Xes - Message Board

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

A race that took in the Ruhr area, now the only thing I know, or can remember is that it took in the areas of the heavily industrialised cities Koblenz, Dusseldorf, and Duisburg, which is an area of coal, steel, chemicals, and pollution in general.
Of course we all turned up in pristine condition, the weather was favourable apart from it was drizzling, so we all rolled out.
Within 15 mins we were all covered in black filthy shit from the road spray, and we looked like miners coming off a shift, every riders eyes were burning away, water bottles were used, not to drink, but to swill the eyes. Don't ask me who won after 200K. The only thing I know is that no rider was ever able to wear the same jersey again, the filth was so attached to the fibres.
Now that was Shit Street.[/QUOTE]

G'day again Fred, I'm glad someone else experienced that too. I've related the tale too others who have looked at me as though I'm speaking another language.

It wasn't pleasant, but what do you do, not ride, no you get on with it for the sake of the race.

We lived in a big house just down the road from the "Hieligenhouse Pub" just at the four ways junction in Ketwig, it was where we turned in Crit's, that went out to past the marshalling yards and back into town again.

Nice if it wasn't raining, I spent many hours riding around there, but yes as you say crap when it is wet. Still, it was all good fun, at the time. I went back there a few years ago and couldn't believe the changes, I don't know if it was my imagination but when I lived there it didn't seem too bad compared to Old London Town, but it definitely looked very dowdy and unwashed?

That's it for now gotta get a move on?

KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC

Why did you think I have been doing nothing?

362 Miles since new year.

Did the tallyup for the month of January, so far - 717 miles (40.25 hours).
Average speed is 17mph.
The target is 1,000 miles per month (with 12,000 miles for the year as the overall target).
That's another eighteen hours to be done before Feb 1st.

Got 15 miles in tonight - cycling round in the dark.
Only have to get another 283 miles in before next Monday to achieve target
or else I have to do more work in February.

That's the thing about objectives - once you set them, you've got to try to achieve them.
hi there, 1000 miles per month.:o :o . thats more than me and i am a loafer/non worker... quality or quantity, you takes your choice.. if you work full time i think a 1000 mile is too much... i only did 14,500 kms last year and i was out most days... my year to date is 1420kms....my aim is 1000 kms per month, which is achievable without strain,,,, bon courage.. ps not out today it snowed last night and it is minus 3 c outside, although the suns just got up.. oh shit will have to do 160 ks tommorrow.....bon courage.:) :) :)

Did the tallyup for the month of January, so far - 717
Got 15 miles in tonight - cycling round in the dark.
Only have to get another 283 miles in before next Monday to achieve target
or else I have to do more work in February.
That's the thing about objectives - once you set them, you've got to try to achieve them.

G'day Lim mate, your going at it too hard, ease back buddy, unless you've got a sneaky contract with that Fasso Bortillo mob. That's it I've rumbled you, you want to get close to the trollop from hell!

Now come on Lim give it up son, who's a naughty boy then, you know she'll cast you off like an old sock, shame on you and we thought you were just getting fit for the spring club runs. You wait till Fred finds out about this, he'll give you what for!

Seriously Lim, good work mate, just think what you could acheive here in OZ, or Spain or Sicily, their climate is very much like ours, gees I'm a lucky, lucky bastard.

I went out this afternoon between the showers, got wet a couple of times, but it was warm rain. Only 35 K's though, me bike didn't even get dirty, so hows that, I was going so fast I missed all the puddles, just flew over them like in the old days, whoa back now, getting a bit over the top?

The fresh air was blowing off the Southern Ocean, well Pacific Ocean really, but it was beautiful, I'm thinking of bottling it and sending it over for you poor sods. The wind gusting up to 35 knots at times, going into it was a bit of struggle, but coming home I was hooting, 53 x13 and fourty kilometres an hour for at least the last seven K's HR was 140BPM. I'm very proud of this afternoon's effort and I still don't feel tired yet.

That said I'm hitting the sack very soon, in fact twenty minutes from now, early night, I've got a date with the boys at the track at Six in the Morning, must get my beauty sleep, stop laughing Fred, you naughty, naughty boy?

KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC

whilst your on, why is it that my 2 front usb ports will not work,they were connected to the MB but would not work, i have rigged them direct to a spare usb 2 port at the back,still nothing,, although in systems it says all is ok.. oh by the way (2nd time ).. its bloody snowing here on the med and freezing, what is going on.. bon courage...
if your using windows 98 then you'll have to use the specific driver you got with the USB device, XP and W2K should install the driver for the most common devices. You got a driver disk with your computer or motherboard. On this disk there will be the USB drivers. Make sure they are installed. Check your manual and make sure you have the USB cables connected to the correct connectors on your mainboard.

What exactly are you plugging into the ports?

hi there, 1000 miles per month.:o :o . thats more than me and i am a loafer/non worker... quality or quantity, you takes your choice.. if you work full time i think a 1000 mile is too much... i only did 14,500 kms last year and i was out most days... my year to date is 1420kms....my aim is 1000 kms per month, which is achievable without strain,,,, bon courage.. ps not out today it snowed last night and it is minus 3 c outside, although the suns just got up.. oh shit will have to do 160 ks tommorrow.....bon courage.:) :) :)

BRF : yep, 1,000 miles per month is the target.
This is a big commitment - with work/family life etc.

Work is the killer to be honest.

I get up and get out and do 15 miles every day before breakfast - every day without exception.
Take 30 days per month x 15 miles per day = 450miles per month

The weekend is different - as well as the 15 miles on each day, I would do a
minimum of 50 miles on both Sat and Sun.
Often it hits, 60, 70 miles on both Saturday and Sunday.
On the basis of there being 4 weekends per month, 100 miles minimum by 4 =
400 miles + 450 miles = 850 miles.
If I can make up the 150 miles during those weekends, well and good.
If I don't I will have 850 miles in anyway.

There is an objective behind all of this.
I am hoping to take part in some major spins this year - Wicklow 200, Etape-type events in Italy (not the Etape though, this year).

I also want to run the Dublin City Marathon next November (a friend of mine
has asked me to do it, as part of a series of charity fundraisers via cycling and running for a very worthwhile cause).

I agree it's a big workload but I have promised the wife that this year is an exception and that I have committed to other people that I will do these events.

Snowing in France ?
Quel surprise.
You can use the indoor trainer.

Nice here - cold but clear : 8 celsius today.

G'day Lim mate, your going at it too hard, ease back buddy, unless you've got a sneaky contract with that Fasso Bortillo mob. That's it I've rumbled you, you want to get close to the trollop from hell!

Now come on Lim give it up son, who's a naughty boy then, you know she'll cast you off like an old sock, shame on you and we thought you were just getting fit for the spring club runs. You wait till Fred finds out about this, he'll give you what for!

Seriously Lim, good work mate, just think what you could acheive here in OZ, or Spain or Sicily, their climate is very much like ours, gees I'm a lucky, lucky bastard.

I went out this afternoon between the showers, got wet a couple of times, but it was warm rain. Only 35 K's though, me bike didn't even get dirty, so hows that, I was going so fast I missed all the puddles, just flew over them like in the old days, whoa back now, getting a bit over the top?

The fresh air was blowing off the Southern Ocean, well Pacific Ocean really, but it was beautiful, I'm thinking of bottling it and sending it over for you poor sods. The wind gusting up to 35 knots at times, going into it was a bit of struggle, but coming home I was hooting, 53 x13 and fourty kilometres an hour for at least the last seven K's HR was 140BPM. I'm very proud of this afternoon's effort and I still don't feel tired yet.

That said I'm hitting the sack very soon, in fact twenty minutes from now, early night, I've got a date with the boys at the track at Six in the Morning, must get my beauty sleep, stop laughing Fred, you naughty, naughty boy?

KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC


I've been rumbled - Fasso Bortola it is !

No, I've committed to help raise money for a worthwhile cause and I am pencilled in to take part in some upcoming Etape-like events.
So I need to get myself in gear.

