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6:02 am October 30, 2009
| Tommo
RCC VIP
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Feel is the most important factor when you're on the bike don't forget that.
I dropped my bars down during the summer to there lowest setting which was 15mm down on what I started with at the start of the year. The thinking was 'super low = super aero', wrong I was to cramped up and couldn't breath as well due to the fact that my chest (lungs) were lower as well, also there was more pressure on my lower back. With the bars higher up I am much more comfortable and the result is faster times even though it's less aero. Hutch is the same if you look at his position, it's very 'sit-up' and un-aero.
The change in cranks will therefore not be an issue with knees hitting chest as there are no where near anyway + my saddle is a little too low as it is so the 5mm crank drop might make it just right.
If Bowdler uses 165mm don't worry about it he has a very weird set-up anyway with a mega chainring with 70 odd teeth. I've talked to loads of top TT'ers this year and 177.5's are the norm.
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5m………10:15
10m………20:26
25m……54:12
50m……1:52:28
100m……3:53:50
12Hr……273.42m
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5:21 pm October 30, 2009
| Dan Joyce
Moderator
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Tommo said:
Feel is the most important factor when you're on the bike don't forget that.
I agree.
I'm not saying shorter cranks are THE answer. Just an answer.
On the other hand, longer cranks aren't a free lunch way to produce more power. If you like 'em and if you're not planning on a particularly fast cadence, go for it. But to test it, go up by 5mm at least. 2.5mm either way is pretty much irrelevant (apart from a small effect on saddle height). Even 5mm isn't that much. We routinely make that jump going from a road bike (170mm) to a mountain bike (175mm) and most of us barely notice.
I've used 180mm cranks on a singlespeed mountain bike and I found them awful. They really messed up my cadence when I was spinning. I swapped to 170mm and put on a sprocket that was one tooth bigger. (That is, reduced the effective gear, which is all that you're doing by using longer cranks.)
On variable gears, you can - and I would argue, will - adjust your cadence and/or your gear to suit your crank length. So if you're not careful, it can be a zero sum game, e.g. you'll stay on top of that high gear and it'll feel easier, but you could be pedalling slower. So power output - and speed - is the same. Mark well Mark's words about power, further up.
I'm on 167.5mm cranks (no particular reason - they came on the bike) and am looking to reduce them further. When you're chained to your one gear choice, you sometimes have to spin. I can't do that so easily on longer cranks.
No particular conclusion to all this, though - except to experiment and find out what works for you. I think most top TTers are wrong to use longer cranks (I think they've just got better engines). But the evidence so far is arguably against me. 
But just you wait! In 10 years, everyone will be on 160mm. Or 150mm. And probably 29ers when they're riding off-road. 
If not, I'll be the first to admit I got it wrong. Meantime, boo to the norm! 
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5:25 pm October 30, 2009
| Toms
I love RCC!
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29ers are reckonmended for taller folk, i for one will be sticking to 26 i think
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5:31 pm October 30, 2009
| Dan Joyce
Moderator
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Debbie's got a 15in Giant 29er on test at the moment. So not just taller folk. Have a spin on it.
But I've probably derailled this thread enough. If you listen to Mark, you will go faster, cos he'll fine-tune your engine. If you listen to me, you'll just end up ****ing around with your bike. But hey - it might work. 
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5:43 pm October 30, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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Yes Dan …get your own thread 
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2:50 pm November 6, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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So its dark nights and colder weather. For most road riders this is the time to get the best bike cleaned oiled and greased so it can be put away until spring next year. This saves your best bike from the rigours of wet and salty roads which cause havoc with your bike components.
Also if you have any small mechanical problems on the best bike get them sorted now before you put the bike away so that you dont forget about them over the winter.
Tom has started the winter clothing thread already and is thinking about getting wrapped up a bit more! One thing when you are out winter riding don't be fooled into thinking you need less hydration. You can lose the same amount of water in winter and under that warm clothing you can easily lose a bit more…so keep drinking well!
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6:27 pm November 6, 2009
| matthew
RCC Junkie
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You can lose the same amount of water in winter and under that warm clothing you can easily lose a bit more…so keep drinking well!
