Reigate sportive

I did the Reigate sportive with on of our customer last Sunday. I have to say, it was a really good ride( it was a bit short.... but was a good fun)!

I woken up 5:30 and I had to realize that some thunderstorm was outside... ok, one more wet sportive. Nick picked up me 7 o'clock. The weather was still crap, but when we arrived to the event center,rain stopped and the sky started to clear out.

We left with the first start, around 8:30. I left the group after the first kilometer and basically I rode the whole event alone. I had a pretty hard training week and I didn't feel myself to fresh, but everything went well and I sorted the first hundred kilometer under 2 hours and 54 minutes. I really enjoyed the nice small roads and the short steep climbs. The road still was wet  and full of with mud. I felt sometimes really close the end with the 20C front tyre, but thanks God nothing bad happened. Around 105km somebody (I hope your hand will dry down...) turned one arrow on the wrong way and I got lost. This small mistake costed me 6 plus km. After I found the right way again, unfortunately I got a rear puncture. I repaired quickly it was 4 minutes job, but this short brake was enough for my leg and they went stiff... After the puncture I needed 10km until my legs felt ok again. I finished with 4 hours and 28 minutes. Nick came 10 minutes behind me, which one is bloody good time! After we had a coffee break and we packed back in the car and went home. 

Numbers:

Time: 4:28:10

Distance: 145,9km 

Ascent: 1780m 

This week is my last and hardest week in this macro cyclus. I am tired already, but I just try to push hard as possible! I hope my new and CORRECT size spokes will turn up tomorrow and I can build my new wheel on Friday morning. 

I got my new electrolite stuff today, I will back with the review soon!

I have to go in the bed now, because I need some serious recovery!

See you soon!  

What a mad week.....

Ehh... this week was bloody mad...and it is still not over! 

On Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday I had a hard training and I couldn't really sleep my usual 7-8 hours.... Basically I was absolutely dead today. And the tiredness isn't enough I have couple of other problems. First of all, my Lefty fork still didn't come back... I really hopeful that post office didn't lost it. (Dear postman, if you read my blog, please note, IF YOU LOOSE MY FORK, I PULL OUT YOUR HEART ON YOUR THROAT!!!) Anyway it isn't really the post office fault, but I will tell the whole story later....

Secondly, I got my new PowerTap SL hub two day ago. I ordered the spokes in the same time... but I did some mistake (stupid Szabi..). I measured everything for a calculation, except the rim's ERD, I just checked the decal on the rim... unfortunately somebody flicked the wrong one on! With this mistake I ordered the wrong size spokes... This morning I stand middle of my workshop... my rear wheel was in pieces... and I couldn't say anything, but I felt the pressure in my head.... it was a massive pressure, approx 300PSI! But all bad story has a happy end! Thanks for Dave, he quickly ordered me the new spokes (hopefully the correct size) and  thanks for Nick, I can do the Sunday sportive ride. He borrowed me a pair of Fullcrum Racing 1 wheels, which one actually looks really good in my bike (that's the only experience what I have with it, but I am soo excited ti ride it on the weekend)!

Dave started to build his new Super6. The bike looks so tasty, I really hope , that I can grab for a test ride if it will be done. You should check out his blog:

http://pedallingdave.blogspot.com/

Ok guys, I have to go in the bad now, because my body is dead and  I need a good recovery. I just listen a little Younger Brother for a chill....  and fall in sleep....

Power Tap and a wrong size spokes..... NO COMMENT!

Pinky with the Racing 1 wheels.... looks pretty!

Younger Brother- Happy pills

Sunny Sunday

What a wonderful day!

 I left the house 8 o'clock. I wasn't in the "go far away" mood, but I had a complete plan. First I rode out to Box hill and did the Zig-Zag climb 6 times. After when I finished the climbing I went straight in Richmond park and rode 6 laps. I did 178km and my time was around 6 hours. 

The weather was a bit windy but the sunshine was amazing! I got my new "sun-lines" today! :D

 I hope in the next couple of months all weekend will be the same! 

I got home around 2 o'clock and I had a lovely lunch in the back garden.... welcome summer! 

Bar-brake on top of the Box hill

Feel the speed...

Sun-lines

"Holy shit" shoes- The Bont story

Two guys came in our shop last Saturday. They looked some really good road shoes. I thought that I show mine one. When I given it for the guys, one of them just told : "Holy shit... WFT?" 

