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| BACK OUT AGAIN - TIFOSI WINTER TRAINING BIKE |
The weather is certainly on the change now. The Indian summer that we experienced just over a week ago is now well and truly gone. Instead we now have colder mornings and nights and the leaves are falling everywhere helped along by the brisk winds that we have had.
After I got back from the ROCK2UK ride I was getting out on the Felt Z1 for my daily rides but I was finding that although the weather was dry I was coming across a lot of water on the roads and lanes in the Purbeck hills where it was draining off the fields. The Felt doesn't have room for fenders so I was ending up with the inevitable muddy streak down my back and also the bike would require a good clean after every ride. Time for a change I thought, so now I am back out on the Tifosi winter trainer/audax bike with it's fitted fenders. So much nicer getting home without a filthy bike and filthy kit.
Nowadays fenders are not seen as a 'cool' thing to have on a bike but I think that fenders are great........they help to keep the bike clean and also stop all the muck being thrown up all over me. Thermoplastic fenders from manufacturers such as SKS are very light and they really don't make any real difference to my speed.
Over a fifty mile training route last week my average speed was only 1mph average slower on the Tifosi compared to the same route the day before on the Felt. The Tifosi weighs 7lbs more than the Felt so I think that probably accounts for the 1mph.
I suppose what it all boils down to is that I would rather be clean than cool...!!!
MORE PHOTOS FROM OUR ROCK2UK RIDE.......
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| THE LAST VILLAGE ON THE SPANISH SIDE OF THE PYRENEES |
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| ANOTHER PHOTO IN THE VILLAGE |
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| ROUTE TAKES US HIGHER |
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| ROAD CONTINUES UPWARDS |
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| WE SAW SOME GREAT VIEWS |
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| LONE FEMALE CYCLIST |
We saw a number of other cyclists on the day we went over the Pyrenees....most of them were riding in small groups, but we did see this lone female cyclist as we approached the final pass of the day. She was making great time on her bike and didn't seem bothered at all cycling in the mountains on her own. There was no way that John and I would be able to keep up with her with are fully loaded tourers, not that we tried to keep up with her.
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| APPROACHING THE TOP |
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| THE ROAD HEADING DOWN..... |
7 comments:
I so enjoy going through your write-ups and pictures. It is nothing like what I experience over here in Northern Wisconsin. Very interesting. Thanks for that!
I find myself riding the heavy cross bike more often than my lighter road bikes. I don't pump the tires as often, it rides smoother and it is good training for when I do get out on the road bike.
I love my fenders, and am considering adding them to some other bikes. I know of no drawbacks except that image is everything, and the image of fenders in general is that one would not ride them in the Tour de France, therefore not cool.
If I lived where it rained more often I'd use fenders. Back in the day when I was a Category 1 racer I lived where it rained more and on training rides I'd always use fenders if it was wet. What did I care if it wasn't cool? Come race day I'd reply with my legs!
I am slow enough that I don't even worry about speed anymore, but I do care about water splashing in my face off the front wheel. Therefore, I really like my fenders.
Those photos in the Pyrenees are outstanding! Makes me want to try something like that.
no worries. fenders rule in the right circumstances. I have a couple of sets myself. my only problem with them is the extra noise on rough surfaces.
Wow ... I get sidetracked away from blogs for a little while and look at what I miss! Your trip is incredible. I've gone back and read all of your Rock2UK entries. Thanks so much for sharing, and congratulations!
Beautiful country, nice photos. There is real experience to travel with a bike there.
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