Cycling

[stoopidbird]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies, i got myself a Specialized bike, one of the cheaper models, really enjoying it so far, only maybe done 30mile on it, but its really nice to ride

[What??? No beer???????]

Heres an odd one....

I do quite a bit of exercise so have a relatively good level of fitness but when i cycle i seem to be really tired within 5km! I don't cycle on the roads, this is just a gym observation but i would love to start cycling properly. Is it just bad technique or something? How hard can cycling technique be?! Any tips?

[What??? No beer???????]

Anyone here ride a fixed wheel or a single speed? Looking at getting a Giant Bowery for winter training/commuting. £225 cant go wrong?

[razz1e]

Anyone here ride a fixed wheel or a single speed? Looking at getting a Giant Bowery for winter training/commuting. £225 cant go wrong?

Edited September 11, 2008 by razz1e

[What??? No beer???????]

Just reading a few reviews - and its apparently similar to the Specilized Langster, which I have, and love. The Langster retails at £400 last time I checked (got mine for £270) so at £225 I don't think you can go wrong. The reviews point out that it doesn't have carbon fibre forks, but you could always replace them if you wanted to lose some weight on the bike, or you're feeling the bumps in the road too much.

I think it has a freewheel so you can flip the wheel over and use that rather than the fixed wheel, but if the freewheel is anything like that on my Langster, I'd stick to fixed wheel - In fact if you weren't thinking about using the freewheel at all, I'd think about removing it. Its easier to get up to speed with a fixed wheel anyway, and once your at a decent speed its easier to keep the momentum going than with a freewheel.

Obvious downsides are going downhill as you'll either need to keep pedaling, or apply a little pressure on the back foot - or if you want, just take your feet of the pedals and let them spin I'd also think about fitting some toe clips so you can slow down or break using your pedaling - so as not to rely to much on the breaks, my break pads took a real battering at first because I was hitting the breaks quite a lot.

[nightcrawler13]

does anyone know the best / cheapest place to get that funny cycling lycra clothing from?

[rabid]

does anyone know the best / cheapest place to get that funny cycling lycra clothing from?

[outtolunch]

No need for that funny lycra if you have the right type of bike, this is what you need a classic Peugeot tourer

as found collecting spiders in all good sheds

[What??? No beer???????]

does anyone know the best / cheapest place to get that funny cycling lycra clothing from?

[Cheshire Cat]

does anyone know the best / cheapest place to get that funny cycling lycra clothing from?

[nightcrawler13]

No need for that funny lycra if you have the right type of bike, this is what you need a classic Peugeot tourer

as found collecting spiders in all good sheds

[rabid]

i'm getting it to stay warm....

does this bike have a built in heater?

[nightcrawler13]

Lycra isn't what you need to stay warm. Get a base layer, a jersey, a wind/waterproof jacket, wind/waterproof pants and overshoes.

[oafc0000]

this morning i had a vest, tshirt, jumper, hoody and coat. with a baraclava, gloves with wooly gloves over, scarf two pairs of pants and big boots on with wooly socks

and i was FREEZING

Edited November 22, 2008 by oafc0000

[rabid]

this morning i had a vest, tshirt, jumper, hoody and coat. with a baraclava, gloves with wooly gloves over, scarf two pairs of pants and big boots on with wooly socks

and i was FREEZING

[OneLittleFish]

Whatever you do, not matter what anyone says! Dont buy a bike from Halfords!!!

Edited November 23, 2008 by OneLittleFish

[nightcrawler13]

i have lights on my bike, does high vis make much difference on top of that?

[Cheshire Cat]

i have lights on my bike, does high vis make much difference on top of that?

[nightcrawler13]

As a car driver I would say do everything possible to make yourself visible.

Traffic, rain, spray, splashes from puddles all make it difficult to spot bikes sometimes till the last minute even if they have lights on.

[rabid]

well now i know

i have a high vis thing (looks sort of like a seat belt) hanging on the back of my door, i shall now put it to use, danke

[nightcrawler13]

where is the cheapest place to get waterproof/windproof pants?

ive started putting on a water/windproof jacket over my jumpers and it makes a MASSIVE difference, so just need some pants and i reckon i should be all right

[rabid]

where is the cheapest place to get waterproof/windproof pants?

ive started putting on a water/windproof jacket over my jumpers and it makes a MASSIVE difference, so just need some pants and i reckon i should be all right

[oafc0000]

Wiggle is probably the best you will find online.... They are always doing random 20% off deals etc as well.... They are currently advertising as having applied the 15% vat bracket (although in reality that would land them in hot water...they have just cut prices)....

On the high-street you can try H&M which have technical clothes cheap alot of the time....

Also Debenhams have cheap stuff if you can catch a sale...

[dockie2]

I've been thinking about cycling to work, but it's a bit far - from west london to north, 12miles one way according to google maps.

How do you folks not sweat like sweaty piggies and be soaked before you get to your destination?

My workplace doesn't have showers so I might attract a few funny looks around the office

[oafc0000]

Remember you can get bikes tax free for commuting!

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/