The Cycling Chat Thread

[iamwithnail]

Think I mentioned it upthread somewhere, but my mate cycled along the Gold Coast in the height of summer. He does admit, on reflection, that it was a stupid thing to do, underpinned by the number of people who stopped in their cars and tried to give him a lift/made sure he was alright in the baking heat.

 

[Edie]

I'm with DD, life's too short for shit bikes. Not to say you need to spend a fortune or anything, but fuck downtube shifters (especially friction), fuck old, poorly serviced components and above all, fuck shit brakes.

N.b Obviously even a cheap good bike is quite expensive, and it's clearly worth getting the most out of what you've got. Help you learn what to look out for buying second hand as much as anything.

I somehow knew cycling would be a fiercely opinionated arena (something about blokes and specialist equipment).

My brakes are absolutely shocking. Apparently it’s the steel frame? I have to brake all the way down steep hills, because it takes seconds (like 10-20 seconds, during which time you travel a significant distance!) to actually stop! And in the rain, forget it.

 

[iamwithnail]

It's just those old brakes, really. You'll get a bit of an improvement when it's serviced (and new cables/pads if they've not been replaced since you had it), but the difference between my old 1970s road bike and my new one is like night and day on the braking front, and I have to leave a lot of lead time and cycle much more carefully when I'm on the old one because of it.

 

[DownwardDog]

Think I mentioned it upthread somewhere, but my mate cycled along the Gold Coast in the height of summer. He does admit, on reflection, that it was a stupid thing to do, underpinned by the number of people who stopped in their cars and tried to give him a lift/made sure he was alright in the baking heat.

I once came home and found two young women from Switzerland in our pool. They had bought cheapo bikes from B'Twin in Basel and, with no experience whatsoever, had flown to Darwin and ridden to Perth (3,700km) right through the infernal heat of a Western Australian summer. Their 'system' was to give 10L containers of water to truck drivers with a number written on them. When the truckie had done the number of kilometers indicated on the container he was requested (in broken English) to stop and place it on the side of the road so they could find it when they came along on their bikes and not die.

This worked 100% of the time not a single truck driver ever let them down.

Madame DD found them fixing a puncture on the side of the road in Perth's northern hinterlands and insisted that they come to stay with us to recover before their flight home. They were so thin and tanned they looked like they came from a planet closer to the sun.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I cycled into London yesterday. I used to do it every day (from Croydon) so thought I would go for old times sake. I have been doing a lot of cycling around the south lately and quite enjoyed it.
. . .
Anyway. I bloody hated it. Horrible views, horrible traffic, horrible pedestrians, horrible cycling infrastructure. . . then my seat kind of fell off while I was 12 miles from home and I practically had to hold it between my cheeks while it slid off the back and pointed upwards crushing my balls.

 

[Edie]

I cycled into London yesterday. I used to do it every day (from Croydon) so thought I would go for old times sake. I have been doing a lot of cycling around the south lately and quite enjoyed it.
. . .
Anyway. I bloody hated it. Horrible views, horrible traffic, horrible pedestrians, horrible cycling infrastructure. . . then my seat kind of fell off while I was 12 miles from home and I practically had to hold it between my cheeks while it slid off the back and pointed upwards crushing my balls.

My seats done this (kept see sawing and tipping upwards) and squashed my lady parts, but I found a way of tightening the screw that holds the saddle. It’s a right annoyance when it’s happening repeatedly when you are on a ride.

Incidentally, to those advocating padded shorts, my bum has never suffered Maybe the saddles of the 70s or 80s were better designed for comfort but it’s not exactly soft. Maybe my bum is just hardcore!

 

[Cid]

My seats done this (kept see sawing and tipping upwards) and squashed my lady parts, but I found a way of tightening the screw that holds the saddle. It’s a right annoyance when it’s happening repeatedly when you are on a ride.

Incidentally, to those advocating padded shorts, my bum has never suffered Maybe the saddles of the 70s or 80s were better designed for comfort but it’s not exactly soft. Maybe my bum is just hardcore!

Yeah, some don't. Anatomy is very variable. Also that looks like quite a wide seat, which is probably a bit better for a woman (tend to have wider sit bones). If you do ever change bikes, hang on to the saddle, new ones tend to come with quite narrow seats. The other advantage of lycra underwear is avoidance of chafing.

