I agree with what the previous two guys said. Slow down! Go for a time period rather than distance. I would stop the interval training until you are pain free. I still think going natural a the same time might help in the long run, but only if you listen to your body when it says its time to slow down or stop.

I’ve been runing with a guy from the office who.is fit but new to running for the last few months on and off,we’ve only just got the pace down to 30min 5km’s. I’ve been judging the pace by talking to him during the runs if he can’t run and talk we’fe going to fast.

It’s kept him injury free and he is still motivated to do it,although he also doesn’t believe in th bare foot philosophy – but i think that’s more to do with the cost! The vibram stuff is stupi expensive,i am sure there are other alternatives but can’t point you in an direction i’m afraid. What do you run in now? If its th good old silvershadows then you’re pretty much running barefoot anyway.

It’s getting harder and harder for me to not just go and buy one!

Surfer as roper says suggesting someone who at best is returning from 8 year
s off trains like an olympic athlete is daft. until you are willing to look at the evidence i have nothing more to say to you.

Btw i have nothing for or against interval running. Other than to mention one of the athletes mentioned in born to run seemed to use it very effectivly.

Surfer have you read any of the stuff i mentioned?

Its a shame Surfer is so quick to dismiss other peoples advice because his final paragraph is very good advice.

read the books and do a google search for the harvard bare foot running website. Keep an open mind and i swear it’ll change your life IF you are patient and keep things slow, building up over a long period of time.

You don’t need to be blowing chunks for a run to be effective!

I rode afan last weekend. As already mentioned it nice and flowy with not too many technical climbs. I was absolutely shattered when i rode it, as a result rode into a couple of trees, but none of it is bad enough to cause a problem to new riders as long as they are confident.

There is one bit at the end of the ride which is very challenging but if needs be you can just get off and walk.

Have fun!

CCDB?

Barefoot running ifdone properly (in yhos case slowly) is probably more likely to provide a natural solution. If you can cope there is another book i have been recommended called the lore of running. I havent read it ye.i reckon it’ll take a year or more to read!

From all that has been said on here i reckon i’ll be looking at the ac if not the cc. But expect to use it for pretty much everything relying on my lack of balls to keep me inside the bikesoperating evelope.

The differences between order and delivery, how major are we talking?

Read the book born to run. It might go some way to helping. Or look for the thread on here about barefoot running. You may well be doing too much too early too fast

Robdob- without wishinf to atart a huge debate there is evidence,it’s juat all anecdotal. Until there has ben a rigorous scientific investigation comparing the responses between materials and geometry then you can’t just dismiss the anecdotal stuff.

I agree there are a huge number of factors which influence the way a bike will feel, but you cannot dismiss frame material altogether!

I have to admit one of the reasons I was looking at the croix de fer is for the steel frame…

I used to have a beautiful steel framed rigid bike until it was pinched… I think I am going to follow my heart on this one… It’s hard to get the croix de fer outta my head. A bit like that stunning burd at uni that you never quite had the balls to chase properly……….

Will have to look into that a little more then.

Ajf – it is a cro mo frame so its never going to as light as an alu or carbon one. I can’t decide if the weight actually bothers me or not… i don’t intend to race it or do epic trips on it… thats what the mtb is for.

Hmm this is going to need some more thought….

Croix de fer wins out right on looks.

Cube on weight (although to be fair I can’t find a weight for the focus Mares AX)

Finishing kit – If I go to £1099 the focus wins with Ultegra – need to spend another £300 on the cube for the same kit… Although the focus might not be 10 speed Ultegra (would it be 9 speed on a 2011 bike?)

Price, focus top of the range is within reach £1099, I can get last years Croix de fer for £850 and the cube floats on a cloud of lightness in the middle…..

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm…. Something to sleep on me thinks.

and only just over 21lb. Not that weight is important!….

Ps am I right in thinking the Ultegra groupset is above the 105 which is in turn above the tiagra?

Mountain bikes I can do. this is fairly new!

I have to admit, the finishing kit on the Cube and Focus far outstrips that on the de fer…

They both look pretty as well… trouble is I have seen the de fer in the flesh and it makes me go all a bit weak at the knees! Is this a heart over head moment!?

Blimey Sam, what have you built the ion up for? Dropping out the back of a plane!

