577 replies to this topic

[alicetheauto]

In my opinion, cycle computers with an average speed are the simplest and cheapest way to improve your riding and fitness. Most of them come with a "pacer" facility which compares your current speed with your average, and puts a little arrow on all the screens to say if you are lagging behind your average. Also, short of a powermeter in your hub or cranks, it is the only real way of recording your ride every day.

[THE ANORAK]

i totally agree, i think a computer is a necessity if you want any idea of how your improving.

those average speeds are very impressive, i run my computer from the minute i leave the house so i get all the slow sections included in my average speed so as a result I'm not getting any averages over 18mph. but then I'm deliberately doing a lot of hilly rides to force my legs to improve so a guess that doesnt help, and ive only been back on the bike for 3 months

i have to recommend this computer..... click. at that price you cant go wrong (free postage from that site) and it has the pace arrow function.

Cateye Velo 8, silver of black, £14.99

Functions:
• Current speed
• Maximum speed
• Average Speed
• Trip distance
• Odometer
• Clock
• Elapsed Time
• Calorie Consumption

Features:
• Auto start/stop
• Auto power-saving mode
• Tire setting in inches and CM
• Speed display up to 300 kph/185mph
• New tool free universal mount ( 22 to 32mm diameter)
• Pace arrow

Specifications:
• Front fork mount wired sensor
• Wired transmission distance up to 27" or 70cm

also, i have it in my head now that i want to do this years London to Brighton bike ride, anyone else thinking of doing this ???

Edited by THE ANORAK, 03 January 2009 - 10:58 AM.

[alicetheauto]

I used one of these for a long time
http://www.halfords....tegoryId_165741
Only upgraded when I got a topeak until with cadence very cheap. Those Halfords units are very good, I sell them for a living, and cant EVER think of one coming back in over 3 years?

On my commute to work, its about 7 miles through some traffic. If the speedo says less than 20mph average then I am in a bad frame of mind for the whole day! There is a good drag down a hill where I can touch 40, but a climb upto it in the first place! I am upgrading next week, ordered a Boardman road pro (alloy/carbon frame, carbon fork, carbon brake callipers, dura ace....) and am gonna try to flog sme bits off it as I alread have most of the parts to build a bike sitting round spare! Know anyone who wants a ritchey pro wheelset or Rouelur carbon cranks? Duraace levers?

[THE ANORAK]

so what sort of price range is this new bike in ????

i a firm believer that when your at my kind of level you can only spend so much on a bike and then the rest is down to your level of fitness.

dont get me wrong, I'm not riding a halfords £99 special, mines a Saracen tour 1 and cost about £400, yeah OK, the gear shifters are a bit temperamental, but do i really need to spend anymore until I'm at a much higher level of fitness ??

very interested on any opinions in this area

PS: that halfords computer does look like a good buy

Edited by THE ANORAK, 03 January 2009 - 11:52 AM.

[alicetheauto]

The bikes rrp is 1400, its on offer at 999 but I get discount......

[nurseholliday]

The problem with me getting a cycle computer is my bike currently weighs pretty much nothing. One gear, one brake, no lugs, no nothing pretty much. If I put a cycle computer on then it'll just ruin the clean lines of it. I'm as much into aesthetics as I am into riding it. I'm not really interested in my average speeds etc etc, all I know is before I got my road bike I had a bit of a beer belly, and because I hadn't been riding my BMX, my arms and legs were starting to get a little flabby. The other day I put on a shirt to go to a restaurant with my parents and almost ripped it putting it on. My favourite Levis jeans are now tight around my thighs. I'm happy with my current improvements

[alicetheauto]

Thats fair enough. I am interested in training to race this year, but I can appreciate the styling of bikes too. I am going to be stripping and respraying my new frame. I wanted full carbon but cant afford it! I like the simple look of raw carbon, so the frame is going black metallic with a small amount of red trim (go faster stripes!! ).

[nurseholliday]

Sounds like a good colour scheme!

How's your training going? What events are you looking to compete in this year? I love going fast so I was thinking of popping over to the Manchester Velodrome a few times this year to have a go.

[THE ANORAK]

The bikes rrp is 1400, its on offer at 999 but I get discount......

just googled it... nice bike, and a good deal

[Brawlyrox]

I use this HRM http://www.jejamescy...uk/id22765.html its packed with more features than even I can use. It does have some handy interval settings on so you can tailor your training.
I have been doing 3 hours a day over the last 2 weeks, to build my base fitness for the coming race season which kicks off on the 14th Feb, after that I go to Spain for a Training camp! Its not all fun though, training is HARD.

Dont get me wrong I love riding the bike.

[alicetheauto]

My training *was* going well, about an hour or more every day stop/start, either on the roads or on the turbo or both. But I got a chest infection a few weeks ago and havent been on a bike in over 2 weeks! I AM going to get the turbo trainer out tonight though. I want to enter a few local TTs this summer, there is one just round the corner from me that runs every few weeks.
I wish I had time and money to go on those training camps, and was good enough!!!

Edited by alicetheauto, 03 January 2009 - 04:50 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

whilst on the subject of races, i have to say i have very little competitiveness in me, i'm also dubious of going out with anyone as their either going to slow me down or leave me behind.

maybe when i get a bit better that will change, at the moment I'm just trying to beat my previous times and improve.

been looking into that London to Brighton ride and the sheer number of other riders on the road is making me wonder if i'm going to be able to stay calm when being caught up in all the jams that seem to happen. i seem to have an ever increasing irrational hatred of being held up, for whatever reason. there seems to be a lot of walking going on but the challenge of beating that big hill is very tempting

will I be able to cope with this ????.....

[nurseholliday]

I have a friend who did it on the classic car run instead of the cycling one last year. He said he had much more fun mixing in with the classic cars, he met up with his friend in an MG of some sort in Brighton and he said he had a great time looking around the cars. Perhaps you might enjoy that better?

[THE ANORAK]

dont know if anyone has seen this yet but i think its quite handy....

cycle route .com

basically you can plot points on the map and it will work out the distance for you, the more points you plot the more accurate it is. i just plotted my quick 15mile route and it was very close.

once you have plotted your route you can upload it to share with others, you can also search for existing routes in any area of the country.

may be old news but i thought it was quite good

Edited by THE ANORAK, 04 January 2009 - 02:08 PM.

[AndrewJ530]

Anorak: Thanks again for that advice about going to one of the local bike shops. I think i've grabbed myself a bargain with this on:

http://www.nationalc...scr-3-2008.html

I got for £410 in the sales though.

What does everyone reckon?

Thanks,

Andrew

EDIT: I also need to get a helmet so i can start riding asap so does anyone know of any decent priced good helmets?

Edited by AndrewJ530, 05 January 2009 - 08:04 PM.