The Cycling Chat Thread

[klang]

As a youngster I could ride for miles no handed - but not these days!

hope you'll be ok soon.
thinking about it, I don't think I've ever not ridden for 3 months.
had broken limbs before, but don't think they put me out of action for that long.
get well!

 

[Sweet FA]

Fulfilled a bit of a lockdown ambition yesterday by riding to the New Forest but taking the Hythe Ferry (been closed due to covid) to avoid dual carriageway+big long hill+3 miles down fast A road. The electric train on the pier on the Hythe side has been running on the pier since 1917 but it started life in a mustard gas factory in 1914. The pier itself has been there since 1909.

Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Sweet FA]

When taking the bikes on/off the ferry, it was really noticeable that my 14 year old bike (Gary Fisher Tampon) is substantially heavier than either of my friends' newer bikes (some Specialized road bike and a Trek hybrid). If I go MTB'ing (maybe twice a year) I change tyres, take the rack off etc; if it's a road trip I change it all back. I don't do either often enough for that to be a massive arseache tbh & generally keep road tyres & the rack on.

I actually really like my bike but I'm slow compared to my mates when we cycle together. Only because of fitness or do my fat tyres/heavy frame etc play a part? I've been looking at bike weight and mine's around 14kg - is that heavy? Friends are saying that I should keep my bike but solely for MTB and buy a road bike/hybrid too.

 

[nick]

....my 14 year old bike (Gary Fisher Tampon) .....

Either you are a victim of autocorrect, or Gary Fisher really need to reconsider their branding

 

[Biddlybee]

14kg is quite heavy, you'll notice the difference. Have you had a go of theirs?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Weight, fat tyres and your position (aerodynamics) will all have an effect on your speed. Road bikes are faster than MTB’s on the road because they’re designed to be.

 

[Orang Utan]

When taking the bikes on/off the ferry, it was really noticeable that my 14 year old bike (Gary Fisher Tampon) is substantially heavier than either of my friends' newer bikes (some Specialized road bike and a Trek hybrid). If I go MTB'ing (maybe twice a year) I change tyres, take the rack off etc; if it's a road trip I change it all back. I don't do either often enough for that to be a massive arseache tbh & generally keep road tyres & the rack on.

I actually really like my bike but I'm slow compared to my mates when we cycle together. Only because of fitness or do my fat tyres/heavy frame etc play a part? I've been looking at bike weight and mine's around 14kg - is that heavy? Friends are saying that I should keep my bike but solely for MTB and buy a road bike/hybrid too.

heavy-ish - i sometimes use a 17kg bike, it can be tough going up even small hills or slight inclines but wow it’s good for fitness - I used it every day for a few months and lots 3 stones!

 

[weepiper]

14kg is quite heavy, yeah. As bees says the wheel size, tyre width/pressure and gearing all makes a difference too.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Gary Fisher Tampon, you sure Sweet FA ? I met Gary once, Bike U.K. arranged a ride with him, prick had broken his leg and was plastered up to his hip, so did look a bit like a jam rag…

My step mum in law takes that ferry when she wants to go to Southampton, takes one of the two buses a day from her village to Hythe then the ferry. It caught fire a few years ago and she was fucked. She will be similarly fucked should my dad die before her, he is ten years older so she could be well stuck…

 

[weepiper]

Pretty sure that was an autocorrect of 'Gary Fisher Tarpon'!

 

[Sweet FA]

Either you are a victim of autocorrect, or Gary Fisher really need to reconsider their branding

It's actually a Tarpon but anybody who's ever looked at it ever has always without fail every time made the 'hilarious' 'tampon' 'joke'.

I was going to asterisk it but forgot

 

[Sweet FA]

14kg is quite heavy, you'll notice the difference. Have you had a go of theirs?

Just around the block - they've got SPDs & I haven't.

 

[David Clapson]

Midway through my 2nd ride. Gone 4.5 miles to Seven Dials and I'm exhausted. After two miles I had incipient Shermer's neck. 10 years without exercise and I'm jelly. My special brand new Infinity comfy saddle hurts. I was hoping to have a ride-in-jeans policy around town. And it's loose because it has round rails and the bike came with a saddle clamp for oval rails. I ovalized the round rails with bits of wooden kebab skewer but the glue is squishy.

 

[TopCat]

I’m doing about 12 miles ever other day. Feeling fitter already.

 

[Cid]

Midway through my 2nd ride. Gone 4.5 miles to Seven Dials and I'm exhausted. After two miles I had incipient Shermer's neck. 10 years without exercise and I'm jelly. My special brand new Infinity comfy saddle hurts. I was hoping to have a ride-in-jeans policy around town. And it's loose because it has round rails and the bike came with a saddle clamp for oval rails. I ovalized the round rails with bits of wooden kebab skewer but the glue is squishy.

That Shermer? Learn something new every day...

