22 replies to this topic

[plug_kev]

I noticed the first few road rides/races of the year have posted on OBRA and I am hoping to jump into at least one of these this year. But first I am wondering if anyone here might be able to answer some questions or give me some suggestions. Here are a few things I am wondering:

1. Is there a cycling group out there similar to TRL that has regular group rides I could participate in?
2. Are any of these road races better than others for beginners? Any suggested ones?
3. What is my percentage chance of getting a flat over say 50 miles on a two lane decent highway? (Ultra Gatorskins)
4. What kind of pace do Cat 4/5 guys ride in these road races?

Thanks for any help.

[TDG]

Go to the clubs section of the OBRA site; there are several club listed, many are open to beginners.

Banana Belt is hilly but you may do ok since it's more physical than tactical. Piece of Cake is flat. Sublimity is very hilly.

Which HWY? 30? If so, very good chance. Other country roads are a lot cleaner. Learn to change a flat! (at home, not in a downpour as I did, sketching the chain routing in the dirt to be sure I put the rear wheel on correctly).

18 mph. 26 mph. Repeat ad nauseum.

[plug_kev]

Go to the clubs section of the OBRA site; there are several club listed, many are open to beginners.

Banana Belt is hilly but you may do ok since it's more physical than tactical.

Thanks, that is probably the one I will check out.

18 mph. 26 mph. Repeat ad nauseum.

You mean a someone surges and everyone catches up then rests kind of thing?

thanks!

[hobey]

The Gatorskins are OK to train on but I'd personally ditch them for the races. They are stupidly heavy. I usually train/race on Continental 4000s or Michelin Pro Race 3. I ride out in Washington County so I do get flats but not often.

[BrianH]

Next week I've got a bike fit appointment with Demetri, previous owner of Veloce Bicycles and now has a seperate bike fit business.

I'd called Veloce and they said that since I'm wanting to get the best fit for racing, that static measurment will not be as refined as video capture and
Demetri uses Dartfish.

The neat thing is that Demetri has also used his knowledge to design over 200 custom built bicycles and will work with me to deminsion the plans for my new bike so I can now finally get it finished!

[hobey]

Demetri sold me my road bike and I've got a pretty nice fit on it.

Another good fitter is Rambo at Bike Gallery in Beaverton. He refit me on my TT bike last year and I was able to reclaim wasted power and translate that to speed.

[BrianH]

Something else Demetri is doing on his bike fits, besides using the Dartfish video system, is that if you feel that something needs to be adjusted further because of say, riding in a more agressive style, lost weight,...he'll make changes at no cost and he is also having a monthly Fit Ride. This ride will be 12 miles, flat, at about 12 mph where he can view your riding style on the road, and even hill climbing if need be, and make further changes or suggest riding style changes, if necessary.
$150.00 for the entire fit service.

[Hill Van]

Brian, good to hear you are going to Demetri. My friend who I bought my cross bike from HIGHLY recommended him. If I end up doing STP this year, I NEED to go see him for my road bike. Please let me know how the fitting goes and if you think it makes a big difference!

[BrianH]

The bike fitting went very well!
Here is a link to his new website (which I guess gets "officially" launched on Friday)

Europa Velo

After the fitting, in which my seat was pretty much in the correct place but had to do some wholesale changes to handlebar height(lower) and bring them closer to me and shim out the pedals, we went over some websites looking at bike designs, and coming up with dimensions for my cross bike build, and possible road bike build as well as pretty much talking me into an idea I'd been toying with. He thinks I can make a lot of money...another project

[SusanB]

Question about the chain cleaner things. Are the contraptions worth it vs just trying to use a brush? If they are 3 different brands that Performance Bike had were Park Tool, Finish line, and Spin Doctor, which does the best job and is the easiest to use?

2 questions about rules of the road: 1. When riding east to west over the Steel bridge (on top) are bikes suppose to stay on the road or use the side walk (they have that slick metal area on the sidewalk part)? 2. When the bike lane crosses traffic are cars suppose to yield or the bike? (an example is coming down highway 30 where the cars come off the St. John's bridge and the bike lane just crosses infront of the "on ramp" and there is another one on the east side where the I5 exit is. I'm not going to "stand my ground" and will definitely yield if the car isn't going to, but I was just wondering what the drivers and other cyclists assume is the proper protocol.
Thanks,
Susan

[hobey]

I've got a Park Tool chain cleaner and it works really well. The first few times I cleaned my drive train, I just used a brush and I get a much better clean using the silly contraption.

I can't answer #1 but for #2, cars are supposed to yield. Most do but as a cyclist, I tend to ride more defensively and obey the laws of physics if it's clear that the driver is just going to be a jack a$$. Making a point isn't worth injury or my life. :-/

[BrianH]

Question about the chain cleaner things. Are the contraptions worth it vs just trying to use a brush? If they are 3 different brands that Performance Bike had were Park Tool, Finish line, and Spin Doctor, which does the best job and is the easiest to use?

2 questions about rules of the road: 1. When riding east to west over the Steel bridge (on top) are bikes suppose to stay on the road or use the side walk (they have that slick metal area on the sidewalk part)? 2. When the bike lane crosses traffic are cars suppose to yield or the bike? (an example is coming down highway 30 where the cars come off the St. John's bridge and the bike lane just crosses infront of the "on ramp" and there is another one on the east side where the I5 exit is. I'm not going to "stand my ground" and will definitely yield if the car isn't going to, but I was just wondering what the drivers and other cyclists assume is the proper protocol.
Thanks,
Susan

I have a Park chain cleaner, works great! Have not tried the other brands.
Rules of the road, I'm not familiar with the locations you describe. Your " I'm not going to "stand my ground" " is the only rule of the road that matters.

[SusanB]

Thanks Raquel and Brian.

[gnupaul]

<!--quoteo(post=172611:date=Jan 25 2011, 06:57 AM:name=TDG)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TDG @ Jan 25 2011, 06:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=172611"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Go to the clubs section of the OBRA site; there are several club listed, many are open to beginners.

Banana Belt is hilly but you may do ok since it's more physical than tactical.

<b>Thanks, that is probably the one I will check out.</b>

18 mph. 26 mph. Repeat ad nauseum.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean a someone surges and everyone catches up then rests kind of thing?

thanks!

The Wheelmen are a pretty good group, and the Thursday night ride has traditionally been a pretty serious group. Other runs vary pretty dramatically. There is a spinoff of faster riders from the Wheelmen.

I'm also looking around but for something different: given my inability to progress much last year at PIR, I wonder if I'd do better at something where my weight to power ratio (this is straight out of Tim my long time training partner) would give me a relative advantage. He thinks something with lots of short intense hill climbs. Any ideas?

My experience last year, albeit my first, was that I had the advantage in stamina in the middle of the race, but no one wanted to break away. Everyone wanted to wait for the last quarter mile sprint and I just did not have the power and speed to win that way. I needed to use my stamina advantage to break the race down to 6 or 7 riders, but never got support.

[hobey]

I'm also looking around but for something different: given my inability to progress much last year at PIR, I wonder if I'd do better at something where my weight to power ratio (this is straight out of Tim my long time training partner) would give me a relative advantage. He thinks something with lots of short intense hill climbs. Any ideas?

Umm..triathlons? No peloton. Just you, your bike, and your P-W ratio...