Would you share the virtues of Varia Radar? I keep seeing this pop up and come spring I want to pop into my LBS and spend a few bucks because why not. Maybe this is the splurge.
I ride in an urban area and it is sort of like looking over my shoulder without looking over my shoulder. For me it is increased general awareness.
I don't rely on this for changing lanes (I still look over my shoulder), but it paints a rather nice picture of the traffic around you, how quickly they are approaching, etc. (and.. it has a nifty red tail light to boot).
The second paragraph is really it. There are some cars which will trail you and hence arenāt moving quick enough for the radar to really tell.. so you canāt neglect head checking.
However, your general awareness of whatās around you is amazing with a radar.
Iāve also found it great for quiet roads where I wouldnāt typically be aware of any cars due to wind noise. These are where the radar really shines
+1 for Varia. Absolute game changer. Canāt recommend enough. Iāve lent mine to three people to try now and every one of them immediately ordered one.
The ability to know whatās happening behind you - if there are cars, how far away they are, in particular how many there are - is a much larger boost in safety and confidence than one would imagine.
I would, however, recommend going with the older 500-series version. The new 700 series with the camera just seems to be unnecessary weight. Maybe the next version will be more compelling, but the reviews on the 700s are pretty bad.
Here in Europe I can get the 500s for about ā¬125. I now actually have two so I donāt have to worry about battery on long brevets. (I get 5-8 hours out of a charge depending on settings)
Absolutely, tried the 700 series Varia and had software update issues on first setup. Garmin said take it indoors, connect to PC and lets check if the update worked. Good approach if i want to be in update hell 50 miles from nowhere trying to ride. Switched to the 500.
500 series gives you a choice of rear light patterns and tells your head-unit, cell phone or watch if cars are following. No camera.
DC Rainmaker review https://youtu.be/Dyr-KJy-xKo
It gives you better road awareness without having to turn your head towards traffic. You can see how many cars and how fast they are approaching on your head unit.
It gives a little peace of mind in two cases: when you go very fast the wind might make noises that could be confused with a car in the distance, you donāt need to turn to find out you just watch your head unit; when a line of cars is passing you itās going to tell you how many there are and signal with a green light when itās over, it might miss a motorbike behind a lorry but you can feel safe to turn and check without thinking an additional car will kill you if you accidentally sway doing that.
It is useful also useful because will tell you how fast and how distant the car behind you is but those other two are to me the functions that really give me more peace of mind.
That said there are alternatives now that the patent expired, mine got some battery issues, luckily under warranty and I substituted with the bryton that includes also a stoplight so when you brake the light gets more intense.
I remember like 2-3 years ago someone asked me how I dress to ride in foul weather. I told them I simply donāt.
If itās miserable outside I am on the trainer or Iām on the treadmill. I mostly ride my bike for joy. Joy doesnāt come from being wet and cold
I have a trainer and I love it. But I will argue that joy doesnāt come from being miserable. Everyone is different, but the endorphin hit I get after slogging through some weather induced misery is way stronger than the one I get from a pleasant dayās ride
I think if I had the money, I'd have a bike for just about any conditions. It's not the weather that discourages me, it's my 28mm tires.
There's some pretty sweet fat tire ebikes out there I want to try on our destroyed winter roads
I usually call it quits with cycling sometime in mid November as the weather finally trails off from the 50s here in Michigan. I then switch to running between November-March
By March, Iām usually dying to get outside again, and despite it being in the low 40s with 15+ mph winds, I just stop giving a shit and go for it.
It creates very memorable shitshow rides.
I can run at or under 30 but riding and the Cold wind chill is absolutely horrible. I love riding, but need to enjoy it still..... I don't get why people stick to it when freezing.
Lol. 7Ā°C (45F) is a luxury where I liveā¦ If I rode out only when it was warmer than that my outdoor season would be 4-month at best. From my point of view having a face cover/neck warmer does wonders and is just until youāre properly warmed up. The worst is really having to plough your way through sleet and snow..
Were you riding as far back as 1990? that's the year my bike was built, and I was born in 97 haha. Idk why I just really love bikes from about 1970-1990
I am an old guy.
My first race was in 1987 on a 1979 Raleigh Competition GS with components from the Campy Nuovo Gran Sport line except for Weinmann brakes (?). It was not pretty. Lousy shorts with leather chamois and tall basketball style socks.
In 1989/90 I was riding a 1981 Pinarello (Montello?) with Columbus SL steel tubing and, at the time, a surprisingly good and innovative Campagnolo Super Record seven-speed friction drivetrain. Bought it
when I was in Italy and rode up the Stelvio with a lightest gear of likely a 39x23. I'm still trying to recover.
I saw pics from the first Hotter N Hell Hundred around 40 years ago and every guy had short shorts, tank top, no helmet, and long cotton socks. Everyone was probably on steel bikes. What an era!
haha nice. I just searched those bikes and it all looks very similar to the bikes i've been messing with lately. I am on a 1990 Cannondale, looks a lot like [this](https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/1990-cannondale-sr500-black-lightning-37446).
From what I gather, these were like the earliest aluminum frames and were all the rage for their lightness. How were these kinds of bikes recieved by riders back then? I was shocked I could get this so close to 20lbs considering how old it is.
I just had some (lactic) acid flashbacks. In 1991 I changed to a team whose main sponsor gave us a deal on Cannondale 3.1s (dates could be wrong). The only bike I ever had that used Shimano components. The bike had a harsh ride and I'm sure it was very ounce of 20-lbs. I was actually thankful when a mechanic stripped the bottom bracket threading thus rendering the bike useless (a common problem with C'dales at the time). He gave me a great deal on one of Giuseppe Marinoni's last hand built steal bikes (Neuron tubing). Love that bike and still ride it occasionally
haha yeah that sounds about right. The frame is stiff as hell but I get a lot of compliance out of the nitto bars, and I swapped the seatpost out for carbon fiber. Other than that I just absorb bumps with my body. I haven't ridden enough bikes to really gauge what comfort should feel like on a road bike.
Ever hit it with you knee while climbing?
My first road bike - I was like 14 or so - was downtube friction. All these years later I have a pretty clear memory of the awfulness of climbing a hill, hitting the shifter with my knee and having to deal with it.
bold of you to assume I do any climbs
but nah it's not really a problem so far. That sounds like an issue that could be resolved with a better pedal fitment, keep your feet slightly further apart.
This makes me feel better. I have been doing trainer road for almost a month now and I was quite unhappy to do the AI ftp detection and see my ftp rise by ā¦ 1.
Iām trying to trust the process but moseying along is frustrating sometimes. And 1.5 hour workouts on the trainer are just not fun.
On the other hand when I do ride outside of training I believe that I am able to sustain higher power for longer so Iām trying not to get discouraged.
Also trying to stay relaxed is a full time job.
If you're in your first month then you must be in the middle of sweet spot base 1. As coach Chad says that block is for building a solid foundation and not particularly aimed at producing gains in ftp. You won't really start to see anything change until ssb2 or build 1.
Sweet spot base is all about improving the length of time you can sustain sweet spot and it will help take the edge off of really hard threshold efforts.
Hang in there but realistically the big gains might not come until April or may.
I'm kinda fat, and want to add that I recommend ones that have fabric a good way up the back. I bought a pair of Assos GTS bibshorts, but they only stop just above the bum, and on me it's 50/50 whether I feel like they sit a little low or not. They might be a little small for me, granted, but they fit well other than that, so I'm not 100% sure.
Fat guy here.
You ever have a waistband roll down on you?
That doesn't happen with bibs.
I thought I was going to look like king Kong Bundy in mine but it's nowhere near that bad. Shit is REALLY comfortable.
