Maltloaf's Cycling Journal

[funkyg]

I don't have a cadence sensor yet, so I don't know my actual cadence but I know it's definitely higher by using lower gears.
I have been tweaking my setup and I reckon I'm pretty close now. My seat was actually a touch too high for a bit.
Cheers for the heads up on tyres, I currently have continental ultra sport tyres that it came with. I've heard good things about the schwalbe tyres from another forum but I'm too tight to just swap them until my current ones are worn.

[maltloaf]

You can find your cadence by counting pedal revs in 15/30 secs and multiplying up. Once you are in the right range your body gets used to it and knows your cadence and you know wether you're going too fast or too slow by instinct. I hardly ever look at the cadence reading on my garmin. I had a high/low cadence alarm set for a while but I found I knew when it was going to go off before it did.

It will feel a bit alien for a while but it's well worth it.

[maltloaf]

This is Continental's own chart.

I would definitely swap out your tyres. Yours are bargain basement tyres and won't roll as well as higher end tyres.

IRO the chart, the durano I mention are equivalent to the GP 4 season and can be had for abot £19 each.
The Ultremo ZX are equivalent roughly to GP4000S and are available for about £23 each.

[maltloaf]

Big one for me this. Finally broke my 20 miles in an hour target. 20 miles in 59m36s.

Didn't really set out for it, it was just going well and by the 10 mile mark I was at 19.9 but expected it to drop in the second half. At 16 miles I was at 20.0 so decided to keep pushing hard and at 20 miles it was 20.1MPH

Absolutely over the moon. I need a new challenge now. Perhaps a 100 mile ride...

[maltloaf]

Well just to prove records cannot be broken on every ride, this ride from a few days ago saw me reporting to a&e with shooting chest pains !!



Went out as normal. If anything a bit too quickly as I was still excited about my 20MPH ride above.

About 10-12 miles in I started feeing a bit odd and getting shooting pains across my chest and back but centred under my left arm pit and then it was followed by a tingle up my left hand/arm.

I cut my ride short and pedalled steadily home and decided after a while that it wasn't worth risking anything and that I should get checked out.

I reported to my local a&e and I cannot fault their service. I know they don't fuck about with chest pain but I think they went above and beyond the call of duty.

I was in a cubicle on an ecg within about 4 minutes of registering. 5 minutes later they had taken blood for 4 separate tests, all their normal observations and even found me a couple of paracetamol because I felt hot (to them).

When they ascertained that my heart was in fact functioning perfectly (thank god), they didn't stop there. I had another 4 tests, a chest x-ray and saw not one but two consultants.

In the end they decided between them it was no more than a simple strain in my side, they did a few more heart tests and told me I was as low risk as they considered. Relieved to say the least but VERY happy that I went to get it checked out.

[maltloaf]

This was Wednesday's ride after Tuesday's a&e shenanigans.

Very much a steady ride. Still painful but not nearly as worrying.

[maltloaf]

Bit more of a getting back in the saddle ride today. The first time I've felt like I could push hard since hospital, plus a really strong push up Cam Pitch.

Still not up to last week's speeds but far more like my old self.

[maltloaf]

Now we're getting there. A much stronger ride today and felt pretty good throughout, especially towards the end.

19.7 average. Still odd pains in my side but not anything like they were mid week.

[funkyg]

Just ordered some duranos on your recommendation, £40 for a pair on from Merlin.

[maltloaf]

Just ordered some duranos on your recommendation, £40 for a pair on from Merlin.

They're great. Really quick for a wet weather/all condition tyre (although I'm delighted with my Ultremos)

First ride in a couple of days today as I have had a really hard start to my working week.

A nice quick 17 miler, tough going against the wind for the first half and really quick with the wind for the second half.

A lorry tried overtaking me on a blind bend whilst I was doing 23MPH with a car coming the other way, which made for a hairy moment and right at the end, a woman almost had me off when she pulled out of a junction and across my path without looking, in front of a police car !

[maltloaf]

New shoes today and of course it rained !

Fizik Uomo R3 shoes, RRP £219, obtained for the killer price of £60 brand new ! Now in the airing cupboard drying out lol.

Hard going this at the start, quite a stiff breeze.

Flying after the turn back North though, and just about got to 19.1 average.

[maltloaf]

Had an hour spare this afternoon so went for a quick 16 miles.

Tough in the early miles against the wind and trying to dispose with some lads who were going for Strava segments uphill but taking it easy on the flats. I finally got rid of them at about 5 miles.

Second half was flying and I really got the hammer down in the last 5 miles, averaging about 22 mph

Overall 19.6, very happy

[maltloaf]

First ride for over a week yesterday. Was absolutely battered by the wind for the first 10 miles but managed to push on really strongly as my heart rate demonstrates ! 170-175 bpm on the flat to maintain 19MPH !

Loved it. Some really quick miles on the return leg too, especially mile #17 which must be one of my quickest ever even though it was on a recently regritted road which jarred my bones and my bike !

[maltloaf]

A really short ride today but absolutely delighted to be out 2 days running.

Odd wind blowing strongly but roughly to the east, since my route is mostly North/south I never had any real stretches either with or against it.

Great average. I would have just about made 20MPH but got held up by some tea time traffic as I headed home, which just spoiled it.

[maltloaf]

Only had an hourish spare again so got a quick 22 miles in. Horrible wind for most of the first ten miles really took it out of me but gained in the second half.

Really enjoyable ride except for more than the average number of shit drivers trying to end my existence.

All good in the end tho and another good solid ride.

[maltloaf]

First ride for a week again The missus is doing different hours at work and it's playing havoc with my cycling !

32 miles today. Nice and steady (intentionally)and a good solid ride.

[maltloaf]

Really pleased to have been able to get out again today even if only for 20 miles.



much quicker than yesterday but not as quick as I have been, I think the temperature has definitely begun to drop.
Might even try for three days in a row tomorrow !!

malty

[maltloaf]

first 5k run in a while today, inspired by the couch to 5k thread.

Managed to smash my pb for 5km too (by almost 2 minutes) and for the first time kept all 3 miles under 10 minutes each.

That went very well indeed

[maltloaf]

First ride since 24th August. Mostly due to moving house but I have almost a week off now so I'm hoping to get a few good rides in before the weather begins to turn.

I had no idea how this was going to go and went out rather nervously.

I needn't have worried and felt quite powerful right from the start, pushing hard. Would have been very happy with anything in the 18's but in the end managed a great 19.4 average for my 20 miles.

[maltloaf]

Didn't manage to get out whilst I was off, too many jobs to do in the new house. Did manage 17 miles today though.

Started off really quickly, 19.6 average after 6 miles but it was partly due to help from a slight tailwind.

The corresponding headwind whilst heading north slowed me in the final few miles plus a load of rush hour traffic blocking everything up.

Ended up at 19.1 and if anything a little disappointed that I couldn't keep up my early pace, but it's still all good.