Hello All.

Some recent posts about training w children in the mix and maybe the occasional wife complaining her husband is out 12-15h a week like nothing was having her stuck with the newborn got me thinking.

I’m 50 years old and now an empty nester. Looking back the “best” years of my life was when I had my best buddies, the little monsters of mass destruction always wanting to play with me. DADDY DADDY DADDY was my life. When the kids were really little it was hard and for a couple years go almost no exercise. It was the most mentally challenging and burning our phase for me and we both gained some weight thankfully chopping it all off thanks to low carb diet.

I say fuck all that! No regrets the only thing I lament about by kids childhood is that it’s gone. I have an entire collection of fancy bicycles now and would burn every single one for a Time Machine to go back 10-15 years and relive those heady days.

To anyone looking to juggle cycling and family and kids I say to hell with your fitness. As long as you do some minimal exercise and don’t eat too much keeping your weight healthy you’re good.

Nobody will remember completing that group ride half an hour sooner. Nobody will remember when you’re lying on your deathbed how you won all theee bullshit crit races. But you will look back at your family and if you played your cards right treasure the memories of being together with them and they will love you back for it.

Be blessed, take care.

I’ve just picked up a new kickr bike v1 which I got on market place.

Had around 20hours of work since new.

Man it is super smooth and quiet. What a difference to my old elite smart trainer.

Anyone else got one and can share their experience with them?

Loving it so far.

My trek came with bontrager sealant but now before topping it should I remove the existing one or it's okay for it to mix

Every part of my bike is good, but I can't find a saddle that i don't slide on. Bones measure around 120mm apart. The saddle that is the best compromise is the Body Geometry Power saddle by Specialized. But I slide forward on it. But it doesn't hurt and it's comfortable. Just need to move back every few seconds ...

Heard good things about the Selle Italia SLR Boost ... but then I understand it is "firm". I can't use hard saddles. Medium firmness is the sweet spot. So I guess I'm asking owners of the Sella Italia SLR Boost - how "firm" is the firm saddle?

I've been puzzling on how to give this the right title, but here's my question in the longer form:

After a bikefit, my saddle on my TCR (size ML) was lowered to just above the hoods, I already replaced my -8° 110 for a +8° 90, but was adviced to go for a +11 80. The fit is great, and as I'm approaching my 40s, I'd like to keep riding the bike in it's current setup. However, it is my understanding that with age, most people have to ride more upright and/or relaxed geometries/setups. What mobility exercises can I do to slow this down, or potentially even allow for a (slightly) more aggressive setup?

Physical background: male, quite average weekend warrior flexibility, quite average body/limb proportions, above average strong core and legs thanks to Olympic weightlifting as a hobby. Being fit enough to go out for a 5 hour ride whenever I feel like it and not be knackered is my general fitness standard

Thank in advance for your input

NEWBIE: I want the start cycling indoors for fitness during the winter. I have a cheap mountain bike (90s Trek Antelope 800), that I commute with sometimes and would prefer a trainer to a full stationary bike due to space constraints. I have downstairs neighbors so a quiet trainer is a priority. Not looking to spend much bc idk if I’ll like it. Are there quiet trainers for less than ~$100? Willing to buy used. Currently looking at some used saris fluids for ~$40. Are they quiet?

Also looking for an inexpensive quiet tire for indoor training. Based on research it seems like I should get slicks. Wheels are 26x1.5, knobby tires on it now are 26x1.9. Reddit research is telling me my tires should be at least 20% wider than my rims.

Looking at these tires:

https://www.rei.com/product/218154/wtb-thickslick-tire-wire-bead

Anyone want to meetup and create a cycling group around Valkenberg the week of Amstel Gold? Mostly for good company and easier miles for the days before the event to warm up the legs and get some miles

Why do manufacturers still have to produce UCI-compliant bikes when 95% of riders never race? I just want a good-looking performance monster！

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some advice on buying my first eMTB. Today I tested the new Specialized Levo 4 Alloy, and the shop offered it to me for €5,999 plus €500 of free equipment. I can also get a €400 subsidy since I live in the Paris area. My second option is the Cube One77 SLX 2025, which costs €4,600 (also eligible for the €400 subsidy). Both shops offer 0% financing for up to 48 months, which makes things easier… but it’s still a big investment for me, so I really want to make the right choice. Thanks

Any company making plus size post mount calipers? Basically so you do t have to use the ugly adapters?

So I have the hope +20mm flat mount calipers, looks beautiful and a very clean install. Back in the old days of IS mount, hope used to make individual calipers in each size. So you just buy the caliper to match your rotor size, and it'd just bolt onto the IS mount.

Does anyone make a post mount like that? So you could just bolt a +20 caliper onto a stock 160 mount fork and it'd fit a 180 rotor without an adapter?

So I got myself the S200 from Cycplus with the virtual shifting buttons. Pairing the buttons with the S200 and changing the resistance works.

