BreninBeener wrote:Some soft and sticky DH tyres and DH tubes. That will provide lots of overload without making your bike a badly handling lorry
It's not a bad idea, but I really don't want to be messing around changing tyres for specific rides as my rims are a pig with most tyres and I now run tubeless which has other drawbacks when swapping out tyres. Not to mention I'd be putting hundreds of miles into them. They'd be ripped to shreds within a few weeks.
ootini wrote:If you genuinely want to weigh yourself down in a big way, take a look at SCUBA diving shot belts. I may actually have one I can send to you if I can find it. Basically it's a big wide belt with a series of small sealed pockets on the back, you slide a tube or bit of pipe in through a folded flap and pour lead shot in to it. We used them when diving as they're more comfortable than the normal block belt. I think mine could cope with about 8kg of lead shot when it was full to bursting, doesn't sound like a lot but wrapped around your waist you notice it.
To be honest, on a bike, I really don't know. When diving shot belts were used to avoid back pain caused by block belts, but that's in a horizontal profile and floating. I guess you'd be best trying with a small amount of weight and building it up? Either way, it's just a suggestion. Pinch of salt n all that.
How about ride to top of a climb at your pace, ride back down to the last man and then back to top at a slower pace? Just do more within a ride than they do.
Doesn't cost you anything and maintains the social purpose of a group ride.
Or, give everyone a head start of a few minutes and aim to top a climb/ section first.
Or, you can get those things that clip on to spokes to increase wind resistance. Easy to remove when not required.
I've tried doing that first suggestion. One of my friends said that it felt like he was just doing a solo ride and got a bit pissy about it. The headstart is ok in summer, but in winter you just end up freezing your arse off whilst you're waiting for them to get a big enough lead.
...and yes, I'm trying to get faster mates, but short of going out with some of you nutters, there's not that many out there.
Probably best I don't use the bottles for drinking from after using them for that! I wonder what a 750ml bottle full of shot would weight. I'm guessing quite a bit.
...and it shouldn't ruin a ride any more than having bikepacking gear on the bike would. Probably less so as it'll be easier to balance the weight around the bike properly.
Richard G wrote:Recently my training and fitness has stepped up a few levels, and, current knee injury aside, I've found myself getting a bit frustrated when out with friends who are quite a lot slower than me.
More to the point OP - what have you been doing to get to this (^^^^) point... I'd love to be in the same position so any pointers would be good
I did use water in rucksacks when mountaineering training as you could get rid of it at any point in the session - handy on top of Snowdon but I used to get some funny looks from others at the trig point when I emptied out 10 - 15 litres. Saved the knees on the descents too (less of an issue on a bike!).
Lots of people reporting fat bike 'resistance training' seems to be good.
Richard G wrote:Probably best I don't use the bottles for drinking from after using them for that! I wonder what a 750ml bottle full of shot would weight. I'm guessing quite a bit.
...and it shouldn't ruin a ride any more than having bikepacking gear on the bike would. Probably less so as it'll be easier to balance the weight around the bike properly.
Search "bulk density of lead shot". c.7500kg/m3 to 11500kg/m3. If I've got my figures right then about 5.5 to 8.5kg in a 0.75litre bottle. Might pull your rivnuts out I guess
Quick, cheap and easy to do and depending on where the your fittings are might not be as much of an influence on the bike handling / feel / weight distribution.
Richard G wrote:Recently my training and fitness has stepped up a few levels, and, current knee injury aside, I've found myself getting a bit frustrated when out with friends who are quite a lot slower than me.
More to the point OP - what have you been doing to get to this (^^^^) point... I'd love to be in the same position so any pointers would be good
Two a day training of weights plus turbo work (TrainerRoad).
Injury aside, now I need to get my technical skills up a bit and I'm pretty much exactly where I want to be.
Cheeky Monkey wrote:Search "bulk density of lead shot". c.7500kg/m3 to 11500kg/m3. If I've got my figures right then about 5.5 to 8.5kg in a 0.75litre bottle. Might pull your rivnuts out I guess
Quick, cheap and easy to do and depending on where the your fittings are might not be as much of an influence on the bike handling / feel / weight distribution.
Cheers. I think I have the solution then. I reckon two 500ml bottles with shot plus ankle weights, job done.
BUt then I've never been the one racing off the front 
