Cycling thread

[SerenityNigh]

Haha well, it did not start well.

I decided after 30 mins going up and down this path and clipping in and out that a couple of days later I was ready to go into the Kent hills and tackle the second most difficult hill: Brasted Hill, known as [Poor language removed] Hill.

Cue me forgetting i'm not in trainers anymore and stopping 3/4s up and then falling over and then when I tried to start again, I fell again and had to walk up the last bit! Proper comedy.

I then decided a few days after that to do 100k in the Surrey hills and in total fell 6 times and bruised my ass but more annoyingly, bent my gear hanger so bike is not sounding good right now. Mate said he would fix it.

Having realised I have bit off more than I can chew, yesterday I went into the park just to practise and did not fall once and that went well.

I will get there but am finding it stressful on roundabouts and in traffic but have worked out how to clip out and just keep my foot on the pedal but not clip in which seems to be working well.

The difference in effort going up hills is incredible though and knee feels good.

Been on any nice rides recently?

I'd love to have everyone's strava accounts, love seeing what people are up to.

Unclip first, then stop, that became my mantra. Then i had issues unclipping then losing balance and trying to use the wrong foot. Have mostly solved it now. My routes are pretty plain, there's a safe cycling area on the South side of town and I ride these usually. If the weather is good will try a 100k event this weekend. I'm on strava but not sure of the name, but it's probably under my name (Micah) or this same username as on GOT.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Haha well, it did not start well.

I decided after 30 mins going up and down this path and clipping in and out that a couple of days later I was ready to go into the Kent hills and tackle the second most difficult hill: Brasted Hill, known as [Poor language removed] Hill.

Cue me forgetting i'm not in trainers anymore and stopping 3/4s up and then falling over and then when I tried to start again, I fell again and had to walk up the last bit! Proper comedy.

I then decided a few days after that to do 100k in the Surrey hills and in total fell 6 times and bruised my ass but more annoyingly, bent my gear hanger so bike is not sounding good right now. Mate said he would fix it.

Having realised I have bit off more than I can chew, yesterday I went into the park just to practise and did not fall once and that went well.

I will get there but am finding it stressful on roundabouts and in traffic but have worked out how to clip out and just keep my foot on the pedal but not clip in which seems to be working well.

The difference in effort going up hills is incredible though and knee feels good.

Been on any nice rides recently?

I'd love to have everyone's strava accounts, love seeing what people are up to.

I did a great ride in the Peak last week - all the Edges on the eastern Sheffield side. Best mountain bike ride I've done for a long time.

A few of these are v popular footpaths with walkers so best avoided at the weekend, so I hauled myself out of my pit at 5.30am on a Friday, drove over and was riding by 7. Saw one fell runner in the first two hours, empty. Technical riding up on the edges, no really big moves but intricate through the boulders.

Still got collared by a ranger later on in the day but we had a respectful exchange of views on land access and left it at that.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

I did a great ride in the Peak last week - all the Edges on the eastern Sheffield side. Best mountain bike ride I've done for a long time.

A few of these are v popular footpaths with walkers so best avoided at the weekend, so I hauled myself out of my pit at 5.30am on a Friday, drove over and was riding by 7. Saw one fell runner in the first two hours, empty. Technical riding up on the edges, no really big moves but intricate through the boulders.

Still got collared by a ranger later on in the day but we had a respectful exchange of views on land access and left it at that.

This looks stunning. Wow!

 

[Deulofeumygod]

Unclip first, then stop, that became my mantra. Then i had issues unclipping then losing balance and trying to use the wrong foot. Have mostly solved it now. My routes are pretty plain, there's a safe cycling area on the South side of town and I ride these usually. If the weather is good will try a 100k event this weekend. I'm on strava but not sure of the name, but it's probably under my name (Micah) or this same username as on GOT.

This is what I have learned so excellent advice. Will see if I can find you.

Lost my balance at a traffic light and fell which was a bit hairy but hoping I have the hang of it now.

Weather is starting to turn finally. First ride in shorts and short sleeves on monday which was brilliant.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Haha well, it did not start well.

I decided after 30 mins going up and down this path and clipping in and out that a couple of days later I was ready to go into the Kent hills and tackle the second most difficult hill: Brasted Hill, known as [Poor language removed] Hill.

Cue me forgetting i'm not in trainers anymore and stopping 3/4s up and then falling over and then when I tried to start again, I fell again and had to walk up the last bit! Proper comedy.

I then decided a few days after that to do 100k in the Surrey hills and in total fell 6 times and bruised my ass but more annoyingly, bent my gear hanger so bike is not sounding good right now. Mate said he would fix it.

Having realised I have bit off more than I can chew, yesterday I went into the park just to practise and did not fall once and that went well.

I will get there but am finding it stressful on roundabouts and in traffic but have worked out how to clip out and just keep my foot on the pedal but not clip in which seems to be working well.