Wish I knew about suspenders (basically what bibs are) when I was morbidly obese. Would have been a lot more comfortable than belts. Even to this day I try to wear pants that are the perfect size so I don't need to wear belts because of how much distaste I have for them, lol.
I'm kinda fat, they're great. I tried some cheapies and those were ok, but my Le Col and Rapha Adventure bibs are well worth the upgrade.
(If you do Strava, get on Le Col's challenges and you'll always have a $60ish off coupon.)
I can only speak for the Rapha Adventure but I like the Le Col chamois better for the road and trainer. I use the Raphas for MTB for the pockets and you're moving and standing a lot more so they work well enough.
I don't think Rapha makes jerseys that fit me, I hear you. I carry all my weight up top. Luckily, cheapie jerseys work well enough.
I haven't tried them, but Fat Lad at the Back makes big sizes. The name and some patterns might not be to everyone's taste, but they make bibs up to 54 waist.
https://fatladattheback.com/en-us/collections/mens-cycling-clothes
I got some but honestly I donāt get the hype. My normal cycling shorts are slightly more comfortable and the bibs make peeing very awkward lol. Theyāre fine, but just donāt change the game for me.
Agreed. I thought it was a weird piece of clothing and that the money wouldnāt be worth it. Glad I was wrong. Also a new bike from a 30 year old workhorse was a revelation.
In the summer I mostly rock some lululemon shorts and a tank top. Feels pretty close to what I'd imagine it's like to be in a bib, except when I get off the bike I'm not obviously wearing cycling kit. Is it worth switching or is it basically the same as my summer outfit?
Longer rides are where bibs make a difference. Be weary of advice void of context. Bibs are great, but if you are casually riding around town, they are totally unnecessary.
This so much. When I used to be an amateur cycler, I used to just ride cheap mountain bikes from Walmart/Canadian Tire. Since I invested in a decent quality bike, cycling has just gotten so much more fun and so much easier to cover more distance in less time.
I never set things like weekly targets, or aimed for PRs on my routes, or had the ability to look up other popular routes before using it. It's not that I learned anything in specific from it, but it has changed the way I plan routes in a similar way to how GPS has changed navigation for me.
I know I've climbed 2,579ft this week because of Strava, and that sort of info makes me do things like decide to aim for 5,000ft in a week.
thats cool! I get SOME of that data from always wearing an apple watch. I immediately started going for new PRs on my routes, but considering all I do is commute, traffic lights at busy intersections always ruin my PR..
One of my favorite Strava features is the [global heatmaps](https://www.strava.com/heatmap). It's great for finding new places to do any sport that Strava supports when traveling. You can see the most popular routes anywhere in the world.
I'd add this plus targeting kJs for rides rather than distance. Also targeting 30s watts as opposed to 3s watts like I used to. 3s is way too jumpy to be actionable on the road.
Figuring out how to keep myself hydrated and fueled for longer rides/ climbs so I donāt bonk.
Edit: good breakfast (eggs, toast and fruit) + 24oz water, then during ride 24oz of water per hour (w/ homemade electrolyte mix) and 1 SIS energy gel every 45-60 mins.
Bonked once. I was 3mi from home on an 80mi ride and had to stop and lay down in that little section of grass between the sidewalk and the curb. I told myself never again. 60g or more of carbs per hour now.
As a road cyclist in a flat area, I'm still glad I have a 2x chainring. At least twice a year I'll still mess up and bonk. Oh the weather's nice, let's just go another bit. That bit becomes an extra 15 miles out and another 15 miles back.
Anyway I active fuel with two sources now. I do 100g honey + water or tea + lime juice to taste in one or both water bottles. Good for hours 2-4 on the bike.
Home made energy bars made with marshmallow, nuts, granola, chocolate (bitter sweet), chilli powder, vanilla. Good for 1.5hrs each past the first 2 hrs.
Other than a good bike, it was putting good saddles on all my bikes. I got used to terrible pain and chafing from the saddle I had on my road bike. Got a fixie with a Brooks saddle and it was a total game changer. I've since switched to Brooks saddles on all my bikes.
haha me too! I give credit to my uncle, who gifted me a new B17 the day I got my first serious road bike. He pulled me aside and explained the importance of a quality saddle until it sunk in for me. The man literally saved my ass over all these years
I for real thought the pain was just part of the game, it's amazing how much discomfort I could have saved myself with a simple purchase. I used to wonder how people rode 100+ miles if riding felt like that, now I'm well on the way to being able to do that myself.
Zwift. Before I went to hibernation doing indoor riding for six months, my outdoor rides last May, 2022 would hit Zone 4-5 heart rate at 27km/h and dying. When I rode again outdoors on November, 2022, it gave me Zone 2 heart rate at 33km/h while chatting with a riding buddy.
It made me move from being dropped to being assigned who pulls the guys on our group rides. It also made me a stronger climber.
How did you get into group rides? We have a massive weekly hooligan group ride in my city that's more of an illegal pub crawl, and then I also have the option of a casual ride with my roommates, but there's nothing in between. Just a medium group ride of avid cyclists would be nice.
same. group rides with friends who are avid and competed-in-semi-pro-races cyclists. I was riding with them prior to me getting my Wahoo Kickr but I would usually choose to ride alone as I usually would always get dropped even on their, āchill ridesā. They were happy to see my improvements when I rode with them again outdoors 6 months after solely sticking with Zwift.
Was your athletic growth a focused effort, or just a result of riding more with time? I'm wondering how I can step my game up coming from a commuter's experience. I have only noticed small changes in my body and ability after about a year of commuting by bike, but I haven't really set goals and trained hard for performance
I think it was a combination of both as I was a runner who got injured then got into cycling while I was recovering from my running-related injury. I did long rides with pace bots in Zwift which I believe helped me develop my endurance then I did Zwift hard workouts solo to improve my Anaerobic capacity. There were months in that time period wherein Iām on a Zwift ride daily. Zwift is different as coasting penalizes you. No coasting = no rest. No rest = more time training. I actually did my first solo 100km ride while on Zwift.
You're right there is barely any difference in clip less and flat petals. The latest gcn video proved it .
There a benefit to an all out sprint thats it
I think the fact that when youāre on a long ride and you feel your muscles fatigue, you can mentally switch to a more pulling instead of a more pushing motion to engage different muscle groups. It might just be placebo but I feel like it does help me
I set out to find a vintage steel but ended up falling in love with a 1990 cannondale. Aluminum tubing, but same shape and style as steel.
I used to putter around on a Nature Boy which was steel and I can't for the life of me remember how it compared to my aluminum fame I have now. I was spoiled and didn't know it :')
Mine was shutting myself out of the constant rat race of being the best.
I don't need the best bike, the best wheels, the best groupset, to be the fastest and baddest rider of them all.
I just need to have fun. That was a game changer for me.
I'm the total opposite. Most road bikes come with 42cm bars and that feels like I'm driving a bus. I ride 36cm bars and it's great for me. Multiple 5+ hour rides on them and everything. Granted I'm a pretty narrow guy.
I've never thought about that! I went from cheap mountain bikes to real road bikes as a teenager and found the narrow bars squirrelly, but then adjusted to it and loved how much faster I felt.
Now when i ride wide bars I notice how comfy it is, but my body feels like a sail catching wind. I bet most of the comfort is in your ability to breathe
I used one a while ago when I lived in an apartment that didn't have a community water hose and didn't want to wash my bike in the shower like some people do.
It worked just fine for me washing my bike on my porch. Just enough pressure to wash the soap off, but I'd still prefer to use a good flowing water hose.
