Phil speaks the truth! All bikes are great and what someone else chooses to ride has no effect at all on me. And I agree with your last point, Katie. I'm pro-pockets!
I have a hernia so I have to get a bike I can one ride comfortably and by going Ebike I can actually get around again. Honestly I have also figured out a car is to expensive these days too 🤣
An ebike is a million times better than a car for so many things! I have both and I don’t live where I could easily get by without a car, but I love riding my bike a hell of a lot more than I like driving my car, and that’s saying something, because at 49, I’ve driven over a million miles already because I love it so much (decades as a professional driver obviously). But man, since taking up riding this year, there’s just no comparison.
@@babybirdhome driving is great when you can or have to was a CDL driver at one point too, but I can say the idea of slowing down to actually see stuff is cool I have a huge road trip in mind actually probably many as long as I can move 😆
Bike snobs are every where. I ride a Trek 520 with racks for my tours. People look at you like what is that thing. It's my everyday ride and I love the bike. Most of the time I carry one pannier on daily rides just so I can carry some fun stuff. At 63 I'm in no hurry. All good points and happy birthday to Phil. Take care, Al
Hmmm. I ride a Trek 990 "mountain bike" but have it configured with road-ish gearing and smooth tires. Planning on adding a rear rack like I have on my road-ish Trek 720. I'm almost 63 and find that the tiny bits of performance that so many road riders seem to chase aren't really worth my time. Do I care if I get someplace a few minutes sooner? Not if I have to pay a significant amount of money for the extra speed. Besides, at my age a fair bit of the motivation is to get exercise anyway. But to be sure, I have no problem with the guys (and gals) who want to ride a $5,000 ultralight road bike with shaved legs and a skin suit. Whatever spins yer spurs.
Agreed on 5 of the six . No brainers except for the coffee. Guess it's a thing people do in your corner of the world. People buy stuff they just don't need.. I've never bought a CO2 cartridge but as a mountain biker , they are handy when you use sealant with tubeless tires and you have to reseal after a bad flat does happen. Apparently it is also great to have tubeless and sealant when touring in desert regions So here are the things that I don't like: 1) Weekend warrior peletons that put other people in danger on recreational bike paths as if they were in the Tour de France; 2) Electric bike users going at excessive speeds in crowded recreational areas. 3) People who refuse to learn how to switch gears. 4) The first group who refuse to use their brakes, courtesy , a smile and a wave. When some dumb twit is going too slow or makes some random turn in front of you. Just slam on those brakes, wave him on, smile....and then practice your balance in a stationary stance with your clips still on, and then turn it into your earth shattering sprint for a championship win. But smile! Share the bike path! Oh....and tell him to have a great day! One day you'll be the dumb twit. We're all out there using our own clean , planet friendly energy and doing a healthy exercise that should put a smile on everybody's face.
haha i have a friend who refuses to change gears. he thinks u choose the setting u like and stick with it! it also blowa my mind that he also drives his car manual
1. tried co2 for a long time, but always ended up carrying a pump in case, eventually realised and ditched the canisters. 2. deep section - fine if you can afford reasonably light ones, always an advantage even on hills and in wind....will not ride shallow rims again 3. gels etc - have enough faff in my life so will keep buying them 4. gearing....be honest with your abilities and use gears to match - riding is more efficient than walking 5. coffee and cake - or stopping in general is why i ride alone...i.e to avoid other peoples need to stop. only reason to stop is on a 4hr plus ride to buy food. 6. never really got gilets full stop - i have one but rarely use it. but pockets on outer garments agree, or zips from bottom to facilitate getting to jersey pockets. 7. riders not waving at each other - i wave at any type of rider
Agree with you on stopping 😊 A short stop for mid-ride fuelling is fine, but I never waste time on a full length cake stop. Guess that's why I ride on my own too, lol.
Almost 100% the same, even the waving, but not the gels, it's easier to get a refillable small gels bottle and fill it at home with whatever you want and no more trash. Mine I got a 150ml GU flask and put maple sirup in it. This way i'm good for most of my ride. No more stop in bike shop just to buy gels. No sugar leaking from used gels in my pocket, easier to use than gels, No faff, Easy and better for the earth. Never coming back to buy single use gel. And if you want the gels content, you can by a big one for refill and it's the same as pack gels :)
Always wave to other cyclists, or runners, dog walkers etc. Occasionally other road cyclists ignore you, mtb riders nearly always wave back- especially if you're off road on 25mm tires and 16spoke wheels!
@@vincemsp Thats a good idea with the maple syrup in a gu bottle. In New Zealand there's a malt syrup sold in the supermarkets called Maltexo. Its pure maltose which is two glucose molecules bonded together. Its made by the biggest brewery maybe as a byproduct, its been made for years I remember as a child having it.
Indexed shifting it is, especially for the front chainrings. I'm so much happier since I'm using friction shifters, vs. the Shimano Rapid-Fire shifters. Also for the rear cassette it's so nice to just immediately get to a low gearing when a hill starts, and not having to click through one-by-one.
I had friction shifters on my first road bike many years ago. They are easy to setup, but I will never go back. After getting sti shifters on my current bikes. I can shift down 3 gears in 1 swipe and 6 in 2 swipes, and I don't have to ajuste the paddle to align the rear derailleur.
Totally agree with you about gears. I tried "normal" road gears on my current bike and ended up with chronic injuries. I now have 30/46 in the front and 11/34 in the back and am very much happier. I'm not a fan of tubeless tyres. Tried them, didn't like them. A huge pfaff to set up and remount, not nearly as flat-proof as advertised, not significantly lighter, and the sealant is disgusting.
I agree. it makes it much easier to climb if there's a gear I can still pedal without too much force needed. But it's similar to her take on deep section rims. Big rings and corn cob cassettes (I think it's straight block in English) look cool especially on older road bikes. And they works as long as there's no climb over a few percent.
For the last 25 years, I've always carried one of those CO2 thingies, that take unthreaded carts. along with one or two extra carts. (I carry a mini pump that clips next to a waterbottle cage, on my Mountain bike).....Since I live in the second flattest State in the US, I've never use "low gears". Back in the days of 7 speed, I'd always ride a 12-21. As I got older, I eventually used a 10 speed 12-23 for almost everything, unless I had a race up in Wisconsin. Then I'd use a 12-25, with a 53x39. I've been riding and training since 1983, and have never injured my knees.
I totally agree on the pockets-thing! I do have a gilet without pockets and a rain jacket without pockets. I will keep using them until they are worn out because it's more sustainable and I already have them, but it does annoy me quite a lot that these things don't have pockets 😛
Obsession with Carbon. My next bike I ordered is again an aluminium frame w/ carbon fork and seatpost. I got a lot of „why not carbon?“, almost pitiful. The geometry is what I need, perfect specs, good price, love the look and enjoyed the testride 🤷♂️
Pump is always with me, but I tend to keep one CO2 in the saddlebag for group rides. I dont want to be causing people to be standing around waiting for me, but solo(majority of my rides) I will use the pump. Gels suck, bars or sweets or something else much better. Deepish rims(about 40mm) are the best way to ride. Coffee sucks, hot choc is a better choice. And yes, pockets on everything.
Actually except for the coffee (I'm kinda addicted to it), I got to agree with all of your points. It's an endurance/ audax cycling kind of thing I guess. People often find it strange that I use a steel gravel bike for long distance riding (because of the comfort) and dislike the carbon hype.
I agree with you on co2 and the Race Rocket. I think co2 cartridges are wasteful. The Race Rocket is a brilliant little pump. Not being a roadie, I have no interest in deep section wheels so I agree there as well. Agree about silly high gearing too. For the majority of people, off the shelf road bikes in particular are over geared IMO. However I do find gels easy to carry and easy to ingest, only downside IMO is they are not cheap. I also agree the more pockets the better! My own personal dislike is clipless pedals and cleats. Flat pedals and Five Ten shoes all the way for me.
I am a mountain biker, and I agree with every single one of your points. I carry a CO2 just in case I need to re-seat my tubless, but I always have a pump and use it 99% of the time.
I don't have an issue with any of those things, especially cake :) But - what gets me is the number of CO2 cartridges that get chucked on the ground after they are used - I work on road side side weather stations that are on all kinds of roads, and over the last 4 or 5 years we've started finding loads of the used cartridges in the maintenance bays and next to the VRS etc. I cannot understand why anyone would think that's the right thing to do.
Maple syrup and lemon for me! Advantage is that because it is liquid, there's never any undissolved sugar when combined with cold water (and even a frozen bottle). About $8 for a can in Canada, where there is a chronic oversupply! The 46/30 should be the standard on recreational endurance bikes because there is often now a 9 or 10 tooth cog. No to expensive wireless and head units. No to deep section, unless we are talking about pizza!
I agree with everything you dislike, except the coffee. Cake I can do without. With the pockets thing, older jerseys from 30's, 40's, and 50's had pockets on the chest as well. It's a great way to keep snacks easily accessible, and warm on cold rides! I would love to see those brought back again, even as just a retro product. I'm sure Rapha could make just one or two styles and get the rest of the industry to take note, there are many riders who are not so concerned about being completely aero.... just a though..... Keep up the great vids, and thank you. You are an inspiration.
Regarding CO2, if you are running tubeless, CO2 are essential if your tire deflates too low after puncture and unseats from the rim. You can seat the tire back, and don't have to deal with putting an inner tube in (just yet).
I have a Topeka frame mounted pump with an integral pressure gauge on all my bikes, almost as good as a floor pump, and never carry CO2. I have similarly low gearing on my road bikes, which is only a disadvantage in a strong tailwind. I have no deep rims. I like dates, but like to keep gels for emergencies, and the drug-like effect.
Totally agree with the gel thing. Nothing is a bigger downer than coming home from a long ride and throwing out a handful of empty plastic gel packets. I bought a 150mil tube with a pop top and fill it with maple syrup. It has more calories than gels, thinner constancy and its just tree juice, right? A swig of water afterwards cleans the palate after a quick shot. I buy the maple syrup in 32 oz bulk when it's on sale at my local market. ( about 45 cents an ounce. ) If you don't like concentrate, it mixes easily in a water bottle. I liked Phil's comments at the end as well. Just ride your bike, whatever type it is.
Apart from coffee, totally agree. latest (Titanium) road only bike uses 43/36 with an 11-34 cassette- at my normal average speeds I'm mid block on the larger ring, don't need to pedal at 50mph so what is the point of having gears to do it. Rim brakes, non electronic shifting, why complicate and add weight to things that work so well. Narrow section rims as well, being lighter I don't want to get blown all over the road on what is after all not a race. When I'm riding I prefer not to stop either. Like the honesty in your thoughts and the chap that commented in general at the end. Keep it up!
