Pedal Power Thread

menthel said:
My goodness, this really could be a boy's toys hobby like photography if you let it get away from you! I will have to resist and just get what I need for good, basic maintainence!
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yup.. i bought a stock trek full sus in aug, the only stock items left on the frame now are the forks and seatpost.. :gag:

edit- oh and derailleurs.
 
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neil_g said:
yup.. i bought a stock trek full sus in aug, the only stock items left on the frame now are the forks and seatpost.. :gag:
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Well, having ridden my bike in anger (ie commuting) I have rapidly realised that my handlebars are too wide!
 
neil_g said:
700mm is a bit odd for a lightweight hybrid.. (edit - charge say 680mm for the scourer)

ive got 720mm on the trek but theyre "all mountain" bars.
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You are correct they are 680mm and are too bloody wide! They need a good chunk lopped off- not silly amounts, just enough to make in traffic riding a little easier.
 
I'm intrigued by the new GPS based monitoring systems available these days. They sound fantastic but are they aimed towards everyone or just the more serious cyclists who put the distance in, training seriously and regularly?
 
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ZoneV said:
I'm intrigued by the new GPS based monitoring systems available these days. They sound fantastic but are they aimed towards everyone or just the more serious cyclists who put the distance in, training seriously and regularly?
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They work for anyone. I'm far from good enough to be remotely competitive in cycling but I do love keeping track of my rides via GPS for personal motivation/satisfaction reasons.

The other day I slashed 15 minutes off one of my common routes having spent just a week doing some intense work on the trainer to recover some of the fitness I'd lost over winter. Now of course a stopwatch could have told me that I'd knocked that time of, but it couldn't show me that I was no faster on the downhill sections but maintained a noticeably higher pace on every flat and incline.

It also means I can look back on rides from last summer and beyond to compare what level I was at then and now. Add to that the dimension that Strava segments offers, and you open up a world of competition with people you'll probably never meet, or you just have an automated way of monitoring your own time over certain segments of your rides.

If you have a smartphone already then there's lots of free apps to try it out (strava, runkeeper, endomondo), otherwise you'll need something like one of the Garmin edge series.
 
TriggerHappy said:
They work for anyone. I'm far from good enough to be remotely competitive in cycling but I do love keeping track of my rides via GPS for personal motivation/satisfaction reasons.

The other day I slashed 15 minutes off one of my common routes having spent just a week doing some intense work on the trainer to recover some of the fitness I'd lost over winter. Now of course a stopwatch could have told me that I'd knocked that time of, but it couldn't show me that I was no faster on the downhill sections but maintained a noticeably higher pace on every flat and incline.

It also means I can look back on rides from last summer and beyond to compare what level I was at then and now. Add to that the dimension that Strava segments offers, and you open up a world of competition with people you'll probably never meet, or you just have an automated way of monitoring your own time over certain segments of your rides.

If you have a smartphone already then there's lots of free apps to try it out (strava, runkeeper, endomondo), otherwise you'll need something like one of the Garmin edge series.
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It sounds like you take your riding and training reasonably seriously so I can see why it's useful for you but is there anything in it for the casual rider who maybe only goes out every now and then and doesn't monitor times, i.e. isn't really in it for the fitness.
 
menthel said:
Having adjusted my seat and brakes (discs but not hydraulic!) my cycle has become easier. However, I think we could do more maintainence at home- espeically after the wife paid out a pretty penny for a service and chain replacement that I could have done.

So what tool kit and bike stand do people recommend? ;)
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I got the Raleigh work stand last year, its alright for the money http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raleigh-Fol...QE9K/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1361980058&sr=8-8, this wee multi-tool has earned its keep a few times http://www.amazon.co.uk/Topeak-Alie...sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1361980256&sr=1-1

Also look out on Amazon.COM for Park Tool...I got some various bits ( Chain Whip, Bottom Bracket Tool, Derailleur Aligner, Cassette Locking Tool) delivered (&tax) cheaper than buying UK.

Other than that, I use my car Hex sockets, ratchets n spanners from Halfords Pro range for working on the bike.
 
