Cycling Thread - All Peddlers and Pedallers welcome.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Have started a new thread as the other one is very nearly full.

We watched the guy Martin prog last night on catch up. Was good and made me think I need to get our turbo trainer set up again post our house move :) I found I used it most when it was set up ready to go in our garage and I could jump on for 20-30mins unplanned bursts when the kids were occupied or baby asleep in buggy (wheeled in garage with me). Ive really missed my cycling last 3wks I've hardly done anything what with awful wet n windy weather n Xmas build up, and my body is stiff and gained 4lbs. So will venture in garage today set if I can make space to set it up clear out some boxes;)

Just did half hour hard work out on the cycle trainer tried out the 20sec fast 20sec normal and after 6mins I was dripping (had done 5min warm up 1st). I carried on 20sec fast and 40sec normal for 20mins and it felt like a good work out. I put my mobile phone stopwatch on the floor and just left it running where I could see it. Anyone else got good work out tips for the cycle trainer?

Well done :)

I went out for my first proper ride on my new bike (first proper ride a very many months). Did almost 10 miles with a lot of up! Knackered now!

those of you with turbo trainers, how do you get on with them? any recommendations?

I broke my wrist crashing my mountain bike into a tree in the spring and although the bones have healed ive got nerve damage and trouble with grip in that hand still (which is being treated but slow old road) I don't feel safe riding my bike out and about yet but really really miss my bike and the fitness I had when I was riding properly. im thinking this may be the way forwards instead of wasting £5 a week on 1 wattbike class which although i enjoy it doesn't really do much for me fitness wise (but better than nothing I suppose)

I've got a cyclops turbo trainer. Got it from wiggle 2years ago was about £160 inc the stand for the front wheel which is worth it. It's paid for itself in me not joining the gym at £33 a month and my DH used it a it too. I had it for a specific goal and set it up in my garage so it was quickly accessible. I couldn't cycle with a new born baby so I used it lots for the six months in winter until she was big enough to go on the back of my bike. It's definitely a winter trainer for us. I'd rather be outside but it's a good alternative when your short on time and have the motivation to use it. I have also set it up in our kitchen when it was too cold to be in the garage in the snow . At the time the cyclops ones were holding their value on eBay so I figured it was worth a punt. I can also cycle with music on full wack which I never do when on the road.

thanks ssmile
I think it may be a new year present for myself - its that or a gym membership.

www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/
This is the trainer I got two years ago with a riser block and it's good to see it's holding its value! Sorry it wasn't a cycleops not sure where I got that from? Mummy brain...anyway it's been good and worth the money.
I've been on it again today squeezed in half before collected girls after work but gosh after first day back at work I felt sick doing the 20sec blasts they definitely work!

Just remembered this thread after ages away and a name change!
I ordered a Cyclops fluid turbo trainer yesterday to help me speed up on the hills a bit. I do lots of long distance stuff but I am really slow on the steep bits. I need to speed up for Ride London 100!
It is so frustrating seeing how quick the youngsters are and how slowly I am improving. I am going to see a sports physio on Friday to have my leg muscles checked as I think my right leg is weak.

Anyone else doing the Ride?

Hi nightshade1 and others considering a turbo.

I am getting on well with the Tacx. It has a good smooth action once you get it turning. I would perhaps pay more for a slightly better model if I had to use it indoors as it is not the quietest I have heard. It seems to find a fantastic vibration at around 80-85 rpm, which sounds like a small plane taking off, but that is just good incentive to keep my cadence up!

DH has found that he needs to put the bike in the top gear and on maximum resistance to work at maximum effort, but to be fair, the gear ratio on the bike we have sat on it is quite gentle, so it would be easy enough just to put a bigger chain ring on if we needed more resistance.

I have found it quite advantageous having set up in the shed. I start off with a long sleeve jersey on, but by the time I have done a warm up I am down to a short sleeve jersey and short shorts, even if it is freezing outside!

I am also really happy with the Sufferfest videos. They aren't much more than fancy interval training sessions, but I find them really motivating to work hard and complete a session properly.

I have to say that I have been very cautious about going out on the bike recently with all the ice and flooding. It is nearly a year since my bad crash and so I'm quite happy to play it safe and do a turbo session instead.

hello pedlar s. I just found this thread again.

news from me- I passed my level 2 cycle coach qualifications. hurrah.
news from the boy- he won a race. cyclo cross u8. he had placed 2nd or 3 rd before but this was his first win.

well it arrived yesterday and ive just done my first session............and im pooped I think we can safely say my fitness levels have reached zero. ah well at least the only way is up I suppose.

Hello cyclists! I finally learned to rude a bike yesterday. I'm 30 years old and was ashamed that I hadn't learned. I now have a developing addiction and a very sore fanjo.

