I’ve been quite interested in getting a set for some time. I normally wear contacts with normal sunglasses but it would be nice to be able to just throw a pair of prescription riding glasses on. The only thing that puts me off is the misting up! Easy to take misting glasses off when you’ve got contacts in but a problem when wearing prescription glasses.

How do these prescription glasses perform?

Been using 9 speed power links on my 10 speed chain ever since I had it. Broke the original connecting pin fitting the chain.

tbh, if you’re doing singlespeed properly you won’t be sitting down much anyway

I tend to disagree with this, the more you can sit down on the climbs, the more grip you’ll get as you weight will be on the back wheel and it actually becomes easier than standing. My mate Mark Deacon is really good at this and he very rarely stands up on climbs. He was one of the few people who could actually keep riding at Twentyfour12 as his SS technique is so good. Together with his guts and determination it got him 2nd place in 24 solo.

Oh I could do with a set of clear lenses too!

If the OP had said this had happened after the stage I could understand, that’s the time to meet the public sign autographs etc. But you can’t expect professional athletes to do this sort of stuff just before they perform!

From my limited sporting experience, I know the last thing I want just before I start an event is to have my focus and preparations interrupted.

20 years ago almost to the day I had to make the heart breaking decision to retire from playing football! 🙁

It would be another 2 years and about 4 stone in weight gain before I took up MTBing!

I think the op can consider himself so much more awesome than new cyclists, well done.

+1 I think you’re just trying to make a point that you’ve not jumped on the TDF and Olympic band wagon! 😉

Yep, same thing happened with some Rebas I bought from On One. Luckily I’m sponsored by Loco Tuning so Simon was able to sort them out for me.

I suppose if you live local it’s a useful addition to a loop.

Not ridden mine since Twentyfour12! 🙁 I picked up a thumb injury which is taking ages to heal and means riding rigid is just too painful at the moment.

Hmmm. He always insists on bringing the dog whenever we go for a ride, much to my annoyance.

Seems to me you have issues with the whole thing about your mate bringing the dog so maybe you should talk to him about it!

17 miles is probably a bit far when it’s warm. My mate sometimes brings his dog and I’ve seen us do 20 mile rides with the dog keeping up no problem. I’ve also seen him have to cut a ride short because the dog was struggling. Like us they have good days and bad days.

+1

doesnt a 9spd ‘powerlink’ on a 10spd chain, foul on the cassette?

Not noticed it on mine. I basically broke the Shimano connecting pin when fitting the chain so tried a 9 speed powerlink and it’s been on there ever since. I’ve have heard of others using them too.

Been running Stans with yellow tape on standard Bonty and Maxxis for the last 12 months on a 29er running about 20psi on the front and 25psi on the back. Not had a single incident!

Of course, you know what’ll happen now I’ve said that! 🙁

Better still, use a reusable link. Note that this needs to be a 10 speed specific one.

A 9 speed reusable/power link will work fine, I’ve been using one for the last 5 months with a 10 speed chain.

There’s a short section of the Taff Trail in Cardiff as it exits the north end of Haley Park which is for all intents and purposes a widening of the pavement. It’s about 400 metres long, crosses 4 junctions where cyclists are expected to give way and is a right royal pain as the line of sight at the junctions is mostly obstructed.

So I use the road that runs parallel for this sections because the cycle path is so badly designed. Quite often get a “use the cycle path” shout from passing motorists!

On One do chain tugs for £10 each , these work really well for tensioning up the rear wheel.

Just to clarify something, the chain tug doesn’t tension the chain as such, you adjust it to stop the wheel sliding in the dropouts once the wheel has been set and the QR has been tightened. I position the QR lever on the opposite side to the chain tug. I’m not sure how important it is to do this but it seems to work for me.

Some cheese! It was in the same type of bag as my sandwiches and I picked it up by mistake! 🙂

Full course route here

In my experience it works quite well on my Edge 305. I’ve used it a couple of times when I’ve planned routes on Garmin Connect then uploaded them to the device. The downside is as mentioned above, it’s quite easy to go off course but the device tells you within 20-30 metres.

Obviously, it shouldn’t be totally relied on and a map as a backup is always a good idea.

The weather was coming in quick at the 80/50 junction and I took the 50 option, also receiving the blue dot of shame on my number plate.

It was possibly the heaviest rain/hail stones I’ve ever ridden in and happened for me right out on the moor at just about the most exposed place!

It wasn’t me that’s for sure! 😛

Feeling seriously stiff this morning after going off far too quickly then paying the price later on! Recovery ride later if the rain stops! 😉

Yes, and I am talking specifically about the bit between town and Castell Coch, that I used to use. Mostly on weekends, when it was crowded. Although I still think I’d go along the A4054 anyway even if I was going all the way to Ponty.

