IIS Cycling Thread ......

[Kunama]

One for the cycling enthusiasts on IIS, the beautiful Italian thoroughbred that is the Wilier Gran Turismo ultralight hand made carbon fibre speed machine

Transferring all my Shimano gear over to this frame set as soon as my new crankset arrives from the UK. :D:D

[MortonH]

Nice!

[Kunama]

Fortunately, although 57 years old, the engine for this still runs reasonable well :D
I am going to stick with a mix of Shimano DuraAce and Ultegra 6750 gearing with Ultegra 6700 brakes, teflon lined cables (internal routing)
FSA K-Wing Carbon bars and Cinelli Carbon/Kevlar Stem.

[MattT]

Wilier bikes rule!!!
Very very very nice machine you'll have there Matt.
I'm only a bit biased here as my road bike is a Wilier alpe d' huez used by pro teams back in 2003 and when Italian bikes were made in Italy, probably the only Italian made thing that works and never breaks down.
Really the only running gear you should have on such a machine is Campy of course…I understand the re-use of Shimano though.
Here is my Wilier with Campag Vento wheels and Centaur group 3T bars and stem. The only non Italian part is the look pedals.
Matt

[Kunama]

That is a classic bike Matt :prey2:, I remember lusting after them 10years ago.
I had Campagnolo on my Cannondale but found the thumb :thumbsup: shifting did not suit me after dislocating my thumbs a few times while ski racing.

[acropolite]

A true thing of beauty, look forward to seeing the final assembly. Shimano is my personal favourite, like most things Japanese it's hard to fault.

[Kunama]

Spent the day putting the Willy together today,

Wilier Grant Turismo full carbon monocoque frame Size XL
Carbon Fork and steerer
Shimano RS80 Carbon/Aluminium wheelset
Continental GrandPrix 4000s 700x23 tyres
FSA SLR Carbon seatpost
Selle SMP Glider Saddle
FSA K-Wing 44cm Handlebars
Cinelli Kevlar/Carbon Stem
Shimano Ultegra 6700 Shifters
Ultegra 6700 series brakes
Ultegra 6750 Compact Crankset 50/34
Ultegra 11-28 Cassette
Ultegra derailleurs F & R
DuraAce BB9000 Bottom Bracket
Ritchey headset

Weight: 7.7Kgs
Cost :whistle:

[anj026]

That's a beautiful new bike Matt. :thumbsup:

Here is a picture of my old Hillman. Bought it new in 1985, still going well. It originally had the full Suntour Superbe 12 speed groupset. Now converted to single speed (75 inch gearing). Other changes over the years are the Velocity rims and Brookes Pro saddle.

I have a couple of other bikes too but this one has done the most miles.

[mithrandir]

Make sure you lock it up properly Matt. This week the local rag reported a guy's $9500 bike - and $1000 of tools - stolen from his locked garage.

[Kunama]

I love the old bikes Andy, I had to sell mine when we moved from Queensland.

Andrew, If they can outrun my "Security system" they're doing well, if they should falter I fear they will leave a blood trail anyway ...............

[Steffen]

Sounds like the works. What would it take to put a motor on it?
:P :scared3:

[Kunama]

I'll wait till the current engine runs out of puff completely.;)
Just got home from the first real ride, 51klms averaging 28kph, so there is life in the 57 year old engine yet!

[MattT]

Fantastic Matt…great bikes these Wiliers :thumbsup:
Nice bike too Andy…My first decent bike was a Colnago Mexico in 1984. I couldn't quite afford Campy Super Record then so put Suntour Superbe on it…sacrilege I know but it ran like a well oiled machine. Not too sure about green as a colour though, my memory of the mid 80's was green was unlucky :question:
Obviously not nearly 30 years on it still goes!
Matt

[traveller]

Here is my single speed build.
Frame and fork: Malvern Star Excel triple butted alloy
Crank/cog: 48 teeth to rear 16 :D
Tyres: Vittoria Rounduntors (White of course!)
Rims: Alexrims R500
Rides like a dream.
Bo

[Kunama]

I cannot believe how comfortable the Wilier GT is, the Cannondale Saeco and Giant TCR Adv1 I have been riding will shake the fillings out of your teeth, this Wilier is ever so smooth but still responds well to sprinting.
I too had the Suntour Superbe albeit on my Apollo. Never owned green bike and never will ;)



Nice simple ride Bo. I am looking for and old frame to do just that for trips to the shops etc.

