Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Cycling Thread - pleasure peddlers to serious cyclists sign in here!

994 replies

Thistledew · 13/08/2011 16:41

Hi All

I thought I would start a cycling thread. It would be great if we could make it all inclusive, so whether you currently just enjoy bike rides but are interested in taking it further, or already train seriously, please post what you are up to and what your aims are. By sharing knowledge and experiences, hopefully we can spur each other on.

If you want to, please post a quick biog of how long you have been cycling, how much you currently cycle, and what your goals are.

And for those who wish to engage in a bit of bike porn, please feel free to post what sort of bike you ride!

Happy peddling!

OP posts:
Original poster
Thistledew · 26/08/2011 19:40

My new Gore leggings arrived. I am very happy with them. The padding seems very substantial but not at all bulky. If anyone else is a size 38 have a quick look on Amazon because they are less than half price.

OP posts:
GeetTallBird · 26/08/2011 17:46

I have quite a lot of bum to harden up Grin

Original poster
Thistledew · 26/08/2011 16:44

I'm guessing that H is for harden?

ie stop being a wimpy soft-bum! Grin

OP posts:
PrideOfChanur · 26/08/2011 16:40

H TFU? I can think of words that fit all but the H! (Could be wrong,of course!)
Thistledew,I don't use clipless pedals - I thought I'd get into riding more before I tried,as I've never used them.I do have toeclips,and I've noticed I walk with my toes turned a bit in- I did wonder if the toeclips were holding my feet too straight!
I'll have a browse through the website later - thanks.
nocake,that's interesting.Maybe I am pushing too hard - that is quite possible,I may have got carried away in my desire to go as fast as possible!

Thanks so much for all the advice,I've only been talking to DH about it,not having any cycling friends,and while he does care about my knees he can only offer sympathy!

GeetTallBird-padded leggings/shorts really help!

GeetTallBird · 26/08/2011 13:48

HTFU am stumped at that one Hmm

nocake · 26/08/2011 12:09

Padded leggings or shorts are great but you also need to find a saddle that suits you. Excessively padded saddles are a big no as they make you less comfortable, not more comfortable. After that you just need to HTFU Grin

GeetTallBird · 26/08/2011 11:41

Haha! Are padded leggings the way forward?
Also....can cycling tone up anything else like mummy tummies or just give us all fabulous legs and buns?

nocake · 26/08/2011 11:03

I had surgery on a knee a couple of years ago and when I got back to cycling I had to do it without putting too much stress on the knee. I did this by using a lower gear and pedalling faster. That means you push less hard with each pedal stroke, which is easier on your knee.

Original poster
Thistledew · 26/08/2011 10:30

Pride - I was reading something on this website - sorry I can't remember which article it was, but there is loads of good advice if you search - which put knee pain down to having your seat too low. Do you use clipless pedals? Having your cleats in the wrong place can also put unnecessary stress on your legs and joints.

OP posts:
PrideOfChanur · 26/08/2011 08:59

Grin nocake
Thanks for the link,upahill It is annoying,I have the lovely new bike,it feels fantastic to ride - when I first rode it,I was amazed how much more comfortable it was than my old bike. But I worry about my knees,I don't want to soldier on and mess them up.

And,um,Hi Treacle! Pogle in new incarnation here..... how are things? Glad you haven't been squashed on the Elephant and Castle gyratory! Smile

Original poster
Thistledew · 26/08/2011 08:41

Welcome GeetTallBird. This thread is for anyone who is keen on cycling.

I remember the first few weeks of having a sore bottom- when you sit down, only to spring up again immediately with a surprised look on your face Grin.

OP posts:
GeetTallBird · 25/08/2011 23:48

Can I join? I've been cycling for about 3 weeks now, my bum is just stopping being tender!

nocake · 25/08/2011 16:31

My road bikes have names Blush

The Argon-18 Radon is called The Baby.
The Planet-X Kaffenback is Katie.

My On-one Pompino used to be called Billy Jean. That will only make sense to anyone who speaks slang Italian.

