Tour de Pistonheads 2015
Discussion
Gruffy said:
Woohoo! I'm "Last Weeks's Leader"
Bet that lasts all of 10 seconds!
Just back from a 70km ride. Uphill out and downhill back. Bear in mind that I lack experience on a bike so I'm not going to have the insight of a proper reviewer. I've only got the Triban to compare it to and given it costs 10 times the price of that I'd expect it to outperform it in every aspect anyway.
On the uphill outward section I have to admit I was struggling. The tanks were empty after a brutal week and my Rule 5 reserves weren't deep enough to overcome the 13mph headwind. My HR was a good 15-20bpm below where I'd normally ride too. My heart just wasn't in it and the vicious sidewinds descending Crystal Palace made me pucker so sharply that I think I sprained my sphincter. I dialled everything back and decided not to force the ride. It was going to be a base miles ride. It also made me question the Canyon. Maybe I'm just too noob to appreciate the differences between bikes but while it felt smoother and the gears and brakes were much better, I wasn't really dialled in to the handling.
Once I'd reached Tatsfield the original plan was to descend into Westerham and that back via Biggin Hill but I stopped and, given the fatigue and low morale, thought about retracing my steps back for a downhill ride home and skipping the big climb. Then I remembered that the Tour is only 8 weeks away and I suck at climbing, so I puckered up and dropped down into Westerham, smashed a salted caramel gel and pointed it at Westerham Hill. Last time I rode this I blew up and had to pull in near the top for a quick coronary, so I was a bit apprehensive given the move from a 30-28 to a 36-28. Last week's gluttonous ski trip packed on 3kg but the Canyon is 5kg lighter than the Triban, so that still gave me 2kg in the bank. It was a struggle, like last time, and I briefly doubted myself as a I passed the scene of the crime, feeling like I was under-geared, but I MTFU'd and crested feeling relatively pleased. Strava shows a new PR, despite my form leaving me over the winter. It didn't feel like a PR effort so I'll chalk that up to the weight reduction and I'm looking forward to dropping a couple more kg to hit my summer weight.
Now it was downhill pretty much all the way home and I'm so glad I stuck it out for the full route. THIS is what the Aeroad is designed for! Get it up to speed and it takes so much less effort to maintain it (admittedly this is compared to the Triban). The bike comes alive above 40-45kph and spanking along at 50+ was pure unadulterated joy. I just need to work on the engine now so that I can ride at those speeds on the flat.
The ride is comfortable enough, even though I've quickly bodged through the setup and haven't tweaked anything properly. The pads of my hands hurt a little more on the hoods but I think I've got the bars rotated a bit too far down so it's just hot-spotting. It's set at 0° but I may raise it just a touch. Riding in the drops is lovely. Even though I've not gone through a proper fit yet I'm able to ride the drops comfortably for much longer than before. This could be a geometry thing or it could be the extra compliance that's softening the ride compared to the alloy-forked Triban.
The brakes. Wow. 120km in now and the brake squeal is only really present on heavy stops from speed. Pulling up at lights it just sounds like a pod racer from Star Wars. They're much more capable than the grip from the Mavic tyres though. The back end is quite lively under heavy braking but I discovered the bike is easy to drift, thankfully. I think the heavy Triban let me get away with sloppy weight management under braking but I need to work on that now. The lever feel is awesome, needing just a tiny pull to generate what feels like huge braking force. The Ultegra groupset is a beautiful thing. Gear changes are buttery and this is probably the largest difference between the bikes.
Despite the fluro bar tape and booties, the stealth finish seems to be a bit deadly. I had three serious SMIDSY near-misses today and one minor one. There may have been swearing.
Overall, it's a lovely thing to ride and a beautiful thing to look at (it sits in my office, looking like it's doing 5kph just leaning against the wall), but it really needs a thorough spanking to bring it to life. I'm looking forward to upping my game and being able to ride it how it deserves to be ridden later this year.