[traveller]

Thanks Matt, I picked up the bike for $25 at a garage sale, and then spent about $250 doing it up :lol:
Your bike is fantastic, though I am not really a fan of carbon, but sounds like you managed to dampen the ride quite a bit.
My next ride would be a titanium job :D
Bo

[N1]

OK my contribution to the cycling thread:

Attempting a MTB ride from Monowai to Doubtful Sound (https://www.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Monowai,+Southland&daddr=Doubtful+Sound&hl=en&ll=-45.508272,167.242126&spn=1.079844,2.705383&sll=-45.31546,167.893066&sspn=1.083537,2.705383&oq=doubtful+sound&mra=ls&t=m&z=9) this weekend over 3 passes. Leaving for Manapouri now.

It will be full-on. Quads will scream. I must be nuts.

[Kunama]

I concur Mirko, you must be nuts ........... that is some really arduous terrain and exposed to the wild southern weather. At least you'll have the new Takahashi to play with when you get back to OZtralia to recover.

[multiweb]

Wow, excellent. That's pretty good average. Flat terrain?

[Kunama]

Thanks Marc, I'm quite happy with anything over 27 as an average these days. A long long time ago my average was more like 37-40 but 2 decades of ageing have taken their toll. Undulating, few steep pinches gentle uphill for the last 15klms.

I rode for 4 years in the Snowy Mountains so have really noticed the extra oxygen available at Canberra's altitude.

Cheers :thumbsup:

[2stroke]

heres mine

[2stroke]

I usually ride around in my bike shorts with this one and a potato shoved down the back of pants.

[multiweb]

That figures. Sounds like your fitness is well above average for your age. Cycling is probably the best exercise after rowing I reckon, but I like the rowing seat better these days. :lol:

[speach]

You all are mad what wrong with PETROL!

[Kunama]

Where is the challenge in that?
As I age I find joy in simpler things. One of the great pleasures of life is cycling from Jindabyne to Charlotte Pass and back (actually the return is the pleasure, the way up is pure lung-tearing torture)
You have to push yourself to get the true pleasures of life :thumbsup:

Marc, I have to agree on rowing although my preference was sea kayaks and surfskis for paddling. I would also throw in Nordic Skiing as a great cardio workout, I returned to XC Skiing (skating style) 3 years ago after 30 years of downhill skiing and racing. I had not realised how poor my cardio fitness was until I did 25klms on the second morning.

[FlashDrive]

I'll borrow one of these .....and come for the ride .....

Col.... :D

[multiweb]

I haven't got back on skis since I moved to Oz. I used to be on it all the time back home. Maybe when I retire I'll go to NZ where they have real mountains. :P

[speach]

Ho! dear you see no sense of humour

[N1]

Well, we did it. 77kms of real mountain biking in cool but spotless weather. Borland Lodge to Doubtful Sound. Part of this route follows the Manapouri power lines. 2500 vertical metres climbed, 3 passes negotiated, tons of spectacular scenery admired. 12 hours total, 7.5 hours actual riding. This is an epic and no doubt a future NZ classic. It is the best ride I've enjoyed in this country so far.



Funny you should say that. This particular trip consists of 76km dirt roads/ tracks & 1 km of bush travel & alpine hiking with your vehicle (choose wisely!) on your shoulder. Petrol engine is OK if you want to abandon your vehicle at km 47 :hi:and walk the remaining 30. So yeah.

