The Surly Road Cycling Thread

[G650 13195]

I guess the Cybertruck is the new red Dodge Ram

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

MS 150 is  in the books. Thanks to those who donated. Resting is over and will get back to riding tomorrow.

Nasty headwind on Saturday. Completely demoralizing.

Thinking of doing that Lukemia charity ride around Lake Tahoe next year.  Anybody done it?

[CycleTex87 2944]

You must have come from Austin. 

[APEX 63]

On 5/3/2024 at 9:52 PM, Jiggy-Z said:

MS 150 is  in the books. Thanks to those who donated. Resting is over and will get back to riding tomorrow.

Nasty headwind on Saturday. Completely demoralizing.

Thinking of doing that Lukemia charity ride around Lake Tahoe next year.  Anybody done it?

I too did my first MS150 from Houston so we had tail wind/cross wind both days. The hardest was the last 14 miles into Collie Station. Holy shit the cross wind was brutal.  Rode with team sponsorship so had a cot and air-conditioned sleeping arrangement.  Didn't have to tent camp.  Saw several bad wrecks on Sunday due to wet roads.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

1 hour ago, APEX said:

I too did my first MS150 from Houston so we had tail wind/cross wind both days. The hardest was the last 14 miles into Collie Station. Holy shit the cross wind was brutal.  Rode with team sponsorship so had a cot and air-conditioned sleeping arrangement.  Didn't have to tent camp.  Saw several bad wrecks on Sunday due to wet roads.

Came from Austin, so Sunday was not bad at all except for my hangover.  I really thought Sunday was going to get canceled and behaved accordingly on Saturday to my own detriment.

I am really surprised Austin riders did not have a bunch of heat related issues on Saturday.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

Anyone done any road cycling in Vail area. Staying in Eagle Vail area.

I can do the Vail Pass to Frisco, but that is a long day from Eagle Vail ?72 miles with elevation elevation above sea level for this flatlander). Im going to do it but that cant be a regular thing since I have duties when the kids wake up at 11am or so and want to just be able to ride the whole way without doing any driving.

Any gravel stuff or extremely easy mountain bike stuff ( easy hardtail) close by in Eagle Vail/ Avon? Will bring both bikes. Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

[EastHorn 280]

27 minutes ago, Jiggy-Z said:

Anyone done any road cycling in Vail area. Staying in Eagle Vail area.

I can do the Vail Pass to Frisco, but that is a long day from Eagle Vail ?72 miles with elevation elevation above sea level for this flatlander). Im going to do it but that cant be a regular thing since I have duties when the kids wake up at 11am or so and want to just be able to ride the whole way without doing any driving.

Any gravel stuff or extremely easy mountain bike stuff ( easy hardtail) close by in Eagle Vail/ Avon? Will bring both bikes. Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

Do the pass.  There is a trail so no cars.  Just do what you can.  Plus it will effectively be downhill one way.  

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

51 minutes ago, EastHorn said:

Do the pass.  There is a trail so no cars.  Just do what you can.  Plus it will effectively be downhill one way.  

Plan on it. Both ways of course.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

Back from Vail. Man, what a place!!!

We stayed in Avon and commuted to Vail (my kids were competing in the Go Pro Mountain Games)

Did Avon to the Vail Pass and back. 47 miles with 4000' of elevation change. Cool ride with the climb into alpine forest and snow on the way out and an easy coast on the way back.

Also did another interesting route from Avon to the Wolcott divide, which is heading west into canyon desert like terrain. 44 miles with 3500' of elevation change ( i think). Kind of a dangerous ride due to traffic and not much shoulder.

Altogether, managed 150 miles in 4 days of riding plus a few hikes. We are going next year for sure.

First 2 are vail pass. Then Wolcott.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

Elevation really didn't bother me all that much, but I was not in a group and I was stopping pretty often to take pics. Climbs were long but not too steep, although Vail Pass had a Category 1 climb 7% over 8 miles.

When I started cycling 2 years ago,  I never dreamed of all the cool places it could take me.

