Luigi - back on track
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[quote name='Luigi']<br />
Thanks for the advice!<br />
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I was thinking of a new bike only when I have - ahem - slimmed down a little. Â
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My Dad has a Colnago mouldering in his garage, but I think it will be too small for me. Plus, now that Colnago is outsourcing some of its production to Korea (?) it does seem to have lost some of its cachet as a brand. At a recent Tri exhibition here the UK importer had bikes on show clearly marked as 'made in' the Far East. <br />
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I will check out the Pinarello though.<br />
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i think the standard build in the uk was about 2300..<br />
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other bikes that are good value and sweet rides are the kuotas and cervelos -
[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
The bastards are doing a nice price on the Trek 1500 over here - $2200 Aussie pesos and Mrs the Aussie won't give me budget approval :evil:<br />
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Luigi - I also looked at getting a Lemond Poprad (yes - a cyclocross rig) in order to get something a bit stronger to cart my chubby arse around on, and getting it kitted out with full Ultegra gear and some of these:<br />
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[url="http://velocityusa.com/wheels/road-deepvroad.php"]http://velocityusa.com/wheels/road-deepvroad.php[/url]<br />
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Strong buggers. I'm not a fanatic for super light weight but if I ever get budget approval then these are definitely going on the next rig. A mate of mine just got his Merckx frame in and is just waiting for his components to arrive before slapping it together. He's promised me a go on it but he's got a 63cm frame which might prove a bit of a stretch for me.<br />
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63! is he 7 foot tall?! <br />
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treks are dropping their price big time over here as they just haven't been competitive.. Giant have been kicking their arse, seriously about 1-2k cheaper for comparable bikes -
[quote name='WillieTheWaiter']<br />
63! is he 7 foot tall?! [/quote]<br />
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<img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> Nah closer to 6'6" but he likes to stretch out <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> -
Quick update:<br />
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Tuesday evening, a nice 10 mile pootle with Mrs Luigi just to get her used to her new pedals. Only one hill climb + an uphill drag to the high point of the area but it was nice to get out and turn the wheels while the weather is good. We met up with one of Mrs L's triathlon mates who has also just bought a new bike, a Giant TCR T-Mobile Hybrid in stealth black, for £750! Very nice with composite stays and carbon forks but only running Shimano 105.<br />
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Last night went for another trail run - around 4 miles through the woods - and started off well but came to a bit of halt with my left calf starting to seize up. I've been here before with my rubbish right leg and the only way to get past it is to lose some weight and stop stressing it so much. It's a conundrum: I need to be lighter to exercise properly, but I need to exercise properly to lose weight. Yes, there are plenty of other things I can do like cycling of course or rowing and swimming, but to be honest running gets you there much quicker. Plus, when I run, the aerobic boost I get back on the bike is like having a turbo fitted!<br />
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So I'm going to keep at it (the running that is) because at some point there will be shift when my weight will be low enough to let me run more comfortably and I can start to push out the miles.<br />
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Tonight we are off cycling the 'Hilly Mofo' - the 25 mile or so jaunt around the high spots of the area. Mrs Luigi is coming too and she is worried about keeping up, so I have had to talk her through all the hills in intricate detail beforehand, including what gears to be in etc, etc. <br />
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The weather here is absolutely perfect at the minute. Warm sunny evenings with gentle breezes. It's great to be out there making the most of it but I wish I had done the hard yards last winter in preparation. In some ways I envy you guys in your SH winter as all the work you are doing now will be worth it come December. In contrast, I feel I'm getting fit for Christmas. -
[quote name='Luigi']<br />
The weather here is absolutely perfect at the minute. Warm sunny evenings with gentle breezes. It's great to be out there making the most of it but I wish I had done the hard yards last winter in preparation. In some ways I envy you guys in your SH winter as all the work you are doing now will be worth it come December. [/quote]<br />
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Except of course, its too fucking cold. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> Have had three frosts in the last 5 days here in Sydney and its bloody uncomfortable at night. Still, I haven't had a migraine for three days now so I reckon I'll be back out on the aluminium horse this evening for a bit of punishment. -
[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
[quote name='Luigi']<br />
The weather here is absolutely perfect at the minute. Warm sunny evenings with gentle breezes. It's great to be out there making the most of it but I wish I had done the hard yards last winter in preparation. In some ways I envy you guys in your SH winter as all the work you are doing now will be worth it come December. [/quote]<br />
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Except of course, its too fucking cold. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> Have had three frosts in the last 5 days here in Sydney and its bloody uncomfortable at night. Still, I haven't had a migraine for three days now so I reckon I'll be back out on the aluminium horse this evening for a bit of punishment.<br />
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Harden up ya poof!<br />
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[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
Its not that bad actually, just need the right gear - I'm wearing leg warmers of course but only summer nix. Hence the meat and spuds get a bit chilly on the downslope :shifty:<br />
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Now there's an area Mrs The Aussie can't begrudge you some investment?<br />
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Keep at it son, the yards you do now will be water under the bridge as spring unfolds. I wish I'd not gone into hibernating over our winter cos I'm paying for it now. -
She's not fussed if the nads get frozen - she's done with them :happy:<br />
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Got to sneak up on the gear purchases these days after forking out a bit recently - the leg warmers were $100 (but they're Pearl Izumi - really bloody good ones) on top of the nix (longs) which were $70. She squeezes every penny til it squeaks! -
[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
[quote name='Luigi']<br />
The weather here is absolutely perfect at the minute. Warm sunny evenings with gentle breezes. It's great to be out there making the most of it but I wish I had done the hard yards last winter in preparation. In some ways I envy you guys in your SH winter as all the work you are doing now will be worth it come December. [/quote]<br />
