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My Cannondale alloy commuter
My Cannondale alloy commuter frame (USA built) is 18 years old. I’ve just upgraded over the years as bits wear out. Just got the chainset replaced (Shimano SLX) and tailored it to the riding I do on it; I wouldn’t have got that combination with a new bike. My take is that I get components I want and if I tire of the frame, or it fails, I can transfer (most of) the components to a new frame. A new bike is just a frame and a fit; a lot of the components are pretty cheap. Older bikes also don’t look as attractive parked in town, stations etc.
I’m a Bristol ‘part drive,
I’m a Bristol ‘part drive, part cycle’ commuter; solve the space issue by having a van. Have a small wheel folder for train/bike days. Much slower than a standard 700cc bike, although easier on the train. Have noticed an increase in Bromptons over the past year or so. You wonder whether there’s any merit in councils having small free parking areas at strategic points to encourage drive/bike commuting.
Got in touch with Brooks; £55
Got in touch with Brooks; £55 to repair incl return postage, so quite reasonable. Looking forward to seeing the refurbished saddle.
I’m not an expert here but
I’m not an expert here but you see so many people riding trails on Cyclocross and Gravel bikes (ie road bikes for trails) these days that you shouldn’t have a problem. I really enjoy cross-country riding on my MTB, as opposed to more technical riding, which I could probably easily achieve on an XC or gravel bike.
I mainly use it for
I mainly use it for navigating unfamiliar urban areas, where it uses quiet roads and bits of cycle path I wouldn’t necessarily know, but Cyclestreets works quite well (web and phone app).
I have Cont GP 4 Seasons and
I have Cont GP 4 Seasons and have just bashed round Cornish lanes, including the Camel Trail (plenty of mild rocky sections and gravel), with no shortage of mud and slurry. Plenty of grip and good mileage until the odd random puncture means a new tyre is needed. There’s usually an on-line deal to get them at around £30 a tyre so they get my vote. Can’t be bothered with summer and winter tyres so they’re my all-year round option.
When I returned to the world
When I returned to the world of road bikes it was the best bit of advice from the LBS ie you don’t need road cleats. I was used to using SPDs so just fitted the Shimano M520s. Replaced my original Shimano touring shoes with some Rapha cross-shoes (rebadged Giros I think) which are nice and stiff and have a nice subtle creaking leather sound when you grind uphill, and I get to stomp round the pub/cafe (almost) like a normal human. Can’t believe road cleats would make much difference to my riding unless I was into ‘marginal gains’.
Mudguards; wish more people
Mudguards; wish more people fitted them for commuting in the winter. Sick of having people in front of me spraying water into my face. If the road’s wet, but it’s not actually raining, full mudguards KEEP YOU DRY and the sh*t off the bike. It’s a ‘no brainer’ as far as I’m concerned. Just don’t get the ‘aesthetic’, ‘not-cool’ aspect of not fitting them. Clip-on are at least better than nothing if clearance is an issue. The thing that makes me laugh is fitting a rack and no mudguards!
Certain roads and time of day
Certain roads and time of day. Finished work early once and headed off down a normally quiet bit of National Cycle Network. Hellish, with commuters hairing down the narrow lanes to get home. Was heading to a relative for the weekend and got dropped off early to do the last 30 miles on the bike. Unfamiliar territory, but scoped a route avoiding A roads. Turned out these were wide lanes with rat-runners hurtling down them; even had a woman screaming abuse at me from inside a 4×4 as I went through a village minding my own business. Not what I envisaged.
Sometimes your local roads are best as you know which ones, and at what times, work best. Can make you appreciate your local conditions more if you have bad experiences elsewhere.
If it was a quick visit, I
If it was a quick visit, I wanted to check something fitted on the bike, or it was a mechanical problem, I would definitely take the bike into the shop and would question their commitment as a LBS if I was asked to remove the bike from the shop. If I was browsing then I might lock it up outside, but then I could well be doing other shopping so it wouldn’t be an issue for me keeping it outside.
Maintenance/repairs (that I can’t do myself) is where I’m heavily reliant on a LBS. Because the high street LBS hours are hopeless when you work full time, I use a small repairs/maintenance only place that allows me to drop-off/pick-up at (almost) any pre-arranged time. All high street shops are up against internet shopping and LBSs are no exception. You need a ‘unique selling point’ that the internet can’t provide to survive. We’re all aware of the mantra of supporting the LBS, but when spares are half the price on the web it’s hard to justify, especially for people on a budget. For me, an LBS is for maintenance/repairs and where I want to see/handle clothes, spares, accessories etc before I buy.
On a lighter note, I took a folder into an art gallery once; owner wasn’t happy about it but he wasn’t going to kick me out. Bought my Mum a birthday present so he chose the best option!
A Buff works quite well. If
A Buff works quite well. If you bunch up the loose fabric below the back of the helmet it looks a bit ‘pirate-like’!
Was in a bikeshop that did
Was in a bikeshop that did Moultons and there was one hung on the wall. Chatted to one of the staff about them and he said they’d just sorted out a bespoke titanium one that was heading out to Japan. Can’t remember the cost but it was many thousands.
Commiserations; I’m addicted
Commiserations; I’m addicted to riding in France but always ‘have a word with myself’ ref getting carried away on descents. Just had 2 weeks in the Lot valley and did some hills near Clermont (Pas de Peyrol, Mont Dore area).
I use a Drift Stealth 2
I use a Drift Stealth 2 (helmet mounted). I ‘bodged’ the goggle strap mount so it attaches via a velcro strap through the vents. Not that ‘rigidly mounted’ if you’re concerned about affecting the helmet performance in a crash. Easily get an hours commute out of a battery charge. Video quality at night isn’t great. Tried my GoPro but the battery doesn’t last long enough.
Fly6 on the back; slightly cheesed-off as the battery has just packed up after 18mths-2yrs of use. Probably just have to buy a new one.
Bit harsh on steel bikes. I
Bit harsh on steel bikes. I’ve got a Genesis with 105 gearing, Dura-ace hubs and Mavic CX-Pro wheels and I comfortably kicked the a*rse out of people on carbon dream machines on a 80 mile Sportive. Nothings beats riding a steel bike and overtaking a money-no-object carbon bike on a climb. The ultimate ