NowTHINK!AboutIt

8 Reasons Wattbike Wins

July 1, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Indoor Cycle Training
Made Brilliant

What bike do you use when you can’t train on the road? Wattbike!!

I started using Wattbikes for cycle training a couple years ago and I love it! And I’m not alone. Although many amateurs use the device, Wattbikes are becoming the indoor trainer of choice for elite cyclists too. There are many good reasons for this. Following are just a few.

Easily Adjustable

Saddle and handlebar positions are easily adjustable for individual user dimensions and the bikes are universal. They can accommodate mountain cleats, road bike cleats, and non-cleated shoes.

Fully Computerized

Not only is the Wattbike designed to mimic the feel of the road, but it is also computerized and offers several key data points for measuring your training output during each session: power, speed, distance, heart rate, cadence, time, and the data is presented in real-time and as an overall average. The actual speed is displayed at any given moment as well as the average speed overall.

Improves Pedal Stroke

One unique feature is the Polar view which displays a graphic representation of your pedaling technique. Not just how much each leg is working but where in the pedal stroke each leg is working the most: downstroke, upstroke, the entire revolution, or what.

Variable Data Displays

The computer is also capable of displaying data in several formats depending on what you’re monitoring. If you’re interested in distance, set the display to show what distance you’re traveling by the meter.

The computer can even show how many minutes you’ll take to travel one kilometer at your present rate of speed.

Forty different parameters are measured and recorded while you train. If they made bike computers to record the same amount of data, it would probably cost more than the Wattbike! A power meter alone is half the price.

But that’s not all. [Read more…] about 8 Reasons Wattbike Wins

Cycling The Valley of a Thousand Hills – ECCC, Durban KZN

June 30, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

It’s Not The Valley
Of A Thousand Flats

For lack of a better word, the long ride for the East Coast Cycling Club in the month of June was interesting. Although I planned to do the ride, I had to bail at the last minute because I was nursing a few symptoms leftover from the flu.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t ride at all. I did a little indoor training later the same day but the long rides aren’t the usual. With 2000 meters of climbing over an 85-kilometer track through some very cold country, you need to be at your absolute best.

I wasn’t. My better judgment won the argument.

Several others missed the ride too. There were only 10 who participated, which is low for the long rides. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have made it up all the climbs but I hated that I didn’t get to try. [Read more…] about Cycling The Valley of a Thousand Hills – ECCC, Durban KZN

12 Reasons East Coast Cycling Is For You – Durban KZN

June 29, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The Smartest Kit
In South Africa

If you’re thinking about getting fit, great!

One warning though. Don’t do what I did and take too long to get serious.

You don’t have to be clever to get fit but you do need a track to run on. One place to find it is a cycling club. I joined East Coast Cycling Club and it really made a difference. I’m embarrassed to say that it took me far too long to get to that point.

I bought my first bicycle somewhere around 2000. I don’t remember the month. It isn’t important.

The truth is, outside of a pedal stroke or two in front of my house, I never got started. The bike was old. I picked it up in a yard sale so there was no real motivation.

Eventually I decided to up the game and bought a Hybrid. It’s a little heavier than an road bike but a little lighter than a mountain bike. You can use it on or off road.

Sounds like a good idea but I don’t recommend it.

All my riding was on the road. I couldn’t help but notice that road-specific bikes were sleeker and seemed to be faster. I was constantly wondering how much better I could do with one of those. I eventually got rid of the hybrid and invested in a road bike, and then discovered that the grass really isn’t that much greener.

Light or heavy bike, it didn’t really matter cause I rarely did any training. I was the proud owner of several bikes before I was serious about what really mattered. But I finally figured that out.

What made the difference for me was I started entering races. I learned that you need more than a bike to do a race. You need training.

The problem is I didn’t learn that lesson very quickly. I painfully completed four races before the penny dropped. It wasn’t that I never trained, but I definitely didn’t train enough or the right way.

Keep in mind that I reached this point about eleven or twelve years into my cycling adventure.

It was then that I took a definitive step. I joined East Coast Cycling Club. It was a beginning. From there it’s been only up. Not quickly, but up none the less.

Here are the reasons why group rides with East Coast can also make the difference for you. [Read more…] about 12 Reasons East Coast Cycling Is For You – Durban KZN

East Coast Cycling Fondo For May 2016

June 27, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

A Gran Fondo
With A Small “g”

This ride was more to the liking of a moderate ability cyclist. The length was good (93k), the climbing was decent (976m) and the route (shown left) was familiar.

There was one puncture but the groups are considerate so no one is left alone. It’s in the fabric of the club. We stay together.

The route was not one we do every week but it was familiar.

Leaving Suncoast we travel to Umhlanga Rocks on backroads.
From Umhlanga Rocks we follow the M4 to the Engen Station at Ballito.
Hopping across to the R102 we travel south through Verulam and turn left on the R41.
We followed the M41 up to Gateway and followed Umhlanga Rocks to Northway and Northway down to Suncoast.

It was cold when we started but I was shedding my long sleeves by the time we got to Gateway. This wasn’t your typically gruelling Gran Fondo but it was a good ride with a nice bunch of people.

If you’re thinking about getting fit, don’t wait. Join ECCC and get started. With the smartest kit in town, you’ll look smart long before you’re fit.

THINK!AboutIt

East Coast Cycling Fondo For April 2016

June 27, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

2000 Meters Is Just A Number
Unless You’re On A Bike

The monthly Gran Fondo (long group ride) for East Coast Cycling Club in April was a doozy.

There were two groups following the same route. The more ambitious group went 20 kilometres longer and added an additional 600 meters of climbing to an already hectic track.

The totals were hefty.

Long ride: 130 kilometres, 2600 meters climbing.
Less long ride: 110 kilometres, 2000 meters climbing.

Originally the plan allowed for two follow cars, one for each batch (A and B) but the A batch had a puncture in the first 15 or so kilometres and the B’s carried on, making it senseless to keep both cars in tow.

The A’s did catch the B’s and the group spread out quite a bit but the follow car managed to keep an eye on the riders.

I only got to the 46 kilometre mark before turning back. The climb was just too much and it isn’t over when you turn. From Verulam to Gateway the road travels only up. On tired legs, it’s a killer.

The one drawback – other than climbing – was the sand. It’s rural and a light sprinkling of rain made sand stick to everything. Fortunately, my bike was due for a new chain and cassette so it wasn’t a problem but I think everyone booked a service immediately after.

Following is the route profile and directions. [Read more…] about East Coast Cycling Fondo For April 2016