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The Water Cooler, Scuttlebutt, Chit Chat Thread

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The Water Cooler, Scuttlebutt, Chit Chat Thread

Old 04-24-20, 12:54 PM
  #4701  
burnthesheep
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I'm pretty decent at stealing sub-1 minute KOMs around town from even some big boys. But, why is it I don't find it very sporting or impressive at all?

I feel like it isn't real man's KOM work until you're over at least 2min and into 3min and longer. And certainly uphill at least a touch.
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Old 04-24-20, 02:04 PM
  #4702  
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Originally Posted by burnthesheep
I'm pretty decent at stealing sub-1 minute KOMs around town from even some big boys. But, why is it I don't find it very sporting or impressive at all?

I feel like it isn't real man's KOM work until you're over at least 2min and into 3min and longer. And certainly uphill at least a touch.
Short segments have variables that can make a "big" difference to the time. I went for a 3.5-min climb segment last night and pulled the ripcord a little over halfway through because of a slight headwind that I thought was going to abate but didn't.. At those speeds the difference between a 5 mph headwind and calm conditions would be 45W (for me), and that's worth about half a minute. The entire leaderboard is separated by 39 seconds, so why bother. When you get into 1-minute stuff a small change in the wind can be the difference between a crown and not even making the leader board. I've abandoned attempts on sprints because there were three cars coming in the opposite direction and I knew I'd be eating their wind for ~5 seconds.

That being said, I adore 1-min segs. There's just something about tapping into primal energy and "crossing the line" breathing through your vocal chords unable to think about anything but getting MORE AIR.
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Old 04-24-20, 05:02 PM
  #4703  
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Originally Posted by Cypress
Short segments have variables that can make a "big" difference to the time. I went for a 3.5-min climb segment last night and pulled the ripcord a little over halfway through because of a slight headwind that I thought was going to abate but didn't.. At those speeds the difference between a 5 mph headwind and calm conditions would be 45W (for me), and that's worth about half a minute. The entire leaderboard is separated by 39 seconds, so why bother. When you get into 1-minute stuff a small change in the wind can be the difference between a crown and not even making the leader board. I've abandoned attempts on sprints because there were three cars coming in the opposite direction and I knew I'd be eating their wind for ~5 seconds.

That being said, I adore 1-min segs. There's just something about tapping into primal energy and "crossing the line" breathing through your vocal chords unable to think about anything but getting MORE AIR.
It’s still fun. Yeah. I play the wind game also, like everyone.

My local edge is that I can for stuff over 45sec get within 50w of my road bike power on the TT bike. Like racing kilo. I get a runup, sprint out of TT a few seconds then settle into the skis.

That’s what I meant I guess. I bag some of them on over 75w less.

That thing is stupid fast given any power input to it.
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Old 04-24-20, 07:37 PM
  #4704  
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I would have had a KOM on the Santa Ana River Trail, which is probably the most ridden strip in the area. I was holding 32 mph eastbound which is usually has a bad headwind, so rare event + good legs. That's also the day I went down and punctured my lung so it wasn't to be...

