in Madison WI this fall and. I love his wheels.

 

Nice bike - I bet that's a pretty big upgrade for you. How do you like the transconic so far? Is that an 11 speed - 105 group on it?

I moved to DC from California three years ago and switched from mnt biking a lot, to road and triathlon. My first bike was a Fuji Newest 3.0. I then upgraded to a Fuji SST 1.0 with an Ultegra Di2 set. I had it built from scratch and it came out awesome. It was a huge difference. My Newest feels like a wet noodle compared to the SST. I have to admit the SST is faster than me in all but steep descents. I've gotten serious about triathlon (two Half IMs, and planning on a full next summer) and hope to get a tribike by the end of the year. I'll post it up when I do!

Anyway here's the SST (yes the bottle is loosely sitting in its cage):

 

Good Luck - its a big challenge. You'll have to let everyone know how it goes!

 

Thanks. And yes....the carbon wheels sure do help. Between my advanced training this year - and the equipment upgrades - my bike times have never been better. In the latter stages of the bike training, I've done a 160km trip in 5:20. A 180km trip in 6:15 (windy that day). And a 200km trip in 7:14 (had to drag a slower rider for the first 65kms). So it's going well.
The mountains in Whistler are going to be punishing - as I have nothing quite like that where I live - to train on. But I plan to just do the best I can.

 

Rode down to the Galveston State Park this morning to enjoy the sunrise.





Wish I would have taken time elapse vs video for the ride. Would have made an awesome video.

 

I've been back from BC for a few days now. Just in relax mode, since the Ironman last Sunday.
What an amazing experience it was. It was, by far, the most challenging physical event I've ever done - in my 45 years. But it was also hugely successful (for me), and a majorly defining moment for my life. I had no idea going in where I'd end up placing, as far as a time. There are several time cut-offs throughout the day. But ultimately you have no more than 17 hours to complete the race. My hope was to be somewhere around 13:30 to 15:30 hours. And I ended up posting a total time of 14:45. So I was beyond ecstatic with that result. Of the 2000 people to start the race that morning - only 1500 finished. 500 either dropped out, or didn't make time cut-offs. The weather ended up being a MAJOR factor in the race. The temperature dipped down a fair bit that day - and the rain came down in buckets. This made for a very difficult time - but somehow (now that it's done) it makes finishing it, feel even better.
Training in Central Alberta (on the road bike) really does not hold a candle to the Mountain roads of BC. Especially in the Whistler area. Apart from the fact I could never afford to live out there - I would love to live there.....just for the daily biking opportunities. My legs would be telephone poles, if I could train in those conditions. So jealous!!! I was just as happy finishing the 180k mountain route, as I was posting a time of 7:17 (which included 6 stops for a pee - as I continued to drink my electrolytes like crazy, despite the rain and cold conditions - lol).
I learned a lot from the experience. So when I go to do another one (not for a couple years now), I'll be way better off. I'll know where to push harder. And where to hold back a little more. I'll know how my body will react to the situations. And I'll actually push for a sweeter time.
But for now. I'm enjoying a very victorious time. My wife and best friend got to be out there with me - to support me on the day. And when I came home - my kids had the entire front window of the house decorated with "Congrats" - and Ironman photos. It was great!!! And it's BEEN great!!

I've once again proven to myself, that there simply are no limits. Nothing to hold you back. 5 to 6 years ago, I was a physical mess. Doomed to a shorter life - with many ailments on my horizon. Now my horizon seems so full.....of amazing life!! I can't wait to discover my next challenge!!

 

Here's my road bikes. 2012...maybe 2013 trek madone 2.1 switched over to ultegra 6700 and some other upgrades

And a Frankenstein steel bike with all the bontrager and 105 take off parts that were stock on the madone

 

nice ^^^ can't wait for Richmond - heading out that way for Saturday and Sunday elite women and men events - doing a ride on Skyline Drive as part of the trip as well

 

Great story my friend! Proud of you for completing a personal goal. I started in BMX when I was 5 and was a Factory racer until my late teens when I transitioned to Mountain Bikes. Raced Mountain bikes until I crashed hard and broke my elbow at 35. That six months of healing put things in perspective for me and I stopped competitive racing which was hard for me to do since I am competitive by nature. Now I'm content to compete with myself. I too went through a rough period of letting everything go. Not proud of it but I did it and take full responsibility for it (documented in my sig). After coming out the other side the bike was a great healing tool for me on a personal level. I'm now back down to 175 lbs (6'tall) and ride 25 miles a day not counting doing flatland tricks on my BMX (which is a total body workout if you haven't ridden one).

Enjoy your personal victory and know that you did great! You have every right to be proud

Oh... My bikes

Ridley Cyclocross. I couldn't give up the ability to just stick to the road so light single track is still fun and keeps me from getting stupid.




I finally sold this one last year. I realized I didn't have the self control to ride it. I ran a DH course that I used to race and there are 2 paths that you can take over a creek. One you can clear a 30' jump or take the side route and go through the stream and scrub off all your speed. I chose the jump. Landed it and stopped the bike and looked back and said never again. At 45 if I would have missed it, it would have been catastrophic. Put the bike on the truck, drove home, put it on CL, and sold it the next day. I just don't have the self control to ride it. I don't possess the ability to not go all out.



And my new toy. I love this bike. Got to take the brake off of it since it's not needed for what I do.



The wife is starting to get a little perturbed with all the bikes in the living room. Can't say I blame her.

 

They are stating about 450,000 people but others are saying these numbers are inflated. One thing though the roads are being repaved for the courses otherwise we would still be driving and dodging pot holes and craters in the roads.