ChrisFilter
Like a boss.
Yeah, I must admit that I'm surprised it was ever given leave to proceed. The disruption is enormous.
The Cycling Chat Thread
- Thread starter ChrisFilter
- Start date
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
I'm curious about something, what is the point of those 'optional' dotted-line bike lanes on roads? You know, the ones everyone just parks in? Surely it's much more dangerous to have cyclists being forced to swerve out into the middle of the carriageway (and to get clear of the door zone of cars parked in a narrow bike lane that's where you need to be) than to not even have a cycle lane at all. If a motorist coming up behind you misjudges your speed, or just doesn't bother to notice you exist, you can easily get squished when pulling out to get around a parked car.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I think they're very useful for demarcating the area of the road you shouldn't ride in.
Our local council spent millions marking out the door zone in red paint so we knew not to ride there:
tangerinedream
Density of Sound
I posted earlier about my aging bike and I tried to get it fixed today. I went to three lbs including two with the classic old fella in overalls who'll do a simple job for nowt and give you straight advice etc and one fancy place where they sell swanky stuff and drink energy shakes whilst using track pumps energetically.
All of them said the same thing, that I need a new front chainset and thus a new bottom bracket (as you simply can't buy one compatable) - They all quoted me a similar amount and all said basically- 'you could always look at something new, it would be a big upgrade on what you have, for not much more than the work your bike needs'
I COULD probably keep this bike on the road but it's getting hard to get parts and expensive so I think it's time to retire it for now and keep it for a little project and to hone my skills putting something together on a frame that's not my main bike.
So - given I ride 95% of time on the road and 5% on towpath/decent tracks I think a hybrid is what I want. I was intending to kit out the old beloved bike with panniers and mudguards and from what I see a lot of hybrids you can put a chunkier tyre on for slightly more gnarly road. I used to go over hill and dale, but realistically I haven't for a long, long time so I think a mtb would be a waste of money and more to the point energy but a straight out road bike will be a bit flimsy for my occaisional forays on an old railway or something.
I fell in love with the Trek 7.3 on sight but if anyone has any recommendations baced on experiences experiences with a sub £500ish hybrid I'd be delighted!
Sorry, long post, just thinking out loud really.
All of them said the same thing, that I need a new front chainset and thus a new bottom bracket (as you simply can't buy one compatable) - They all quoted me a similar amount and all said basically- 'you could always look at something new, it would be a big upgrade on what you have, for not much more than the work your bike needs'
I COULD probably keep this bike on the road but it's getting hard to get parts and expensive so I think it's time to retire it for now and keep it for a little project and to hone my skills putting something together on a frame that's not my main bike.
So - given I ride 95% of time on the road and 5% on towpath/decent tracks I think a hybrid is what I want. I was intending to kit out the old beloved bike with panniers and mudguards and from what I see a lot of hybrids you can put a chunkier tyre on for slightly more gnarly road. I used to go over hill and dale, but realistically I haven't for a long, long time so I think a mtb would be a waste of money and more to the point energy but a straight out road bike will be a bit flimsy for my occaisional forays on an old railway or something.
I fell in love with the Trek 7.3 on sight but if anyone has any recommendations baced on experiences experiences with a sub £500ish hybrid I'd be delighted!
Sorry, long post, just thinking out loud really.
BigTom
Well-Known Member
These are great examples of cycle infrastructure brought to you by the people who brought you bus lanes, and haven't been on a bike since they were a kid. They work well in the same circumstance that bus lanes do - when there's a traffic jam, they provide a clear space to filter in, as long as no-one is parked in them of course. They are the people that we need to get out of the highway departments of councils cos they have no idea and don't care.
They can be used well, like this:
Where there's a fairly quiet residential road, and you only have one lane for cars and drivers pass each other using the cycle lanes. Still get parked in obviously, so no idea how well it works in reality, or whether it'd be better than two shared lanes, but they are pretty common in the netherlands.
Otherwise they are shit, legitimise close passes and put you in danger too often.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
There was a painted non-mandatory lane on the main road near my house that I use on my commute most days, a little narrow but does work well for filtering (although buses sometimes drift into it which can be dangerous) and does give you a little space which is generally respected (there's no parking). This week they've just been down and scrubbed the dotted line out because they're building a new bi-directional track on the other side of the road. The new track won't be ready for six months, and the couple of days this week I've ridden this road I've had numerous close passes. It was shit, but I miss it now it's gone. I haven't ridden it at rush hour, but I imagine there will now be no way through. Idiots.
Pinnacle Lithium Four is a good one. There are five bikes in this range: the first three are well within your budget.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithium-four-2015-hybrid-bike-ec071282#BVRRWidgetID
ChrisFilter
Like a boss.
For a budget sub-£500 bike I'd look at Decathlon.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
I did my first ever competitive event on Thursday evening, a hill climb near Keighley organised by a local club there. A 277m climb over 4.7km
https://www.strava.com/segments/4938717?filter=overall
Nothing insanely steep (I think about 1:8 on the worst bits) but a real drag in places, especially once you reach the moor at the top and the tank is empty. Tenth place (out of 15) with 14:55 as my official time (Strava times are a bit different, although I forgot to start my Strava until two thirds up!). A guy from my club won it with an official time of 11:59, but he'd built himself a 'Frankenbike' to do it, with cut down handlebars, a single small cog on the front and nothing he didn't need on the frame (I suggested doing away with the back brake next year!). Think he got it down to 6.5kg.
