[mrqwest]

CapriciousZephyr wrote:

Sorry, mrqwest, for the late post on this thread, but if you haven’t come across these rides, I can recommend them:

Leisure Rides

I went on a few last year (regrettably haven’t been this year, for reasons nothing to do with cycling) and found them very enjoyable and the company warmly welcoming.  Certainly no reason to be intimidated – I think the club does have some pretty hard-core riders, but that’s definitely not what these rides are about, they’re genuinely leisurely and cater to all sorts.  Not sure if they’ve got further plans this year, but worth making contact at least.

 

Thanks Cap’.

I’ve been checking out a few of the local clubs to see if they’ve got any leisure rides and the ACC rides have already got my interest… but hadn’t got round to dropping them an email!  Will drop an email shortly, thanks for the reminder!

 

SuperPython59 wrote:

Plan route on map beforehand, take some pencil notes/pointers on a bit of paper or photograph the bit of paper onto your phone. maybe even look on street view for turns that might be tricky or to locate features on landscape as reminders. Mount phone on bars or paper in back pocket, go cycle on new route.</p>

<p>If you get lost, stop and ask someone or check a road sign, there are loads of them even on unclassified roads.</p>

<p>Feel smug you didn’tneed to spend money on an unecessary bit of kit.

 

Thanks SP. I’ve opted for a Quadlock and my old iPhone. Load it up with a Strava route and follow that when needed. I’m slowly learning some nice roads and routes around my area!

[mrqwest]

Alan Tullett wrote:

I have to admit I only leave home on 100% but it sounds as if your phone needs a new battery, which is cheap enough. You say you have an old iPhone. GPS works fine without a SIM card. With a charger, I’d recommend EasyAcc as even my daughter hasn’t destroyed hers in 3 months and that’s a miracle and mine works great for 200k+ rides. Problem solved. If it’s an old iPhone you could risk putting it on the bars and keep your other phone in your pocket for emergencies.

You say you have a budget bike so I’m sure you can spend some money there to make your riding more enjoyable and take a map as all electronic devices can fail.

 

That’s my current line of thinking… get a mount for my old iPhone and have it on the bars… use that as a location thing with directions.

 

One of your comments piqued my interest. It is a budget bike, [url=http://road.cc/content/review/116333-btwin-triban-500-se-road-bike]a Btwin 500SE[/url]. What improvements could I do to make the riding more enjoyable?

[mrqwest]

Thanks everyone, some really

Thanks everyone, some really helpful comments and thoughts here.

Is using mobiles a serious consideration now or is that a silly question? I do have an old iPhone which could be repurposed as long as I could get data / GPS or whatever I need without a sim-plan.

 

HalfWheeler wrote:

A good way of finding out routes would be to join a cycling group. An actual ‘eyeballs out’ road cycling club might be a bit much (at this stage) but there are plenty of informal, internet based cycling groups for recreational cyclists out there. There’s probably a road cycling Meetup group close to you. Before you know it you’ll know your local back roads like the back of your hand.

Thanks, you’re right! There are plenty of cycling groups local to me and I will join one soon but for the moment, I want to build up some confidence & strength on the bike. I imagine these cycling clubs full of pro-racers!

 

KiwiMike wrote:

30-40k, there’s no way you need a dedicated GPs. Your phone can do that fine.

In theory, it should!  Last time I used it for a ride, I left home with it on 60% battery. I stopped a few times along the way to take a photo. I got to 17k, stopped and took a photo. Noticed the battery was on 33%.. and literally (according to my strava upload for that ride), the phone died 50metres after that photo…

So whilst normal phones should do it just fine, I have no faith in my particular phone. And also, if I get into that situation again and I’m 20 miles from home – i’d have no way of contacting any one should there be an emergency. 

 

unconstituted wrote:

It could be the temperature. My 6+ would turn off every ride until recently. I thought the battery was burning for some reason, but turned out it was the temperature. Riding around 0 degrees late winter/early spring in Scotland was too much for it. When I got home it’d power up again over 50%..

That’s interesting!  It certainly wasn’t that cold but it was nippy.

 

MrMajic wrote:

I use an edge 520 and have added detailed maps (it can fit most of my county) by following the guide that was on DC Rainmaker’s website. I’m really happy with it.

Thanks! I was watching a youtube video on the 520 directions last night. Not a bad shout that.

[Author]

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