How was your cycle commute?

[Crispy]

But it is unimaginable if you are used to miles.

It's a bit more than half a mile. That'll do for short distances. Otherwise, 10 miles are 16km and everyone knows their 16x table off by heart

 

[Orang Utan]

I don't remember any of my time tables and we only ever went up to 12 anyway.
I want everyone to use miles. It's easier that way. For me, anyway.

 

[Ted Striker]

And who wants that? The unelected pen pushers in Strasbourg with their straight bananas and their metrics

Not Strasbourg - the Velominati, no less.

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#24

 

[joustmaster]

I don't remember any of my time tables and we only ever went up to 12 anyway.
I want everyone to use miles. It's easier that way. For me, anyway.

Give in.
You know it makes sense

 

[a_chap]

I want everyone to use miles. It's easier that way. For me, anyway.

I'm doing a 400km ride this weekend. Why not tag along too? That should teach you what a kilometre is

 

[gentlegreen]

Feck me it was a bit random out there this evening ... I forsee gridlock one day on the railway path, but for now it's like multiple unruly pelotons where the riders have been off their bikes all winter and are dabbling in the wrong sorts of drugs ...

 

[craigxcraig]

Can I join in here?

Been cycling since the start of the year, going from either Brockley or East Dulwich to Barbican and back again, thouroughly enjoying it and recently discovered mapmyride! I'm doing about 15 miles a day. At the moment I'm riding a twenty year old mountain bike, DX throughout with top shifters

Been thinking for a while now about getting a new bike - this one has served me well but I want something a little bit faster though (I have plans to one day travel somewhere) and been thinking about Surly - LHT, DT or the Cross Check - went into Brixton Cycles and they really recommend the Cross Check as my travel plans are a bit of a pipe dream. Also like the Singular Peregrine... Decisions decisions!

Anyway, thats me - hello everyone!

 

[Orang Utan]

I think the longer journey is stressing me out a bit as I swore at a non-indicator today. I normally have a no swearing policy.

 

[a_chap]

Been thinking for a while now about getting a new bike - this one has served me well but I want something a little bit faster

This one's faster* and made in Britain

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/guvnor.html

* if you have faster legs...

 

[craigxcraig]

I love the name - Guv'nor, very stylish.

 

[ringo]

Finally got round to fitting my new pedals to my road bike last night and this morning joined the ranks of clippy cloppy riders. Left nice and early and took it slow while I got the hang of them so as not to be that annoying twat holding everybody up while they try and get their clips in

 

[pissflaps]

Can I join in here?

Been cycling since the start of the year, going from either Brockley or East Dulwich to Barbican and back again, thouroughly enjoying it and recently discovered mapmyride! I'm doing about 15 miles a day. At the moment I'm riding a twenty year old mountain bike, DX throughout with top shifters

Been thinking for a while now about getting a new bike - this one has served me well but I want something a little bit faster though (I have plans to one day travel somewhere) and been thinking about Surly - LHT, DT or the Cross Check - went into Brixton Cycles and they really recommend the Cross Check as my travel plans are a bit of a pipe dream. Also like the Singular Peregrine... Decisions decisions!

Anyway, thats me - hello everyone!

cross check. best commuter out there. it'll cost you tho, and it's not worth putting second rate components on a ride like that... pretty sure you could get one on a CTW scheme. DO IT.

 

[gentlegreen]

Best avoid any proper hills with that one - 36/48 front by 11-32 rear x 700C

 

[craigxcraig]

cross check. best commuter out there. it'll cost you tho, and it's not worth putting second rate components on a ride like that... pretty sure you could get one on a CTW scheme. DO IT.

Thanks pissflaps (great name btw!)

Deffo think its going to be the CC but then when I look at the disc trucker the components seem that much better for what is an extra £150'ish quid. Is the ride between the two that much different - guess I'll have to ride both and then make my decision.

Isn't it proper great riding in at the moment, positively jumping on the bike in the mornings and evenings!

 

[pissflaps]

Thanks pissflaps (great name btw!)

Deffo think its going to be the CC but then when I look at the disc trucker the components seem that much better for what is an extra £150'ish quid. Is the ride between the two that much different - guess I'll have to ride both and then make my decision.

Isn't it proper great riding in at the moment, positively jumping on the bike in the mornings and evenings!

it's a terrible name!

whatever you do - make sure you have enough cashmonnehs left over to buy a proper decent lock. make sure you work that into your budget. and possibly insurance. tho im sure you've realised this already.

 

[craigxcraig]

it's a terrible name!

I feel the same about my name - joined to lurk and didn't give it much thought, just wanted something easy to remember!!

Re the Bike, I'm taking my current ride down to Brixton Cycles to see if they move my current set up, (all Shimano DX) across to the new bike - fingers crossed.

Roger that re the lock though rarely park up outside but hear what you're saying./

 

[DownwardDog]

Deffo think its going to be the CC but then when I look at the disc trucker the components seem that much better for what is an extra £150'ish quid. Is the ride between the two that much different - guess I'll have to ride both and then make my decision.