T1000 – is that an offer?

ooooh and I could get a 30 day test ride with the focus too…. It’s all very tempting.

Wiggle should stock the cube and de fer so I can compare them for 30 days and then take my pick!

yeah, I went in after the one for £850 but it was at a different shop, they showed me the 2011 model and you don’t seem to get anything different for the extra £100 they charge, apart from a slightly thicker mount.

Coming of a 35lb plus mtb though…. wouldn’t a 26lb bike feel a lot lighter? My commute is between 12 and 15 miles each way depending on how much fun I decide to have, do it in about and hour and 15 mins on the mountain bike, got it down to about an hour just with the addition of slicks. But it’s just not right for the commute (or going up hill)

That cube is very pretty, looks like it wants to go fast and just keep pushing!!

Nick – I’ll have to avoid the Vapour then… just in case I end up getting a Nicolai… I don’t think it counts as being a bit different if someone else has exactly the same livery in the shed!!!!!! Haha.

That Schwinn just doesn’t do it for me.

deep_river – What size is medium in cm? Any more details on spec?

Having only done an internet peruse, I have to say the complete de fer still is the sexiest of the lot.

I have no idea how the spec compares though in all honesty! Also I am not sure I can be bothered putting the time and effort in hunting around for decent deals for the parts so def going for complete bike.

Nick…. I am secretly very jealous although covering it by claiming I am checking other bikes before committing!!!!!

I have never ridden Talas before, but I have to admit I didn’t notice them, so that must be a good thing!

Lecht – I’ll be looking for an AC to demo when I am next out and about for a weekend of riding.

It is, but the intention is that it is a frame to keep. So it needs to be something I am absolutely happy with as I don’t want to be replacing after a few years.

I’d rather repair and update with parts. Hence looking at the more niche products which stay more or less the same through time!

Haven’t thought about 29er really no. I knida liked the idea of drop bars as I think it would be a better position to be in for the faster gravel tracks and road. I do actually find them quite comfy for long distance type stuff.

Just having a look through your suggestions on line now.

Nick – Was it the one at Skyline cycles? I didn’t find it too heavy, it’s just the thought of spending £2000 and not getting a sub 30lb bike at the end of it!!!! (Very silly I know!) Also I test rode it on our final day when I was absolutely wrecked, it still felt quicker than my Kona.

Ambrose – I may well take you up on that one day when I am back in south Wales, the CC is the really lightweight construction with ~100mm, without wanting to get too hung up on weight, how much does it weigh?

Bloody mobile internet.

Again,good points well made. 160mm is quite a lot for the riding i do normally. But i did push the shock to 90% in 150 mode at the weekend… have to find somewhere with the ac to try. Anyone got one?

Again,good points well made. 160mm is quite a lot for the riding i do normally. But i did push the shock to 90% in 150 mode at the weekend… have to find somewhere with the ac to try. Anyone got one?

Fair point… and i hadn’t realised how attrocious my spelling has got since ive been using spell check!

5 years eh… thats a lot of warranty!

Im planning on riding as many as i can before buying,probably in time for next summer.

Coogan – are you sure? I thought that was the privilidge of those spending lots of money on such items!

I forgot to mention pedal strike,although i have to admit i put that downto my riding style.

Have you guys ever had other full sussers?

Dom

I’ve been doing it on and off for most of the summer, shin splints are a thing of the past.

You have to be preparred to go back to the beginning though and start again because if you are the sort of runner who lands on their heels (like i was) your calves will have the shock of their lives when you start!

mendip – Just finished day two of an Afan adventure, white’s level is open and is pretty good, Did Skyline today… it was my first time… in its current state it is the most unrewarding trail I have ridden so far. However i have no idea how much of this is down to the closures, handy andy, heart burn and grand canyon, or down to the fact my bike is all wrong and I am a true weekend warrior and haven’t been on my bike for much more than 3 hours for several weeks.

Which part of the m4? Im on my way to afan for a weekend of glorious sunshine and riding and we’re about to hit the m4.

Hmmmm…

Very bizarrely, whilst my bike was upside down and I was tightening up wheels I appear to have fixed my shifter problem. I’m guessing by bashing it on the ground.

Still now it works!