Pump all day is the key. It takes all day to pump your tires. I carry both!😂 I like medium section rims like 30-35 mm. I have my first one by bike. I run a 40 tooth front ring with an 11 x 42 cassette. I don’t worry about close incremental gearing as I don’t ride fast group rides anymore and a 40-11 is plenty big enough for me. I spin it out at about 30mph which is faster than I want to go! I like the simplicity of one by! Gels are okay for eating on the bike but otherwise kind of gross. I much prefer stopping for cake! I don’t drink coffee. Oh and I’m 68 years old and have been riding for over 45 years. I’m older than your old friend!😂
Having to use a little pump if you get a flat stops you getting cold as well. Your mates might be less pleased though. GRX 46-30 and 34 at the back is perfect. On the coast to coast last year the guys I was with were very jealous of my low gearing while I popped wheelies with another gear to spare on the climb out of Settle.
I’m with you on the pump. I’m old school. I went from tubeless to putting tubes in my tyres. I feel more confident doing a puncture repair with a patch than trying to use those cylinders and it’s cheaper. Meant to say I did my first cycle event on Sunday, Loch Ness Etape, it was brilliant.👍🏻🚴🏻♂️
I was there too. Great course and an event so well organised. It was my first Loch Ness and I already looking forward to next year. After Loch Ness I totally agree with Katie re. gears!!
I notice one thing or two makes your channel and stories very appealing and nice to follow... 1. sound. every single thing in the narrative is very sound related how do you make it, I don't know but transitions background and you voice tends to be cristal clear. 2. even when you could make a not linear thing on the narrative is a narrative... and then is your narrative style, tempo, cadence, speaking paced and consistent even the 'ramble' or the ' digress' is good to hear.
CO2 cartridges make more sense on a bike with larger tyre volume (e.g a mountain bike, fat bike etc). Also, if you're running tubeless you might need to inflate quickly to get the tyre to seat. Other than that I 100% agree.
Yep, totes agree with all these. I bought C02 and the only time it was ever used was when I punctured and couldn’t get the tyre off and an old veteran roadie stopped to help, and he used it. I will always opt for a pump, just can’t see the point of not. I also love coffee and cake, but not on a ride. The only social ride I ever did was Breeze one. The total route was only about 25 miles and they stopped half way for refreshments! No thanks! Not needed, got cold, just wanted to ride!
Yes, seems we think alike on most things. 1. I've never carried or used a CO2 cartridge. All of my bikes have their own pump. 2. Never used a Gel. I will carry a Clif bar or two. Loading the water with carbs sounds like a great idea. 3. The only aero rims I own, are on my racing bike, but they're modest, adding just 25mm rim depth. And they're bright aluminum so they look truly flashy. 4. Gearing - now that I've retired, I appreciate low gears more and more. My new bike has the same GRX drivetrain you showed in the video, and I love venturing up hills with it. 5. Coffee - never drink it, except that occasionally I will have a Mocha when the group makes a stop. Or hot chocolate, especially in cold weather. 6. Never met a cycling jersey without pockets, but if I saw one, I certainly wouldn't buy it. The only major item that we differ on, is rim versus disc brakes. All of my bikes have rim brakes, except my newest bike, which I expressly ordered in order to have disc brakes and low gearing. I feel much more confident on steep descents now (my region has plenty of grades in the 14-20% range, many with a stop sign at the bottom). I've made too many white-knuckle downhill stops with rim brakes, and I can never maintain them so they run smoothly. Discs are powerful, smooth and modulate very precisely.
I always carry 2 CO2 cartridges, a mini inflater, extra tube AND a pump and patch kit. Get a flat and I'm back up in no time with the CO2 and still have backups.
1. I use a small electric compressor. People generally love it unless they have to carry it. I'm okay with carrying it because I use an ebike and the assistance generally offsets the weight well. 2. Never liked gels. Tasted horrid. Felt strange and weird afterwards. Probably the caffeine, but the concentrated sugar is just nasty. I like bananas and trail mix. 3. Never liked deep section rims. Or aero features in general. I don't race so I don't care about eking out a few seconds of time when I'm riding. 4. Love the low gearing available on bikes today. GRX is a wish I have often dreamed about in the past and I'm quite gratified the group is available now. 5. I don't like coffees and cakes when riding. I highly prefer stews and sandwiches. A nice, clear broth of beef stew is amazing. 6. I generally don't prefer wearing gilets and other "cycling apparel" because they don't have pockets. And yeah, because sometimes I do wear them for comfort I use a fanny pack when I feel like wearing cycling stuff. LOL.
You are right on all of these. You can't have gears that are too low IMO. When I speced my current bike I went for the lightest rims (not the deepest). Gels - no thanks, I can ride all day on bananas and flapjack. I'm not a coffee person when riding but I do like a pot of tea. The other one I would add to the list is disc brakes.
I don't get high gearing. My mate at work, he's a good cyclist and he rides 52 46 on a 25-11 cassette. My knees would explode on that set up. The highest I ride is 52 36 on a 28-11, and that's only because at the time I couldn't get 30-12 cassette to fit the short cage derailleur. When and if the derailleur knacks up I'll go low gear.
I think this calls for a response. CO2 cylinders - great when you're on a group ride and you don't want to make others wait for you, but always carry a Pocket Rocket; Gels - great on really long rides when chewing food just isn't nice towards the end; Deep section rims - 35mm is enough for most of us; Coffee and cake - coffee yes, cake not so much; High gearing - compact cranksets and a 11-30 cassette is a good allrounder; Gillets without pockets - that's just a sleeveless rain jacket. Pet peeves - anyone who takes anything from the Velominati rules seriously, and 'Merchant Bankers' too cool to wave back.
Agree with all of them, especially gels. I stick a multipack of capri suns in the freezer, then once frozen, stick one in my back pocket and about an hour and a half into a ride it's just about defrosted and you get the joy of a freezing cold drink which feels like absolute blissssss.
The last point was spot on. The worst thing about cycling is definitely cyclists. No different to any other hobby which claims to have a "community" - full of self righteous, control freaks telling people their choices are wrong.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I have yet to encounter this so far. Like, I know those people are going to be out there, because you’ll always get that in any sufficiently large population, but I haven’t encountered it myself yet. I’m sure I will, but it seems that most cyclists really aren’t like that, unless they think you’re wanting an outcome that you don’t really care about because they’ve made an assumption that was wrong.
Seems to me there is two kinds of road bikers...one that just enjoys riding with nice company and who likes to just exchange experience & information without judging the other one. And the other way around - judging me by what I wear, what kind of bike I ride, not by what I am actually doing. One so called "community friend" was telling me because of my size "I will never be able to compete with good climbers" How does he know I give a damn? Oh...and the tall guy with the old bike (...me) can now easily keep up with him on any hill and cycle twice as far. For me it seems the annoying people are those that desperately try to pretend to be pro riders. You notice they always seem to know whats right, but usually they can´t tighten a loose screw on their own bike without going to a store.
@@oranjid maybe you should look in a mirror. You seem to be a bit angry. And maybe a bit more like the people you don't like than you think ...just sayin.
1 yes ! (i never use co2) 2 yes (i like gels but i never buy them, i use them only when they are available on races) 3 yes 4 No and yes? (i use low gears for uphill but i need super high gears for road, my favorite is 48 by 11) 5 yes (i dont stop for coffee and cake, only for ice cream or lemonade in in the summer) 6 i guess yes (i dont use gilets, i use a backpack)
Definitely with you on the cake stops. I did an audax at the weekend where the midpoint was a dark, dingy cafe with table service and an embarrassment of cake options. Not for me - bought a bottle of fizzy pop and sat in the sun on a bench overlooking the canal. Much nicer.
I am pretty much with you on this Katie and I have often challenged my friends who are stuffing gels down every 20 minutes. Probably explains why I generally cycle alone but I enjoy that and it’s me time. Phil is so right! Whatever your bike… ride it and enjoy. If I can add one to the list….it’s bike snobbery 👍
100% agree on pumps v cartridge How many cartridges do you have to carry to feel 'safe' then if u run out do you ask someone if you can borrow there pump! Gels I love them especially the espresso coffee ones from SIS.Deep section wheels I bought a pair but I dont think I go fast enough to fell any benefit against the problems with side winds. The one thing that is really worth the money is the little stubby try bars that bolt to the centre of the handle bars, you can leave your saddle in the same place the extensions are about the same length as the brake hoods using them you definitely go faster no matter at what speed you ride at. I bought the deda ones best £100 I ever spent. Super high gearing, a lot of people just dont understand gearing, and look at the professional Gonna has big gears but when he is using them his average cadence seems to be about 100rpm so 'spin to win' .Coffee and cake love coffee but I would no more stop and sit in a cafe all hot and sweaty half way through a ride. I would rather get home and have it there. Gillets I think the no pocket thing developed. from racing and it was just a thing like a bin bag to put on to keep the cold off in extreme conditions and although they have developed the materials they just still left the pockets off. I generally find the castle jerseys/ jackets keep me warm enough although I have a very light weight rain jacket rolled up for 'downpour' emergency's
I didn’t even know any of them were issues. I didn’t know about CO2 cartridges, didn’t know about gels, don’t understand the tire thing, didn’t know there were bikes with gears too high, didn’t know coffee and cake was a thing (blech, dislike coffee and I wouldn’t eat cake on a ride); pockets I understand though. I have several pockets on shirts and shorts to carry an assortment of things, and/or backpack when needed.
I only started cycling for the coffee and cake! When I started road cycling the go to snacks were jelly babies. i have tried some gels and the orange ones were ok. I have problem with food on long rides, they cannot be to claggy in my mouth. Fig rolls are good. Can't do deep section wheels, the wind just pulls them all over the place. One thing I absolutely still hate is road clipless pedals, especailly when you are a newbie. All that walking around like a plonker click click and slipping on metal floors! I wish someone had told me about mountain bike clipless pedals when I first started, would have saved me some anxiety. I nearly stopped cycling because I was told, oh you need to have these pedals but I couldnt get out of them! I went to flats for a long time. Now on the MTB and much happier, less rules about stuff, do what you like and ride flats with 5 10's, save the multiway clipless for the roadie. Oh and really the term clipless, it needs to change!
Agree with all that - but for the coffee and cake ! had a nice one today at an Italian Cafe in Tewkesbury . It would be my way of meeting people and having a rest and some thinking time .
You sound like me. I gravel and kind of touring and use a gravel bike. Lots of hills and some wind. Most people here use mountain bikes because of the gearing. The roadies sometimes have issues making it up small hills that I just bloop up. I also use a pump because it is always going to work. I dont want to get a flat and be looking for co2 or wondering if i packed them.