By the way, any mileage that people get under their belts is great.
3.5k's, 35k's, 350k's : it doesn't matter.
The fact that you're out there pedalling away is what counts.
Doesn't matter about the distance - the fact is you're out there and doing your bit to keep healthy.
53X13 is a big gear to be pushing all the same.
40kmph - do I detect a former sprinter in there, Brian ?

I do envy you and BRF with your weather though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My gear setup is very straightforward on my Bianchi
I have a 50/40 setup with a rear cassette of 11-25.
Pinarello is different.
I have a 52/39 setup with a rear cassette of 13/26.
On Bianchi I normally pedal along in 50/19.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 40/17-19.
On Pinarello, I normally pedal along in 52/21.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 39/17 or 15.

I've been rumbled - Fasso Bortola it is !

No, I've committed to help raise money for a worthwhile cause and I am pencilled in to take part in some upcoming Etape-like events.
So I need to get myself in gear.

By the way, any mileage that people get under their belts is great.
3.5k's, 35k's, 350k's : it doesn't matter.
The fact that you're out there pedalling away is what counts.
Doesn't matter about the distance - the fact is you're out there and doing your bit to keep healthy.
53X13 is a big gear to be pushing all the same.
40kmph - do I detect a former sprinter in there, Brian ?

I do envy you and BRF with your weather though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My gear setup is very straightforward on my Bianchi
I have a 50/40 setup with a rear cassette of 11-25.
Pinarello is different.
I have a 52/39 setup with a rear cassette of 13/26.
On Bianchi I normally pedal along in 50/19.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 40/17-19.
On Pinarello, I normally pedal along in 52/21.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 39/17 or 15.
hi there LIM, just had a thought, why not put kms into your computer, don,t worry ALL the pro's are on it.. i think for what you are wanting to do, a 1000 kms per month is adequate..remember, you have only to have a couple of days OFF the bike and the milage counter drops...you then feel you have to make up, usually you do, but then the effort is too great... to me ,target for something you KNOW you can achieve and when you go over its a UPPER,,, below the figure its a DOWNER...forget old cotgrove, any old sod can amble along at 40kms/hour with a big wind up your bum,its going at 32+ INTO the wind that matters, not for a few kms, but for say 50/60, now thats going a bit... BC going to the track is that in Perth ? bon courage. ps its 0c here with a very strong wind chill factor of -5,,, first time this year the CH as been on ALL day..............................

if your using windows 98 then you'll have to use the specific driver you got with the USB device, XP and W2K should install the driver for the most common devices. You got a driver disk with your computer or motherboard. On this disk there will be the USB drivers. Make sure they are installed. Check your manual and make sure you have the USB cables connected to the correct connectors on your mainboard.

What exactly are you plugging into the ports?
hi there. i have win xp pro... (don't ask),my computer is fitted with 2 front mounted usb ports.(MB).. they worked ok, but i plugged in a msn joystick which was "only" win 95 (2nd ed) compatable,, reselt, nothing.. i then plugged in a xd card reader which i knew was OK, and nothing,,, i checked the xd card reader again the other usb's all ok... i then got a connector from MB to usb +cable, plugged it into a spare usb2 port at the back result nothing..i am on amd athlon k7s5a pro board.. any ideas bon courage. ps its snowing here and minus 5 c outside,, with a freezing 60kph wind blowing, result NO BIKE...

I've been rumbled - Fasso Bortola it is !

No, I've committed to help raise money for a worthwhile cause and I am pencilled in to take part in some upcoming Etape-like events.
So I need to get myself in gear.

By the way, any mileage that people get under their belts is great.
3.5k's, 35k's, 350k's : it doesn't matter.
The fact that you're out there pedalling away is what counts.
Doesn't matter about the distance - the fact is you're out there and doing your bit to keep healthy.
53X13 is a big gear to be pushing all the same.
40kmph - do I detect a former sprinter in there, Brian ?