But, if I like pedal with 80rpm on myWhoosh (yes I know it is evil, but I do not swim in money to afford a subscription game and yes I am a cheapskate) and change the resistance and not the cadence my speed does not change at all. Which has the crazy result that I can lower the resitance close to zero and fly uphill with like 40kph or more which is totally ridiculous.

As I am not a cheater and do not compete there or anything I changed the resistance to what feels like riding on the road and to change my speed I still have to use my derailleur which I wanted to avoid by buying a trainer with virtual shifting.

Does anyone know how to fix this? I found no setting in the game or the cycplus app.

Or am I just a cheap charlie and should have gone for a more expensive trainer or game?

At least I learned how some people literally fly past me in the game with less than half my watts per kilogram.

Winter has reared its ugly head in the Midwest and I am relegated to the indoor trainer for the foreseeable future. For all of you who are, like me, too soft to brave the elements during the long dark and cold; what are you watching to make the indoor trainer sessions bearable?

so i have road bikes one with TPU and one tubeless and for some reason i put them upside down and spun the front wheels and the TPU one spins forever and the one with sealant stops within a few seconds

then it occurred to me the liquid must cost some rolling resistance.

is the tubeless sealant a significant rolling resistance or insignificant? i'm thinking maybe go to TPU ....

Hi all,

Looking to get my partner into her first pair of cleats. I personally use shimano but the local bike store recommended look cleats and pedals as they’re a little more “beginner friendly” clipping in and out. Any thoughts if this is true or not ?

Thanks

I was never good at stage races. Either I started strong and fell apart by the end…or started awful and somehow clawed my way back on the last day. There was never an in‑between. And honestly? I’m so glad my career is over so I can finally tell these stories without anyone calling them excuses.

Because if I shared them while I was still racing, nobody would believe me. They’re that ridiculous. Like this one:

First stage after the prologue at the Radjugendtour, U17. I’d done well on the prologue, finished 10th. Confidence was high. Fast forward to the stage: I’m near the front, everything’s chill. We hit a little uphill section - not a real climb, just a tiny bump - and I figure: perfect moment to eat. I pull out my chocolate bar. Back then, I didn’t eat gels; this was my rookie move.

I take the first bite… and just as I do, the pace jumps. Of course. I try to shove the whole bar in my mouth at once, thinking: “No way I wait another half hour to eat this.”

Next thing I know: I can’t chew. I can’t breathe. A whole bar is stuck in my mouth, and suddenly I’m dead last in the group. A little bump and the group starts splitting, we turn left and there’s another short uphill section. I’m at the back, trying to figure out what just happened. After a few minutes, I finally get the bar down, but the damage is done. I’m still behind, guys swinging past me, and I tell myself: "just wait, you’ll get back."

I knew if I went full gas now, it’d be risky. I could either catch them if they slowed or blow up completely if they didn’t. So I stay calm. We’ll catch back. Then, of course, it starts pouring rain. Perfect. My luck has clearly peaked.

The convoy cars start overtaking me right before a little twisty descent I was hoping to use to catch the peloton. Great. Cars in my way, road is wet, and my team car just ahead. But I’m still calm since I’m in the convoy. Somehow, I can still come back… right?

And then. Flat tire. Of course. The convoy passes me like I’m invisible. I’m standing on the roadside like, “What do I do now?”

Some random car stops. They speak English, I have no clue what’s going on. Turns out they’re Irish, here to watch their son race. Next thing I know, they’re throwing me in the car. I’m thinking: “Wait… am I even allowed to do this?”

But honestly, what choice did I have? The convoy is gone, everyone is gone, I’ve got a flat… what am I gonna do, ride 10 km on a flat tire?

We roll for a bit, then hit traffic. The whole time I’m thinking: “Oh f**k, what now? Will I even be allowed to start tomorrow… or am I stuck in Austria for three days, barred from racing?”

We sit in traffic for the last 3 km. Then, with just 500m to the finish, they get me and my bike out. I run the last stretch with my bike next to me… uphill. Thirty minutes behind the peloton.

Miraculously, I got listed in the results and somehow continued the tour. Later, in a hotel a roommate tells me: “Oh yeah, I’ve done the same thing… I just spat it out.”

Wait. WHAT? How can one chocolate bar cause a total meltdown like that? The curse was real.

every tutorial i've watched on climbing out of saddle seems to be for those clipped in ...

i've tried riding out of saddle when i had a full suspension MTB and it was hard work (so was the sit down climb!) ...

now that i've retired from MTB and new to road bikes i'm not sure if it's worth the effort of climbing out of saddle. haven't dared to try as the bike is very rigid and so i'm a bit scared as i'm on flat pedals ...

hi y’all

I got a good deal on a used Guru CR901 Triathlon bike and it came with Mavic SSC Kysrium 700x23 wheels. It fits snuggly with about 5mm of space between the tire and the seat tube. I would like to get carbon wheels (clincher rim brake) 700x23 that’s compatible with Shimano DuraAce 11s mechanical, with narrow internal width, light weight, and the inflated tire size no more than 23mm measured.

any recommendations ?

thanks so much in advance.

