The Cycling Chat Thread

[Orang Utan]

Lots of people crash on the L to B, mainly on the downhill bits. Don't let your speed build up and keep your distance from people when you see the downhill bits coming. If you brake hard you might get hit from behind, but the person who does that will be the one to fall off, not you.

do they? why? the downhill bit from the top of Ditchling Beacon is pretty sweet - you can enjoy the view and there's no peddling. you'd have to pretty reckless to crash

 

[spitfire]

What else? I think you know this, but pump your tyres up, it helps to prevent punctures. But not rock hard...maybe 10 psi less than the max pressure which is on the sidewalls. Cycling gloves are comfy and safe for when you fall off. The ones with a terry cloth on the back of your hand are good for dealing with snot and sweat. Are you wearing trainers? Touring shoes would be more comfy but it might be hard to find any at a sensible price. Depends where you live and how much spare time you have.

Have gloves, always pump tyres up, it's a life saver for sure. I have mountain bike trainers with spd clip ins so best of both worlds.

 

[David Clapson]

Put some valve caps on. Keep those valves clean!

 

[Orang Utan]

What else? I think you know this, but pump your tyres up, it helps to prevent punctures. But not rock hard...maybe 10 psi less than the max pressure which is on the sidewalls. Cycling gloves are comfy and safe for when you fall off. The ones with a terry cloth on the back of your hand are good for dealing with snot and sweat. Are you wearing trainers? Touring shoes would be more comfy but it might be hard to find any at a sensible price. Depends where you live and how much spare time you have.

i think havng an absorbant sweat/snot wipe on your gloves is way more important than any of that nerd crap

 

[weepiper]

i think havng an absorbant sweat/snot wipe on your gloves is way more important than any of that nerd crap

Oh ffs OU. Noone is judging the way you cycle with any of this advice. Ride your bike how you fucking like, there's no need to take the piss out of people who like to do it differently.

 

[David Clapson]

do they? why? the downhill bit from the top of Ditchling Beacon is pretty sweet - you can enjoy the view and there's no peddling. you'd have to pretty reckless to crash

It's earlier in the route when everyone is bunched up. Lots of people haven't ridden in such a tight mass of bikes before, and they're a bit tense because it's such a long way, and they want to keep up with their friends, and next thing you know they're having a panic and going into the ditch.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Put some valve caps on. Keep those valves clean!

For a schrader valve, maybe. Caps on presta valves are pointless and could be anything up to 2 grams of extra weight to be lugging around, nobody wants that.

 

[Orang Utan]

It's earlier in the route when everyone is bunched up. Lots of people haven't ridden in such a tight mass of bikes before, and they're a bit tense because it's such a long way, and they want to keep up with their friends, and next thing you know they're having a panic and going into the ditch.

ah, is it one of those mass rides?

 

[Orang Utan]

Oh ffs OU. Noone is judging the way you cycle with any of this advice. Ride your bike how you fucking like, there's no need to take the piss out of people who like to do it differently.

not taking the piss at all, just genuinely pissed off at the people making it more complicated than it needs to be. this puts off a lot of people from cycling and makes non-riders perceive this wonderful fun pursuit as a drag and not worth bothering with

 

[Orang Utan]

it’s really alienating reading all of this and i’ve been riding for years. We need to encourage people, not put them off

 

[David Clapson]

For a schrader valve, maybe. Caps on presta valves are pointless and could be anything up to 2 grams of extra weight to be lugging around, nobody wants that.

I'm easily the most deranged weight weenie in this hemisphere, but presta valves have a little rubber ring at the bottom, and if that gets manky, goodbye air! And you probably won't find a spare valve or a tool to fit it. You'll end up in an Uber, if you're lucky.

 

[David Clapson]

it’s really alienating reading all of this and i’ve been riding for years. We need to encourage people, not put them off

But he wants all the goods in one go so he has a good day. It's very useful to have all this stuff in one place! I might sound pessimistic but I used to help organise a London to Paris charity triathlon. I've spared him the worst horrors, such as the bonking and sunburn combo.

 

[David Clapson]

ah, is it one of those mass rides?

 

[Orang Utan]

But he wants all the goods in one go so he has a good day. It's very useful to have all this stuff in one place! I might sound pessimistic but I used to help organise a London to Paris charity triathlon. I've spared him the worst horrors, such as the bonking and sunburn combo.

i guess so, but what everyone’s saying is totally different from my experience getting from London to Brighton. It’s not a trip to the moon, as long as you take your time and rest when you feel tired

 

[David Clapson]

not taking the piss at all, just genuinely pissed off at the people making it more complicated than it needs to be. this puts off a lot of people from cycling and makes non-riders perceive this wonderful fun pursuit as a drag and not worth bothering with

55 miles is a very big deal if it's your first time. Especially for the older gentleman.