When frames started getting fat and frame fit pumps wouldn't fit anymore, the coolest riders ditched those frustrating inefficient shorty pumps that fit in a back pocket or seat bag, and went to CO2 cartridges. It takes a certain panache to release the compressed air into the tube and not blow the tire off the rim. And you get one chance. So you carry a bunch of cartridges and their touted weight advantage is lost. Air is free. It doesn't come out of a metal cartridge manufactured in an air conditioned factory using finite resources, and you don't have to throw it away after using it once. Silca brought back their "Imperio" from when steel was king 40 years ago. Frame tubing is getting smaller, and riders are buying it. They weigh nothing and will get you home on 40 strokes. Most of these trends, disc brakes being the latest, derive from an enthusiastic market who'll go with the latest stuff, if for any other reason, to be hip. I see groups going all-out on the trails, behaving like they're still in spin class. Big mistake. They miss the whole point of riding someplace balanced on two wheels under their own power, embracing the world with all senses amplified on a unique, visceral level, outside the box. Fuel? Dates are a keeper. We used to ride with Fig Newtons, only because we couldn't find dates. Universally recognized as first class cycling nutrition. And they fit neatly in the jersey pockets, along with spare tube and levers, wallet and house keys. Ever tried a ham, cream cheese, cherry preservatives sandwich on stout bread at mile 45? Absolute heaven. The sugar kicks in immediately. Then the bread. The cream cheese next, then the ham. Snickers candy bars remain an all time favorite since I started riding 40 years ago. Tasteless health bars/gels/powder mixes are a lame excuse for those fearful of gaining weight! Those post ride coffee drinkers wolfing down home made pastries will tell you real food is where its at! Such a shame to compartmentalize riding in an otherwise emotionally and physically passive life in air conditioned comfort behind the windshields of fast moving motor vehicles, completely shut off from the life around them. Life is constant movement, a sensual feast, beckoning every day, meant to be enjoyed.
I agree with all of these. So easy to fall into comercal traps with hobbies or daily activities that have cheap sometimes more effective alternatives and products no one really needs. You can level up those Dates with this date ball recipe: 110 g (1 cup) roasted almonds roughly chopped 135 g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats 200 g (1 cup) medjool dates pitted 2 tsp vanilla extract pinch sea salt 85 g (¼ cup) honey 65 g (¼ cup) peanut butter Blend Roll My favorite quote when I find myself trying to race the more established riders on the commute: "Do not do more today than you can completely recover from by tomorrow."
A lot of my kit is FDX, I sometimes feel like the poor man of cycling compared to other cyclists who wear the top of the range gear. The way I look at it, if it rains your going to get wet, if it’s sunny and warm your going to sweat no matter what gear you have on. And the good thing about FDX you tend to get a better fit and they have plenty of pockets. I’m just a 60 year old man who really enjoys going out cycling on my own or with my brother or a friend. I did my first cycling event last month the Loch Ness Etape which I thoroughly enjoyed and managed to do the KOM without stopping. My position was around 3406, 4hrs 10mins, I was really chuffed.🚴🏻♂️
I agree with everything you said. 1 slight caveats would be: co2 is great if you run tubeless and ride solo out in the sticks, no mini pump will reseat a burped fully flat tyre and putting a tube in is such a messy job, I will always go for the pump first though. And I'll go one further with the coffee and cake I hate café stops, I can eat and drink at home I came out to ride my bloody bike.
Ace vlog. I also agree that the best bike you have is the one you’ve got. I love my hybrid bike, done some tough sportives on it like Tour De Manc and Mon, and 6 NCN routes so far, some were very hilly 😂😂, hope you are both having a fantastic weekend in and out of the saddle 😀👍
Agree about the co2! Can’t go wrong with a pump. Only downside is you can’t quite get enough tyre pressure, but it’s enough to get home. I’m also worried I’ll stuff it up haha! Also agree about gels! They give me really bad gut rot… I just take vegan lollies - even cheaper than dates lol. Deep section wheels have their place in racing (aero is everything, especially flatter races). But I hate riding them in training, especially descending in windy Adelaide!! Definitely not needed unless you’re racing. Yes about the pockets too!!! Our team had gilets with no pockets last year and it was just so annoying! This year they have pockets and literally everyone was happy about it!! P.S. Love that you call them ‘roller boots’, we call them ‘roller blades’ here hahaha..
Old school Ultra-triathlete/cycle tourist here. #1: I haven't used a CO2 since the 90's..Can't stand them. Frame pumps all the way. #2:I will use Gels if they are free but otherwise Honey or Maple Syrup with Quick chocolate or Milo mixed with water. Yum! #3:Deep Rims...........Nope, never have,never will. #4:Hero gears are for wankers at the Wednesday World Champ's... #5:Love coffee....Hate coffee shop rides. #6:I stopped buying expensive cycling tops altogether and now store all my crap in a frame bag. Love your work KK!
I do have 1 CO2 for road and 2 for Gravel but carry pumps as well, rather redundant I suppose but will use the CO2 until I have no more as I already have that investment, out of cartridges, will not replace. Whilst recyclable, rather wasteful too. Dates is a great idea! I do love the chews with caffeine though, super bonk proof and Cliff Bar's dark cherry with caffeine is pretty great! What do you define as deep section? I am riding 45mm zipps and love them, lighter than the stock DT's that came with my Caledonia 5.
Agree with you on these pet hates Katie. There's a lot of kit snobbery attached to cycling as in many other sports though and that's part of the issue. My only caution about pockets is don't put anything hard in them. If you come off your bike, a cellphone or pump can really hurt if you land on them - !
1. Agreed to the point I have never tried those. And I have the very same small pump which I carry along with my big long black pump that allows me to get 28 width tube from 0 to 5 bars in no time. 2. I hate eating while cycling in the very first place, but that artificial food like gels and nutrition bars I just can't stand. I eat bananas and sandwiches instead and maybe some regular sweet bars like Snickers. 3. Endurance cyclists don't care about those. Period. 4. I'm going to build my road bike from scratch next spring and I love to see that someone else beside me has found the GRX the perfect driveset for roads. I am going to try GRX 46-30 and 11-42. I just wait for a response from Shimano it can work. It seems like they do not respond to their customers in anytime at all. Anyway, I don't see why it shouldn't work, so I will have it a go. Now I'm using cross-country bike with 3x9 drivetrain with 26 smallest chainring at front and 34 largest cog at the back and I remember a ride through Altai mountains on rocky ways with full panniers uphill when that was not enough. I don't think I can find a use of 30|42 anywhere on tarmac though. 5. I don't stop at cafes, but I like coffee so I drink one before a ride, unless it's a longer ride when I restrain from caffeine until caught sleepy in the middle of a night or at the dusk I drink one with a lot of sugar, but without a cake at gas stations. And in shorter rides in low temperatures from my thermos I carry along filled with my own bulletproof coffee recipe. 6. Here is where we can fill our descrepancy protocol with as I don't like using or even having rear pockets. I can tolerate and use those in my summer shirts, but everything else I want to look like a regular garment. Bags, cases and panniers are being used to carry my stuff. I can add I hate wearing sunglasses with temples over chin straps of a helmet. Everytime I tried those, my sunglasses went flying once I decided to take my helmet off. I also hate road shoes with road cleats, although I can see some benefits from their stiffness. And I hate wearing lycra shorts in public, so either I ride in my trail shorts above or putting them on before getting into a grocery store or any other indoor public place.
I have to agree I haver just recently got a CO2 inflator after 35 years of cycling as someone said they were brilliant saves space etc ... etc but I think you are right a pump is better. I also don't use gels but after your recommendation I do have jelly sweets with me on long rides and love them. I would say one thing I don't like is everyone wearing black clothing on bikes.... apart from the safety aspect its boring.... what happened to the fun bright jazzy cycling tops..... bring the fun back and speaking of fun why are so many cyclists so serious
Cycling is meant to be serious. Yes you can occasionally have fun group rides but the point of cycle training is preparing for the next race and trying to be faster than everyone else.
DHD do loads of bright colours and parents. I love wearing bright tops don't even own a black one. There nothing better over taking someone in a rainbow pink Jersey while they are in boring black or red.
I'm with you on the mini pump: I hate seeing the wee canisters discarded everywhere. I do like the gels but am giving the mejdool dates a try. Am on rims and will never try carbon (after reading Leuscher Teknik commenting on carbon clinchers). Carbon rims do look cool though. An extra one. Black clothing: the Ninja Cycling Club. You can't be seen and it's dangerous, particularly the torso.
CO2 is great when riding in a group and especially in the rain. Standing around waiting for someone twidling about with a mini pump whilst everyone gets cold is just not fun. Take both CO2 and a pump. It’s not an exclusive situation.
Largely agree. Pumps for sure. I eat fig newtons and/or mix up powdered gatorade. I run a triple front 48-38-28 and 11-28 rear. Covers just about anything up to 30 mph, most hills, and still gives me close gear spacing. No opinion on deep rims or coffee and cakes. Pockets are good. I'll even use a rear rack to carry extra stuff. I'll ad a few of my own idiosyncrasies. Fenders. A proper front one can actually be more aero. I dislike drop bars. People ride the hoods or flats about 95% of the time anyway. Fine for road racing, but who else really uses them much? I love my double walled stainless steel vacuum bottles. Stuff stays hot or cold. No plastic smell. Yes, they weigh more, but not as much as the fluid that they hold. And yes they hold less fluid. But actual cold water when you are in a hot desert is super nice.
I've always had trouble with pumps. I've bought 4 different ones, all different brands, and I just have to pump and pump forever to get any pressure, and once it hits 40 PSI, it pops off, or leaks, or something. Maybe it's user error, but I don't want to faff around when I have a flat. I just want to fix it, inflate, and go. I also use gels on long rides, but that's strictly convenience, and I always put my trash in my pocket to dispose of when home. I hate seeing people littering. I can always tell when cyclists have been by when I see discarded banana peels on the road. At least it will decompose vs trash, but still... I don't use deep wheels for everyday riding, but on my TT bike, they're perfect for racing.
I feel your pain with everything but CO2 canisters. (I love coffee, but for some reason don't lust for its loveliness when I ride). I have the highly rated, diminutive "Pro Bike" CO2 dispenser which is a joy to use. It has a easy to use lever that controls how fast the CO2 is dispensed which is a big plus. My local bike shop recycles the canisters as one other commenter mentioned. I used a bike pump for over 50 years (pump, pump pump...pump, pump, pump), but this old dog has learned a new trick and is not turning back. 🐩
Not a gripe as such, but I’m new to cycling (gravel bike c.1 year) and I have standard inner tubes - but all I seem to hear is you have to go tubeless. Help! Are they easy to sort? Scared about sealant leaking everywhere…
1. I carry both, pump and cartridge, however never used a cartridge since 2014. 2. Agreed on gel, dates and bananas for me. 3. Deep section wheels - thry are koooool. 4. My cog is 34 too and 2x in the front. 5. Disagree - cannot live without coffee/cake. 6. Pockets - yes yes yes! And I am with you Phil, guess going out and riding is more important than judging.
