Any Newish Cyclists?

[CyclingShark]

I just got a bike. Been out it once, my arms are a bit wobbly!

Wondering if anyone else has recently started cycling?

I am on strava (all one ride at the moment)

I bought a full sized folding bike for lock down. But I'd so heavy it's difficult to get in the car. So bought a smaller one that's easier. I love cycling. Not lost any weight but loads fitter. And slimmer. Women's saddle is a must!

Just tried using the Komoot app. Total
Nightmare. Tell you to go straight on for 1/2 mile then a second later tells you to make a U turn. Then took me up
A serious mountain bike track on a supposedly easy route!

I don't use any kind of navigating app. I plan routes at home on my ordnance survey map and then have Strava on my phone in my jersey pocket. I mainly cycle from home though so I have a fair idea of the rough direction I'm going in!

Once on holiday I went for a run and got lost and ended up running a half marathon instead of the 8 miles I'd planned!

@Teateaandmoretea I'm exactly the same! I can't run to save my life . But I was trying to illustrate how much further you have to cycle than run in order to burn a similar number of calories as it shocked me when I first started cycling

Toddlerteaplease I have a Selle Diva saddle on my road bike and I LOVE it! It made such a difference to my lady bits when cycling longer distances
For anyone going out for longer and wanting to try gels and stuff I recommend Hammer Nutrition products - I'm not advertising them! - they don't have the same preservatives and other rubbish that Science in Sport or Hi5 have and the chocolate gels are to die for! their website is pretty informative if you fancy learning more about nutrients and energy

I have selle seat and they are very good.

Also another plug for dhb tights, reasonably priced and very comfy. Only brand I'll buy.

I got a quad lock that let's you put your phone on th handlebars of your bike. Then plotted route to work using Google maps (cycle mode) and used that to test route to work. Worked quite well.

I have a selle saddle too. It’s massive. Well worth a few extra grams

I ride on the pavement where I can as so few pedestrians around here. I stop if I see one so no moaning please.

I have a hybrid bike (bit like a Dutch bike) complete with basket.

I normally go ice skating 4 hours a week, and not cycled in 2 years as it's such hard work. Ice skating however has transformed it. I can cycle for miles with no sore legs or bum.

A kind lady gave me a bike for free and I bloody love it. It's ancient but perfect for pootling. I did give her some money btw, I'm not sure she realised how hard it is to get one!

How are people getting posts deleted? Bizarre

If you are cycling in the dark then reflector markings on the back of your legs are the best for being seen earliest by cars as your eye is primarily attracted to movement.

Saddles are such a personal thing. What suits one person won't necessarily suit another and neither the degree of padding nor the price are any guarantee of comfort. Fit is crucial.
I felt rotten a couple of years ago when my DH bought me a new saddle, having secretly sought the opinions of many of my cycling friends and spent quite a bit of money on this surprise. As he isn't interested in cycling and has been known to resent the amount of time and money I spend on it, this was a huge gesture and I really, really wanted to love that saddle. But OMG I have never been in such pain on a bike. I tried every kind of adjustment but ended up riding out of the saddle a lot as whatever I did, it was still excruciating. Its a really popular saddle with a lot of women but the cut out was in exactly the wrong place for me and I ended up with saddle sores in some very sensitive places. In the end I had to admit defeat and gave it to one of my friends. Unfortunately whilst recommendations might help, there are no guarantees. If you are able to borrow a saddle that you are interested in for a test ride it can save expensive errors. Some shops do have test saddles, though they tend to only be for high end styles and I guess at the moment people are going to be more reluctant to share things.

@Teateaandmoretea I thought that. What on earth is contraversial on a cycling thread to warrant deletion!

Similar for shorts and bibs. I have DHB which are fine for shorter rides, but they get uncomfy for me on longer ones. Although I am rather wide of arse, the chamois pad is slightly too small for my sit bones.

I use chamois cream too! Cannot do my rides without some. The times I have I have regretted it especially when you pee!

Times I havent*

Do any of you have a Carrera Subway hybrid in a 16" frame? If so how tall are you?
I've had to return the new bike I ordered and obviously now have no hope of getting one new from somewhere so just looking at second hand ones on eBay. The only downside of that is not being able to try for size.
Google says the 16" frame is suitable for people over 5'2 which is how tall I am but would rather hear from someone who is the same height whether it actually fits before I start bidding!
I've have messaged the seller to see if they can tell me what height the seat is from the ground at its lowest, but had no answer yet.

I'm the luckiest person ever. A friend has just given me her Liv Avail. She upgraded.

Ooh that's nice Jacob. My winter/commuting bike is an Avail and its a blooming good bike. Mines only the aluminium one but its comfy, remarkably light for an ally frame and a dream to work on. You'll love yours I'm sure!

I ride an avail. I have the Advanced 2. It’s a brilliant bike for all round road riding 👍🏻

Not sure which level it is, I think basic. Still thrilled to bits.

I imagine the riding position etc is much the same, you are going to have a ball

I’d actually been looking at Avails in the local shop and they said all the levels were the same geometry. It’s all just different group sets, carbon forks, disc brakes, etc. So this is non carbon, normal brakes, not sure what group set.

The thing is that you need a first bike to work out what you want and what it’s all about. 105+ group sets are more idiot proof and have a wider gear range but I rode 3000 miles on a bike with Sora. Disc brakes are better in the wet, but there are a lot of fair weather cyclists out there for whom they would just be additional, pointless weight.

I'm a wimp - I've got a gel saddle and padded shorts
Decathlon are pretty good for good value cycling gear