Ooh!!! Here we are! Anyone up for a general cycling chat thread?

[GudrunBrangwen]

Well done I was out on Thursday with my mtb club for the first time in ages. It felt great!

I've never gone as far as 30 miles, that's awesome.

Couldn't believe the snow this morning! Time for me to start seriously back on the bike having now run a marathon.
Ds got his first road cleats last week which he is very proud of, though this means changing wheels and pedals for off roaring which is a pita.
I'm running a sportive this September which is interesting - it's a million decisions about stuff, and trying to work out what will appeal.

A cycling thread!

You should have all been in the Peak District today - Kinder has been acting like a cloud catcher all day. No rain, snow et al..... v. soggy ground though.

Can I have a proud mummy moment? this is my ds

Totally justified proud mummy moment unescorted

When I saw the film - I cried. The film maker has found out things about what makes him tick that I didn't know.

You should be vv proud Unescorted!

Hooray minipips I was already a fan before this fantastic video! I'm doing Strathpuffer next year for the first time but I wouldn't dare do it solo!

It was so muddy this year. I suspect we will be there next year too - if we are call into the teepi & say hi. It has a wood burner in & plenty of coffee, cake & wine so is nice & cosy warm.

Sounds lovely (the warmth and the wine not the mud!)

What bike does your son ride? I have mtbing kids too but mine prefer downhill compared to the actual effort required going for a long ride

He has loads - Off road it is:
Moda Cross Bike - he started one of these which was good for establishing his skills.
The Alpkit tandem (which they very kindly had made for him),
He borrowed a Alkit Sonda Phatt bike for Strathpuffer
He is doing the Dirty Reiver this weekend on the new Alkit Ti Sonder Cross (borrowed)
He was given a hardtail mbt that has had its paint stripped so I don't know what type it is.
And another Red ridged Mtb that is currently covered by wet washing... they will keep the bikes in the laundry - I think that was the one he used for the Highland Trail

For the road he has a Moda road bike and a Trek Alpha (but that got mashed when he was hit by the drunk driver - Tom was fine) and needs replacing.

For skate park fun he has a BMX - also given to him.

Because where we live he has always ridden the hills on the cross bikes & sees overtaking the adults on their downhill bikes as a bit of kudos, so he hasn't ever done the downhill scene.

You're as bad for bikes as us - my youngest had 5 bikes before he was even 3

Yikes about the drunk driver, glad he was ok! I'm just about to get my 9 year old out on the road for fitness - he does have to ride up hills first to get the thrill of the downhill

Can anyone recommend a good commuter bike? I'm looking at hybrids and just can't make a decision.

I'm 5'8" and have a shoulder blade injury. I've been doing 7 miles a day round trip to work. My MTB is a men's bike and the arm extension is too far, irritating my shoulder. I use a rucksack.

I've tried a Ridgeback Speed, which was nice, came with a rack and guards but was not a quick release wheel and I want to be able to shove it in the car sometimes.

I sort of liked Ridegeback Anteron ladies position but I have to add the rack and mud guards. Also the bloke on the shop said it wasn't right for me and tried to sell me something else in the sale which o didn't want! They both have v brakes.

I tried a Specialized vita disc last week which is £550 plus the rack and guards. It felt fast and light but I'm struggling to justify the cost of disc brakes.

Can anyone give a view? TIA

I used to use a cross bike with slick tyres. It had sti levers for the brakes and gears so I could ride it with my hands on the top of the bars - that made me more visible in traffic. Because it looked like a battered old school road bike it was less attractive to the bike borrowers. The big advantage was it was lighter & had less rolling resistance than a mountain bike. Unlike a road bike it had places to attach racks.

In the short term if your hands are too far apart you can cut teh ends of teh handlebars (measure it carefully). If your hands are too far in front of you then see if you can get a shorter stem - both cheaper options than a new bike.

GGG

I think just about any bike would be a good commuter bike IF it came with, or was accessorised with, fairly narrow slickish tyres. And I'd include road bikes in that. I did ride a couple of hybrids for commuting but now am on a Specialised road bike and riding on the bar or hoods is pretty much like a hybrid riding position. Road bikes also feel more stable on descents imo. If your commute is entirely on tarmac then a road or CX would serve well, esp as you carry a rucksack so no need for pannier fittings.

If you liked the Vita, then there is a non disc version which is £400.

Thanks, are disc brakes worth it? I have disc brakes at the moment but I can't remember what v brakes feel like? Part of my commute is fast down quite a slope, will I be squeaking all the way down the hill with v brakes?

I wouldn't spend my money on disc brakes. A properly adjusted set of rim brakes will offer virtually the same power as a disc brake.

Rims are easier to maintain, discs are heavier than rims.

Rims will offer braking that is plenty good enough for your commute. DH is quite speedy on his audax and rides hilly terrain, he has rim brakes.

Decent touring bikes expected to stop with heavy loads are still sold with rim brakes .... King of Mercia.

Properly adjusted is the key to decent braking.

Thanks!

I'm a novice but I'm really enjoying zipping through the traffic in the morning. I've even been ditching the tube when I'm in London for work in favour of Boris Bikes.

Sorry for the hijack

Hello fellow cyclists. I'm just placemarking really. I mountain bike and Aldo gave a cross bike for road/cycle paths. I try and get out twice a week for 'long' ridesand I am aiming to try and get these up to 20 miles each time. I'm really slow though and a gold medalist at hill-avoiding so my goal this summer is to up my average speed and climbing. Let's see how that goes...

Also have, not Aldo gave!!

Golly, I like disc brakes (I know this is highly contentious though!), but whether they worth the extra I don't know.

DH, ds and I had a lovely sunny 30 mile ride this afternoon with a stop for cake at one of my fave cafes. Warm enough for dh and ds to have shorts and short sleeves.

Agree on the rim brakes being fine. For me I certainly wouldn't pay more for a bike on the basis of discs.

I like disc brakes but I only mountain bike. I think for a commuter bike v-brakes should be fine.