Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

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:
Piffpaffpoff · 22/08/2012 15:49

Thanks Fred. I think you make a good point, the Revolution bikes are great, my current runabout is an old Edinburgh bike that I've had for years and it's still in good shape.

However, the decision was kind of taken out of my hands because I went for a look today and they didn't have any of the revolution ones left, so I had a run on the Specialized Tricross and it was lovely. Really comfy and so fast compared to my hardtail! Someone further down the thread was singing its praises too so after a tense hour of humming and haw-ing in a nearby coffee shop I went back and bought it! Grin. Don't get it for a couple of weeks though Sad.

FredFredGeorge · 22/08/2012 18:43

Piffpaffpoff The Tricross is certainly not a bad bike, and it is an upgrade so don't worry about that - enjoy it!

SeashellsAllezModInYellowAllez · 22/08/2012 18:51

Hello!

I've started to ride again, and borrowed my dh's bike. I'm getting alot of pain in my knees when I start the slightest pressure up hill.

Does anyone know why this could be? I assume I'm unfit but expected pain in my thighs not knees?

Itwillendinsmiles · 22/08/2012 19:38

Hi seashells,

is the frame size correct for you and is the saddle at the right height?

VivaLeBeaver · 22/08/2012 19:45

Have just ordered a Tricross. Have been umming about them for a couple of weeks and Evans are having a sale.

SeashellsAllezModInYellowAllez · 22/08/2012 19:48

The frame size should be correct as dh and I are the same hight but it is probably the seat...serve me right for doing a spontaneous ride! Didn't go far though. Will adjust the seat height and try again. I wanted to borrow his before considering getting one for myself as they can be so expensive ATM and he has 2 already!! Thanks for getting back to me :)

SeashellsAllezModInYellowAllez · 22/08/2012 19:48

*height

Original poster
Thistledew · 22/08/2012 20:22

Yay to all these new Tricross owners! We can have our own quiche.

Seashells - to adjust your seat to the correct hight you need to be able to rest your heel on the pedal when it is in the lowest position and have your leg completely straight. Check that you are sitting square on the saddle when you do this.

If your seat is fine it is probably fitness. Try dropping down a couple of gears so you can keep your cadence up and you don't have to work so hard.

OP posts:
Piffpaffpoff · 22/08/2012 20:45

(Waves at Thistles and Viva)

Thistles, it was your review of it that gave me the confidence to get it! I loved my test run on it, the handlebars felt v narrow to start with and I had to go back to the shop to get them to show me how to work the gears (blush), but once I got going it was great, surprisingly comfy. And lovely looking too. I'm a bit cheesed off that I'm having to wait to get it, but ho hum that's life. I'll spend the two weeks planning routes!

VivaLeBeaver · 22/08/2012 21:03

Think I've got to wait about ten days as well. I liked my test ride, got them to show me the gears before I went out! One thing I thought afterwards though and I'm not sure if I'm right on this or not.....I don't think there's a way to know which gear you're in? Like on my mtb I can see that I'm in 2 and 6 by looking at my shifters. I don't recall any numbers showing on the tricross.

I've also ordered a brooks saddle, mudguards and better tyres for it. Getting the shop to fit all that for me. Oh and a cycle computer so I can see how far I've gone!

VivaLeBeaver · 22/08/2012 21:08

And once I've got a bit more confident with the bike I need to think about pedals. Upgrading to spd's would probably be beneficial at some point.

Original poster
Thistledew · 22/08/2012 23:43

I am glad you are enjoying the tricrosses.

Viva - whether you can tell which gear you are in depends on which shifters you have on the bike. Looking at the Evans website it seems that it comes with Shimano 2300 STI levers like these. They don't have numbers on them but they do have an optical display which will tell you roughly which one you are in. Not all road bike shifters have these displays though. The Tarmac I am getting has, if I remember rightly, Shimano Ultegra shifters, which do not have an optical display.

On that news, I got a good bunch of cheques in this week (am self-employed), so hopefully will be able to pay for the rest of the bike this weekend! I am ridiculously excited Grin Blush!

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 23/08/2012 07:16

Thanks for that Thistle, yes they look the ones. There was a window display with some red in it, just couldn't work out what it all corresponded to but sure I'll get the hang of it.