[Kunama]

Well done Mirko!
Spectacular scenery

[MattT]

Fantastic Mirko….speechless. Got a mate who has just about given up road bikes for mtb's , and he loves it, think I could too.
Only trouble is the minefield of bikes out there :shrug: Haven't bought a bike for 6 years and that was easy….run out Giant OCR2 as a commuting bike, and the last one in the shop, but mtb's …..:confused2:
Matt

[Kunama]

Best to get a secondhand one Matt, there are many really nice bikes for less than half new prices that have hardly been ridden.
I bought my Marin Nail Trail in 2010, new from the shop but being a 2009 model they cut $1000 off the price.

[N1]

Thanks Guys yes I enjoyed it immensely.

I agree a second hand hard tail bike is one of the best options out there. Got mine from a lady :screwy: on Trademe (NZ's ebay) & haven't looked back.

Re road vs mountain biking - no need to give up one for the other, or to sit on the fence. Because there is no fence. Horses for courses maybe. I found if I choose one exclusively it's only half the fun. Those who cannot (or don't want to) get 2 bikes, get a 28 hybrid.

$0.02

[multiweb]

Awesome scenery.

[ZeroID]

Maybe I'll post a pic later but I ride ( purely for fun and fitness ) a Cannondale 29" MTB. 20-30 km is quite easy even with moderate hills along the way and a rather unusual pattern tyre lets me get off road a bit without too much bother. Don't think I'm quite up to 70 odd km rides at my age (65) but it's fun to explore places that are too far to walk to and\or inaccesible to cars.
Also got an Avanti Monza road machine downstairs but haven't used that in a while.

[Kunama]

65 is the new 40 Brent. I'm 57 and still ride 250km per week through the warmer months. Winter is reserved for skiing.

Post up the Cannondale, I only ever test rode a 29er once, would have bought one but the Marin on special was too good a deal to pass up.

[ZeroID]

Skiing I had to give up years ago, my knees were too knackered. I ride because I can no longer run, impact wear & damage ... from skiing in my younger days. Hence I have to limit my lower joint stresses, hips, knees, ankles otherwise I am laid up on pain killers for a week or so.

65 the new 40 ? Have to tell my wife, she is about 19 years younger than me so this should be fun.

[N1]

I'm planning to do a 1-day MTB trip somewhere in SE-NSW region over the holidays. Ideally, it would involve one or two climbs & corresponding descents of 1000m plus, but I realise this ain't NZ and the holidays are supposed to be relaxing :P. So alternatively, a nice ride could start and end at Thredbo Village, with a stop just below the summit of Kozzie, where bikes must be left behind and the last bit done on foot (that's what it was like when I rode up there from Charlotte Pass years ago).

Alas, there don't seem to be any actual rideable climbs out of Thredbo which are advertised as such (only lifts and downhills), and the tracks between the top of the ski slope and the big K are conspicuously labelled "walking track".

Any info on this area or alternative approaches would be appreciated. :question:

[Kunama]

No bikes from Thredbo to the top I'm afraid. Steelmesh walking tracks only.
Best rides at the top are Charlotte Pass to Rawson's Pass return and the Link Road from Smiggins to Guthega and return.

From the Thredbo side, you can go toward Dead Horse Gap and park the vehicle then ride down the Cascades Trail.

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/kosciuszko-national-park/cascade-hut-trail/cycling

Other very nice rides can be found in the Brindabella Ranges, Namadgi National
Piccadilly Circus to Mt Coree
Piccadilly Circus to Mount Ginini or Mt Gingera.

[MattT]

I can't WAIT til I can retire.....only 15+ years to go :shrug:

Haven't bought an MTB yet...too busy working for a living. The up side....I ride 200+km's to work and back every week, which includes 2.5km of vertical climbing according to my computer....and save a small fortune in fuel :thumbsup:

[Kunama]

I found that riding to work was a bit of a chore :mad2: so I retired early :D , now I enjoy the rides much more and I have more time for this: :fishing:

On a more serious note: I just replaced the stem on my bike with a Deda Superleggero and had 2 of the Taiwanese titanium screws fail at 5Nm torque
I contacted Wiggle UK who have immediately sent 4 replacements made of real titanium,
Very good customer service.

