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

[Thistledew]

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!

BlueChampagne - we used a trailgator for dd when she was younger and thought it was really g ood. She'd bike till tired, then have a rest while been pulled, then bike a bit more.

Viva that's exactly my thinking on the men's trousers, having been looking at equivalent Altura ones that were £50+. Does this mean we're setting up a sub-quiche, the 'Tricross and Aldi trousers' crew?

Absolutely!

I spent £47 today and got 5 different things for the price of a pair of Altura trousers!

Talking of the Tricross quiche - has anyone with one changed the brake pads (Piffpaff, Thistle)?

I'm finding the brakes a bit rubbish and am considering this. Kool stop ones get good reviews.

Not yet. It goes back in for a 'shakedown' service in early Nov so I'm going to ask them about the brakes then.

Do you find the brakes a bit useless then?

I certainly can't stop quickly like on my mtb.

I have disc brakes on my MTB so it stops almost immediately. V brakes on my shopping runaround and it's ok. The brakes on the tricross are the least responsive of the three, they work but not as quickly as the other two. And the front brake has a terrible judder when i pull hard which is a common problem according to google.

I luckily seem to have escaped the notorious judder at least.

Hello all. Had an excellent time in the mountains. Lots of lovely riding. Both up and down. Still quite like the uphills to my surprise.

My mountain bikes both have disk brakes. Couldn't live without them but can't say I find the ones on my road bike a problem for stopping. I would get them checked out?

My ds had his first big cycling crash today. (He's nearly 4). Totally faceplanted after losing control riding downhill poor little man. He really did appear to land straight on his face so is lucky I think to have just got away with a few scrapes. So don't ask me about encouraging little ones to ride bikes as he will probably never get on his again!

I've just got some kool stop pads so am going to try changing the pads.

Glad you hada good time Summer.

Thank you all for the advice. Having looked at the price of tagalongs, I think I'll go for just encouraging him to cycle more! It's finding the time, as alas school isn't within cycling distance for him.

Hi I'm trying to get back into cycling after birth of 2nd baby who is now one. I would like to cycle to work which means I need lights for dark mornings on unlit country lanes. I found this list by goggling headlights_Aug1.pdf of cateyes and think the Nano Shot 620 will suit me has anyone else used this one? I need 30mins of high beam before joining the lit cycle path &can recharge at work. My budget ideally is £50-60.

We bought a tag along off eBay to use with our 4-5yr old. It was used twice last year! My DH found it hard work she stopped pedaling even though she can ride off stablisers now so we have just tried to encourage that instead. It hasn't been as useful as the bike seat we used lots for 3yrs+ and now the baby uses.

No idea about bike lights sorry as I don't ride in the dark. I've heard of CatsEye brand though and think they're a good make.

Hi All

A bit of a noticeable lack of posting about cycling now the weather has changed! Tsk, tsk!

Although I have to confess to having had a week off the bike and then only doing 50 miles last week. I've been away for the last three weekends, which hasn't helped.

I am determined to keep up my commuting over the winter, and am looking for a really good waterproof, windproof jacket. Everything that I have heard so far is that it is in fact worth paying the extra money to get a Gore jacket as opposed to something like an Altura - does anyone have an opinion on this?

What other kit is essential for winter commuting? I have a headband, thermal gloves and overboots, as well as thermal leggings of course - any other suggestions?

I am going to try to keep as close as possible to my aim of doing 100 miles a week through the winter, as I would really like to get good enough to do some racing next year.

I'm still cycling. There was a thread about Gore jackets on CycleChat last week, everyone was raving about how good they are.

I'm not looking forward to the colder weather - have got winter leggings, arm warmers and leg warmers so am well prepared. Its the dark evenings whch are buggering me now. Can only go out at weekends and kids/life sometimes get in the way. Got out last weekend both days, not so hopeful about this coming weekend.

Am thinking of getting a turbo trainer.

viva I got a cycle ops gel turbo trainer& riser block from wiggle last year was £164 all in, my DH and I used it several times a week set up in the garage over the winter. I was impressed how good its been, but its as boring as hell. You need to be really motivated or use it for specific reason. I have two small children and I primarily used when I put baby down for nap &grabbed 20-30mins just to get some cardo in. I bought that make after researching that they were still holding their value second hand on eBay.

Hi all!

Anyone got any tips for how I can get back into cycling? I've put on a LOT of weight (combo of thyroid probs and greed) and am terrified of it!

Hi NewNames!

I think the answer to your case depends on how much cycling you were doing before and how much you want to start doing.

I think the first thing (assuming that you already have a bike) is to get it serviced- take it to your local bike shop rather than Halfords and get them to do a full service to check brakes, tyres, gears, chain etc. Make sure you have the kit basics too- a decent helmet and cycling shorts. Maybe gloves too.

Then decide what you want to do with your bike- is it commuting or to cycle for pleasure? If commuting, then have a think about how you can incorporate some cycling into your routine? Do you have showers at work? Can you leave a towel, wash kit, shoes, shirt/jumper at work? If you can commute by bike, it is a great way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine without having to set aside extra time for it.

If you are just thinking about cycling for pleasure, try to work out a loop or route near to where you live of around 5 miles, and then build up the number of circuits you do and the speed at which you do it. Have a look also for Sky rides or Breeze rides in your area, which are organised group rides but aimed at people who are not ready for a cycling club.

Other than that, there is no great mystery- Just get on your bike and ride!

Thanks thistle! I need to break my sit bones in. I shall start with a few loops locally as you suggest. Might have to avoid hills (even small ones) as I really am that unfit and heavy at the mo.

Oh and yes I have a bike and all the gear :)

newnames our local council has been running cycle confidence sessions to get people back into riding& has loads information on quieter routes or tracks on its website. Gd luck, I hadn't riden for a year by the time I'd had baby no2 and felt rather wobbly &vulnerable when I first went out again but a few little trips out of 2-4miles soon built my confidence up but now I need to get over the hurdle of cycling to work again :) its been 2yrs since I did that and that's.daunting me at the moment. More the thought of will I have the energy to get home again rather than get there ok!