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Except of course, its too fucking cold. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> Have had three frosts in the last 5 days here in Sydney and its bloody uncomfortable at night. Still, I haven't had a migraine for three days now so I reckon I'll be back out on the aluminium horse this evening for a bit of punishment.<br />
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i'ts been fucking cold here too.. go out for an hour and a half every morning and the last couple of weeks have been wearing every item of clothing under the sun and still get home with no feeling in hands etc.. and covered in snot. not much fun! -
You ride every morning Willie? Good on you.<br />
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We went out last night for 26 miles (42k) up and down dale and it was ace. A good workout for me too with a couple of nice hills and some good long drags. We stopped off at the local cycling club's start point for their weekly 10 mile time trial. Fark, there were some lean, mean guys hanging around there! I might give it a go just to give myself a benchmark.<br />
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A personal trainer friend of ours came up with a weird comment. Basically he reckoned cycling wasn't a good way to burn fat. I hope he's wrong! I guess it's about tempo and getting into the right heart rate zone, otherwise you just end up being more efficient at carting your bulk around. I have thought of wearing a heart rate monitor but I'm not sure what that would achieve riding onroad around here as it's basically all ups and downs and on some of those ups my heart is going like the clappers. There is a flat area further out so maybe I should put that into the mix and have a couple of tempo runs a week. Any thoughts?<br />
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At the minute, I'm not doing anything particularly scientifically - I'm just going out on my bike. But I want to get some material gain from it - IE weight loss or an improvement in tone (or both!). I did a specialist bike fitting with a woman trainer who writes for one of the triathlon mags here and runs a cycle training business. I could go back to her and see what she can offer, but it may be a bit top-end for a weekend warrior like me.<br />
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The only real plus is that on the descents I just breeze past the rest of the group as gravity becomes my big pal. It's not so friendly on the upslope however. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> <br />
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Maybe I should get into MTB freeride. -
If you start toning your muscles and increasing your metabolic rate, while watching what you eat, then the fat will eventually start to drop off.<br />
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If you look at cycling PURELY as a fat burning exercise in terms of the heart rate blah blah blah, then you'll just depress yourself. I've known a lot of personal trainers (worked for a bloke who owned a gym) and quite a few of them are full of shit. Some have advice that will help others but not you, and vice-versa.<br />
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Basically Luigi, if you're noticing results it can't be a bad thing. Through a combination of cycling and watching what I eat, I've lost a total of 12 kilos in the last year, and that includes the last few months where I've really done bugger all exercise. -
[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
If you start toning your muscles and increasing your metabolic rate, while watching what you eat, then the fat will eventually start to drop off.<br />
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If you look at cycling PURELY as a fat burning exercise in terms of the heart rate blah blah blah, then you'll just depress yourself. I've known a lot of personal trainers (worked for a bloke who owned a gym) and quite a few of them are full of shit. Some have advice that will help others but not you, and vice-versa.<br />
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Basically Luigi, if you're noticing results it can't be a bad thing. Through a combination of cycling and watching what I eat, I've lost a total of 12 kilos in the last year, and that includes the last few months where I've really done bugger all exercise.<br />
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I hear ya!<br />
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I am dropping weight and I'm not just relying on the cycling to do it. The trail running is bloody hard and I'm also adding in gym sessions. The diet has been a big change too. Today marks the fifth week of no-alcohol and I have to say I'm not missing it. Biscuits, chocolate, fast food and takeaways have also gone out of the window. Basically, I'm trying to fuel right and that means eating more at breakfast time and earlier in the day rather than having a big meal in the evening when there's no opportunity to burn it off.<br />
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What shits me is that this is my life. I will always have to work this hard just to keep the lard at bay.<br />
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One thing I've noticed is that I'm crapping for England too. Just thought I'd share that with you. -
yeh i'd agree cycling isn't that great for losing weight.. i get in quite a few hours a week and it doesn't do shit for me in terms of losing weight.<br />
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running does it better for me, just that running sucks.
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all about diet diet diet to lose weight.<br />
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seems to be a bit of a thing in here about just exercising to lose weight. got to be a big diet change as well. Using lance armstrong as an example. Used to weigh all his food so he didn't consume an ounce more than he needed - and look how much he does!<br />
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and a little treat for you too... when mountain biking goes wrong Wtw style..<br />
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"Not sure if it was filming... oh yeah" Nice one <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />
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[quote name='Nick the Aussie']<br />
"Not sure if it was filming... oh yeah" Nice one <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /><br />
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yes a high level of concern there from my mate. nice.<br />
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mind you not something he doesn't see me do about a million times a weekend. -
Had a similar spill on concrete... though without the jump. You know that thing where you ride off the edge of the concrete into the wood chip garden and then decide (rather foolishly) to try and put yourself back on the concrete? WITHOUT lifting the front wheel a sufficient distance off the ground?<br />
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Yep, that was me. No video footage tho.... -
lifes all good except for when there's concrete...<br />
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had a bad one the week before, came down off a jump and my front wheel washed out. slamming me on my side. fucking hurt, and smashed my glasses when my head hit the ground.<br />
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only after i stood up wondering how the hell that hurt so bad did i notice that some pricked had laid concrete between the jumps - in the middle of the forest! -
Must have been protecting the forest from erosion caused by body impact of mountain bikers <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /><br />
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As it turns out, the wood chip was looking more deadly than the concrete - some razor-edged shit in that lot though the initial impact would have been more forgiving. Still, you realise the value of the skid lid when it cracks in five places and you walk away with only some missing skin from one arm and one leg. And the rib cartilage, which sucked.
