Cycling

(15-05-2012 19:53 )munch1917 Wrote:  57% have jumped a red, but I wonder how many car drivers have done the same thing?

I either stop, or if I'm turning left, I'll occasionally take the pavement if its clear. I don't mind stopping, its a chance for a quick breather

The whole question of riding on the pavement is a trickier issue. I try to avoid it, but sometimes it is simply the safest option, but I am considerate to pedestrians, and even dismount and walk if it is really busy. The problem is that round here they've tried to add cycle lanes everywhere possible, but some road simply aren't wide enough, so they made the pavement a cycle path as well. So strictly speaking, we shouldn't ride on the pavement, but some pavements are also cycle paths, so it makes the issue very confusing!
It does bug me though when I see grown adults riding on the pavement when the road is completely empty.

If the pavement is split for cyclists and pedestrians then you are perfectly within your rights to ride on the pavement. If the peds get in the way, well it's their own damn fault.

I use the pavement all the time when cycling its handier and plus you don't have to stop at red lights

I see a lot of people riding on the pavements around the town centre, but the junction roads here are lethal & I too, am quite intimidated & weary of being hit by a car. Plus, I have never learned the highway code, so I'd be somewhat clueless at busy junctions. So I heartily condone riding on pavements, as long as their is a minimal amount of pedestrians around.

A little advice please? I am 5ft 7inches tall and have a 31" inside leg.
I don't actually know wether an 18" or 20" frame is better for me?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/store...65499#tab3

I'm hoping to buy the bike in the link, either today or tomorrow. I'm gonna be mainly using it for lite trail rides (cus as above, I fear for my sfaety on roads) at first & maybe more demanding trails once I get into it.

This bike seems perfect for me. I was tempted by the Carrera Subway, but am skeptical that the rigid fork may not cope too well with lite trails.

I had a look at the bikes in Halfords yesterday, but the store was packed out busy & the staff were rushing around trying to get everyone sorted, so I didn't make a purchase.
Am I right that the bikes in their store room have to be built by staff & collected, later? I'd like to buy it from Blackburn & ride it out the store, straight home to Accrington, 4 and a half miles away as it's maiden voyage, so to speak.

2 things to consider with frame size :
Firstly the height of the top tube, you don't want it too high so it squashes the family jewels when you are standing astride it. That's not as much of a factor with that bike as it has the sloping top tube.
Secondly, is reach, the bigger the frame, the longer it is, so the further you have to reach over to the handlebars. At 5'7 you are not the tallest, so likely have a shorter reach, so for that reason I'd be inclined to suggest the smaller frame may be more comfortable for you.
If you are trail riding, you'll want to ride with your arms bent slightly to absorb the bumps, so you don't want those handlebars too far away

If you buy a bike instore, chances are it'll need to be assembled (assuming they have it in stock), basically just fitting the pedals and giving it a quick inspection to make sure gears and everything are working fine. Doesn't take long, so you may be able to collect later that day, but may not be until next day.
Same applies if you order online for collection instore as I did, they say on the website, 'collect in an hour' but it all depends how busy they are if they can do that, more likely it'll be next day.

If you are riding it home, be sure to take something like a backpack to throw the freebies and bits and pieces in, I forgot, and had to stuff them down my jacket (luckily I was only half a mile away)
Also, jump on and try it for size in the store first and get them to adjust the saddle if need be. Shops are notorious for leaving the saddle at its default lowest position, which could make for an uncomfortable journey home. Might be worth throwing some allen keys in the bag as well, in case you want to make an adjustment on the way back, 4.5 miles is a fair journey

(20-05-2012 14:15 )munch1917 Wrote:  2 things to consider with frame size :
Firstly the height of the top tube, you don't want it too high so it squashes the family jewels when you are standing astride it. That's not as much of a factor with that bike as it has the sloping top tube.
Secondly, is reach, the bigger the frame, the longer it is, so the further you have to reach over to the handlebars. At 5'7 you are not the tallest, so likely have a shorter reach, so for that reason I'd be inclined to suggest the smaller frame may be more comfortable for you.
If you are trail riding, you'll want to ride with your arms bent slightly to absorb the bumps, so you don't want those handlebars too far away

If you buy a bike instore, chances are it'll need to be assembled (assuming they have it in stock), basically just fitting the pedals and giving it a quick inspection to make sure gears and everything are working fine. Doesn't take long, so you may be able to collect later that day, but may not be until next day.
Same applies if you order online for collection instore as I did, they say on the website, 'collect in an hour' but it all depends how busy they are if they can do that, more likely it'll be next day.

