genejockey 

From what I've heard, Mere Mortals can train their guts to tolerate that. Personally, I don't like eating while moving, but then, I'm not racing.

big john

I could work up to that when I was younger, I don't know about now. When I started doing long rides my stomach had to get used to eating for fueling. Got pretty good at it when touring and eating 6000 calories per day. Still have to be careful not to eat the wrong things when climbing, especially if it's hot.

I can have 1 Clif bar but if I eat 2 it upsets my stomach. Gels, too. I discovered the banana nut muffins years ago when we would go to Angeles Crest a lot. 500 calories and they don't upset my stomach at all.

datlas 

Let us know. I know the pros have really amped up their calories on stage races, not sure everyone’s stomach can tolerate that. I have not ever gone over about 80g/hour of carbs but might try extending that as tolerated.

genejockey 

I have noticed, since getting COVID last month, that my blood sugar seems to fall sooner on a ride than I expect. Normally, with one 8 oz Noosa yogurt, I can ride about 32 miles, to my usual stopping point, and not really feel hungry yet, but I eat a package of chews there, because I know I'll feel hungry soon. Then nothing else the rest of the ride.

The last month, by the time I get to about 25 miles, I'm feeling distinctly hungry. So, I've started having a gel at 25 miles, and then the chews at 32, and then often another gel at 50 miles.

datlas 

I am quite lazy when it comes to cleaning my bike, and have what I call 3 levels of cleaning.

Level 1 is quick: sprinkle bike with hose, spray degreaser on chain/drivetrain, spray off, air dry and lube chain. This is done when bike gets dirty (ride in the rain).

Level 2 is medium: remove chain, hose down, apply degreaser, plus some degreaser/toothbrush action on brakes, chainrings, and cassette. Often done when time to replace chain anyway (see below) done every “few” months.

Level 3 is level 2 plus removal of cassette and maybe even brake calipers and chainrings with deeper cleaning. Done once/year (or every 2 years).

Anyway, I did a level 2 on both the Habanero and the Roubaix today.

Both chains measured out to somewhere a smidge more than 0.5% elongation (I hate the term stretch because it’s wear not stretch), more like 0.6%. Traditionally with 10s chains I would feel comfortable allowing chains to go 0.75%, but I read that narrower 11 (and presumably 12) speed chains should be replaced at 0.5%.

Anyone know if that’s really true, or just a lie forced on us by “Big Chain?”

Velo Vol 

genejockey 

You could always let it go longer and just replace your chain, cassette, and chainrings all at the same time. BIg Cassette and Big Chainring would love you for it.

genejockey 

It's a wonder any of us can sleep at night.

genejockey 

Psychics in General. You'd think they'd know they'll just be deleted.

LesterOfPuppets

Mojo got Bam-a-lambed! harsh

seedsbelize2

Blood letting results are in hand. Low platelet count. And leucocytes and another ‘cyte. Dr. appt. tomorrow morning. I planned it like this. I did not, however, plan the low platelet count.

datlas 

I am a closet hematologist so feel free to PM me, important to know details like MCV and differential to know if it’s a big deal or no big deal.

bampilot06

If it wasn’t for the hills I think we could have kept a nice pace line. The hills Madone would fall way back, and I couldn’t seem to figure out what power to use to go up the hill to keep us together. Fun time, fun roads thanks for getting me off that trainer.



Just went for a second ride. Holy Crap it’s hot out here. I ran out of water super fast and didn’t think I would make it back to the hotel. Always fun to watch your heart rate continue to rise even as your power numbers drop dramatically.

bampilot06

Oh and the emonda is not a creakmonda. BAD. I really hope it’s the seat, but it does it out of the saddle.

LesterOfPuppets

I'm 930 miles from the Fort Worth location, 1030 from New Braunfels. I feel fine

big john

As you may have heard I am terrible with maintenance. I've never measured a chain, don't own the tool. When the chain starts looking bad I'll replace it and deal with the noise as it tries to wear into the old cogs. The last chain went about 12K miles and the cassette had to be at least 20K when I changed them. Also bought a new small ring and put on my best used big ring.