On the uphill outward section I have to admit I was struggling. The tanks were empty after a brutal week and my Rule 5 reserves weren't deep enough to overcome the 13mph headwind. My HR was a good 15-20bpm below where I'd normally ride too. My heart just wasn't in it and the vicious sidewinds descending Crystal Palace made me pucker so sharply that I think I sprained my sphincter. I dialled everything back and decided not to force the ride. It was going to be a base miles ride. It also made me question the Canyon. Maybe I'm just too noob to appreciate the differences between bikes but while it felt smoother and the gears and brakes were much better, I wasn't really dialled in to the handling.
Once I'd reached Tatsfield the original plan was to descend into Westerham and that back via Biggin Hill but I stopped and, given the fatigue and low morale, thought about retracing my steps back for a downhill ride home and skipping the big climb. Then I remembered that the Tour is only 8 weeks away and I suck at climbing, so I puckered up and dropped down into Westerham, smashed a salted caramel gel and pointed it at Westerham Hill. Last time I rode this I blew up and had to pull in near the top for a quick coronary, so I was a bit apprehensive given the move from a 30-28 to a 36-28. Last week's gluttonous ski trip packed on 3kg but the Canyon is 5kg lighter than the Triban, so that still gave me 2kg in the bank. It was a struggle, like last time, and I briefly doubted myself as a I passed the scene of the crime, feeling like I was under-geared, but I MTFU'd and crested feeling relatively pleased. Strava shows a new PR, despite my form leaving me over the winter. It didn't feel like a PR effort so I'll chalk that up to the weight reduction and I'm looking forward to dropping a couple more kg to hit my summer weight.
Now it was downhill pretty much all the way home and I'm so glad I stuck it out for the full route. THIS is what the Aeroad is designed for! Get it up to speed and it takes so much less effort to maintain it (admittedly this is compared to the Triban). The bike comes alive above 40-45kph and spanking along at 50+ was pure unadulterated joy. I just need to work on the engine now so that I can ride at those speeds on the flat.
The ride is comfortable enough, even though I've quickly bodged through the setup and haven't tweaked anything properly. The pads of my hands hurt a little more on the hoods but I think I've got the bars rotated a bit too far down so it's just hot-spotting. It's set at 0° but I may raise it just a touch. Riding in the drops is lovely. Even though I've not gone through a proper fit yet I'm able to ride the drops comfortably for much longer than before. This could be a geometry thing or it could be the extra compliance that's softening the ride compared to the alloy-forked Triban.
The brakes. Wow. 120km in now and the brake squeal is only really present on heavy stops from speed. Pulling up at lights it just sounds like a pod racer from Star Wars. They're much more capable than the grip from the Mavic tyres though. The back end is quite lively under heavy braking but I discovered the bike is easy to drift, thankfully. I think the heavy Triban let me get away with sloppy weight management under braking but I need to work on that now. The lever feel is awesome, needing just a tiny pull to generate what feels like huge braking force. The Ultegra groupset is a beautiful thing. Gear changes are buttery and this is probably the largest difference between the bikes.
Despite the fluro bar tape and booties, the stealth finish seems to be a bit deadly. I had three serious SMIDSY near-misses today and one minor one. There may have been swearing.
Overall, it's a lovely thing to ride and a beautiful thing to look at (it sits in my office, looking like it's doing 5kph just leaning against the wall), but it really needs a thorough spanking to bring it to life. I'm looking forward to upping my game and being able to ride it how it deserves to be ridden later this year.
Edited by Gruffy on Wednesday 11th March 13:54
Lovely bike. It'll be a learning curve adjusting to a completely different beast of course.
Do consider that 36 though. My lot all use 34:28 for the Alps, except one mate who had a 36 this year and it completely defeated him up the Galibier. That got changed for a regular compact the day he got back.
4000m climbing meters in I expect you will appreciate 34:28.
