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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:46 am Post subject: I've re-joined the dark side after 29 yrs |
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Morning all,
After 29 years out of the saddle, I've bought a bicycle, in a vague attempt to implement some form of exercise into my weekly routines. I won't be wearing lycra, nor will I be joining cycle clubs in a bid to help clutter up our roads, riding three abreast everywhere
Are there any other cyclists in these parts?
The plan is to build up the length of my trips, but for now I'm just in the process of re-awakening muscles that have done very little for many a year.
RJ _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:35 am Post subject: |
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I used to cycle for exercise, 10-15 miles per day as long as it wasn't raining, but I must admit I've let it drop for the last few years and the only time I cycle now is to my monthly classic car club meeting. For exercise I use a racing-style bike (but just a second-hand Raleigh bought years ago), for the car club meetings I bought a mountain bike so it could deal better with potholes, as it's after dark I can't always see them in order to avoid them. My only mistake was to use the supplied knobbly tyres, which make it much harder work to pedal. I'll replace them with road tyres when they wear out.
I did have to modify my route to take into account motorists and their selfish ways, though. Originally I'd cycle from Shavington, past the football ground to Crewe, along Nantwich Road towards Nantwich, and then either round the town and back along Newcastle Road, or cut along the by-pass to cut the town out. But the busy roundabout at the bottom of that section once the dual carriageway opened made me think twice - so many people with no idea of what lane to be in, and trying to control the bike while making appropriate hand signals to these people became quite a challenge. |
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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I've been back on my bike the last 3½ years. Try to do at least 100 miles a week though not always possible. Done quite a few centuries without any problems, not fast but certainly not the last one to finish, just need to pace properly from the start. My toughest ride was probably a sportive called the 3 Pistes, start at Pitlochry and cycle over Glenshee then over the Lecht and finish in the Cairngorms, 102 miles and 9500 feet of elevation which was easy enough but the weather was snow, gales, rain, sleet and plenty headwinds...Not a day I would like to do again.
Don't rule out the lycra, it's designed for a purpose and makes a world of difference when on the bike. A few miles every day and increase the mileage every week and you'll soon be signing up for TDF... _________________ ROVER
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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100 miles a week!!!! it'll be a while before I get to that level of action, although in my own defence I doubt that I'd find time to do it either right now. Regular outings will do for the timebeing.
So what cycle(s) do you ride? I bought something called a hybrid (not one of the electric-powered machines), a lightweight aluminium frame job, with road rather than off-road in mind which suits me fine.
RJ _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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5 years ago my daughter bought me a hybrid in an attempt to get me back into cycling. Coming from road bike background and with my advancing years I thought the hybrid would be perfect for me, but I hated everything about it. The bike felt heavy, slow, low geared and the sit up straight position just didn't work for me, so the hybrid languished in my garage and covered a total of about 20 miles in 18 months. Then my daughter said she had signed up for 112 mile sportive in the Highlands and I dug out my old steel Peugeot road bike and went out with her on a number of occasions to give her some advice and encouragement...That was what I needed and I was hooked once again on being a 'roadie'
All my bikes are drop handlebar road bikes or track style fixed for the velodrome.
I've still got an original steel Peugeot which I bough new in the 80s, it's done about 15000 miles and still runs like a dream. Only problem with it nowadays is due to my flexibility the downtube shifters are a bit of a struggle to get to so it doesn't get used very often. I also have a 1980 ALAN Super Record, an Italian aluminium state of the art frame in its day and almost as fast as my modern carbon framed bikes. During the winter months geared bikes are tucked away and I ride single speed which I thoroughly enjoy, there's something about the simplicity and not having to/being able to change gear that appeals to me and when a steep climb comes up I just have to get out the saddle and stomp on the pedals. To this day I've never had to get off and walk up any hills so must be doing ok. The others are mostly carbon modern bikes with the exception of one stainless steel bike and one Reynolds 853 bike and a couple of track fixed wheel bikes for the velodrome.
This is the ALAN
_________________ ROVER
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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You need to sign up to www.strava.com (free) then using an app on your phone you can keep track of your rides. It's a great way of monitoring your progress _________________ ROVER
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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I needed a part for the Mercedes today from the dealership in Glasgow so did todays cycle collecting the part.
I did a nice ride last week with some mates
Train from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay where I met up with the rest of the guys. Ferry to Rothesay, cycle to Rhubodach, ferry to Colintraive, cycle to Portavadie, ferry to Tarbert, cycle to Claonaig, ferry to Lochranza, cycle to Brodick, ferry to Ardrossan. Train back to Glasgow and the rest of the guys rode back to Wemyss Bay to collect their cars. By the time the train arrived in Glasgow it was raining so I had a wet 6 miles cycle from Glasgow to my house.
Enjoy your cycle tonight... _________________ ROVER
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7119 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:24 am Post subject: |
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I had a Bickerton for a few years.
I think mine was an early prototype. It was very light if a bit flexible. Eventually the saddle post broke whilst I was pedalling up a hill. I landed squarely on my backside and fortunately wasn't run over by following traffic.
After that I donated it to a local museum.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: | Your rides out sound more entertaining!
RJ |
Sometimes they can be fun, other days it's hard work. Today was hard work doing 20 miles on my 17 year old steel bike
_________________ ROVER
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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I never go out without a spare tube and puncture repair kit, easier to fix it at the side of the road than walk home _________________ ROVER
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK
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47p2
Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Get a small seat pack, it will carry spare tube, multi-tool puncture repair kit and a couple of other items.
_________________ ROVER
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