I have had my ‘road bike’ for two years now and have been tinkering away with set up and seem to be there but still get the lower back pain as I increase my distance.  It’s technically a cyclocross bike (Boardman CX Team) but removed the interrupters,nobblies and put a Flite on it.  The discs look good through!

I have been perusing your site for three years now and have only left one or two comment.  Time to up my game.

@Mikel Pearce

Check these out. These should be the official shoes of the Velominati! A big fucking V right on the arch strap! http://pezcyclingnews.com/cgi/gallerypicget.asp?pic=http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/vittoriashoes/vslarge.jpg

Contacted Vittoria USA and provided local dealer info. Hora! Hora! (image) http://www.vittoria-shoes.com/products-dett.php?id_art=13&cat=STRADA

No Vittoria Hora — for now. Yes Giro Factor Easton EC90 44.5 Black — let’s go! There should be no tolerance for your shoes that just “ain’t” right. If you can feel the [slight] foot swell — it “ain’t” right. Keep riding, testing and sizing until you “amn’t” got any issue with shoes. I simply needed to go from 44 to 44.5 (Giro size), but can’t resist not trying a different or comparable shoe while I’m at it. Vittoria Hora, you’re next.

@frank

@wiscot

@The Oracle

Should I ride my bike at some stage also?

Of course. All hill intervals, with generous applications of V.

Note, accomplishing all of this may require reference to Rule 4 and Rule 11. If they complain, refer them to Rule V.

@wiscot

@The Oracle
Cheers gentlemen. So I have to

1. Thrash myself with my non-drive side skewer
2. Shave my guns
3. Cut my steerer
4. Change my stem (believe it or not that is it flipped – some crazy angle on it but it was free at the time of build)
5. Improve my core strength

Should I ride my bike at some stage also?

@Nate
I am liking those shoes!

@frank

@Ali McKee
Nothing wrong with the stem, just flip it and see how it feels. Give your self some time to adjust and see if you like being lower. You can always put the other spacers back under the stem to come back up a bit. But in all seriousness, don’t do it if its not comfortable.

You may find, however, that you’re more flexible than you think (many people just *think* they can’t go down) and you’ll also find that with the lower position, not only are you more aero, but more stable. For me, when I finally went really low, my back pain went away – the back pain wasn’t, as I though, from reach or from bending over too much, it was from not bending over ENOUGH – with the higher center of mass, I had to stabilize the bike more with my lower back and that was causing the back pain.

I wonder – just come home from my regular hilly ride and I’m really struggling to achieve last year’s times on a bike that’s clearly a lot faster on the flat and uphill than the set of welded scaffolding poles I was using last year. I don’t feel fantastically confident going downhill – could it be a function of steerectile dysfuntion or am I just a wuss? The roads round here are shocking too which doesn’t help – I had to buy two adjustable bidon cages (like the ones they use on the pave) to finish a ride with a bidon still attached to the bike. I’ll risk posting a picture on the morrow perhaps and see if, between the many observations of rule violations, I can get an opinion.

Why the fuck did I just post this on a thread about shoes? Eejit!

@Ali McKee
Nothing wrong with the stem, just flip it and see how it feels. Give your self some time to adjust and see if you like being lower. You can always put the other spacers back under the stem to come back up a bit. But in all seriousness, don’t do it if its not comfortable.

You may find, however, that you’re more flexible than you think (many people just *think* they can’t go down) and you’ll also find that with the lower position, not only are you more aero, but more stable. For me, when I finally went really low, my back pain went away – the back pain wasn’t, as I though, from reach or from bending over too much, it was from not bending over ENOUGH – with the higher center of mass, I had to stabilize the bike more with my lower back and that was causing the back pain.

I wonder – just come home from my regular hilly ride and I’m really struggling to achieve last year’s times on a bike that’s clearly a lot faster on the flat and uphill than the set of welded scaffolding poles I was using last year. I don’t feel fantastically confident going downhill – could it be a function of steerectile dysfuntion or am I just a wuss? The roads round here are shocking too which doesn’t help – I had to buy two adjustable bidon cages (like the ones they use on the pave) to finish a ride with a bidon still attached to the bike. I’ll risk posting a picture on the morrow perhaps and see if, between the many observations of rule violations, I can get an opinion.

