peaktorque

Big rides, Joe's 3T strada and other things.

Published: June 15th 2023, 7:08:10 pm

Bit of an update this one and random thoughts. 

Big rides: In the UK the weather has been balmy for the last 5 weeks. It hasn't rained. Arable farmers are crying into their failing crops, but cyclists are loving it. At the moment i am riding about 9h a week on the mtb and 3/4h on road. It's light till about 2230 which helps. Yesterday I joined a big ride with some of Francis Cade's cohort around the north Pennines. In total it was 138km and 2600m of climbing. Nothing too daunting, apart from the final climb. Great Dun Fell. Its an odd one. A private, well tarmacked, dead end road with a radar station at the top that would fit in the set of Star Trek, or Red Dwarf. There aren't many corners yet it covers 8km at 9% average. However, i can only remember the numerous 20%, 500m stretches with double leg cramps! Pics attached. I wouldn't do it again in a hurry, especially not in that full frontal headwind. Climbing in the 34/34 whilst trying to get aero! Other than that, the route was beautiful. Empty, moor top roads and pretty good surfaces. Probably some of the best cycling on offer in the UK. Bike wise, no changes. My usual road bike TT long narrow cockpit has stayed, and i used the Ascent Polaris 42mm wheels and 32mm tyres. Light, not too stiff and comfy was ideal for 5h in the saddle with a lot of wind.

Joes new bike: joe from China cycling sent me a picture of his new bike (attached). The 3t strada he is building on his channel. Looks like there are some serious alignment issues with the dropouts. He assures me the wheel is dished correctly! Wow. Bike industry quality on display again. We'll see if he goes full frontal when he uploads the video....

Evening projects: I am making some carbon parts to protect my new DH frame which is looking like it's received a medieval stoning. It won't last long if that continues. The paint chips so easily (think dropping an allen key on it would chip it). So I've been 3d scanning, printing some moulds etc. I hope to build a video on this soon.