It's worth getting a basic multi-tool (for ATOMIC SUPLEX too), as that will let you do stuff like tighten seat bolts on the road. Though older bikes tend to use wrenches rather than allen keys. You can get multi wrenches for older bikes of course, but they can be a bit fiddly.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

It's worth getting a basic multi-tool (for ATOMIC SUPLEX too), as that will let you do stuff like tighten seat bolts on the road. Though older bikes tend to use wrenches rather than allen keys. You can get multi wrenches for older bikes of course, but they can be a bit fiddly.

Oh yeah, I'm not going out without a tool again.

 

[pbsmooth]

I have done the holding the seat on with your arse too - from about Streatham to Croydon.

unlike you, cycling into town is sometimes the highlight of going into the office though you're right of course about the traffic. depending on you're exact route you can get some of the best views of the city (Crystal Palace/West Norwood/Forest Hill).

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I have done the holding the seat on with your arse too - from about Streatham to Croydon.

unlike you, cycling into town is sometimes the highlight of going into the office though you're right of course about the traffic. depending on you're exact route you can get some of the best views of the city (Crystal Palace/West Norwood/Forest Hill).

Ah, well I specifically avoid Crystal Palace/West Norwood/Forest Hill because of the massive hill. I go slightly around through Streatham, Balham, Clapham, Vauxhall . . . . or at least I used to when I cycled in to Waterloo every day.
To be honest the a lot of the bit before vauxhall was alright. Maybe I was just fucked off because of the seat and because I came back through brixton.

I did mean to try out the Crystal Place way, but my old route just automatically kicked in.

 

[BigTom]

Thank you. Through no fault of yours, I find all that a bit intimidating. But I’ll take one thing at a time. Changing a flat tyre seems number 1 on the list. I’ll get the bike serviced as recommended too x

I totally understand, i don't think anything i listed is individually difficult but it's quite a lot of things all at once.

Knowing how to sort out a puncture is definitely a priority, along with getting a track pump to keep your tyres up to pressure.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

My seats done this (kept see sawing and tipping upwards) and squashed my lady parts, but I found a way of tightening the screw that holds the saddle. It’s a right annoyance when it’s happening repeatedly when you are on a ride.

Incidentally, to those advocating padded shorts, my bum has never suffered Maybe the saddles of the 70s or 80s were better designed for comfort but it’s not exactly soft. Maybe my bum is just hardcore!

Your squashed lady parts and hardcore bum in one post, all of a fluster now!

Learn to fix a puncture (remove tyre, check for what caused the puncture and stick a new innertube in, pump it up), keep your tyres at the right pressure (easier riding, fewer punctures) and lube the chain. Leave everything else to the professionals - less ballache + keeps wonderful people like weepiper busy.

 

[pbsmooth]

Ah, well I specifically avoid Crystal Palace/West Norwood/Forest Hill because of the massive hill. I go slightly around through Streatham, Balham, Clapham, Vauxhall . . . . or at least I used to when I cycled in to Waterloo every day.
To be honest the a lot of the bit before vauxhall was alright. Maybe I was just fucked off because of the seat and because I came back through brixton.

I did mean to try out the Crystal Place way, but my old route just automatically kicked in.

I do the same half the time but living just down the hill from CP it is sadly my fastest route!

 

[Dogsauce]

Definitely get a water bottle and cage -these just attach onto the frame, all you need is an allen key to put in the bolts. It's really easy to just reach down to the frame and grab a drink whilst you are riding and you must be carrying some water on ten mile rides I'd have thought.

nah, I wouldn’t bother with a water bottle, I only carry a drink if I’m doing thirty or more, and then a small tetrapak with the corners folded out will slip in the jersey pocket quite nicely (choc Alpro works for me). Otherwise it’s just needless weight.

I did stick a cage on for an audax a couple of years back but that was 220km so felt justified.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

nah, I wouldn’t bother with a water bottle, I only carry a drink if I’m doing thirty or more, and then a small tetrapak with the corners folded out will slip in the jersey pocket quite nicely (choc Alpro works for me). Otherwise it’s just needless weight.

I did stick a cage on for an audax a couple of years back but that was 220km so felt justified.

For the love of god ignore this advice

 

[weepiper]

nah, I wouldn’t bother with a water bottle, I only carry a drink if I’m doing thirty or more, and then a small tetrapak with the corners folded out will slip in the jersey pocket quite nicely (choc Alpro works for me). Otherwise it’s just needless weight.

I did stick a cage on for an audax a couple of years back but that was 220km so felt justified.

Are you a camel?

