[partha379]

Has anyone used/bought products like these in India?https://redshiftsports.com/products/...uspension-stem. I always find it out of stock in Amazon or even if it comes, insanely priced. I have a hybrid Schwinn super sport 2 Disc https://www.flipkart.com/schwinn-sup...m300e02af11e1f. Only issue with this cycle is that I am riding it inside my apt regularly for 7-8kms and its over pavement blocks. This is like riding over a lot of small bumps continuously and becomes painful after 45 mins - so looking for a solution like above. I like this cycle, so not keen on changing it if I can make it work with solutions like a suspension stem/seat post.

I like the above as reviewers are claiming that its a good compromise between a full fledged suspension fork vs a rigid one.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by partha379

I am riding it inside my apt regularly for 7-8kms and its over pavement blocks. This is like riding over a lot of small bumps continuously and becomes painful after 45 mins - so looking for a solution like above. I like this cycle, so not keen on changing it if I can make it work with solutions like a suspension stem/seat post.

I suspect bad fit. If the frame size is correct for your height, you may still need to adjust your seat height and reach. It is also possible that you are gripping the handlebars too tight.

[partha379]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

I suspect bad fit. If the frame size is correct for your height, you may still need to adjust your seat height and reach. It is also possible that you are gripping the handlebars too tight.

Possible. But I suspect the continuous jolts simply because its the same cycle and fit that I used to ride on a smooth road outside my complex (Boat club road for ppl who know Chennai) and I never felt this pain. And I have experimented with tire pressures, at the recommended pressure pain comes faster - riding at less than recommended pressure helps to smooth out the bumps a bit and allows me to ride longer!

This is the reason for thinking that solutions like suspension stem might help.

[kat]

Originally Posted by Mi10

Ending this disaster of an year with 3600 kms in cycling and 540 kms in running.
Some decent performances considering the fact that I only trained 2 months for running and 6 months for cycling.

Some highlights:
Longest distance (cycling) - 63 kms
Longest distance (running) - 14 kms
Hours trained (cycling) - 128 hrs
Hours trained (running) - 63 hrs
16.4 kms TT (cycling) - 25:28
5km TT (running) - 22:02

Awesome year Mi10 considering there was this long lockdown in the initial days of the year . What are your goals for 2021?

Originally Posted by ebonho

Here's my stats for 2020. A decent year overall. Good roadie punchy rides early in the year with a lot of PRs (especially on marque climbs) and my fastest 100 (just a shade under 30 kmph).
Cheers, Doc

A lot of miles there Doc. Hope you will breach the 30kmph barrier for 100 km rides easily this year .

My stats from 2020:

Cycling: 5030 kms @average 27 kmph
Running: 1058 kms @average 5.40 mins/km pace
Cycling highlights: Completed a 300 km BRM with 3500m+ elevation in 18.5 hours, FTP is 210W, PR for 100 kms @32kmph (not a non-stop ride though).
Running highlights:10km PR@49 mins, 15km PR@1h 15mins, Longest run - 20km, Improved running posture and gait.

Goals for 2021:

Cycling: 6000 kms. Improve FTP to at least 230W.
Running: 1000 kms. Target a PR for Half Marathon - 1h 45 mins. Target a PR for 10km - 47 mins.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by kat

Awesome year Mi10 considering there was this long lockdown in the initial days of the year . What are your goals for 2021?



A lot of miles there Doc. Hope you will breach the 30kmph barrier for 100 km rides easily this year .

My stats from 2020:

Cycling: 5030 kms @average 27 kmph
Running: 1058 kms @average 5.40 mins/km pace
Cycling highlights: Completed a 300 km BRM with 3500m+ elevation in 18.5 hours, FTP is 210W, PR for 100 kms @32kmph (not a non-stop ride though).
Running highlights:10km PR@49 mins, 15km PR@1h 15mins, Longest run - 20km, Improved running posture and gait.

Goals for 2021:

Cycling: 6000 kms. Improve FTP to at least 230W.
Running: 1000 kms. Target a PR for Half Marathon - 1h 45 mins. Target a PR for 10km - 47 mins.

Great stats and very good speed over 100 km.

FTP actually means little unless you tell us your weight.

For example my peak FTP last year when I was on the structured sessions on the trainer was 215 w. However my weight is 85 kilos. But that was a good jump from starting at 174 w and moving up then to 198 w.

My goal in 2021 is consistency.

Both speed and endurance naturally follow.

Cheers, Doc

[kat]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Great stats and very good speed over 100 km.

FTP actually means little unless you tell us your weight.

For example my peak FTP last year when I was on the structured sessions on the trainer was 215 w. However my weight is 85 kilos. But that was a good jump from starting at 174 w and moving up then to 198 w.