More pics:

[CycleTex87 2944]

I wanted to do Vail pass so bad when I lived in Denver, but wife, small kids, etc. never had time.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

17 minutes ago, CycleTex87 said:

I wanted to do Vail pass so bad when I lived in Denver, but wife, small kids, etc. never had time.

It is worth it. I packed in a lot of riding and hill work before I went, but even with the inclines and elevation it felt great. 

I suspect the temps had a lot to do with that. I was working hard but was pretty dry when I finished and didn't drink near as much water as I do in Austin.

The heat really does take it out of you, especially with the high humidity of late.

It was so much fun. I felt like a kid out there just riding his bike to go see stuff.  I am really stoked to train hard and be ready when a cool opportunity comes along.

It also, just goes to show you, cycling is not just about packing in the miles and upping your speed all the time. Just get out there and ride and see where it takes you.

[CycleTex87 2944]

Indeed.

[G650 13195]

On 6/11/2024 at 11:53 AM, Jiggy-Z said:

Elevation really didn't bother me all that much, but I was not in a group and I was stopping pretty often to take pics. Climbs were long but not too steep, although Vail Pass had a Category 1 climb 7% over 8 miles.

When I started cycling 2 years ago,  I never dreamed of all the cool places it could take me.

More pics:

That is amazing!

 

 

Meanwhile in Mexico

https://www.wired.com/story/silicon-valleys-fanciest-stolen-bikes-trafficked-mastermind-jalisco-mexico/

Edited June 20 by G650

[CycleTex87 2944]

I like that story. Both my kids had their bikes stolen in college.  We had paid good money for both those bikes.  They weren’t super high end but they weren’t Walmart either.  We sort of wrote it off as a rite of passage, but the sense of violation and sting lingers a lot longer. 

Edited June 21 by CycleTex87

[Bodhi 1086]

On 6/11/2024 at 9:53 AM, Jiggy-Z said:

When I started cycling 2 years ago,  I never dreamed of all the cool places it could take me.

I live in CO and started MTB again last year. One of my early observations was exactly what you shared above. This last winter I realized I didn’t want to go 5 months without riding while trail conditions weren’t suitable. Borrowed a friends gravel bike and got into that. Bought a gravel bike to add to my growing collection this spring. Mostly ride gravel or non technical single track on it but occasionally do group road rides in the mountains. Yesterday was a doozie, 62 miles 6.5k elevation gain up to 11k feet. 

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

3 hours ago, Bodhi said:

I live in CO and started MTB again last year. One of my early observations was exactly what you shared above. This last winter I realized I didn’t want to go 5 months without riding while trail conditions weren’t suitable. Borrowed a friends gravel bike and got into that. Bought a gravel bike to add to my growing collection this spring. Mostly ride gravel or non technical single track on it but occasionally do group road rides in the mountains. Yesterday was a doozie, 62 miles 6.5k elevation gain up to 11k feet. 

Nice bike. I want to live on Colorado so bad for cool rides like that with amazing views.

[Al_4_ISU 12229]

Breaking in a newb. It was more work than I expected.

[Al_4_ISU 12229]

23 hours ago, Bodhi said:

I live in CO and started MTB again last year. One of my early observations was exactly what you shared above. This last winter I realized I didn’t want to go 5 months without riding while trail conditions weren’t suitable. Borrowed a friends gravel bike and got into that. Bought a gravel bike to add to my growing collection this spring. Mostly ride gravel or non technical single track on it but occasionally do group road rides in the mountains. Yesterday was a doozie, 62 miles 6.5k elevation gain up to 11k feet. 

I need to get a gravel bike.  My fat tire works great for it, but it's just so much more work.  You wouldn't want to put in 50 miles on that fucker.  And we have nothing but endless gravel in the Midwest.

[G650 13195]

2 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I need to get a gravel bike.  My fat tire works great for it, but it's just so much more work.  You wouldn't want to put in 50 miles on that fucker.  And we have nothing but endless gravel in the Midwest.

I actually use my gravel bike for my training bike. Gives me the option to dip off onto hardpack if I want.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

9 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I need to get a gravel bike.  My fat tire works great for it, but it's just so much more work.  You wouldn't want to put in 50 miles on that fucker.  And we have nothing but endless gravel in the Midwest.

