Cycling topic anyone?

[SophiePendragon]

I'm looking for somewhere to post about bicycles and can't find the appropriate topic.

There is a weights topic. An Unexplained topic.

Is there a bikes one?

[pileoflaundry]

Oohh, cyclists' sofa sounds spot on!

Lavender, I already eat more but am only cycling 4 miles per day... Which may explain why my diet has stalled.

I've never thought of wet wipes for cycling. I did use to take plastic gloves, so that I could get the chain back on and complete the journey without smearing grease on my face. But now I have small DC, and the grease barely shows beside the dribble, snot and possets.

Dolly, have you managed to get out on your bike today? How did you get on with the gears?

[DollyMcDolly]

Hi Pileoflaundry. I got back 5 mins ago actually. I played about with the gears going uphill and downhill and I think I've got it sussed. My bum is killing me now though. Need to invest in a decent gel pad cover or something. Also going to download an app so I know how many miles I cycle. I loved every minute and have definitely caught the bug

[prettybird]

DON'T get a gel cover - it can be counter productive on long trips.

Better to invest in some padded shorts (they're very reasonable in Decathlon and/or Lidl/Aldi offers) - you can wear your own shorts over them if you're self-conscious.

Also, consider buying a good female anatomical saddle - they do make a difference.

But even if you don't, you'll find your bum gets used to it (at least for shorter distances).

[FelixFelix]

Dolly I agree with getting some padded shorts. Wiggle sell a brand called 'DHB' which are very reasonable and have great reviews.

[FelixFelix]

Also a few people on here have recommended the padded insert from Rohan. I'm not sure how good it is but it should be fine if you're not doing loads of miles.

[DollyMcDolly]

Ok. I will take your advice. Going to google padded shorts. Thanks.

[prettybird]

BTW - if your bum is sore now, it'll be worse tomorrow!

But bad as it might feel, the best thing to do is to try to go for a short ride.

[lavendersun]

Dolly, I use the Rohan inserts in normal gym leggings or jodhpurs, not sure if they still do them (helpful). I like them, they stay put and are a fraction of the size of all my padded shorts.

After years and years of bottom woe I am very happy on a Brooks B17 with or without padding. I did an 11 mile family ride in my jeans this week - wouldn't have dreamt of getting on a bike in my jeans pre Brooks. Your seat bones are supported on the leather so that soft tissue doesn't make contact.

A revelation to me. Very hard to admit that DH has been right all along, he has been telling me to get a Brooks for 10 years!

I rode to my horses today, live rurally and the contractors doing the harvesting round here are lethal every year ... driving at 50mph plus round tight bends on single track roads. I have taken to driving at 30mph on the road opposite my house which is the first 2.5 miles of my journey.

They were all so nice to me today on my bike - met 8 tractors and a combine and they pulled over as if I was a wide load. Very surprising indeed and most welcome, almost as nice to me as if I were on my horse.

[Rowgtfc72]

My seat is a man's racing seat, minimal padding. It's gorgeous but then I have my own padding. The gel seat was the worst thing I had ever sat on!

[lavendersun]

DH has just informed me that he has bought another bike , inspired by my bike, he has bought a used Galaxy.

His reasoning is flawless, new made to measure bike will be too valuable to take on family holidays apparently, road bike not suitable for family cycling, hybrid for in town, one cannondale too swish, likely to be nicked, the other one (ancient mtb) not swish enough, in fairness he is going to sell the last one, apparently. I will make sure he takes it to Cambridge when the new students arrive!

So that is 6 or 5 at best going forward.

[FelixFelix]

Lavender it's never ending isn't it. DP is waiting for bike number 4 to be made at the moment and he only took up cycling last year.

[prettybird]

So your dh has proven that the optimal number of bikes is "n+1"

We have 7 bikes here at the moment:

Me: three - my commuting bike (made to measure for my mum, roc shox front suspension, 26" x 1" wheels with slicks, excellent gears and - because they used it for travelling the world - it can be divided in half with special connectors for all the cables and the frame), my Specialized Allez and an old hybrid in the shed which needs to go to Common Wheel (the bike charity shop).

Dh has a basic B'Twin road bike (his 2nd, after the first was stolen). However, after riding my bike in Greece, he's rather taken with how easy it is to handle....

Ds currently has 3: a carbon frame Focus Cayo I'd always said he wouldn't get a full carbon bike until someone else was paying , a Madison Genesis track bike and his Cannondale Caad8, which I need to get along to our LBS for a final service before selling to friends. He also has a spare set of race wheels and some carbon fibre TT bars (both bought by my dad after he picked up on my not so subtle hints)

[SophiesDog]

We currently only have two (not including numerous children's ones) but one is for sale and the other one is going to a charity to be refurbed after being left in the rain by my horrible ex neighbour who demanded to borrow it for a few months.