My goal in 2021 is consistency.

Both speed and endurance naturally follow.

Cheers, Doc

Oh right, missed it. Weight is 71 kgs now (height 5' 9"), so FTP is 2.95 W/kg. Trying to reduce weight to 68 kgs, but it's very difficult.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by kat

Oh right, missed it. Weight is 71 kgs now (height 5' 9"), so FTP is 2.95 W/kg. Trying to reduce weight to 68 kgs, but it's very difficult.

That's great. 3 w/kg is my medium to short term goal too once I get back on to the trainer. Right now with the weather I'm having too much fun on the road. Would be a crime to waste that!

Cheers, Doc

[Mi10]

Originally Posted by kat

Goals for 2021:
Cycling: 6000 kms. Improve FTP to at least 230W.
Running: 1000 kms. Target a PR for Half Marathon - 1h 45 mins. Target a PR for 10km - 47 mins.

Wow super stats! and nice set of quantified goals as well

Originally Posted by ebonho

That's great. 3 w/kg is my medium to short term goal too once I get back on to the trainer. Right now with the weather I'm having too much fun on the road. Would be a crime to waste that!

Cheers, Doc

Nice Doc, always fun takes precedence in hobbies ! nice to know the watt/kg, mine is just a shade over yours at 3.15.
Right now at 70 kgs (and 175 cm height), and while i would be great to lose couple more but need to be conscious of not lose muscle mass.

Originally Posted by kat

Awesome year Mi10 considering there was this long lockdown in the initial days of the year . What are your goals for 2021?

Very different set of goals (but quite underestimated and often overlooked part).
Goal 1: Sleep and passive recovery - Been ignoring this area for quite a long time and i feel i ll do much better in my training even if i sleep for 1 hour more every day.
Moves: Sleep Tracking App to make a conscious effort in tracking and ensuring atleast at a weekly level i reconcile for a min 45 hour sleep. Starting doing this from 3rd week of December and going on smooth till now.

Goal 2: Diet and Eating habits - A great fan of Junk food and binge eating now and then! Time to keep a full stop!
Moves: Water ! Always keep water handy and whenever i feel hungry and an itch to bite into something, i first take some water. Again doing this from Dec and have already started feeling a lot more lighter and agile.have also drastically reduced white sugar intake.

Goal 3: Getting the rhythm back in running - Something that came naturally to me but completely messed it up owing to my arrogance and foolhardy ways!
Moves: Started with run + cycling session in Nov and started doing easy medium runs in Dec. Chalked out a 5km and 10 km plan for the fist two quarters of 2021.

Goal 4: Duathalon aspirations - Would want to attempt once in 2021 (atleast a virtual one) and focus on ITT more.
Moves: Will be doing couple more ITT in Q1 2021. Training going on for this plan.

Goal 5: Bike upgrade - But i dont know if this can happen in 2021 or 2022. Lot depends on how i progress in training and how i outgrow the bike as a cyclist. So waiting for this one

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Mi10

Wow super stats! and nice set of quantified goals as well



Nice Doc, always fun takes precedence in hobbies !

I've read all the gyaan about HIIT and structured training etc but I'm an old school rider. I ride because I really like riding. It's that simple. Everything else I've tried my hand along the way in cycling is secondary to that.

Eventually when I get around to it, outside the monsoon months (when the caad will be on the trainer and tge ACT will do road duty) I'd like to make tge necessary changes to the axle of the rear wheel of the ACT to be able to mount it on the trainer and enjoy the gains on my racing machine on the road.

If you want to use the same bike on the road and the trainer, even if you have two wheels, eventually getting the bike back on the trainer and tge roller tension dialled in correctly to within the spindown callibration is a two-man job ... or it requires at least unclipping and getting off 3-4 times to get it exactly right yourself.

Because if you are training to power you want to keep the roller tension and air pressure as close as possible to what it was when you did your FTP and that's a much narrower window than dimply calibrating the roller.

Once calibrated, as long as you check the tyre pressure before every session, you are good to go.

So bottom line is that with one bike it's very cumbersome doing a mixed program of road work and trainer sessions, especially if you want to alternate every other day or morning - evening.

Other than that, I'd like to start doing some touring now. Multi day. Like on motorcycles. Traveling as light as possible. One track and 2 t shirts. And an extra set of bibs and jersey. I think I can get away for a week in that much! A small 10-15 liter btwin bag on the back should suffice aided by a saddle bag and top tube bag, a mini front handlebar bag if necessary (not really needed), and the 3 pockets of your jersey.