@wiscot

@Nate

@wiscot

@Ali McKee
Admittedly Rule #41 doesn’t address which side of the bike skewers go on because it is just one of those things that is unsaid: they go on the left. This is because the rear skewer always goes on the left so that it doesn’t interfere with the rear derailleur; the front follows the same location. That skewers go on the left is just . . . . how it is. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Skewers go on the left. Stick around here long enough and you’ll become a raving neurotic about your bike, its set-up and how you look/dress on the bike. It’s all part of the fun.

But seriously, shave those guns.

A good explanation but my inner pedant takes exception with describing the sides of the bicycle as “right” and “left.” Proper terminology is “drive side” and “non-drive side.”

My apologies for the erroneous nomenclature. Twenty lashes for me tonight with a non-drive side skewer!

Now that could leave a mark.

No fun if there’s no pain!

Back to the shoes – what the fuck is with these smurf-kickers?

@Nate

@wiscot

@Ali McKee
Admittedly Rule #41 doesn’t address which side of the bike skewers go on because it is just one of those things that is unsaid: they go on the left. This is because the rear skewer always goes on the left so that it doesn’t interfere with the rear derailleur; the front follows the same location. That skewers go on the left is just . . . . how it is. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Skewers go on the left. Stick around here long enough and you’ll become a raving neurotic about your bike, its set-up and how you look/dress on the bike. It’s all part of the fun.

But seriously, shave those guns.

A good explanation but my inner pedant takes exception with describing the sides of the bicycle as “right” and “left.” Proper terminology is “drive side” and “non-drive side.”

My apologies for the erroneous nomenclature. Twenty lashes for me tonight with a non-drive side skewer!

Now that could leave a mark.

You may find, however, that you’re more flexible than you think (many people just *think* they can’t go down) and you’ll also find that with the lower position, not only are you more aero, but more stable. For me, when I finally went really low, my back pain went away – the back pain wasn’t, as I though, from reach or from bending over too much, it was from not bending over ENOUGH – with the higher center of mass, I had to stabilize the bike more with my lower back and that was causing the back pain.

@Tartan1749
I know this is an often debated topic. I’m an ex motocrosser and mtb’er so it’s a big step!! And my wife is already complaining about my cycling obsession as it is (which I interpret to mean I’m on my way to la Vie Velominatus)

@wiscot

@Ali McKee
Admittedly Rule #41 doesn’t address which side of the bike skewers go on because it is just one of those things that is unsaid: they go on the left. This is because the rear skewer always goes on the left so that it doesn’t interfere with the rear derailleur; the front follows the same location. That skewers go on the left is just . . . . how it is. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Skewers go on the left. Stick around here long enough and you’ll become a raving neurotic about your bike, its set-up and how you look/dress on the bike. It’s all part of the fun.

But seriously, shave those guns.

A good explanation but my inner pedant takes exception with describing the sides of the bicycle as “right” and “left.” Proper terminology is “drive side” and “non-drive side.”

My apologies for the erroneous nomenclature. Twenty lashes for me tonight with a non-drive side skewer!

@Ali McKee
Admittedly Rule #41 doesn’t address which side of the bike skewers go on because it is just one of those things that is unsaid: they go on the left. This is because the rear skewer always goes on the left so that it doesn’t interfere with the rear derailleur; the front follows the same location. That skewers go on the left is just . . . . how it is. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Skewers go on the left. Stick around here long enough and you’ll become a raving neurotic about your bike, its set-up and how you look/dress on the bike. It’s all part of the fun.

But seriously, shave those guns.

A good explanation but my inner pedant takes exception with describing the sides of the bicycle as “right” and “left.” Proper terminology is “drive side” and “non-drive side.”

Gun shaving is still a big hurdle for me to get over, nevermind my wife, but the neuroticism is growing so maybe it’s just a matter of time!

Recently took the plunge and worth it. Tan easier, feels great, and although I’m not sure the wife 100% approves, she hasn’t really complained, either. Showed up to a group ride last week, and although 90% of the riders were blatant multiple rule violators (ignorance is bliss, I guess), the leader picked me out and told me ‘don’t be afraid to go ahead of us as you look like you’re a serious rider.’ Although I am not, as the Keepers found out in Europe, the Rules work! ps – I did stay at the front for the ride.