 

[Cid]

For reference I just did about 22 miles and drank around 700ml. And a bit more after I got back.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Not drinking/fueling properly on rides was my biggest mistake for a long time. Now I make sure I have a small bite to eat every half hour or so and always take 2 bottles if it’s even remotely warm. Rides are a lot more pleasant/fast as a result.

 

[Dogsauce]

Most of my rides are only about an hour, having a bit to drink before does me fine. No point spending money on components that save you 50g or whatever if you then stick half a kilo of water on the frame. Whatever works for people I guess.

 

[rubbershoes]

edit: also, is there one tip or one gadget that I really need? Cos I have nowt but a bike, helmet and a little lock rn.

Lights. Definitely lights.

They are so much better and brighter than the ones around when we were kids.

Many of them charge through usb though I also have a battery powered set on my bike.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Most of my rides are only about an hour, having a bit to drink before does me fine. No point spending money on components that save you 50g or whatever if you then stick half a kilo of water on the frame. Whatever works for people I guess.

If it's not a hot day I would agree. I've never needed to carry food and drink for an hour or so of cycling, though I also don't see any problems in carrying a little water, as a rucksack of work stuff or a basket of shopping doesn't bother me either.
If I was out all day, yes I would take food and water.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I drink like a fucking fish cycling.

 

[Cid]

Yes, riding for an hour, not pushing yourself, after you’ve taken on some water, in moderate temperatures of course you’ll be fine. But it’s daft to state that as a general rule. And still best to take some with you.

I find drink to thirst works best for me.

 

[Edie]

I do ten miles a day in the morning before work. (This is because I’m doing the C2C in a couple of weeks, over a civilised 5 days and with our stuff carted from one place to the next, but still thought I should do some preparation!).

Anyway, my morning ride is from Headingley to Kirkstall, along the canal to town, up Briggate and home along the Meanwood road. I take a bottle of water in a little rucksack and when I’m half way round have a breather and a drink. It’s nice to have a minute or twos break and see the swan family anyway

 

[a_chap]

A few years ago I was a ride leader on a C2C over 3 days from Whitehaven to Sunderland. Most of the participants were non-cyclists yet they all made it just fine, so I'm sure Edie will find it much easier than she thinks.

Having said that, on day 2 of the ride the organisers decided one of the riders was struggling so much that she and her bike ought to be driven to the overnight camp site. She was asthmatic and really was struggling, having to stop every ten minutes or so and use an inhaler. I thought this would be a shame and was confident that, with a little guidance, she'd be able to complete the ride so I offered to shepherd her myself and would call if we needed rescuing. Sure enough, we rolled into the campsite that evening after completing the longest and hardest part of the route, a good three or four hours after everyone else, to a huge cheer!

 

[T & P]

General question to you bike boffins. What’s the deal with those bicycles fitted with absurdly thick tyres, which look far better suited for motorcross bikes than pushbikes? I suspect they might be fairly resistant to punctures, but are there any practical advantages to them, or is it just a fashion/ style thing? Surely they cause more drag/ resistance than traditional bicycle tyres?

 

[weepiper]

General question to you bike boffins. What’s the deal with those bicycles fitted with absurdly thick tyres, which look far better suited for motorcross bikes than pushbikes? I suspect they might be far more resistant to punctures than traditional bike tyres, but are there any practical advantages to them, or is it just a fashion/ style thing?

Fat bikes?



It's not to do with puncture protection, they're designed for riding on snow or sand or loose gravel - the tyres can be run at a really low pressure which gives you good grip and because they're so wide they're very stable on loose stuff and you don't sink into the surface. They generally have a tiny low gear range too because they're not for going fast.

 

[Dogsauce]

General question to you bike boffins. What’s the deal with those bicycles fitted with absurdly thick tyres, which look far better suited for motorcross bikes than pushbikes? I suspect they might be fairly resistant to punctures, but are there any practical advantages to them, or is it just a fashion/ style thing? Surely they cause more drag/ resistance than traditional bicycle tyres?

Fat bikes? You can ride them on Sandy beaches etc., very low tyre pressure. I think that’s the point, although there is a fashion element to them as you see a few about in cities.

 

[iamwithnail]

Seen a few around London today that are electric bikes too, probably overcomes the speed issue a bit.

 

[Dogsauce]

Could have done with one last week when I was out playing on the new mountain bike toy, they’ve resurfaced a steep downhill track in the woods with loose uncompacted railway ballast, really fucking slidey like trying to ride a scree slope, I had to walk some of it. The track also happens to be part of a national cycle route, but that probably won’t surprise anyone familiar with such things.