Wednesday 1 May 2013

April 3th 2013 Back on the LOOK 585 Ultra

Yesterday I managed to get out for a midweek ride in the sunshine , what little we have this year in the UK.  I even ventured out in shorts and without a waterproof but I was wearing a thermal shirt and London Dynamo windproof cycling jacket. 

As Mike and I are going to do a race on May 19th in France around Magny Cours called  “La Look” which is sponsored by the bike manufacturer Look, I intend to do the race on my Look 585 bike.  Now this bike is not the standard 585, it is an “Ultra” meaning ultra-stiff.  On top of that it has carbon handlebars, seat post and carbon cranks.  I haven’t ridden the bike for 3 years as I haven’t been fit enough to justify it (in fact not since I finished the Etap Caledonia in 2010?).

Yesterday I got the bike off the hook in the garage and prep’d it for my ride.  I got on the bike and you notice immediately how connected the pedals are to the wheels.  The bike races along, even with winter tyres.  The next thing you notice is how the steering is so jumpy and as soon as you go over a bump or pothole you nearly lose your grip on the handlebars  (the roads in the UK at the moment are disgracefully covered in potholes making it not only difficult for cyclists but regularly ruining your car wheels).  Twice I unexpectedly hit big potholes that nearly threw me off the bike.

I set off on one of my usual loops taking in Polesden Lacey (a National Trust property), Box Hill and the Headley Olympic loop, coming back along Epsom racecourse, the home of the Derby and Tattenham Corner*.  A total of 38 miles and some 650 metres of climbing.

I must admit that I got tired on the way back and this wasn’t helped by a headwind and my chain coming off on a busy road with no verge (by the Drift Bridge). Fortunately the last 3 miles is downhill along the A217.  When I came through the door at home I was shattered and I don’t think I am that unfit.  I immediately needed food satisfied with a chicken and tomato sandwich with Branston Pickle, tea and something sweet which had to be met with biscuits and yoghurt in the absence of chocolate.

I think what caused me to be so tired was the constant jarring coming through the saddle and handlebars.  Today my shoulders and neck are very sore.

When I downloaded my ride to Strava and Garmin Connect I noticed that I had done so good times so the bike is obviously fast, but at what price?

I think I will be going back to the Roubaix and the steel bikes for the training and just get the Look 585 out for the race.

*Tattenham Corner is a small town in Surrey, UK, located inside the M25 motorway thus being part of the London commuter belt. It is home to the Epsom Downs Racecourse. Neighbouring towns are Epsom and Ewell whilst villages close by include Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Kingswood, Burgh Heath and Banstead. The built up area is dwarved by the expanse of the racecourse.

Tattenham Corner railway station is where Queen Elizabeth II used to be dropped off by the Royal Train on race days, and is in fact closer to the racecourse than Epsom Downs railway station. There are several bus services going through the area, towards Epsom, Sutton or Redhill.  In 1993 it was the site of a train crash, where a driver several times over the then legal drink-drive limit failed to stop the train at the buffers, crashing into the station-hut.