I do envy you and BRF with your weather though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My gear setup is very straightforward on my Bianchi
I have a 50/40 setup with a rear cassette of 11-25.
Pinarello is different.
I have a 52/39 setup with a rear cassette of 13/26.
On Bianchi I normally pedal along in 50/19.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 40/17-19.
On Pinarello, I normally pedal along in 52/21.
I hit the climbs, gear back to 39/17 or 15.
hi there LIM,, why dont you use a single freewheel 42x18, thats what we all did in sunny yorkshire.. it was a fashion started by sid barrass and leg lambert. we sat all day doing over 120 miles on this single gear,, dont ask if it was all flat, ask fred c about the yorkshire dales and lancashire /pendle hill bits.. bon courage.

hi there. i have win xp pro... (don't ask),my computer is fitted with 2 front mounted usb ports.(MB).. they worked ok, but i plugged in a msn joystick which was "only" win 95 (2nd ed) compatable,, reselt, nothing.. i then plugged in a xd card reader which i knew was OK, and nothing,,, i checked the xd card reader again the other usb's all ok... i then got a connector from MB to usb +cable, plugged it into a spare usb2 port at the back result nothing..i am on amd athlon k7s5a pro board.. any ideas bon courage. ps its snowing here and minus 5 c outside,, with a freezing 60kph wind blowing, result NO BIKE...
Oh bugger, is that your winter Trementana that's come whistling down the side of the Pryenees, could last for weeks. You see everybody it's not all beer and boules down there, or in BRF's case Pastis and Petanque.
You're right about single free 42x18 up in our land with no flat bits apart from the valley floors. We used 42x16 and left it stuck in that, until we had to drop down to 42x18, and sometimes down to 42x20 on the nasty ones. Develops stamina. It does a lot of good pedalling like that all day instead of grovelling around on the dinner plate.

The fresh air was blowing off the Southern Ocean, well Pacific Ocean really, but it was beautiful, I'm thinking of bottling it and sending it over for you poor sods. The wind gusting up to 35 knots at times, going into it was a bit of struggle, but coming home I was hooting, 53 x13 and fourty kilometres an hour for at least the last seven K's HR was 140BPM. I'm very proud of this afternoon's effort and I still don't feel tired yet.

That said I'm hitting the sack very soon, in fact twenty minutes from now, early night, I've got a date with the boys at the track at Six in the Morning, must get my beauty sleep, stop laughing Fred, you naughty, naughty boy?

KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC
Now what make of Moped are you riding these days?

hi there LIM, just had a thought, why not put kms into your computer, don,t worry ALL the pro's are on it.. i think for what you are wanting to do, a 1000 kms per month is adequate..remember, you have only to have a couple of days OFF the bike and the milage counter drops...you then feel you have to make up, usually you do, but then the effort is too great... to me ,target for something you KNOW you can achieve and when you go over its a UPPER,,
.............................

Good point - well I am using 1000 miles per month as a target.
If I don't achieve it, I won't lose sleep.
1000 miles or 1620 kms - it's all the same !


...forget old cotgrove, any old sod can amble along at 40kms/hour with a big wind up your bum,its going at 32+ INTO the wind that matters, not for a few kms, but for say 50/60, now thats going a bit...
..............................

That's the old BRF that we all know and love !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
40Kms in to a tornado.
Go on ya good thing, ya.

[

hi there LIM,, why dont you use a single freewheel 42x18, thats what we all did in sunny yorkshire.. it was a fashion started by sid barrass and leg lambert. we sat all day doing over 120 miles on this single gear,, dont ask if it was all flat, ask fred c about the yorkshire dales and lancashire /pendle hill bits.. bon courage.

I used to do this type of training with Peter Crinnion way back when.

Put the bike in to a gear and just pedal in that gear all the way.
I cycled from Gorey to Dublin using this system (about 80 miles).
As a group we used to do this all the time.
I might have a go at this again.

Now what make of Moped are you riding these days?

G'day Fred, moped, come off the grass, wouldn't be seen dead "under" one of those, Real Men ride Kawasaki GPZ 750's, however for me, not any more, it was a big heavy beast, weighing in at 274 Kg's with an empty tank. I spent a lot of time racing it during the late eighties and early ninety's, but it was well outclassed by the newer versions. In 1994 I turned it into a concours show bike and won all the local shows, now my youngest son has it and he's carrying on the tradition of showing it.

