Ahhhhhhh

Quoted message said:

Go fixed. Happens for free. You try pushing squares and you'll find
the up pedal telling your foot otherwise...

I'll have to try it.

I was doing 104 cadence today though! that's more than I'd realised or
thought I was doing.

Quoted message said:

68 gear inches or
thereabouts will see you most stuff around Cambridge. Barrington hill
is an embarrassing 5mph up (and you pulse the brake on the way down to
keep it under 25mph). Other than taht....

People keep talking about Barrington hill to me. I have *no* idea which
hill they're talking about, but I *must* have been over it. But I can
only think of one or two noticeable hills in around Cambridge, and none
of them are really significant.

Could you describe where it is?

--
Callas

Callas said:

That feels SO much better.

53 miles, took my time about it (3h 13m) since I had to get into town
first and order a birthday present and then went looking for a bike shop
in Ely to see if they had some new gloves I wanted.

Practised the spinning stuff, went well - found I was getting an extra
rear cogs worth of speed. In particular found that *concentrating* on
the leg movements permits a measured increase in cadence. You reach
your regular cadence and then focus on what you're doing and you can
bring more and more cadence out of your legs, which isn't physically
demanding, your legs aren't getting tired from pushing since you're not
pushing but spinning, but does of course increase your speed.

Go fixed. Happens for free. You try pushing squares and you'll find
the up pedal telling your foot otherwise... 68 gear inches or
thereabouts will see you most stuff around Cambridge. Barrington hill
is an embarrassing 5mph up (and you pulse the brake on the way down to
keep it under 25mph). Other than taht....

Oh, and trackstands are a doddle. You almost look cool doing them.

G

Callas said:

Practised the spinning stuff, went well - found I was getting an extra
rear cogs worth of speed. In particular found that *concentrating* on
the leg movements permits a measured increase in cadence. You reach
your regular cadence and then focus on what you're doing and you can
bring more and more cadence out of your legs, which isn't physically
demanding, your legs aren't getting tired from pushing since you're
not pushing but spinning, but does of course increase your speed.

Been meaning to ask, what exactly is 'spinning'?

Callas said:

Quoted message said:

Go fixed. Happens for free. You try pushing squares and you'll find
the up pedal telling your foot otherwise...

I'll have to try it.

You'll never look back. It also makes a great pub bike.

Quoted message said:

I was doing 104 cadence today though! that's more than I'd realised or
thought I was doing.

I find I cruise at 90-120rpm. It took some time to get used to it
though...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

68 gear inches or
thereabouts will see you most stuff around Cambridge. Barrington hill
is an embarrassing 5mph up (and you pulse the brake on the way down to
keep it under 25mph). Other than taht....

People keep talking about Barrington hill to me. I have *no* idea which
hill they're talking about, but I *must* have been over it. But I can
only think of one or two noticeable hills in around Cambridge, and none
of them are really significant.

Could you describe where it is?

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=540000&Y=250000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=100000&multimap.x=252&multimap.y=111

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

the other is Lime Kiln hill, Shelford Road into Fulbourn then back
along Cambridge Road (past ARM). Repeat 5 times. Not THAT tricky but
again a bit of a stretch.

Other than that you have to go over the A505 into Hertfordshire and go
around Elmden (between Royston and Saffron Walden. If you did the
London-Cambridge, it's the last significant rise before it went very
flat on the Sawston Bypass

G

Quoted message said:

Callas said:

Quoted message said:

Go fixed. Happens for free. You try pushing squares and you'll find
the up pedal telling your foot otherwise...

I'll have to try it.

You'll never look back. It also makes a great pub bike.

Pub bike?

I don't drink!

Problem also is I just spent a lot of time and effort getting some
wheels sent over from the States, 'cause they don't sell 'em in the UK.
So I suspect I'm not going to swap over soon. But it is something to
try, because it's there.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I was doing 104 cadence today though! that's more than I'd realised or
thought I was doing.

I find I cruise at 90-120rpm. It took some time to get used to it
though...

120 is a lot.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Could you describe where it is?

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=540000&Y=250000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=100000&multimap.x=252&multimap.y=111

Fantastic! I've not been there, I think, I don't use back roads, too
many bloody stops to look at the map. I'll go there tommorow.

Quoted message said:

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

0.3 is short, but it's better than nothing and prolly the best I'll get
round here.

Quoted message said:

the other is Lime Kiln hill, Shelford Road into Fulbourn then back
along Cambridge Road (past ARM). Repeat 5 times. Not THAT tricky but
again a bit of a stretch.

Yeah, I discovered that earlier this month. It's up and down in both
directions with no actual sustained slopes.

Quoted message said:

Other than that you have to go over the A505 into Hertfordshire and go
around Elmden (between Royston and Saffron Walden. If you did the
London-Cambridge, it's the last significant rise before it went very
flat on the Sawston Bypass

Nah, missed the LC, injury. Been to SW more times than I can count,
though, but from Cambridge or down from Newmarket.