I use my Ti  CX bike for almost everything by swapping wheels. I am seriously considering moving up to 32mm tires (from 28mm) in my road set up and forgetting about the swapping. I run a 1 x 12 set up.

[G650 13195]

51 minutes ago, Jiggy-Z said:

I use my Ti  CX bike for almost everything by swapping wheels. I am seriously considering moving up to 32mm tires (from 28mm) in my road set up and forgetting about the swapping. I run a 1 x 12 set up.

I have 30s on my roadbike and 33s on my gravel, Ultradynamico Cava's. They roll pretty smooth. Biggest difference is really the aero penalty from the wider and shallower rims.

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

1 hour ago, G650 said:

I have 30s on my roadbike and 33s on my gravel, Ultradynamico Cava's. They roll pretty smooth. Biggest difference is really the aero penalty from the wider and shallower rims.

Yes. When my carbon wheels were out of commission, I used my alloy gravel wheels which have 38s , for my road rides. With proper inflation, I noticed no difference in performance despite the alloys being much heavier. The 38 tires do have a nice smooth bottom, so that also helps v. more aggressive tread.

Really I was just pointing out that I was trying to whittle it down to just one bike, well plus a mountain bike.

[Orale 1079]

Anyone done a longer cycling tour in the Northeast? I'm exploring a two week scenic ride somewhere in the NH, Vermont, Maine area in September camping where I can. I'm looking at different routes here https://cyclingnewengland.wordpress.com/bicycle-touring/. 

 

[Jiggy-Z 3421]

On 6/25/2024 at 4:09 PM, Orale said:

Anyone done a longer cycling tour in the Northeast? I'm exploring a two week scenic ride somewhere in the NH, Vermont, Maine area in September camping where I can. I'm looking at different routes here https://cyclingnewengland.wordpress.com/bicycle-touring/. 

 

Always wanted to do something like that out west. In fact, I built my bike for that specific purpose.

It's nice that it is fully supported so you dont have to cart a bunch of shit with you...which I also want to do.

[CycleTex87 2944]

Buddy of mine and his son did the Continental Divide route a bunch of years ago.  Took them 60 days, and they camped mostly.  I don't think they went into Canada, but did start in Mexico.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/great-divide-mountain-bike-route-gdmbr/

 

[sasquatch69 576]

I'm a regular in the MTB thread, but haven't posted here because I haven't owned a road bike in 20+ years.  However, with all the rain this spring I ended up riding my MTB on a lot of pavement while the dirt trails were closed, and realized I enjoyed it.  I got into a conversation with a neighbor that led to me being gifted a 2009 Felt Z80. I'm excited, but feel like a newbie in terms of this type of bike and geometry.

I know this bike is 15 years old, but the reviews when it was new are good, and I feel like it'll be a good gateway drug to see if I can adjust.  It's a 61cm; I'm 6'0" 200lb so that seems a little on the large size for me, but it felt like a decent fit when I rode it a few houses down and back - and given that it was free, I'd like to give it a shot.

Aside from getting the obvious checked out at my LBS (tires, brakes and gears), anything else I need to watch out for or consider for an upgrade?

Here are the specs: https://99spokes.com/bikes/felt/2009/z80   

[destroya 358]

10 hours ago, sasquatch69 said:

I'm a regular in the MTB thread, but haven't posted here because I haven't owned a road bike in 20+ years.  However, with all the rain this spring I ended up riding my MTB on a lot of pavement while the dirt trails were closed, and realized I enjoyed it.  I got into a conversation with a neighbor that led to me being gifted a 2009 Felt Z80. I'm excited, but feel like a newbie in terms of this type of bike and geometry.

I know this bike is 15 years old, but the reviews when it was new are good, and I feel like it'll be a good gateway drug to see if I can adjust.  It's a 61cm; I'm 6'0" 200lb so that seems a little on the large size for me, but it felt like a decent fit when I rode it a few houses down and back - and given that it was free, I'd like to give it a shot.

Aside from getting the obvious checked out at my LBS (tires, brakes and gears), anything else I need to watch out for or consider for an upgrade?