200+ is great Matt, you could just about ride to Canberra next time .....

[N1]

I'd love a decent commute like that. 20k's is about right to feel good & relaxed when starting the job as I know from experience. My current trip to work is 1.5km. I've done it in 3 minutes (car: 5-12 minutes) but I've discovered there is not just a maximum, but also a minimum amount of time the trip to work should take, so you can change gears and put your other hat on. As a result, I walk more often than not.

Kunama-Matt, I shall investigate. Thanks.

[MattT]

40km round trip is sometimes hard at the end of a long day when I'm brain dead. All the uphill sections are in the last 5km's...sometimes wish it wasn't so far. It is a decent ride though and I can eat whatever I like :thumbsup: I'll ride it off the next day.

[acropolite]

My favourite, out of action ATM (at least I am.... fell off and broke my wrist 5 weeks ago...:sadeyes:)

Giant Anthem X29 1 2012 model. Replaced the standard Elixir 5 Brakes with the new Sram Guide RSC.

I also have a nice old 70's Malvern Star in need of a bit of renovation.

[Kunama]

What a beautiful morning in Canberra for a spin ....... just finished 42klms of very enjoyable riding at a gentle 28k average.
Garran> Deakin>Yarralumla>Civic>Belconnen Way to Page>Florey to visit my new granddaughter>Hawker>Black Mountain>Government House>Yarralumla>Deakin>Garran and to the Shower!!!!

[Rainmaker]

Time to wake up this thread I started 8 years ago as well as the muscles that have had a rest for a few years.......
For the past few years my cycling has been just occasional MTB trips in the Snowy Mountains and Roadie trips around the neighbourhood.... as a result my weight had crept up from 93Kg to 109Kg

New Years Resolution was to get fit again but I didn't want to post here until I knew I had some willpower left to do something about the matter

December 1 2021:
Weight: 109Kg
Height: 193cm
BP: 150/93

Started slowly with 2 hours of badminton doubles twice per week and just cutting out anything fatty/salty. The added short (10Km) rides on my trusty Wilier Gran Turismo/Ultegra 10.

I am now riding a minimum of 25 kilometres per day for at least an hour a day on varied terrain ....

March 22, 2022:

Height is still the same (I think)
Weight: 94.5Kg and
BP 128/83


Weight loss 14.5Kg in 110 days

As for the bike: Just a service with new brake pads, a bit of spoke tensioning and a pair of Bontrager R3 700/25 tyres ....
Bike weight: 7.4Kg

[multiweb]

Pretty dramatic weightloss for a little over 3 months. Well done.

[JA]

Great result Matt :thumbsup:

Best
JA

[Rainmaker]

I'm now tapering it back Marc, my BMR is about 1840 and my intake has been just 2000 Kcal per day for a little while (Except Christmas time when it peaked much higher :D)

Now that I am closer to the goal I am bumping the intake up 20% but that still gives me approx 800 Kcal deficit per day depending on the weather for cycling.... Just 4.5Kg to go until I turn 65 yrs in June !!!



Thanks JA.

P.S. I don't recommend this plan to anyone who has been sedentary for too long, this is rather extreme and I have been hungry for a few weeks.
I miss my Stella Artois :sadeyes::sadeyes:

[multiweb]

Yeah I was thinking that is a massive drop in such a short time. I find as I get older that when pushing harder the body pushes back so different strategy now. Not necessarily limiting normal calorie intake but burning a little more and doing interval training seems to work best for me. I lose weight slower but increase muscle mass and shed fat. Easier this way and less of a hit on the system.

[Rainmaker]

That's more or less the plan that I will be transitioning to over the next 3 months, I have increased protein intake by 30% and am doing short hard sprints (1-2 mins) on the bike followed by a 3 minute steady 30kph, then another sprint etc etc....
Canberra has great terrain where you can hit a hill for a couple of minutes then cruise a little before hitting another hill...