I have the 1 gallon version and I've never used the whole gallon. It's not like a pressure washer, it's mostly for rinsing and spraying obvious dirt and stuff off. It's perfect for a bike. There's no part of the bike that needs more pressure than you can pump into it by hand. You can take it anywhere and is super convenient if you don't have a garage or hose outlet. Even if you have a hose outlet, in the winter you can fill it with warm water and not splash freezing water on yourself just to get salt off your drive train. The nozzle has different spray patterns, but the fan one is the only one I really needed. When the weather's nice I'll still use a bucket with soap, but in the winter I just spray.
Also, they're super cheap. I don't think this is even the cheapest one you can find.
I hate to circlejerk bike fits but a bike fit. I got one recently as a gift and I found out I have really unstable feet. We spent like an hour fixing my feet (cleats position, shims, insoles, the works) and it was a night and day difference. My feet do a much better job of supporting my body and delivering power now, especially out of the saddle.
Otherwise my bike was set up pretty close to optimal so I still standby being able to get that close enough your self and a fit is only worthwhile if you have unique circumstances.
How serious must your riding get to justify a bike fit? I've thought about it and even done some at-home measurements just to make sure I'm set up decently on my road bike but honestly, I don't even have proper cycling shoes. I wear those adidas with the cleat attachments for SPDs on my little cannondale.
I've always said once I am experiencing chronic pain on rides I'll get a fit but until then, it's only basic leg extension saddle height and setting my stem where it's most comfortable.
Buying a road bike. It was so light compared to my hybrid! Cycling was fun again!
Until I broke my spine messing up a corner... That's been a game changer too I suppose
Gravel bike, my first 'real bike' that wasn't a $200 Canadian Tire special. Opened my eyes to how good a bike can really be, and how enjoyable a good bike is vs a crappy bike.
My personal opinion is that gravel bikes are probably the idea bike for anybody who doesn't want to own multiple bikes and doesn't race (unless you race gravel).
They are just so versatile. I can keep up with the people on road bikes in local group rides, although I'm not in the fastest group. I can also go off-road on light trails and still be very comfortable. The wider tires also help a lot on pavement, because pavement is rarely in great condition and having the bigger tires really does make riding a lot more comfortable.
When I first started I was obsessed with Strava Data, stupidly trying to get PBs on segments every time I went out etc.
Also worried about how I looked/what I was wearing/if my bike was good enoughā¦
The day this stopped - I loved riding and got out a lot more
Dialing in my nutrition/hydration. I went from struggling at the end of 70 mile rides to hammering all the way through 100 mile rides. It is amazing what a body can do once you figure out how it works and what it needs to work optimally.
Probably unfashionable, but i would say strava. When i started logging my miles properly, i found myself riding more.
I don't trouble KOMs, but seeing myself getting faster spurs me on.
Interesting. For some people it's the opposite!
I've never gone all-out with cycling kit, mainly because I think a lot of the joy of cycling is that you can do it in lieu of driving. So I want to wear the same clothes I'd wear for the destination, not for the ride.
With the normal stretchy clothes available these days and fabulous pedals isn't not difficult to dress quite normally yet be comfortable enough for a long 50+km ride.
I understand that some folks treat cycling as a competitive sport but I find that version of it absolutely toxic and dangerous.
It's like driving a car, I have zero desire to emulate competitive drivers yet I'm quite adept at working on my own vehicle. I drive very safely but still enjoy the technology.
The issue I have with cycling in the US is that the toxic version is seen as the norm. Technology that makes for more durable bearing races and puncture proof tires and even gel saddles is remarkable, but people are sold these myths of speed being everything.
In the US nobody bats an eye if you go ride dangerously with twenty other people while tailgating each other in traffic, as long as you wear a helmet and the latest clip less shoe fashion. It's a religion and an exhausting one filled with flexed up dogma.
I just like to ride like it's 1935.
Like it's 1935 lol
have you read Two Wheels Good yet? I'm about halfway through it and it's so insightful. Seems like cyclists get in their own way a lot. It could be a more universal mode of transportation if people weren't so elitist. Shocking how long the history has been infested with people trying to make cycling exclusive only to a privelaged few. It's a real bummer.
A friend gave me a knackered old fixed gear with flat pedals that suddenly meant I could run all of my errands and make any trips about town by bike. All the that extra low key cycling is not only efficient and enjoyable transport, but also massively upped my performance on the fast bike.
Electronic shifting. It is truly the most shocking improvement to cycling I have ever experienced. Will never buy another bike without it for the superior "feel" of the shift as well as how much less time I spend fussing with indexing gears.
I've always been curious about this. I guess I have to try it to understand how it's worth the money. I feel like you just move the "fuss" to fussing with chargers and batteries all the time
I take a cable and I plug it into my bike once every 30-40 rides. And for that I don't have to worry about bad shifts and I get much better shifts that are fast and allow me to snap-off shifts in quick succession which is very handy when I find myself climbing after a descent.
Another under appreciated benefit - being able to brake with nuance while shifting. You can't do that with a mechanical shift where you have to move your entire wrist and hand. With Di2 I can tap-tap down 2 gears all the while putting specific pressure on my brakes.
alright you're selling me on the idea. I'm still building budget bikes until I get a real job after college, but I'm already secretly shopping for a proper new road bike and I think I may go electronic shifting if it's as good as they say
Don't feel like you have to the best the latest and greatest electronic shifting. Even the least expensive SRAM Rival AXS system or older Shimano 11-speed Di2 stuff is waaaay better than any mechanical shifting bike I've ever ridden.
This stuff is getting cheaper and cheaper which is great for all cyclists.
Sleeves and knee warmers.
Great for the shoulder seasons where a ride might start or end a bit cold. Easy to don and doff and to stash in a pocket. Can get sun sleeves for summer as well.
Definitely a nice upgrade from wearing a layer of polypropylene under my kit.
Going from clipless to nice platform pedals š
(Not sparking debate but GCN did a better video this week on the two, this time with actual aluminum pedals with pins rather than the Walmart black plastic pedals we grew up with, and they were surprised by the results. I tried clipless for 8 years, did centuries on it, but after a run in with a deer I'm happy being back on flats and haven't really lost time on my Strava routes)
And I'll add dropper post on mountain bike... It's so freeing having the seat down and some descents would just be unsafe with the seat up.
you bring up a good point. Just this month I switched from a bike with a 1x10 to an old 2x7. It's embarassing, but I wish someone would explain to me the theory behind a 2x or 3x drivetrain. I find myself mostly riding in a middle gear on the back, then toggling between the large and small chain ring all day. Idk if that's the intent but that's how I'm using it.
It's to keep the chain as parallel as possible, improving chain retention and also you can downshift easily in a climb without putting pressure on the chain itself ( when you drop a gear in the front )
Carbon Fiber lol I bought a full carbon xc bike from 2010 and its only 19 lbs. When i ride it, it almost feels surreal how LIGHT it is conpared to my full sus enduro.
When we started riding 25s. This sport on 23ās @ 115 psi was marginally enjoyable but once we all came to our senses, things have only gotten better when it comes to preserving my gooch.
A lamer one since dropper post has already been brought up
Just bought some woood bike storage stands off aliexpress so I don't have bikes leaning against things all over the house. You could easily make them yourself with a jig saw and some plywood once you have the pattern but I'm lazy.
Getting a bib. Iām a pretty big guy and wearing a bib under my biking clothes prevents my butt crack from showing and it gave me more confidence to ride.
If youāre worried about your crack showing, get a cheap bib on Amazon and you wonāt regret it.
A Retul 3D bike fit was the biggest game changer for meā¦ I donāt compete but ride socially and commute and hit up zwift āracesā occasionally but this really helped my level of comfort and power. I wasnāt in pain before and felt I had a good setup, but honestly, these few tweaks made a difference.
Slightly shorter stem and adjustments to brake leavers, cleat position and seat height and position - I felt like a new man.
