The Velotard Thread.

[machin05]

Anyone got any recommendations for places to buy cycle clothing at anything like a reasonable price? Had some joy before with Wiggle/CRC through the eBay account they use to sell off returns/seconds but always find their sales on the main website to be underwhelming, half the stuff isn't even in stock when you look through.

Take a look at Sport Pursuit. They have flash sales for certain brands all the time. As is the nature of these things, sizing or stock can be limited.

Decathlon's own brand stuff (B'Twin and Van Rysel) is decent quality and good value. I bought a Van Rysel gilet last winter and its been superb. In constant use for days up to about 14°c.

They have a sales rack of returned, box stock and end of line gear in store too.

 

[SSB]

Think I’ve picked the worst possible time to look at purchasing a new bike. There’s not a lot out there in stock, not that I’m in any great rush for it other than the cycle to work scheme expiring before I’ve had chance to decide.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Take a look at Sport Pursuit. They have flash sales for certain brands all the time. As is the nature of these things, sizing or stock can be limited.

Decathlon's own brand stuff (B'Twin and Van Rysel) is decent quality and good value. I bought a Van Rysel gilet last winter and its been superb. In constant use for days up to about 14°c.

They have a sales rack of returned, box stock and end of line gear in store too.

I'll check it out, ta.

Haven't bothered with Decathlon for a while, think they were a bit of a let down when I first got my bike as more of their stuff seemed geared towards road cycling than MTB but worth another look.

Pricing on some of the clothing is outrageous, there's nothing that special about most of it to justify the cost.

 

[Keef]

Tredz do cycle clothing, think they've got promotions going now as well

 

[jlo]

Anyone use a turbo trainer here, and/or created your own little smart setup?

Trying to get ahead of the winter given I'm likely to be working from home for a while yet, and some days just can't be arsed going on to cycle around in a circle.

 

[machin05]

Anyone use a turbo trainer here, and/or created your own little smart setup?

Trying to get ahead of the winter given I'm likely to be working from home for a while yet, and some days just can't be arsed going on to cycle around in a circle.

Yep, I've got a wheel-on smart trainer. Used it with my laptop on an app called BKool (half the price of Zwift but not as social/gamified).

Didn't use it much this winter as I couldn't be bothered to set it up everytime. If I had space for a dedicated setup I'd be using it a load more.

Check Facebook road cycling marketplace groups. Loads of people who bought them for lockdown are apparently selling them off now. You know, coz corona is gone now the pubs are open again.

 

[machin05]

For what it's worth, the guys in my cycling group who have been Zwifting throughout winter/lockdown are way ahead of those of us who have just been doing limited outdoor stuff. It's been amazing for building fitness and strength etc.

 

[jlo]

Yep, I've got a wheel-on smart trainer. Used it with my laptop on an app called BKool (half the price of Zwift but not as social/gamified).

Didn't use it much this winter as I couldn't be bothered to set it up everytime. If I had space for a dedicated setup I'd be using it a load more.

Check Facebook road cycling marketplace groups. Loads of people who bought them for lockdown are apparently selling them off now. You know, coz corona is gone now the pubs are open again.

Thanks. Yeah good point, I have limited space also but perhaps one of the more simple setups would help this. Albeit my initial research shows me you still need a bunch on add ons to get the righy metrics back anyway

 

[jlo]

For what it's worth, the guys in my cycling group who have been Zwifting throughout winter/lockdown are way ahead of those of us who have just been doing limited outdoor stuff. It's been amazing for building fitness and strength etc.

Yeah that's part of my thought process too definitely. It's just a pain going down the Richmond Park each time, but it's a pretty good fall back now they've reopened it to bikes (for how long though?)

 

[machin05]

Thanks. Yeah good point, I have limited space also but perhaps one of the more simple setups would help this. Albeit my initial research shows me you still need a bunch on add ons to get the righy metrics back anyway

If you want smart resistance (vital for any kind of training), then the minimum you'll need is a smart trainer, and a smartphone to receive the data via Bluetooth.

My phone wasn't up to spec so had to use my laptop which involved rigging up something to mount it on, a USB ANT+ dongle to receive the data from the trainer and a USB extension lead for the dongle as it was prone to dropouts when a full bike length away from the trainer.

Oh, and a decent fan to cool you down, yoga mats to adsorb the stream of sweat and a towel over your handle bars to stop your bar tape from rotting away!

 

[Wombat del combate]

I haven't got power in my garage so just have a static trainer. I do half-hour intervals a couple of times per week accompanied by Spotify. I can thoroughly recommend listening to Gojira to get you through the pain. Generally, I will warm up with 6/7 minutes of gradually increasing gearing starting from effort level 2 and finish with five going back down the cassette. In-between it's one of the following:

15s full gas/45s off
30s full gas/30s off
45s full gas/15s off
30s full gas/30s off
(Repeat)
- -
30s full gas/1m off
(Repeat)
- -
1m below threshold
1m threshold
1m below threshold
1m threshold
1m over threshold
(Repeat)
- -
3m below threshold
2m threshold
1m over threshold
(Repeat)
- -

 

[Tredman]

If anyone is considering a Strava subscription this works
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/st...an-vpn-for-whole-year-over-50-off-rrp-3529874
£16.58 for a year.

 

[Keef]

Evans cycles opening a store in Wolverhampton, don't know when, where, would guess inside the sports direct store, they've just started advertising for sales staff, both full and part time

 

[Tredman]

Aldi doing a pre-order on one of their cycle gear sales at the moment. It’s usually ok quality and very cheap.

 

[machin05]

Oooh, I love an Aldi special.

 

[lemonjelly]

months of good, dry weather, WFH.
First day back, meaning I have to get the bike out, rain.

 

[Keef]

Waterproof housecoat, man up, get on with it, job done!

Only time I don't cycle commute is when it's a proper weather warning, floods, 70mph wind that sort of thing

 

[lemonjelly]

have a waterproof jacket, and an old pair of waterproof trousers that I use when the weather is bad. may as well carry on cycling, as more people get in their cars when the weather is bad both for work, school run, or any other reason they're out.
what takes me 20 mins to cycle there takes over an hour in the car. simply not worth it.
spare trousers & shoes left in the office, & take a spare pair of socks with me.

 

[Tredman]

Finally ordered a new bike!!

Thanks to Machin for introducing me to the concept of Gravel Bikes (not sure my bank account will be so happy though)

 

[machin05]

Awesome mate. Ribble get a lot of high praise [emoji108]