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I record everything – I’m
I record everything – I’m trying (and failing badly!) for 10,000kms so I need every metre! I went to a mates house to borrow his ebike for my daughter, that got me another 1,000m.
I just looked at the Local Legends near me, I’m hugely behind some people on roads I think I ride a lot, so not sure how much interest it will have for me long term.
Sorry to read what happened,
Sorry to read what happened, it is a part of riding a bike in the UK these days though, and has been for at leat 30 years. Nobody in a car thinks they are ever wrong, especially when it comes to a “pleb” on a bike. I react every time to every close pass or bit of bad driving, I have toned it down in the last couple of years, I’m even trying not to swear, but it’s hard when “Cnut” covers it perfectly.
I’m not a fighter so on the rare occasion it gets to that level, I calm it down if I haven’t already taken to my heels. I can’t let it go though, if you gesticulate at a close pass in my experience every car after that gives you an exaggerated amount of room.
I’ve tried a camera, but it’s a cheap one. It only records about 70 minutes and most of my commutes are more than that one way. It’s also blurry and under trees it can be hard to make out reg plates anyway. Even if you get good footage you have to edit it, and remember to clear the memory card before you go out again.
It isn’t for me. I don’t
It isn’t for me. I don’t have space for an indoor set up, and I would rather spend the money on real bikes. I am lucky enough to live on the edge of the South Downs, so have miles of quiet country roads on my doorstep, and of course the beauty of the Downs to go off roading on. Not interested in racing, although I do “train” to an extent, as I want to get better and it adds another dimension to some rides.
I’d ignore the fancy sports drinks and energizing bars and use water with added apple or pineapple juice and a couple of bananas. If you want to eat litte and often, you can cut the bananas into two or three…. fig rolls are a particular treat of mine too.There’s no real need for ‘performance enhancing’ fuel stuffs until you’re doing much longer / faster rides… save your money (and spend it on new gear!)
I’m with you and Welsh Boy, although I think fig rolls are ace, especially the pastry/biscuity bit! The other good thing about them is you can take 2-4 in a roll of tin foil and they don’t fall apart or melt.
I often don’t eat before a 2 hour ride and only take water. Longer rides I will eat porridge or similar, take fig rolls or flapjacks, and water. I take a gel or two with me, but they are emergency rations in case I hit the wall.
We’re all different though, you have to experiment and find out what works for you. I have a very sweet tooth, but on long bike rides I crave savouries, such as pasties or even pork pies!
…I’m not keen on helmet mounted lights – they are too high for motorists to be able to recognise as a bike close up, plus we all move our heads too much. Great if you’re off roading mind you.
I disagree with this. I have recently put a flashing red light on my helmet; in the day time I now have two flashing red rear lights. It’s only subjective, but it seems to me like I get less close passes since I have started doing this. Maybe the combination of the two is more eye catching and makes me look more like a person than an object; maybe the helmet light is above most driver’s seated position so perhaps it stands out more, maybe my moving head helps.
Another benefit of a front helmet light is you can direct it where you like, I have sometimes looked into the eyes of cars at junctions just to reinforce the fact that I am there. A lot of drivers don’t take the care to look properly at junctions; subconsciously some of them are only looking for two big bright car headlights, so they may not register a bike light.
OP, always have two rear lights on, and always carry two fronts even if you don’t have both working. You never know when they are going to run out of charge or battery. Plus if you have an unexpected stop, you may need both front lights to see what you are doing and then last for the extended time of your trip.
The good news is usually riding at night makes drivers more careful and more patient; they aren’t certain where the edges of the road are or how far the corner/dip is away, so they tend to hang back more and overtake with more room.
Quite the opposite for me – biggest month ever in April, and topped that in May.But, overall, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, my bike is in better fettle than it’s ever been, and I can’t wait for the rest of the summer.
Stolen these bits as my sentiments are exactly as these!
Its been pretty decent this way (East Suffolk) And i am the fittest ive ever been after doing just under a 1000 miles in April.
It is a shame we cant keep the roads to peak Lockdown quietness however.
Down in Sussex, it has been generally better. The roads in April were so quiet, it was like a 6 am Sunday ride all the time! I still get close passes, but most of them are the type who are too oblivious, all they care about is not scratching the paint on their cars; they probably don’t even know there’s a global pandemic. It’s almost back to pre lock down level now in terms of cars on the road.
Similar to the Ribble,
Similar to the Ribble, Kinesis do the G2, which has got my attention.
You have forgotten pick up
You have forgotten pick up truck drivers. Especially ones imported from America because us Europeans and the Japanes just don’t make them big enough.
I have had a Neostrack for
I have had a Neostrack for over a year, really pleased with it as I got a deal and it was just over ÂŁ100.