Bettymum · 25/08/2011 15:51

My bikes have names too :)
I have Gary (a Gary Fisher mountain bike)
Lance (a Trek carbon fibre racer) and
Blue Steel (a gorgeous metallic blue Bianchi racer)

They live in the garage and once in a while I get them out. Used to do loads of cycling - met my DH on a mountain biking weekend away - but since having DCs I don't get out much. Whenever I do it makes me sooooo happy. I'm 30 miles from work so too far to commute although DH does it sometimes - he is braver and bigger than me Grin.

buggerlugs82 · 25/08/2011 13:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
Thistledew · 25/08/2011 13:03

nocake Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Thistledew · 25/08/2011 13:02

steamedtreaclesponge I agree that actually roundabouts such as Trafalgar are not too bad. What I am finding worst as a novice commuter is queues of traffic stop-starting at traffic lights. It is fine when there is a big enough gap to cycle up the inside, but when the gap is narrow I get quite nervous trying to squeeze past busses or vans, as I don't trust them not to narrow the gap even further when they pull off. The trouble is that when you make the decision to stop and wait for the traffic to move, you find there is a moped or another cyclist on your tail who is expecting you to keep going through the gap.

Being behind a bus is also not fun as you never know if they are braking to slow down or actually stop. I think I need I need to loosen the bindings on my pedals so I can unclip a bit more easily to make sudden stops a bit less scary.

OP posts:
upahill · 25/08/2011 12:59

Is this any good for you Pride

www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

nocake · 25/08/2011 12:37

Pirdeofchanur The correct number of bikes any person should own is n+1 where n is the number of bikes you currently own Grin

steamedtreaclesponge · 25/08/2011 10:41

Cycling in London's actually not that bad - it's only the big gyratories, like the ones by Elephant & Castle and Vauxhall, that are really scary - you can feel very vulnerable as the only cyclist in the middle of six lanes of traffic! But traffic moves so slowly around Trafalgar Square and the like that it's really fine, as long as you watch out for buses. Hmm, I'm not really selling it here, am I? Wink

PrideOfChanur · 24/08/2011 18:47

A cycling thread,great!

I've just started riding more after a long time not riding at all - I used to ride a lot ,though never lots of miles, when I was younger,and went bike touring.Now I think I'm addicted again - and I'm bit cranky today because a combination of awful weather and other things mean I haven't been out for too long.My aim is to get fitter and improve on the distance I can ride.

I have a Trek 1.5T WSD road bike,and a Trek hybrid which I bought when I started riding again.Then I decided it wasn't fast enough,hence the other one! I've also still got my old touring bike from xxx years ago which I'm fixing up.And now I've got a hankering to have a mountain bike and get off road - cue lots of teasing from the DCs who think I already have too many bikes...

What I'd really like now is a group,or even just one other person,to ride with.

One problem I've had since getting the road bike is that the back of my knees hurt - I do the same route on the hybrid and I'm fine. I'm thinking it must be saddle height,but I've already lowered it a bit and don't want to go too low,as apart from the knees my current position feels fine.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I did wonder if it was just adjusting to the new bike and would go in time.

I admire all you London commuters -the thought of cycling(or driving ) across Trafalgar Square etc sounds totally intimidating.

Original poster
Thistledew · 24/08/2011 17:57

I know on a road bike you bend your inside leg and put your weight onto your outside pedal if free wheeling around a corner, and was wondering if it is any different on a mountain bike.

I was thinking about this on my ride this morning, funnily enough. At the moment I have 35mm tri-cross tyres on my bike but have been thinking of switching to proper road tyres.

However, there are two sections of my route where I have to go along a dirt path. I have noticed that when I am on the dirt, the whole of the surface of the tyre gets mud on it and when I go back onto the straight Tarmac, only a thin strip in the middle is cleaned off. It is not until I go around a corner that the sides of the tyres get cleaned up.

It makes me think that it is probably no bad thing to gave some grip on the sides of the tyres for commuting in wet weather.

OP posts:
upahill · 24/08/2011 17:45

I'm just used to altering my seating position and having the peddles in a certain way and ready to anticipate rocks and roots twist and turns.
It isn't as dramatic going down the main road! Grin

Original poster
Thistledew · 24/08/2011 17:33

What's different about corners? Going down hill I can guess, as there is much less chance of hitting a bump and going flying over the handlebars on a road bike.

OP posts:
upahill · 24/08/2011 17:22

Meant to add, after not going on a road bike for donkey's and being used to riding a mountain bike the skill is totally different.
Last night going down a hill I wanted to put my arse over the back tyre and keep my peddles even like I'm used to doing on the MB!
Even going round corners is different!