Do consider that 36 though. My lot all use 34:28 for the Alps, except one mate who had a 36 this year and it completely defeated him up the Galibier. That got changed for a regular compact the day he got back.
4000m climbing meters in I expect you will appreciate 34:28.
Beautiful looking bike. Have you got insurance for it?
I did a 125k ride today featuring 4 climbs around Surrey and then Box Hill. I went into the ride feeling a bit under the weather and stupidly only brought 2 snack bars and lots of caffeine gels. I blew up on 3 of the climbs and had to stop half way up. It scared me a bit as I totalled 1400m of climbing which is apparently the most elevation I've ridden and the first 2 TDF rides have got 700m and 2700m more than that! I really need to make more of an effort to drink and eat more as I think that would help a bit as I felt quite shaky after the first climb. A snack van after Box Hill looked as good as an oasis in the dessert and I stuffed myself with cake and fizzy drink and felt quite a bit better on the ride back into London. I think I am going to have to do loads of local hill repeats to get better at climbing as I am nowhere near as good as I thought I was.
I did a 125k ride today featuring 4 climbs around Surrey and then Box Hill. I went into the ride feeling a bit under the weather and stupidly only brought 2 snack bars and lots of caffeine gels. I blew up on 3 of the climbs and had to stop half way up. It scared me a bit as I totalled 1400m of climbing which is apparently the most elevation I've ridden and the first 2 TDF rides have got 700m and 2700m more than that! I really need to make more of an effort to drink and eat more as I think that would help a bit as I felt quite shaky after the first climb. A snack van after Box Hill looked as good as an oasis in the dessert and I stuffed myself with cake and fizzy drink and felt quite a bit better on the ride back into London. I think I am going to have to do loads of local hill repeats to get better at climbing as I am nowhere near as good as I thought I was.
j00pY said:
Beautiful looking bike. Have you got insurance for it?
I did a 125k ride today featuring 4 climbs around Surrey and then Box Hill. I went into the ride feeling a bit under the weather and stupidly only brought 2 snack bars and lots of caffeine gels. I blew up on 3 of the climbs and had to stop half way up. It scared me a bit as I totalled 1400m of climbing which is apparently the most elevation I've ridden and the first 2 TDF rides have got 700m and 2700m more than that! I really need to make more of an effort to drink and eat more as I think that would help a bit as I felt quite shaky after the first climb. A snack van after Box Hill looked as good as an oasis in the dessert and I stuffed myself with cake and fizzy drink and felt quite a bit better on the ride back into London. I think I am going to have to do loads of local hill repeats to get better at climbing as I am nowhere near as good as I thought I was.
I was in the Box hill area today, Which hills gave you problems ?I did a 125k ride today featuring 4 climbs around Surrey and then Box Hill. I went into the ride feeling a bit under the weather and stupidly only brought 2 snack bars and lots of caffeine gels. I blew up on 3 of the climbs and had to stop half way up. It scared me a bit as I totalled 1400m of climbing which is apparently the most elevation I've ridden and the first 2 TDF rides have got 700m and 2700m more than that! I really need to make more of an effort to drink and eat more as I think that would help a bit as I felt quite shaky after the first climb. A snack van after Box Hill looked as good as an oasis in the dessert and I stuffed myself with cake and fizzy drink and felt quite a bit better on the ride back into London. I think I am going to have to do loads of local hill repeats to get better at climbing as I am nowhere near as good as I thought I was.
Barhatch Lane got me right at the steepest part at the top, Tanhurst Lane and Whitedown lane were the other 2. Strangely I got a PR up Box Hill even though I thought I was taking it easy (and looking into another dimension at times). My new bike only has a mid compact, but a 28 cassette. I don't think I'll be able to afford to change my crank to a full compact for TDPH but I will put a 32 cassette on the back or maybe use my old bike with a 54x32 combination if it rides okay after I have fixed it up.
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