planetf1.com

Steven de Jongh has left his job as directeur
sportif at Team Sky after admitting to taking
a banned substance during his time as a
professional rider.

Hope Sky's new contractual rules work well and other teams follow suit.

Yates has already gone.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/535355/de-jongh-leaves-sky-after-doping-admission.html

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So Yates didn't admit to doping, but did he refuse or decline to sign the agreement?

Still can't find a jacket.. any in the cycle shop cost about 85€ just for a wafer thin water-proof covering.. I'm sure I'll find a decent one in Aldi soon enough - that's where I got my gloves (5€), overshoes (6€), wind jacket (9€), socks (3€), head-warmer (4€) etc from ...

I haven't seen any water-proof trousers, but then I haven't looked because I wouldn't go out in the pouring rain (I'm not a commuter!) on purpose.

I just use the seat that came with my Cube Peloton road bike and it's perfectly fine for me (once I got the right angle and once I got used to it). I can now ride 50-60km on it without padding - I only know that because i left the house with bib tights and forgot to put my shorts on over the top for the padding!

I know folks with seriously hard seats, but for them it's the shape and the angle that are important rather than the hardness of the seat itself.

ahh my brother came second in the K2 Classic race in New Zealand last weekend. 200km, 2300m of climbing, 100 riders or so in the peloton - dead chuffed for him!

NICE!!!

Regarding the jackets, I only need a wafer thin one, as I get quite hot myself and I only wear a warm blouse inside. I mainly want to stop the air and rain, not to keep warm, so wafer thin is ok. Depends what you mean decent one. If you go for Goretex for example it is decent and expensive; but it not that breathable compared to other materials (or so the salesman said).

As for the seat, I think they've put a road bike seat on a mountain bike or something, it is way hard even with the padded shorts.

Well done!

Lusso Max Repel bib tights get me through wind and rain in all winter can throw at me. I wear nothing else underneath or on top. They are not water proof but work like a wet suit. Most water does run off but in serious rain the water than does go through warms up instantly. I've ridden in heavy rain and minus temp without any problems.

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Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Ooh and the weather today is dry. Shock horror. I may get a ride in later rather than clocking up more miles on the rollers which have been in near daily use for the last week or so.

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

Not only dry, but the sun was blinding me on the way in this morning. Some girl actually crashed at my secretary's car this morning as she was blinded by the sun as well. Tricky

SchumieRules - are you a woman, or do you just like wearing blouses?

Well, lucky for you.. it's beeing sleeting for the last 2 days and I am still feeling guilty about not going out last night Still, did 95km on Sunday and 2km swimming this lunch time, and tomorrow night is supposed to be clear. Unfortunately the forecast is for snow all weekend and the weather is already getting on my nerves! Tonight may be damp but it shouldn't rain so I might go out for a quick 40km or so.

I need help to get through the winter!

Hahahaha, nope, last time I checked I was a boy. I meant a long-sleeve t-shirt, but was faster to just type blouse!

As for the last part, why not taking a couple of months off and cycle in Thailand or something? My mates did it, awesome experience.

Hehe nice thought! I can think of three reasons why that unfortunately wouldn'T be possible: my wife and two kids! I have to play my cards very carefully to even be allowed out at the weekend to get 75km in!!

well, 70km last night in the dark with 650m vertical and 2 degrees outside. Somehow it all seems so much more tiring in the cold and dark!

Breaking news I've just heard on the radio is that Bradley Wiggins is in hospital with broken bones following being hit by a van whilst out training.

No more details as yet as to how serious it is.

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Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

Quick update following a google

Wiggins is believed to have broken several
ribs and suffered hand and wrist injuries,
reports the Lancashire Evening Post.

A van pulled out of a petrol station and hit him.

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

It doesn't seem to be very serious according to Team Sky.

_________________
eeee

BBC news seems to confirm its in the painful category rather than serious.

http://www.farnhamcycles.co.uk/Scripts/ ... closed.asp

Pity. Have used them in the past to get some obscure stuff although they can't compete with the likes of Chain Reaction. Sign of the times

I hear Wiggins helmet was cracked in the accident. Goodness knows how he would be had he not been wearing it.

And still people ride without one!

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

Well, my 1 month break from doing any real cycling was due to end today with a lovely long ride but due to the fact that the wind is gusting at very high speeds it will sadly have to wait. Hopefully I'll get out after work tomorrow.

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

well good luck with that one! Weather here is crap today. Managed to get out on Friday for a 105km and didn't factor in the fact that everything is somehow much harder in the freezing cold and miserable weather. Got a puncture with 40km left to go (3rd puncture in 4 weeks and after only 80km on the new Schwalbe Durano tyres) and then had to stop at a petrol station to stuff my face with Mars bars just to get enough energy to make it home! Normally the distance wouldn't be a problem, but I'd had a tough week and was feeling a bit crap, but thought I'd blow the cobwebs away.

