Following on from this thread, which delivered varied results, what are 5 essential skills for roadies?
Bike Forum
What are the 5 essential Road Riding skills?
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Posted 9 months ago #
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9 lives and luck, amongst others
Posted 9 months ago # -
Handy with a Bic razor
Wear white socks
Have a Cervelo in your quiver
Mash a Compact chainset
Speak GarminPosted 9 months ago # -
1. Not huffing and puffing to overtake someone to then blow up and have them pass you.
2. Not doing the above repeatedly.
3. Buying a Ribble or other "value" brand.
4. Not wearing baggies.
5. Not having a mint/new Carradice saddlebag.Posted 9 months ago # -
^
Posted 9 months ago # -
1 - PLF
2 - Don't look like its hard work
3 - PLF
4 - PLF
and 5 - most who wear lycra seem to have a sizeable party keg under their lopsPosted 9 months ago # -
Always wear lycra
Use look cleats not spds
Wear a roadie helmet
Shave your legs
race everyone all of the timePosted 9 months ago # -
Looking miserable at all times.
Never acknowledging other riders.
Recounting how many people you 'beat' at non competitive events.
Never doing more than one turn on the front per hour and still managing to whine about the slow pace..
Over estimating by at least 30% distance and height climbed in any one ride.Posted 9 months ago # -
Hold your line, take your turn, don't cross your wheel in the pack, watch where you're gobbing
watch out for cars!
Posted 9 months ago # -
1. Look fast.
2. Look serious.
3. Look frame.
4. Look back in anger.
5. Look mum, no hands.Posted 9 months ago # -
don simon, brilliant )
1) asking long-answer-needed q's on the climbs
2) breathing through the ears
3) making 80's kit last into the 00's
4) knowing all the rules, even the ones no-one else knows
5) asking "do you do discount for 'xx' road club?" on a new inner tube without shame or fearPosted 9 months ago # -
1/ Strong Legs (uphills)
2/ Big Kahunas (descents)
3/ Thick Skin
4/ Shaved Legs
5/ Sense of Humour (hopefully)Posted 9 months ago # -
the same as above
Posted 9 months ago # -
Socks on the outside of shoes, never did understand that one
Posted 9 months ago # -
The ability to take a top cap on and off
The ability to remove and replace a stem.
The ability to remove spacers.
The ability to cut a steerer.
Follow Rule #1 at all times.Posted 9 months ago # -
Pretty well covered there.....
Never bob your shoulders.
Never leave your group to chase another rider.
If you fray a cable, wait til dark then ride home.
No spares on the bike.
Best bike for race day only.Posted 9 months ago # -
Try not to fall asleep with the dullness of it all.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Look completely and utterly stupid, but think you look cool x 4. Oh, and be miserable.
Posted 9 months ago # -
HTFU x5
Posted 9 months ago # -
Hide in a large bunch of other like-minded roadies
Dont call sportives races THEY ARE NOT!
Dont get tri bars, they are for time trials and triathletes
Dont Half wheel
Learn all the behind the back hand signalsPosted 9 months ago # -
1. Pedal Hard
2. Pedal Harder
3. Pedal Even Harder
4. Keep Pedaling
5 Don`t ever drop of the back there is no way back
Posted 9 months ago # -
Massive belly stretching the lycra
Posted 9 months ago # -
Socks on the outside of shoes, never did understand that one
It's like superman's pants innit, it gives you feet of steel for pressing on the pedals hard for 100 miles at a time.
(These skills seem to be about being a 'roadie' not simply 'road riding' - where is the line? Personally i use a camelback on long solo road rides, one benefit is it helps make sure the club guys know i'm a mountainbiker first and foremost.)
Posted 9 months ago # -
Socks on the outside of shoes, never did understand that one
That goes back donkeys years, way before overshoes came about. Wooly oversocks are nice mid season.Jameso - seems silly not to use the bottle bosses/cages usually provided
Posted 9 months ago # -
one benefit is it helps make sure the club guys know i'm a mountainbiker first and foremost
Do you wear your peaked helemt whilst driving too?
1) Your speed is a function of your power output v's your wind and road resistance, remember this at all times.
2) Maximise power output.
3) Minimise resistance.
4) Wear garish lycra.