I went the bike right bike ability training and they lent me a bike called a bronx savannah which I loved. I might get one of these. Can anyone experienced tell me if this is any good. My brother has lent me his carrera crossfire mountain bike which needs a new wheel so I'll take that in to be sorted too.

I had one issue, shoes. I wore my gym trainers but because it was wet my feet kept slipping off the pedals. Are there any better shoes I could wear? Thank you!

welcome to the club miss. good fun isn't it.
shoes - if your gym trainers are slipping have you got any out door trainers with a bit of grip to the sole that you could try?

Thanks Unis! I adored it! That's a good idea, I'll try my walking shoes next time.

My fanjo and surrounding areas are killing me though. Are those padded shorts any good? Can't wait to get out on the bike again!

padded shorts are most definitely worth it. won't salve EVERY ache , some of it will just be because your not used to using those muscles or sitting on a saddle that shape YET. BUt padded shorts will make life more comfy in the long run. you don;t wear knickers under them, they are a base layer with no seams in nasty places as well as being padded.

Hello again, fellow cyclists! And welcome to the new ones [waves]

I haven't been here for a while. I was away after Christmas, and after that I've had the most monumental bronchitis for 3 weeks now, so I haven't got a lot of cycling done lately. Although, I did hire a MTB while I was away and made the most of the nice weather and wonderful rocky (mud-free!) terrain. I even managed to get lost, turning a one hour ride in a three-and-a-half hour expedition

After all the agonising over which bike to get, I have used my new bike a grand total of 4 times since I got it back in November . What I have managed to do is get the right height for the saddle, but the handlebars still need tweaking. I've noticed that my hands go even more numb than before, and I am wondering if it's because the grips on the new Velocity are made of a harder plastic than my old MTB's.

Just a random question to those of you with new/newish bikes [aside: Ela, congrats on the new Contessa, what a great present, well done Mr Ela!] - do you keep your old bikes too? I am not sure whether to give away my old MTB or keep it. I would like it as a backup, but the garage is packed with various bits of rubbish, plus 3 adult bikes and 2 child bikes and we simply cannot get into it anymore!

Hoping normal breathing is restored sometime this week so I can get out there again .

Hello I ride an 80's mixte racer, it's my transportation, I ride to work [10 miles] shopping daily ish 4 miles each way, I have panniers and a rucksack and 27 inch wheels, god, the bike can take some hefty weight abuse, I buy bottles of water and fruit n veg, then I really leg it home, I love my old bike, it is ace :)plus I never wear lycra, young lads overtake me but I don't care any more, I love riding my bike too much.

Hello! Having cycled my heavy old style hybrid for years and towing small kids in trailers, both my girls are solo cyclists so I have decided that this year, I am aiming high.

I have splashed out on a Giant TCR Advanced (4th hand but still in good nick) and had a bike-fit. I have made the move to cleats and have signed up for 4 big sportives - the first of which is in May. Gulp.

I had planned to get out over the weekend but the weather was so atrocious we failed.

However, I need to get out and training - the 8 mile commute to the station once a week won't get me to the fitness level I am going to need!
Onwards!

Ooh lots of new bikes about I have finally splashed out to get a new bike :) comes tomorrow hopefully it's a specialized vita. My current bike is 18yrs old mtv with road tyres but everything is slowly breaking. But now I will have to get a decent bike lock. Has anyone got good recommendations lightweight but not too costly?

FOund thread again so marking my place. Welcome newbies and congrats UniS and mini UniS

So, is anybody going to update us on how they are getting on with their new bikes? Or are you all just too busy enjoying them to come and tell us?

Haven't been out for a while, but planning a ride next week :)

project for this week is moving my brake levers/ hoods on the drop-bars. then trying out the new position before re taping the bars.
on Friday I ran a coaching session in the piddling rain on starts and cornering, then was assistant coach for session on sat am in intermitant heavy showers on stats, sprints and cornering. Then to conclude was assistant coach for an adults intro to coaching session on, wait for it, starts, group riding and - of course- cornering. I think I have those coaching points off pat now.

That reminds me - I keep meaning to fiddle with my brake postition on myu new mtb.

Am I right in thinking it is cyclocross you/your kids do, UniS? I think 7 year old ds would love it.

Cyclocross - both DS and I, Road ( closes circuit - just DS, novice mountain bike - just DS.

At 7 its not important what kind of racing they do so long as they enjoy riding their bike. Boy has so far enjoyed every kind of bike racing he has tried. If you 7 yr old has a mountain bike then cross or mtb would seem like good ones to try first. Closed circuit road racing works better with a smooth tyred bike, but in Under 8s you will see mountain bikes and bmxs as well. Look out for go-ride or go-race events, these are entry level events that don't cost much to enter and are not aimed at kids who already compete as a high level.