ZoneV said:
It sounds like you take your riding and training reasonably seriously so I can see why it's useful for you but is there anything in it for the casual rider who maybe only goes out every now and then and doesn't monitor times, i.e. isn't really in it for the fitness.
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It's at its best as a training aid, but it's good to satisfy curiosity as well. The less you care about the numbers the less it has to offer you really. If you get lost often it can help ;)
 
I'm flipping tempted to dig my old bike out of the shed and get it ready for the summer. It's an old rigid chromoly Stumpjumper (c1992) and I used to love riding it both on and off road. It's in a fair old state now though (years of lack of use only, it was fine when I last rode it) I wonder how much it would cost to get back on the road again.
 
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ZoneV said:
I'm flipping tempted to dig my old bike out of the shed and get it ready for the summer. It's an old rigid chromoly Stumpjumper (c1992) and I used to love riding it both on and off road. It's in a fair old state now though (years of lack of use only, it was fine when I last rode it) I wonder how much it would cost to get back on the road again.
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Depends what's wrong with it really. Give it a thorough clean and see where you're at. Likely parts to replace may be tyres, inner tubes, brake pads, chain and maybe the rear cassette. None of those cost much individually but if you have to do the lot the cost may add up.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Depends what's wrong with it really. Give it a thorough clean and see where you're at. Likely parts to replace may be tyres, inner tubes, brake pads, chain and maybe the rear cassette. None of those cost much individually but if you have to do the lot the cost may add up.
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Thanks for that. Yes, I'll strip it down outside and have a proper look once the weather gets more reliable.
 
menthel said:
You are correct they are 680mm and are too bloody wide! They need a good chunk lopped off- not silly amounts, just enough to make in traffic riding a little easier.
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Rubbish, I had to navigate through London traffic with 800mm bars... now they were too wide :lol:
 
menthel said:
You are correct they are 680mm and are too bloody wide! They need a good chunk lopped off- not silly amounts, just enough to make in traffic riding a little easier.
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neil_g said:
you could DIY but youll need a hacksaw and ideally a saw guide to get a straight edge. might be cheaper for your LBS to do it though.
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If the handlebars are aluminium, just get a plumber's pipe cutter, I think I only paid about £5 for mine
 
I am not sure I trust myself to trim them!

As for 420mm is that not a bit too titchy? Like trying to steer with a toothpick? ;)
 
menthel said:
I am not sure I trust myself to trim them!

As for 420mm is that not a bit too titchy? Like trying to steer with a toothpick? ;)
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440-400cm is pretty much standard for a road bike. Any twitchyness is pretty much negated by the increased control you get from drop bars with hoods over flat bars, and you can the benefit of a much more aero upper body shape.
 
I haven't cycled a drop barred bike since I was about 15 so I really can't remember. I don't think I would want that kind of width straight bar on my bike though!
 
just back from the first ride on my new toy...

One of Ormskirk's finest :lol:


Dolan Tuono SL by The Big Yin, on Flickr

Excuse crappy creased off-white background, but I just wanted a "record shot" before I took it out and got it dirty.
 
well - everything else is either black or white - apart from the red on the cross of St. George on the name-badge, the "RoadTubeless" decal on the wheels and the mm. scale on the back of the seatpin, couldn't face the "Conti Yellow" ones, so red it had to be - it'll be getting red-anodised cable caps as well at some point, when I recover my cable cutters from my mate...
 
Why on wet mornings do pedestrians insist on running across the road in front of you, cars pull out randomly and fat, old men in lycra wobble slowly all over the cycle lanes on their shagged out old mountain bikes?

As you may be able to tell my cycle was a bit frustrating this morning!
 
menthel said:
Why on wet mornings do pedestrians insist on running across the road in front of you, cars pull out randomly and fat, old men in lycra wobble slowly all over the cycle lanes on their shagged out old mountain bikes?

As you may be able to tell my cycle was a bit frustrating this morning!
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Just wait til summer, it will probably still be as wet, but there will 100% more bikes on the road, more 'hilarious' youths around and general cycling mayhem.

