[fatdoc]

respect to fatboy getting your lightweight beer capacity exceeded last night, as i believe he is at this moment now on a plane to colorado to celebrate his 40th with Blunk et al!!!

[Norton Sharley]

unfortunately its not very hard to exceed my beer capacity these days since my liver appears to be fucked!!!

[Dolly]

Is a hardtail the same as a roadbike then ?

[Yossarian]

Cycled past this morning suited and booted, with hangover (thanks Bubs & Fatboy), looked in the window.  You should have seen the look of disgust I got when they realised I was on a proper hardtail. 

who is this sharlatan...?

[Percy B]

I thought a 'proper hardtail' was an expression used in more liberated gentlemens clubs. There no place for that sort of filthy talk in this discussion. How dare you....

[Percy B]

Managed to break one of my Look cleats whilst doing sprint half laps nat the Velodrome last night - its quite spicy pulling your foot out whilst sprinting out of the saddle . Obviously, like any experienced bike handler I took the ride big style, got flipped and ended up whizzing across the infield on my arse with the bike still attached to my left leg, heading straight towards the coaches who luckily got out of the way pretty quick! Falling off indoors is a far smoother experience than on the road - more of a deep burn than the usual gravel rash... Particularly gutted that I had my best pair of Assos shorts on, which must now be put in the bin - large hole surrounded by crispy burnt nylon. Some of the black material from the shorts seems to have melted itself into the track rash on my hip which is both interesting, and also bloody painful! Got out on the road at last on Saturday morning too - a lovely weekend for riding (but also unfortunately for the grit making it a pretty hectic schedule!)

[Simon S]

Ouch  sounds uncomfortable. Time to break open the gauze dressings, they are the bollocks for that type in injury.

[Falling Down]

Just heading out now for a lunchtime ride  having not been in the saddle for nearly three weeks....

[fatdoc]

top weekend...

bouldered saturday, rode sunday  , nearly froze to death descending into the mist filled valleys of the peak at 9a.m., swear it was well below freezing down there at that time...i've not looked forward to a long climb quite so much before, at least it kept me warm!

perc, that sounds horrendous!!!

[Bowie]

Did anyone read this article in the Sunday Times yesterday, re the Etape du Tour?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article2690582.ece

sounds like a life's worth of training (or percy's velodrome sessions...) to make it happen without dying. 196km & 5000m of ascent. that's some crazy stats going on.

the route for the next year is announced this week @ www.letapedutour.com
. something aspire to on the winter training sessions!

[webbo]

Obviously, like any experienced bike handler I took the ride big style, got flipped and ended up whizzing across the infield on my arse with the bike still attached to my left leg, heading straight towards the coaches who luckily got out of the way pretty quick! Falling off indoors is a far smoother experience than on the road - more of a deep burn than the usual gravel rash..

the sound of a bike hitting the deck and skidding across the road is one of the those things that instantley makes me want to puke.similar to the sound of a body hitting rock.however it is preferable to experiencing it.

[Percy B]

Aye - not so pleasant an experience. I'm in tatters today - enough time has passed for a nice infection to have set in, making my whole hip particularly stiff and achey.

What's the deal with the new shop in Greystones - is it open? It looks like a private members club for rich roadies.... thousands of £'s worth of carbon and titanium in the window, and an intercom thing on the locked doors. No entry without a credit check?!?!

[fatdoc]

right, i have cold weather clothing urges...

where exactly is this haven of expense and depravity!!

[fatdoc]

OMFG

have seen this stuff??

http://www.rapha.cc/?gclid=CO2FiJLlpI8CFRoeEgodDzFBSw

apparently they come up a bit small, awesome jackets or what....

shame they're over £200!!!

[Norton Sharley]

where exactly is this haven of expense and depravity!!

old corner shop about 100 yards up Greystones Road, on the right. 

As Percy said you'll need your credit check to get in!  Saw them yesterday morning driving into work in they're swanky new silver van.  Fucker nearly knocked me off my proper hardtail as he pulled straight out of Greystones Drive across the road to get to the shop to by his Times and bagels!  It was probably them then that pulled the windscreen wiper off my car later in the day - not that I'm jumping to conclusions or anything.

Bastard roadies 

[Dolly]

Rapha kit is quality  Its ridiculously overpriced tho
I reckon the best thing is to wait until they have a sale/offer thing
A couple of years ago I got a LS training top, LS Merino base layer/casual thing and arm warmers all for £120
 

[Yossarian]

They have a quote from Tim Krabbe / The Rider on their site. If you haven't read then you should...

[Simon S]

Reduced price track mitts-£70-£80 wtf 

[Bubba]

I think only audiophiles surpass cyclists in geeky gear freakyness

[Percy B]

Went into La Bicicleta today - very nice guys, but far too much very expensive stuff. I highly recommend that nobody ever goes, unless you are prepared to spend a large quantity of cash. I was lucky to get away without a purchase, although they nearly got me with the Cinelli track frame and the Zipp wheels..... rotters!

Its like the top self in the newsagents, but for roadies. Absolute filth!

[Dolly]

Talk about red rag to a bull - no doubt I'll be there tomorrow then

[Dolly]

I'm assuming that there a few people who ride compacts for this next question.
I had my new Ultegra (with compact chainset) groupset fitted today. Went out for a blast tonite. Have to say I was a little disappointed. It was as smooth as you like, but in the smaller cogs on both chain rings I was experiencing chainrub.
I've had a compact before,  but assumed the chainrub was because of various parts of a groupsets assembled over the years, so not quite synching correctly, slightly different sizes etc.
This is brand new, fitted by trained mechanics etc.
have they done a bad job or is everyone's compact groupset like that ?

[fatdoc]

your mechanic's shite... your chainline is out... fucking basic error.

my veloce is fine...

only rub is front ring and biggest sproket, and it's minimal.

personally i find it hard to say sheff j e james can fit a groupset with any degree of care or attention..

take it to stanley fearns or decathlon...

[saltbeef]

so fat doc, you gonna get some of that rapha stuff? its incredible, that website is dynamite. what an amazing concept a company based on a romantic aesthetic of suffering!
does anyone have any experience of condor bikes? they seem good value for the money?

[fatdoc]

 

is this another member of the forum coing out as a lyrca loving man about town??

i didnt know it was your bag matey.... nice one!

i'm not going for the rapha stuff... got a lurvvly assos gary glitter type jacket, the windblock one (sale in chesser j e jemes) very gay indeed!!

probs going for assos lobster overgloves soon, so i can keep my fav gell padded gloves on underneath... hmmm new gear...hmmm..