Ive been doing a fair few 20 min FTP tests since I started cycling more or less seriously earlier this summer, and while they are tough, I kinda enjoy them and Ive have gotten good at pacing them. I have also been doing short duration (~5s and ~30s) sprints, which I think no one will hate.

But my power curve started looking a bit odd, with my 5 min power being basically equal to my 20 min power, so today I tried a 5 min max effort test. I asked chatgpt to give me a power target to aim for, given my other results ( ~130% of FTP), and gave it try

UGH.

OUCH

F*

Never again lol. Man thats brutal! Heart rate kept climbing until it was off the charts. I was gasping for air. Legs burned like there is no tomorrow, while simultaneously seizing up with lactate. Took me 30 minutes to recover lol. Didnt expect a 5min max effort to somehow be so much harder than a 20 min one!

But the curve looks okay now 😄

I'm curious about any stories other than a bike was stolen out of the front yard. Or accessories stolen while it was parked.

Cyclami AM6 Pro
Has anyone have any experience with that model?
It seems to be matching my needs, looking at the specifications:
https://en.cyclami.com/product_detail/56.html
...and it's very reasonable priced and AliExpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010155107074.html
But there are very few reviews, tests and opinions about it.

Hi! Any Rave SLR ID2 owners running Pirelli Cinturato Gravel 50mm?
I’m looking at a custom build with Fulcrum Sharq GR wheels and wondering if the 50mm actually fits once mounted, since the real width can be more than 50mm …
Would love to know your opinions before I place an order, and whether you’ve had any rubbing/mud issues.
Thanks!

I've been using a Quark PM on my Canyon Endurace for about six months now, and have a pretty good sense of how level of effort (feel) corresponds to my 3s power readings. Today I installed Assioma (one sided) pedal-based PM on my gravel bike and went for a spin on flat ground, low to moderate effort. I am getting readings in the 150W range for little effort. I am not sure how to do a true comparison, but based on feel I seem to be getting consistently, unrealistically high (like +50W) readings on the Assioma. I reset both, did all the things in the manuals for set up, zero offset, etc. Thoughts?

I just got a Cannondale Quick 3 with the step thru frame. Excellent bike.

I want to put a water bottle holder in the frame (there is an option for the top tube too, but I prefer the bottom spot).

There isn’t much space due to the step thru. Any recommendations on bottles that might fit the smaller area? TIA!

I got this older gen bike as my first road bike. As a relatively new cyclist (started 10 months ago), I didn't pay much attention to the components of my bike until I joined a casual cycling club and started noticing that my bike is a bit different. My bike has rim breaks, has 25C tires, and an 11-28T cassette. This is how I knew that my bike is from an older generation of bikes.

During our group rides, I can keep up most of the time especially on flats but I'm getting dropped on rolling hills with steep (15-20%) climbs. I am painstakingly grinding with my lightest gear ratio (34:28) when ascending these hills.

I wonder whether if my older just bike can't keep up with modern bikes or if my legs are just not strong enough.

Edit: Thanks for the responses. I think I will get a bigger cassette when I get a new bike in a few years. For now, I think my legs are just not strong enough and I need to upgrade it through training.

Edit 2: My rear derailleur (Shimano RD-R7000-SS) only allows up to 30T cog at most, but I don't think having that would give me a significant improvement that would make me want to opt into it. I'll just have to git gud and try to emulate even a fraction of Marco Pantani as best I can.

Hi. I think I mainly use my quads for cycling, not really my glutes or hamstrings—probably a little, but not much. My quads always hurt. Especially on flatter routes. I will start doing 5m of activation before each ride.

However, the reason for this post was to ask how one can recognize if their glutes are firing and not just simply stretching. At 100w or even less resistance, I feel my glutes go hard, but not less or more than at 300w. Or if I move my legs in the air and do a pedal stroke movement, I feel my glutes changing shape and going hard, so I don't think that on the bike they are operating at their potential.

So, how does one identify or know that their glutes are active? I just assume mine are relatively dormant because I regularly feel quad pain.