@wiscot

Ha! You’ll have to excuse me as I am only a Pedalwan in his third year on the road

I was aware of the stem/steerer violation – it’s on the agenda. Wasn’t aware of the front skewer one – what Rule is that? (Rules page isn’t loading for me for some reason)

Clear up the steerectile dysfunction as well. STAT.

Understood. I will attend to the skewer. Steerer will require my Cycling Sensei’s assistance.

Gun shaving is still a big hurdle for me to get over, nevermind my wife, but the neuroticism is growing so maybe it’s just a matter of time!

But seriously, shave those guns.

Ha! You’ll have to excuse me as I am only a Pedalwan in his third year on the road

I was aware of the stem/steerer violation – it’s on the agenda. Wasn’t aware of the front skewer one – what Rule is that? (Rules page isn’t loading for me for some reason)

@Marko

Marko, I recently rode with a mate who had a pair of Yellow Princesses and it became immediately apparent that I should buy a pair to match my frame. I’ve even since bought a pair of the matching yellow Mavic socks. My Cycling Sensei described the set-up as ‘factory’, my wife on the other hand said I looked like a clown. But what does she know

Thought you might appreciate this… *waits for abuse for unshaven guns*

Not to mention the gross violations going on in the stem/steerer department. Double violation points for the front skewer being on the wrong side of the bike. Trim the leg hair and the steerer!

Marko, I recently rode with a mate who had a pair of Yellow Princesses and it became immediately apparent that I should buy a pair to match my frame. I’ve even since bought a pair of the matching yellow Mavic socks. My Cycling Sensei described the set-up as ‘factory’, my wife on the other hand said I looked like a clown. But what does she know

Thought you might appreciate this… *waits for abuse for unshaven guns*

Check these out. These should be the official shoes of the Velominati! A big fucking V right on the arch strap! http://pezcyclingnews.com/cgi/gallerypicget.asp?pic=http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/vittoriashoes/vslarge.jpg

Contacted Vittoria USA and provided local dealer info. Hora! Hora! (image)
http://www.vittoria-shoes.com/products-dett.php?id_art=13&cat=STRADA

One does have to wonder about the marketing “gurus” at Sidi. I like their shoes, but a skinny, oiled up lad wearing nothing doesn’t really make me want to buy their shoes. Have to wonder the target audience with that one.

I’m female and I’m loving my Sidis even more now! ;-)

I like those red gatorskin Colnagos! Those are awesome. Would look great with the faux denim Shit Kit from Carrera. Red gator shoes and a full denim jumper. Class!

Of course, I did receive “most unique sense of style” honors in the high school yearbook.

One does have to wonder about the marketing “gurus” at Sidi. I like their shoes, but a skinny, oiled up lad wearing nothing doesn’t really make me want to buy their shoes. Have to wonder the target audience with that one. Then again, the cooking commercial on Eurosport, which begins with the skateboarding scene, is a weird one too.

Those gray, red and yellow non-rule compliant lace-up Lakes still have many, many miles left in them, well worn with a fit like slippers. But until I can figure out how to get the last of the cleat bolts unfrozen from the broken plate inside the sole…

shoes can only be 1 colour….. black !!! just sayin !

Well, they can actually be lot’s of colors. But how pro that any color is is subject to debate.

Now you just need a new frame/bike to match the kit…

I kind of dig those Colnagos, the red leather and yellow could look sweet if the design were different IMO.

Ummm, can I get a Keeper to rotate these pics for me? Fo some reason the uploader doesn’t like to save orientation…

Oh my word…

I’ve seen many, many pairs of shoes in my time, but those . . . those are quite, quite, quite . . . ? I guess if you’re an Italian pimp they might work, but otherwise, no. Can you imagine asking for a pair of cycling shoes from Santa and he brought those? Not even the finest actor in the world could disguise their horror.

“First few rides in my new BONT shoes done. Man they are stiff. Such a different pedal stroke with them on. POWER!!!!!”