So now I'm sittting here looking out the window at the fog.. think I'll be going swimming at lunchtime tomorrow instead

High5 energy gels are always in my back pocket just incase I feel the wobbles coming in. The speed in which they come in to effect is incredible and as gels go they are the only one I've found that don't require drink to wash down.

Won't get out tonight due to work meeting that was called an hour ago.......

My self enforced break is getting longer.....

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

Yeah, might get a few emergency gels. Although I wasn't especially warm, my weight loss was huge - more so than when I did over 100km in the summer with temps of over 30C. I'm usually about 74-75kg, but after that ride I was 70.8kg, having had 2 bananas, 2 Mars and 750ml water.

There's talk of snow for today so I'm getting more and more frustrated with the weather. Got my 25 year old racing bike out the cellar and took it to the local bike shop to get it road worthy again, so I can use it as a winter bike. Worth spending 100€ on it rather than getting another spare cheap bike off the internet.

Am seriously thinking about a turbo trainer now - for next year.. Was looking at Tacx i-vortex and I have a lovely spare room in the celler, which was intended as a home cinema, but could easily become my indoor cycling room

10 punctures!

10!

Some knob nearly ran me off the road, I had to take swift avoiding action, unfortunately the only option was through a load of broken glass usefully swept towards the gutter, instead of removed from the road, after a car crash! Instant flat latter, I had to repair 10 separate holes before I could continue my journey! lovely individual!

Odd thing is, i know I'm a fat lovely individual, but they were all in my rear tyre. Off to get some better tyres with that anti puncture layer, and some new inner tubes at the weekend. Must carry a spare. Must carry a spare.

_________________
"you can never be too paranoid"

Blimey. I'd have called a cab rather than mend 10 punctures. Feel for you...

I always carry a spare unless I'm doing a TT plus a couple of sticky back patches just in case.

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
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Follow me @asphalt_world

It was so farcical that I felt compelled to try and fight the situation. Could have been worse mind, at least it wasn't raining!

_________________
"you can never be too paranoid"

lol yeah.. or dark..

I always carry a spare tube, patches, pump, tyre levers, multi-tool set, spare micro-lights and 10€

I have "better tyres" with an "anti-puncture" layer but it doesn't really seem to make much difference I went 3000km before my first puncture and since then I have had a puncture every 300km or so (one every 2 weeks). I've had 2 punctures in the last couple of weeks since getting new tyres.

10 punctures?

Wow!


I did 11 miles last night, but at 1 Celsius it felt more like 30! Feet got soaked going through a water hole, so it was torture at the end, so cold. Partly because I forgot my thermal top and I only had a t-shirt under my light jacket.

But I'd do it again!

lol yeah, riding in the cold seems so muhc more difficult. I'll be going out this evening and tomorrow and sunday.

I'm seeking sanctuary in this thread again after getting abused in the Vettel overtake Überthread in the other forum!

How did you manage to forget your jacket? lol I can't imagine setting one foot out the door without my thermal jacket on.. Although I did forget my helmet the other day and had to ride back home for it lol.

Is 11 miles a typical ride for you?

Around 16-20 normally, but off road. Depends on the company too, I usually go out with the guys from work, but as they have kids we sometimes have to have short ones.

But 11 miles in the cold in the woods, on muddy tracks, I tell you, it is good exercise! I felt spent after that.


As for the thermal top, I found it home when I got back. A bit late!

I love riding on cold crisp days. Just got to be well prepared in the clothing department. Over shoes are a must. Mine cost about a tenner I think and keep my feet toasty even in minus conditions.

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
My own Google Earth Motor Sport file. http://www.mediafire.com/?jzm1ieatytv
Follow me @asphalt_world

Well, I forgot the overshoes too!!!

I was a disaster yesterday

lol yeah I got my overshoes from Aldi for 10€. Gloves 4€. Armwarmers 6€, water-resistant jacket 15€

Yesterday though was a nightmare. MTBing with a mate from the village through the woods, 50km with nearly 1000m vertical. It was ok when the snow was on the ground, but then the temp went up to about 2C and the snow melted and it just got really wet, muddy and cold. Last 10km were a right laugh. Toes and finger tips were numb at the end, but everything else was fine-ish.

Even then I had the motivation to clean my bike before taking a hot shower!

Wow!!!!

I unfortunately moved place a month ago, and now I'm on the second floor, no garden hose or anything. I need to find a way to keep the bike clean

yeah admittedly I cheated a bit. I realised the hose pipe was frozen so had to get the wife to get a bucket of warm soapy water for the bike..
My bike(s) also live(s) inside the house at the moment so that's an added incentive!

