The Cycling Chat Thread

[weepiper]

Fair enough, this was for a road bike so a bit different. I've found another one that correlates well with what i run 25mm and shows i've been got my 28mm too hard. They're more like 30mm tbh.
The roads in Kent, Surrey, Sussex are pretty rough where i ride, it often feels like a gravel route even staying on the road
SilcaTyrePressureCalculator

Ah. Note of caution in that case that should you be using carbon rims you need to be really careful not to exceed the rim manufacturer's pressure recommendations (I have seen carbon rims that have literally exploded because someone had just read the pressure rating on the tyre sidewall, which was significantly higher than the rim rating).

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Mark Beaumont somewhat redefining the casual “morning ride” here

(Time was a quite frankly insane 28 hours, 35 mins)

 

[braindancer]

Took a train up from Lewes to East Croydon this weekend and did a lumpy 80 miles across the North Downs, down and round Ashdown Forest and back - which was grand but I was done in by the end. Couple of drinks and then dozing on the train on the way back home when it came to an abrupt stop at Three Bridges because of an 'incident'. It was clear there wouldn't be any more trains for hours - so it was back on the bike for at 25 miles and 1500ft more up.... it was late and dark by the time I set off but fortunately I had my lights. I was really dreading it as I was well into relaxation mode by this time - but it turned out to be a real highlight of the day - I had the lanes all to myself, the stars were twinkling and the owls were hooting - made me think I should get out for some more night riding as I've not done any for yonks.....

 

[sleaterkinney]

Did l'Angliru last week, nice quiet roads, great views but it's all these punchy ramps, it doesn’t go below 10% for 7k. Ridiculous.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

^^^ Great pic, do you recommend the region,? looks idyllic for cycling and so green compared with other bits of Spain.
Not many cyclists could do the l'Angliru, doubt if I could, impressive.

 

[sleaterkinney]

^^^ Great pic, do you recommend the region,? looks idyllic for cycling and so green compared with other bits of Spain.
Not many cyclists could do the l'Angliru, doubt if I could, impressive.

I was just looking to get up it, looking at my time I could have walked it quicker. Was talking to a cyclist and there's a few less stupid climbs nearby.
It's nice and green, we were lucky with the weather but it can get a bit wet. The whole region is up and down, up and down, hardly any flat roads - if you're into that. I was getting bored of the hills by the end. The roads and drivers are great. Food is really stodgy, farming food. It’s not touristy at all.

 

[klang]

Moving hiuse

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

No wonder the back wheel's off the floor, too much weight on the front there.

 

[Fuzzy]

No wonder the back wheel's off the floor, too much weight on the front there.

but would be counter balanced when it had a rider on it.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Simon Warren eulogises the wonder of hills whilst we're in the tail end of hill climbing season. Top guy.


He's written some excellent pocket books on UK climbs that are well worth digging into..."Know your enemy."

 

[Hollis]

Had another spin on a Santander bike today... got completely lost. What's the best/recommended app for cycle route planning in London... Citymapper?

 

[Winot]

Had another spin on a Santander bike today... got completely lost. What's the best/recommended app for cycle route planning in London... Citymapper?

I’ve tried multiple tech solutions and my conclusion is to use Citymapper (Quiet route option) with Airpods and spoken navigation.

 

[Dogsauce]

Not quite the same but if I use Komoot to plan routes it always wants to take me up this.



It's called The 100 steps (for a good reason).

I know the railings are there for a reason but it stops me pushing the bike up the slope at the side. Something like this would make it slightly easier.



Instead, I make a 1.5 mile detour using cyclable paths to get to the top.

I used strava to pick a route on holiday a couple of years back. This was what it served up for me, with preferences selected as “paved route’ and ‘minimum elevation”. It was about 30 degrees and barely walkable.

 

[Dogsauce]

but would be counter balanced when it had a rider on it.

My pashley has a 25kg limit sticker on the front basket frame, which seemed low given the sturdiness of it. I discovered why when I loaded it up with 30 litres of chocolate Alpro from the clearance shop at the market, when I dismounted at my destination the whole thing pitched forward and I was kind of tangled up in it all, unable to get off or recover.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Had another spin on a Santander bike today... got completely lost. What's the best/recommended app for cycle route planning in London... Citymapper?

Mapy.cz ? Ok if you just want to go a-b. Not so good for big route plotting.

 

[Leafster]

I used strava to pick a route on holiday a couple of years back. This was what it served up for me, with preferences selected as “paved route’ and ‘minimum elevation”. It was about 30 degrees and barely walkable.

View attachment 350794

That looks, erm, challenging!