I always particularly enjoy cycling and stopping at red lights, to have someone pull in front of me and then leave at what can only be the slowest acceleration humanly possible. I don't mind if someone is faster than me, or if I have pulled up behind someone slower than me but those people do my head in :gag: I used to cycle down Oxford Street on my old commute which was as stupid a decision on my part as the general road awareness of the people stepping out behind buses every 2 seconds without a care in the world!

But... generally I still love cycling in, always feel better for it (I say sheepishly having not cycled in since getting my new bike :bonk:)
 
akr said:
Just wait til summer, it will probably still be as wet, but there will 100% more bikes on the road, more 'hilarious' youths around and general cycling mayhem.

I always particularly enjoy cycling and stopping at red lights, to have someone pull in front of me and then leave at what can only be the slowest acceleration humanly possible. I don't mind if someone is faster than me, or if I have pulled up behind someone slower than me but those people do my head in :gag: I used to cycle down Oxford Street on my old commute which was as stupid a decision on my part as the general road awareness of the people stepping out behind buses every 2 seconds without a care in the world!

But... generally I still love cycling in, always feel better for it (I say sheepishly having not cycled in since getting my new bike :bonk:)
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I am starting to love it too. And I agree with you about those people that insist on getting in front, looking at you in a pointed manner and then proceed to pull away so slowly that I actually have to overtake them as the gear I use to pull away with is too fast for them! Gah! Ranting does make it better though.
 
menthel said:
I am starting to love it too. And I agree with you about those people that insist on getting in front, looking at you in a pointed manner and then proceed to pull away so slowly that I actually have to overtake them as the gear I use to pull away with is too fast for them! Gah! Ranting does make it better though.
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One thing I have noticed, is especially when you get into town (for me from London Bridge onwards) I previously would accelerate as fast as possible all the time. I now take the last bit like that as a warm down, as it tended to make no difference to my commute time due to the sheer number of red lights and other people around, and it would stress me out more. So I now go as fast as I can on the slightly more free bits, and just go with the flow on the more congested areas, which is probably safer as well and I feel more relaxed - I was starting to get cycle rage, which partly defeats the point of cycling in which should leave you more relaxed than the tube \ car (for me anyway). Not sure if you do it, but TFL has some cycle route maps via quiet roads, I find the journey is slightly slower in parts but more pleasant (less people cars etc). Doing it I ended up cyclign through a small bit of Burgess Park in Peckham and I kept doing it as they had a couple of horses in there which was great to see on your way in - they've gone now though sadly so I now hit the main road for that bit as it's faster and I'm less likely to kill pedestrians on the shared cycle \ walking path who seem oblivious or have no intention of moving out of the way at all when I head towards them (It's not that bad really, but does anyone walk nowdays without headphones on?)
 
My cycle actually isn't that bad, despite being on some busy roads but there are a lot of cyclists around. I leave room for those faster than me (especially up hill- I haven't developed the right muscles for that yet!) but there are just so many pootling around and often quite dangerously it is a little frustrating. All of the smaller streets are bad for parked cars etc so I may as well stick to the superhighways etc.

Raynes Park (near Wimbledon) to Victoria by the way, through Tooting and Clapham. Tooting is special, with special peds and drivers but having lived there for 5 years I know to take it a little easy through there! ;)
 
First Road ride today, 15 miles in 60mins, reasonably happy with that but want to knock a big chunk off it.

Only thing is when i come to do it in June it will be after a 400m swim!!!!
 
Just did my nemesis hill 23 sec quicker than I have done it before. 2 weeks in and commuting and cycling are getting quite addictive. Oh dear.

Disclaimer: the hill is really a tiddler but it made me feel better!

Ps: I am Jim Swales on strava.
 
TriggerHappy said:
How are you finding the clipless pedals, Al?
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Not had a chance to try them out in anger, which has meant no riding really. It seems family life and going out cycling after long work hours are frowned upon....:'(

But my son is with his grandmother as of this afternoon so I am off to the park tomorrow as early as possible to amuse any joggers with my unclip attempts. I nearly came off in the living room when I put too much pressure coming out of the left foot, sending me right which was unexpected. Indoor practise so far so good, but tomorrow is the real test then commute to work next week all things being well.
 
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