It's Marranello Red all over, from top to bottom, except for the chrome, the black chrome exhausts and the tyres. It has CBR 1000 fairings, a duck seat (single seat), and four into one exhaust.

If I sold it, it would fetch a pretty penny, maybe enough to buy a Carbon Lightweight or four, but there again who wants to ride a carbon monstrosity, I'm a "Steel Man" "Made of Steel" and will always be a Steel Man, "Columbus" of course, the best in the world next to "Reynolds".

Hey you knockers, just wait till you get as old as me, and then we'll see who's laughing then. 53 x 13 is a good gear to wind up and I'm happy with what it does, tail wind or not. I can still climb Tambourine Mt in 42 x 24, don't get any lower than that, that climb goes for six kilometres from 18% to 12% and I have still done 62 k's to get there and have to do the same distance home, round trip of five hours? Na,nana, na na na?

I'm not playing your games any more, by the way I reckon 48 x16 fixed wheel is the way I preffer, admittedly you have no rest but it gives the condition and makes the smaller hills a bit easier to ride. I found it great for undulating country, East End of London to Weston Super Mare, that used to be my Saturday ride there and Sunday ride home, and I used to race on Sunday morning with the local club a 25 TT. However since my broken left ankle in 1960 thanks to a tin top idiot, and the ensuing Arthritis, I don't ride a fixed any more, and don't ride the track either for the same reason, the constant pain is a bit of a pain?

That's it , KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC

G'day Fred, moped, come off the grass, wouldn't be seen dead "under" one of those, Real Men ride Kawasaki GPZ 750's, however for me, not any more, it was a big heavy beast, weighing in at 274 Kg's with an empty tank. I spent a lot of time racing it during the late eighties and early ninety's, but it was well outclassed by the newer versions. In 1994 I turned it into a concours show bike and won all the local shows, now my youngest son has it and he's carrying on the tradition of showing it.

It's Marranello Red all over, from top to bottom, except for the chrome, the black chrome exhausts and the tyres. It has CBR 1000 fairings, a duck seat (single seat), and four into one exhaust.

If I sold it, it would fetch a pretty penny, maybe enough to buy a Carbon Lightweight or four, but there again who wants to ride a carbon monstrosity, I'm a "Steel Man" "Made of Steel" and will always be a Steel Man, "Columbus" of course, the best in the world next to "Reynolds".

Hey you knockers, just wait till you get as old as me, and then we'll see who's laughing then. 53 x 13 is a good gear to wind up and I'm happy with what it does, tail wind or not. I can still climb Tambourine Mt in 42 x 24, don't get any lower than that, that climb goes for six kilometres from 18% to 12% and I have still done 62 k's to get there and have to do the same distance home, round trip of five hours? Na,nana, na na na?

I'm not playing your games any more, by the way I reckon 48 x16 fixed wheel is the way I preffer, admittedly you have no rest but it gives the condition and makes the smaller hills a bit easier to ride. I found it great for undulating country, East End of London to Weston Super Mare, that used to be my Saturday ride there and Sunday ride home, and I used to race on Sunday morning with the local club a 25 TT. However since my broken left ankle in 1960 thanks to a tin top idiot, and the ensuing Arthritis, I don't ride a fixed any more, and don't ride the track either for the same reason, the constant pain is a bit of a pain?