Of course, because I didn't Strava it properly (and because it's been nominated as the club's 'segment of the week' for members to compete on) I went back for another go the next day and chipped another 20 seconds off my time. My knees hate me.
https://www.strava.com/segments/4938717?filter=overall
Nothing insanely steep (I think about 1:8 on the worst bits) but a real drag in places, especially once you reach the moor at the top and the tank is empty. Tenth place (out of 15) with 14:55 as my official time (Strava times are a bit different, although I forgot to start my Strava until two thirds up!). A guy from my club won it with an official time of 11:59, but he'd built himself a 'Frankenbike' to do it, with cut down handlebars, a single small cog on the front and nothing he didn't need on the frame (I suggested doing away with the back brake next year!). Think he got it down to 6.5kg.
Of course, because I didn't Strava it properly (and because it's been nominated as the club's 'segment of the week' for members to compete on) I went back for another go the next day and chipped another 20 seconds off my time. My knees hate me.
tangerinedream
Density of Sound
Thanks for the replies. I've got a specialised sirrus sport in for a test ride later this week. If I don't like it I might well have a look at the pinnacle 3 though the top cog being 44 puts me off a little bit its really nice looking. and another bike shop offered a really good deal on a trek 7.3. I think the sirrus fits what I'm after really, bit tougher than a plain road bike but fast and light and pretty low maintenance. I noticed everything feels weird to sit on but guess that's inevitable after riding the same bike for 20+ years.
a_chap
When the world came apart, where were you?
Yesterday was supposed to be the last shake-down ride before PBP (replacement bell fitted on Friday you see) but on some of the climbs in Herefordshire first gear started to skip pretty badly 
Not wishing to take any chances I'm going to try to get a new hub gear fitted by Wednesday.
Thursday morning I set off for Paris
Not wishing to take any chances I'm going to try to get a new hub gear fitted by Wednesday.
Thursday morning I set off for Paris
Sister Midnight
Well-Known Member
Bon chance!
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Christ I hate road cycling, drivers are fucking arseholes.
Short ride to doctors, had one guy try and overtake as we got to crest of a hill, neatly hit another car head on and he was about a foot away from me.
Short ride to doctors, had one guy try and overtake as we got to crest of a hill, neatly hit another car head on and he was about a foot away from me.
I have always rode defensively, but I cannot work out why all of a sudden cyclists seem to be targets for some drivers. Last week I was so close to being flattened I have not been out again yet. Three cars all within twenty minutes had me having to slam on and dismount, the third coming toward me on my side of the road. Very close and I did not even blip on his radar. It's over a year since my last close shave.
Is there a run cyclists off the road campaign running on Twitter or Facebook we don't know about?
The cars btw were two BMWs and an Audi, are they just popular or is it their owners on a mission?
tangerinedream
Density of Sound
BMW drivers are awful
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Its certainly made me think a bit, and I've come to the conclusion that theres a reason that a majority of cyclists seem to be Lycra-clad srs bsns types, it takes dedication and nerves to actually go any serious distance on the bloody things.
I feel like I'm driving a tractor or a caravan, only instead of impotently fuming the drivers can happily knock me off and tootle on their way, because god forgive they should be 5 minutes late to pickup the groceries
[/rant]
I feel like I'm driving a tractor or a caravan, only instead of impotently fuming the drivers can happily knock me off and tootle on their way, because god forgive they should be 5 minutes late to pickup the groceries
[/rant]
BigTom
Well-Known Member
BMWs and Audis both seem to be popular with wankers. Not to say all BMW / Audi drivers are wankers by any means, but wankers certainly seem attracted to these two marques more than any other.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I get Audis mixed up with Saabs but BMW's the one with the round checkered logo isn't it? Favoured by minicab drivers?
BigTom
Well-Known Member
Yes, circle cut in quarters, 2 blue, 2 white. Audi is 4 interlocking circles. Saab I think is the word Saab with the As interlocking or something.
I have also noticed that in the main the indicators never work either.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
There's some nice ex-pro bikes for sale on the Canyon website. I'm very taken with Castroviejo's Aeroad. Its coffee shop cred is massive as Canyon have never made a Movistar replica so if you have this it's the real fucking deal.
E2A: Put your money away. It turns out they did do a Movistar replica Ultimate in 2015. Must be the Quintana effect.
E2A: Put your money away. It turns out they did do a Movistar replica Ultimate in 2015. Must be the Quintana effect.
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sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Canyon bikes are nice, unlike this:
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
So much to disapprove of on that bike I don't even know where to begin.Canyon bikes are nice, unlike this:
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
It'll be really easy to pop a wheelieSay something nice about my bike Weeps
I'm not weepiper , but I showed your bike to my other half and she said "ooooh, that's a nice bike"Say something nice about my bike Weeps