 

[Orang Utan]

to be avoided IME

 

[David Clapson]

I agree most heartily. I don't understand the etape/sportif phenomenon. Or audaxing. But I think everyone should do L to B once. It's special.

 

[Orang Utan]

55 miles is a very big deal if it's your first time. Especially for the older gentleman.

i think that’s only if you start somewhere central. you can start a bit further out than that

 

[Orang Utan]

I agree most heartily. I don't understand the etape/sportif phenomenon. Or audaxing. But I think everyone should do L to B once. It's special.

totally, so much fun

 

[Dogsauce]

For a schrader valve, maybe. Caps on presta valves are pointless and could be anything up to 2 grams of extra weight to be lugging around, nobody wants that.

Don’t forget that you can get away with just one of those metal nuts to hold the valve in place, because you can swap it between wheels if you need it to pump one up from flat. (You can get away with none at all but it can be a pain in the arse if you‘re putting a tube back in). Obviously no nut or valve cap on the spare inner either....

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Don’t forget that you can get away with just one of those metal nuts to hold the valve in place, because you can swap it between wheels if you need it to pump one up from flat. (You can get away with none at all but it can be a pain in the arse if you‘re putting a tube back in). Obviously no nut or valve cap on the spare inner either....

I use the little nuts on one pair of carbon wheels I’ve got because the valves make an incredibly annoying rattle if not.

 

[Cid]

not taking the piss at all, just genuinely pissed off at the people making it more complicated than it needs to be. this puts off a lot of people from cycling and makes non-riders perceive this wonderful fun pursuit as a drag and not worth bothering with

Don’t be daft. If you tell someone it’s an easy ride, and they’re struggling 40 miles in, how do you think they’ll feel? Everything is relative… you did a shorter version when you were x years younger and probably better trained.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Take some biltong and Kendal mint cake for if you need immediate foods, other than that there are pubs all along the route, a few beers flattens out the hills nicely. When you get to the sea you’re done. Hope you have a lovely ride.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Don’t be daft. If you tell someone it’s an easy ride, and they’re struggling 40 miles in, how do you think they’ll feel? Everything is relative… you did a shorter version when you were x years younger and probably better trained.

Yep. 50 miles for a lot of us is a gentle Sunday morning ride, but I remember the first time I reached that distance and it felt epic.

Commuting in to work, delivering goods on a cargo bike, riding up a mountain or racing flat out for 120 miles, it’s all cycling and all good.

 

[spitfire]

It's this one.

London to Brighton Bike Ride | Skyline Events Charity Rides 2020

Take on the challenge of a lifetime with the London to Brighton Bike Ride and join over 4,000 riders through the scenic countryside and down to the Brighton seafront to celebrate your 54-mile bike ride victory at the finish line.

skylineevents.co.uk

I'm doing it for the Cystic Fibrosis trust, friends daughter was born with it.

Like I said last night some great advice here and I know enough that I can cherry pick the bits I can really make use of, some stuff I didn't know at all. Didn't find any of it alienating at all apart from being told I was over thinking it, sorry OU. I've also been riding for years but it has been an age since I was able to jump on my bike and do 60 - 70 miles tootling around the Wicklow mountains with my mate. Had some great advice on pacing myself, hill climbing, food and pubs. I'd like to think that anyone else reading it would get some great pointers for their first long ride.

If someone could jump through the internet and fix my gears that would be the cherry on top.

Off to the bike shop. Again. (a different one).

 

[spitfire]

But he wants all the goods in one go so he has a good day. It's very useful to have all this stuff in one place! I might sound pessimistic but I used to help organise a London to Paris charity triathlon. I've spared him the worst horrors, such as the bonking and sunburn combo.

I have questions...

 

[TopCat]

It took me an hour to cycle ten miles this morning. I only kept up with the commuters by never ever stopping. I need a lie down.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I have questions...

It’s when you haven’t eaten enough and your body literally runs out of energy. Can come on very suddenly and is utterly horrible.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

It took me an hour to cycle ten miles this morning. I only kept up with the commuters by never ever stopping. I need a lie down.

10mph is respectable TopCat, >3x walking pace

 

[TopCat]

For a schrader valve, maybe. Caps on presta valves are pointless and could be anything up to 2 grams of extra weight to be lugging around, nobody wants that.

Two grams of excess weight. I really don’t know if you are serious.