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!

[ivykaty44]

hello I am back. I went away with dd2 this summer and we went to france camping and took our road bikes, we didn't really plan but made it up as we went along.

We did 248 miles which were such lovely miles, mostly flat as we were in the centre of france. It was a real treat on the roads as well the traffic is so patient and considerate in the main.

I have been riding dd's cycle cross bike which she is now going to start using so will have the tyre and pedals changed so wondering if I can pick up a second hand road bike

[UniS]

Ds wanted to do a triathlon today! he was going to a swimming party. so - he ran to the end of our road and back, then we cycled to the party ( 8 miles) he swam for an hour during the party, cycled home ( another 8 miles) and then ran to end of road and back again... had to try not to laugh. He can't swim a length yet and the end of the road is about 100 meters away.

Still he's a cracking little bike rider for his age, 7.

[LadyMud]

You're a little star, Master UniS!
Don't you just hate it when little kids are better than you?

[UniS]

He's little star who is gonna make his mother suffer in the next couple of years as he gets faster and I get older....I was never fast to begin with, just good at riding for a long time and thus covering large distances. I wonder if we have created a monster by taking him cycle touring from before he could walk ( in trailer to start with , then on a tandem, then solo from last year) .
I got smoked on the way to church this morning. I'm blaming the thumb, I wrenched body boarding yesterday, that made changing up gears every painfull.

[puffylovett]

Hello, I've just found you, can I please join?
Have recently taken up mountain biking after a trip to llandegla. DH spent his life on a bike but gave it up when he moved in with me (I lived at the top of a dirty great big hill at the time . He rides a Dawes hybrid, I was lucky enough to be given an old Orange Evo II hard tail which I just adore, although I'm not convinced its the right size for me.
Am itching to get out on it more frequently, at the mo I'm managing to drag my friends out once or twice a week and then do our local offroad loop once or twice, but I want to build up my skills as quickly as possible as friends are a lot fitter / better than me.
The one thing I worry about, and what holds me back, is riding offroad on my own - am petrified I'm going to get injured and not make it back in time for the school run

Now I see that on paper it seems daft!

[LadyMud]

Hiya Puffy! Don't worry about your fitness, just enjoy the riding and the fitness will come. And I'm sure your friends appreciate not being the slowest! (not that I've ever experienced that ).

It would certainly be worth doing a skills course. Even if you don't intend to do Llandegla's black runs, better skills = increased safety.

[93pjb]

Very impressive UniS! Do you have any tips for cycle touring with little ones? DS is still in a seat on my bike and we've just got one of these www.followmetandem.com for DD which she loves so I think we are about ready to hit the road!

Decided to just do London to Brighton on my hybrid for now and take the time to choose a shiny new bike. Thanks for the recommendations - sounds like specialized is the way to go

[UniS]

93p- I'm not an expert, just someone who has taken their kid touring a few times. My top tips

When they are little enough to fall asleep in the trailer/ seat use that day time sleep period to cover some miles. Wrap them up warm tho as the wind chill is high on a bike if your not pedaling. We used to put DS in his all in one winter puddle suit in the trailer. He was cozy and stayed dry even if the trailer cover let a bit of water in on driving wet days.

Be flexible- don't get too hung up on how far you will go each day.

Micro tourism is fun and cheap. Most villages have a play ground,or a church, or a beach or a bridge to play pooh sticks from. Cities have swimming pools, museums and parks.

Once kids are riding solo, cut the miles down for their first tour. AND build them up to it with day rides. We got 6 year old DS up to doing 20 mile day rides before doing 2x 25 mile days touring. Build in rest days, DS 1st solo tour was 2 days riding, 2 days off, 2 days riding. His first tandem tour was 2 riding , 1 off, 2 riding.

National cycle network routes may seem like the roundabout route to an adult, but they can be useful to keep a young rider away from busy roads.

Pack light. We tend to stay in B&Bs or bunk houses these days rather than camp. DS is allowed to bring a very small number of small toys, a note pad and pencil and a bedtime story book and strictly one cuddly only. Cities/ towns have laundrettes and you can wash out cycling clothes on a rest day.