Many KOMs around here are climate based; yea you have to be strong but the wind (which can be very strong) has to be there.
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Old 04-25-20, 03:43 PM
  #4705  
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It was about forty degrees warmer this weekend compared to last so of course I went out for four hours of mostly headwinds. It was a bit much. Once I got back into town I was waiting at a long light and a kid pulled up on a big box looking flat bar bike, complete with gravel type knobbies. He settled into a track stand for about 4 minutes, sitting mostly on the saddle, completely calm. This guy was probably 15 or 16 and when the light turned green he spun it up to 120 rpm and pulled away. I've been dropped by juniors before but this guy was impressive.
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Old 04-25-20, 03:50 PM
  #4706  
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Originally Posted by Hermes
That was during a 6 day track event - Madison race. Today, we use the throw where we grab the partners hand and throw them into the race. When I supervised track and taught beginners, I used the old Madison push as a training exercise. The idea was to ride slowly side by side on the banking and release one hand from the bar and just slightly touch the back of the partner with a gentle push. This was done in connection with the standard bumping / contact drills.
In the early 90s I lived a few blocks from the Encino Velodrome. I was watching a Madison and this one pair seemed to be the class of the field until during one of the exchanges the guy entering had his rear tire ripped off the rim and he went down. His partner stayed on the track while he went in to get a wheel. When he came back out he rode like a man possessed and they won, even with his butt hanging out of his torn bibs.
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Old 04-25-20, 09:48 PM
  #4707  
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bike racing is a beautiful sport.
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Old 04-26-20, 09:57 AM
  #4708  
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I had a steady 17mph headwind with gusts up to 30 Thursday night. I pulled the plug way early.
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Old 04-26-20, 02:04 PM
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I spent about 12 hours in the last 2 weeks just getting ahead with my yardwork. The backyard is the size of hockey rink and the front is infested with weeds. The good thing is its going to dry up and we won't have to mow anymore. In the fall we're going to plant two rows of trees. We have a nice 30 ft pepper tree in the back and 4 citrus (2 orange, 1 grapefruit, 1 lemon) trees but we want to add to that.

My wife is finally on board with completely covering the front with cardboard, weed barrier, and mulch. Three years of that should kill all the bermuda grass; we've tried everything else. Its a long time to do nothing but I think the neighbors are sick of seeing our ugly yard.
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Old 04-26-20, 06:25 PM
  #4710  
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The late Barry Wolfe. Coach, advocate for the velodrome, and good guy to ride with. He was helping people get Landsharks on the cheap. I got one.
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Old 04-27-20, 11:03 AM
  #4711  
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I downloaded Elevate to my laptop at home and synced my Strava stuff. Gotta say, it'll save me some time now versus my Excel stuff. As it does it for me.

Only thing I don't like is it doesn't have your PR data by duration. Maybe if they update someday they'll have it. That, to me, is as important as tracking any kind of CTL/ATL/CSB stuff.

Unless I'm a moron and can't find it. The power duration curve per activity is nice as my Wahoo app used to do it but now made the data less fine. They only jump by whole minutes now after your sprint power range.
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Old 04-27-20, 01:50 PM
  #4712  
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I had a couple of interesting shopping experiences last week and today. Last week, I walked into Costco and they were putting out toilette paper on prominent display. We were okay but not great on TP inventory, so I scored a gonzo carton. I am probably low man on the TP inventory totem pole here in the 33.

I usually shop a lot at Trader Joe’s. Since the pandemic, there is always a line to get in so I have been using other grocers. Today, I stopped and the line was short. I get in line and soon, I am the next one to go into the store. There was another line opposite of me. I asked the TJ employee, millennial chick, what that line was for. It is only for those over 65. Hmmm.

An old guy without a mask walks up and tries to take a cart and the TJ guys are all over him. He acts totally clueless and is escorted to the 65 plus line. You get a sanitized cart after you pass the visual screening. I am in the cool kids line feeling like the Lone Ranger or Jesse James with my mask on.

I will have to think about using the 65+ line at TJ’s if the cool kids line is too long. It did not look like a line for bike racers. Just saying.
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Old 04-27-20, 02:48 PM
  #4713  
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The one thing I've learned about toilet paper is never to argue that someone uses too much. Its an unwinnable argument as it will eventually circle back that you're using an insufficient amount.
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Old 04-27-20, 05:28 PM
  #4714  
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Here is a weird one from the same place I've been getting the others.

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Old 04-27-20, 05:45 PM
  #4715  
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Originally Posted by furiousferret
The one thing I've learned about toilet paper is never to argue that someone uses too much. Its an unwinnable argument as it will eventually circle back that you're using an insufficient amount.
we got a bidet attachment (since this whole deal started I’ve only been able to find one package of paper in stores). It’s been totally worth it
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Old 04-27-20, 05:54 PM
  #4716  
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Originally Posted by hubcyclist
we got a bidet attachment (since this whole deal started I’ve only been able to find one package of paper in stores). It’s been totally worth it
We did that in Feb in our CO place. I don't know why this has not caught on in the US. The fan is a bit annoying.
I distance because people are out of TP. Really, we've had enough issues with junior getting sick and ruining some very significant trip racing, we have not changed much.

