Cycling

jenks

thread death
Fignon died today at the age of fifty. I just read his autobiography this summer - really good insight into the peleton in the 80s. Of course he will be remembered for losing to Lemond on Le Champs by 8 secs but don't forget he won the damn thing twice and also won the Giro.

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droid

Guest
Im up to about 120km on my commute 4 days a week now, and ouch, my legs hurt.

Also having trouble finding decent mixes for cycling. I keep the mp3 player in the back pocket of my jersey, so I cant change my mind once Ive picked something to listen to Im stuck with it for the next 40-50 mins...

Im also beginning to wish Id bought a road bike, although Im happy enough with the steed I have at the moment.
 

Leo

Well-known member
Also having trouble finding decent mixes for cycling.

i've always been too scared to listen to my ipod while riding, do you find you can do it safely? do you feel pretty aware of traffic around you?
 

jenks

thread death
i've always been too scared to listen to my ipod while riding, do you find you can do it safely? do you feel pretty aware of traffic around you?

Think we had this earphone/no earphone debate before. I would only ride with one earphone in if I were riding in a pretty deserted area - out in the countryside by myself on a morning's ride. In the town, I'd like to have all my senses on full alert as the bastards go gunning for me. I put together a mix via spotify for cycling - just lots of songs I know I like - nothing too adventurous and generally poppy/high tempo.

There will also be the inevitable helmet debate...

Get a road bike - if you are doing 120k a week you want less rolling resistance and a bit of speed - plus you will look cooler (well...I tell myself that as I commute on a fixed)
 
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droid

Guest
i've always been too scared to listen to my ipod while riding, do you find you can do it safely? do you feel pretty aware of traffic around you?

Personally, I dont think I could cycle without music, but Ive been doing it for years though, and whats safe for me where I cycle may not be safe for you...

That said, as a cyclist, your primary sense is visual. Of all road users you have the best visual field. You're higher than everyone else, you have peripheral vision and you can turn your head freely. The most important things you can do to avoid crashing is to ALWAYS look over your shoulder when moving left or right. Also, when passing lines of stopped or parked cars check if someone is in the drivers seat and likely to pull out, check the wheels to see if they're turned in your direction, take the lane when approaching junctions, give pedestrians near the road a wide berth etc...

Basically, its anticipation and observation over hearing (I do keep the volume lowish though still).

Also - read cyclecraft if you havent already. It amazing how much safer it is to cycle if you follow his rules and are reasonably assertive on the road.
 
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droid

Guest
Get a road bike - if you are doing 120k a week you want less rolling resistance and a bit of speed - plus you will look cooler (well...I tell myself that as I commute on a fixed)

I went for toughness and reliability over nimbleness (within reason though - its not an MTB).

cannondale_badboy8.png


8 Speed Alfine Hub, disc brakes, 700cc wheels.
 

padraig (u.s.)

a monkey that will go ape
this earphone/no earphone debate before

I w/Droid on this one, hearing doesn't really help much on a bike. honestly when I'm sprinting up hills or just cruising or whatevs I'm pretty oblivious ears-wise but razor-sharp focused on the visual. granted I hardly ever ride w/earphones in these days but that's more a matter of personal preference than a safety concern.

inevitable helmet debate

I finally, after about 11 years of riding a bike as my main/only mode of transport, got a helmet about a month ago. a black BMX helmet (still gotta look cool while I'm riding, natch). anyway there's no reason -not- to get a helmet - well aside from the coolness/lameness factor, which of course isn't a good reason - so yeah, I dunno. getting old and responsible I guess.

@droid

bro seriously get your self a nice road bike. I do approximately 120-150 km/week, depending on the week, these days and I couldn't imagine doing it on a mountain bike or a hybrid or something. granted I ride fixed in a town with a ton of hills and I've been riding fixed for like 6 years now so my opinion's a bit biased maybe...
 

you

Well-known member
I went for toughness and reliability over nimbleness (within reason though - its not an MTB).

cannondale_badboy8.png


8 Speed Alfine Hub, disc brakes, 700cc wheels.

*voice of peter griffin*

Wow, god, I mean, wow, errrrr

*regular voice*

THAT is exactly what I have been trying to find droid, I'm a mountain biker but want a transport bike to keep my fitness up and use less petrol, want discs, gears but really as little rolling resistance as poss. The mono-blade fork is just the icing on the cake.

Mind giving me a full spec list? Or a link if it's a complete ( is it!?! ).

Is it a cannnondale bad boy??
 
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you

Well-known member
thought it was a colnago at first - gorgeous bikes jenks....

My headsets broke on the lapierre :-(
 

jenks

thread death
No2 son just seen the pic of droid's bike:

Him: "Why would you only want one fork?",
Me: "Erm...."

Why would you only want one fork?

@you thanks, it's a lovely machine - Reynolds Steel, handmade and handsprayed with hand built wheels. Single handedly stimulating the economy over here at Jenks' Towers.
 

you

Well-known member
Jenks

HA! Heard a few scary pensions tales over the past few months, your capital probably depreciates slower in a cool bike than in a bank........

Who made it?

- @ Little Jenks - WHY DO YOU WANT 2 FORK LEGS?
 

jenks

thread death
14 bikeco over in Truman's Brewery - cool bunch of bike builders just round the corner from Rough Trade shop.

as to the fork issue - his complaints were aesthetic and I am inclined to agree with him.
 

benjybars

village elder.
nice bike jenks.... although i'd rather walk than use shimano ;)

just to say to anyone here in london... if you need a bike shop.. go to Fitzrovia Cycles on New Cavendish Street..

good peoples.
 

bobbin

What
it's a time of the year when i feel like asking: any fans of waterproof trousers out there?

think it might be a good move for me. i actually like it in the rain, but if you get wet on the way out it's a bit shit having soggy trousers.

any recommendations appreciated. and what about your feet? anyone have things that go over those?
 

unknown soulja

Wild Horses
Ive got an old raleigh bike (given to me by my uncle) which i rode for a bit before fucking up one of the wheels. Along with this it just generally needs a good going over to get it working safely, any recommendations for places in london to take it to get fixed up where i wont get rinsed?

Benjy saw your recommendation above but wondered if anyone else had any (close to Camden would be a bonus :) )

Edit: just looked at the fitzrovia cycles website and think its a bit posher than what i need.
 
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Slothrop

Tight but Polite
Ive got an old raleigh bike (given to me by my uncle) which i rode for a bit before fucking up one of the wheels. Along with this it just generally needs a good going over to get it working safely, any recommendations for places in london to take it to get fixed up where i wont get rinsed?

Benjy saw your recommendation above but wondered if anyone else had any (close to Camden would be a bonus :) )

Edit: just looked at the fitzrovia cycles website and think its a bit posher than what i need.
The BikeMech guy by the Castle Climbing Centre seems sound enough, I got mine done there. Bit of a way from Camden but maybe doable.

http://www.bikemech.co.uk/
 
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