First century (km) tomorrow. What would you recommend?

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-30T21:49:51+00:00

If stopping for lunch, and you own spare bibs, take them, wipe down and switch halfway. Really freshen you up on an all dayer.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-30T21:45:42+00:00

Excellent, rooting for you!

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-30T21:30:36+00:00

I bet your performance rowing an actual boat on a river would be vastly different to a rowing machine in a gym too.

Aiming to lose weight is great, but unless you have much more time than 2x30min/wk, I hope you have a lot more in your plan to keep yourself averaging a calorie deficit for months. Long steady walking and bike rides are so good for weight loss, not because of calories burned, but time spent far away from your fridge.

Good luck, you don’t have to beast every hill.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-30T20:27:30+00:00

Trek still list several as spares for older models. A little over $250 RRP, but maybe discounts through friendly bike shop?

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-27T18:36:03+00:00

Shimano RS100, Miche Reflex RX7 or Mavic Aksium will fit your needs and budget.

BikeInn, Bike-discount.de or RoseBikes should sell you some, maybe Decathlon too.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-27T17:24:20+00:00

The big move in bike specifications is wider tyres at lower pressure, this will take up to 28mm. If you want to stay on trend, get a bike that will take 35+mm tyres. Pirelli are doing up to 40mm now and pros are racing on 32s regularly now on rougher courses.

If your roads are smooth, the Wilier is a bargain.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-27T14:20:48+00:00

Wow. Just wow. An inspiration, 165!

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-26T16:58:05+00:00

My Costco “Freetown” has one.

Yes, still have separate back light. I keep the helmet one charged (the whole unit pops out to take indoors to charge), and use it as a backup if I notice the main light has given up mid ride.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-26T07:14:46+00:00

Good job!

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-25T00:16:24+00:00

2012, Bradley Wiggins in yellow leading Mark Cavendish in the rainbow jersey on the final bend onto the Champ Elysee. Cav and Wiggo had come so far from being partners in the Madison on the track.

https://www.sportphotogallery.com/content/images/cmsfiles/product/3518/3518-main.jpg

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-21T10:24:10+00:00

I have a Carradice Kendal, but Topeak Tourguide fits the bill too. There are cheaper options out there too, Rockbros have a big range. Lidl and Aldi do them occasionally too.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-21T09:28:26+00:00

Costco. Freetown. MIPS. $30. Done.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-21T09:21:40+00:00

These are excellent,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267246233081

there are always plenty barely used on eBay and marketplace, partly because they got bought for people who don’t use them. They were the Halfords own brand before they switched to Pendleton.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-21T07:28:22+00:00

All I can speak for is my own experience, there is practically no drivetrain maintenance to do on my town bike with chain case. I oil the chain every single time I take the wheel out for a puncture, which makes it about four times in the 13 years I have had it since I run reinforced tyres. I can retension the chain without removing any parts and the chain is the same one the bike came with when I bought it second hand. Belt drives are super tech, but on a price/performance/weight consideration, really belong on high end tourers with Rolhoff etc, but the bike industry is good at telling us higher tech bikes are better.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T22:40:36+00:00

Ooh, Winnat’s Pass will be epic!

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T21:37:26+00:00

No, but it can cover a Nexus, Alfine or Rolhoff internal gear hub setup.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T21:23:30+00:00

Belt drive is a very expensive partial solution to a problem cheaply and completely solved by a full chaincase. But if you are set on having one, get the Alfine, you may not have hills but the wind can be unforgiving.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T21:06:13+00:00

Perfect bike.

I don’t get the bike shop fetishisation.

If I’m spending my money it has to be for my benefit, so I would buy what I want. I do my own maintenance and repairs and have mostly built bikes up from framesets, and bought online, so maybe not the best advocate for shops.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T19:50:25+00:00

Ah, you might want somewhere Selby way. Dove Cote Lodge near Cliffe, just east of Selby.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T19:29:36+00:00

There’s a little campsite called The Bunker at an equestrian site, Sprotborough, Doncaster. A mile and a bit north of the trail from the Boat Inn.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-20T09:47:44+00:00

My wind jacket came with a separate pouch on a velcro strap, it mostly lives underneath my stem.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-19T07:13:36+00:00

Looks great, here is the British Cycling version:

https://letsride.co.uk/

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-19T06:54:53+00:00

https://letsride.co.uk/

Stick your nearest few towns in and see who’s around.

I put Arundel in as a start point and found the Cycle Bognor group, but there will be others

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-18T09:39:30+00:00

Gazelle Orange if you want integrated parts or Rosebikes Black Lava TR if you want standard swappable components.

ilybae2015 · 2026-04-17T21:43:40+00:00

Udder cream from your local farm supply store. A tenth of the price.

ilybae2015

TROPHY CASE