Somehow this was a lot easier twenty years ago than now at 64years :question:

[MrB]

Hey, I didn't know there was a cycling thread here.
I started riding about 4 years ago to lose weight too.
I was 110-ish kg at the time, now seem to have plateau'd at ~92kg (I'm 6'5")

Things kinda... got out of control.
Photo of my rig on a 'short' ride around the block :lol:

[N1]

I've kept going while this thread lay dormant and as a result have no weight loss to report. Or gain. That'll do me

[Rainmaker]

Looks like you're well set up for long rides :thumbsup:

[Rainmaker]

How are you dealing with those steep streets of Dunners Mirko ???

[MrB]

Yes, too well. I need to learn to reduce my load.
Longest to date is 1630km.
One of these years when everything lines-up just right, I'll give IndiPac a go.
(It's on now actually: https://indianpacificwheelride2022.maprogre ss.com/)

[N1]

Alfine Inter-11 on a Surly Troll with good brakes.

[Nikolas]

My seat on my hybrid is prostate friendly however I do find it uncomfortable after 25km rides or more, does anyone have good recommendations for good touring seats that are prostate friendly?

[MrB]

Saddles are a hard thing to recommend, because every tush is different. On top of that, is the shear number of variables like preferred riding position (upright/on the drops/aero etc), weight, flexibility. Some people rock their hips, some don't etc etc. It's amazing how much difference even small adjustments to a saddles angle or set-back can make.
I have tried many saddles that people swear by: Bontrager Aeolus, PRO Stealth, Specialized Power, Selle Italia and many more. None worked for me.

I settled on an old classic, the Brooks B17 Imperial. Leather and steel. Very heavy and looks totally out of place on a modern bike, but, it works for me.
It doesn't work for everyone, there are plenty of people that think sitting on a brick is more comfortable than a Brooks. To each their own.

Most good bike shops have test saddles, you pay a deposit, fit it, big ride, return for refund. Repeat. Do it, it's worth the effort.

Also important is what you wear. If you're sitting on sewn seams and stitching(like underwear and shorts have), it's gonna hurt after a while. I put off wearing lycra bib-shorts for a long time(I hate the 'cyclist' look, prefer to ride in shorts and a tee shirt) but once I started doing 3+ hour rides bibs became important.
I have tried many again but currently using RedWhite because the chamois is in a different position than most others I've tried and seems to suit my sit-bones better. I've yet to try Pedal Mafia (Aussie company - Perth) which get rave reviews, but will be trying them soon in the hope they help on the Ultra (multi-allday) rides.
For my daily/training rides I still wear shorts, but over the bibs so I don't look like a dork. Well, less of a dork anyway.

[glend]

I am so careful about where I ride, and at what time of day I ride. I have a circuit around a new subdivision with nice roads ( but narrow), but few houses built yet, which is my daily cardio ride. Bike is a Leitner CrossX dual suspension ebike. On Saurday the12th of March, as I was rounding a corner, a fast SUV driven by a P player, cut the corner and I was facing a head on collision. I was not going fast, say 15kmph at most. I reacted by swerving to the left and in the process of avoiding the car the front end of the bike let go and I fell heavily on the road. The result was a broken elbow, radius and ulna cracked. Amazing pain. My head had hit the pavement as well but the helmet took the impact. At first, being full of adrenalin, I thought it was just bruised, albeit with skin lacerations, blood, etc. The bike was a mess: the Shimano handlebar shifter was broken clean off, hanging by the cable, and stuck in one low gear. The pedal assist controller was cracked, but amazingly the bike still had power to the rear hub. With the help of a nearby home owner, I got back on the bike and rode home in my one working gear. It wasn't until I was on the bike riding that I realised I had no feeling in my left hand and could not use it to alter the pedal assist level, or operate the rear brake lever. I made it home ok. Tried to clean up the wound, bandage it, and took some Panadol. Long story shortened, after the adrenaline wore off, the real pain hit. I could not sleep at all that night, so at 5am I got in the car and drove myself, one handed down the M1, to Wyong Hospital Emergency. They xrayed it, verified it broken, and put me in a full arm cast. This has been followed up with return visit to the Fracture Clinic, and it looks like my life is on hold for awhile.
I am considering giving riding away, as at 72yo I cannot afford any more broken bones, or worse. My recovery is going to take longer than a young fellow, and I will need rehab on the arm to regain function and flexibility. Time will tell.
For now the bike sits in the garage. My son suggested a recumbent exercise bike to keep cardio fit, might be my riding future.

[Rainmaker]

I hope you mend quickly Glen. Although the situation is slowly improving, Australian roads are inhabited by too many careless bogans who don't look out for cyclists and have little regard for other road users.

Cycling in Europe is quite different, people give you a wide berth. In Canberra the Government bus drivers are often the worst offenders...

I used to ride a lot in the Snowy Mts and had no issues, the locals would patiently wait till it was safe to pass. Come the winter time things changed with the out of town Yuppies driving at max speeds and hardly moving over to pass.

[Rainmaker]

Nice !!!

[Rainmaker]

Have a look at SQLab seats.
I use an SMP Glider, pretty good, but they aren't very wallet friendly

[N1]

Glen, all the best for a speedy recovery. I note it was a homeowner who came to your aid, not the muppet that caused this. Makes it even worse. OTOH, you possibly were in better hands that way.

[Rainmaker]

That's a great effort Matt. Nice bike too!

[JohnG]

Still riding myself Matt, 5 days a week around the back roads of Coota, use a Giant Defy Advanced Pro, not a racing bike but an endurance model, helps keep the Doctor away at my age..

[Rainmaker]

Hey John, Good to hear you're still doing well :thumbsup:, I thought you were considering moving from Coota?

[JohnG]

Decided against it Matt, too much of a pain in the ***** Couldn't handle the idea of going back to a city...

[Hans Tucker]

Anyone tried Track Cycling? Fixed gear no brakes. When you hit the 32-45 degree inclined bends they virtually sling shot you out increasing your speed ... just remember to keep on peddling.

One of the few events in the Olympics I watch

[Rainmaker]

Tried it once, too SCARY being strapped into the pedals on a fixie :sadeyes:

[Hans Tucker]

Yep ... pretty much my experience and that was with just two of us on the track. Imagine with 20 riders. But I still love watching though .. Team Pursuit and the Kierin

[Rainmaker]

Just finished my last week of the rather extreme "Input vs Output" .....
2 hours of paddling the surfski
4 hours of badminton doubles
10 hours on the road bike for 255kms

2 punctures, one at 45kmh :eyepop: really woke me up :eyepop:
changed the stem from 110mm to 100mm -6 degrees

Calories deficit 9200 for the week
BP down to 117/79

Tomorrow I can eat 40% more :D might even have a beer :drink:

[Hans Tucker]

https://youtu.be/N_1nZZrv8aU

[Rainmaker]

:lol::lol::lol:

[multiweb]

My dad got knocked off his bike in the Pyrenees by a lady who "didn't see him". Hairline fracture at 79. 3 months later he was clear and back doing his daily 80km. The idiots are everywhere unfortunately. Nationality is not a function of the dumbassness out there. ;) May be in Holland there's more bikes than cars so there's safety in numbers? But then again they're all on weed aren't they? Keeps them happy I guess, regardless.

[Rainmaker]

Perhaps I should correct that to " Nordic countries ", in Finland we had no problems whatsoever. I probably wouldn't ride in Italy though......

Too much Chianti in their veins....

[glend]

Thanks Marc, I am looking forward to getting the cast off. My kids want me to give up road riding altogether, and are suggesting a nice "lazy boy" recumbent exercise bike. They have a very good point, as I am losing my cardio fitness through lack of riding, and walking does not provide the same effective workout. I had some exposure to recumbent exercise bikes in my cardiac rehab program, importantly there is no pressure on the arms, elbow.

[multiweb]

You're welcome RB.