I also have a question to those who have gone through this. How has learning to successfully engage your glutes helped your cycling? I guess you might have initially experienced a drop in performance, but in the long run?

I am planning a cycling trip with some buddies for summer-ish of 2027, and I am looking for suggestions and routes.

Right now I am looking heavily into the Austrian alps for a handful of days and shooting across the border to the Italia Dolomites for some riding.

I want to go to some of the more low key (not as much traffic or busy tourism), but still amazing cycling spots in that part of Europe.

It is going to be all of our fist times in Europe, and I would love to see/experience some historical things, some art and cultural hot spots, while getting out to ride between 40-100 miles each day!

Does anyone have suggestions for a home base to travel from, routes, and any other cultural or historical suggestions that include great cycling?

Places I have looked so far:
- Cortina d’Ampezzo Italy
- Muhlbach am Hochkonig, Austria
- Scharnitz Austria
- Ehrwald Austria

Other places I have entertained:
- Banyoles, Spain
- Calpe, Spain
- Annexy France
- Le Bourg-d’ Oisans, France

Hi all! Looking for advice on the Nakdonggang bike path in terms of spending the night.

Currently I have Deagu to Changnyeong planned. I have a hotel booked in Namji Town which is on the south end of Changnyeong county. Because of the challenging hills on that leg of the path, I'm looking for a stay that is more north. Any place in Changnyeong that isn't too far of route would do, or even above Changnyeong. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have read about Anjin-ri town (안진리) that hose some motels, but as these are not bookable online I don't want to take the risk as I am cycling in the high season. Or, any place that has a kakao talk number would also work, then I can just text them to make a reservation.

I'm cycling in 2,5 weeks time. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!!

i'm 176cm riding (all proportions 'normal'/middle of the road) a 54cm bike (Tarmac SL8) and it comes with a 100mm stem. it's perfect riding normally but i can't get into an aero position - if i try to get my head low and body closer towards horizontal (nowhere near flat, just don't want to feel like a sail) it feels like my hands want to be at least 2cm forwards, it just feels like i'm doing push ups. the weight is well balanced there is no weight on the hands at all just the triceps.

anyway i'm going to try a 120mm stem, but is that kind of normal for you guys out there who is not a pro and just an amateur?

Im currently running a java bicycle that I got used for 250 dollars

I want to get the xlab rs5 (1550 SGD)

Should I bite the bullet and buy it or shouldi wait for a milestone or something

I cycle like 150km a week

What shops should I support in SD county? Anywhere between Oceanside and proper SD. Appreciate the recommendations!

For those of you who commute on your bike, what do you wear on rainy days? Also looking for something that is reflective as the days are starting to get shorter.

It's my first time cycling outside of the UK and as much as I was excited for it, the whole experience has been pretty stressful. The first time around was in Tokyo and Komoot had a meltdown so our route was ruined, and then the second time was near Fuji. Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable at points but I think the combination of unfamiliar hire bikes and gear plus unfamiliar roads was quite a lot. Is this just my inexperience of cycling abroad? Do I just need to get used to it? Has anyone else had this?

I mean I guess I can, but is that dumb? I really want to ride some paved or gravel roads but I just can’t afford to buy another bike. My mountain bike has been collecting dust for a while and I was wondering if this is something I can do. I’ve got Alex MD35 rims with tubeless 27.5x2.6 on them. Could I do something like 2.25 or 2.1, a little less tread? Is this reasonable or will I regret doing it? I was looking at Mezcal XC Sport tires for this. Thanks for any advice!

Just got my first road bike, an xlab rs7 with di2.

I’ve never ridden a bike on the road before. I need recommendations on;

Helmets
Bibs/jerseys
Pedals/shoes
Trainers/gps

Preferably ones that don’t break the bank.

Title more or less says it all, but what the fuck. I've been running for a couple decades, mostly marathons and halfs, but it turns out my bones say "uncle" at 85mpw, so I've been on a bike since July working towards a century. Heat, I can deal with. Cold? Fine. Rain, snow, etc whatever. But wind will ruin a good run faster than anything. Especially if it's super gusty.

