LAJ

MoAlpha

Well, let’s not forget the wiping dog **** off your shoe pedal stroke and keto training.

​​​​​​….and electrolytes! Lots of electrolytes.

MoAlpha

That’s why I’m still a virgin.

genejockey 

I think Quito training would probably be more effective, what with it being at 9250 feet.

Eric F 

I have zero tolerance for any more than a single 5mm spacer on top of my stem. My road bike is slammed and trimmed so there's no spacers. Resale value related to steerer length is not something I concern myself with. I want my bikes optimized for my preferences. (IMO, YMMV)

TMonk

nice one

genejockey 

Spokes and nipples ordered, along with spoke prep and a lightly used Park TM-1. Now all I need is an electric screwdriver.

I figure, even though I'm using all new spokes and nipples, I'll save myself trouble lacing the wheel by taping the new rim to the old wheel and removing the old spokes one by one, then placing the new spoke in the new rim at the same spot from the same direction. I just need to do that 72 times.

Then tighten them, tension and true them, stomp on the wheels, re-tension and re-true, give up and take them to my LBS who said he'd be happy to fix whatever I mess up help out.

MoAlpha

Meh. I can sleep at altitude by putting a block of dry ice by the bed and closing the window.

TMonk

Do you think that would stimulate the same adaptations as sleeping at altitude? Is it really as simple as decreasing the O2 concentration?

MoAlpha

No. That was a bad joke for genejockey . You need to decrease the absolute oxygen pressure in order to get altitude adaptation. The relative pressures of the gases don’t change as the atmospheric pressure goes down. Anyway, CO2 is pretty toxic.

genejockey 

Still, it's better than suggesting hypoxia training by having a car running in the garage while you're on the trainer.

genejockey 

I could visit my brother and his family in Rio Rancho NM for a while. That's 5500 feet. Mind you, he can be almost as insufferably pompous as me, so it would involve sacrifices.

MoAlpha

Only quantitatively. Have you tried it?

MoAlpha

Ah, so he raises the partial pressure of CO2, or methane and H2S as well?

genejockey 

Methane, generally, exacerbated by the hot air.

Velo Vol 

How much?

Nope. Baseball fans, perhaps. I don't get them.

LAJ

That’s a good point but people can’t actually see you’re on electrolytes and may not notice the dog**** action. But when they see you timtak slammed, they know you’re at the peak of your game. Top of the hill efficiency is just a given.

Velo Vol 

It required a 45-minute phone call to order my drug.

Either the CVS specialty pharmacy people get paid by the word, or they are used to talking to Boomers and thus talk real slowly, explaining every little thing, repeating themselves frequently. SMH.

big john

Hairnets.

genejockey 

So, since the wheels I'm rebuilding are 28 years old, and even though they spin smooth as butter on a hot day, I figured I'd kill some time while isolating at home by rebuilding them. I have some top quality bearings from Wheels Mfg., I have Phil's Grease, I have cone wrenches. So I carefully cover my bench with newspaper, take out the QR, and check what wrenches fit the cone and locknut. 14mm fits the cone. 13mm fits the locknut.

Only one problem. This is what I have for 13 and 14mm cone wrenches:


Oh, for the love of Mike!

EDIT: It's like having a dustpan on the other end of a broom!

terrymorse 

I sure wouldn't want to descend Hamilton on a C&V bike, although I did see a young and strong rider on a vintage Cinelli with toe clips the other day. I think he got a ride down in a van.

Hamilton has a few 8% sections, but they are not very long. Maybe 1/4 mile or so. Not quite steep steep, but noticeable.

There is one 300-foot descent, followed by another 200-foot descent. Good spots to catch your breath.

I'm heading there tomorrow for Humpday Hamilton, hoping to improve my time for the year. Last Sunday was a bust -- 40 seconds off my best of they year. I was well ahead of the pace until the last 3 miles, when the lights went out. I suspect the heat did me in.

Oh yeah, and I would never attempt Hamilton if I was sick or severely out of shape.

big john

43 miles today. A little different route which took us up one long-ish climb. Dark and cloudy with a bit of wind, it was a pretty fun ride.

Eric F 

You seem to spend a fair amount of energy being concerned about something you claim to not be concerned about. Why does it matter to you what sport other folks enjoy watching? No one is forcing you to watch.

genejockey 

Well, to be fair, I was defining the RItchey and the Battaglin as "C&V" for the purpose of the ride. Both have dual pivot brakes, so they'd be fine. The RItchey already did it once.

Yeah, trust me - as soon as I saw that line appear on the COVID test, I knew anything even remotely epic was out for the rest of the month. I feel pretty good today - probably 90-95% of normal - but I'm also sitting on my ass and doing nothing more strenuous than typing.

big john

I would start by trying to find out why it's idling so fast. Might have a vacuum leak. Normally problems with the way the things run isn't going to affect deceleration but if the idle is surging you might feel that.

If by shuddering you mean like a mechanical vibration that sounds like a transmission or final drive issue. Maybe even a motor mount. Even a timing chain. Check for a vacuum leak first to try and get the idle squared away.