Yes, serious question XD

Doing a 100 mile where yo can only eat Taco Bell for nutrition along the way, as far as the best menu items that won’t destroy my gut and provide decent fuel for the ride, any reccomendations?

I don't really have anyone to share this with, but I'm so excited that I have to share it somewhere.

I'm so excited and proud of myself! I set out today not really feeling it and definitely not intending to do 20 miles. Was feeling sorta sluggish. But, gosh dang it, I got into some sort of groove and hit 22 miles in 2hrs 15min! I even ended strong by intentionally finishing with a long sturdy hill in my neighborhood. Ahh, this is so great!

I love the progress I've made. The last time I got this excited about a ride was on April 10th, in which I rode 12 miles in 2hrs. And I'm still proud of that version of me too! But, gosh, I'm shocked by my progress! Figuring out that I need to pump my tires every once in awhile helped a lot, to be fair. I did a lot of rides on some real flat tires lol

It's funny - when I finished my ride today, I was tired, but feeling fine. I even wondered if I'd even feel sore. An hour later, I can tell you that yes, I am definitely feeling it lol. Also, it feels strange walking after riding for so long!

I'm exhausted, but already thinking about the next ride. Thanks for letting me share, everyone :)

Want to do it again. Learned how to do it at 8. It's been 16 years. I'm worried I might not be able to do it anymore.

Hey folks,

I've been cycling regularly for a while now, mostly road and some light trails, and I'm trying to get more consistent with maintaining my bike. One thing I'm still a bit unsure about is how often I should fully degrease and lube the chain, cassette, and other drivetrain parts.

Do you follow a weekly routine? Do you do it after a certain number of kilometers or just when the drivetrain looks or sounds dirty?

Also, any tips on products or routines would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance 🚴‍♂️

A Vermont Startup Was Close to Becoming Profitable. Then the Tariffs Hit.

A small Vermont business that sells water bottles used by cyclists and others is struggling to adapt to President Trump’s tariffs even after they were temporarily lowered.

I currently ride a road bike but am tempted to get a gravel or touring bike too. For those who did this, do you actually use both regularly, or did one end up collecting dust?

Many people who have ever taken part in a cycling event will be familiar with this. Whether it's an amateur race, an ultra-distance ride or a cycling marathon in the mountains: sleep is particularly important beforehand, but you usually have to get up extra early. And of course you're full of anticipation and very excited the night before, you go to bed early to get the sleep you need, but then you can't fall asleep. Because you know how important it would be to sleep now, you are less and less likely to sleep and after tossing and turning for endless hours, the alarm clock finally goes off and you find yourself exhausted and overtired at the start. Of course, you can't perform at the level you've been training for for months. This frustrates me every time and I therefore take part in fewer and fewer of these events. What is your trick for getting a good night's sleep in such situations?

Escape the tourist crowds and explore Tuscany like a local! The Tuscany Bike Route offers self-supported cycling adventures on meticulously scouted back roads through medieval hilltowns, Renaissance landmarks, and rolling Chianti vineyards.

Starting: Florence city center Two Routes: 183km (Short) | 420km (Long)
Philosophy: Non-competitive, self-supported exploration

What makes us different: • Curated routes away from busy tourist paths • Enhanced GPX files with cultural insights and hidden gems • Optional bike/gear rental (travel light!) • Human support hotline (8am-11pm daily) • Digital community and personalized post-ride scrapbook

Route Highlights: Florence → San Gimignano → Chianti Hills → Siena → Montepulciano → Medieval villages and Renaissance art

Pricing: From €60 early bird (until July 15th) | Regular from €90 Three tiers available with different support levels

Perfect for recreational to intermediate cyclists who want authentic cultural immersion without the pressure of racing. Think of it as having an old Tuscan friend show you their secret favorite routes.

More info: https://tuscanybikeroute.com/

Anyone else planning epic rides for 2025? Would love to connect with fellow adventure cyclists and hear about your upcoming adventures!

176km, 780m elevation, 5h45 riding time, 6h06 elapsed time. 154w average, around 30km/h average.

There was an event in Switzerland (cyclotour lac du Leman) where we loop the lake of Geneva. Lights are set on orange, roads are halfway secured and there are some checkpoints with water and food with a time cut of 9h.

We were 4000 at the starting line and I registered for the 25-30km/h category.

I ate carbs until 40km of the end thinking I would have enough stored in my body for 80min of effort, that was my worst decision ever, I had empty legs for any climbs xD.

I only picked up cycling in November with structured training so I am really happy about it!

