Cycling

[gallsman]

Incredible penultimate stage of the Giro for Yates to take it. A monumental c**k up from UAE.

A new born baby has meant I've not got watching any of the giro. What's the craic this year? Will have to get on the highlights.

Yates attacked on the Finestre and as said the other two kept looking at each other and refusing to bridge the gap. Yates kept pulling away to about 90 seconds or so of a gap and he had WVA up ahead of him to drag him out to a gap of about 5 mins.

[gallsman]

Incredible Dauphiné this year. Pogacar has just dropped Evenepoel and JV with ease. Far from over today but was he playing possum in the TT on Wednesday?

[gallsman]

Turns out it was very much over. He didn't even get out of the saddle and took a minute out of JV. I wondered after the TT whether he'd gone too hard at the classics and was a bit fatigued ahead of the tour. Not a chance.

Tomorrow a really brutal queen stage that you think would be more suited to JV but you'd think the way he couldn't hang today doesn't bode well.

[Orior]

During the winter I look forward to the summer. But does anyone else find cycling in warm weather very hard?

[grounded]

Incredible Dauphiné this year. Pogacar has just dropped Evenepoel and JV with ease. Far from over today but was he playing possum in the TT on Wednesday?

7.38w/kg for nearly 20 mins. Incredible!

[gallsman]

It's the way he's been making it look effortless for the last 18 months that is completely insane. As soon as they started to ride away from the mini group yesterday JV went with him but was out of the saddle hanging on to his wheel and only managed it for a few seconds before Pog simply rode away from him.

I'd had in my head that it might well be a TDF for the ages, especially after the TT. No excuses for either of them. Remco had his accident but tbh, over three weeks he's not on their level. Now it just looks like it'll be a procession again.

[JimStynes]

The last thing I'll say for the people that don't believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics, I'm sorry for you. I'm sorry you can't dream big and I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles...

I do love watching Pog though. He's brilliant!

[maddog]

Same again today, last kms ridden far from flat out. This Lipowitz looking like serious prospect. Remco is a TT diesel. No zip in the mountains. Maybe trained that way to an extent when world TT champ.

[grounded]

During the winter I look forward to the summer. But does anyone else find cycling in warm weather very hard?

It was 7 degrees when I was leaving the house last Sunday!
  In fairness, I remember having a tough time with the heat when I was in Majorca a number of years ago.
  I cant remember a similar episode here.
 

[grounded]

Anyone here repair/service maintain their own bikes or is it bike shop?

I've an ancient externally cabled Specialized that I can just about service myself cables,chain/cassette, bottom bracket( only as it is threaded) and brakes.
  Headset is beyond me as is anything do do with hydraulic brakes.
    As for electronic gears that would be terrifying!

[maddog]

Anyone here repair/service maintain their own bikes or is it bike shop?

I've an ancient externally cabled Specialized that I can just about service myself cables,chain/cassette, bottom bracket( only as it is threaded) and brakes.
  Headset is beyond me as is anything do do with hydraulic brakes.
    As for electronic gears that would be terrifying!

What type of headset is it? If it's cane creek they are fairly simple. Try some YouTube videos. What's up with the headset?

[grounded]

Anyone here repair/service maintain their own bikes or is it bike shop?

I've an ancient externally cabled Specialized that I can just about service myself cables,chain/cassette, bottom bracket( only as it is threaded) and brakes.
  Headset is beyond me as is anything do do with hydraulic brakes.
    As for electronic gears that would be terrifying!

What type of headset is it? If it's cane creek they are fairly simple. Try some YouTube videos. What's up with the headset?

Loads of forward and back rocking movement. Very noticeable when braking.
 I'm not sure what type the headset even is. Take  it out both upper and lower but no distinguishable manufactures Mark. Guess they are worn out.
  It's a specialised 2013 tarmac sl3.
Is there a site you can look this up from?

[maddog]

Anyone here repair/service maintain their own bikes or is it bike shop?

I've an ancient externally cabled Specialized that I can just about service myself cables,chain/cassette, bottom bracket( only as it is threaded) and brakes.
  Headset is beyond me as is anything do do with hydraulic brakes.
    As for electronic gears that would be terrifying!

What type of headset is it? If it's cane creek they are fairly simple. Try some YouTube videos. What's up with the headset?

Loads of forward and back rocking movement. Very noticeable when braking.
 I'm not sure what type the headset even is. Take  it out both upper and lower but no distinguishable manufactures Mark. Guess they are worn out.
  It's a specialised 2013 tarmac sl3.
Is there a site you can look this up from?

.
When off the bike apply front brake and rock bike back and forward. From what you say there will be some play. Loosen off the top cap and stem bolts. Let bike sit on floor (quick bounce of front wheel helps) to make sure the headset is in place. Then tighten top cap bolt, then the stem bolts. Should eliminate the rocking. Another thing to try is stand the bike on its back wheel. With the bars straight let go and see if they drop left and right without any sticking. If you can feel and resistance it's usually pitted headset and needs replacing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK5u5ioZU8M

[grounded]

Anyone here repair/service maintain their own bikes or is it bike shop?

I've an ancient externally cabled Specialized that I can just about service myself cables,chain/cassette, bottom bracket( only as it is threaded) and brakes.
  Headset is beyond me as is anything do do with hydraulic brakes.
    As for electronic gears that would be terrifying!

What type of headset is it? If it's cane creek they are fairly simple. Try some YouTube videos. What's up with the headset?

Loads of forward and back rocking movement. Very noticeable when braking.
 I'm not sure what type the headset even is. Take  it out both upper and lower but no distinguishable manufactures Mark. Guess they are worn out.
  It's a specialised 2013 tarmac sl3.
Is there a site you can look this up from?

.
When off the bike apply front brake and rock bike back and forward. From what you say there will be some play. Loosen off the top cap and stem bolts. Let bike sit on floor (quick bounce of front wheel helps) to make sure the headset is in place. Then tighten top cap bolt, then the stem bolts. Should eliminate the rocking. Another thing to try is stand the bike on its back wheel. With the bars straight let go and see if they drop left and right without any sticking. If you can feel and resistance it's usually pitted headset and needs replacing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK5u5ioZU8M

Thanks so much for that. 
   I assume the top cap bolt is used to compress the bearings in the headset just enough to prevent binding but also to lessen 'play' in the headset.
  Previously I always thought it was an extra bolt to hold stem and handlebars in place!
  I assume if you were to adequately tighten the bolts on the stem you could remove the top cap and bolt without any issues?
 Had a similar issue when I was fitting a bottom bracket. I over tightened the screw on non drive side and therefore over compressed bearings. Led to increased resistance when trying to pedal.
 

[maddog]

Seth Dunwoody won yesterday's stage of baby Giro. Adam Rafferty repeated the feat today. Bodes really well, great to see.