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Original poster

Cycling Thread - All Peddlers and Pedallers welcome.

875 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 09/09/2013 14:21

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

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7
Habbibu · 17/10/2013 14:15

Hi LadyMud! Shame about Islabikes - have always had really good service on the phone.

LadyMud · 17/10/2013 15:31

I didn't mean that to sound like a criticism! Islabikes has an excellent reputation, and that's why we called in. But it's more like a car showroom (with bikes, obviously), rather than a LBS. Not somewhere to have a browse, or buy a mag and a spare tube.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 11:31

Sticky, edinburgh bikes are currently 15% off the revolutions.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 11:32

Sorry, it was Ridgebacks not revolutions you were looking at!

stickygotstuck · 18/10/2013 11:46

Hello,

Thanks Viva, I just had a look. They look good but no local stockist (plus I think I am confused enough as it is!)

Can any of you ladies enlighten me as to riding position? A bit of a general one, but here goes - how different really is the sitting position on a hybrid compared to a standard MTB? And how important would an adjustable handlebar be to, well, adjust it if you don't find it as comfy as expected Confused? Thing is, I do like to be as upright as possible.

I am going for a hybrid because (a) I do intend to go on the odd bit of roughish terrain and (b) the drop handlebars are a big no-no because (I imagine, as never actually rode one!) they must be quite uncomfortable for your back. Plus the thinness of the tyres of a road bike gives me the hibby-jibbies anyway, (being on the large side that I am Grin).

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 11:50

I don't think there's much difference at all between a mtb and a hybrid seating position.

One thing you could fit onto a hybrid as well is bar ends, if you angle them up and a bit forward it gives another hand position which is a bit more upright.

stickygotstuck · 18/10/2013 12:12

Interesting Viva, thanks. Do you think the adjustable handlebar on the Ridgeback Meteor would serve the same function?

Think I'm hoping someone will come and say that riding 1 - 2 hrs at a time on a sit up and beg style bike would be much more comfortable and won't kill my bum. It won't be, will it? Let's be honest, my dream bike would be a 10 kg Pashely style bike for under 350 quid Blush.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 12:24

I think an adjustable handlebar stem is a bit of a gimmick to be honest. If a bike fits correctly then there's no need to adjust the stem. It's not something you'd keep changing mid ride, you'd just find the best length for it and leave it there.

So I think bar ends are better as it gives you different positions during a ride, like a butterfly bar really which is another option to fit to a bike. Butterfly bars are very popular on the continent.

For me a sit up bike would be really uncomfy, I need to lean forward a bit. But it's whatever works for you. I can't help thinking your bum would be sore.

Of course you could always get an Ice Trike. I've got one, no sore bum!

stickygotstuck · 18/10/2013 12:54

Oh, Ice Trikes, I've seen people riding those. They look like the coolest thing but I'm not that cool!

Yes, that's my gut feeling - the more upright, the more sore your bum. Sigh.

Very glad to hear your verdict on adjustable handle bars. It means not having to buy a brown bike Grin. OK I'm a pushover, bar ends it is. Just googled butterfly bars, never noticed them before, they could be good too.

I think I have enough ideas now to call my LBS and not feel like an idiot too uniformed. Thanks again.

Crappyoldframe · 18/10/2013 17:09

Have to say I have a hybrid Giant Escape 1 and I'm not comfy feel as if I want to be leaning forward. Can I change the handlebars?

LadyMud · 18/10/2013 17:28

On the subject of sore bums . . . why on earth does anyone think that big squishy saddles are a good idea? They just mean that your own "squishy bits" take the weight - which hurts!

A correct width saddle means your weight falls on the "bony bits" of your bum (ischial protuberances), which is a lot more comfortable.

Nothing beats a recumbent trike for comfort, though!

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 17:28

Yes. I reckon you could either put bar ends on and angle them forwards, so they're pretty much parallel to the ground. Or look at butterfly bars.

Butterfly bars would probably make the most difference, but I've never used them so I wouldn't swear on it. Bar ends would be cheaper and easier to fit.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 18/10/2013 17:30

Squishy saddles aren't meant to be the best for rides of more than about 90 mins. Saying that years ago I took the old saddle of my mtb and put a squishy, gel saddle on. Looks awful but its been comfy buti haven't done long rides on it.

I've got a Brooks b17 on my cyclocross bike which is meant to be the mutts nuts of comfy saddles. Dh laughed when he saw it as its as solid as a block of wood. But it's been amazingly comfy.

stickygotstuck · 18/10/2013 18:57

Crappy, looking forward to someone more knowledgeable answering your question, as I am considering a Giant Escape too.

LadyMud, I think it's instinctive, a bit like thinking that a sofa is comfier than a dining chair I guess. But I hear what you are saying. I have a soft(ish) saddle and my squishy bits do suffer. I am used to it, although I'd like my next bike to be an improvement on this.

