Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Jun 29, 2013 10:07:12 GMT
So who is going to win the Tour??
Froome, Contador? Evans?
My outside tip is TJ Van Garderen.
My uncle is off out to the tour for two weeks, but the best stage will with out doubt be the one where they going up alp duez twice in the same stage. killer!
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Post by kdwyellow on Jun 29, 2013 11:08:07 GMT
Depends for me on how Sky can deal with the fast pacy attacks in the mountains. Contador is the strongest tactical climber but Sky have the best team all round. I want Froome to win but not sure he will.
Hoping Cav wins stage1 and gets some time in Yellow.
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edhaygarth
Youth team substitute
Posts: 639
Favourite CUFC match: V Halifax. 4th May 2014. 2-0
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Post by edhaygarth on Jul 2, 2013 12:47:19 GMT
Don't agree on Contador. I think he WAS the strongest climber. The strongest climber is Froome who also has the strongest team. Its a shoe-in. Also stage 18 up Alp D'uez i think will be a let down in terms of GC. I'm pretty sure we'll know by then whats what with Ventoux taking place three days before and the hilly TT the day before. I wouldn't be surprised to see Froome with a 6 minute + lead after Alp D'Uez and an outsider like Felliu to win the stage.
My top 5 is this: 1) Froome SKY 2) Quintana MOVISTAR 3) Contador SAXO 4) Porte SKY 5) TJ Van Garderen BMC
Green: Sagan Polka: I'd say a GC guy will get it this year as there is 50 points available for Hors Catergory finishes of which i think there are 3. If you think Rolland is trying to sweep up KOTM points at the moment worth 5 then just one or two wins will catapult a GC rider into the Polka Dot. So FROOME to win this. White: Quintana
Its not been a deadly exciting Tour so far but warming up nicely. A prolouge would have been nice to provide some time gaps
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edhaygarth
Youth team substitute
Posts: 639
Favourite CUFC match: V Halifax. 4th May 2014. 2-0
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Post by edhaygarth on Jul 4, 2013 12:42:15 GMT
KDYellow- re your post further up and your pace over 70km. That really is going some. On what bike are you doing that and do you race with a club? I mean that is good club-level riding!
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 4, 2013 20:02:37 GMT
70 miles not 70 kms.
That particular ride was a team effort. 3 of us taking turns keeping pace. I rode the same distance a few days later on my own and was a little slower. Averaged about 18.7 which is still fairly rapid.
I ride for an XC team but we are not officially UCI registered yet. It's all fairly amateur.
I bought my road bike to improve my fitness and stamina but its a full on carbon fibre race ready bike. It's an Italian frame with Dedaccai components, Fulcrum wheels and an Ultegra group set. If goes a long way towards the times I can put in.
I don't race on the road or ride for a club. I don't have the time really. I'm keen to give it a go though.
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cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
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Post by cambcam on Jul 4, 2013 20:27:07 GMT
Had a lovely ride today on the back road Cambridge to St Neots - Grantchester/Barton/Toft/Gransdens/Abbotsley etc
Exactly 25 miles each way with pleasant quiet B-road scenery making it really enjoyable. I went out in 1hr 28mins, and back in 1hr 34mins, giving 50 miles in 3hrs 2mins.
I reckon that's about my pace now, and not really looking to go quicker, although doing a 50 in under 3hrs would certainly feel like an achievement. Factoring in age and recreational riding, I'm more than happy with where I am.
Good ride the St Neots one, I'd recommend that to anybody.
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edhaygarth
Youth team substitute
Posts: 639
Favourite CUFC match: V Halifax. 4th May 2014. 2-0
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Post by edhaygarth on Jul 5, 2013 15:12:27 GMT
I live in Manchester now but am visiting my Mum in a few weeks and bringing my wheels and will do a v similar ride to yours, Cambcam, as she lives in Comberton. Probably head through Gransdens/Abbotsley come back on myself and head toward Barrington Hill and Fowlmere and then head north roughly back home. Looking forward to it as roads are all dead quiet.
KDW - that might explain it. Riding in 3's would help. But still excellent pace, excellent pace. I hope TEAM KDW get a WorldTour Licsence soon! I have the opposite of a carbon frame.... STEEL. I own a couple of bikes but my main long distance one is a Genesis CDF cyclo-cross. I've swapped the big tyres out for 28m (was 35's) which has made it better. Its a brilliant bike but you don't get anywhere fast on it, given its also got disc brakes. Its good for round up north as i can skip on and off trails pretty easily.