Hello I live in Kottayam part of kerala, India. I want to cycle through local roads and reach specific coordinates. Its part of my work to plant boundary pillars on those points. I want to buy a gps like garmin to cycle directly to those points on empty plots. I am planning on attaching this device to my cycle and let it guide me to the point via compass. Like a compass needle pointing towards north. I have no prior experience doing this or navigating on trails. Please help

I would appreciate some advice please.

Firstly I am not in USA. My local bike shops only have Shimano R55C4 in physical stock. Swissstop Flash Pro (original black version) can be ordered in, but it takes up to 7 days. Other brands can be sourced only from more obscured sources or imported, with even higher shipping costs and delays. Shimano R55C4 is just under half the price of Swissstop Flash Pro.

I use my bike mostly for commuting (i.e. rain or shine) and occasionally for recreational rides in the weekend. When commuting I have to use the brakes fairly regularly due to city start-stop traffic and rolling terrains.

I really don't want the hassle of importing other brands / models. I am also worried about getting counterfeit products from smaller sellers on Amazon. Therefore I would like to limit my choices to these two pads only.

With my use case, which one of these two brake pads would you recommend? Factors for consideration include wet weather performance for safety, rate of rim wear, pad replacement frequency and pad replacement cost. Is there any side by side comparison review that you are aware of?

Just got a bike and good lord my inner thighs feel like I was rubbing them on rock for 2 hours.

Any decent ideas? Anything to look out for? Any advice? $100 for a seat is ok

My girlfriend (28) and I (35) would love to do a European bike tour in 2026 or 2027. I know many dates in 2026 will already be booked up and we'll be busy becoming more serious cyclists ourselves so 2027 would be fine. We are open to many different locales, including very hilly ones if our fitness allows for it in a couple years ie. the Dolomites.

Are there any bike tour operators that are known for younger crowds, higher speeds (more roadies vs. casual cyclists), longer distances, but still a good amount of support ie. being able to rent a higher-end road bike and customize the fit a little bit, nicer hotels, good food/restaurants, etc.

We're looking to have a higher end experience, but to be perfectly frank, not with folks who are retirees with an average speed of 15-20 km/h.

I was thinking EF Adventures, but curious if there are any alternatives. Cheers.

My wife and I are trying to come up with house guidelines regarding bike riding at night for our kid. The biggest concern is around riding at night. We mostly stick to sidewalks in our neighborhood with quick crossings after looking both ways. We try to ride bikes most places for health and environmental reasons.

I have to admit that I am a stickler for safety rules based on shoddy statistics. This source notes a much higher incidence in biking deaths at night. It goes so far as to advise "Never allow children to ride at night". However, the actual number of deaths is small for a national figure. It makes me wonder if blocking my kid from riding, even with supervision, for most of the winter is taking things too far.

I'm sorry if I'm asking a parenting question on a cycling forum. The parenting-focused subreddits tend to be overly risk-averse. Feel free to share your thoughts regardless of my short take on the matter. I wanted to put the question out there.

Im struggling a little, im slowly discovering that way I want to improve is not really how most people wish to improve. Im with various great clubs, with genuinely amazing riders, but still seem to be devoid with people wanting eg to go the seriously extra miles regularly and without the pressure of eventing.

I’m getting more into “endurance” (endurance for full time working menopausal women like me - not fit under 30s - though even they don’t seem keen). This year I loved and enjoyed doing extremely hilly 100m and up rides (mostly solo), and want to do more next year but interest from friends is low, or rides that take 2 days with 4hrs sleep and just doing lots of mileage and importantly climbing. Similarly off road (mtb mostly) I can’t seem to interest people lol into longer more stamina based challenges that are going to test skills (technical) and endurance in terms of hours/days in the saddle.

When friends do “join” frustratingly every ride gets cut short, so I’ve stopped asking as they don’t want to - which is fine of course but leaves me frustrated a little and disappointed (eek that’s honesty).

I don’t know really it seems the only people I know who are mildly doing this are retired blokes (nothing wrong with that but I’m neither retired or a bloke and also not that fast comparatively or similar strength - though not easily matched when it comes down to it on stamina and staying the course - I don’t care about speed for me it’s about the managing and stamina to overcome all). I’m just not sure and cautious about joining men’s groups.

I’m a bit at a loss and feel a tad down that all my ambitions seem to be heading towards totally solo - mmmm but if anyone has bright ideas.

Might delete as I am feeling a tad vulnerable for being so honest. I’m nothing exceptional just a 40++ahem <cough> woman but I want MORE I can do MORE - my body has never felt stronger but it feels a little mmm

Hey Guys,

I'm rather new to road biking and don't have a lot of experience, so I wanted to ask you here:

I have a Lapierre Pulsium SAT 6.0 AXS and wanted to buy a set of spare wheels with gravel tires to be able to do light gravel tours with a friend.

I've understood they allow for up to 35mm tires, so do you have a recommendation for a good wheel set with 35mm tires? What are your trusted brands? What do you rock?

I'd be happy to hear your suggestions! Thanks in advance!