I use the route facililty and it works fine for me. The app is a bit weak, never really sure it does what you think. I can always find routes I have created on the unit though, but like you say, they seem to vanish from the app. They are probably there somewhere, but someone in the dev team didn’t think people would want to access them again. The mapping itself is a bit behind Strava I would say, I have got into the habit of creating a route on Strava first, it seems more able to navigate on realistic terrain. I was planning an off road route on the South Downs and Strava was much better at finding trails I know exist, and not putting in ridiculous three sides of a square detours to get round some “break” in the trail. I haven’t find a way of just uploading a route created in Strava to neostrack though.
“Bike behind!” In as nice a tone as you can manage.
Most people are fine, appreciative even.I call even if there’s sufficient room to pass comfortably, just to avoid the “nice country walk but spoiled by cyclists whizzing past” Facebook posts appearing in the evening – what with us being so deadly, polluting, noisy and space-hungry and all.
Same here, and usually I say “Have a nice walk/ride/run” too just to reinforce the nice cyclist message!
It’s unlikely I know, but
It’s unlikely I know, but wouldn’t it be nice if this state of affairs continued after the restrictions are lifted? Familes going for walks, people saying hello to each other (apart from those that look at you like you may have an unexploded bomb under your t shirt) people riding and walking to the shops half a mile away…
I’ve been riding on roads I wouldn’t normally dream of; admittedly not dual carriageways but some A roads I would dread are actually…quick and convenient ways of getting from one point to another.
Probably too late now, but
Probably too late now, but why can’t indoor cycling be separated from outdoor cycling? If I am trying to ride 200km a week, with no facility for riding indoors, I don’t want to compare myself to people who might ride the whole 200km indoors. it is NOT the same!
The other option would be to
The other option would be to leave your bikes behind, and hire them when you are there. That will open up the travel options, and you may save enough to almost pay for the bike hire.
There was a piece on the BBC
There was a piece on the BBC yesterday I think, about how cold water swimming (and bathing/showering) is also good for your mental health. At first. I didn’t connect it with my cycling, but as I read more, I started to see similarities. The peice about cold water says how the shock of the cold water kicks your body into fight or flight mode, you get a shot of adrenalin, you are ready to survive whether by fighting something or getting away. It was by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and he said initially he dreaded it, but after a while, he came to realise he was getting a buzz after doing it. When he was out of the water, warm and dry again, he felt high, like he’d done something special.
I feel a bit this way too, after riding to work. I love walking past the smokers outside the door, knowing I’ve had a bit of a workout, maybe a bit of an adventure, done something most other people haven’t that day. I look forward to riding over the Downs when it is below zero, it’s truly magical. And yes, I can only cope with that for an hour, maybe an hour and a half, whereas in the summer I might make a morning ride to work over two hours, but doing something that “normal” people think is “bonkers” is a great way to feel good.
Lake as in Como or Garda?Anyway, I take the train from London to Milan every year for the Italian GP, changing in Paris, which involves getting from Gare du Nord to Gare du Lyon. It’s great, barely any slower than flying, much more comfortable, has no luggage limits and is often cheaper. Do it!
Cycle provision from Paris onwards is great, however the Eurostar leg of your journey is, predictably, a shitshow. You have to trust your bike to the care of EuroDespatch; they might have it in Paris when you arrive, or you might have to wait several hours. Iff your bike turns up on time, you can have a little bimble around the city; if it doesn’t, you’ll have a few hours to kill near Gare du Nord. I suppose you could walk up to Sacre Coeur or have a long lunch.
Como. I think. Basically a ten-day bimble, not too hilly (as my wife will probably be with me), and with inexpensive places to stay the night. Advice on this?
Ah yes. EuroDespatch. I’d forgotten about that. Last time I wanted to take my bike to Paris was in 2016, and I contacted them six months beforehand, only to be told that there were no spaces.
Getting across Paris, c’est bien facile. I lived there for fifteen years in my misspent youth.
I’m off to research EuroDespatch again… thank you. 🙂
Have a look at Airbnb for places to stay. Last year we stayed on the slopes above Como, we had an apartment in an old mansion with the lake below, absolutely stunning! It was ÂŁ116 for two people for two nights. The balcony was enormous.
I did a ride from the apartment along to Bellagio then up the Madonna del Grazie (which is a must do ride! The church is a shrine to cycling, and has a museum next to it) and then alng past the foot of the Muro di Sormanno and back to the apartment. I should have done the Muro, but the Mrs had told me not to be out too long
The road around the lake is very narrow and I wasn’t happy with some of the driving, so take care. August is a busy time anywhere in Italy, a lot of the country is on holiday.
The road around the lake is very narrow and I wasn’t happy with some of the driving, so take care. August is a busy time anywhere in Italy, a lot of the country is on holiday.