No dirt jumping here, we’re a purely XC/CX family 🙂

Thinking rigid and 2.3 tubeless tyre might be a good initial option.

So roughly 150% over budget 😀

I agree that the front end weight is a potential issue, which is why I was thinking about rigid forks, (along with the budget element).

The RockShox 30 Silver with an extra soft coil are 2160g

Gotta love dcrainmaker!

So much kudos to the guy

I did last year, raced in a regional series Saturday morning, drove an hour to catch the men’s World Cup at Koksjide on the Saturday and traveled half way across the country (3 hours drive), to watch a SuperPrestige on the Sunday.

Bloody fantastic weekend!

Race series was Vlaamse Cyclocrosscup
http://www.vlaamsecyclocrosscup.be/

Jepson is good session for CX style intervals, but the Owl also looks “fun”.

Personally I found the Sufferfest session Revolver the best way to prep for CX

This is Jon Snow interview with Coe

“either you were asleep on the job or part of the corruption”

Bravo to Jon Snow – great grilling of Seb Coe https://t.co/ok2TW8AxKj

— Shane Stokes (@SSbike) November 9, 2015

The Bob Andersson book linked to above is excellent, as much as a book about stretching can be.

Very good post MSP.

Somewhat gladdened by the lack of surprise in the posts so far.

I’ve also only ever used glue, been fine for a number of seasons.

It goes in cycles, this thread is now in its third winter so it’s natural that each time the dark nights approach the same questions get asked by “newbies”.

There are, hidden in the pages, some excellent thoughts on training that are well worth searching out.

@edenvalleyboy, not sure what you mean?

TR allows you to use YouTube or media players at the same time, so you get all the session details at the bottom the screen and the film in the rest of the space.

The actual plans are not based on any particular films, unless you opt for the Sufferfest plan.

Some interesting observations there Kryton!

I’ll have to have a quick google for “Andrew Coggan’s Rider Abilities Profile”

I’ve ridden a couple of the new Sufferfest films at my guesstimate FTP after a summer away from hard sessions so I’m starting to get a feel for it again.

Probably give Rubber Glove a bash at the weekend so I can get a “real” FTP figure to work from.

This has the making of an excellent thread! 8)

That should keep you busy for a while

Bonus:

Sufferfest have a “fall collection” offer on at the moment, three new films for under $30.

Pretty good for those not wanting to follow a dedicated plan but need a little motivation to get on the trainer and nail themselves into the ground.

First session on the rollers tonight in about 7 months.

Came into the year with excellent form, got disillusioned, switched to running, and now back again for winter base.

Dropped the FTP by 50 and tested myself with the Sufferfest film the rookie.

Not too bad, so I know roughly what figures to aim at when I do the FTP at the weeken. Hmm joy of joys.

Run a decent half marathon

Run an ultra

Get back to only having two bikes (n-1), and actually race them more

Ave is around 45 including commute.

Used to commute from Hove to London on the train, but the though of that makes me shudder now.

P2’s are a good call, thanks.

Secondhand is OK (ish), but they’d need to be sent to Sweden so maybe not so cost effective compared to buying new.

Seeing as this thread has delivered excellently so far I thought that I’d ask the STW minds again.

26″ rigid forks.

On-One have some in stock in a few weeks at £150

Looking on Amazon there are:
Java ones for £90
eXotic ones for £80

Anything else I’m missing?

Nice set up.

Extra marks for an extension lead directly under the where the pool of sweat will occur 😯

Right, re-newed the subscription and plan to kick things off again next week. (One of the best features of TR is the ability to shut it down and start it up again with all your data still in place).

Had a complete summer away from competitive cycling and just concentrated on running so I expect to see my FTP drop through the floor before it slowly rises again to somewhere approaching respectable.

Love it that this thread is still going, I find very inspirational 8)

Thanks to Leku again for the heads up

One happy boy.

2026grams for those interested

Let the build begin

Almost certainly not.

The rear axle will be wider and there might well be spacing issues with the stays and/or the rear brake.

Ordered the Commencal linked to above, just waiting for delivery 8)

But something like that Kona would make a great bike for a junior.

Photo credit to the fantastic Chris Burkard

ooh gosh, now that’s a link and half Leku.

Thanks

Thanks for the heads up!

Sorry, the “kinda meaningless” was meant as they don’t describe what you’re doing in those rides, not that they are “meaningless” in the grand scheme of things.

Clearly 3 rides of 25km with technical descents taken at pace with efforts up the hills clearly replicates the type of scenarios you’re find in an Enduro event.

Personally I’d rest completely Friday and do back to back rides Sat and Sun, but your schedule may not allow for that.

Interesting idea!

New as sh is probably not an option as I’m not based in the UK.

Just saying 3 rides of 25km is kinda meaningless.

Regardless to whether you’re limited on time or not to improve then you need to be riding some of the time above the intensity that you race at. Therefore intervals are the way to go.

If its XC racing you’re aiming for then ride off-road intervals on a loop or on trails that you know. Anything from multiple reps of 4 minutes or so at pretty much max up to longer 20 minutes race pace reps. Include both hills and descents in these as well as “flat” sections.

Couple of sessions like that plus a longer (more than race time) ride is the fundamentals to a training plan. Easiest way is to hang with a good club and let them decide whats going on.

Training doesn’t need to be complicated it needs to be done consistently.

Pretty consistent advice so far.

If you want to be better at cycling, then cycle more. (Preferably with a group who are quicker than you).

Tod be fair, there’s an awful lot of skill in sitting invisibly in the bunch until the final 100m.

Just ask Simon Gerrans.

Think you misunderstand the general theme of the thread there oldgit 😀

That’s far from a catastrophic drop all things considered!

Kudos for getting back on again, especially this time of year.

s it worth something like Training Peaks to go along with it?

Training Peaks is an excellent tool to aggregate various training data, e.g turbo sessions, normal riding, running, swimming etc. What you do with that accumulated data is where the “value” is.

I use it to measure total training time per week and total TSS as way to track fatigue/over training. This you can do in the free version.

Its certainly not essential in any way, but if you like numbers then its great.

That was a master class in cornering! Gaines seconds on the pack through each one.

Classy. 8)

The Kickr is a great bit of kit, connect it to TrainerRoad or Zwift and you’ll be flying come next season.

Good call on Toshi, thanks.

Hijack, any good sources for a brown leather strap like the one in the linked review?