If you are riding it home, be sure to take something like a backpack to throw the freebies and bits and pieces in, I forgot, and had to stuff them down my jacket (luckily I was only half a mile away)
Also, jump on and try it for size in the store first and get them to adjust the saddle if need be. Shops are notorious for leaving the saddle at its default lowest position, which could make for an uncomfortable journey home. Might be worth throwing some allen keys in the bag as well, in case you want to make an adjustment on the way back, 4.5 miles is a fair journey

Hey thank a lot for the advice. I already have a decent back pack ready, that's perfect for cycling, has a water bladder and room for a tool kit, pump, puncture repair kit, padlock chain ect.
I'm one of those, 'always prepare for the worst', kind of blokes & it would be just typical if I got a puncture half way along the journey, lol.

The advice on sizing, store pick up and the saddle adjustment... thanks mate. I was kind of dreading it.
I'm off work, until Thursday, so hopefully the weather will be half decent for riding.
I may well order online & collect in a an hour or so, rather than hang around Blackburn for ages. I got a PPI claim refund & it'll just cover the cost of the bike and siome accessories. Yay!

Any one here been cycling this week, I have and i must of lost about a stone in sweat, in bristol today it got up to 30 degrees and my way home is all up hill! 4.9 miles

(25-05-2012 18:02 )LODOS Wrote:  Any one here been cycling this week, I have and i must of lost about a stone in sweat, in bristol today it got up to 30 degrees and my way home is all up hill! 4.9 miles

Yes mate Been loving it!!! I have been riding to and from work and anywhere in between as well for that matter. Absolutely fucking boiling but loving it, apart from the wind which nearly took my off the road haha!!

I think I've done close to 20 miles today in this heat so I'd like to think I'm losing weight as well as gaining some vital fitness.

Paul Ducky - Did you get your bike ? Good choice, for your style of riding that bike is much better then the subway. The subway would be more suited to the roads then trails. A bit late to the table, but pretty much echo everything Munch said. The 18" frame is perfect for you. I'm 5'6" and have an 18" frame as well, it's perfect size. You could probably get away with a larger frame but it would serve no benefit and probably be a slight disadvantage, again, for the reasons munch mentioned. The weather has stayed nice for you that's for sure, so if you did buy the bike, I hope you had a good ride home

What is this bag you've got? I'm very intrigued, if you have any links please share

Yeah, I got my bike, thanks for asking, Money_Shot. Had a great (and at times, scary) ride home from Blackburn to Accrington.
With no idea of the Highway code & cycle lanes being sparse for much of the journey, I was annoying pedestrians with my unique, wibbly, wobbly, 'God my legs are knackered already', style of pavement riding

There's a long, picturesque 1 1/2 mile, cycle path from Oswaldtwistle (a small sort of town thingy at the out skirts of Accrington) to near my town centre & I loved it. Rode along it again, today & then U-turned up to near Haslingden (around 5 miles in the opposite direction)
Admittedly, not the longest ride ever, but it was highly enjoyable.

Spent quite a bit of money on cycle cleaning products, cage & water bottle, pump with pressure guage ect, this morning & I look forward to boring my friends about it all, in the pub, later.

Attached, is a pic I took on my ipod Touch where the sun was in my eyes & I somehow ended up absent from the shot. Doh!
   

Glad you got and are enjoying your new bike Paul. Sounds fun. any trip is better then no trip. The legs will ache and you might puff a bit, but you'll soon be in the swing of it.

Hopefully you will encourage your friends to get on to a bike later down the pub

By the way, if you are interested in cycling on the road, check this out

http://www.dft.gov.uk/bikeability/the-th...or-adults/

It is bike training for the roads. They run adult classes and might be worth finding the nearest course and joining it.