BICYCLES | Page 29 | FerrariChat

BICYCLES

Discussion in 'Health & Fitness' started by Igor Ound, Aug 15, 2015.

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  1. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 4, 2010
    3,114
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jes
    Will be doing the original 102 mile route.
     
  2. norcal2

    norcal2 F1 Veteran

    We did the original last year this year we may do less more people haven't been riding and its an event, its not the Death Ride!
     
  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    PR today up a pretty stout segment! 2.4 mile climb, average gradient 7%. 15:06, which just crushed my prior best of 16:22. As we approached the climb, I lamented to a riding partner that I felt my fitness was declining this summer and I'd never achieve my springtime results in the near future. I told him I was anxious for the winter, so I could get back into some structured power-based training and maybe get some mojo back... haha!

    At the base of the climb, I decided "WTF, let's just see what's in the tank...". Well, my riding mates were quickly gone in the rearview mirror, and I (somehow) bolted up the mountain. 270w average over the climb (which might not sound like much, but its nearly 4.17 w/kg for me). VAM was 1122 and HRR about 97%. The 'live segment' lights on my Wahoo BOLT were blinking like crazy, so I quickly pulled it off and stuffed it into my jersey.

    Well I'll be a monkey's uncle! Reached the summit, and pretty much fell off the bike... when I pulled the Wahoo BOLT from my pocket to check the segment time, there was nothing left of my puppy spirit but a little smile. :)

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    (I'm on the left, local friend in the middle, partner-in-crime on the right.... gazing out elsewhere on our route at the valley below)

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  4. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
    3,114
    Southern California
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    Jes
    Did Levi's Gran Fondo (the original 102 mile route) this morning, and then drove 450 miles home - need to get a bike rack for one of the F-cars :) Would make the transportation more enjoyable. Didn't see any official times yet, but my bike computer registered 5h 54min, 10200'. Weather and scenery was gorgeous, road conditions pretty dismal :( The roads are small, narrow, and FULL of potholes. There are some steep and dangerous descents, up to 18% grade, and one section was escorted down in groups, limiting speed. That section will be neutralized, timing-wise, so who knows what the times will be. The climbing I usually do are longer inclines of 5-14 miles with more steady gradients, and max gradients of 11%. Levi's has shorter but quite a bit steeper grades - I often saw 15-16% on my bike computer, and "leveling out" to 10% felt like a relief :)
     
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  5. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    ^ That is great timing for 10'000/100 miles! Kudos! Escort down the super-steep stuff might take away some of the 'fun', but it certainly encourages everyone to go home with their bikes and skin intact. My best on a 10'000/100 configuration is 6:11:00, so hacking another fifteen minutes is quite impressive.

    BTW, driving home after a big event like that is a no-no in my case. It's not the physical exhaustion necessarily that would make the drive dangerous -- it's the mental emptiness that I feel after concentrating for so long on various segment times, VAM, estimated power, etc. etc. All that focus during the event just wears me out. (I know I should just ride an enjoy the experience... but that's not "me").

    Hope you enjoy a way-chill Sunday off the bike!!
     
  6. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
    3,114
    Southern California
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    Jes
    Thanks. Yeah, I think it was wise to control the descent in that place - I heard that someone lost their life on that descent in the past, so given current road conditions in was prudent.

    For me it is very strange with the driving long distance within an hour of finishing, getting up so early, etc. My immediate thought would be that it is a bad idea, but I have no problem - maybe still got adrenalin pumping :)

    BTW, always find it odd how much discrepancy their is in the vertical feet. Officially, I think Levi's is listed at 8943' mine recorded 10177'... I have similar experience with Mammoth, Big Bear, ... sometime more, sometime less. Newer/different technology?

    Got to find my next target to have something to look forward to and keep motivated :) I have a 100 mile loop in the "local" San Gabriel Mountains that I have always been curious about - maybe I will do that in 3 weeks time, or so.
     
  7. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
    3,114
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    Jes
    Some former pros rode the event: David Zabriskie, Floyd Landis, and obviously Levi Leipheimer himself. I think I sat 5th on wheel in a small group led by Levi on a fast run down the coast line from about mile 63 to 68 (he and 3 riders with him turned off for a gravel detour at mile 68 - different route). He had the right stature, and was pulling like a freight train the entire duration - took a lot of effort to just sit on wheel :) He was on a unique bike with a sparkling paint job and of course in his event's outfit.
     
  8. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    Image Unavailable, Please Login A buddy just sent me this screen shot of Levi's Instagram. Guess that was him then :) King Ridge he is referring is one of the climbs on the route.
     
  9. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Another 'celebrity' who rode with you (from what I see on Strava) was Jonathan Lee - one of the coaches from TrainerRoad.
     
  10. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    Looks like Andrew Talansky rode as well.
     
  11. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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  12. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    Month of September: 900 miles, 70,000 vertical feet... :)
     
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  13. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    #713 Ricambi America, Oct 6, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017
    ^ Yeah, that's a winner! I was a paltry 840 miles, 37,500 feet.
     
  14. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    Unfortunately, miles will come down as the days get shorter and weekday rides get more difficult to fit in, and vertical feet will come down as it gets colder and higher elevations start seeing risk of snow... still some time before that though. Not a huge fan of indoor trainer - like to be outdoors. BTW, don't see cycling kit on your web-site :)
     
  15. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Quick update on the Berk saddle... I've rolled about 1500 miles on it, with a mix of events (metric centuries, centuries, hills, flats, and several workouts on the rollers). Amazingly comfortable and no issues whatsoever.

    I have single day, 240-mile/14k event on October 28. At the moment, I'm undecided whether I'll ride the Berk saddle for that mammoth day.
     
  16. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    That is going to be a loooong day... That saddle won't make it any shorter :) With that long of a day I would not experiment with the saddle... but stick to what I know works - maybe you have enough time on it, though.
     
  17. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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  18. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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  19. mattcooke

    mattcooke Karting

    Jul 14, 2009
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    Boulder, CO
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    Matt Cooke
  20. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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  21. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    I would speak with your local bike shop about how you ride, where you ride, and what your plans are for the coming year (or so). Let them make recommendations on a bike that'll meet your needs today and give you some headroom for growth. As the weather gets worse into the winter, the wear/tear on the bike will change quite a bit. With all the trails and commute stuff you do, are you regularly cleaning and lubing the critical elements? (chain, pedals, BB, etc).
     
  22. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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    Thank you.

    I have been very bad with this bicycle. It’s stored unprotected outdoors leaning against the house, never cleaned or lubed. I put 20w50 motor oil on the chain mid summer. I wipe the seat off in the morning if it’s wet. That’s it. Poor bike.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  23. GirchyGirchy

    GirchyGirchy Karting

    Jan 5, 2011
    67
    Central IN, USA
    If you're not going to treat the new one well, I'd just fix what you have. Lubing the chain is the bare minimum for bike maintenance. But you need to replace cables and housings, replace bearing grease, etc. No wonder you had so many issues with it.
     
  24. ar4me

    ar4me F1 Rookie
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    Jes
    How did your 240 mile outing go?
     
  25. I.T. Guy

    I.T. Guy F1 World Champ
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    For sure I agree.
    I'm going for a fitting and will get something on sale, and, will keep this one in-doors and maintain it.
     

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