The difference in effort going up hills is incredible though and knee feels good.

Been on any nice rides recently?

I'd love to have everyone's strava accounts, love seeing what people are up to.

Brasted is a steep bugger, but it is at least a relatively benign road surface, unlike Whites Lane and Yorks Hill, both of which combine a rough surface with a narrow track that means any car coming the other way will result in you stopping. Not the kind of climbs I'd recommend trying your cleats out on as not only are you going slowly so you'll have to unclip quickly to avoid falling over but also clipping back in on such steep climbs is far from easy.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

Brasted is a steep bugger, but it is at least a relatively benign road surface, unlike Whites Lane and Yorks Hill, both of which combine a rough surface with a narrow track that means any car coming the other way will result in you stopping. Not the kind of climbs I'd recommend trying your cleats out on as not only are you going slowly so you'll have to unclip quickly to avoid falling over but also clipping back in on such steep climbs is far from easy.

As I discovered the hard way haha!

I feel that this will help my overall fitness and determination to get up steeper hills now as I now know I cannot stop.

I have also heard Succombs is horrible. Done that one?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

As I discovered the hard way haha!

I feel that this will help my overall fitness and determination to get up steeper hills now as I now know I cannot stop.

I have also heard Succombs is horrible. Done that one?

I haven't done Succombs. If I'm out that way I usually go down Halliloo Valley Road and up Station Road. That's quite nice, but again, a pretty rough surface. The only climbs in that area that aren't horrible surfaces are probably Toys (north side), Star, and Chalkpit.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

I haven't done Succombs. If I'm out that way I usually go down Halliloo Valley Road and up Station Road. That's quite nice, but again, a pretty rough surface. The only climbs in that area that aren't horrible surfaces are probably Toys (north side), Star, and Chalkpit.

Anstie lane is a lovely surface

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Anstie lane is a lovely surface

I don't go into Surrey ffs

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

I think the lady we got the bike off had bought this, it was £250 on marketplace.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

I think the lady we got the bike off had bought this, it was £250 on marketplace.
View attachment 124860

I had a version of that bike a few years back - good starter TT bike.

 

[LEONARD]

Can you have a word with those kamikaze 'Deliveroo' dudes?

Nearly killed twice walking down Bold Street today.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Tow bar mount is best IME, but obv you need a tow bar. The mount is then very simple and not too costly - I have a thule one but there are loads around the same design. Strictly speaking you then also need a light / reg board, but this is only 20quid from Halfords or gooutdoors.

Roof bars are bad for me as it would only be a matter of time before I ploughed the bikes into a low roof, but prob most people are not as absent-minded as I am. Even then, though, it tans the mpg and it's awkward putting heavier mountain bikes up on the roof.

The cheaper boot mount racks will do in a pinch - they don't feel as secure but in reality most are pretty solid, I've used a saris bones one in the past. Just that if it did fall off on the road with three bikes it could cause a terrible accident so even 1% less secure doesn't feel good. The straps will also scratch fk out of your car over time, so not great if you have a nice motor.

Can't fit the rear carriers to any of our cars because of the spoiler at the top of the tailgate, I got a Saris Bones 1 the other week that holds 3, but 3 'old' mountain bikes wasn't happening, prob be fine with the new 1 on though cos it weighs nothing. Struggled even getting the mountain bikes on tbh, none of them seemed to sit right & the full suspension 1 was no chance, the lights and reg were covered though so you'd need a light board technically with that too. I keep scouring marketplace for a towbar as new they're about 350 fitted, so ends up costing about 500 be able to use a 2nd hand carrier.

My older Megane got recalled to have extra fixings on the rear spoiler as 1 had come off and caused an accident apparently, they did say that you shouldn't use 1 of those type of carriers before that though, all the weight goes on the spoiler from the strap unless you mount it very high, the new bones diverts the strap by the looks of it.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Did my first bike event today. Didn’t crash, didn’t get hit by some damn Yank in a diesel truck, finished the race. I need to step up my training but it gives me a good sense of what to expect. If I’m crazy I may try a century later this summer.

 

[Furey1878]

View attachment 122623

So, three months earlier than scheduled, my Ribble Endurance SL arrived yesterday.

Looks great, rides great from the quick 5 mins I had just testing it up and down the street. Going to be getting on a 35kish steady one later today and test it out properly.

No excuse not to hit the big hills now though I've got a training plan which is basically focused on working my way back to my peak last year and then pushing on from there. If anyone has any advice on training zones etc, I'm all ears - really loving using the custom ones on Zwift atm and obviously with the nicer weather (and shiny new wheels) I'll be getting out as much as poss.

Next purchase will be some carbon wheels, when the time is right.

@Bruce Wayne I vaguely remember me saying to you last April that I didn't think I'd be going the whole hog - how wrong I was

I've got a Ribble Endurance 725 on the way, mate.

Call me child but I went with that over the Carbon ones because it came in a nice Forrest green.