The CC is a zippier ride than the DT as it is lighter and has considerably shorter chainstays.

Shimano stopped making a DX groupset in 1993! Are you sure it's worth putting that on a new frame?

 

[craigxcraig]

Are you sure it's worth putting that on a new frame?

I'm thinking so, in an old skool kind of way - will see what the guys say. Its also the Top Shifter style as well - all of it has lasted over twenty years so hoping I'll get a few more years

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm thinking so, in an old skool kind of way - will see what the guys say. Its also the Top Shifter style as well - all of it has lasted over twenty years so hoping I'll get a few more years

Daily commuting will destroy it fairly quickly I think, you'll then be stuck trying to find new 7 speed components or upgrading to 8/9/10.

 

[craigxcraig]

Daily commuting will destroy it fairly quickly I think, you'll then be stuck trying to find new 7 speed components or upgrading to 8/9/10.

Aye, will see what Jim at BC says.

They do have built up bikes there so will go for a test ride. The DT does have a much better spce though.

 

[Orang Utan]

I am really loving the ride from Bethnal Green to Thamesmead, esp in the weather and especially in the mornings as there is so little traffic (I leave the house at 6.30). Docklands is a brilliant place to travel through and it's not so bad on the other side of the river too. It really adds to my happiness, being able to cycle through such surroundings every day. I will never go back to public transport in this town.
One tiny downside is getting thumped by a runner in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel for having the audacity to ride my bike very slowly in an almost empty space.

 

[gentlegreen]

One tiny downside is getting thumped by a runner in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel for having the audacity to ride my bike very slowly in an almost empty space.

Probably copping it for someone else's sins.
Daft when you take up more room pushing it and your pedals are unshielded waiting to catch ankles.

 

[gentlegreen]

Got in my extra miles on the way home.
I needed them after the gormless pink toy jeep driver - fag in right hand raised through the sun roof.. after disagreeing with my definition of a safe braking distance at 10mph, she got fed up with tailgating, overtook me right to the kerb in a gap between parked cars, left-hooked me and met the car forcing its way through from the opposite direction that I had been focussed on, so I nipped through the gap while they argued about it and when she finally caught up I enquired as to the authenticity of her driving licence.

And of course the camera wasn't recording.

 

[weepiper]

Best avoid any proper hills with that one - 36/48 front by 11-32 rear x 700C

36-32 on a bike like that is a pretty tiny gear. Having test-ridden one on the flat it's comical how fast your legs go and how slow the bike goes. It's not comparable to 36-32 on a mountain bike.

 

[gentlegreen]

I raised the gearing on my MTB. I have 28, 38, 48 on the front and an 11-34 megarange on the back.
I miss a few of the lower ratios, but I walked the final hill on my commute all the time I had a 10 speed with 42/52 and 11 to 28 x 27 inches. I won't say it was a doddle on the hybrid I then bought, but I managed it eventually. It was a non-starter on the 10 speed. And bear in mind I was 20 years younger and 4 stone lighter.

 

[gentlegreen]

Actually until I get a new front thingy ordered, I only have 28 and 38 up front.
My gears were getting in a right mess - I managed several Schleck-type mishaps yesterday - so I got the repair stand out last night and could only manage to make it work over two cogs no matter what I did with limit screws and cable tension.
Thankfully with the morning downhill somewhat clogged with cars and the evening one only of limited pleasure, I'll just have to learn to pedal faster for a few minutes a day.

EDIT:-
The thing I forgot to mention is that it may be partly my fault as I fitted a longer bottom bracket a couple of years back for a different type of crankset and I haven't changed it back - so the mechanism is always operating more extended than it needs to ...

Only a tenner though ...

 

[smorodina]

Still wearing my winter gloves on the way to work, it's a little after 6am, so still chilly.
The parks are empty except for the horses.. The sun is trying to make up for all the time it was neglecting us..
Utterly enjoyable.
And I joined a newly formed cycling club at work yesterday.
And I might even get a place in RideLondon through work.
</stepping off the tribune>

 

[girasol]

I stuck the basket back onto the front of my bike, as I was getting a very tense neck from carrying rucksack on my back. Resulting in slightly less manouverability, but not too bad. Dreaming of a pannier. Maybe that will be my birthday present request.

Still wearing my winter gloves on the way to work, it's a little after 6am, so still chilly.

Likewise. Almost need two different outfits, one for the way in, and one for the way home.

 

[gentlegreen]

Dreaming of a pannier. Maybe that will be my birthday present request.

A pannier ?

Unipannierist !

My £15 SJS pair are still going strong after several years - mind you they only get properly tested every couple of weeks for shopping and a few times a year camping.
The mounting clips are pretty hopeless though so they stay on the bike.

 

[girasol]

A pannier ?

Unipannierist !

My £15 SJS pair are still going strong after several years - mind you they only get properly tested every couple of weeks for shopping and a few times a year camping.
The mounting clips are pretty hopeless though so they stay on the bike.

One is more than enough for me, don't carry all that much. Still undecided though.