Totally agree with the pump over CO2. Also - gels - yuk. Also - deep rims ( def a headache with wind but smashing lightweight). Cadence - what works for you. PS Posh coffee !
Tubeless tyres, rims and sealant. Great if they were compatible and not messy. But certain tyres with certain rims? Tyres that don't fit/won't seal, sealant that goes everywhere? Dont need that. Mini pumps that don't. Chain lube that washes off easily in the rain or gums your chain up (Squirt, I'm looking at you).
I carry a pump on some rides, CO2 on others. Depends on what my bike allows. Basically if I have space for a pump, pump is better, if I don't CO2 is next best thing. When I race, always CO2 because it's faster for the same weight. Everything else I mostly agree. 30mm rims are ideal. Coffee only when needed, never cake. Definitely lower gearing. 30x34 is not low enough on gravel in my part of the world but it's better than 39x26 on my road bike (22x34 on my gravel bike 😅). Pockets are good!
Seen a lot of people saying CO2 canisters are wasteful?!?! They are 100% recyclable! Compared to the gel packets, inner tubes/tyres and worn out cleats that people send to landfill, it's hardly the worst perpetrator and is the easiest material to break down and reuse. As for the pump - I run tubeless so compressed gas is practically essential in the event of a big puncture, not that I've needed to use one canister yet! I carry a bottle-sized refillable gas canister that I pump up manually at home and stick in a bottle cage on shorter rides.
Katie - I like most of ur comments, however: 1) love coffee n cakes! What’s the point of riding if u can’t enjoy some tasty treats, and 2) or mini hand pump really s_____! I’ve purchased several in my life and they can only can u to 70 lbs if that - after pumping or an hour! They cant push the large volume of air needed to inflate the tire properly, so u end up with mushy inflated tires. If u going to carry a pump to push a good volume of air then something like Topeak Road Morph pump is best. I personally prefer Co2! They are fast and get u back on the road with properly inflated tires in minutes! Cheers!
As I get older I tend to agree with you on gearing. After decades of training and racing on 53-39 23-11, and sometimes a 56 on the front, now perfectly happy with the same GRX set up you have on my Revolt and whatever came stock on the TCRSL. Seems I did not not need the big gear after all!
My Defy has the 105 group set ... 50/34 and 34/11 so I can see how a 46/30 crank might be a good climbing mod ... BUT ... double Espresso and an almond croissant defo works for me!! Happy birthday Phil.
Can’t disagree with any that you mentioned but one of my pet peeves is like Phil mentioned is bike snobbery. Just ride what you like! And the second one is trail riding in a busy trail. You get these jokers that will fully block the way looking at the sights or doing selfies then as soon as you’re past them a few hundred yards they crowd you into the bushes!🤦♂️🤬😂
@@KatieKookaburra In all my years mountain biking, I've never had a pinch flat. Never felt the need to run at ridiculously low pressures either though. 😉😁 To be fair, always had front suspension on a mountain bike and for anything even slightly technical, I'd choose the hard tail over a gravel bike, every time..
I went tubeless on the MTB after getting a pinch puncture, but my pressure were too low. I'll keep the setup until this pair is worn out. The interesting thing is that adventure motorcyclists prefer tubes because you can change them yourself in the wild. To each their own 🤷♂️
Agree on the dislike of co2 inflators & gels. They just seem a bit of an antithesis of what I like about cycling. Agree on the low gearing...but with the caveat that I don't get the trend for giant cassettes on the back, and am proper old-school with my front triple. I happily wave at everyone. Never owned a cycling gilet, perhaps I'm missing out but I always feel like it's my arms that are getting cold. I don't go fast enough to warrant deep section rims! Lastly, I love coffee.
The only thing I've used gel for is Cliff bar frosting. Makes for a nice cake :-) I'm backpack instead of pockets, but I carry a lot of gear because I ride MTB alone in the mountains most of the time. Best is pulling out joys in the form of drink and food nobody expects up in the middle of nowhere. I've developed impeccable timing with this and will gladly pay the extra weight penalty. Gotta enjoy the process, eh?
1. Pumps yes, CO2 no 2. Fruit (bananas) yes, gels no 3. DSRs... I'm indifferent to them 4. High gearing no, but I ride a "touring" bike and I don't have the strength in my legs to push a high gear anyway. I did catch a guy only last week as he crested a hill while grinding the life out of his knees compared with me on full "washing machine" spin. He looked unwell but it's his choice. 5. Tea and cake is great to get you around another 20 miles. There's one little towpath cafe that sells Belgian chocolate cake. That's like rocket fuel for cyclists 6. Pockets are good but I prefer to put things into frame bags 7. The best bike is the one you have. Same applies to cameras, and probably most other hobbyist kit. Wise words..!!
#1 - Pump. Agreed. You buy one time and basically you can use it like forever. #2 - Mejdool (dates) agreed. I prefer rotab, it's softer and easier to chew and swallow. #3 - Deep section rims. Hmmm... can't really comment on that but I don't like to use them because it's a pain in the ass to find tubes with long valve and not many people carry them. #4 - Low gearing. Agreed. I'm 54 and don't want to hurt my knees and joints. #5 - Coffee and cakes. Can't comment on that. As Malaysian we don't ride for coffee and cakes. We ride for nasi lemak, roti canai and teh tarik. Hahaha.... #6 - Pockets, lots of pockets. Agreed.
Clipless pedals. The extra half a mile per hour is not worth the risk. I had them and got rid of them. I just use regular pedals with cages minus the straps for easy bailing out. I do the same with my mountain bike.
On big audaxes I carry a couple of CO2s because in the middle of the night I hate using my pump. Still waiting to get my Rapha Brevet Gilet...been waiting months. Love the pockets.
1: No pump, no co2 cartridges as well. 2: No gels, water just for 60+ km. 3. No high profile rims (winds). 4. High gears only (52/39 -11/23). 5. No coffee stops, no stops at all. 6. Yes for pockets (water repellent one).
Well said and agree on most. Love my low gears, I have 3 chainrings on the front and use them all, lowest is 26. The trend now on most gravel, mountain, city bikes is one chainring, ditching the front derailleur. What is a gel ?
@@playgroundchooser works great on trails where you don't ever have cadence and having all gears on one cog is easier to manage. For road and gravel you are spinning at RPM. So 6 speeds doesn't work the same. Search ideal cadence studies and you'll understand why we got to 22+ speeds with tightly spaced ratios. There isn't an ideal cadence it's whatever you (the cyclist) is most comfortable at, but it's somewhere between 70-90 RPM. So it might be 78rpm for me. With 6 speeds it's unlikely I'd find that cadence. Hence why there are 22, 27, 30 speeds. Yes there is overlap, but still there are probably 20+ unique gear ratios on a 3x9. That's a lot of unique cadence within a potential 900% gear ratio (22/32/46x11-36).
In fact I agree on cake/coffee stops. It takes so much time to get in rhythm again after a stop, you may even get cold on a cooler day. So I prefer a cake*after* the ride.
I have my coffee before I go out,. As a type 2 diabetic cyclist I have no use for gels, co2 means nothing to me as I'm not in that much of a hurry. Just need real food and somewhere to carry it if I want to make a full day of it. Always a nice hello from me for other road and trail users.
I have tried CO2 and now only keep it for the mountain bike, didn't really work for me on road or gravel bikes so I carry a small pump. My LeCol gilet has no pockets, it's great but would be better with pockets. I usually end up carrying gels all the way round and take them home again ( although I used a caffeine hit gel today near the end of a 100km/2000m ride). But coffee and cake... a good part of a ride with friends.
Agree with you in all points, except #5. Me and my wife love coffee and cake. We occasionally go for a cafe ride, trying to find hidden small cafe shops around our city. And about #6, well I don’t even like gilet. I always wear baselayer underneath my jersey, enough to handle windy days. And when it starts raining, I juset wear my rain jacket.
this is MTB specific, as road cyclists are understandably weight weenies, people who ride with a portable speaker. Get to the top of my fave climb and look forward to peace and mountain tranquility, and there's someone blasting out 'music ' on their normally crappy bluetooth speaker ...why ? don't get it .
Like a few others here, the coffee stop is part of the ride if time allows. Other than that you are so right, only suggestion is the best bike is the one you ride
Phil speaks the truth! All bikes are great and what someone else chooses to ride has no effect at all on me. And I agree with your last point, Katie. I'm pro-pockets!
I have a hernia so I have to get a bike I can one ride comfortably and by going Ebike I can actually get around again. Honestly I have also figured out a car is to expensive these days too 🤣
An ebike is a million times better than a car for so many things! I have both and I don’t live where I could easily get by without a car, but I love riding my bike a hell of a lot more than I like driving my car, and that’s saying something, because at 49, I’ve driven over a million miles already because I love it so much (decades as a professional driver obviously). But man, since taking up riding this year, there’s just no comparison.
@@babybirdhome driving is great when you can or have to was a CDL driver at one point too, but I can say the idea of slowing down to actually see stuff is cool I have a huge road trip in mind actually probably many as long as I can move 😆
Bike snobs are every where. I ride a Trek 520 with racks for my tours. People look at you like what is that thing. It's my everyday ride and I love the bike. Most of the time I carry one pannier on daily rides just so I can carry some fun stuff. At 63 I'm in no hurry. All good points and happy birthday to Phil. Take care, Al
Hmmm. I ride a Trek 990 "mountain bike" but have it configured with road-ish gearing and smooth tires. Planning on adding a rear rack like I have on my road-ish Trek 720. I'm almost 63 and find that the tiny bits of performance that so many road riders seem to chase aren't really worth my time. Do I care if I get someplace a few minutes sooner? Not if I have to pay a significant amount of money for the extra speed. Besides, at my age a fair bit of the motivation is to get exercise anyway.
But to be sure, I have no problem with the guys (and gals) who want to ride a $5,000 ultralight road bike with shaved legs and a skin suit. Whatever spins yer spurs.