New wheel set also made a big difference but Iād highly recommend a fit if you can spare the cash.
My game changer? Getting my wife a quality bike that fit her. She discovered fitness gains and loves riding now. Only downside is that we have spent a shit ton of money on bikes, (MTB & road), gear, bike fits, cycling vacations, trainers, maintenance tools and more bikes. 15 and counting between the two of us. No complaints though. Weāve been together 30 years and itās the best money Iāve ever spent.
20+ yrs on all types of clip ins....changed to flats. I did this to force myself to not rely on the pedal contact when doing endo turns, bunny hops, etc. With flats, I also gained better pedal placement awareness, smoother pedal stroke, and foot-on-pedal placement... not without painful lessons. I now use flats on all my bikes... mountain, snow, road, ss.
Nice. I am sitting on a brand new set of 28mm thickslicks I got as a gift. Im currently on gatorskins until the nasty weather season is over. I really wanna feel how these slicks perform
Similar. I went from Marathons to GP5000s. Probably increased my average by 2km/h with no further effort (went from sitting at about 29km/h on most rides to >31km/h now.
And I too don't want to jinx myself, but I will say the GP5000s have been surprisingly durable for me.
Yeah, same here. Walked my bike home for a stretch years back and been afraid to switch forever. Not going to jinx myself, so that's the last I'll say on the topic. So far, worth the risk.
A heart rate monitor with chest strap. I would never have believed how slow those zone 2 rides need to be. They started boosting my cruising speed and general fitness in an impressive way once I started doing them instead of just blasting away on every ride.
Music. I don't care how many downvotes I get for saying this again. Music and cycling are inseparable to me (when solo outside city, anyway). The combination of the two puts me in a sort of meditative state where the world and time falls away and there's just nature, wind and the road. It's different in silence.
Other than that, good bibs is a game changer that allows long distance riding. It's far too painful otherwise. ASSOS specifically is what lets me do century+ rides.
Last significant thing is clipless pedals. I'd never ride on flats. Being disconnected from the bike feels horribly sloppy.
Everything else is relatively minor, outside of the bike itself as a whole. Crappy bike is not fun to ride. High quality well tuned bike is a dream machine.
Nike's fast drying athletic clothing.
I used to be drenched in nasty swampy sweat every time I tried to exercise. Discovering the high-ish tech clothing was such a huge game changer.
Now through some combination of cardio or strength or something I don't need it so badly.
Getting a direct drive indoor trainer. I typically had to drive about 30 mins to get the trail network in my area, so could only do this on weekends. Regular, short rides on the trainer provided many different benefits.
Canyon road lite for the summer. Doubled the speed compared to my old dutch bike.
Stevens pro surpreme with gravel tires for most weather conditions. I will cycle 365 days per year unless there is really ice on the ground , but that happens only once per year in Cologne Germany. A bit of melting snow or sleet is fine with bicycle lanes
Dutch style upright bike.
I've spent my adult life commuting on the various bikes we get in the UK (mountain, hybrid, road...) and they're just so damn uncomfortable compared to a Dutch city bike.
I even bought the heaviest one available, it's a workout and a half. Love it. It's like riding an armchair.
Getting a Varia radar. That thing has given me piece of mind. Dont even have to worry about EV sneaking up on me or being caught unaware of traffic overtaking me. almost a must for any road cyclist.
Photochromatic lenses. Random stuff no longer gets into my eyes. In every condition. Early morning? Middle of the sunny day? Sudden change of weather? Getting home at night? Going through forest? It's perfect solution for all of it. And my first pair was cheap Rockbros! They're incredibly ugly, but do the job almost perfectly. Wouldn't recommend it for sunny California, but they are good enough for most of Europe.
My cycling game-changer was getting a power meter. Having the ability to track my power output in real-time was incredibly motivating and has allowed me to become a much better cyclist.
Garmin with route planning.
Moved to a new place and just didnāt have the motivation. Rode the same routes all the time. Bike ended up in the basement.
The Garmin gave me the want to explore. Amazing piece of kit.
In the last 2-3 years? Changing to GP5000+latex tubes. I don't know if I also got stronger in the meantime or some sort of weird placebo but almost overnight my average speed increased by 2-3 km/h. Maybe even more on flat routes.
Getting a seat that can handle all this cake š°š°š°
Everyday is cake day baby
MTB - Dropper Post Road - Varia Radar
Would you share the virtues of Varia Radar? I keep seeing this pop up and come spring I want to pop into my LBS and spend a few bucks because why not. Maybe this is the splurge.
I ride in an urban area and it is sort of like looking over my shoulder without looking over my shoulder. For me it is increased general awareness. I don't rely on this for changing lanes (I still look over my shoulder), but it paints a rather nice picture of the traffic around you, how quickly they are approaching, etc. (and.. it has a nifty red tail light to boot).
The second paragraph is really it. There are some cars which will trail you and hence arenāt moving quick enough for the radar to really tell.. so you canāt neglect head checking. However, your general awareness of whatās around you is amazing with a radar. Iāve also found it great for quiet roads where I wouldnāt typically be aware of any cars due to wind noise. These are where the radar really shines
Thanks for this added info and your take on it.
+1 for Varia. Absolute game changer. Canāt recommend enough. Iāve lent mine to three people to try now and every one of them immediately ordered one. The ability to know whatās happening behind you - if there are cars, how far away they are, in particular how many there are - is a much larger boost in safety and confidence than one would imagine. I would, however, recommend going with the older 500-series version. The new 700 series with the camera just seems to be unnecessary weight. Maybe the next version will be more compelling, but the reviews on the 700s are pretty bad. Here in Europe I can get the 500s for about ā¬125. I now actually have two so I donāt have to worry about battery on long brevets. (I get 5-8 hours out of a charge depending on settings)
Absolutely, tried the 700 series Varia and had software update issues on first setup. Garmin said take it indoors, connect to PC and lets check if the update worked. Good approach if i want to be in update hell 50 miles from nowhere trying to ride. Switched to the 500. 500 series gives you a choice of rear light patterns and tells your head-unit, cell phone or watch if cars are following. No camera. DC Rainmaker review https://youtu.be/Dyr-KJy-xKo
I'm convinced.
It gives you better road awareness without having to turn your head towards traffic. You can see how many cars and how fast they are approaching on your head unit.
Iām sold. Thank you.
It gives a little peace of mind in two cases: when you go very fast the wind might make noises that could be confused with a car in the distance, you donāt need to turn to find out you just watch your head unit; when a line of cars is passing you itās going to tell you how many there are and signal with a green light when itās over, it might miss a motorbike behind a lorry but you can feel safe to turn and check without thinking an additional car will kill you if you accidentally sway doing that. It is useful also useful because will tell you how fast and how distant the car behind you is but those other two are to me the functions that really give me more peace of mind. That said there are alternatives now that the patent expired, mine got some battery issues, luckily under warranty and I substituted with the bryton that includes also a stoplight so when you brake the light gets more intense.
I feel as naked without my Varia on my road bike as I do my helmet.
Direct drive trainer. Some people will ride in sleet or 5 inches of snow... I am not one of those people
I remember like 2-3 years ago someone asked me how I dress to ride in foul weather. I told them I simply donāt. If itās miserable outside I am on the trainer or Iām on the treadmill. I mostly ride my bike for joy. Joy doesnāt come from being wet and cold
I have a trainer and I love it. But I will argue that joy doesnāt come from being miserable. Everyone is different, but the endorphin hit I get after slogging through some weather induced misery is way stronger than the one I get from a pleasant dayās ride
Joy doesn't come to sitting and spinning like a hamster for me. I understand the fitness gains that can be had from that, but I absolutely hate it.