Cheers, Doc

[graaja]

Originally Posted by ebonho

If you want to use the same bike on the road and the trainer, even if you have two wheels, eventually getting the bike back on the trainer and tge roller tension dialled in correctly to within the spindown callibration is a two-man job ... or it requires at least unclipping and getting off 3-4 times to get it exactly right yourself.

Because if you are training to power you want to keep the roller tension and air pressure as close as possible to what it was when you did your FTP and that's a much narrower window than dimply calibrating the roller.

Once calibrated, as long as you check the tyre pressure before every session, you are good to go.

So bottom line is that with one bike it's very cumbersome doing a mixed program of road work and trainer sessions, especially if you want to alternate every other day or morning - evening.

Doc, time to upgrade to a direct drive trainer

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by graaja

Doc, time to upgrade to a direct drive trainer

Lol yeah man.

But honestly, for that money, I'll break open an old piggy bank and pick myself up a nice 105 alloy Cannondale.

Remember the golden Velominati rule about the number of bikes a cyclist needs.

N+1

N being the number he currently owns.

Or

S-1

Where S is the number at which dear spouse files for separation.

Cheers, Doc

[kat]

Originally Posted by Mi10

Very different set of goals (but quite underestimated and often overlooked part).

Different, yes, but very important. Sleep, recovery and diet are of utmost importance for an injury-free training and a healthy lifestyle. I average 8 hours of sleep a day, hence I am good with it. Diet is something I need to focus on as well. Started following IF (16 hours) on weekdays and that helps in maintaining weight, but for reducing further, I need to eat better.
Regarding duathlons, what are your targets? In recent past, I did a 10-40-5 self supported duathlon in 3 hours, 11 mins (including breaks). This year, I am planning for a 15-60-10 within 5 hours.
And the most important one, which bike is on top of your mind? I am smitten by aero disc brake models but off late, all bike prices have increased by at least 20-30% compared to pre-covid levels. Will have to wait and watch.

[babayaga]

I got my cycle serviced by the new bike shop I found. I felt he charged reasonable price of 1.5K with bearing replacement and 1 set of shoe replacement. Really can feel the difference now. Only thing is need to get the handlebar adjusted a bit. I feel it has turned a bit and hence the grips are bit hard on the hands. Have to take care and keep the cycle well maintained now.

Thanks to Doc for all the suggestion and guidance on maintenance.

[docmoya2007]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9AhlXtqv4&t=848s

Just sharing another YouTube video I uploaded few weeks back, where I did one of the tough uphill climbs of my region. The climb segment is just 2.15 kms with 218 metres elevation, 10.1 % grade elevation(which can be seen on my Strava account)

The reason why I uploaded the video is, I am a newbie cycle enthusiast. And I am obsessed with choosing the right gear combination. As mentioned in the description of the video, for most part of the climb, I was using the bigger chain ring, i.e. gear no 2(46 T)on the front and rear cassette gear no 4(23 T)on the rear. In the lesser inclined part of the climb, I used the smaller chain ring, i.e. gear no 1(30 T) on the front and rear cassette gear no 3(26 T) on the rear.

Now, the confusion is a young bike mechanic told me to use the bigger chain ring less often in climbs as the wear on the chain and chain ring will be more. If I use the smaller chain ring i.e. gear no 1(30 T) on the front, my preferred combination is with the rear cassette gear no 6 (17 T). But I was avoid to use this combination by fellow BHPian HTC some posts back(post #4866), as it "may lead to chain and other component wear as the chain between cogs would be more crossed in nature".

I would like to know inputs from stalwarts of this thread like ebonho, graaja, ninjatalli, and more, what gear combination will be ideal for the type of climbs I do?

PS I never owned a geared cycle before. I was just starting in the last week of September of last year 2020, and I am loving it. And yes, I lived in a very much hilly place. And my bike is the 2021 Trek Dual Sport 3.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by docmoya2007

I would like to know inputs from stalwarts of this thread like ebonho, graaja, ninjatalli, and more, what gear combination will be ideal for the type of climbs I do?

Hi. Firstly if you havent already please search for GCN / GTN videos. Im sure they will have something specific on choosing the right gear. They are a great resource.

As a starting point please keep it simple and here are a few pointers.

1. Yes. The chain should not dramatically cross over. So be mindful of which ring is in front and which gear you have chosen at the back.

2. Try and predict a gear through trial error and experience which allows you to tackle the climb with the same CADENCE as you were riding at normally. Whatever gear allows you to maintain the same cadence (as far as possible) - for starters consider that as the right gear.

Ideally you need to be on the right gear before approaching the climb but of course if its a long climb its possible you may have to switch along the way.

Hope this is of some help. Good luck.