See, I told you so ;-)

He obviously thinks they’re equipment.

Frank posted the following picture of the lineup on “Gear”, page 16. I have yet to find the version on the far right anywhere except in this picture, including the Vittoria page.

(post from frank)

The future official shoe of the Velominati?

Yup, they got spied by @Sgt during his mission at Interbike…pretty sure there was a guest article on the whole visit a couple of months back.

@scaler911

@Nate

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule #9 weather!

How was your ride?

Well as it goes around here, the weatherman got it wrong. It was cold, wet roads, but didn’t rain or snow on us. http://app.strava.com/rides/2380100

@Nate

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule #9 weather!

How was your ride?

Also, always remember: climbing is easy. All you have to do is go harder.

@Nate

@scaler911

@Nate

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule #9 weather!

Here is a little inspiration for you:

Sooo fucking HARD. No leg warmers, snow piled up in his helmet vents. I’m tough, but not THAT tough.

The V generates its own warmth.

@scaler911

@Nate

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule #9 weather!

Here is a little inspiration for you:

Sooo fucking HARD. No leg warmers, snow piled up in his helmet vents. I’m tough, but not THAT tough.

@Nate

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule #9 weather!

Here is a little inspiration for you:

@Dr C
I’ll see what I can do this weekend to contribute. Tomorrow looks nice. Sunday might be rainy enough that I’ll skip hills and ride along the bay in crosswinds and rain, pretending I’m out along the North Sea in Belgium.

It’s gonna be rain/snow mix here tomorrow morning. Got a team ride planned for 3.5-4 hrs. Epic Rule 9 weather!

@Marko

Gloves and helmet are kit. The bike can be operated just fine (although, in the case of the helmet not safely) without them. Can you lay down some V sans gloves and helmet? Hell Yeah. Shoes, not so much. Gloves and helmet should thusly be matched to kit.

+1 exactly what I was trying to say but said a lot better.

You’re too focussed on today’s tech. None of you have ever been passed by a dude with toe clips and sneakers? I haven’t, of course, but I saw it happen to a friend guy once. When I started riding as an eight year old, I was riding in sneakers and toe clips. Tighten down the strap and the shoe won’t slip out when you’re pulling back on the pedals, and the clips let you pull up. Works fine, if not ideally.

Pedals are equipment. Just because the shoe engages with the pedal doesn’t also make it equipment. Shoes are kit, not equipment. End of.

@itburns

Schrodinger’s Kit – observationally dependent

+1. That’ll get you next week’s badge, unless someone else tops you.

Hey I added another 371 metres today – had to ride 175km to get them, but…

More next week – we have a sort of sportive with a few hills in it, and 225km.

You’re not wrong about the challenges of getting out to ride when you’re away with family. I thought you had some too or is this solo trip. Got any more epics planned before you have to return to the malingerers?

My physio reckons she can fix my gouty gun with less pain and a better outcome than getting me a new one. It’s going pretty well at the moment, most of the pain has gone unless I have a bad day like yesterday when I had to walk up the stairs (200 or so) in two tube stations and then seven flights when I got to the office. I just need to work on the strength side of it at the moment, it’s very unstable laterally.

I’ve also acquired myself a coach/mentor in the form of a former 50 & 100 mile time trial record holder and multiple Best British All Rounder. I have a feeling he’s going to knock me into shape which I need if I’m going to have a crack at something long and hilly in Belgium next year.

Awesome.

Yes, very good.

Let’s hope Frank’s scented candles are feline-friendly.

Schrodinger’s Kit – observationally dependent

A+1. Sweet, sweet comment.

@ all
thanks for all the support – really kind of you, as always, not to diminish my efforts, in what was in reality for Dave Buches, just another quick spin on the bike!