I realized in the next moment, that I have this shoes more then 6 months ago and I didn't post on the blog! 

N.G. (the guy, who is the Bont distributor in the UK) walked in the shop with a pair of Bont shoes nearly 9 months ago. I felt in love with this shoes in the first second... and this love just been stronger when I realized I can order in pink color! I had to wait n

early 3 months, because Pink wasn't in stock and mine one came straight from Australia. 

Bont is a small family based company in Sydney since 1975. (you can read the whole story here )

Order is really easy with size vise. You can find a really smart sizing chart on Bont's page. If you know your size, after you have to choose your color (8 colors available), your pedal type (you can order Speedplay or usual type) and your closing mechanism(shoe leeds, straps or combinated). All type are fully heat moldable, basically when you get it, you can personalised for yourself.  It is not cheap, costs around £240, but if you have deeper pocket, you can choose full custom model (laser scan tech) which one cost around £600. 

I use mine one nearly 4 months ago and I am really happy with it. After I did the heat molding, the first 700km was a hell.... shoes brake my feet everywhere, but after this period they works fine! I use with Speedplay pedals but I ordered the standard cleats fitting type. I could fit the cleats with the Speedplay adapter without any problem.

I used Sidi, Specialized and PI shoes before, but you can't compare these ones with the Bont. Unbelievable stiff and light! I will order one more pair i

n white color and I can't wait when Bont will start to make the off road version! I know, it is not the cheapest option, but if you look something unique design and very high quality products, choose the Bont! 

Gallery

 

Snapped spoke...

I went for a short 3 hours ride this morning. The route was Croydon-Box hill-Richmond-Croydon. When I started to climb up Box hill on the Zig-Zag road, I just heard some strange "ping" noise and the next second I felt something wrong. After I stopped and realized I got a broken spoke. Ohh well... wheel wasn't too bad, I fixed the broken one to the next spoke and finished my ride without any problem. The cornering was a bit tricky and over 55km/h, when I looked down, I felt I will get epilepsy...

My wheels built with Sapim CX Ray spokes. Personaly I never was a big Sapim fun... and after this I definitely change my spokes for DT Swiss aero light! 

I am off now, one really good friend of mine comes to visit me from Hungary. Have a nice Sunday everybody!

Tufo order

Thanks God and Sonic Cycles, my Tufo order has arrived today. Finally I have proper tubs again. I got 3 S3 Lite and I also ordered 4 tub tapes and 4 bottles sealant fluid. 

Tufo S3 Lite is on of the lightest road tub on the market. 700X21 weight is <210gr.

Also really good stuff the Tufo tub tape. First of all , you don't mess around your expensive carbon rim, secondly you can carry one with you next to your spear tub and if you get some unfixable puncture, you can change easily the tub and safely carry on  your ride.

Tufo is a small company in Czech Republic. If you don't know  this company , give a look for it!

Scalpel- Episode 3.

Finishing kit:

I think one of the most personal units on everybody's bike, the finishing kit! We are all different, everybody has a favorite saddle, grip or handlebar.

The original setup was:

-FSA K Force handlebar

-FSA K Force seatpost

-Fizik Tundra saddle 

-Cannondale SI stem 

-Sram grips

I didn't keep any from the old bits.

New setup:

Grips:

I put straight on my old Ergon  Team one. One of the best endurance grip on the market, without any question! If you never tried before, you should! 

Saddle:

I changed the original seat, because the Ritchey seatpost dosn't work with the wide carbon rails. I chosed the new Fizik Antare model, wich one is road specific saddle, but looks good for MTB use. 

Stem:

it is on the Scalpel is a different story. You havn't too much choice on the market, but I found the most bling-bling one. I ordered one from LeoRacing, it is made by FRM exclusive for LeoRacing. It is carbon-alloy model. 149gr in 115mm long with Ti bolts.  

The handlebar and seatpost are the new Ritchey Superlogic range. The low rise handlebar is 64cm wide and 150gr. The seatpost is 350/27.2 and 157gr, thanks for the 1 bolt head design. I use Ritchey parts ages ago, and I never had any problem with this bits. 

The bike will be done soon. I just wait the fork back from 88+ Belgium, I have to sort out my tires, it isn't too easy fit the Conti Supersonic tyres with Stan's. And I have to order my new pedals. I don't know this moment which on is going on the bike, but I have couple of idea......