Agreed on 5 of the six . No brainers except for the coffee. Guess it's a thing people do in your corner of the world. People buy stuff they just don't need.. I've never bought a CO2 cartridge but as a mountain biker , they are handy when you use sealant with tubeless tires and you have to reseal after a bad flat does happen. Apparently it is also great to have tubeless and sealant when touring in desert regions So here are the things that I don't like: 1) Weekend warrior peletons that put other people in danger on recreational bike paths as if they were in the Tour de France; 2) Electric bike users going at excessive speeds in crowded recreational areas. 3) People who refuse to learn how to switch gears. 4) The first group who refuse to use their brakes, courtesy , a smile and a wave. When some dumb twit is going too slow or makes some random turn in front of you. Just slam on those brakes, wave him on, smile....and then practice your balance in a stationary stance with your clips still on, and then turn it into your earth shattering sprint for a championship win. But smile! Share the bike path! Oh....and tell him to have a great day! One day you'll be the dumb twit. We're all out there using our own clean , planet friendly energy and doing a healthy exercise that should put a smile on everybody's face.
haha i have a friend who refuses to change gears. he thinks u choose the setting u like and stick with it! it also blowa my mind that he also drives his car manual
@@Gampeh He likes commitment. He must have a very stable marriage. LOL.
1. tried co2 for a long time, but always ended up carrying a pump in case, eventually realised and ditched the canisters.
2. deep section - fine if you can afford reasonably light ones, always an advantage even on hills and in wind....will not ride shallow rims again
3. gels etc - have enough faff in my life so will keep buying them
4. gearing....be honest with your abilities and use gears to match - riding is more efficient than walking
5. coffee and cake - or stopping in general is why i ride alone...i.e to avoid other peoples need to stop. only reason to stop is on a 4hr plus ride to buy food.
6. never really got gilets full stop - i have one but rarely use it. but pockets on outer garments agree, or zips from bottom to facilitate getting to jersey pockets.
7. riders not waving at each other - i wave at any type of rider
Agree with you on stopping 😊 A short stop for mid-ride fuelling is fine, but I never waste time on a full length cake stop. Guess that's why I ride on my own too, lol.
Almost 100% the same, even the waving, but not the gels, it's easier to get a refillable small gels bottle and fill it at home with whatever you want and no more trash. Mine I got a 150ml GU flask and put maple sirup in it. This way i'm good for most of my ride. No more stop in bike shop just to buy gels. No sugar leaking from used gels in my pocket, easier to use than gels, No faff, Easy and better for the earth. Never coming back to buy single use gel. And if you want the gels content, you can by a big one for refill and it's the same as pack gels :)
Always wave to other cyclists, or runners, dog walkers etc. Occasionally other road cyclists ignore you, mtb riders nearly always wave back- especially if you're off road on 25mm tires and 16spoke wheels!
@@vincemsp Thats a good idea with the maple syrup in a gu bottle. In New Zealand there's a malt syrup sold in the supermarkets called Maltexo. Its pure maltose which is two glucose molecules bonded together. Its made by the biggest brewery maybe as a byproduct, its been made for years I remember as a child having it.
Indexed shifting it is, especially for the front chainrings. I'm so much happier since I'm using friction shifters, vs. the Shimano Rapid-Fire shifters. Also for the rear cassette it's so nice to just immediately get to a low gearing when a hill starts, and not having to click through one-by-one.
You don’t have to click through one by one on index shifters.
I had friction shifters on my first road bike many years ago. They are easy to setup, but I will never go back. After getting sti shifters on my current bikes. I can shift down 3 gears in 1 swipe and 6 in 2 swipes, and I don't have to ajuste the paddle to align the rear derailleur.
Totally agree with you about gears. I tried "normal" road gears on my current bike and ended up with chronic injuries. I now have 30/46 in the front and 11/34 in the back and am very much happier.
I'm not a fan of tubeless tyres. Tried them, didn't like them. A huge pfaff to set up and remount, not nearly as flat-proof as advertised, not significantly lighter, and the sealant is disgusting.
I agree. it makes it much easier to climb if there's a gear I can still pedal without too much force needed.
But it's similar to her take on deep section rims. Big rings and corn cob cassettes (I think it's straight block in English) look cool especially on older road bikes. And they works as long as there's no climb over a few percent.
For the last 25 years, I've always carried one of those CO2 thingies, that take unthreaded carts. along with one or two extra carts. (I carry a mini pump that clips next to a waterbottle cage, on my Mountain bike).....Since I live in the second flattest State in the US, I've never use "low gears". Back in the days of 7 speed, I'd always ride a 12-21. As I got older, I eventually used a 10 speed 12-23 for almost everything, unless I had a race up in Wisconsin. Then I'd use a 12-25, with a 53x39. I've been riding and training since 1983, and have never injured my knees.
You had me until you ditched the cake 🤣great video and never found it hard to pump the micro ones so efficient these days!
I totally agree on the pockets-thing! I do have a gilet without pockets and a rain jacket without pockets. I will keep using them until they are worn out because it's more sustainable and I already have them, but it does annoy me quite a lot that these things don't have pockets 😛
Obsession with Carbon. My next bike I ordered is again an aluminium frame w/ carbon fork and seatpost. I got a lot of „why not carbon?“, almost pitiful. The geometry is what I need, perfect specs, good price, love the look and enjoyed the testride 🤷♂️
Carbon has its uses, but an all-carbon frame simply doesn't make practical or financial sense for many riders.
Pump is always with me, but I tend to keep one CO2 in the saddlebag for group rides. I dont want to be causing people to be standing around waiting for me, but solo(majority of my rides) I will use the pump. Gels suck, bars or sweets or something else much better. Deepish rims(about 40mm) are the best way to ride. Coffee sucks, hot choc is a better choice. And yes, pockets on everything.
Actually except for the coffee (I'm kinda addicted to it), I got to agree with all of your points. It's an endurance/ audax cycling kind of thing I guess. People often find it strange that I use a steel gravel bike for long distance riding (because of the comfort) and dislike the carbon hype.
That steel bike will last ages tho provided it never crashed. Carbon wouldn't even last 20 years especially if you ride it daily.
@@1911Zoey Yup. My Trek 990 frame is 27 years old. It should last for the rest of my life.
I agree with you on co2 and the Race Rocket. I think co2 cartridges are wasteful. The Race Rocket is a brilliant little pump.
Not being a roadie, I have no interest in deep section wheels so I agree there as well.
Agree about silly high gearing too. For the majority of people, off the shelf road bikes in particular are over geared IMO.
However I do find gels easy to carry and easy to ingest, only downside IMO is they are not cheap.
I also agree the more pockets the better!
My own personal dislike is clipless pedals and cleats. Flat pedals and Five Ten shoes all the way for me.
I go even further and run 11-40 on the back of my grx 2x. Only requires an adjustment of the b limit screw and works perfectly
I am a mountain biker, and I agree with every single one of your points. I carry a CO2 just in case I need to re-seat my tubless, but I always have a pump and use it 99% of the time.
I don't have an issue with any of those things, especially cake :) But - what gets me is the number of CO2 cartridges that get chucked on the ground after they are used - I work on road side side weather stations that are on all kinds of roads, and over the last 4 or 5 years we've started finding loads of the used cartridges in the maintenance bays and next to the VRS etc. I cannot understand why anyone would think that's the right thing to do.
Those are probably NO2 canisters, not CO2 canisters.
@@bonusbucketFOD yep gas sniffers
@@bonusbucketFOD I had no idea that was something that happened.. so that's happening in some weird places.
Also explains the plastic gloves.
I'd bet my first born child those are Nitrous Oxide canisters left behind by folks getting high.
Maple syrup and lemon for me! Advantage is that because it is liquid, there's never any undissolved sugar when combined with cold water (and even a frozen bottle). About $8 for a can in Canada, where there is a chronic oversupply! The 46/30 should be the standard on recreational endurance bikes because there is often now a 9 or 10 tooth cog. No to expensive wireless and head units. No to deep section, unless we are talking about pizza!
I agree with everything you dislike, except the coffee. Cake I can do without. With the pockets thing, older jerseys from 30's, 40's, and 50's had pockets on the chest as well. It's a great way to keep snacks easily accessible, and warm on cold rides! I would love to see those brought back again, even as just a retro product. I'm sure Rapha could make just one or two styles and get the rest of the industry to take note, there are many riders who are not so concerned about being completely aero.... just a though..... Keep up the great vids, and thank you. You are an inspiration.
Regarding CO2, if you are running tubeless, CO2 are essential if your tire deflates too low after puncture and unseats from the rim. You can seat the tire back, and don't have to deal with putting an inner tube in (just yet).
I have a Topeka frame mounted pump with an integral pressure gauge on all my bikes, almost as good as a floor pump, and never carry CO2. I have similarly low gearing on my road bikes, which is only a disadvantage in a strong tailwind. I have no deep rims. I like dates, but like to keep gels for emergencies, and the drug-like effect.
Totally agree with the gel thing. Nothing is a bigger downer than coming home from a long ride and throwing out a handful of empty plastic gel packets. I bought a 150mil tube with a pop top and fill it with maple syrup. It has more calories than gels, thinner constancy and its just tree juice, right? A swig of water afterwards cleans the palate after a quick shot. I buy the maple syrup in 32 oz bulk when it's on sale at my local market. ( about 45 cents an ounce. ) If you don't like concentrate, it mixes easily in a water bottle. I liked Phil's comments at the end as well. Just ride your bike, whatever type it is.
Apart from coffee, totally agree. latest (Titanium) road only bike uses 43/36 with an 11-34 cassette- at my normal average speeds I'm mid block on the larger ring, don't need to pedal at 50mph so what is the point of having gears to do it. Rim brakes, non electronic shifting, why complicate and add weight to things that work so well. Narrow section rims as well, being lighter I don't want to get blown all over the road on what is after all not a race. When I'm riding I prefer not to stop either. Like the honesty in your thoughts and the chap that commented in general at the end. Keep it up!
Pump all day is the key. It takes all day to pump your tires. I carry both!😂 I like medium section rims like 30-35 mm. I have my first one by bike. I run a 40 tooth front ring with an 11 x 42 cassette. I don’t worry about close incremental gearing as I don’t ride fast group rides anymore and a 40-11 is plenty big enough for me. I spin it out at about 30mph which is faster than I want to go! I like the simplicity of one by! Gels are okay for eating on the bike but otherwise kind of gross. I much prefer stopping for cake! I don’t drink coffee. Oh and I’m 68 years old and have been riding for over 45 years. I’m older than your old friend!😂
Having to use a little pump if you get a flat stops you getting cold as well. Your mates might be less pleased though.
GRX 46-30 and 34 at the back is perfect. On the coast to coast last year the guys I was with were very jealous of my low gearing while I popped wheelies with another gear to spare on the climb out of Settle.
