KOTD update

Just a quick update. If every informations are correct, it looks that I rode the best time on the last weekend! I well happy! :)

King of the downs- 184km time trial....

I found this sportive ride on the web couple of weeks ago. The organizer was Evans Cycles and the course looked really interesting. "Why not?"- I thought and  did my entry quickly online and waited the day. 

17/May/Sunday

I woken up early, 4:30. I felt a bit tired but it was normal, because this day was my last training day before my rest week, after 3 weeks hard training and nearly 1700km. I thought this sportive can be some nice training ride.  I planed to catch the 6:07 train from Croydon. I had  breakfast and a quick forecast check. I chosed summer top and short with arm and knee warmer(I had to realized later, this was a mistake!). 

Short ride to the train station. Little incident was on the train, too much cyclist on the board, but Southern handled the problem well and we got an other train. 

The event center was well organized, I got my start number in my hands after 3 minutes. 

I started the ride around ten past seven. 

The course was really good, but the weather wasn't. It started to rain after 35km, and some English monsoon arrived and followed me with some 35-40km/h wind on the next 120km. I wasn't able to open my energie bars or shift on my bike, because my hands were ice cold (I rode the whole event with 2 energie bars and a bottle of SIS drink). But I just rode and rode and enjoyed!  The course went over 10 "major" climbs. Every second was a pleasure, but I could share just with myself. I didn't meet anybody, who wanted to ride with me.... couple of guys tried to keep up with me before we went out the second loop, but it was a joke... (Sorry, I was tired, but why should I ride with 26km/h when I can ride with 30km/h...). Basically I did a long time trial. 

The rain stopped on the last 30km, but the wind didn't give up. 

I finished with 6 hours and 26 minutes. I am really happy with this time, I think it is acceptable after 3 weeks load and considering the bad weather conditions. 

The organization was excellent, really good course, amazing feeding stations and nice goody bag after the ride. I will be there again in  next year!

Bad luck...

This morning started crap! I changed over my rear tub yesterday evening, because my old Tufo hadn't any rubber on after circa 6000km. My new choice was a Vittoria EVO CX because my favorite Tufo one is out of stock, but it was a bad decision! I got a puncture with it this morning.. after 20km usage, a piece of stone cut nearly half the tub, basically it is not fixable ! This was a expensive 20 km.....I checked couple of forums and reviews this afternoon and I found a lots of complains about the same thing. With my Tufos I got only 1 puncture on 6000km and I could fix with the Tufo sealant stuff... and it still works! I flicked back one of my old S3 lite. I hope it will work well, until the new stock arrive... 

I am off tomorrow for a sportive ride. I will ride the King of the Downs. I have to run in the bad now, because I should get up really early. Nite-nite everybody!

Scalpel- Episode 2.

Brakes:

The bike came with Juicy Ultimate brakes. You can find lighter systems on the market, but I think these are the one of the best performance/weight brakes on the market. I did some tune on and I cut down 63 grams from the system's weight without do any weakness in it.

 

-first of all, I changed the original G2 rotors for Hope floating one. It saved 32 grams. 

-I changed the original steel rotor bolts and caliper bolts for Ti bolts. 9 grams saving....

-And finally I cut out the adapters middle section, which bits aren't important. 12 grams saving.....

Original front and rear break without discs.

The new setup:

Scalpel- Episode 1.

My Scalpel project has been started! If everything going ok, she will be done 2 weeks time. I try to explain here, what I change on the factory set up.... how I "customized" my new racing machine.

The base: it is a Cannondale Scalpel Team Replica 2009 in size L. 

First step- drivetrain:

The original setup was XTR front mech, X.O. rear mech, Sram PC991 chain, Sram PG990 cassette and Cannondale SI crankset with 44-29 chainrings. 

The new system :

I changed over the front mech for a Campagnolo Record, the chain for a Sram PC 991 Hollow Pins and a cassette for a XTR M970 11-32. I kept the rear mech. I saved with this around 115 gramms and I more prefer the Shimano cassettes then Sram ones.

I did some tuning on the crank set. I changed the old chainrings and star for a two piece FRM unit. It is different ratio, 42-27 which one is better for endurance racing.  This part made by FRM, but you can order only from LeoRacing (LeoRacing is a italian cannondale shop, who makes and distributes lots of bling-bling cannondale specific aftermarket parts). Basically the top chainring is one piece with the starts and the small chainring fits with 4 integrated bolts with it. The weight different isn't huge (the FRM one is only 12 grams lighter) , but you can drop down your front gearing with this special bit. 

The new chainrings:

The new setup:

The old setup

Dooh! Finish the long week with a long ride!

Today:

-173km, 5 hours 40 minutes (SLOW!)

-3 major traffic infringements (2 tunnel and 1 bridge crossing with not the right vehicle)

-1 front puncture with tubullar 

-1 broken pump 

- 50km ride with a nearly flat front tyre

-3 Mule bars (2 Hanza nuts and 1 Pinnacolada )

-2 bottles Go Electrolite 

- face wind...face wind... and more face wind (I don't know how does it work... but in the UK you can go any direction and you have face wind all the time...)

I was been awake 6:45 this morning. The plan was 170km, but I had not any idea about the destination. I had a quick look on google map after breakfast and I found my target after 3 minutes. Isle of Sheppey, Sheerness.  Quick Garmin setup and I was on the bike around 9 o'clock. The first 1,5 hours was a hell. The wind was strong, I was tired ..... but after 50km everything was ok.  I arrived in Sheernes after 2 hours 40 minutes. I toke couple of pictures quickly and I turned back. On the back way I rode up Sheppey crossing. The cycling is prohibited on it, but I toke the risk. (anyway, both way I crossed one river on the tunnel, where cycling is not allowed, I was a bad guy today...).

The real surprise came 50km from home. I got a front puncture. It wasn't a prob, quick tub change with Tufo tubtape, 10 minutes job. I started to pump up my tyre.... 50 push with the pump, and crack... My brand new uber-super mini pump went broken.... SHIT! OK, I thought: "I have not other choice, I have to ride home with nearly flat tyre. "

The last 50km was a bit tricky  and harder work as usual, but I got home in one piece. I just checked the pressure in the tyre.... it was 3,5 bars... :D 

Pictures:

1: half way, Thames in the background

2-3-4.: view from Sheerness beach

5-6: view from top of the Sheepey crossing

7: Sheppey crossing (it isn't my own picture)

View from top of the Box hill

I taken this pictures at 6:45 this morning. The view was unforgettable.

I didn' write anything in the last 4 weeks. I told about Transalp in my last post. Unfortunately everything went upside down in the last 2 weeks. No Transalp.... Felt team messed up everything, no money, no entry, no Transalp....

I will back soon with couple of news.... Scalpel..... 12 and 24 hours races....

But I need a rest now. I had a hard week and I have minimum 170km ride tomorrow.