In light of my previous, 10 puncture, nightmare I got myself some new tyres and inner tubes, and, as it's a bit Baltic at the moment, some cycling tights too. Never in the history of mankind has a bloke been so excited about tights, stockings, sure, but tights, must be a first. Anyway...

Seeing as I'm broke beyond belief, and this is a rather expensive time of year, I got cheap tyres, shockingly only £25 for both. Brand spanking new from a certain well known internet auction site, they have "puncture resistant" stuff, arrived yesterday after only 2 days, and are a lovely shade of blue that clashes spectacularly with my, very different shade of blue, frame. Glorious.

Yesterday evening, I went out for a ride on the slippery, cold roads, and with the brand newness of them I nearly fell off more times than I could count. The lack of grip was hilarious, if a little sketchy on the safety front. But by the end of my relatively brief, 20 odd mile ride, they were giving reasonable grip, and I was feeling nice and comfortable. So today I went out again, and lo and behold, at the furthest from home point of my ride my rear tyre suddenly, totally, deflates. *inaudible*!

There appeared to be nothing untoward, like glass, in the road, no sudden, sharp pot hole. As far as I could tell, no reason for it at all.

Unfortunately, I've only got a track pump, which is awkward to carry around to say the least, and as there's little point fixing a puncture if you can't pump it back up, I've just had a lovely 3 hour, freezing cold walk home. I will investigate the nature of the puncture tomorrow, right now I'm in a bit of a childish huff about it all, so don't want to face it!

I love cycling, but why is it you sometimes go hundreds, even a thousand miles without any punctures, and then suddenly get a spate of them virtually every time you turn a pedal. I know, sod's law. Anyway, venting over.

_________________
"you can never be too paranoid"

Well my summer tyres did about 2000 miles with 2 punctures. Then I fitted winter tyres and got my first puncture after 8 miles. It's just one of those things.

When you have some cash I'd recommend a Lezyne pump. mine cost about £25 which is not cheap but it's amazing. Light and small which is always good but it fully inflates a tyre in a small number of pumps. Great build quality as well.

My winter tyres are currently at under 12 quid each and I use them as they are slick down the middle which is good for dispersing water but have some decent tread down each side so that I have more confidence in cornering.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-rubino-clincher-tyre/

_________________
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Lord Acton]
My own Google Earth Motor Sport file. http://www.mediafire.com/?jzm1ieatytv
Follow me @asphalt_world

Me thinks I might be buying some more toys...

_________________
"you can never be too paranoid"

oh dear, that sounds like a nightmare! I always carry a micro pump with me and it's saved me on 4 occasions. I did nearly 3000km on my tyres this year without a puncture and then got 4 or 5 within a few weeks, 2 on my new tyres.

I just spent 90€ getting my 20 year old bike back on the road as a winter bike. New bottom bracket, brakeshoes and pads, new tyres and inner tubes, cables etc plus full service. Frame is a bit small now, but it's good enough to get trashed in the winter . The seat stem seems to have welded itself to the frame which is a bit of a pain in the donkey, and I'm at a loss as to how I can release it. I've tried penetrating oil, but to no avail. I can only think of drilling a hole through the stem and sticking a big metal rod through it, but if it goes wrong them I'll be without a bike!

It has Schwalbe Lugano tyres on it which have a small diamond tread on them http://www.schwalbe.de/gbl/en/produkte/race/produkt/?ID_Produktgruppe=48&ID_Produkt=204. Cheap and a rather heavier than your average performance road tyre, but seems good enough to me. They also have kevlar anti-puncture layer.

My micro pump is a Top Peak Race Rocket HP. Excellent build quality, tiny and light and fully pumps up a tyre to a good pressure in a minute or so. Never without it!

I've been ill for the past week so haven't been out at all. I think the MTB will be seeing more action with all this snow. I think I might need to bleed my hydraulic brakes, but I've never done that before. Even changing the brake pads was tricky enough - I just have zero experience of (modern) MTB servicing!

by the way, the picture on my profile is of me when I was about 14 getting ready for a 10 mile time-trial (I'm 38 now). Back in those days people didn't have cycle helmets (well, there weren't any, only these leather things). I had brand new Look click pedals as well, which cost about 70 GBP and I had to save up for them for ages! I raced for Rennrad Club Norwich, which I don't think exists any more. That frame had a custom paint job on it after being repaired (after my mum went under a low roof with the bikes on the roof of the car...), but the bike died after I braked at a busy junction in town and my frame split in half. I went over the handlebars and got a few minor injuries, but nothing compared to the embarrassment of standing in the middle of the road, wearing lycra, holding one half of my bike in one hand and the other in the other hand, with the two parts connected by the brake and gear cables