--
Callas

Lardychap said:

Callas said:

Quoted message said:

Go fixed. Happens for free. You try pushing squares and you'll find
the up pedal telling your foot otherwise...

I'll have to try it.

You'll never look back. It also makes a great pub bike.

Quoted message said:

I was doing 104 cadence today though! that's more than I'd realised or
thought I was doing.

I find I cruise at 90-120rpm. It took some time to get used to it
though...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

68 gear inches or
thereabouts will see you most stuff around Cambridge. Barrington hill
is an embarrassing 5mph up (and you pulse the brake on the way down to
keep it under 25mph). Other than taht....

People keep talking about Barrington hill to me. I have *no* idea which
hill they're talking about, but I *must* have been over it. But I can
only think of one or two noticeable hills in around Cambridge, and none
of them are really significant.

Could you describe where it is?

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=540000&Y=250000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=100000&multimap.x=252&multimap.y=111

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

the other is Lime Kiln hill, Shelford Road into Fulbourn then back
along Cambridge Road (past ARM). Repeat 5 times. Not THAT tricky but
again a bit of a stretch.

Other than that you have to go over the A505 into Hertfordshire and go
around Elmden (between Royston and Saffron Walden. If you did the
London-Cambridge, it's the last significant rise before it went very
flat on the Sawston Bypass

G

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

--

Velvet

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

Jon

Jon Senior said:

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

Jon

Not sure, but that sounds like an exact description of it to me!! Not a
junction you can go round at any sort of speed at all because of lines
of sight and the sharpness/approach to it, and as soon as you're on the
side road that forms the hill, it's heading straight up, and up, and up,
and more up...

--

Velvet

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

Jon Senior said:

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

Jon

Not sure, but that sounds like an exact description of it to me!! Not a
junction you can go round at any sort of speed at all because of lines
of sight and the sharpness/approach to it, and as soon as you're on the
side road that forms the hill, it's heading straight up, and up, and up,
and more up...

That's the one. I remember it well. Myself and a bunch of roadies were
leading the ride when we realised that a guy on an MTB was keeping pace
with us. We didn't realise quite how impressive this was until we saw
that he only had one arm (And thus couldn't haul on the bars as we
were!).

That was the ride where I learnt what it meant to "bonk" and had to go
in search of food in Henlow (They were doing Cambridge-Woburn Abbey that
year).

If they are still running it, it was a good ride and generally pretty
well organised so worth doing.

Jon

Quoted message said:

Callas said:

Practised the spinning stuff, went well - found I was getting an extra
rear cogs worth of speed. In particular found that *concentrating* on
the leg movements permits a measured increase in cadence. You reach
your regular cadence and then focus on what you're doing and you can
bring more and more cadence out of your legs, which isn't physically
demanding, your legs aren't getting tired from pushing since you're
not pushing but spinning, but does of course increase your speed.

Been meaning to ask, what exactly is 'spinning'?

Spinning is where you focus on increasing speed by increasing the number
of pedal revolution per minute, rather than pushing harder but keeping
the number of pedal revolutions the same.

Consider; if you turn say 85 cadence in a really easy gear, you'll be
going very slowly. If you change to a very hard gear, with the same
cadence, you'll be shooting along. That's pushing. Bad for the knees
and relies on the strength of the leg muscles rather than the strength
of the cardio-vascular system.

Spinning is where you choose a reasonably easy gear but focus on
increasing the cadence, up to about 100/105. This is easier on the legs
and so far more endurable. You legs can wear out during a ride, unlike
your heart and lungs.

--
Callas

Jon Senior jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk said:

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

If you're *climbing*, the entry speed is irrelevent. You lot are
cheating!

--
Callas

On 27/7/04 11:35 pm, in article
[email hidden], "Callas"

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I find I cruise at 90-120rpm. It took some time to get used to it
though...

120 is a lot.

That's very fast.. I try to keep up to around 90 for cruising (about 30km/h
in 39x15).
Managed to hit 130 the other day (just over 45 km/h in 39x15.. a 'see how
fast you can spin' sprint).

...d

Callas said:

Jon Senior jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk said:

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

If you're *climbing*, the entry speed is irrelevent. You lot are
cheating!

--
Callas

If cheating means I can get up with without having to die halfway up and
stop and walk the rest, then I'll continue to cheat, ta very much :-P

Unless of course, you'd like to wave a magic wand so I'm competing on
the same level playing field in terms of body
size/shape/weight/muscle... :-)

Till then, I'll use my weight advantage to get me as far up the next
hill as I can, cos once pedalling's needed, it gets a whole lot harder
for me than a skinny to get up that hill!

--

Velvet

In article said:

Quoted message said:

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

Yep, not one to go down full speed and suddenly spot the T-junction with
stone wall at the far side at the bottom.

Callas said:

That feels SO much better.

53 miles, took my time about it (3h 13m) since I had to get into town
first and order a birthday present and then went looking for a bike shop
in Ely to see if they had some new gloves I wanted.

Did you find the shop in the end?

I popped in to Ely City Cycle Centre on Monday actually and very
helpful they were too - even though I didn't buy anything.