There's a track near me called The Conduit which I've cycled* a couple of times which is a bit like that although not quite as bad.

It forms part of Strava segment called the Roughets Lane Climb which Strava says is a Category 4 climb whatever that is. It's mostly loose flint and stones which shift under the wheels all the time.

* I say I 'cycled' up it. I did both times, but I stopped on several (!!!) occasions. It doesn't seem to be a very popular segment on Strava with only 300 people having ever ridden it.

 

[klang]

No wonder the back wheel's off the floor, too much weight on the front there.

that's the kick stand, nothing to do with the weight

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Dunno if anyone is currently looking for kit, but Pactimo have their annual big sale on. Their kit is IMHO some of the best available (Summit Stratos bib shorts in particular) and the sale makes it merely a tad expensive, rather than eye watering.

 

[magneze]

+1 on that, love their stuff but I don't need any atm.

 

[spitfire]

If anyone has any spare gear give sparky a shout.

https://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/bike-stuff-for-refugees-eg-lights-locks.379959/#post-17922301

 

[Orang Utan]

I have worn out yet another ginormous commuting backpack. I put them through a lot. I need one that can fit in a laptop and charger (pref. in a separate waterproof pocket), a complete change of clothing plus a few more smallses), a few books, toiletries (pref. in a separate compartment so I don’t accidentally spray deodorant and/or leak hand gel all over everything), a big lunch box (pref. in separate watertight compartment so I don’t empty my dhal or coffee or stew over everything), and somewhere separate but easily accessible) to put my keys, lights, ID/access badge. It needs plenty more room for groceries shopping too. It needs to be as waterproof as possible. The current one I use is no longer waterproof for some reason.
I weighed my full work backpack earlier, as I had been struggling the day before and couldn’t work out if the challenges were mental or physical, and I carry 10kg on my back for 4-12 miles a day. Maybe that’s a bit too much for my back? perhaps I should make more effort to use my other bike that has panniers?
Any pointers/advice?
Will come back to edit in details of my current bag…

 

[Winot]

I would go for Ortlieb panniers personally. Mine are 25 years old and still waterproof.

If you’re going to use a backpack then they do this:

Velocity

By popular demand, the VELOCITY backpack is now available with a number of smart new features, including a padded laptop case. It has also been given a little brother.

www.ortlieb.com

 

[DaphneM]

I would go for Ortlieb panniers personally. Mine are 25 years old and still waterproof.

If you’re going to use a backpack then they do this:

Velocity

By popular demand, the VELOCITY backpack is now available with a number of smart new features, including a padded laptop case. It has also been given a little brother.

www.ortlieb.com

a vote for Ortlieb

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I have worn out yet another ginormous commuting backpack. I put them through a lot. I need one that can fit in a laptop and charger (pref. in a separate waterproof pocket), a complete change of clothing plus a few more smallses), a few books, toiletries (pref. in a separate compartment so I don’t accidentally spray deodorant and/or leak hand gel all over everything), a big lunch box (pref. in separate watertight compartment so I don’t empty my dhal or coffee or stew over everything), and somewhere separate but easily accessible) to put my keys, lights, ID/access badge. It needs plenty more room for groceries shopping too. It needs to be as waterproof as possible. The current one I use is no longer waterproof for some reason.
I weighed my full work backpack earlier, as I had been struggling the day before and couldn’t work out if the challenges were mental or physical, and I carry 10kg on my back for 4-12 miles a day. Maybe that’s a bit too much for my back? perhaps I should make more effort to use my other bike that has panniers?
Any pointers/advice?
Will come back to edit in details of my current bag…

Ortleib panniers.

 

[BigTom]

Third for Ortlieb. They are expensive but very good quality.
I fear the day they get bought out by private equity to trade on the brand reputation

 

[BigTom]

Well. I say i fear the day but pannier bag is 12 years old and I don't expect to need to replace it anytime soon.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Third for Ortlieb. They are expensive but very good quality.
I fear the day they get bought out by private equity to trade on the brand reputation

That's the day we can start making quality cycling gear, could call it SPYMASTER.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

And yes, it's a great brand, I still have a courier bag that had the strap sewn back together after LAS cut it off me when I was hit by a truck door. That must have been 2008...

 

[nick]

If not ORtlieb, then Tailfin.
Lovely kit, albeit reassuringly eye-wateringly expensive

 

[DJWrongspeed]

If not ORtlieb, then Tailfin.
Lovely kit, albeit reassuringly eye-wateringly expensive

Tailfin aren’t for commuting. More for special trips where weight matters. Defo Ortlieb or I got a fancy upcycled one from here. Potters Pannier.