What kind of rider do you think I am?

[-Adam-]

May sound like a funny question.

However, I'm currently sitting here with a needle and thread adjusting various bits of my new team issue kit as my body is obviously not what a Belgian seamstress expects...

So given my physique, big legs, skinny upper body. Am I a sprinter? Am I a climber? Or am I just the character from Belleville Rendez-vous?

[Andrew G]

A seamstress by the sounds of it.

[djembi]

Niave

[-Adam-]

[quote="djembi"]Niave

[Alan M]

Adam, just asking the question reveals the answer.

[Tony]

You are actually laying yourself wide-open here.... However, I shall resist all temptation....probably.

IMHO it is completely appropriate that your cycling heroes are the big sprinters.....Cavendish and the likes. You are definitely more of a Cavendish than say a Contador or one of the Schleck brothers [are they good climbers - my ignorance of the pro-peloton is considerable?????].

Your build is pretty much spot-on for Northern European racer. It would be fine for the track too. I don't really have you down as a climber - your ability to climb is due to the short, sharp nature of the climbs in the UK, your high anearobic power, basic levels of fitness etc. Several years back, there an Aussie guy in the club called Brett who thought he was a climber too (at least for the first couple of seasons anyway). And he was a perfectly competent climber - but he too was really a sprinter. The cross-over from sprinting to climbing appears to be surprisingly high upto 1st or even Elite level (Paul Tunnell excepted, of course).

BTW - You've clearly got a fan in djembi !

[-Adam-]

There was no real enquiry in my post, Tony. I was merely pointing out the trouble I have sometimes getting stuff to fit because of an awkward cycling body shape!!

I know there are plenty of people queing up to take a pop at me, so let 'em!

You make some interesting points though. I agree I'm no pure climber, but nor do I think I'm really much of a pure sprinter either. On flat fast sprints, even at this level, I'm not really powerful enough. However, when the finishes drag up a bit more, well thats when I come into my own. To be honest, when I refind the attacking nerve I had as a 2nd cat, I won't need to rely on that so much anyway... hopefully. I would like to point out however, I have never held Cav up as a hero of mine! There are more strings to my bow than that...

Djembi is just upset that I'll still drop him riding 32h handbuilts while he's rolling on super lightweight carbon tubs (on the clubrun!).

[PeteS]

Who is this Djembi, I thought we had to speak in plain English?

[Grahame]

[quote="-Adam-"]

Djembi is just upset that I'll still drop him riding 32h handbuilts while he's rolling on super lightweight carbon tubs (on the clubrun!).

[quote="Grahame"][quote="-Adam-"]

Djembi is just upset that I'll still drop him riding 32h handbuilts while he's rolling on super lightweight carbon tubs (on the clubrun!).

[Sylv]

[quote="-Adam-"]Maybe on ceramic rims though, thoughts Grahame?

[-Adam-]

I have heard that because the ceramics get a build up of rubber on them, they're crap in the wet? Unless you scrub them down first of course...

[Sylv]

As I use some for everyday commuting, I find the only time they are a problem in the wet is if you are riding too slowly to allow the gyroscopic effect to remove the film of water on the rims - so that paradoxally the faster you are going the better they brake (should be ok in a race then!). Rubber deposit doesn't seem to be a problem. I've never used ceramic-specific pads (well after having tried them which was rubbish), and it seems that's the general consensus too. Normal pads last me for ages.

[Paul H]

[quote]I agree I'm no pure climber, but nor do I think I'm really much of a pure sprinter either. On flat fast sprints, even at this level, I'm not really powerful enough. However, when the finishes drag up a bit more, well thats when I come into my own.

[quote="Paul H"][quote]I agree I'm no pure climber, but nor do I think I'm really much of a pure sprinter either. On flat fast sprints, even at this level, I'm not really powerful enough. However, when the finishes drag up a bit more, well thats when I come into my own.