Team BKool CycleChat

[Bored Man]

I don't get saddle sore generally for the first couple of hours, and then it starts creeping in. DD took Bill and I, 8.5 hours last year. So my @rse only hurt for the last 6.5 hours really. The last couple of hours were ungodly. I don't know how you prepare yourself for that sort of time in the saddle, short of doing the Tour de France. I did liberally apply Bum Butter, not sure if it helped, or if the slimy feeling in my pants was just a pain distraction. From what Bill said last year, I am half expecting him to turn up with a motorbike seat with a pillow gaffer taped to the top!

The problem is as you get more tired you spend more time rooted to the saddle. With discipline ( and a little will power) one can take every slight incline or small rise to drop down the block and rise from the seat.. maybe time it with a jelly baby or sip from your bidon? Don't wait till it's aching before starting or chances are.... it's already too late.

Then the mind games begin..... tick tock - miles, bum...

 

[bobinski]

What is the longest ride you have done in a day Bobski? I have certainly never done anything longer than DD, not continuously in the saddle anyway.

London to Paris in 24ish hours and London to Brighton and back in 10 hours or so. Neither remotely fast but a lot of time in the saddle. Sore bum but much less so than neck and shoulders.
Long story cut short is that I dislocated by shoulder in mid November last year and it's left an irritating pain and clicking of the neck associated with strained trapezoid muscle. I have had a bit of physio and need some more. I also have a long delayed follow up to my last bike fit this Friday to see if that helps too.

 

[Whorty]

I did take a GPX file and create a DD ride last year (http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/1624175?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1) - i had a little go once. Completely forgot! Anyway, might be a good training session for those doing the DD. Seems shorter than the 90 mile ride for some reason, but maybe the course I took this from is different to the course this year?

 

[JLaw]

Crikey, I think I'd walk up that, heart rate limit or not! And the bloke at the front is hardly the best physique for steep climbs! On that gradient you'd have to be a skinny bugger to cycle up it.

I find really steep sections very scary, anything above around 15-16% and the front wheel starts to come off the ground and I worry I won't get out of my clips in time to get a foot down. Doesn't help that I'm hopeless standing up (and it puts my heart rate up), so I sit the entire way, taking weight off the front. Once I started cycling up it, I'd be pretty much committed, as stopping is very likely to result in a fall...

That's why I liked the climbs on bkool, safely bolted into the KICKR I could sit and grind up pretty much any gradient it could simulate, and no matter how slow I got it wouldn't fall over! In real life, I'd be laid on my side looking up at the world as it went past...

You should come out here, ditch the skinny tires and cruise slickrock. Essentially you end up standing for power, but bringing your body forward and nose to the handlebars to keep the front wheel on or near the ground. Crest the hill, shift everything backwards so the back wheel is scraping your arse and your chin is on the seat. Repeat a few hundred times over the 9 mile course.

 

[CXRAndy]

Touch wood saddle pain doesn't usually bother me too much if I get out of the saddle every now and then. Plus lots of chamois cream massaged into padding

 

[Whorty]

I think my gearing is 50-34 at the front and 11-28 at the rear .... do i need to think about changing the rear to a 30 or 32? I don't know much about gearing but it sounds like I should have a granny type gear? Question - how easy/hard is it to change the rear gearing? Apart from the teeth cassette, what else would need to change?

 

[Whorty]

You'll be pleased to hear there is a Pub stop at about 35 - 40 miles into the DD. If its raining, or worse like the first year and sleeting, I'll be sat in there by the fire waiting for you Whorty. Just let me know what your drinking.....

If it's a cold day, i think i'll opt for a good dark ale Cheers. I'm sure TB will be with me so you might want to get one for him too

 

[Add]

I think my gearing is 50-34 at the front and 11-28 at the rear .... do i need to think about changing the rear to a 30 or 32? I don't know much about gearing but it sounds like I should have a granny type gear? Question - how easy/hard is it to change the rear gearing? Apart from the teeth cassette, what else would need to change?

I took mine to a bike shop, but sure most of these folks would do it themselves. Defo get a 32 tooth on the back. I have a mtb cassette on the back of mine, but had to get a longer cage put on because of the bigger jumps, but it runs sweet as. Even 11 - 32 is a slog up the Staircase, but we all got up it with that. I know Bill put a similar gearing on his himself, but didn't put the longer cage on, and had some rubbing issues in certain gear combos. But he still nailed it!

 

[Add]

If it's a cold day, i think i'll opt for a good dark ale Cheers. I'm sure TB will be with me so you might want to get one for him too

They had jacket potatoes and pork pie there last time, it takes a lot of will power to get back on the bike. Wife's car will carry 5 bikes, so we can get at least two more in the round. Of course I could just leave my van there, and we can all just cycle to the pub, throw the bikes in and get pi$$ed?
Having just tried ....and failed to complete the first Chaingang league ride...that is sounding like a very good idea!

 

[Whorty]

I took mine to a bike shop, but sure most of these folks would do it themselves. Defo get a 32 tooth on the back. I have a mtb cassette on the back of mine, but had to get a longer cage put on because of the bigger jumps, but it runs sweet as. Even 11 - 32 is a slog up the Staircase, but we all got up it with that. I know Bill put a similar gearing on his himself, but didn't put the longer cage on, and had some rubbing issues in certain gear combos. But he still nailed it!

Would the front stay the same as 50-34, or does that need to change? I'll be off to Halfords and get this sorted in the next few weeks

 

[CXRAndy]

Would the front stay the same as 50-34, or does that need to change? I'll be off to Halfords and get this sorted in the next few weeks

Whorty what bike do you have. Changing crankset is very easy and upgrading rear Cass can be straightforward depending on which derailleur you have

I fitted a 34t Cass to a standard short cage derailleur for mate last year. Worked great apart from he knew he wasn't allowed to cross chain

 

[bridgy]

Would the front stay the same as 50-34, or does that need to change? I'll be off to Halfords and get this sorted in the next few weeks

My front is also 50-34 and I changed the rear cassette from 12-28 to 11-32 before the DD last year. The front can stay as it is, you just need the rear cassette and possibly a longer cage as Adam said - mine needed this. As you're getting a new rear cassette it can also be a good time to get a new chain.

 

[Whorty]

Whorty what bike do you have. Changing crankset is very easy and upgrading rear Cass can be straightforward depending on which derailleur you have

I have a Boardman 4ep Road bike from Halfords. When I bought it 18 months ago they threw in 3 years free labour on any work, so I'd get them to fit it (my mechanical skills are pants!). I just about know how to blow air in the tyres (couldn't get the wheel off when I had a puncture so even had to take that to the shop ). But, hey ho, thankfully I don't need those skills to put a meal on the table else I'd have died of hunger by now

Would something like this be any good (http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...ain-cables/sram-pg-980-9-speed-cassette-11-34)

 

[Whorty]

My front is also 50-34 and I changed the rear cassette from 12-28 to 11-32 before the DD last year. The front can stay as it is, you just need the rear cassette and possibly a longer cage as Adam said - mine needed this. As you're getting a new rear cassette it can also be a good time to get a new chain.

My chain broke only a few weeks ago so I already have a new chain thankfully. Although I may need another one by the DD if I keep grinding up those hills

 

[Perky77]

Bloody hell Perky, which workout block are you doing for 2.5hr TrainerRoad sessions?

I'm doing the Build Phase - sustained power build, high volume. It was two hours on Saturday morning as well