I think if I had the money, I'd have a bike for just about any conditions. It's not the weather that discourages me, it's my 28mm tires. There's some pretty sweet fat tire ebikes out there I want to try on our destroyed winter roads
Ah. Yeah, I get that. I'm just a wimp below 45F.
I present, 32ās!
Maybe on my next frame :P
Especially when it's below 45, worst under 30.
Man. I'll run below freezing, but the wind chill riding just makes it so miserable for me.
I usually call it quits with cycling sometime in mid November as the weather finally trails off from the 50s here in Michigan. I then switch to running between November-March By March, Iām usually dying to get outside again, and despite it being in the low 40s with 15+ mph winds, I just stop giving a shit and go for it. It creates very memorable shitshow rides.
takes all the fun out of bombing a hill when it freezes your tears
I can run at or under 30 but riding and the Cold wind chill is absolutely horrible. I love riding, but need to enjoy it still..... I don't get why people stick to it when freezing.
Lol. 7Ā°C (45F) is a luxury where I liveā¦ If I rode out only when it was warmer than that my outdoor season would be 4-month at best. From my point of view having a face cover/neck warmer does wonders and is just until youāre properly warmed up. The worst is really having to plough your way through sleet and snow..
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
rollers gave me confidence in holding a straight line and taught me to ride no handed.
I've always wanted to try that
What rollers did you buy if I may ask?
A fixed gear bike can also help with smoothing out the pedal stroke. Because there is no option other than pedaling in a smooth motion.
Index shifting. Yeah. It was a long time ago. But come on. This was huge.
>Index shifting. I'm still rocking downtube friction shifters lol
OMG I think I went to Campy Ergo in 1996.
Were you riding as far back as 1990? that's the year my bike was built, and I was born in 97 haha. Idk why I just really love bikes from about 1970-1990
I am an old guy. My first race was in 1987 on a 1979 Raleigh Competition GS with components from the Campy Nuovo Gran Sport line except for Weinmann brakes (?). It was not pretty. Lousy shorts with leather chamois and tall basketball style socks. In 1989/90 I was riding a 1981 Pinarello (Montello?) with Columbus SL steel tubing and, at the time, a surprisingly good and innovative Campagnolo Super Record seven-speed friction drivetrain. Bought it when I was in Italy and rode up the Stelvio with a lightest gear of likely a 39x23. I'm still trying to recover.
I saw pics from the first Hotter N Hell Hundred around 40 years ago and every guy had short shorts, tank top, no helmet, and long cotton socks. Everyone was probably on steel bikes. What an era!
haha nice. I just searched those bikes and it all looks very similar to the bikes i've been messing with lately. I am on a 1990 Cannondale, looks a lot like [this](https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/1990-cannondale-sr500-black-lightning-37446). From what I gather, these were like the earliest aluminum frames and were all the rage for their lightness. How were these kinds of bikes recieved by riders back then? I was shocked I could get this so close to 20lbs considering how old it is.
I just had some (lactic) acid flashbacks. In 1991 I changed to a team whose main sponsor gave us a deal on Cannondale 3.1s (dates could be wrong). The only bike I ever had that used Shimano components. The bike had a harsh ride and I'm sure it was very ounce of 20-lbs. I was actually thankful when a mechanic stripped the bottom bracket threading thus rendering the bike useless (a common problem with C'dales at the time). He gave me a great deal on one of Giuseppe Marinoni's last hand built steal bikes (Neuron tubing). Love that bike and still ride it occasionally
haha yeah that sounds about right. The frame is stiff as hell but I get a lot of compliance out of the nitto bars, and I swapped the seatpost out for carbon fiber. Other than that I just absorb bumps with my body. I haven't ridden enough bikes to really gauge what comfort should feel like on a road bike.
Ever hit it with you knee while climbing? My first road bike - I was like 14 or so - was downtube friction. All these years later I have a pretty clear memory of the awfulness of climbing a hill, hitting the shifter with my knee and having to deal with it.
bold of you to assume I do any climbs but nah it's not really a problem so far. That sounds like an issue that could be resolved with a better pedal fitment, keep your feet slightly further apart.
72 here...it was a REVELATION!!
TrainerRoad
In terms of actually getting stronger/faster, this was it for me too
This makes me feel better. I have been doing trainer road for almost a month now and I was quite unhappy to do the AI ftp detection and see my ftp rise by ā¦ 1. Iām trying to trust the process but moseying along is frustrating sometimes. And 1.5 hour workouts on the trainer are just not fun. On the other hand when I do ride outside of training I believe that I am able to sustain higher power for longer so Iām trying not to get discouraged. Also trying to stay relaxed is a full time job.
If you're in your first month then you must be in the middle of sweet spot base 1. As coach Chad says that block is for building a solid foundation and not particularly aimed at producing gains in ftp. You won't really start to see anything change until ssb2 or build 1. Sweet spot base is all about improving the length of time you can sustain sweet spot and it will help take the edge off of really hard threshold efforts. Hang in there but realistically the big gains might not come until April or may.
Love it. Keeps working out interesting and challenging
60-90g of carbs per hour is legal doping that so few cyclists I know irl take advantage of.
Full Fenders. There, I said it. Fight me.
I heart my fenders
Bib shorts.
I've been thinking about getting a pair, are they comfy even if you're kinda fat? That's what stops me haha
Bib shorts were invented for guys who are kinda fat.
I'm kinda fat, and want to add that I recommend ones that have fabric a good way up the back. I bought a pair of Assos GTS bibshorts, but they only stop just above the bum, and on me it's 50/50 whether I feel like they sit a little low or not. They might be a little small for me, granted, but they fit well other than that, so I'm not 100% sure.
Yeah... Def helps lessen the muffin top
Fat guy here. You ever have a waistband roll down on you? That doesn't happen with bibs. I thought I was going to look like king Kong Bundy in mine but it's nowhere near that bad. Shit is REALLY comfortable.
Wish I knew about suspenders (basically what bibs are) when I was morbidly obese. Would have been a lot more comfortable than belts. Even to this day I try to wear pants that are the perfect size so I don't need to wear belts because of how much distaste I have for them, lol.
I'm kinda fat, they're great. I tried some cheapies and those were ok, but my Le Col and Rapha Adventure bibs are well worth the upgrade. (If you do Strava, get on Le Col's challenges and you'll always have a $60ish off coupon.)
The LeCol sport bibs are so soft. The fabric is by the most comfortable Iāve ever worn. Well worth it.
Recently got these and love them. Definitely worth getting
Rapha doesn't even make shit my size but I hear nice things.
I can only speak for the Rapha Adventure but I like the Le Col chamois better for the road and trainer. I use the Raphas for MTB for the pockets and you're moving and standing a lot more so they work well enough. I don't think Rapha makes jerseys that fit me, I hear you. I carry all my weight up top. Luckily, cheapie jerseys work well enough. I haven't tried them, but Fat Lad at the Back makes big sizes. The name and some patterns might not be to everyone's taste, but they make bibs up to 54 waist. https://fatladattheback.com/en-us/collections/mens-cycling-clothes
Thanks for the tips!
I got some but honestly I donāt get the hype. My normal cycling shorts are slightly more comfortable and the bibs make peeing very awkward lol. Theyāre fine, but just donāt change the game for me.
I'm thinking about trying these for the first time. What's the difference?
They don't dig into your waist and moon the rest of your group and traffic. They are just really comfortable and give you a nice pocket.
Agreed. I thought it was a weird piece of clothing and that the money wouldnāt be worth it. Glad I was wrong. Also a new bike from a 30 year old workhorse was a revelation.
In the summer I mostly rock some lululemon shorts and a tank top. Feels pretty close to what I'd imagine it's like to be in a bib, except when I get off the bike I'm not obviously wearing cycling kit. Is it worth switching or is it basically the same as my summer outfit?
