Winnersaint

So rather than waste my afternoon hitting F5 and refreshing the match thread I went out for a ride with my neighbour. (a far better cyclist than I) Great ride, all in all. Found a detour along a road called Springfield Park in Twyford, quite apt as my neighbour was a young pro at Wigan Athletic well before they moved to DW. Shame that we didn't incorporate Dell Road climb (Finchampstead) into the ride. Anyway it's on Strava. Not much climbing, but rolling terrain, windy in places, but a good test nonetheless.

Looks nice. This is my next year purchase. http://www.cervelo.com/media/images/R3-560x400-2fb8f1e1-2865-4c3a-926d-1fb1a7e23d28-0-560x400.jpg Would love to spec it with Campag but will rough it with Ultegra. Want Shamals though, although Fulcrum Racing Zeros are equivalent and part of same company.

You will get nothing but positives on Strava and on here from the cycling regulars. (BTW just added you to the Saints Fans Cycling group along with one other) Your F95 is an excellent machine for where you are at present. Good alloy frame with carbon forks, can't go wrong. VFTT is spot on when he emphasises the importance of getting miles in when you start.The only thing I would guard against is increasing your mileage too much in one go. Small steps are better than large ones. I am no expert but I would advise on getting a good miles in on a regular basis. When you start to up the mileage it is often recommended that you do so by no more than 10 -12% per week. That is for your aggregate weekly total and the length of individual rides. That figure of 10 -12% was recommended for runners. As cycling places less stress on joints and muscles it could be a little conservative, but is a useful guideline. I used to use it as a minimum and work from there by listening to my body. Being keen to get out and maximise your available time is probably the best sign of all. Although there is nothing to equal being out on the road, you might want to consider getting a turbo trainer if you have the space to set it up. Great for maximising tight time schedules and invaluable in the winter allowing you to do intervals and still cycle when the weather doesn't allow. Not everyone's cup of tea I am aware, but there a are plenty of videos etc. out there to relieve the tedium if it gets to you. Hope this is some use. There is a discussion area for Saints Fans Cycling on Strava http://www.strava.com/clubs/45350/discussion which you can use also.

Bit of a cycling hiatus at present. Banging out 100+ mile weeks since holiday at around tempo pace for me 16-17 mph. Just keeping my legs in working order before the winter training kicks in. Aiming hopefully for the Alps in 2015. Sunday's ride was a typical one. Rolling terrain (we don't get much else around Berkshire) with a few shortish climbs. Have to venture to the Hambleden Valley this week for more testing stuff. All on Strava.

Fantastic! We all start out somewhere. The fact you enjoyed it is probably most important. There are a few of us on here also who are part of Saints Fans Cycling on Strava. http://www.strava.com/clubs/45350. Feel free to join. I started cycling on a MTB around the fields with my dog (sadly recently deceased) trashing a bike in just two years in the process. I graduated to another MTB which I used to commute, before being seduced by C2W and my first road bike in 2010. It has no equals as an leisure activity, sport or transport IMHO. Keep posting how you progress you are sure to get plenty of encouragement from those here and Saints Fans Cycling.

Have you read Geronimo Dave, Tim Moore's account of his re-enactment (sort of) of the hardest Giro of all in 1914. Wooden rims and self made cork brake blocks. Now that's got to be scary!

Planet X also

http://www.pinterest.com/cyclea/2014-cervelo-r3-with-ultegra-11-speed/ This is what I've got my eyes on as n+1. Will be a retirement present to me. I've had my fill of stroppy teenagers especially as my job involves the super stroppy so I'm hoping to bail out of teaching around Easter after the thick end of 35 years. Reckon the Cervelo R3 is just rewa\rd.

Not heard of any similar instances. They are good lookers even if the ride can be a bit on the harsh side. Mine looks a lot worse for wear though. Paint is bubbling on top tube and down tube due to winter use on turbo. Just had a settlement figure of £65 (7%) to pay after 4 years, so not a bad bike for around £450. I've certainly had my money's worth out of it. When I first bought the Ridley which is a far superior machine in every way I still had issues cracking times I had previously done on the Cube, until I got the Ksyrium Elites on it. Give me the Ridley any day now. That said I've got my eye on one of these as n+1.