In the past when I tried to just replace the chain and it skipped under power I would buy the rest of the parts. I think I've only broken a chain once on a ride and that was because I did a bad job joining it since I didn't have the Campagnolo tool.

I rarely ride in the rain so I may have washed the bike twice in 12 years. Usually just wipe it with Pledge. When I was still working I rode in the wet more because I couldn't wait for the next dry day. In those days I usually wouldn't clean my bikes until the rains stopped.

As bad as I treat the bikes,, and my cars, it's rare that I have a mechanical. I did grenade a rear wheel 50 miles out when I was using Ksyriums. Took a cab back.
I've been super lucky and have never called for a pick up besides that, and the 3 times I had pedals snap off. Actually I got a ride from someone who was with me each of those times. Just had to wait for them to go get a car.

Had to call AAA once when the timing chain snapped in my old Blazer. It was so noisy people would ask what was wrong with my car. I kept driving it until it quit. Dumb.

Trsnrtr

I got caught in a downpour a week or so ago and I had a bad leather or plastic type creak the next day. My wife said it was a shoe creak and I thought saddle. Regardless, it’s now gone, thankfully. Sometimes when the natural oil gets washed out of leather and synthetics, there’s really no way to replenish it.

TMonk

I took my time getting out the door, so my riding window only permitted 3.25 hrs of pedaling time. Ate everything in the first photo except the nut bar, so yeah maybe 1,000 calories. Felt really good. Did some cat 6 racing in the middle when a triathlete and some excited tag-along roadies were running lights, dodging pedestrians etc. Was fun to let them go and then reel em' in and tighten the screws during the open sections .

Towards the end my legs were feeling a bit sore, but I thought that I would test the waters with a threshold level effort for 10 minutes after the 3 hr mark. Felt great and I had the watts and gas in the tank. This ride leaves me feeling good about SCNCA state champs on the 8th, might be my last "long" ride until then.

Trsnrtr

For the Trek guys, my new to me RSL bars are like sex or what I remember of it.

TMonk

For level 1 - I just do a quick hose spray and a wipe. I do molten wax for my chains so I never feel the need to clean the drive train between level 2's.

Level 2 - Mine looks quite like yours and about the same frequency too. I use a big auto sponge for most of it, and then a secondary. more concentrated degreaser solution for the drivetrain. I use a paint brush to apply. I try to do multiple bikes at a time to get more value out of the degreaser.

Level 3 - I simply don't do this.

seedsbelize2

This pretty much matches my bike maintenance program. I try to do better with cars.

datlas 

Oh, I forgot my level 4, that’s about once/decade. Remove everything from frame. Wash frame thoroughly. Replace BB and drivetrain (ideally with new parts). I did that for the Habanero 2 years ago, which was at about 75k miles.

I am not sure I will need to do that ever again.

TMonk

OK I think I'm an actual deadhead now. Got most of their songbook in my brain, can probably accompany things on the piano/keys with some sheet music off the cuff. It really helps me to know the melody when playing something new. Man my guitar player must be so proud (it's his influence that's to blame for this).

Had the "Candyman" opening guitar lick in my head for much of my ride today (first ~30s of the video below). Not a bad vibe at all while I'm motoring up and down the coast.

seedsbelize2

when you find it let me know
I still hope it’s the seat post too, even though I just greased it. I’ll try greasing the entire length. And the attachment points for the seat itself
Chatgpt told me it could be the chain as it enters the chainring. I hadn’t heard of that before.

big john

I used to be borderline obsessive with my cars. Wash and wax, detail the engine, etc. Like they say, a good way to ruin a hobby is to make it your profession.
Years of working on cars gave me a disdain for them, and machines in general. I should get over it.