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Original poster

How long does it take you to get ready for a bike ride?

26 replies

ShotsFired · 19/06/2017 08:14

It always seems to take ages, especially when I am trying to get out the door for a nice early morning ride! (even if I lay it all out night before)

I have:

Sports bra (even more difficult when you wake up hot and clammy!)
Chest/HRM strap
Bibs
Jersey
Socks
Bike shoes (clipless so can't just go in trainers)
Head/sweatband
Helmet
Glasses
Fill water bottle
Turn on Garmin/lights
Keys
Probably something else I have forgotten

OP posts:
Mumski45 · 19/06/2017 16:05

Yes I do all that plus check tyres and chain usually. Also like to plan my route and sometimes leave that to the last minute. I have a good routine now and keep most stuff near my bike. It does take a while though and then before I leave the house I have to stop and do a mental checklist to make sure I haven't forgotten something e.g. Helmet Wink

BarchesterFlowers · 20/06/2017 06:44

VV quick here if I am not riding to work. We have a big chest of drawers in an upstairs hallway with a drawer each of cycling stuff. Bike shoes, coats, gilets, glasses, helmets etc., live next to the bikes in a locked barn.

I can be up and out within 5-6 minutes (with my slippers waiting for me where I left them when I get back). I just take a banana and a drink.

We tend to check our bikes when we get back from a ride, they rarely need anything doing to them but get looked at properly every few weeks. A dynamo hub has eliminated the light issue, they are just there, and on, permanently. The only thing I end up doing every now and then is using the in line micro gear adjusters on a ride.

Iamastonished · 20/06/2017 06:46

Why do you need a sports bra to ride a bike?

BikeRunSki · 20/06/2017 06:54

I can can dr ward in all that (but don't use HRM) in bout 10 mins. 2 mins for water bottles; 10 mins for a snack (if first thing); getting chosen bike out of garage that is overful of bikes - ages, especially if I have to move some out, put them back and lock them all up again.

I usually forget to turn my Garmin on!

I keep tools, pump and inner tubes on my bike anyway, abs helmet hangs on handlebars with gloves in. Drawer by front door gas cafe lock, naked bars, arm warmers and wind proof/waterproof cag to grab as needed.

Overshoes can take a while in winter.

BikeRunSki · 20/06/2017 06:56

Why do you need a sports bra to ride a bike?

To keep my boobs still! I use a low impact one for road riding (can get pretty jiggly uphill) and high impact for MTB and cyclocross.

BarchesterFlowers · 20/06/2017 07:03

What is HRM?

Iamastonished · 20/06/2017 20:54

I only do road cycling or on the TPT, which is why I didn't see the need for one as there wouldn't be much jiggling going on.

BikeRunSki · 20/06/2017 21:34

Barchester Heart Rate Monitor

BarchesterFlowers · 20/06/2017 21:40

Oh, thanks, much too technologically advanced for little old me then.

I don't wear a sports bra but I am a b cup and ride on the road unless I have to go on a track to get somewhere and then it is a rough farm type track at worst.

Original poster
ShotsFired · 20/06/2017 22:15

5-6minutes?!Shock
What am I doing that takes so long then? I literally have every single item laid out in a pile before I go to bed and it must be a good 10 mins before I am heading downstairs to get water and bike - which has already been checked after last ride and all lights and Garmin etc just waiting to be switched on.

(Don't do pre ride snacks. Sports bra cos I am large of boob and cos I always have worn them)

OP posts:
Whathaveilost · 20/06/2017 22:22

Blimey it doesn't take long at all.
Usually the longest bit is I'd I'm not riding from home and I either put the carrier on the car or drop the seats and take the front wheel off.

Getting ready? Cycle shorts and jersey in the wardrobe so are cycle shoes. I have a TNF small bag and it will have a hydration pack, tool kit and tubes etc, a bit of cash, sunglasses and usually a mars bar or something. My helmet will have my gloves in. I use my phone as a computer.

Takes minutes.

BarchesterFlowers · 21/06/2017 06:40

Most of my stuff like glasses, a bit of cash, etc lives in my bar bag. The tools I might need live in my saddle bag.