I got a Cube Peloton 2010 as my first road bike for years through Cycle scheme. It's still going strong. A real work horse used for commuting and abuse by sweat on the turbo. Spec is not dissimilar to mine. Mate has one too, has just used it to cycle along Rhine from Basel to Rotterdam. Sizing is an issue with Cubes the frames come up on the small side so worth Minty trying one out and/or getting fitted.

Well that's a fail then. Currently over Western Italian coast on a plane with free WiFi. Just can't help myself? BTW Norwegian.com is a cracking airline.

Sums up how I feel Viking. Off to Kefalonia for a week in a couple of days. No interweb will be connected with, no Redtop's purchased at an extortionate price. Cold beers, pitta giros and blissful ignorance. Aàaàhhhhh!

Nibali's dominant performance serves to highlight Froome and Contador's absence

Might get beaten, and by a few at that, but not sure anyone will suffer that awful indignity.

My sentiments exactly. It's Saints FFS. Support them or **** off and support Manuchelsareslivercitytott. Nothing we can do about it. Not good I'll agree but we still have a club to support, which was more than it looked like in June 2009. Don't understand why people can't be grateful for that. My opinion FWIW is that we are paying price for Pochettino's failure in not getting that squad into the EL, which would have at least signposted progression even if CL was ultimately unrealistic. Gonna be an interesting season!!

I know I shouldn't bite but if you are that pessimistic why don't you just fecking end it all, and at the same time get that Grossglockner T W A T to do the same'.

Agree the PDBF looks a toughie especially on the back of the other categorised climbs. Should be France bound early next July if early retirement plans come to fruition. As the resident geographer I've been tasked with looking at potential routes. At present it's looking like Huez may be the likely base. Got some potential routes in mind already. A backward Marmotte. Up the Lauteret, Galibier then descending into Maurienne valley via the Telgraphe and then going up and over the Glandon and then the Alpe to finish off. Les Deux Alps as an out and back from Bourg D,Oisans (basically a 25 mile mountain TT) A loop from Bourg d'Oisans over the Ornon and Col de Morte. A couple of acclimatisers The Sarenne ascent and a loop that goes out as if on La Marmotte , but turns off shortly after the first turn on the Allemont road and goes back to Huez via Villard Reculas. How many of these I will actually be able to do is a bit of a concern at the moment. Others planning to go are younger/faster and have been to the Alps at least twice before with three Marmotte veterans included.

Great stuff by TM. Felt for him in last year's Vuelta. This year's is going to be something else with both Bertie and Froome out of TdF.

Now following Boom and Niki Terpstra. The speeds over the cobbles in those conditions are pretty eye watering.

Froome out. Conditions atrocious, carnage.

Daughter watched it in Otley with boyfriend's family. Said she had fanatastic time. Got a brilliant shot of 'Froome Dawg' riding through. Can't wait to sort out retirement. Move to Lincolnshire (cheap compared to Wokingham) and be within striking distance of all that riding.

Definately leaning in to Gerrans. Doesn't look good though. Looks like a collarbone. Hit the deck a couple of years ago like that. (clipped parked car I'm afraid) Fractured ball joint in humerus. Ouch!

Brilliant entertainment from The Jensie. Stunning crowds on route. Buttertubs was something else. Would love to see Cav nail this one but it has got a kick up on the run in which might be more suited to Greipel, Degenkolb, Demare or even Sagan.

First two predictions were genuine. It would some up Britain's dismal sporting summer so far if the third one happened. Personally I am looking forward to Stages 2 and 5. Cliche I know but there is scope for the tour, if not to be won, then to be to be lost on these two days. I started the TdF 2014 thread a few weeks ago in anticipation. Seems like a got a bit of a false start so mods feel free to lock it. This is what I thought then. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?50509-Tour-de-France-Thread-2014#.U7RuFbFtQd4

Rui Costa - Yellow Sagan - Green No stage wins for Cav