One step at a time... At least you're back on it. On saddles I don't think any will work for every rider. Arse anatomy is just so variable, and rendered even more so by position on bike etc, best to find a shop that has trial ones.

 

[kropotkin]

How much do you pay for that sort of service?

I pay for a full service once a year now - around 120, but bike stripped back to frame and each bit fully cleaned, de and regreased and everything put back on Inc new cables and bled gears. Anything that needs replacing replaced (plus he let's me give him stuff I've sourced if I want).
It's worth it.

 

[David Clapson]

That Shermer? Learn something new every day...

One step at a time... At least you're back on it. On saddles I don't think any will work for every rider. Arse anatomy is just so variable, and rendered even more so by position on bike etc, best to find a shop that has trial ones.

Probably unfair to the saddle to try it in jeans. But I can't wrap my head around going to the West End for a posh coffee in the full Assos regalia. It seems very uncouth.

 

[Cid]

Probably unfair to the saddle to try it in jeans. But I can't wrap my head around going to the West End for a posh coffee in the full Assos regalia. It seems very uncouth.

Splash out on some Rapha technical wear, bib shorts underneath.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

If your bike is uncomfortable to ride in normal clothes it isn't the right bike to ride for a coffee in the west end.

 

[weepiper]

Probably unfair to the saddle to try it in jeans. But I can't wrap my head around going to the West End for a posh coffee in the full Assos regalia. It seems very uncouth.

The trick is to wear a pair of these (or similar) under the jeans instead of pants.

Endura Engineered Padded Boxer Shorts II | Tredz Bikes

Save 5% - Endura Engineered Padded Boxer Shorts II £33.24 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Under Shorts are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

 

[David Clapson]

If your bike is uncomfortable to ride in normal clothes it isn't the right bike to ride for a coffee in the west end.

I shall make it the right bike. Part of the fun is modifying things to make a bike perfect. I haven't even started yet.

 

[Cid]

If your bike is uncomfortable to ride in normal clothes it isn't the right bike to ride for a coffee in the west end.

10 years off the bike to superbike with Lightweight wheels and a £300 saddle (that doesn't fit) is certainly... a decision.

 

[David Clapson]

The saddle was $125 on Kickstarter and it might fit, but not with jeans.

 

[Cid]

The saddle was $125 on Kickstarter and it might fit, but not with jeans.

I mean it doesn't fit your bike... Either way, a saddle that fits you should certainly be ok in jeans over 4.5 miles. Though of course you are getting used to everything again.

 

[weepiper]

Midway through my 2nd ride. Gone 4.5 miles to Seven Dials and I'm exhausted. After two miles I had incipient Shermer's neck. 10 years without exercise and I'm jelly. My special brand new Infinity comfy saddle hurts. I was hoping to have a ride-in-jeans policy around town. And it's loose because it has round rails and the bike came with a saddle clamp for oval rails. I ovalized the round rails with bits of wooden kebab skewer but the glue is squishy.

Get a new seatpost with the right clamp. Alternatively it's possible you maybe able to get just a new clamp for the post (what make is it?)

 

[David Clapson]

I mean it doesn't fit your bike... Either way, a saddle that fits you should certainly be ok in jeans over 4.5 miles. Though of course you are getting used to everything again.

There's no reason to think it doesn't fit the bike.

 

[Cid]

There's no reason to think it doesn't fit the bike.

Ok, doesn't fit the seat clamp if we have to be specific.

 

[David Clapson]

Get a new seatpost with the right clamp. Alternatively it's possible you maybe able to get just a new clamp for the post (what make is it?)

The seatpost would originally have shipped with 2 or 3 different upper clamps to fit various types of saddle rail. The previous owner of the bike lost his upper clamp for 7mm round rails. I bought the bike with his saddle on it, which has 7x10mm oval rails. It's an Enve post and the importer is giving me a free 7mm upper clamp, which is in the post.

BUT the post has 25mm layback and I'm not yet sure whether that's best for me with this frame. So I might end up swapping it for a straight one. I need to do one of those fanatical fitting sessions with a plumb line etc. Which is tricky to get right on your own

 

[TopCat]

The seatpost would originally have shipped with 2 or 3 different upper clamps to fit various types of saddle rail. The previous owner of the bike lost his upper clamp for 7mm round rails. I bought the bike with his saddle on it, which has 7x10mm oval rails. It's an Enve post and the importer is giving me a free 7mm upper clamp, which is in the post.

BUT the post has 25mm layback and I'm not yet sure whether that's best for me with this frame. So I might end up swapping it for a straight one. I need to do one of those fanatical fitting sessions with a plumb line etc. Which is tricky to get right on your own

What is this sorcery?

 

[Dogsauce]

The trick to bike fitting is just to buy a second hand bike from someone roughly the same size as you. I’ve not even adjusted the saddle height on the MTB I bought a few months ago from another five foot tenner, it’s fine.