That's it , KTWIM,ADLB,UITSWYDOTLC?TBC
I thought that Kawasakis were green !
You just stick with frames made out of scaffold tubing fatty. Nows the time of year to melt the blubber down for you lot down there.
The history of top riders says you are wrong try 42x16, your ankles and knees will last longer. Armstrong used to thrutch about on big gears then he changed to what we suggest (ask him) and he started winning everything, alternatively look at Ullrich sprawled all over his bike trying to power his way on a climb, it plainly is not effective. When I see Ullrich on a bike he reminds me of a team mate by the name of Alan Turner. BRF knows him well. Also some years ago when Ullrich was doing well (better) I was sat with my blood brother Charlie Callan,BRF knows him as well, and he noted that same thing also. We three trained and raced together. Now surely we can't be wrong. Al Turner was bigger than us. But he never learned to pedal. I do know the reason for this, but it's not worth pursuing. Al rode the TOB a few times, but Charlie and me had bigger plans for the future.
We're not trying to teach old dogs how to whistle, but with Arthur Ritus paying you a visit twiddling rather than thrutching should be the order of the day, then you've got your old Muvver Brarns to consider.
Lims a big man, and he's going back on the method, and he's mixed it with the best. Look nobody from London is any good, well maybe Sean Yates and Dave 'Iron Man' Bedwell. That's two in 50 years.
Anyway you seem to be a good old geezer, misguided but OK.
I thought the TDU was OK, better than our new fangled TOB which was a feckin disgrace. Oh yes, and while I'm slagging, that RR course used at the Sydney Olympics was a club run. Watch the San Sebastian and the Jaizabel, that's a Pro Course, a cracker.

I thought that Kawasakis were green !
You just stick with frames made out of scaffold tubing fatty. Nows the time of year to melt the blubber down for you lot down there.
The history of top riders says you are wrong try 42x16, your ankles and knees will last longer. Armstrong used to thrutch about on big gears then he changed to what we suggest (ask him) and he started winning everything, alternatively look at Ullrich sprawled all over his bike trying to power his way on a climb, it plainly is not effective. When I see Ullrich on a bike he reminds me of a team mate by the name of Alan Turner. BRF knows him well. Also some years ago when Ullrich was doing well (better) I was sat with my blood brother Charlie Callan,BRF knows him as well, and he noted that same thing also. We three trained and raced together. Now surely we can't be wrong. Al Turner was bigger than us. But he never learned to pedal. I do know the reason for this, but it's not worth pursuing. Al rode the TOB a few times, but Charlie and me had bigger plans for the future.
We're not trying to teach old dogs how to whistle, but with Arthur Ritus paying you a visit twiddling rather than thrutching should be the order of the day, then you've got your old Muvver Brarns to consider.
Lims a big man, and he's going back on the method, and he's mixed it with the best. Look nobody from London is any good, well maybe Sean Yates and Dave 'Iron Man' Bedwell. That's two in 50 years.
Anyway you seem to be a good old geezer, misguided but OK.
I thought the TDU was OK, better than our new fangled TOB which was a feckin disgrace. Oh yes, and while I'm slagging, that RR course used at the Sydney Olympics was a club run. Watch the San Sebastian and the Jaizabel, that's a Pro Course, a cracker.


Yep, Mssrs Laurence Roche and Stephan Roche always went with the method.
Low gears, steady pedalling action.

Roche came home from Europe in 1983 and went out with us on a training spin - in December 1983.
We were only younsters and were thrilled to see SR coming out for a spin with his old club.
We must have been out for nearly 4 hours - Roche started in the same gear
and remained in the same gear throughout.
We were uphill/down dale.
His gear never changed.
It was beautiful to watch.
Where did he pick this up ?
From Peter Crinnion, he said.
SR had the most graceful style that I have seen on bike - magical to watch.

Ullrich takes a leaf from the BigMig book - massive 55 chainring gear and grind it out.
Whereas the likes of Roche, Armstrong, Bugno & Co pedal.
I believe Merckx used to cycle using a 44 chainring gear.

I thought that Kawasakis were green !
You just stick with frames made out of scaffold tubing fatty. Nows the time of year to melt the blubber down for you lot down there.
Look nobody from London is any good, well maybe Sean Yates and Dave 'Iron Man' Bedwell. That's two in 50 years.
Anyway you seem to be a good old geezer, misguided but OK.
I thought the TDU was OK, better than our new fangled TOB which was a feckin disgrace. Oh yes, and while I'm slagging, that RR course used at the Sydney Olympics was a club run. Watch the San Sebastian and the Jaizabel, that's a Pro Course, a cracker.