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 5, 2013 17:45:19 GMT
Thanks for the compliment. Had a bit if spare time today and with no wind and plenty of sun I thought I'd hit the Tarmac for a ride. It all got a bit epic and I ended up busting out 100 miles in 5 hours 15 minutes. 19.1 avg speed which I'm pretty chuffed with. My Garmin ran out of charge just as I hit 100.3 but I was only half a mile from home. Managed to get it uploaded ok. Had a blast round the Cambridge ring road from Newmarket Rd over the Elizabeth bridge and down the backs. Pretty scary on a bike. Was good to get back out on the country lanes again. For a cycle friendly city, the roads are bloody awful, potholes everywhere and dodgy ironworks sticking out at all angles.
I'm feeling the burn a bit now.
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rocky
Youth team substitute
Posts: 688
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Post by rocky on Jul 6, 2013 14:01:14 GMT
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Jul 6, 2013 16:30:38 GMT
Decided to hit the roads early this morning and did Twickenham to Windsor and back in 2hr 50. Did 45 miles so happy with that considering riding a mountain bike. Still not on up to god like status like Kdwyellow.
It is the London to Cambridge on Sunday 28th July (my Birthday) 60 miles, 20 quid to enter and goes to breakthrough breast cancer. Many people do that ride?
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cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
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Post by cambcam on Jul 8, 2013 15:32:30 GMT
Many people do that ride?
The number in total on the ride, or the number of MB users?
The number in total must be several thousand. I'd really recommend that ride to anyone, especially those that maybe don't get on a bike much but want to have a go and feel a personal sense of achievement.
There's a lot of talk on here about times/speeds etc, but the L to C ride is a 'bit less lycra' and really is for everyone. The quicker riders can get a move on, and those that want to have a relaxed ride can stop at a few pubs and have lunch if they choose. There are so many riders that fortunately you are never isolated and struggling alone, the variety of bikes and different ages and abilities means no one group dominates, it's just a really good vibe all round. The finish at Midsummer common is fun too, with lots of riders and welcoming families hanging about, a bit of music, a beer tent and so on.
As for the number of MB users, I'm not sure, very few I think. There was talk of maybe doing something on the 'Open Day' thread, but I suppose you'd need decent numbers to make it worthwhile. It would be good to meet others planning on doing the ride, even if it was just briefly at the start to say good luck, or briefly at the end to say well done!
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belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Jul 8, 2013 20:54:33 GMT
I did 30 miles yesterday morning. Took me just under 2 hours and I loved every second of it. Was bloody hot towards the end though but the roads were dead and it was a fantastic way to see the countryside. I went from my home outside Saffron Walden to Littlebury, Great Chesterford, Ickelton, Duxford, Elmdon, Chrishall, Heydon, Gt Chisill, Wendens Ambo, Audley End House, back through Saffron Walden and home. Was quite a hilly route and I thought I was going reasonably fast until some dude in lycra left me for dead up the hill by Audley End house. You've got to really have your wits about you on the single track roads as they are full of pot holes.
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 9, 2013 16:15:05 GMT
I headed out Saffron Walden way today. I was wary of the fact that even taking a reasonably direct route I'd hit 30 miles as I arrived in town so didn't have much scope to do much with the home leg in the back of my mind. I've always fancied having a ride round the area which I know very well. I should have chucked my bike in the car and driven a bit closer rather than ride from home.
In the end I did a run up to Catmere End from Littlebury then hit Ickleton, Chesterford and headed back to Walden to go home via Ashdon.
Looking at my Strava, I noticed I climbed Windmill Hill in the same time as Alex Dowsett who is a Grand Tour rider for Movistar. He won a stage of the Giro d'Italia recently. I also managed to activate the speed sign by the golf club flashing by at 34mph.
Bit of a slog home via Newmarket over some very exposed roads. Managed 18.8 avg over 82 miles though so pretty pleased with my efforts.
Need to wind it in a bit now. Racing XC on Sunday and I'm feeling a bit saddle sore.
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belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Jul 9, 2013 17:59:32 GMT
Bloody hell mate you are flying. I always think I'm pedalling away at a decent pace until some sod in lycra bombs past me. If you want something a bit more hilly then head out towards Barley and Chisill. I believe it's the highest point in Herts/Cambridgeshire. I think my fastest speed is 34mph as well down that hill. I'd hate to come off at that pace.
What route did take from Ashdon? When I cycle to Cambridge I always try and avoid the main roads. Lovely time of year this to get out and about amongst the rolling fields isn't it.
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Post by kdwyellow on Jul 9, 2013 18:18:00 GMT
From Ashdon I went to Bartlow past the Three Hills pub. There is a crossroads there which goes right to the Camps and left to Linton.
I went straight on which takes you over the main A road between Cambridge and Haverhill. It's pretty remote after that but all the roads are long and straight. There's loads of routes into Cambridge from Linton. Your only other option really is to go Little Walden to Hadstock. It's tricky getting to Cambridge from Walden without hitting a major road.
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