Was that way if the roses? I remember the hill out if settle, was minging haha
I’m with you on the pump. I’m old school. I went from tubeless to putting tubes in my tyres. I feel more confident doing a puncture repair with a patch than trying to use those cylinders and it’s cheaper. Meant to say I did my first cycle event on Sunday, Loch Ness Etape, it was brilliant.👍🏻🚴🏻♂️
I was there too. Great course and an event so well organised. It was my first Loch Ness and I already looking forward to next year.
After Loch Ness I totally agree with Katie re. gears!!
@@keithfromkent4364 I was pleased I managed to get up the KOM without stopping. I’ve registered my interest for next year as well 👍🏻🚴🏻♂️
I notice one thing or two makes your channel and stories very appealing and nice to follow...
1. sound. every single thing in the narrative is very sound related how do you make it, I don't know but transitions background and you voice tends to be cristal clear.
2. even when you could make a not linear thing on the narrative is a narrative... and then is your narrative style, tempo, cadence, speaking paced and consistent even the 'ramble' or the ' digress' is good to hear.
Spot on, a lot of non video trained bloggers get sound wrong, I won't name any names! Katie gets it spot on
CO2 cartridges make more sense on a bike with larger tyre volume (e.g a mountain bike, fat bike etc). Also, if you're running tubeless you might need to inflate quickly to get the tyre to seat. Other than that I 100% agree.
As Phil said the really annoying thing is hating others for doing things in different ways as oneself; so we still love you Katie!! :D
Wise words! 🙌
🤘👍🤘🤘
Yep, totes agree with all these. I bought C02 and the only time it was ever used was when I punctured and couldn’t get the tyre off and an old veteran roadie stopped to help, and he used it. I will always opt for a pump, just can’t see the point of not. I also love coffee and cake, but not on a ride. The only social ride I ever did was Breeze one. The total route was only about 25 miles and they stopped half way for refreshments! No thanks! Not needed, got cold, just wanted to ride!
Yes, seems we think alike on most things.
1. I've never carried or used a CO2 cartridge. All of my bikes have their own pump.
2. Never used a Gel. I will carry a Clif bar or two. Loading the water with carbs sounds like a great idea.
3. The only aero rims I own, are on my racing bike, but they're modest, adding just 25mm rim depth. And they're bright aluminum so they look truly flashy.
4. Gearing - now that I've retired, I appreciate low gears more and more. My new bike has the same GRX drivetrain you showed in the video, and I love venturing up hills with it.
5. Coffee - never drink it, except that occasionally I will have a Mocha when the group makes a stop. Or hot chocolate, especially in cold weather.
6. Never met a cycling jersey without pockets, but if I saw one, I certainly wouldn't buy it.
The only major item that we differ on, is rim versus disc brakes. All of my bikes have rim brakes, except my newest bike, which I expressly ordered in order to have disc brakes and low gearing. I feel much more confident on steep descents now (my region has plenty of grades in the 14-20% range, many with a stop sign at the bottom). I've made too many white-knuckle downhill stops with rim brakes, and I can never maintain them so they run smoothly. Discs are powerful, smooth and modulate very precisely.
I always carry 2 CO2 cartridges, a mini inflater, extra tube AND a pump and patch kit. Get a flat and I'm back up in no time with the CO2 and still have backups.
1. I use a small electric compressor. People generally love it unless they have to carry it. I'm okay with carrying it because I use an ebike and the assistance generally offsets the weight well.
2. Never liked gels. Tasted horrid. Felt strange and weird afterwards. Probably the caffeine, but the concentrated sugar is just nasty. I like bananas and trail mix.
3. Never liked deep section rims. Or aero features in general. I don't race so I don't care about eking out a few seconds of time when I'm riding.
4. Love the low gearing available on bikes today. GRX is a wish I have often dreamed about in the past and I'm quite gratified the group is available now.
5. I don't like coffees and cakes when riding. I highly prefer stews and sandwiches. A nice, clear broth of beef stew is amazing.
6. I generally don't prefer wearing gilets and other "cycling apparel" because they don't have pockets. And yeah, because sometimes I do wear them for comfort I use a fanny pack when I feel like wearing cycling stuff. LOL.
You are right on all of these. You can't have gears that are too low IMO. When I speced my current bike I went for the lightest rims (not the deepest). Gels - no thanks, I can ride all day on bananas and flapjack. I'm not a coffee person when riding but I do like a pot of tea. The other one I would add to the list is disc brakes.
I don't get high gearing. My mate at work, he's a good cyclist and he rides 52 46 on a 25-11 cassette. My knees would explode on that set up. The highest I ride is 52 36 on a 28-11, and that's only because at the time I couldn't get 30-12 cassette to fit the short cage derailleur.
When and if the derailleur knacks up I'll go low gear.
I think this calls for a response.
CO2 cylinders - great when you're on a group ride and you don't want to make others wait for you, but always carry a Pocket Rocket;
Gels - great on really long rides when chewing food just isn't nice towards the end;
Deep section rims - 35mm is enough for most of us;
Coffee and cake - coffee yes, cake not so much;
High gearing - compact cranksets and a 11-30 cassette is a good allrounder;
Gillets without pockets - that's just a sleeveless rain jacket.
Pet peeves - anyone who takes anything from the Velominati rules seriously, and 'Merchant Bankers' too cool to wave back.
Agree with all of them, especially gels. I stick a multipack of capri suns in the freezer, then once frozen, stick one in my back pocket and about an hour and a half into a ride it's just about defrosted and you get the joy of a freezing cold drink which feels like absolute blissssss.
Yeah agree with everything. And fair play for articulately saying why you don't like them rather than actually slagging them off!
62 Deep sections perfect! Never going back and yes perfect for climbing, wind not a problem.
Only thing I use c02 for is to seat my tire if it completely falls off my wheel. Coming from a MTB rider with tubeless.
The last point was spot on. The worst thing about cycling is definitely cyclists. No different to any other hobby which claims to have a "community" - full of self righteous, control freaks telling people their choices are wrong.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I have yet to encounter this so far. Like, I know those people are going to be out there, because you’ll always get that in any sufficiently large population, but I haven’t encountered it myself yet. I’m sure I will, but it seems that most cyclists really aren’t like that, unless they think you’re wanting an outcome that you don’t really care about because they’ve made an assumption that was wrong.
Seems to me there is two kinds of road bikers...one that just enjoys riding with nice company and who likes to just exchange experience & information without judging the other one. And the other way around - judging me by what I wear, what kind of bike I ride, not by what I am actually doing. One so called "community friend" was telling me because of my size "I will never be able to compete with good climbers" How does he know I give a damn? Oh...and the tall guy with the old bike (...me) can now easily keep up with him on any hill and cycle twice as far. For me it seems the annoying people are those that desperately try to pretend to be pro riders. You notice they always seem to know whats right, but usually they can´t tighten a loose screw on their own bike without going to a store.
Concur. The Lycra Snobs.
@@oranjid well said.
@@oranjid maybe you should look in a mirror. You seem to be a bit angry. And maybe a bit more like the people you don't like than you think ...just sayin.
1 yes ! (i never use co2)
2 yes (i like gels but i never buy them, i use them only when they are available on races)
3 yes
4 No and yes? (i use low gears for uphill but i need super high gears for road, my favorite is 48 by 11)
5 yes (i dont stop for coffee and cake, only for ice cream or lemonade in in the summer)
6 i guess yes (i dont use gilets, i use a backpack)
Definitely with you on the cake stops. I did an audax at the weekend where the midpoint was a dark, dingy cafe with table service and an embarrassment of cake options. Not for me - bought a bottle of fizzy pop and sat in the sun on a bench overlooking the canal. Much nicer.
I am pretty much with you on this Katie and I have often challenged my friends who are stuffing gels down every 20 minutes. Probably explains why I generally cycle alone but I enjoy that and it’s me time. Phil is so right! Whatever your bike… ride it and enjoy. If I can add one to the list….it’s bike snobbery 👍
100% agree on pumps v cartridge How many cartridges do you have to carry to feel 'safe' then if u run out do you ask someone if you can borrow there pump! Gels I love them especially the espresso coffee ones from SIS.Deep section wheels I bought a pair but I dont think I go fast enough to fell any benefit against the problems with side winds. The one thing that is really worth the money is the little stubby try bars that bolt to the centre of the handle bars, you can leave your saddle in the same place the extensions are about the same length as the brake hoods using them you definitely go faster no matter at what speed you ride at. I bought the deda ones best £100 I ever spent. Super high gearing, a lot of people just dont understand gearing, and look at the professional Gonna has big gears but when he is using them his average cadence seems to be about 100rpm so 'spin to win' .Coffee and cake love coffee but I would no more stop and sit in a cafe all hot and sweaty half way through a ride. I would rather get home and have it there. Gillets I think the no pocket thing developed. from racing and it was just a thing like a bin bag to put on to keep the cold off in extreme conditions and although they have developed the materials they just still left the pockets off. I generally find the castle jerseys/ jackets keep me warm enough although I have a very light weight rain jacket rolled up for 'downpour' emergency's
I didn’t even know any of them were issues. I didn’t know about CO2 cartridges, didn’t know about gels, don’t understand the tire thing, didn’t know there were bikes with gears too high, didn’t know coffee and cake was a thing (blech, dislike coffee and I wouldn’t eat cake on a ride); pockets I understand though. I have several pockets on shirts and shorts to carry an assortment of things, and/or backpack when needed.
I only started cycling for the coffee and cake! When I started road cycling the go to snacks were jelly babies. i have tried some gels and the orange ones were ok. I have problem with food on long rides, they cannot be to claggy in my mouth. Fig rolls are good. Can't do deep section wheels, the wind just pulls them all over the place. One thing I absolutely still hate is road clipless pedals, especailly when you are a newbie. All that walking around like a plonker click click and slipping on metal floors!
I wish someone had told me about mountain bike clipless pedals when I first started, would have saved me some anxiety. I nearly stopped cycling because I was told, oh you need to have these pedals but I couldnt get out of them! I went to flats for a long time. Now on the MTB and much happier, less rules about stuff, do what you like and ride flats with 5 10's, save the multiway clipless for the roadie.
Oh and really the term clipless, it needs to change!
Agree with all that - but for the coffee and cake ! had a nice one today at an Italian Cafe in Tewkesbury . It would be my way of meeting people and having a rest and some thinking time .
You sound like me. I gravel and kind of touring and use a gravel bike. Lots of hills and some wind. Most people here use mountain bikes because of the gearing. The roadies sometimes have issues making it up small hills that I just bloop up.
I also use a pump because it is always going to work. I dont want to get a flat and be looking for co2 or wondering if i packed them.