Team Velominati now on page two of the KOM competition for November, thanks to all who are putting the pain in, not least Mr and Mrs Smith, alias Dangerous Dave and his wife Mel B – honorable mention to Chris B who has done 40,000,000,000kms for his 910 metres in the desert

Rank Athlete # Rides Elevation Gain (meters)
1 Dave Buches -11- 9,322
2 Melissa Buches -7- 6,839
3 Dr C -7- 5,694
4 Mikael Liddy -7- 4,981
5 Adam Goldberg -3- 2,616
6 Nate Spencer-Mork -3- 2,545
7 Mark Babcock -5- 2,133
8 Mynock Hunter -3- 1,548
9 Adam Krumbein -2- 1,522
10 Chris O -7- 910
11 Ben Wilson -9- 849
12 Geoffrey Grosenbach -1- 615
13 Jon Miller -1- 519
14 Alastair Topper -1- 403
15 King Clydesdale -2- 395
16 Jud Gutheil -1- 394
17 Charles Valade -2- 271
18 Don Joling -1- 149

Total -73- rides 41,706 meters

I remember getting them with the carbon sole (woah, futuristic in 2000!) and feeling at the very top of Mount Awesome. Silly but true. Same feeling every time i put them on. Worth a tailwind everytime. Especially as i remain here plateauing at two months from peaking.

Debate is great but unless you “feel’ your shoes, aint mattering a hell of a lot what some person thinks, as you 53t away from them.

Yellow shoes win every time if you are wearing them and Boss Hog kind of proves it doesn’t he?

@scaler911

@hardtop

@scaler911
@scaler911

@hardtop

Just as with socks shoes have to be White, shoes are kit not equipment.

Na. They’re equipment not kit. Try riding on a pair of Powercranks with tennis shoes. They’re attaching you to the bike, transferring power. Kit makes you look pretty.

I’ll ignore the Powercranks reference thanks, when you step off the bike are the shoes attached to
a/you or
b/the bike

When you step off the bike, the bike is still equipment. When you take the shoes off, they are still equipment. They look like kit, and I suppose there’s an argument in the cleats only being equipment, but I maintain, shoes are not kit.

And this is the problem.
We’re talking about looks here. The definition is only important in so much as it allows us to get the aesthetics right: if equipment, match to bike; if kit, match to kit.
If it’s equipment that looks like kit, we’re back where we started – it’s a grey area that either has not been defined by The Rules, or will never be defined by The Rules.
I take a holistic approach to it. Does the whole look good?

Of course they should look good. Equipment that looks like kit perhaps? The question remains, as you’ve stated, should it match, or does it matter?

@hardtop

@scaler911
@scaler911

@hardtop

Just as with socks shoes have to be White, shoes are kit not equipment.

Na. They’re equipment not kit. Try riding on a pair of Powercranks with tennis shoes. They’re attaching you to the bike, transferring power. Kit makes you look pretty.

I’ll ignore the Powercranks reference thanks, when you step off the bike are the shoes attached to
a/you or
b/the bike

When you step off the bike, the bike is still equipment. When you take the shoes off, they are still equipment. They look like kit, and I suppose there’s an argument in the cleats only being equipment, but I maintain, shoes are not kit.

And this is the problem.
We’re talking about looks here. The definition is only important in so much as it allows us to get the aesthetics right: if equipment, match to bike; if kit, match to kit.
If it’s equipment that looks like kit, we’re back where we started – it’s a grey area that either has not been defined by The Rules, or will never be defined by The Rules.
I take a holistic approach to it. Does the whole look good?

Oh, and this:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14666944?dopt=Abstract (peer reviewed medical journal stuff, not a bunch of wankers at VN spouting off).

@scaler911
@scaler911

@hardtop

Just as with socks shoes have to be White, shoes are kit not equipment.

Na. They’re equipment not kit. Try riding on a pair of Powercranks with tennis shoes. They’re attaching you to the bike, transferring power. Kit makes you look pretty.

I’ll ignore the Powercranks reference thanks, when you step off the bike are the shoes attached to
a/you or
b/the bike

When you step off the bike, the bike is still equipment. When you take the shoes off, they are still equipment. They look like kit, and I suppose there’s an argument in the cleats only being equipment, but I maintain, shoes are not kit.

@scaler911

@hardtop

Just as with socks shoes have to be White, shoes are kit not equipment.

Na. They’re equipment not kit. Try riding on a pair of Powercranks with tennis shoes. They’re attaching you to the bike, transferring power. Kit makes you look pretty.