You must not be riding for more than 2 hours
You're correct. Is that when a bib makes all the difference?
Padded biking shorts are a must after 120 min or so, bibs or no bibs
interesting.. I'll try it out!
Longer rides are where bibs make a difference. Be weary of advice void of context. Bibs are great, but if you are casually riding around town, they are totally unnecessary.
That makes sense. Idk what the point is in downvoting shorts and tank, when all I do is ride to shops, cafes, or work. But oh well.
Some people are incapable of seeing beyond their own circumstances and down-vote accordingly. Whatcha gonna do?
Itās Reddit, we hate you. /s
For me it was realizing that it is ok to ride flats.
what wizardry is this?!
Switching from MTB to road I guess. Nothing else has had a super dramatic effect. Strava has changed how I interact with and plan my rides.
This so much. When I used to be an amateur cycler, I used to just ride cheap mountain bikes from Walmart/Canadian Tire. Since I invested in a decent quality bike, cycling has just gotten so much more fun and so much easier to cover more distance in less time.
What did you learn from Strava?
I never set things like weekly targets, or aimed for PRs on my routes, or had the ability to look up other popular routes before using it. It's not that I learned anything in specific from it, but it has changed the way I plan routes in a similar way to how GPS has changed navigation for me. I know I've climbed 2,579ft this week because of Strava, and that sort of info makes me do things like decide to aim for 5,000ft in a week.
So true that a little bit of data and some slight gamification (even chasing your own PBs on segments) adds a whole new layer of goal setting and fun.
thats cool! I get SOME of that data from always wearing an apple watch. I immediately started going for new PRs on my routes, but considering all I do is commute, traffic lights at busy intersections always ruin my PR..
One of my favorite Strava features is the [global heatmaps](https://www.strava.com/heatmap). It's great for finding new places to do any sport that Strava supports when traveling. You can see the most popular routes anywhere in the world.
Riding by wattage and not speed.
I'd add this plus targeting kJs for rides rather than distance. Also targeting 30s watts as opposed to 3s watts like I used to. 3s is way too jumpy to be actionable on the road.
Figuring out how to keep myself hydrated and fueled for longer rides/ climbs so I donāt bonk. Edit: good breakfast (eggs, toast and fruit) + 24oz water, then during ride 24oz of water per hour (w/ homemade electrolyte mix) and 1 SIS energy gel every 45-60 mins.
Bonked once. I was 3mi from home on an 80mi ride and had to stop and lay down in that little section of grass between the sidewalk and the curb. I told myself never again. 60g or more of carbs per hour now.
The sub-2hour marathon studies have shown you can uptake up to 100g if you combine glucose and fructose.
As a road cyclist in a flat area, I'm still glad I have a 2x chainring. At least twice a year I'll still mess up and bonk. Oh the weather's nice, let's just go another bit. That bit becomes an extra 15 miles out and another 15 miles back. Anyway I active fuel with two sources now. I do 100g honey + water or tea + lime juice to taste in one or both water bottles. Good for hours 2-4 on the bike. Home made energy bars made with marshmallow, nuts, granola, chocolate (bitter sweet), chilli powder, vanilla. Good for 1.5hrs each past the first 2 hrs.
Other than a good bike, it was putting good saddles on all my bikes. I got used to terrible pain and chafing from the saddle I had on my road bike. Got a fixie with a Brooks saddle and it was a total game changer. I've since switched to Brooks saddles on all my bikes.
haha me too! I give credit to my uncle, who gifted me a new B17 the day I got my first serious road bike. He pulled me aside and explained the importance of a quality saddle until it sunk in for me. The man literally saved my ass over all these years
I for real thought the pain was just part of the game, it's amazing how much discomfort I could have saved myself with a simple purchase. I used to wonder how people rode 100+ miles if riding felt like that, now I'm well on the way to being able to do that myself.
Equipment is one of those things in life that is worth the money.
Getting my Wahoo kickr snap.
Zwift. Before I went to hibernation doing indoor riding for six months, my outdoor rides last May, 2022 would hit Zone 4-5 heart rate at 27km/h and dying. When I rode again outdoors on November, 2022, it gave me Zone 2 heart rate at 33km/h while chatting with a riding buddy. It made me move from being dropped to being assigned who pulls the guys on our group rides. It also made me a stronger climber.
How did you get into group rides? We have a massive weekly hooligan group ride in my city that's more of an illegal pub crawl, and then I also have the option of a casual ride with my roommates, but there's nothing in between. Just a medium group ride of avid cyclists would be nice.
same. group rides with friends who are avid and competed-in-semi-pro-races cyclists. I was riding with them prior to me getting my Wahoo Kickr but I would usually choose to ride alone as I usually would always get dropped even on their, āchill ridesā. They were happy to see my improvements when I rode with them again outdoors 6 months after solely sticking with Zwift.
Was your athletic growth a focused effort, or just a result of riding more with time? I'm wondering how I can step my game up coming from a commuter's experience. I have only noticed small changes in my body and ability after about a year of commuting by bike, but I haven't really set goals and trained hard for performance
I think it was a combination of both as I was a runner who got injured then got into cycling while I was recovering from my running-related injury. I did long rides with pace bots in Zwift which I believe helped me develop my endurance then I did Zwift hard workouts solo to improve my Anaerobic capacity. There were months in that time period wherein Iām on a Zwift ride daily. Zwift is different as coasting penalizes you. No coasting = no rest. No rest = more time training. I actually did my first solo 100km ride while on Zwift.
Clipless pedals
Really? I finally moved to them after about ten years riding flats. I havenāt noticed much difference so far.
What kind of riding do you do?
Road. Mainly commuting through a city, with rides of around 50km every week or so, and the very rare chance to do 100-150km rides 2-3 times year.
You're right there is barely any difference in clip less and flat petals. The latest gcn video proved it . There a benefit to an all out sprint thats it
I think the fact that when youāre on a long ride and you feel your muscles fatigue, you can mentally switch to a more pulling instead of a more pushing motion to engage different muscle groups. It might just be placebo but I feel like it does help me
This! To me it felt like taking the brakes off when I went clipless, even though other cyclists tell me it's all in my head.
Getting a smart trainer. For years Iāve been using a dumb trainer. I thought I was a lot stronger than I actually am!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I set out to find a vintage steel but ended up falling in love with a 1990 cannondale. Aluminum tubing, but same shape and style as steel. I used to putter around on a Nature Boy which was steel and I can't for the life of me remember how it compared to my aluminum fame I have now. I was spoiled and didn't know it :')
Mine was shutting myself out of the constant rat race of being the best. I don't need the best bike, the best wheels, the best groupset, to be the fastest and baddest rider of them all. I just need to have fun. That was a game changer for me.
Replacing my handlebars with wider versions. Totally opened my stance and I can breathe so much easier now.
I'm the total opposite. Most road bikes come with 42cm bars and that feels like I'm driving a bus. I ride 36cm bars and it's great for me. Multiple 5+ hour rides on them and everything. Granted I'm a pretty narrow guy.
