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Switched from the MTB to the roadbike today for the first time, still got to change a few bits, like the seat and get some clip ons. Bought the pedals, cleats and shoes online but the shoes don't fit so going to have to wait til post lockdown to actually try some on in a shop (Twtd eh)
Anyhow - defo easier/quicker on the hills - have old style staps that your feet go on which seemed to get more out of my legs. Any tips on starting? Found myself with 1 foot in and messing around trying to get the other foot in without falling off or riding into the path of anyone - far from easy.
And the legs defo ache more than yesterday - quads especially - but guessing that is a good thing as it shows I was working harder on those hills?
Any other tips gratefully received :-) #reclaimthelanes #getoutside
TWTD's cycling massive on 14:11 - Apr 17 by bluelagos
Toughest hill I've done is Mill Hill coming from Dedham towards Lawford. The other day I was maybe an hour in to a ride, so not fresh....
A guy came out of his house at the bottom of the hill and ran past me ffs.
That was quite deflating, but apparently not uncommon on tough hills according to a couple of cyclists I know.
For hills, if you are not already in the easiest gear, no reason to drop down the gears and have a slightly faster cadence.
Also, don’t wait to feel the legs getting tired, drop down the gears early, if you have some puff near the top, sure go for a little sprint and get some lovely lactic burn going then, and push it a bit to build your hill legs.
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TWTD's cycling massive on 15:37 - Apr 17 with 1550 views
TWTD's cycling massive on 15:27 - Apr 17 by eireblue
For hills, if you are not already in the easiest gear, no reason to drop down the gears and have a slightly faster cadence.
Also, don’t wait to feel the legs getting tired, drop down the gears early, if you have some puff near the top, sure go for a little sprint and get some lovely lactic burn going then, and push it a bit to build your hill legs.
Yep, then turn round, coast to the bottom, and do it again!!!
You are the obsolete SRN4 to my Fairey Rotodyne....
TWTD's cycling massive on 12:26 - Apr 17 by bluelagos
Thanks. They do come highly recommended - so may well check em out. Frustrating that the cycling shops all seem to be click and collect only at the moment.
I was outside a very open Spokeworx on Princes Street today...definitely open ..1 at a time.
[Post edited 18 Apr 2020 9:20]
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
TWTD's cycling massive on 14:11 - Apr 17 by bluelagos
Toughest hill I've done is Mill Hill coming from Dedham towards Lawford. The other day I was maybe an hour in to a ride, so not fresh....
A guy came out of his house at the bottom of the hill and ran past me ffs.
That was quite deflating, but apparently not uncommon on tough hills according to a couple of cyclists I know.
I would recommend SPD SL shoes and cleats. This is materially what every roadie uses. Some use look keo. As others have said, I'd recommend a cadence meter or maybe a proper Garmin GPS with a heart rate monitor too. There is a shelf life to looking down at a watch.
Hartest Hill is an excellent climb. Worth the effort of getting there. It's 15% or so at its steepest.
TWTD's cycling massive on 13:52 - Apr 17 by GeoffSentence
I wouldn't include myself in the massive, what with only having an uber-cheap hybrid boneshaker, but I do enjoy a nice ride and as I have a day of today I went for a 20 miler this morning, a bit longer than I normally do. Took an hour and a half and in that time I saw 14 cars, 4 other cyclists and 3 joggers. There's plenty of space in the backlanes of the Ipswich-Shotley-Sudbury Golden Triangle for a few more to get out there yet and still be more isolated than at home.
I should also add that over the last few weeks I have discovered that Suffolk has some surprisingly tough old hills.
There is a short but vicious one going out of Hartest. First went up it on my MTB then tried on my road bike, thinking it would be easier. Still bloody tough. My 75 years must be catching up with me. TractorWood you beat me to it.
TWTD's cycling massive on 21:03 - Apr 17 by ronnyd
There is a short but vicious one going out of Hartest. First went up it on my MTB then tried on my road bike, thinking it would be easier. Still bloody tough. My 75 years must be catching up with me. TractorWood you beat me to it.
[Post edited 17 Apr 2020 21:05]
Primrose hill in Moulton is also excellent. Less steep but probably a bit longer.
TWTD's cycling massive on 13:40 - Apr 17 by Swansea_Blue
Straps shouldn't be too much trouble. Make sure they're both undone, one foot in, start off and then slide the other foot in. Might take a bit of digging around if the pedal turns and the straps swing underneath.
Even if the straps do end up underneath you 'should' have enough clearance above the road. Just start of with one pedal upside down if you have to and then when you've got a bit of speed up you can coast along while fiddling to get the other strap on properly. Give each strap a yank to tighten the and then off you go.
Stopping is just the reverse. Anticipate any stops and loosen the straps before otherwise you'll have an ungraceful low speed topple!
This is about right.
Similar advice for cleats/clipless - if in doubt build up speed with one leg, either pedalling full circles or just pushing down then backpedalling to the top (which you can do with one foot in straps/clips), before trying to sort out your other leg. the bike will be more stable at speed. It does get easier with practice, and you're not really a proper cyclist until you've fallen over at some traffic lights having forgotten to unclip as you come to a stop.
I've been riding spd-sl for years and still have the odd hiccup when I can't clip in properly. Generally speaking it's not a problem, but if I'm in a slightly risky position, like pulling off from traffic lights with cars behind I'll still get up speed before trying to clip my left foot in. Don't really want to be wobbling about when someone is overtaking you.
It's too easy to overthink cycling - best advice is to get out there and enjoy it. Unless you're training to compete or doing huge events no-one ever got less fit by just riding more. If you want to get fitter without riding more, push harder on the pedals (and maybe go up and down decent hills that take several minutes to climb).
TWTD Cycling Herbert
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TWTD's cycling massive on 16:25 - Apr 20 with 1381 views
I know a lot of people like the Brooks saddles but I found them a bit too soft for me. I am currently using a Bontranger with a cut out and it is fine so far. Longer term I intend to try one of the Fizik cut out saddles as they do seem highly regarded.
It is worth getting your sit bones measured when the shops reopen - just sit on a gel pad - to get an idea of the width.
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TWTD's cycling massive on 16:29 - Apr 20 with 1373 views
TWTD's cycling massive on 14:11 - Apr 17 by bluelagos
Toughest hill I've done is Mill Hill coming from Dedham towards Lawford. The other day I was maybe an hour in to a ride, so not fresh....
A guy came out of his house at the bottom of the hill and ran past me ffs.
That was quite deflating, but apparently not uncommon on tough hills according to a couple of cyclists I know.
That's when you really have 'fun' with clip in pedals lol. Get to a point on steep hills where you're going so slowly you risk a topple and you have to push through the lactic acid build up at any cost. Even if you don't fall off unceremoniously you've no chance of starting off again when you stop. We've a couple of really steep ones round this way.
TWTD's cycling massive on 16:29 - Apr 20 by Swansea_Blue
That's when you really have 'fun' with clip in pedals lol. Get to a point on steep hills where you're going so slowly you risk a topple and you have to push through the lactic acid build up at any cost. Even if you don't fall off unceremoniously you've no chance of starting off again when you stop. We've a couple of really steep ones round this way.
That sort of thing happening on a mountain bike whilst going up muddy slopes, helped answer the old philosophical question, if a mountain biker falls over in the woods, and only the trees saw it, did it happen.
The answer is of course errrrr.....no....it’s....errrrr.....mud from a big puddle.
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TractorWood you beat me to it. 