On the rare occasion I’ve had to work weekends and commuted I’d agree you do get a lot of walkers. They seem to be a different breed too who are totally oblivious to any other trail users. During the commute hours walker seem to be more aware and accommodating.

As for the A4054 v Taff Trail to Pontypridd, if anything the TT surface is better and of course has no traffic to contend with. However, it is about a mile further so takes about 5 minutes longer. But I’ll put up with that not to have to ride in traffic.

Also, in Cardiff there is a traffic free route from the city centre out to the nearest woodland for some decent trails. I don’t use it, I take the road cos it’s quicker, and better exercise.

Do you mean the Taff Trail? If so I use it every day from Pontypridd into the centre of Cardiff. I really don’t understand your comments to be honest. The trail is tarmac’d throughout, is mainly a very good surface and almost entirely traffic free. Vast sections are fairly quiet around commute hours as far as walkers are concerned and when I do encounter them a quick ring of my bell has them moving to let me safely pass without slowing. It’s only when I get into the centre of the city that I tend to get slowed down a little due to walker/cyclist congestion.

If I used the road during those hours I would be cycling with nose to nose traffic and probably have to encounter in the region of 15 to 20 sets of traffic lights. How can this be faster and better exercise when I’d be constantly slowing down for lights and edging down the side of cars and lorries?

According to Garmin Connect my top speed on my commute this morning was 5495.1 mph! May not be correct though 😉

Are you soloing, pairs or 4 man team?

Maybe a nice comfy FS if your soloing but the HT otherwise. Having said that I’ve always soloed on a HT so what do I know! 😉

Bontrager 29.3’s have transformed my rigid 29er. I’m running mine tubless and can get away with running them at around 17-18psi. High air volume, quite light, grippy and are good for most conditions with the exception of really bad mud in which they’ll clog up.

Beavers’s are a good option as an all rounder too but I’ve only used mine on the back.

90% of my commute, usually about a 30 miles round trip is on the Taff Trail cycle path. This is great as there are no cars, lorries etc to contend with but my average is usually drastically reduced the closer I get to Cardiff due to the increasing amount of dog walkers and cyclists. Normally average around 17mph on the way in and 15.5mph back. There are a few more climbs on the way back but it’s mainly quite flat.

Yeah, I just top it up each evening with a foot pump. After 2 or 3 days it settles down.

I’ve had 3 double air beds now and they all lose air overnight for the first couple of days. Something to do with changing air pressures I think I read somewhere?

I’ve just entered the Saturday 78k Chainreaction Abergavenny Marathon. Not done one of the Chainreaction events before so can’t comment on how they are organised but I know the riding in the area is good and the course description sounds fun.

I like DHB stuff and Wiggle have a sale on at the moment.

Thanks for that, I also like the way it rides but I’ve only tried the CAAD and an Allez so far.

What are your views on the Cannondale CAAD 8 Tiagra? Been looking for something on the Cycle to Work scheme and my LBS recommended it.

Do you need a mud tyre? I mean unless you are riding in constant muddy trails (and I mean thick mud not wet fire roads that spray a bit of mud your way) then mud tyres aren’t really the way to go. I would go for something general purpose.

I think my Gill eVent (Speed Pro?)has reached the end of it’s natural life. I’ll give a go with some re-proofer, but I think it’s probably a gonna.

I thought the whole idea of eVent fabric was that you don’t re-proof it, simply wash it and steam iron it on a medium setting. That’s what the instructions say on my 2 year old DHB eVent jacket. Always beads water fine for a while after ironing.

AndrewJ – I know the feeling. Legs felt fine but my shoulders were nailed and hurt my wrist too.

Oh yeah forgot about the wrists, I hadn’t ridden the rigid SS properly for 4 or 5 months and only brought it as a spare bike “just in case”.

Also supported, AndrewJ (who did 10 laps in 12 hours before having had enough, again nearly all of those on singlespeed), in his 40s, with two teenagers and a full time job – he’s my hero

Haha you are too kind buddy! 🙂 It was a real shame to quit at midnight but there was no way I could push/carry/trudge through the mud any longer. My riding legs were feeling fine but my walking running and bike carrying limbs were shot. It was great to get back out later for a lap though and ride with my great friend Mark Deacon on his last lap and see him get second place. His ride was truly awesome and I have nothing but admiration for him keeping going in those conditions as I do for everyone who completed the full 24h.

I’ve just trashed my SLX big ring and have a spare 9 speed in the shed. Going to fit it and try it this morning so I’ll let you know if it works.

No wheel sensors on mine or my mates bikes.