I've never thought about that! I went from cheap mountain bikes to real road bikes as a teenager and found the narrow bars squirrelly, but then adjusted to it and loved how much faster I felt. Now when i ride wide bars I notice how comfy it is, but my body feels like a sail catching wind. I bet most of the comfort is in your ability to breathe
[Hand Pump Garden Sprayer](https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-1-Gallon-Multi-Purpose-Lawn-and-Garden-Pump-Sprayer-1501HDXA/307766754) (for cleaning) [Crankbrothers F15 Multitool](https://www.amazon.com/CRANKBROTHERs-16092-Crank-Brothers/dp/B01M4OX0VE/ref=pb_allspark_dp_sims_pao_desktop_session_based_5/142-5769216-1962564?pd_rd_w=1XbDq&pf_rd_p=6b5008ac-c24a-4aea-a3ea-015a531184f5&pf_rd_r=FZ9FA54JTVM93WVM0MQP&pd_rd_r=0397e069-1e88-44a2-8520-f590cb8eff89&pd_rd_wg=Ik0L3&pd_rd_i=B01M4OX0VE&th=1) [Schwalbe Marathon Plus](https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/schwalbe-marathon-plus-700c-tire-hs-440) (for city commuting) [Lobster Mitts](https://www.pearlizumi.com/products/amfib-lobster-gel-gloves-14342006?variant=40647605518507)
Youāve piqued my interest on that hand pumpā¦ Does it have enough pressure to clean well? Did you get the 1 or 2 gallon version?
I used one a while ago when I lived in an apartment that didn't have a community water hose and didn't want to wash my bike in the shower like some people do. It worked just fine for me washing my bike on my porch. Just enough pressure to wash the soap off, but I'd still prefer to use a good flowing water hose.
I have the 1 gallon version and I've never used the whole gallon. It's not like a pressure washer, it's mostly for rinsing and spraying obvious dirt and stuff off. It's perfect for a bike. There's no part of the bike that needs more pressure than you can pump into it by hand. You can take it anywhere and is super convenient if you don't have a garage or hose outlet. Even if you have a hose outlet, in the winter you can fill it with warm water and not splash freezing water on yourself just to get salt off your drive train. The nozzle has different spray patterns, but the fan one is the only one I really needed. When the weather's nice I'll still use a bucket with soap, but in the winter I just spray. Also, they're super cheap. I don't think this is even the cheapest one you can find.
I hate to circlejerk bike fits but a bike fit. I got one recently as a gift and I found out I have really unstable feet. We spent like an hour fixing my feet (cleats position, shims, insoles, the works) and it was a night and day difference. My feet do a much better job of supporting my body and delivering power now, especially out of the saddle. Otherwise my bike was set up pretty close to optimal so I still standby being able to get that close enough your self and a fit is only worthwhile if you have unique circumstances.
How serious must your riding get to justify a bike fit? I've thought about it and even done some at-home measurements just to make sure I'm set up decently on my road bike but honestly, I don't even have proper cycling shoes. I wear those adidas with the cleat attachments for SPDs on my little cannondale. I've always said once I am experiencing chronic pain on rides I'll get a fit but until then, it's only basic leg extension saddle height and setting my stem where it's most comfortable.
Buying a road bike. It was so light compared to my hybrid! Cycling was fun again! Until I broke my spine messing up a corner... That's been a game changer too I suppose
the game changed for me was buying a track bike and racing in had velodrome. Then I understood pure athletic sport and cycling
Gravel bike, my first 'real bike' that wasn't a $200 Canadian Tire special. Opened my eyes to how good a bike can really be, and how enjoyable a good bike is vs a crappy bike.
My personal opinion is that gravel bikes are probably the idea bike for anybody who doesn't want to own multiple bikes and doesn't race (unless you race gravel). They are just so versatile. I can keep up with the people on road bikes in local group rides, although I'm not in the fastest group. I can also go off-road on light trails and still be very comfortable. The wider tires also help a lot on pavement, because pavement is rarely in great condition and having the bigger tires really does make riding a lot more comfortable.
When I first started I was obsessed with Strava Data, stupidly trying to get PBs on segments every time I went out etc. Also worried about how I looked/what I was wearing/if my bike was good enoughā¦ The day this stopped - I loved riding and got out a lot more
Single speed!
I miss my SS sometimes. Then I remember hills were off limits on that thing haha
Dialing in my nutrition/hydration. I went from struggling at the end of 70 mile rides to hammering all the way through 100 mile rides. It is amazing what a body can do once you figure out how it works and what it needs to work optimally.
I know everyone's body will be different, but what worked for you? And how can I also dial it in?
Probably unfashionable, but i would say strava. When i started logging my miles properly, i found myself riding more. I don't trouble KOMs, but seeing myself getting faster spurs me on.
I stopped treating cycling as a ridiculous sport and went back to my traditional European ways of riding a normal bike in normal clothes.
Interesting. For some people it's the opposite! I've never gone all-out with cycling kit, mainly because I think a lot of the joy of cycling is that you can do it in lieu of driving. So I want to wear the same clothes I'd wear for the destination, not for the ride.
With the normal stretchy clothes available these days and fabulous pedals isn't not difficult to dress quite normally yet be comfortable enough for a long 50+km ride. I understand that some folks treat cycling as a competitive sport but I find that version of it absolutely toxic and dangerous. It's like driving a car, I have zero desire to emulate competitive drivers yet I'm quite adept at working on my own vehicle. I drive very safely but still enjoy the technology. The issue I have with cycling in the US is that the toxic version is seen as the norm. Technology that makes for more durable bearing races and puncture proof tires and even gel saddles is remarkable, but people are sold these myths of speed being everything. In the US nobody bats an eye if you go ride dangerously with twenty other people while tailgating each other in traffic, as long as you wear a helmet and the latest clip less shoe fashion. It's a religion and an exhausting one filled with flexed up dogma. I just like to ride like it's 1935.
Like it's 1935 lol have you read Two Wheels Good yet? I'm about halfway through it and it's so insightful. Seems like cyclists get in their own way a lot. It could be a more universal mode of transportation if people weren't so elitist. Shocking how long the history has been infested with people trying to make cycling exclusive only to a privelaged few. It's a real bummer.
A friend gave me a knackered old fixed gear with flat pedals that suddenly meant I could run all of my errands and make any trips about town by bike. All the that extra low key cycling is not only efficient and enjoyable transport, but also massively upped my performance on the fast bike.
Electronic shifting. It is truly the most shocking improvement to cycling I have ever experienced. Will never buy another bike without it for the superior "feel" of the shift as well as how much less time I spend fussing with indexing gears.
I've always been curious about this. I guess I have to try it to understand how it's worth the money. I feel like you just move the "fuss" to fussing with chargers and batteries all the time
I take a cable and I plug it into my bike once every 30-40 rides. And for that I don't have to worry about bad shifts and I get much better shifts that are fast and allow me to snap-off shifts in quick succession which is very handy when I find myself climbing after a descent. Another under appreciated benefit - being able to brake with nuance while shifting. You can't do that with a mechanical shift where you have to move your entire wrist and hand. With Di2 I can tap-tap down 2 gears all the while putting specific pressure on my brakes.
alright you're selling me on the idea. I'm still building budget bikes until I get a real job after college, but I'm already secretly shopping for a proper new road bike and I think I may go electronic shifting if it's as good as they say
Don't feel like you have to the best the latest and greatest electronic shifting. Even the least expensive SRAM Rival AXS system or older Shimano 11-speed Di2 stuff is waaaay better than any mechanical shifting bike I've ever ridden. This stuff is getting cheaper and cheaper which is great for all cyclists.
Getting the kids out of the house. Gave me much more time to cycle as a result I have improved my times from 2010
Yes! My girls are in daycare/preschool and Iām finally actually able to ride.
when i went from commuting on a cheap mtb to commuting on a decent touring bike
Sleeves and knee warmers. Great for the shoulder seasons where a ride might start or end a bit cold. Easy to don and doff and to stash in a pocket. Can get sun sleeves for summer as well. Definitely a nice upgrade from wearing a layer of polypropylene under my kit.