CuntyBunty · 18/10/2013 18:57

Never mind sore bum, I have a sore fanjo! I did 30km today and DH insists it's because I wear knickers under my padded bib tights. I am sceptical.

CuntyBunty · 18/10/2013 19:00

Oh, I was ParvatitheWitch, before CB.

UniS · 18/10/2013 20:19

pants under cycle shorts- never a good idea. The pad is seamless for a reason...

I went out for abit of Cyclocross practise today... given I've not yet done a cyclocross race I'm a bit vague about what to practise, so I went for a ride for about an hour and dived off down ( or up) all the byways and farm tracks I saw. and on the skinny lanes tried riding up the grassy bit in the middle. Got a bit muddy, din;t fall off, had fun. met a large dog, but it was chained and it couldn't reach the far side of the track, so I rode past as dog went bonkers and hurled itself to the extent of its chain in my direction.

LadyMud · 18/10/2013 20:34

CB, my friend refused to be taken to A&E when she fell off on ice last winter . . . because she was knicker-less beneath padded tights Blush.

So how about some cheap padded cycling pants under your tights, instead of your lacy thong?

stickygotstuck · 18/10/2013 21:07

CB yes, the fanjo is what I meant, not the bum so much.

Well I never! Knickerless riding, whatever next Shock. I may consider it if they start making 100% pure cotton padded tights though. Lycra et al will not ever be in contact with my 'squishy bits'!

UniS, your cyclocross pactise sounds great (minus the dog)

SummerLightning · 18/10/2013 23:00

Hello! Not been on in ages, hope you are all good.

Seriously would never ride with underwear under my padded shorts, well sometimes I do to work as I am always forgetting my underwear and having to go commando at work, but never for a proper ride! Every time I tell non cyclists this they are either Shock if they are female, or [rather pervy face] if they are male. But try it and you will never go back. sticky the pad bit is not made of lycra though! Not sure what it does tend to be made of mind you.

I love that she wouldn't go to A&E LM, seriously? that totally wouldn't cross my mind. I got stung by a bee this summer through my shorts, and my initial reaction was to pull my shorts down, while surrounded by about 10 guys to try and get it out/have a look. Fortunately I stopped myself just in time, could ahve been quite embarrassing.

Oh sticky on the new bike, I have an adjustable stem on my commuter bike. it is about 3 years old but recently it has started creaking like mad and refusing to tighten up properly so the bars wiggle up and down. Bloody annoying and googling just suggests replacing it with a fixed stem. So I guess i'll do that. They are a bit of a gimmick, though I did find useful when pregnant, as just moved the bars up for a more comfy position. My bike is a Ridgeback velocity, perhaps the Speed is the same model and they thought they would give it a very original new name (I think it looks similar)! I am not a fan of it as it's quite heavy, but then my other bikes are more expensive so i guess not surprising. I can't think of any reason that step through frame wouldn't be ok with trailgator. I have just got a 2nd hand tagalong and am hoping to use with commuter bike so hope it's ok!

crappy re the position of your bike, you could just put a higher rise stem on it to raise the bars? Prob cheaper than getting new bars. what are butterfly bars - not heard of them? But you could also get bars with a rise to them. Do you know any keen bikers as ime they tend to have about a million different sized stems in their garage and you could try a few and have a play?

ladyM and other mtbers do you run tubeless? Thinking of converting...

ivykaty44 · 18/10/2013 23:19

chamis [sp?] and you can get cream for the padding in your shorts. The whole idea is so you don't have seems in the under part rubbing your private parts and making them sore -which tbh sounds yuk to me

lady - they cut of the shorts often enough in a&e so wouldn't be expecting any pants to be worn and might think you were a bit weird if you did wear pants - not that they would pass comment

ssmile · 19/10/2013 07:35

I converted to pantless riding last year after my DH queried why I wore pants under my shorts. It hadn't occurred to me before but its alot more comfy Grin
Went out yesterday for quick half hr in my lunch break and my gear cable snapped Confused the gears had been getting crunchy and my DH had looked at it and my local bike shop "adjusted" it but now its snapped. I wish I knew more about fixing it myself. Once we get past having toddlers in the house and I get more time back I will learn. At the moment I barely seem to have time to breathe some days!

Habbibu · 19/10/2013 08:08

What does run tubeless mean? I'm very new to all this.

CuntyBunty · 19/10/2013 10:24

Ok then, thanks. I will go without next time. I just didn't want to be washing the kit every time....

Habbibu · 19/10/2013 12:23

Ooh, tubeless tyres. Now I've googled, I'm interested. I have psoriatic arthritis in my hands, which means that although in theory I can change a tyre, I have real difficulty in getting one back on, and although I haven't yet had a puncture, it does worry me. That may well solve my problems...