My road bike is getting on a bit now - late 80's Peugeot 753r frame Campag
groupset but a) I love it and b) I can't afford to change it! - even so the
young guy I spoke to was able to answer all my question without being
condescending, which I find can happen in certain shops

Cheers,

PeterP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

0.3 is short, but it's better than nothing and prolly the best I'll get
round here.

Right so I found it.

It's a slope. It's steep enough to be useful, but it's just too short.
But that's Cambridge, so =)

I went over it, both ends, five times. I got faster each time until the
fifth time, then I was a bit slower; I'd reached a bit of a limit.

Fourth time climbing the short steep end I was doing 10.1mph. Note that
I wasn't practising sprint-climbing; this was in-saddle sustained
aerobic.

Last year, in the Tour, there was a rider who, alone, went over two hor
catagory climbs and was then climbing the Alp d'Huez. He, on that third
climb, was holding down about 11mph. Lance went by him doing about
15mph.

I was thinking about that as I struggled up the very short slope doing
10 🙂

I was pleased that I didn't have to skip down to the very easiest gear;
I was one up from that.

--
Callas

Quoted message said:

Callas said:

Pub bike?

Quoted message said:

You don't need to. Pub bike. Noun. Bike that can be taken into town
and will always be left well alone. For comparison see top banana
racers or trick mountain bikes.

Ah, gotcha.

I'm thinking about a town bike. Certainly can't take mine into
Cambridge. On the very odd occasion where I have to, I'm on edge until
I get back to it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

0.3 is short, but it's better than nothing and prolly the best I'll get
round here.

Unless you head into Hertfordshire...

I know a short slope just inside Hert., it's got a very rough road
surface, pitch black and very pitted. Ring a bell?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Other than that you have to go over the A505 into Hertfordshire and go
around Elmden (between Royston and Saffron Walden. If you did the
London-Cambridge, it's the last significant rise before it went very
flat on the Sawston Bypass

Nah, missed the LC, injury. Been to SW more times than I can count,
though, but from Cambridge or down from Newmarket.

Indeed. So you can find some hills if you need them.

Yeah. Really *short* hills.

--
Callas

Callas said:

Quoted message said:

You'll never look back. It also makes a great pub bike.

Pub bike?

I don't drink!

You don't need to. Pub bike. Noun. Bike that can be taken into town
and will always be left well alone. For comparison see top banana
racers or trick mountain bikes.

Quoted message said:

Problem also is I just spent a lot of time and effort getting some
wheels sent over from the States, 'cause they don't sell 'em in the UK.
So I suspect I'm not going to swap over soon. But it is something to
try, because it's there.

£50 all in.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I was doing 104 cadence today though! that's more than I'd realised or
thought I was doing.

I find I cruise at 90-120rpm. It took some time to get used to it
though...

120 is a lot.

It's a good cruise..

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Could you describe where it is?

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=540000&Y=250000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=100000&multimap.x=252&multimap.y=111

Fantastic! I've not been there, I think, I don't use back roads, too
many bloody stops to look at the map. I'll go there tommorow.

It's easy there, easy back, or you can get the train to, say Shepreth
and ride home.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's between Barrington and Haslingfield (not far from Foxton, to the
south of Cambridge on the A10. One side is a very sharp 0.3mile
rise. The other is more gradual but can be a bit evil

0.3 is short, but it's better than nothing and prolly the best I'll get
round here.

Unless you head into Hertfordshire...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the other is Lime Kiln hill, Shelford Road into Fulbourn then back
along Cambridge Road (past ARM). Repeat 5 times. Not THAT tricky but
again a bit of a stretch.

Yeah, I discovered that earlier this month. It's up and down in both
directions with no actual sustained slopes.

No such things in the "Flat As Kylie's Chest" country...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Other than that you have to go over the A505 into Hertfordshire and go
around Elmden (between Royston and Saffron Walden. If you did the
London-Cambridge, it's the last significant rise before it went very
flat on the Sawston Bypass

Nah, missed the LC, injury. Been to SW more times than I can count,
though, but from Cambridge or down from Newmarket.

Indeed. So you can find some hills if you need them.

F

Jon Senior jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk said:

Velvet [email hidden] opined the following...

Quoted message said:

I think I know barrington hill? as Chapel Hill - are they one and the
same? The road layout certainly looks the same at the north end (foot)
of the hill.. the turn meaning you have no speed on the approach at all.

It still sees me walking up it.

One day I'll manage it in one go...

Is this fabled "hill" in the flatlands part of the Action Research
Cambridge Wheel? It's been a while since I rode it, but I do recall a
sudden surprising ascent after a turn which left no momentum to make it
easier!

That's the one. You come in across from the radio telescopes on
Haslingfield Road. Right turn up Chapel hill, down the other
side. Bunny hop the light rail at the cement works.

Then again I find the slight but constant drag from Fowlmere down to
the A505 more demoralising as you can't see the slope (which is quite
small) and you're into a headwind. Yet you think you should just
cruise it...

G