Here are the specs: https://99spokes.com/bikes/felt/2009/z80   

Congrats!
 

Aside from what you’ve listed, I wouldn’t spend a dime upgrading a 15 year old bike that was too big. If you wanted to spend the money you could get it professionally fitted, which may lead to you buying a new stem. 

[Basil 733]

Hi everybody! I’m 47 and blew out part of my knee running high mileage. Surgery was in early May. I’d like to just go right back to running when I’m cleared in a couple of weeks but I’ve been highly urged to take up biking as well to reduce impact on my knees. I know very little about road biking.

I’m getting a used Roubaix this weekend and got some basic kit (helmet, jersey, strobe, etc.) from Trek. I plan to jump in and start with a 15-mile ride. I’d like to do a 35 mile ride with the Trek group at the end of August and a 60-miler with my brother and friends in October. No idea how feasible that it but going to try.

Any advice or words of wisdom for an older biking newb?

Edit- I did get sized and a 56 or 58 should work for me. I’m 6’ 170 lbs. with a longer torso. The Roubaix is 56 cm.

[Goofyboy 3002]

Any opinions on indoor trainers? I’m look at the Wahoo KickR Core. Thoughts?

[baboso 6035]

13 hours ago, Basil said:

Hi everybody! I’m 47 and blew out part of my knee running high mileage. Surgery was in early May. I’d like to just go right back to running when I’m cleared in a couple of weeks but I’ve been highly urged to take up biking as well to reduce impact on my knees. I know very little about road biking.

I’m getting a used Roubaix this weekend and got some basic kit (helmet, jersey, strobe, etc.) from Trek. I plan to jump in and start with a 15-mile ride. I’d like to do a 35 mile ride with the Trek group at the end of August and a 60-miler with my brother and friends in October. No idea how feasible that it but going to try.

Any advice or words of wisdom for an older biking newb?

Edit- I did get sized and a 56 or 58 should work for me. I’m 6’ 170 lbs. with a longer torso. The Roubaix is 56 cm.

Don't go cheap on shorts or a bib.  Clip-in pedals if the bike doesn't have them.  I like Shimano's.  

[Jerry Callo 8630]

12 hours ago, Goofyboy said:

Any opinions on indoor trainers? I’m look at the Wahoo KickR Core. Thoughts?

I have a couple Cyclops fluid trainers that work fine.  Not high tech, though.  Can't give you any advise on specific brands, but I will tell you to check craigslist and Facebook marketplace.  I got newly new trainers for less than half of the cost new off of craigslist.  These are the types of things that people think they need/want and then end up not using.

[destroya 358]

On 7/15/2024 at 8:42 PM, Basil said:

Hi everybody! I’m 47 and blew out part of my knee running high mileage. Surgery was in early May. I’d like to just go right back to running when I’m cleared in a couple of weeks but I’ve been highly urged to take up biking as well to reduce impact on my knees. I know very little about road biking.

I’m getting a used Roubaix this weekend and got some basic kit (helmet, jersey, strobe, etc.) from Trek. I plan to jump in and start with a 15-mile ride. I’d like to do a 35 mile ride with the Trek group at the end of August and a 60-miler with my brother and friends in October. No idea how feasible that it but going to try.

Any advice or words of wisdom for an older biking newb?

Edit- I did get sized and a 56 or 58 should work for me. I’m 6’ 170 lbs. with a longer torso. The Roubaix is 56 cm.

Those are solid goals and should be doable. 

 

My standard advice for anyone getting into cycling, is to get a good fit.  You'll be in the same position for 3-4 hours on a 60 mile ride and want your body to be efficient and comfortable.  Also, get a really good saddle.

 

I think there's three parts of bike fitness: 1)cardio 2)legs and 3)the ability to be on a bike for a real long time (this is where a good fit comes in).  The first two should be pretty easy for you, since you have an athletic background.  For the third, spend a bunch of time on the bike; there's a ton of value in chill rides that get your body used to being on the bike.  

 

Lastly, don't be stingy with chamois cream. 