Still we were measuring for the TP holder to which I was asking - why?


I came across a 2004 pic pf me on the Nozomi Shinkansen before masks were cool. I had a bad cold. Learned about the hot water, music playing fan blowing toilets on that trip.
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Old 04-27-20, 07:25 PM
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Tempo / base work pretty much all week with one day of FTP intervals and a long ride Saturday.

I need to focus on my diet and drop some weight. The trip to Switzerland this summer may still be a go, and if so I'm not going to pass up a chance to spend a couple of days in the Alps.
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Old 04-27-20, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by burnthesheep
I'm pretty decent at stealing sub-1 minute KOMs around town from even some big boys. But, why is it I don't find it very sporting or impressive at all?

I feel like it isn't real man's KOM work until you're over at least 2min and into 3min and longer. And certainly uphill at least a touch.
All KOMs are real men's KOMs IMO. I've never been super fast, and the bay area has a ridiculous number of super fast cyclists. I've probably had around 8 KOMs total. Mainly downhill routes I frequented or lesser traveled segments.
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Old 04-27-20, 09:07 PM
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Got home from work today and had all of about 30 minutes before I had to take an online final for school. Snuck in a quick run.

Almost done with the first semester of my masters. Everything is hitting at once. Buying a house, finals in school and suddenly we're trying to shove a two week project that HAS to be completed into 9 days worth of work. Approved for overtime (pretty much as much as is needed) which is odd considering all the economic circumstances right now. So much fun!
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Old 04-27-20, 09:18 PM
  #4720  
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So with the lockdown and gyms closed I tried to keep up my strength training for a while. I used to do gymnastics so bodyweight stuff is fine for me, but I tend to be motivated by goals, and my goals at the gym were powerlifting type goals. Turns out I started missing bike fitness and riding lots. The other day I did a 40 mile ride, the most I've done in ages. Then yesterday I went and got a new bike! I always used to abuse my race bike on dirt and figured if I'm not racing, but wanna start riding more again, a gravel/adventure bike would fit the bill. I can use it for social rides, duck into random trail rides, even bike camping.
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Old 04-27-20, 11:18 PM
  #4721  
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Gravel bikes are cool. Mine was supposed to be finished up last week but doing some funky stuff with the build up this year so we ran into some Di2 issues. This is why I paid the shop to do it and not me!
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Old 04-28-20, 07:26 AM
  #4722  
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Originally Posted by aaronmcd
All KOMs are real men's KOMs IMO. I've never been super fast, and the bay area has a ridiculous number of super fast cyclists. I've probably had around 8 KOMs total. Mainly downhill routes I frequented or lesser traveled segments.
It's a weird area here. I'm only a 4/5 and can top 10 and sometimes bag a KOM from the "big boys" around here. So we're probably not THAT strong an area. Strong for the southeast as an urban area in the south.

I use the TT bike for the one's owned by a Cat 2 or faster. I need that 20% or so aero wattage advantage. Even on long ones, 20% of their 350w+ is manageable for me for a long while. That's under 300w. I can hold that for nearly a 10 miler.
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Old 04-28-20, 08:13 AM
  #4723  
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I'm 66 today. I don't know how this happened. It's going to be hot so if I'm going to ride I'd better get started.
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Old 04-28-20, 08:14 AM
  #4724  
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Originally Posted by big john
I'm 66 today. I don't know how this happened. It's going to be hot so if I'm going to ride I'd better get started.
Age of the beast! ...sorta.
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Old 04-28-20, 08:20 AM
  #4725  
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Originally Posted by Cypress
Age of the beast! ...sorta.
Maybe 66 and 6 months?
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