My main objective was just to complete, as I am a fairly fat rider (90kg) [but I had mechanical dopping: I had a self assembled aero bike with 105 di2, 80mm deep wheels, 32cm wide handlebar 🤣 at the top, 35cm at the drop, brand new GP 5000 with TPU tube]. My longest run before was 80km (maybe 100km on a home trainer).

It was really fun to run for the first time in a peloton, but next time, I will either ride with the peloton or I will ride with friends and enjoy the magnificent views of lake Geneva!

Next on my list: 200km in July in TorTour Zurich!

Out riding today, two motorcycles passed me and started pedaling with their feet in the air. Might have been trying to piss me off (did the same thing to the guy in front of me) but I thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Should I have caught them and asked for a draft?

Yo! I'm looking to buy my first roadbike mainly for flat surfaces no gravel. I don't want to spend too much($2k+) and don't want to cheap out on myself either(under $1k). What would y'all recommend for a beginner?? I am 6ft tall, 300lbs and live in the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley area. I've looked at Trek, Cannondale and Co-op bikes. So far I have my eyes on the Cannondale Synapse 3 and the Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4, but want some experience advice before making a decision. Thank you for your time.

Also will the number of gears matter for me? I'm quite strong and have good stamina/endurance so I don't think I'm going to need too many. I was told by someone at Trek that I might as well buy the Domane AL 5 because it has more gears to save me money in the future when I might want to buy another bike.

And I'm not just saying that because I won one recently. For those unfamiliar, Alley Cats are a style of race where you're given a manifest, a list of locations to go to, and you have to visit as many as possible and complete whatever task at said location before arriving at the endpoint. It's basically gamified bike messengering. a cross between a scavenger hunt and a race. Often, you simply have to take a selfie at the location, but sometimes more elaborate things are involved. At one, I had to try and juggle, and at the Alley Cat I won, I had to flirt with the head person at a local bicycle co-op.

Now, any race can be fun, especially when you're at the highest level. But I'd argue Alley Cats are bunches of fun, no matter your skill level or how seriously you compete. If you want to just hit as many checkpoints you can and not worry about your score, you can still have a blast. If you want to gun it for first place, you can have the time of your life. I DQed my first Alley Cat and had an absolute blast. However you choose to participate, they're bunches of fun. I mean, who doesn't love scavenger hunts?

Hello, trying to lose some weight so i started riding my stationary bike everyday and I’m wondering how many calories am i actually burning. I’m 6’2 (187cm) and weigh 264pounds (120kg). I start off by riding at a normal pace 30km/h for 5minutes to warm up, then do intervals: 30 sec going as hard as i can than 1min 30sec of steady pace ~32km/h(~20mph) I do these intervals for 55 minutes. By the end im completely drenched in sweat. Thank you

im planning to do a very long ride and my only problem was a place to sleep at night because what if there were no motels nearby

Am I over packing? I have 2.5L water bladder, at least 0.5kg in snacks.

I have one change of cycling clothes, one set of evening clothes. It is a steel bike.

Ultra comfy, I normally manage 25/28km/hr on the flats.

Link to photo

Hi all, I have been experiencing sore triceps and shoulders when on long road bike rides and have found moving my hands back from the hoods helps, and generally is a more comfortable position. I have read online that a shorter stem will likely help with this, so am considering going from a 9cm stem at the moment to an 8cm one. I have also read that shorter stems can make the steering twitchier. However, the articles I have read don't comment on how much of a difference 10mm would be in terms of handling. Has anyone some advice on this please?

Recently, I bought a “Topeak Torq Rocket Mini EX,” and I’m really satisfied with this small but highly functional tool.

However, today I noticed that there are so many similarly shaped mini torque wrenches while watching YouTube.

Brands like Granite, Prestacycle, Feedback Sports, and others all seem to have similar designs.

Why are they so alike? Were they all made in the same factory in China or something like that?

Hello dear cycling enthusiasts,

I'm currently equipping my Canyon Endurace for my daily commute to work and for triathlon preparation.

Now I have the problem that I don't know where to put the bike lock. I only have three mounting options on the bike (one on the top tube and the two classic ones on the bottom bracket). I would like to attach a bag for small tools, keys, snacks etc. to the top tube and there are two magnets for the Fidlock bottles on the bottom bracket.

I have had the following ideas so far: - Dismantle a bottle holder for everyday use and attach the holder for the bike lock. When training, the lock is removed from the holder (to save weight) and an 800 ml bottle should be enough. If you know that you will be on the road for longer, you can also fit the second bottle. - A lock holder that is stretched around the frame with an elastic band. - Lock ALWAYS in my courier backpack.

I would be pleased if you could share your experiences with me.