[CycleTex87 2944]

@Basil I’ve done both of those things.  Knees are gone now so no more running for me.  Your lungs should translate over.  The leg muscles don’t exactly match up but you should adjust fairly quickly. What others have said is true. All the points at which you touch the bike need to be carefully adjusted.  A thirty minute run translates to a two hour ride, so you find areas of your body that hurt that didn’t running, like your lower back for instance.  You just need time in the saddle. 

[CycleTex87 2944]

You might also look for a group ride to go out with, to help you learn some of the do’s and don'ts of road riding.  Hang at the back and watch what they do and how they interact.  My current favorite thing about riding is the group I ride with. 

[Basil 733]

Thank you all. The bike girl at Trek has been very helpful and invited on a 35 mile ride late August. Well see how the lead in to that goes.

Never thought about aches and pains from sitting in the same position for 2-4 hours. I have no ass and can’t sit on a plane for 3-4 hours without getting uncomfortable. I will go get fitted at Trek if they can stomach a Specialized in their store. If not, there’s other bike stores I’ve been to.

I’ve been working I a stationary rehabbing after surgery. Does the thigh burn go away at some point? Or is that just part of riding when you push it. The stat bike course put me on 8 & 9% grades that wore out my quads real fast.

[CycleTex87 2944]

Yep that’s where cycling is different than running. 

[0xdeadbeef 1614]

On 7/17/2024 at 4:04 PM, destroya said:

 Also, get a really good saddle.

 

This.  Good in this context doesn't necessarily mean any expensive saddle, it means good for you.  I swapped out a saddle a few years ago and the new saddle just hit me wrong.  I would get numb down below after about 30-40 minutes.  I moved from there to one that has a much larger center cut-out and no more problem.   I don't have any suggestion on how to test them other than see how it feels after an hour on the bike.

[Basil 733]

Yep that’s where cycling is different than running. 

Yes, cycling just makes your quads burn or the burn goes away?

[Goofyboy 3002]

Spend money on your contact point items - bib, seat, shoes, gloves. Long rides hurt if your gear is not comfy.

[CycleTex87 2944]

Cycling is much more quad specific than running. Look at the world class cyclists then the distance runners.  The burn should go away in time.  

[Basil 733]

Well, say day one of cycling did not go well. Went over the handlebars.

[TwiceHorn 30834]

2 hours ago, Basil said:

Well, say day one of cycling did not go well. Went over the handlebars.

Oof, what happened?  Little over-exuberant with the front brake?

[Goofyboy 3002]

Well, say day one of cycling did not go well. Went over the handlebars.

Forget to unclip?

[baboso 6035]

It's a fact of life that if you ride a road bike, you're going to go down at some point.  Good you got it out of the way early.

[Basil 733]

It was certainly a teaching moment.  I was riding a road bike like I would my trail bike and jumped up on an empty sidewalk to avoid some cars.  The sidewalk had a little curve I missed because I was looking back to see where I could jump back into the road.  Front wheel got caught between the sidewalk and the grass and I failed to pop it out.  The bike quickly came to a stop when I turned the handlebars and I kept going.  I feel pretty wrecked but will be fine.  I'm taking it as a warning from the "have some sense gods" and will be cycling more carefully from here on out.

[sasquatch69 576]

On 7/15/2024 at 8:39 AM, destroya said:

Congrats!
 

Aside from what you’ve listed, I wouldn’t spend a dime upgrading a 15 year old bike that was too big. If you wanted to spend the money you could get it professionally fitted, which may lead to you buying a new stem. 

Got the bike tuned up, spent some time getting seat height right and had a more upright stem put on since that's the stance I'm used to.  Put over 50mi on the bike this weekend and it's been fun getting used to a road bike again.  It's so lightweight and quiet after riding MTB for almost two decades.  Sure, it's probably a little big but I'm really enjoying it and not getting any weird aches or pains (yet).  

[CycleTex87 2944]

Is that GWH Bush Park by chance?

[Goofyboy 3002]

Watch out for the one bridge passed the Westhiemer parking lot going west. It can be slick.

[sasquatch69 576]

34 minutes ago, CycleTex87 said:

Is that GWH Bush Park by chance?

Nope, this is up in McKinney on their awesome Wilson Creek trail network.