When frames started getting fat and frame fit pumps wouldn't fit anymore, the coolest riders ditched those frustrating inefficient shorty pumps that fit in a back pocket or seat bag, and went to CO2 cartridges. It takes a certain panache to release the compressed air into the tube and not blow the tire off the rim. And you get one chance. So you carry a bunch of cartridges and their touted weight advantage is lost. Air is free. It doesn't come out of a metal cartridge manufactured in an air conditioned factory using finite resources, and you don't have to throw it away after using it once. Silca brought back their "Imperio" from when steel was king 40 years ago. Frame tubing is getting smaller, and riders are buying it. They weigh nothing and will get you home on 40 strokes.
Most of these trends, disc brakes being the latest, derive from an enthusiastic market who'll go with the latest stuff, if for any other reason, to be hip. I see groups going all-out on the trails, behaving like they're still in spin class. Big mistake. They miss the whole point of riding someplace balanced on two wheels under their own power, embracing the world with all senses amplified on a unique, visceral level, outside the box.
Fuel? Dates are a keeper. We used to ride with Fig Newtons, only because we couldn't find dates. Universally recognized as first class cycling nutrition. And they fit neatly in the jersey pockets, along with spare tube and levers, wallet and house keys. Ever tried a ham, cream cheese, cherry preservatives sandwich on stout bread at mile 45? Absolute heaven. The sugar kicks in immediately. Then the bread. The cream cheese next, then the ham. Snickers candy bars remain an all time favorite since I started riding 40 years ago. Tasteless health bars/gels/powder mixes are a lame excuse for those fearful of gaining weight! Those post ride coffee drinkers wolfing down home made pastries will tell you real food is where its at!
Such a shame to compartmentalize riding in an otherwise emotionally and physically passive life in air conditioned comfort behind the windshields of fast moving motor vehicles, completely shut off from the life around them. Life is constant movement, a sensual feast, beckoning every day, meant to be enjoyed.
I agree with all of these.
So easy to fall into comercal traps with hobbies or daily activities that have cheap sometimes more effective alternatives and products no one really needs.
You can level up those Dates with this date ball recipe:
110 g (1 cup) roasted almonds roughly chopped
135 g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats
200 g (1 cup) medjool dates pitted
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
85 g (¼ cup) honey
65 g (¼ cup) peanut butter
Blend
Roll
My favorite quote when I find myself trying to race the more established riders on the commute:
"Do not do more today than you can completely recover from by tomorrow."
A lot of my kit is FDX, I sometimes feel like the poor man of cycling compared to other cyclists who wear the top of the range gear. The way I look at it, if it rains your going to get wet, if it’s sunny and warm your going to sweat no matter what gear you have on. And the good thing about FDX you tend to get a better fit and they have plenty of pockets. I’m just a 60 year old man who really enjoys going out cycling on my own or with my brother or a friend. I did my first cycling event last month the Loch Ness Etape which I thoroughly enjoyed and managed to do the KOM without stopping. My position was around 3406, 4hrs 10mins, I was really chuffed.🚴🏻♂️
I agree with everything you said. 1 slight caveats would be: co2 is great if you run tubeless and ride solo out in the sticks, no mini pump will reseat a burped fully flat tyre and putting a tube in is such a messy job, I will always go for the pump first though.
And I'll go one further with the coffee and cake I hate café stops, I can eat and drink at home I came out to ride my bloody bike.
Ace vlog. I also agree that the best bike you have is the one you’ve got. I love my hybrid bike, done some tough sportives on it like Tour De Manc and Mon, and 6 NCN routes so far, some were very hilly 😂😂, hope you are both having a fantastic weekend in and out of the saddle 😀👍
Agree about the co2! Can’t go wrong with a pump. Only downside is you can’t quite get enough tyre pressure, but it’s enough to get home. I’m also worried I’ll stuff it up haha!
Also agree about gels! They give me really bad gut rot… I just take vegan lollies - even cheaper than dates lol.
Deep section wheels have their place in racing (aero is everything, especially flatter races). But I hate riding them in training, especially descending in windy Adelaide!! Definitely not needed unless you’re racing.
Yes about the pockets too!!! Our team had gilets with no pockets last year and it was just so annoying! This year they have pockets and literally everyone was happy about it!!
P.S. Love that you call them ‘roller boots’, we call them ‘roller blades’ here hahaha..
Using watts for power output means absolutely nothing to me. I much prefer cadence, rpm and bpm.
I agree with all you said as well.
Old school Ultra-triathlete/cycle tourist here.
#1: I haven't used a CO2 since the 90's..Can't stand them. Frame pumps all the way.
#2:I will use Gels if they are free but otherwise Honey or Maple Syrup with Quick chocolate or Milo mixed with water. Yum!
#3:Deep Rims...........Nope, never have,never will.
#4:Hero gears are for wankers at the Wednesday World Champ's...
#5:Love coffee....Hate coffee shop rides.
#6:I stopped buying expensive cycling tops altogether and now store all my crap in a frame bag.
Love your work KK!
I do have 1 CO2 for road and 2 for Gravel but carry pumps as well, rather redundant I suppose but will use the CO2 until I have no more as I already have that investment, out of cartridges, will not replace. Whilst recyclable, rather wasteful too. Dates is a great idea! I do love the chews with caffeine though, super bonk proof and Cliff Bar's dark cherry with caffeine is pretty great! What do you define as deep section? I am riding 45mm zipps and love them, lighter than the stock DT's that came with my Caledonia 5.
Agree with you on these pet hates Katie. There's a lot of kit snobbery attached to cycling as in many other sports though and that's part of the issue. My only caution about pockets is don't put anything hard in them. If you come off your bike, a cellphone or pump can really hurt if you land on them - !
1. Agreed to the point I have never tried those. And I have the very same small pump which I carry along with my big long black pump that allows me to get 28 width tube from 0 to 5 bars in no time.
2. I hate eating while cycling in the very first place, but that artificial food like gels and nutrition bars I just can't stand. I eat bananas and sandwiches instead and maybe some regular sweet bars like Snickers.
3. Endurance cyclists don't care about those. Period.
4. I'm going to build my road bike from scratch next spring and I love to see that someone else beside me has found the GRX the perfect driveset for roads. I am going to try GRX 46-30 and 11-42. I just wait for a response from Shimano it can work. It seems like they do not respond to their customers in anytime at all. Anyway, I don't see why it shouldn't work, so I will have it a go.
Now I'm using cross-country bike with 3x9 drivetrain with 26 smallest chainring at front and 34 largest cog at the back and I remember a ride through Altai mountains on rocky ways with full panniers uphill when that was not enough. I don't think I can find a use of 30|42 anywhere on tarmac though.
5. I don't stop at cafes, but I like coffee so I drink one before a ride, unless it's a longer ride when I restrain from caffeine until caught sleepy in the middle of a night or at the dusk I drink one with a lot of sugar, but without a cake at gas stations. And in shorter rides in low temperatures from my thermos I carry along filled with my own bulletproof coffee recipe.
6. Here is where we can fill our descrepancy protocol with as I don't like using or even having rear pockets. I can tolerate and use those in my summer shirts, but everything else I want to look like a regular garment. Bags, cases and panniers are being used to carry my stuff.
I can add I hate wearing sunglasses with temples over chin straps of a helmet. Everytime I tried those, my sunglasses went flying once I decided to take my helmet off.
I also hate road shoes with road cleats, although I can see some benefits from their stiffness.
And I hate wearing lycra shorts in public, so either I ride in my trail shorts above or putting them on before getting into a grocery store or any other indoor public place.
I have to agree I haver just recently got a CO2 inflator after 35 years of cycling as someone said they were brilliant saves space etc ... etc but I think you are right a pump is better. I also don't use gels but after your recommendation I do have jelly sweets with me on long rides and love them. I would say one thing I don't like is everyone wearing black clothing on bikes.... apart from the safety aspect its boring.... what happened to the fun bright jazzy cycling tops..... bring the fun back and speaking of fun why are so many cyclists so serious
It's a serious business so we need to look serious
@@markrushton1516 🤣🤣
Cycling is meant to be serious. Yes you can occasionally have fun group rides but the point of cycle training is preparing for the next race and trying to be faster than everyone else.
Very few cyclists race. In their heads maybe but I think 99% of us do it just for the fun.
DHD do loads of bright colours and parents. I love wearing bright tops don't even own a black one. There nothing better over taking someone in a rainbow pink Jersey while they are in boring black or red.
I'm with you on the mini pump: I hate seeing the wee canisters discarded everywhere. I do like the gels but am giving the mejdool dates a try. Am on rims and will never try carbon (after reading Leuscher Teknik commenting on carbon clinchers). Carbon rims do look cool though. An extra one. Black clothing: the Ninja Cycling Club. You can't be seen and it's dangerous, particularly the torso.
Completely agree on Black clothing! Your stealth look won't look so good smeared along the tarmac!
CO2 is great when riding in a group and especially in the rain. Standing around waiting for someone twidling about with a mini pump whilst everyone gets cold is just not fun. Take both CO2 and a pump. It’s not an exclusive situation.
Largely agree. Pumps for sure. I eat fig newtons and/or mix up powdered gatorade. I run a triple front 48-38-28 and 11-28 rear. Covers just about anything up to 30 mph, most hills, and still gives me close gear spacing. No opinion on deep rims or coffee and cakes. Pockets are good. I'll even use a rear rack to carry extra stuff.
I'll ad a few of my own idiosyncrasies. Fenders. A proper front one can actually be more aero. I dislike drop bars. People ride the hoods or flats about 95% of the time anyway. Fine for road racing, but who else really uses them much? I love my double walled stainless steel vacuum bottles. Stuff stays hot or cold. No plastic smell. Yes, they weigh more, but not as much as the fluid that they hold. And yes they hold less fluid. But actual cold water when you are in a hot desert is super nice.
I've always had trouble with pumps. I've bought 4 different ones, all different brands, and I just have to pump and pump forever to get any pressure, and once it hits 40 PSI, it pops off, or leaks, or something. Maybe it's user error, but I don't want to faff around when I have a flat. I just want to fix it, inflate, and go. I also use gels on long rides, but that's strictly convenience, and I always put my trash in my pocket to dispose of when home. I hate seeing people littering. I can always tell when cyclists have been by when I see discarded banana peels on the road. At least it will decompose vs trash, but still...
I don't use deep wheels for everyday riding, but on my TT bike, they're perfect for racing.
I feel your pain with everything but CO2 canisters. (I love coffee, but for some reason don't lust for its loveliness when I ride). I have the highly rated, diminutive "Pro Bike" CO2 dispenser which is a joy to use. It has a easy to use lever that controls how fast the CO2 is dispensed which is a big plus. My local bike shop recycles the canisters as one other commenter mentioned. I used a bike pump for over 50 years (pump, pump pump...pump, pump, pump), but this old dog has learned a new trick and is not turning back. 🐩
Many endurance riders and distance runners use marzipan cubes. Insane calories for their size and you can carry them easily.