Takes a minute to get dressed, a couple of minutes in the bathroom, a minute to fill my water bottle/grab a banana and then I am off outside to put my shoes on and grab whatever layers I need.

DH has suspended a pole (looks like an old broom handle Grin) from the beams in the barn and our outer layers are hanging up on coat hangers in there next to the bikes.

Shoes, helmets, spare gloves, locks/keys and sun cream are on an old bookcase in the same barn.

All grab and go.

I don't do any tech, my phone would tell me what I had done if I looked, I only tend to look when DH tells me some dodgy sounding mileage figure (usually that there are only ten miles left for home when I know it is more like fifteen).

BikeRunSki · 21/06/2017 08:17

I'd love a barn for the bikes!!! Ours (12.....) jostle for space in the garage, along with site gear (we both work on construction sites), washing machine, tumble dryer, camping kit, skis..... it was just about do-able until DH bought one of these monsters. Now the cat can barely slither through to get to the cat flap.

BarchesterFlowers · 21/06/2017 09:09

We need to downsize bike, DH loves the room but his income has reduced since he changed direction (and brexit happened). I tolerated it before but now I just see it as a massive waste of cash that means we both have to work very hard for.

CMOTDibbler · 21/06/2017 09:17

It takes me about 10 minutes, but that involves a compression sleeve and two splints.
I wear a 'normal bra looking' sports bra, bibs, jersey, socks. Cycling shoes are in the hall, gazillion water bottles on the shelf in the kitchen. Helmet has gloves in it normally, otherwise they are in my kitbrix stash along with all other bits and pieces.

Ds can be out in under 5 minutes. DH could if he left all his stuff in one place....

Original poster
ShotsFired · 21/06/2017 10:54

Maybe my Lycra is just a bit over snug that it takes me a while longer to stuff myself in it then GrinShockConfused

Even so, I am still streets ahead of OH who takes bloody ages. Usually stoping halfway to read up on some rare lizard, learn a new word in Russian or just stand around in one sock for a while. It sounds like OP have similarly faff men in their life...

OP posts:
Original poster
ShotsFired · 21/06/2017 10:56

(damn you autocorrect!)

^ "it sounds like pp have similarly faffy^ men in their lives..."

OP posts:
Original poster
ShotsFired · 21/06/2017 10:57

Oh ffs I give up with this app. Formatting and typos so much easier on laptop...

OP posts:
BoysofMelody · 26/06/2017 20:38

Bloody ages. I'm a gentleman mumsnetter so no sports bra issues. But it really makes me want to get a cheap flat bar bike with flat pedals for round town cycling. I was toying with the idea of taking the cycle path to the pub, but thought of the preparation time (plus taking a separate pair of shoes) and thought 'forget it, I'll catch up with Corrie instead'

CMOTDibbler · 26/06/2017 20:52

The secret of riding your spd sl pedals with normal shoes on is to wear something with a thin, soft sole like Converse. I can't usually be bothered to get my hybrid out of the garage - which has dual sided pedals - to pop down the town, so end up riding my road bike

BoysofMelody · 27/06/2017 00:07

cmot alas I have SPD pedals, so the contact point is probably too small. Bit good tip nonetheless!

BarchesterFlowers · 27/06/2017 07:30

You just need to swap your pedal for a touring pedal like a Shimano A530 or similar.

One side flat, one side SPD.

CMOTDibbler · 27/06/2017 08:40

As Barchester says, it's even easier with SPD - those dual sided pedals are great. We have them on all of our off road bikes, esp ds as he rides his MTB to school (his school trousers weren't terribly compatible with his road bike!)

BarchesterFlowers · 27/06/2017 15:33

We only have SPD pedals. My bike (or is it me) isn't build for speed but DH has SPD race pedals which are virtually no bigger than the cleats themselves on his audax/fast bikes.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 27/06/2017 15:44

You've forgotten your gloves & cash for a cafe stop!
Seriously though I love cycling but hate the 'faffage' it requires. If you also include getting bike out of garage and pumping up tyres if can easily take me 20 mins to leave the house and I often find I've forgotten something and need to go back inside and clomp around on my cleats!
Unfortunately I have no advice but glad it isn't just me