My Tour de France

[toolonglegs]

The Saddle isn't UCI compliant, there's a new rule that it has to be flat

What's the disk wheel?

It is nearly flat... angle of photo exaggerates it a bit. Maybe a 5° angle.
Wheel is a Corima running 10 speed campag (11-23) which works perfectly with my shimano.

[mikesbytes]

Where did you buy the Corlma ?

[toolonglegs]

Team mate lent it to me.
They have reclassified me for last Sunday's tt to 4th place ... So I still have to do a really good tt this weekend to qualify for the nats.
Although our federation is having big problems with insurance and my club might end up jumping ship to another federation... So if that happens I won't be bothering with the nats at all ... Will have to wait and see.

[toolonglegs]

Wanted to do something silly today, get me out of my slump... so that would be head up my local big climb ( I nearly drove another 30 minutes thinking my local wasn't silly enough! ). Yeah I was a bit soft driving to start point, but with the weather the way it is you don't want to get rained on 50 kms from home, you would have hypothermia toute suite!. Unpacked the bike, forgot my neck warmer and had two left hand gloves . Loaded up the feet, groin and chest with heat pads and headed off. Only made it about 8 kms before I wished I had put the CX tyres on. Road hadn't been cleared for a while, but luckily it was in the shade and the snow / ice was frozen for the next 10kms and I plodded along quite happily ( and slowly ). After that the road was cleared ( like the photo ) until I turned off for the big climb... made it 500 meters before I realized I was wasting my time ( still had 8 kms to go ), it had warmed up a touch and the ice was soft which meant I couldn't steer and 50% of my energy was wheel spin , turned around and skidded my way down until back onto the cleared road, headed off and did a nice loop and then back to the car.
Anyway certainly no speed records today, all the kilos of extra clothing and having to get off to walk through snow drifts slows you down a bit ... still a nice day out, not very silly in the end though,next time!.
http://app.strava.com/activities/32222539

[mikesbytes]

You make the rest of us look soft

See the loop around and back to car still means 50k

[toolonglegs]

I was pretty warm to tell the truth... took my gloves and beanie off on the climbs and unzipped one of the thermal jackets... bit different to last time I tried ( and succeeded ) getting to the top in the middle of winter, I think I am still haunted about that ride, was about -10 when I left home and -1 million on the descent ... hence I drove a bit closer!.

[pentlandexile]

Great snow pic, the landscape looks like something from a Bruegel painting.

[toolonglegs]

Great snow pic, the landscape looks like something from a Bruegel painting.

I had the Tower of Babel as a desktop for a long time .

[toolonglegs]

Am I happy riding riding my bike?... actually I am having a freakin blast .


Me and my Canadian mate having a blast http://t2d.over-blog.com/ ...after crossing the line I coughed my lungs out for a good five minutes.

[pentlandexile]

I think a lot of people in Australia right now would like to swap weather with you. Bit warm here today.

[cpical]

Am I happy riding riding my bike?... actually I am having a freakin blast .


Me and my Canadian mate having a blast http://t2d.over-blog.com/ ...after crossing the line I coughed my lungs out for a good five minutes.

You have learnt the frog hop very well!!!

[toolonglegs]

Wasn't too cold today... but my feet were frozen!.
No need for frog jumping today ... good cause I hate getting off the bike.
Anyway... that's it!. CX season is over, I started in 9, finished in 8, not a single tumble ( maybe I need to push harder, although my RH index finger will never be the same after been crushed into a rock!).
Kind of sad... with out a doubt CX is my favorite sport on a bicycle!.

[ILMB]

Hard to believe the bike still goes!

I stumbled onto your thread about 2 weeks ago. It's been a fascinating read so far. Keep posting please.

[toolonglegs]

Will do ILMB... been a bit slack on this thread of late, it is actually motivating having to do something to post in it .

[toolonglegs]

How embarrassing . I went down stairs to put the road tyres onto my CX bike... CX season is over so it will be sticking with road duties till I build up road bike. But!. The cranks were seized!.
The Shimano press fit bearings really are crap, I had to put a new set in at the start of the season two months ago... now they are in the bin. The spindle was a little bit shiny but nothing to worry about. Makes me wonder how much power it was robbing on Sundays race!.
Anyway not going to get another for the moment as I would have to order one.
So why embarrassing you say... because of the 5 bikes I often ride through out the year, none are rideable .
So the quickest to get up and running was the TT bike, without brakes. Good foot of snow outside and the next 2 weeks are looking pretty cold and white. So trainer and rollers it is... tried my TT bike on the rollers but even though I can manage it OK on the skis it is a bit sketchy... so onto the torture machine it is ( Mag trainer ).

[mikesbytes]

Have you migrated from breaking frames to breaking wheels?

[toolonglegs]

Have you migrated from breaking frames to breaking wheels?

Haven't broken a frame in a long time mate ( even though the Super6 was a warranty last year ).Actually haven't broken a wheel either in a long time too... but I sold my c50's and am now down to 1 rear wheel for the road bikes. A Ksyrium that is now 15 months old . I have ordered a set of race tubs in 58 / 88 mm, will also get a disc rear sometime this year, and maybe a set of 38mm race tubs as well ( or maybe in clincher ). Have plenty of front wheels though .
Need to spend some money this year as everything is getting pretty trashed .

[mikesbytes]

We do then to end up with spare fronts

What race tubs 58/88 did you buy?

[toolonglegs]

We do then to end up with spare fronts

What race tubs 58/88 did you buy?

Most of the fronts are getting on a bit now.
Ordered a set of wheels off a local builder who comes very well recommended... they are Chinese rims, Novatec hubs etc... but they should do the job.

[toolonglegs]

Double post... but keeps this thread up to date.
Rebuilt my Super6 this morning and headed out for a ride .
The frame might less than a year old but it is looking a bit rough... I think I should love it more.
On my ride I dropped into pay for my new race wheels, 58/88 tubs... should be fun in road races .
The groupset is looking old as well but I have a couple of sets of 180mm cranks and the only way to get them new is pay full price ... one day!.
Also needs a major negative stem... or i have to get rid of that stupid giant spacer!. Seriously the thing is nearly an inch high!. Need to drop the bars a good 2 cms.
Apart from all that is was bloody good to be back on it after 4 months on the cx bike.

[foo on patrol]

What's with the green paddock and a bank of snow TLL and you don't have any lights on that bike, how come?

Foo

[toolonglegs]

The snow bank is in the shade, plus it is about -4C ... why would I want lights?... it about 2pm .
Bleak isn't it!.

[foo on patrol]

... why would I want lights?... Bleak isn't it!.

For when you wanna get out bed early or do a late run and don't need to worry about daylight.

Bleak nah cold hell yeah!

Foo

[toppity]

should be able to get a standard top for the headset no worries. If it's like the Caads and Six13 then Campy record head set parts should work.

Looks very cold.

[ft_critical]

You are looking pretty lean TLL. Bodes well for a strong season.