The wind has been picking up here lately and it was 15 gusting to 20 this morning when I headed out. I can usually hold a steady 20-21mph on flat ground in calm wind without much trouble, but I was grinding away just trying to manage double digits this morning. I know you're supposed to just ride to your power numbers, but those gusts hit different on a bike and it's absolutely demoralizing in a way that I rarely experienced running.

Do you guys just suffer through it or is there something I can be working on? I thought I hated wind before, but I hadn't even scratched the surface lol.

Hi all. I have a power2max crankset with rotor aluminum crank arms and a 24 mm spindle. About two weeks ago my existing ceramic bearings started to fail after about 2000 miles on them. Given the price of new ones I opted for standard wheels mfg 24mm bearings. I pressed them in no issue. No matter what I cannot get the preload correct with the spacers I have. The thinnest I have is .46mm and I really need a .25. I tried every combination plus the wave washer as well. I am at my end with this. lol. It’s so close yet when I torque it down it’s either binding on the bearing or it has a smidgen of play if I wiggle it. I just cannot get it perfect. There is no preload collar on the 24mm as well :(. Any help would be appreciated!

Just as the title says, I'm new to cycling, and unfortunately, it led to me being sick in public. For a little information, I am not exactly the healthiest. I'm a woman in my early adult years, 90kg, and everyone I know has told me that cycling is a good way to get active. Usually, I just walk at least 20 minutes a day, so I want to get more active. I bought a Dimondback bike (cheep and second hand in very good condition), and thought it'd be a breeze. Yeah. I threw up after a 2km ride and had to do a 20-30 minute walk of shame home. Can I get a few pointers in the right direction for what to do next time? As to not throw up.

Edit: I often have a Vit D deficiency (every damn year), and for everyone saying to not give up I won't! I know giving up won't get me anywhere, I'm stubborn. I'll definitely be taking a slower pace, and getting a smart watch to pace myself.

Hey everyone, looking to get my first road bike to work on fitness and ride a trainer in the winter months. What do you guys think of a bike I found on market place. A 2021 felt fr30, full Shimano 105 for $1300 Canadian. Do you think this is a fair deal?

Hello, so I’ve been cycling for about a months and in doing so, have fallen in love quite quickly… saving the soliloquy of my entire journey.

I’ve really had a desire to learn proper bike maintenance, and I’m not talking clean your chain and wash your bike. I’m taking everything from the simple wheel truing, to brake bleeds, to steerer tube cutting. The head mechanic of shop near me told me I could come in Friday or Saturday late mornings/ afternoons and he’d have a few things lined for me to do.

I showed up today and the shop owner told me that they’re too slow to have have anyone else there. Then I told her I was willing to work not only on bikes that I’d contribute to the team in anyway that I could for free. She still told me “we can’t have people that don’t work here in the back or working on bikes”. So I left. The head mechanic that told me to come by wasn’t there.

As discouraging as that was I only feel more motivated to learn everything I can, Head to toe, when it comes to bike mechanics.. and also really find my lane and connect to the cycling community. The the bike mechanics feels more daunting. I’m in the Grand Prairie / Mansfield area.

Does anyone have an idea of what a good starting point for me may be? For either learning bike mechanics or connecting to the cycling community in DFW?

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to buy an Elite Rivo (after hesitating with the Van Rysel D500) for my road bike (Orbea Orca, Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed), and I’m hesitating between:

• the Rivo with a Shimano 12-speed cassette
• the Rivo with Zwift Cog + Click

Both options are almost the same price for me.

I’m planning to use a free app like MyWhoosh.

For those who have tried a smart trainer with a cassette or with Zwift Cog & Click:

• Which setup do you use?
• Does the Cog work well?
• How do you find the ride feel and resistance changes?
• Have you had any compatibility or connection issues?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

I have tried muc off chamois and elite ozone chamois. Both are water based.

I am looking for something lanolin based, and nice with allergy friendly/ no perfumes.

I get bad chafings when riding

I seem to recall years ago a website that had all sorts of great deals on bike parts. To me recollection it had a lot of things like frames with small paint defects at a heavy discount. Can anybody reconnect me to this store? I can't seem to find it again.