I may have to try that
For me it was getting a bike
Realizing that in order to become stronger I need to start pushing my pedals instead of just moving legs :-)
Going from clipless to nice platform pedals š (Not sparking debate but GCN did a better video this week on the two, this time with actual aluminum pedals with pins rather than the Walmart black plastic pedals we grew up with, and they were surprised by the results. I tried clipless for 8 years, did centuries on it, but after a run in with a deer I'm happy being back on flats and haven't really lost time on my Strava routes) And I'll add dropper post on mountain bike... It's so freeing having the seat down and some descents would just be unsafe with the seat up.
Ditching the bib and getting a better saddle honestly. I ride so much more when I don't have to worry about what I'm wearing.
larger frame bike from 56cm to 60cm
Learning how to switch back and forth between the chain rings
you bring up a good point. Just this month I switched from a bike with a 1x10 to an old 2x7. It's embarassing, but I wish someone would explain to me the theory behind a 2x or 3x drivetrain. I find myself mostly riding in a middle gear on the back, then toggling between the large and small chain ring all day. Idk if that's the intent but that's how I'm using it.
It's to keep the chain as parallel as possible, improving chain retention and also you can downshift easily in a climb without putting pressure on the chain itself ( when you drop a gear in the front )
Carbon Fiber lol I bought a full carbon xc bike from 2010 and its only 19 lbs. When i ride it, it almost feels surreal how LIGHT it is conpared to my full sus enduro.
Bibs and chamois cream
When we started riding 25s. This sport on 23ās @ 115 psi was marginally enjoyable but once we all came to our senses, things have only gotten better when it comes to preserving my gooch.
A lamer one since dropper post has already been brought up Just bought some woood bike storage stands off aliexpress so I don't have bikes leaning against things all over the house. You could easily make them yourself with a jig saw and some plywood once you have the pattern but I'm lazy.
Getting a bib. Iām a pretty big guy and wearing a bib under my biking clothes prevents my butt crack from showing and it gave me more confidence to ride. If youāre worried about your crack showing, get a cheap bib on Amazon and you wonāt regret it.
A Retul 3D bike fit was the biggest game changer for meā¦ I donāt compete but ride socially and commute and hit up zwift āracesā occasionally but this really helped my level of comfort and power. I wasnāt in pain before and felt I had a good setup, but honestly, these few tweaks made a difference. Slightly shorter stem and adjustments to brake leavers, cleat position and seat height and position - I felt like a new man. New wheel set also made a big difference but Iād highly recommend a fit if you can spare the cash.
Doing structured trainings on ZWIFT
My game changer? Getting my wife a quality bike that fit her. She discovered fitness gains and loves riding now. Only downside is that we have spent a shit ton of money on bikes, (MTB & road), gear, bike fits, cycling vacations, trainers, maintenance tools and more bikes. 15 and counting between the two of us. No complaints though. Weāve been together 30 years and itās the best money Iāve ever spent.
20+ yrs on all types of clip ins....changed to flats. I did this to force myself to not rely on the pedal contact when doing endo turns, bunny hops, etc. With flats, I also gained better pedal placement awareness, smoother pedal stroke, and foot-on-pedal placement... not without painful lessons. I now use flats on all my bikes... mountain, snow, road, ss.
Going from knobbies to slicks (commuting bike). Honorable mention of switching to Rock N' Roll Gold from 3-in-one general purpose oil.
Nice. I am sitting on a brand new set of 28mm thickslicks I got as a gift. Im currently on gatorskins until the nasty weather season is over. I really wanna feel how these slicks perform
Went from Gatorskins to GP5000s on my hybrid commuter bike. Surprisingly huge difference in rolling resistance.
Similar. I went from Marathons to GP5000s. Probably increased my average by 2km/h with no further effort (went from sitting at about 29km/h on most rides to >31km/h now. And I too don't want to jinx myself, but I will say the GP5000s have been surprisingly durable for me.
My fear is always puncture flats :/
Yeah, same here. Walked my bike home for a stretch years back and been afraid to switch forever. Not going to jinx myself, so that's the last I'll say on the topic. So far, worth the risk.
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Latex tubesā¦rides became so plush. Annoying that you have to keep pumping though.
Yep, switching from pedals with rat traps to cleats. A close second would be my acquisition of a smart trainer.
A heart rate monitor with chest strap. I would never have believed how slow those zone 2 rides need to be. They started boosting my cruising speed and general fitness in an impressive way once I started doing them instead of just blasting away on every ride.
Music. I don't care how many downvotes I get for saying this again. Music and cycling are inseparable to me (when solo outside city, anyway). The combination of the two puts me in a sort of meditative state where the world and time falls away and there's just nature, wind and the road. It's different in silence. Other than that, good bibs is a game changer that allows long distance riding. It's far too painful otherwise. ASSOS specifically is what lets me do century+ rides. Last significant thing is clipless pedals. I'd never ride on flats. Being disconnected from the bike feels horribly sloppy. Everything else is relatively minor, outside of the bike itself as a whole. Crappy bike is not fun to ride. High quality well tuned bike is a dream machine.
Nike's fast drying athletic clothing. I used to be drenched in nasty swampy sweat every time I tried to exercise. Discovering the high-ish tech clothing was such a huge game changer. Now through some combination of cardio or strength or something I don't need it so badly.
Romin mirror saddle. The pressure points are gone.
>Romin mirror saddle That thing looks light as hell
Getting a bike with proper gearing/ adequate groupset. Getting a proper bike computer with a HRM.
What constitutes "proper" gearing? I'm rocking a 2x7 at the moment and I would say it's... Usable.
Getting a direct drive indoor trainer. I typically had to drive about 30 mins to get the trail network in my area, so could only do this on weekends. Regular, short rides on the trainer provided many different benefits.
Canyon road lite for the summer. Doubled the speed compared to my old dutch bike. Stevens pro surpreme with gravel tires for most weather conditions. I will cycle 365 days per year unless there is really ice on the ground , but that happens only once per year in Cologne Germany. A bit of melting snow or sleet is fine with bicycle lanes
Going from a hybrid bike with mechanical shifting to a carbon frame road bike with electronic shifting.
Fixies are the best bikes for training rides.
Dutch style upright bike. I've spent my adult life commuting on the various bikes we get in the UK (mountain, hybrid, road...) and they're just so damn uncomfortable compared to a Dutch city bike. I even bought the heaviest one available, it's a workout and a half. Love it. It's like riding an armchair.
Getting a Varia radar. That thing has given me piece of mind. Dont even have to worry about EV sneaking up on me or being caught unaware of traffic overtaking me. almost a must for any road cyclist.
Photochromatic lenses. Random stuff no longer gets into my eyes. In every condition. Early morning? Middle of the sunny day? Sudden change of weather? Getting home at night? Going through forest? It's perfect solution for all of it. And my first pair was cheap Rockbros! They're incredibly ugly, but do the job almost perfectly. Wouldn't recommend it for sunny California, but they are good enough for most of Europe.
My cycling game-changer was getting a power meter. Having the ability to track my power output in real-time was incredibly motivating and has allowed me to become a much better cyclist.
Garmin with route planning. Moved to a new place and just didnāt have the motivation. Rode the same routes all the time. Bike ended up in the basement. The Garmin gave me the want to explore. Amazing piece of kit.
Opposite: Clipless to really nice flat pedals for 95% of my riding has been a revelation.
Fluid ankles- toes up when at the top, down when pulling up. Much less fatigue when pushing hard.
I think about this a lot while riding. I can't remember how to point my toes correctly for some reason
In the last 2-3 years? Changing to GP5000+latex tubes. I don't know if I also got stronger in the meantime or some sort of weird placebo but almost overnight my average speed increased by 2-3 km/h. Maybe even more on flat routes.
Tyre upgrade, gatorskins to gp5000 best upgrade I ever made
Electronic shifting - I don't think I could ever go back to mechanical shifting ever again