G'day again Fred, I concur withnwhat you say, I too am a twiddler and always have been, I try to instill this method into the younger blokes today but sometimes I think they're not listening? I nearly fell over laughing when I heard the tripe being talked about LA and his rapid cadence, as though it was a new invention.

Our old old old club (LEYTON CRC) leaders used to say twiddling along was best, and so it was, the only time I shovel a 53x13 is when I get a decent downhil or a good tail wind, as I said yesterday. I remember back in 1982 getting booked for "Riding Furiously and Exceeding the Speed Limit by more than 10 kilometres an Hour" along Logan Road on my way back home from Sunday morning's ride from Tambourine, the copper on the m/cycle said I was doing 72 Kph in a 60 Kph zone, it cost me A$85.00?

Most of my riding around here is done on 42x16/18 so there you go Fred, I'm not as silly as I look, it's mostly the way my Mum used to dress me!

However I stick by what I said about fixed gearing, you don't get a rest and it puts condition in, long before freewheeling, freewheeling is for pussycats?

Meooooww, I have been freewheeling since they stopped painting Newgates Knocker Black, and that's a long time or were'nt you around then, I'm not sure about you blokes from up norf' the only goodun' from up there was "Tom Simpson". "Brian Robinson" is another name that comes to mind, but yes Dave Bedwell for sure. My claim to fame was Dave allowed me some of the other peasants to ride training with him, needless to say we would bow and scrape to whatever he said, which is only right anyway.

Incidentally I read last night Johan Museeuw has been given a two year rest from "Anything Cycling" because of his involvement in the Landuyt affair. The speal said he can't work for Belgium TV because of the agreement not to hire anyone implicated in doping cases? That's a shame because he was another of my more respected riders, I suppose it boils down to the fact of win at all costs?

OK I'm being called to the kitchen?TBC

...
Hey you knockers, just wait till you get as old as me, and then we'll see who's laughing then. 53 x 13 is a good gear to wind up and I'm happy with what it does, tail wind or not. I can still climb Tambourine Mt in 42 x 24, don't get any lower than that, that climb goes for six kilometres from 18% to 12% and I have still done 62 k's to get there and have to do the same distance home, round trip of five hours? Na,nana, na na na?

...

Hey, Brian, you stinky old fart, what are you doing boring these poor folk with war stories? I thought the 53 on your chainring rusted up years ago.

The gradient on Tambo Mt lowers each year due to erosion, so I wouldn't brag too much about that. Are you still dialing the coffee shop for a hot chocolate on the way back for that little caffeine hit to get you home?

Come ride in Melbourne one day. You'll still get a suntan this time of year and the roads aren't clogged with wannabe triathletes.

Good to see you around
N

Yep, Mssrs Laurence Roche and Stephan Roche always went with the method.
Low gears, steady pedalling action.

Roche came home from Europe in 1983 and went out with us on a training spin - in December 1983.
We were only younsters and were thrilled to see SR coming out for a spin with his old club.
We must have been out for nearly 4 hours - Roche started in the same gear
and remained in the same gear throughout.
We were uphill/down dale.
His gear never changed.
It was beautiful to watch.
Where did he pick this up ?
From Peter Crinnion, he said.
SR had the most graceful style that I have seen on bike - magical to watch.

Ullrich takes a leaf from the BigMig book - massive 55 chainring gear and grind it out.
Whereas the likes of Roche, Armstrong, Bugno & Co pedal.
I believe Merckx used to cycle using a 44 chainring gear.
Beautiful pedaller was Stephen Roche, as was Mandy Jones. I was well out of the serious game by then, but Mandy was something else, never made a mistake in a bunch clubrun. Her mother Judith who was my chauffeuse, said that the younger sister Carol would be better than Mandy, it never came to pass as Carol decided to do pursue another avenue in life.
I can vouch for the fact that Merckx, along with the rest of the riders in Belgium crits used lower gears. You'd never get round a corner otherwise. I've just remembered something about learning a lesson over there. Not doing it.