VivaLeBeaver · 24/08/2012 19:25

My bikes ready to pick up. Can't go till Monday though!

Piffpaffpoff · 25/08/2012 14:29

Envy Envy Viva. No sign of mine yet. Can't wait to hear how you get on with it!

VivaLeBeaver · 25/08/2012 16:24

They're fitting the mudguards onto mine and I've also ordered a Brooks saddle for it so hopefully a sore arse won't be a problem. Asda have got some good sports clothing in at the minute which would be great for biking. Got a top for £10.

Dh just informed me the reason why I'm finding my mountain bike slow is cos my back breaks are half on all the time. Ooops.

Hope yours comes soon PiffPaff. I think I got the last 49cm one in the country, even specialized haven't got any. The 2013 bikes will be out in the next few weeks, just hope the spec isn't loads better and I regret not waiting. Still at least I got mine in the sale!

VivaLeBeaver · 27/08/2012 13:42

Picked my bike up this morning. Waiting for the rain to stop so I can go out on it.

They couldn't fit the CatsEye computer I ordered and reckoned that no bike computer will fit on teh handlebars due to the brake levers/cables. Hmm

Its also come with basic plastic pedals, bloe said I'd need new ones asap. Can anyone recommend any pedals. Not sure about spds just yet, but would be happy for the the ones that are spds one side and normal the other.

VivaLeBeaver · 27/08/2012 15:01

OK, have been out for a ride. My Brooks saddle is very slippy, kept feeling like I was going to slide off the front. DH is adjusting it now. Faster than my mtb but not as comfy. Hoping I need to get used to it and that I haven't made a mistake. I think I need some padded cycling gloves, my hands are sore.

Piffpaffpoff · 27/08/2012 18:11

Viva, it's such a different riding style that it will feel v different to your mountain bike to start with. Gloves are a good idea though, they can make a world of a difference. I like Specialized body geometry ones the best, they have really good padding. On the pedals, I'm going to take the toe straps off my runaround bike and put them on my tricross, would that be an option. I am jyst too chicken to try SPDs.

Can't help on the computer front though, recently I've just been using Mapmyride on my phone for recording runs.

Still no word on when mine will be ready. Sad

VivaLeBeaver · 27/08/2012 18:33

Piffpaff, really hope your bike comes soon.

I've decided to order some Shimano pedals from amazon. They're spd one side and normal the other. So I'll use the normal side for now. Will order some Specialized gloves as well.

I've had a better look at the handlebars and I think the problem is because there is a bell and a front reflector mounted on there already there isn't the space for anything else. I'm going to lose the front reflector to make space for a computer.

I think shops legally have to sell bikes with reflectors and bells so that's probably why they didn't mention taking them off!

Where are you ordering yours from? Cam they definetly get one? Specialized themselves seem to be out of tricrosses in some sizes.

Piffpaffpoff · 27/08/2012 18:46

It's coming from the Edinburgh bike co-op who are my local bike shop who I've gone to for about 15yrs, and the delay is not in getting the bike but getting it booked into their workshop to be assembled. There's definitely a tricross with my name on it though, I've paid for it! I did think about going off and ordering it online once they told me there would be a bit of a wait but I'm a bit of a sentimental old sod and wanted to give them the business. (Plus they were the cheapest when I googled it last Thursday!)

VivaLeBeaver · 27/08/2012 19:37

I wanted to get my tricross from them as it was £50 cheaper than Evans but they didn't have it in my size.

Piffpaffpoff · 27/08/2012 20:58

They only had three left in my size!

VivaLeBeaver · 01/09/2012 18:47

Have you got your Tricross yet PiffPaff?

DH has fitted my new pedals onto mine, haven't tried it with them on yet.

Piffpaffpoff · 01/09/2012 22:35

No Viva, thanks for asking! The shop said two weeks, so I shall be on the phone first thing on Wednesday if I've not heard by then. Its my own fault, my one was £50 cheaper than the next cheapest one which would have come from an online shop in 2-3 days. Times are tight and, as I was already over my set budget, I decided that for the sake of £50, I could tolerate a small delay. But it turns out I can't!

Hoping I will have it by the end of the week.....