BUT don't forget the waterproofs. If your touring in the UK you will need them. Cycling in full waterproofs isn't ideal, but it stops you getting cold when its lashing it down and you have to ride at the pace of the smallest member of the family.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've spent the last week trying to put my new recumbent together. Just about done but the chain is dragging on the floor.....I think because I've shortened the boom to fit my short legs. I've ordered a chain breaker to have a go at shortening the chain - any tips for how to do this? I'm worried I'll take too much off.

[LadyMud]

Viva, Bent Rider Online is the place to ask. Good luck!

[puffylovett]

Hi ladymud

[LadyMud]

So yet another example of some little kid doing stuff which I can't

[LadyMud]

Well, your DH* is quite correct! I've seen some very nasty accidents, including at Llandegla, during the six years I've been riding. In every case, people were going too fast for their abilities.

IMO, the most important skill is knowing when to slow down, or to get off and walk. I'm not "too posh to push"

Don't worry about getting your wheel off the ground - it's not easy (and not often needed). Maybe try a "manual" rather than a "powered manual" ?

But the important thing is to enjoy your riding, whether you're a Dirt Diva, a Downhill Demon - or an elderly pootler like me.

*DH generally means downhill in mountain biking circles!

[Likeaninjanow]

Omg UniS, your kids sound like fantastic cyclists! My ds2 is 5 and only just learned to cycle without stabilisers! He managed 5 miles at the weekend, which I thought was great until I came on here - haha!

I'm just back from doing a 24 mile cycle after work, on my road bike. It was pretty hilly & took me an hour and 40 minutes. I'm absolutely knackered! When will it get easier? Will it EVER get easier??

[puffylovett]

My DH also speaks from experience, having ripped his shoulder apart doing bunny hops off canal locks!!
Needless to say he's not very keen on going trail riding as its pinned together with a shed load of metal

And I'm most definitely an elderly pootler !

Likeabinjanow - my fitness in under 6 weeks has come on absolutely stacks. We went out in the Peak District on Saturday (got lost but that's another story!!), wound up going uphill and down sale and across fields for almost 3 hours. I was dead on my feet after but recovered brilliantly and I could never have contemplated doing that 6 weeks ago.

[Likeaninjanow]

Good to hear puffylovet. It was a bit soul destroying when the team from the local bike shop sped past me in a huge cluster!! Oh, how funny they found it.

[puffylovett]

Meanies !!

I'm feeling very virtuous today. Went for an ace ride this morning, managed a steep uphill / downhill bit of woodland that I've not done before and didn't stop the whole way round... Came home and finished it off with a super healthy lunch and a fresh veggie juice

[LadyMud]

"Super healthy lunch"
Oh dear, you haven't got the hang of this yet, Puffy!

The whole point of cycling is visit a teashop for and
Your DH is not teaching you properly!

[puffylovett]

Haha ladymud!! I have to make the effort, as its my job.. But I finished it off with half a kitkat and a coffee

DH had gone out playing with the boys tonight, I suspect he will do the same route I did but have loads more fun bouncing around in the woods.. And as he's with his mates they will be finishing it off with beer!

[LadyMud]

"Half a Kit-Kat" . . . . this is getting even worse!
You ate half, and left the rest?

[puffylovett]

packed lunch size kit kats

[Likeaninjanow]

New lesson learned. Never (!) buy cycling shorts with a vertical stripe up the front of each leg. They will bend, and I will look fat.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've finally put my trike together.....god it was difficult.

Finally got it all together but chain was dragging on the floor. Is a recumbent and I'd shortened the boom. Ordered a chain breaker and took a load of links out.

Got it back together, pedals kept jamming and chain kept coming off. Rang the bike shop for advice who advised putting it on the big ring at the front and little one at the back and spinning the pedals....

Seems to have sorted it....only problem is every now and then the chain seems to jump and the pedals lurch. Not sure if I've damaged the chain buggering aout with it.

Went for a 4 mile ride and my legs were killing. Noticeably different muscles riding a recumbent compared to a normal bike.

[VivaLeBeaver]

ladymud meant to say thanks for the link the other day. Useful forum.

[UniS]

well done viva. I've never shortened a chain in my life. good on you for DIY skills.