I am expecting two though. One is a Dutch utility bike (second hand) that the couriers were meant to collect by now or at least let me know when they were collecting (have already been paid )

Second is another Dutch utility bike which I have also paid for, and did something stupid by offering to let them keep the very nice saddle, after we had agreed a price, as I have one already, and then finding out my saddle is the wrong type.

So I have emailed asking them to include it after all but not heard back yet and I'm a bit worried about it now. It's not cheap - though far less than new price.

Really hope this works out. If not I may go for an ex demo Onderwater I tried out yesterday - that was amazing

[lavendersun]

In fairness, cycling has always been his thing ... since he was 10, so 40 years. He remembers the arrival of 'cleats' .

I don't really understand the multiples to be honest, but he is a clean living sort of chap and there are worse things to spend your money on.

We will have 10 between three of us once the mtm one gets here.

I am an all or nothing sort really - my Galaxy is so much nicer than my hybrid so I am going to sell my hybrid (when the new students arrive in Cambridge) because I like riding the other one so much more.

We are working on DD's stamina and planning on taking just our bikes on a ferry for a week somewhere in the spring. We had thought of Holland (flat), but the ferry cost looks expensive at £550 ish, so we might pop over to France first. Just need it to be 15 degrees or so as I can't imagine DD liking it otherwise. She would hate the cold/wet, never rides her pony from Nov to March.

My passport ran out a couple of weeks ago and because I don't need it until October half term I haven't rushed to renew it. Might do that this week because I might arrange a surprise night or two in France before the schools go back - nothing epic, 25 ish miles a day with lots of sightseeing and food, and breaks for my ears!

DH's 50th birthday is soon, that is what the too swish to leave anywhere bike is for. He would love it if I surprised him with a trip to St Malo on our bikes.

[lavendersun]

Of course this is to bump the thread and not because I am proud of myself, here is a link to my bike bag thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/arts_and_crafts/2432249-I-made-a-bag-first-proper-non-simple-shopper-bag-for-my-bike#prettyPhoto

not sure about the flowers tbh, I thought I wanted to make it slightly fun but put the binding in a place where it is easy to remove it because I am not sure I like it enough.

Imagine me looking sweaty glamorous on the continent with my flowery edged bag.

Brittany ferries have an offer on from 31 August - take your bike for up to four nights for £55.

[HuckleberryMishMash]

Would love a cycling topic

To those having comfort issues, a saddle with a cut-out makes a huge difference.

Padded shorts didn't help my particular issue though so I cycle in bog standard cotton leggings and cotton knickers (against everyone's advice but it works for me!).

[prettybird]

We're thinking of going over to St Malo with just the bikes in October.

Dh and I did that a couple of years ago when we went to a wedding there (but there were other cars going over, so they could take the "big" bag with the kilt etc in it) and ds was very jealous that we cycled to Mont St Michel (100km cycle ride on a base of 6 miles/week cycling.....ouch ).

The added bonus was that because it was October, we could cycle all the way to Mont St Michel, rather than park up before the causeway and walk the rest of the way

Only problem is that mine is the only bike that can take a pannier rack , so I'll have to take all the heavier stuff while dh and ds take lighter stuff in seat post panniers and rucksacks.

[HuckleberryMishMash]

Sounds great prettybird!

Looking at the Carradice bags when I was shopping for a rackbag, I was surprised at the size of some of the saddle post bags available - they look big/sturdy enough to be able to carry plenty.

[lavendersun]

Some of the members of our CTC club went to Anglesey with just a Carradice saddlebag. The Camper long flap is huge - more than big enough for three/four nights for one person.

I think that the one I just made is about 20-22 litres so the size of a decent single pannier.

DH wants me to make him a scaled up Camper long flap - 30 ltr maybe?

prettybird, we all have bags and racks, you can't possibly carry it all!!

[dexter73]

New shoes!! Won't be showing these off on Style & Beauty !!

[lavendersun]

Lovely dexter73, no, not quite style and beauty.

I made a tool roll (for me) this morning, after making DH a few this week!

Inspired by this, but mine were free with a bit of left over fabric.

www.velovitality.co.uk/collections/tools/products/mopha-tool-roll-brown

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Dh is desperate to do a ferry/cycling trip, mainly because cycling off the ferry looks like fun!

[prettybird]

Having embarrassingly posted on the wrong thread, I'll try again to post a few photos

They're of our extremely wet arrival in St Malo (had to go to a cafe initially as our gite wasn't available till midday), the following day at Mont St Michel and then of the hire bikes and the Specialized on a day trip across to Nidri a couple of weeks ago feels like a lifetime ago

[dexter73]

lavendersun - what a good idea! Might have to make one myself!

[lavendersun]

Measure more carefully than I did this morning Dexter. The wrench I need for my front wheel is about 2mm too long and is languishing in the bottom of my bag . DH's are fine thankfully, mine is not! They only take 30 mins to make so I will make another one tonight.

Fab photos prettybird, I am going to fill in my passport form online and get it in the post tomorrow.