Oh so true. I take out the same amount of liquid as I do when in the Summer. Its cold when it goes down the throat, but its still needed.
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1:13 pm November 7, 2009
| Toms
I love RCC!
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coach…. are rollers any good for you other than improving balance?
thank you.
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5:21 pm November 7, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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Post edited 10:25 pm - November 7, 2009 by Mark G
Toms said:
coach…. are rollers any good for you other than improving balance?
thank you.
Rollers are also regarded as being not only good for balance but also for developing a good smooth cadence.
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4:24 pm November 8, 2009
| Matt Schofield
RCC Junkie
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It sounds a silly question but I was looking at TT tri-bars and would a tri-bar that says it will fit a 31.7 mm handlebar fit a 31.8mm handelbar? 
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5:13 pm November 8, 2009
| Tommo
RCC VIP
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Yes it is & yes they will but make sure there is enough 31.8mm width to fit the tt bars. Some handlebars (eg.Deda) are 31.8 for the clamp but then go down to standard size soon after for the tape area, this looks better as when the tape is fitted as the bars look the same width right accross the top of the bar. I had some in the past and the tt bars would fit but only with 'packer' tape wrapped round the edges of the tt clamps.

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5m………10:15
10m………20:26
25m……54:12
50m……1:52:28
100m……3:53:50
12Hr……273.42m
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5:59 pm November 8, 2009
| matthew
RCC Junkie
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Re. an earlier post….
Running is now not a proplem - Great.
Mandy (my partner) has now said “Of course I will support you if you want to do the London Marathon”
How could I fit this in with my training for CYCLE road racing?
Should I bother?
Are the two disciplines that far from each other that it cannot be done.?
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1:52 am November 9, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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matthew said:
Re. an earlier post….
Running is now not a proplem - Great.
Mandy (my partner) has now said “Of course I will support you if you want to do the London Marathon”
How could I fit this in with my training for CYCLE road racing?
Should I bother?
Are the two disciplines that far from each other that it cannot be done.?
Matthew yes you can do two disciplines Triathletes do three. To do well in both means an increase is training time.
As a rule road racers will be doing around 13 hours a week then you have to fit in your running…..hope Mandy is very supportive!
If this it too much of an ask then you have to decide which is most important to you and amend your training to suit.
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1:54 am November 19, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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Post edited 6:54 am - November 19, 2009 by Mark G
Matt Schofield said:
are turbo-trainers any good? i'm thinking about getting one but I don't know much about them or what spec to look for in one 
Hi Matt How are you getting on with the turbo trainer I lent you?
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8:34 am November 19, 2009
| Tommo
RCC VIP
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If you have stayed on it and not fallen off that's a bonus. 
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5m………10:15
10m………20:26
25m……54:12
50m……1:52:28
100m……3:53:50
12Hr……273.42m
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10:28 am November 19, 2009
| Matt Schofield
RCC Junkie
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Good thanks, I've had a go with that DVD it was quite fun, but my Dad was hogging yesturday evening!
It's funny you should mention falling off 
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3:23 pm November 25, 2009
| Toms
I love RCC!
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coach.. how long away from the bike is too long?
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3:46 pm November 25, 2009
| Mark G
Moderator
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There is no set time. As a general rule though remember you lose fitness twice as fast as you gain it so 4 weeks off would take around 8 weeks to get back to where you were. But if you have been training for years and used to training you will gain it back quicker than this. Also 4 weeks would not be recommended for anyone serious about training and wanting to race its far too long (unless you have an injury then unavoidable).
Also if you are completely off the bike now it would depend when your target event is.
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5:23 am November 26, 2009
| Dan Joyce
Moderator
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What if you've been off the bike for 3-4 months? 
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8:21 am November 26, 2009
| Tommo
RCC VIP
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Work 'ard all winter and you'll be back to normal mid-summer then. 
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5m………10:15
10m………20:26
25m……54:12
50m……1:52:28
100m……3:53:50
12Hr……273.42m
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