5) Don't obey 'the rules'.Posted 9 months ago # -
Follow the rules. Especially rule 5
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm about to break all those rulles at once, as I'm an MTB'r starting to ride a roadie for trainnig this winter,
a) I shall be using a peaked helmet
b) I shall be using SPD's
c) I shall be using a (small) camelback *ducks*
d) I won't be shaving my legs
e) I shall be racing other roadie's an no doubt losing 100 yrds down the road*leaves quickly*
Posted 9 months ago # -
Jameso - seems silly not to use the bottle bosses/cages usually provided
I usually do, but spare tube, pump, tool, phone, jacket etc makes sense in a small camelback. I can carry more than 1.5l water too. tbh i hate near-dislocating my elbow trying to get stuff out of a jersey pocket when I'm tired. For a local spin i'd use pockets and cages and maybe a saddlepack, for a 100+ miler in mixed weather the camelback's good. I'm used to it from mountainbiking anyway.
I also add a few kg to it most of the time for training benefit, get used to carrying that extra 7-8lbs in a bag and 2 full bottles and you notice it when it's not there. Like the old winter bike effect really, and I use one of those too.
Anyway - not an essential road skill! But going uphill quickly is and this is my way of getting faster.
Posted 9 months ago # -
1. Anticipation of vehicles' actions
2. Seeing vehicles' actions
3. Reacting to vehicles' actions
4. Shouting appropriate swear words at vehicles
5. High boredom threshold.Posted 9 months ago # -
one benefit is it helps make sure the club guys know i'm a mountainbiker first and foremost
Do you wear your peaked helemt whilst driving too?
i don't drive ) don't take the mtb / roadie thing too seriously from me, i only said that as it seems some people are so sensitive to it. I've been suprised by the difference in some rider's reaction by the kit i use in some local rides + sportives. maybe it's nothing to do with kit but experience says it probably is. like a dedicated road club guy is somehow a more 'valid' road rider than me becuase they abide by the rules. i love road bikes, spent as much time this summer on road as off it, i just don't care much for following form and use what makes sense that day.
i do wear a peaked lid on the road bike when it's going to be a wet day, but there's times when i'll grab the roadie cap and lid combo too. whatever's first to hand from the bike-kit pile.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I just don't understand why anyone would carry a camelbak when they don't have to. I'd rather not use one on the mtb... with road jerseys, bottle mounts and a little tri-bag why not just enjoy the freedom?
Posted 9 months ago # -
what yeti said it is just something that sits on your back and makes you sweat I dont even use it for local MTB rides
i hate near-dislocating my elbow trying to get stuff out of a jersey pocket when I'm tired.
had any injuries wiping your bum?
back OT
1. Road craft/awarness/confidence
2. Fitness
3. Bike handling - miss pothiles cycle near someone
4. Fitness
5. FitnessPosted 9 months ago # -
Mickey taking aside, I actually like the rules, the good ones that is. I couldn't give a stuff about sunglasses for instance.
The whole neat and tidy package that surrounds a club ride makes a refreshing change to normal often chaotic mountainbike rides I used to go on.
With me it starts the day/night before.
The bike has to be clean, immaculate and working without fault.
My kit is clean and ready to go
Food and drink is ready.
Spare tube is compressed and along with a pump all laid out for me.
Both face and legs (if it's summer) are freshly shaved.
Then onto the bike.
Club runs are efficient and very social. And having some rules means that a visiting rider can just slot in anywhere.I like the dress codes. Like when to wear shorts/three quarters/longs and wet weather gear.
I can't see what the harm is anyway. TBH if you look at mountainbiking there are hundreds of rules....just that they're all underhand?Posted 9 months ago # -
I usually do, but spare tube, pump, tool, phone, jacket etc makes sense in a small camelback. I can carry more than 1.5l water too. tbh i hate near-dislocating my elbow trying to get stuff out of a jersey pocket when I'm tired. For a local spin i'd use pockets and cages and maybe a saddlepack, for a 100+ miler in mixed weather the camelback's good. I'm used to it from mountainbiking anyway.
Yesterday I rode my road bike. I carried a spare tube, pump, tool, phone, jacket (usually don't but it was raining when I left), some food, keys, wallet, patches. All went in jersey pockets, and it wasn't bulky apart from the one pocket with my jacket in.
As for more then 1.5L of water, why? Maybe if you're col bashing in 30 degree heat, and don't want to stop, but anything less then 50 miles and I only tend to use one bottle anyway.
Mickey taking aside, I actually like the rules, the good ones that is.
You guys might not know this, but I quite like the rules too. Only one I don't quite agree with is #60 I think, although I constantly break #30. Really should sort that out.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I can't say I've ever felt the need or pressure to conform to any dress or kit codes road or MTB
Maybe I'm just thick skinned?I like the dress codes. Like when to wear shorts/three quarters/longs and wet weather gear.
There's codes/rules for what you can wear on certain days? - never realised that, I thought it was each to their own really
Some of the people I sometimes ride with are constantly colder than me.
Some off them do seem to have the physique of a 13yr old Romanian gymnast thoughPosted 9 months ago #
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