I have to agree with you at the end if your on a bike of any kind having fun and not hurting others do it!!!
Not a gripe as such, but I’m new to cycling (gravel bike c.1 year) and I have standard inner tubes - but all I seem to hear is you have to go tubeless. Help! Are they easy to sort? Scared about sealant leaking everywhere…
1. I carry both, pump and cartridge, however never used a cartridge since 2014.
2. Agreed on gel, dates and bananas for me.
3. Deep section wheels - thry are koooool.
4. My cog is 34 too and 2x in the front.
5. Disagree - cannot live without coffee/cake.
6. Pockets - yes yes yes!
And I am with you Phil, guess going out and riding is more important than judging.
Totally agree with the pump over CO2. Also - gels - yuk. Also - deep rims ( def a headache with wind but smashing lightweight). Cadence - what works for you. PS Posh coffee !
Try Aldi coffee beans, they are awesome 😎👍😎 even better than their baked beans 🤘
Tubeless tyres, rims and sealant. Great if they were compatible and not messy. But certain tyres with certain rims? Tyres that don't fit/won't seal, sealant that goes everywhere? Dont need that. Mini pumps that don't. Chain lube that washes off easily in the rain or gums your chain up (Squirt, I'm looking at you).
I carry a pump on some rides, CO2 on others. Depends on what my bike allows. Basically if I have space for a pump, pump is better, if I don't CO2 is next best thing. When I race, always CO2 because it's faster for the same weight.
Everything else I mostly agree. 30mm rims are ideal. Coffee only when needed, never cake. Definitely lower gearing. 30x34 is not low enough on gravel in my part of the world but it's better than 39x26 on my road bike (22x34 on my gravel bike 😅). Pockets are good!
Seen a lot of people saying CO2 canisters are wasteful?!?! They are 100% recyclable! Compared to the gel packets, inner tubes/tyres and worn out cleats that people send to landfill, it's hardly the worst perpetrator and is the easiest material to break down and reuse. As for the pump - I run tubeless so compressed gas is practically essential in the event of a big puncture, not that I've needed to use one canister yet! I carry a bottle-sized refillable gas canister that I pump up manually at home and stick in a bottle cage on shorter rides.
Katie - I like most of ur comments, however: 1) love coffee n cakes! What’s the point of riding if u can’t enjoy some tasty treats, and 2) or mini hand pump really s_____! I’ve purchased several in my life and they can only can u to 70 lbs if that - after pumping or an hour! They cant push the large volume of air needed to inflate the tire properly, so u end up with mushy inflated tires. If u going to carry a pump to push a good volume of air then something like Topeak Road Morph pump is best. I personally prefer Co2! They are fast and get u back on the road with properly inflated tires in minutes! Cheers!
So wheres that vid link you talk about at 2:33 ??
As I get older I tend to agree with you on gearing. After decades of training and racing on 53-39 23-11, and sometimes a 56 on the front, now perfectly happy with the same GRX set up you have on my Revolt and whatever came stock on the TCRSL. Seems I did not not need the big gear after all!
My Defy has the 105 group set ... 50/34 and 34/11 so I can see how a 46/30 crank might be a good climbing mod ... BUT ... double Espresso and an almond croissant defo works for me!! Happy birthday Phil.
Thank you ❤️😊👍😊
Apart from the gillet I agree with all of the items! It's hilly and windy here, at times very!
I agree with you, except for the coffee and cake.
I would add rims and frames of carbon, I worked on B-52s and other aircraft, all aluminum.
Can’t disagree with any that you mentioned but one of my pet peeves is like Phil mentioned is bike snobbery. Just ride what you like! And the second one is trail riding in a busy trail. You get these jokers that will fully block the way looking at the sights or doing selfies then as soon as you’re past them a few hundred yards they crowd you into the bushes!🤦♂️🤬😂
The one I refuse to get on board with..... Tubeless! No thanks. Tubes work fine and are easy to repair/replace without getting covered in gunk.
I hear that! But for gravel / MTB I wouldn’t want tubes for all the pinch flats!
@@KatieKookaburra In all my years mountain biking, I've never had a pinch flat. Never felt the need to run at ridiculously low pressures either though. 😉😁
To be fair, always had front suspension on a mountain bike and for anything even slightly technical, I'd choose the hard tail over a gravel bike, every time..
I went tubeless on the MTB after getting a pinch puncture, but my pressure were too low. I'll keep the setup until this pair is worn out. The interesting thing is that adventure motorcyclists prefer tubes because you can change them yourself in the wild. To each their own 🤷♂️
Agree on the dislike of co2 inflators & gels. They just seem a bit of an antithesis of what I like about cycling. Agree on the low gearing...but with the caveat that I don't get the trend for giant cassettes on the back, and am proper old-school with my front triple. I happily wave at everyone. Never owned a cycling gilet, perhaps I'm missing out but I always feel like it's my arms that are getting cold. I don't go fast enough to warrant deep section rims! Lastly, I love coffee.
The only thing I've used gel for is Cliff bar frosting. Makes for a nice cake :-) I'm backpack instead of pockets, but I carry a lot of gear because I ride MTB alone in the mountains most of the time. Best is pulling out joys in the form of drink and food nobody expects up in the middle of nowhere. I've developed impeccable timing with this and will gladly pay the extra weight penalty. Gotta enjoy the process, eh?
I do pumps . No co2 for me. Pump is must have and patch kits on lone rides always.
1. Pumps yes, CO2 no
2. Fruit (bananas) yes, gels no
3. DSRs... I'm indifferent to them
4. High gearing no, but I ride a "touring" bike and I don't have the strength in my legs to push a high gear anyway. I did catch a guy only last week as he crested a hill while grinding the life out of his knees compared with me on full "washing machine" spin. He looked unwell but it's his choice.
5. Tea and cake is great to get you around another 20 miles. There's one little towpath cafe that sells Belgian chocolate cake. That's like rocket fuel for cyclists
6. Pockets are good but I prefer to put things into frame bags
7. The best bike is the one you have. Same applies to cameras, and probably most other hobbyist kit. Wise words..!!
#1 - Pump. Agreed. You buy one time and basically you can use it like forever.
#2 - Mejdool (dates) agreed. I prefer rotab, it's softer and easier to chew and swallow.
#3 - Deep section rims. Hmmm... can't really comment on that but I don't like to use them because it's a pain in the ass to find tubes with long valve and not many people carry them.
#4 - Low gearing. Agreed. I'm 54 and don't want to hurt my knees and joints.
#5 - Coffee and cakes. Can't comment on that. As Malaysian we don't ride for coffee and cakes. We ride for nasi lemak, roti canai and teh tarik. Hahaha....
#6 - Pockets, lots of pockets. Agreed.
Loved the roti canai when I was in Borneo, was a great breakfast.
Clipless pedals. The extra half a mile per hour is not worth the risk. I had them and got rid of them. I just use regular pedals with cages minus the straps for easy bailing out. I do the same with my mountain bike.
On big audaxes I carry a couple of CO2s because in the middle of the night I hate using my pump. Still waiting to get my Rapha Brevet Gilet...been waiting months. Love the pockets.
Love pockets!!!!
1: No pump, no co2 cartridges as well.
2: No gels, water just for 60+ km.
3. No high profile rims (winds).
4. High gears only (52/39 -11/23).
5. No coffee stops, no stops at all.
6. Yes for pockets (water repellent one).
53/39 is done hella fast, hella ya! My quads started getting to big though.... think the next will be a 44/32
Well said and agree on most. Love my low gears, I have 3 chainrings on the front and use them all, lowest is 26. The trend now on most gravel, mountain, city bikes is one chainring, ditching the front derailleur. What is a gel ?
Mountain Biker here, I went with a 1x12, and still only use 6 maybe 7 gears total. So I got rid of a ton of overlap that I don't use
@@playgroundchooser works great on trails where you don't ever have cadence and having all gears on one cog is easier to manage. For road and gravel you are spinning at RPM. So 6 speeds doesn't work the same. Search ideal cadence studies and you'll understand why we got to 22+ speeds with tightly spaced ratios. There isn't an ideal cadence it's whatever you (the cyclist) is most comfortable at, but it's somewhere between 70-90 RPM. So it might be 78rpm for me. With 6 speeds it's unlikely I'd find that cadence. Hence why there are 22, 27, 30 speeds. Yes there is overlap, but still there are probably 20+ unique gear ratios on a 3x9. That's a lot of unique cadence within a potential 900% gear ratio (22/32/46x11-36).
@@MountainVisions cadence is something I never really thought of. That totally makes sense why you'd want so many gear ratios close together. 🤔
totally agree on all points .. and just saying, aminos are the way forward for active fuelling
In fact I agree on cake/coffee stops. It takes so much time to get in rhythm again after a stop, you may even get cold on a cooler day. So I prefer a cake*after* the ride.
Honey and water in a small flask is a good gel alternative.
I have my coffee before I go out,. As a type 2 diabetic cyclist I have no use for gels, co2 means nothing to me as I'm not in that much of a hurry. Just need real food and somewhere to carry it if I want to make a full day of it. Always a nice hello from me for other road and trail users.
I have tried CO2 and now only keep it for the mountain bike, didn't really work for me on road or gravel bikes so I carry a small pump. My LeCol gilet has no pockets, it's great but would be better with pockets. I usually end up carrying gels all the way round and take them home again ( although I used a caffeine hit gel today near the end of a 100km/2000m ride). But coffee and cake... a good part of a ride with friends.
Agree with you in all points, except #5. Me and my wife love coffee and cake. We occasionally go for a cafe ride, trying to find hidden small cafe shops around our city. And about #6, well I don’t even like gilet. I always wear baselayer underneath my jersey, enough to handle windy days. And when it starts raining, I juset wear my rain jacket.
this is MTB specific, as road cyclists are understandably weight weenies, people who ride with a portable speaker. Get to the top of my fave climb and look forward to peace and mountain tranquility, and there's someone blasting out 'music ' on their normally crappy bluetooth speaker ...why ? don't get it .
100% agree with Phil "ride the bike you have". But deep wheels are the best! Pro-pocket oh yes. Don't drink coffee, but like hot chocolate ;-)
Can one really get good tyre pressure with a handheld portable pump? To me it seems only capable of some emergency air in.
I can but I use quality pumps
Like a few others here, the coffee stop is part of the ride if time allows. Other than that you are so right, only suggestion is the best bike is the one you ride