I’ll ignore the Powercranks reference thanks, when you step off the bike are the shoes attached to
a/you or
b/the bike

It’s like have poor underwear and managing to take home a beautiful lady…the underwear may well be equipment by virtue of it taking care of said precious equipment, however, it should match or said lady may decide otherwise at a crucial stage.

Further, she may realise your bike shoes don’t match and then if she is worth herself she will bail on account of poor Velomanati accordance….

Claro?

Bueno.

Gloves and helmet are kit. The bike can be operated just fine (although, in the case of the helmet not safely)

That may be your opinion but please can we stay well clear of this one.

@scaler911I really don’t want to even think about who (or what) might ride such an abomination. Mind you, I do wonder what color of shoes they would wear . . .

Checker board topped van’s.

http://reportandreview.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/vans-era-checkerboard______-260×152.jpg

Gloves and helmet are kit. The bike can be operated just fine (although, in the case of the helmet not safely) without them. Can you lay down some V sans gloves and helmet? Hell Yeah. Shoes, not so much. Gloves and helmet should thusly be matched to kit.

+1 exactly what I was trying to say but said a lot better.

With c*ntador having his own helmet sponsor it just going to start a trend (assuming he doesn’t get the ban he deserves) that would in my mind move helmets over to equipment rather than kit.

Gloves I have no answer for other than afre a 5 hour ride mine smell so bad I can’t wait to take them off.

@scaler911
That is an Escher of Abomination. My eyes can’t stop moving in horror over the Image That Can Not Be. Kickstand, skatebortion, The Thing alien shifter life form captured in the middle of morphing into something useable, whoopie cushion seat. The reflectors and platform pedals are at least an anchor to reality as I know it, sad as they are.
Fuck, you just made me look back again for more pain. Negative nipple lube to you, and very well played.

Trust the process, dear Velominatus, and rest assured that Merckx willing, the bastard wot devised and built that bastard machine will be depositing chunks of facial tissue in his local tarmac before sundown…

I’m of the belief that the saddle bar tape shoe trifecta must be kept in balance. Black or white can be used for any of those, but the second you choose anything else and don’t match the rest its ugly.

White bar tape/white saddle/white shoes = yes
White bar tape/black saddle/black shoes = yes
Lime green tape/lime green saddle/lime green shoes = yes in the absence of any conflicting colors
White bar tape/black saddle/lime green shoes = frame pump beating

If it were up to me nothing but black would be allowed.

@scaler911
That is an Escher of Abomination. My eyes can’t stop moving in horror over the Image That Can Not Be. Kickstand, skatebortion, The Thing alien shifter life form captured in the middle of morphing into something useable, whoopie cushion seat. The reflectors and platform pedals are at least an anchor to reality as I know it, sad as they are.
Fuck, you just made me look back again for more pain. Negative nipple lube to you, and very well played.

+1 great rant. “Whoopie cushion seat” is probably my highlight.

…Apologies for the self indulgence, but for me, today, and emotional day, with my first HC conquest, was a very very special day – I returned to my hotel to find a bottle of champagne in ice courtesy of the DOB prompt on the hotel puta….seemed rather appropriate!!

You might want to exercise a little care using that word in Spain! Unless you meant to say:

@Dr C

…I returned to my hotel to find a bottle of champagne in ice courtesy of the hotel puta…

Just seen your Strava page, I am doubly jealous of a route that finishes in Rhonda. We spent a couple of weeks just outside Jerez and drove over to Rhonda one day. The moutains to the west are stunning as well and I was itching to ride to Rhonda. Unfortunately, everyone was more interested in spending the day on the beach rather than wait round the villa for me to return from my epic and I ran out of time (next time, Mrs Chris will be insured to drive the hire car regardless of whether she wants to or not!). On the last day I did manage a pre dawn escape to El Bosque to climb 15km to Puerto del Boyar at 1100m. The sun was behind the mountains as I climbed but as I hit the pass I was able to watch it light up the hills and valleys that I’d just ridden through. Awesome ride but it wasn’t the full ride that I’d hoped for.

Chapeaux!

Fuck, you just made me look back again for more pain. Negative nipple lube to you, and very well played.

@DrC A-Merckx!