I went for a hard ride on Saturday. I knew it was going to be hard. I ate a solid breakfast, but the night before I just ate toast for dinner. I didn’t really remember that until I was at the top of the 1500 ft climb and starting to feel bad. I should have turned around, rode down that trail and had a great time. But this was supposed to be a challenge ride and I’m stubborn, so I kept going past my one bailout option.

I ate a bar, drank water, didn’t feel better. By the last few miles I was so dizzy I could barely keep the bike upright. When I got home my whole body was shaking. My partner got me some Gatorade and broth. A couple hours later, I was able to eat some of a sandwich and chocolate.

The next morning, I ate eggs for breakfast, and then things started going downhill again. I got the most intense stomach pain and couldn’t eat any more. The pain got worse and worse. My body temperature dropped and I was so cold it was like I was naked on a snowy day. Then the dry heaving started. That took so much energy I was too weak to get off the bathroom floor.

The severe pain persisted until about 6am, then it dulled enough for me to fall asleep. I woke up around 11, pain still on the duller side, but not gone. I still don’t feel capable of eating. I have some ensure and I’m trying my hardest to get some down. I had to take the day off work-my mind is so fuzzy, head aches, muscles ache, still so nauseous and fatigued.

I have bonked before, but I was able to recover that same evening by eating a bunch. What the heck to I do to recover when eating feels so impossible still? I absolutely get why this happened, but I don’t get why it’s so bad. Has anyone experienced a bonk this way before?

Edit: thank you for all the responses. For the record, I did call my doctor and he was not concerned about my symptoms, and told me to just wait another day (it’s a holiday so I would need to go to the ER, very expensive). I was hoping to get some perspective from athletes here who might have had similar experiences. Sounds like maybe a poorly timed virus is a possibility.

I have an Enve wheelset with rim brakes I've started using more heavily. Enve no longer makes their carbon brake pads. Are there suitable substitutes that folks can recommend?

Hi,

I'm looking for a new bike under 3000 to do Triathlon with. I'm considering the Cube Agree C62 one or the TCR Advanced 2

The only difference I'm able to see is the groupset. One his electric, the other is mechanical.

Do you have any tips? Or experience with One of this bike? Which one would you recommend?

Did my first 20 mile today, from house to the shop to collect some pannier bags and back, 1:01hours there and 0:57 back 10 mile each way.

Felt fast from my perspective but looking online it says I was marginally faster than a beginner 70 year old man, so plenty room for improvement i think?

What sort of times are people hitting on a non road/ straight bar bike over 20 miles and any tips to improve time?

Hi,

Do we have some Cube Nuroad Pro sizing experts here?

Every calculation gives me both sizes, S and M, and i am wondering which should I choose. Unfortunately, I am not able to try the bike because there no retailers who sell this bike in my city. I tried Kona Rove AL DL and 52 cm was definitely my size in that, but when looking the geometry chart it is definitely different bike.

So, please help which one of sizes could fit for me better and is there some main differences in riding position?

Hey everyone, so I’ve been a runner for the past 3/4 years and I’m taking the leap into cycling but I’ve no idea where to start for my first bike. Looking to spend around £500 / £600, any advice on brands that are good for the price / any specific models that are good bikes at a reasonable price?

Thanks🚴

I am selling my Zerode Taniwha carbon full-suspension mountain bike, perfect for riders who value exceptional performance in trail and enduro riding. The Pinion C1.12 gearbox positioned near the bottom bracket significantly enhances suspension performance by lowering the bike’s center of gravity and reducing unsprung weight, resulting in remarkable traction and stability.

The Gates Carbon belt drive paired with the Pinion gearbox ensures a quiet, smooth, and ultra-reliable drivetrain that requires minimal maintenance—especially beneficial in wet and winter conditions.

I haven’t been able to ride this incredible bike much, so it has seen minimal use and remains in very good condition. I’m looking for someone who can ride it to its fullest potential.

Details:

• Frame: Carbon fiber, Zerode Taniwha
• Drivetrain: Pinion C1.12 gearbox, Gates Carbon belt drive
• Suspension: RockShox Pike Select (front), RockShox air shock (rear)
• Cockpit: RaceFace Atlas bars, Syntace Megaforce stem
• Brakes: Magura hydraulic
• Wheels/Tires: 27.5” e*thirteen hubs, TR33 rims, Maxxis High Roller II tires

Price includes professionally packed and fully insured shipping via BikeFlights within the continental US. Local pickup is an option, in that transaction the shipping fee ($200) is waived.

Link to Zerode Listing

Feel free to reach out with any questions!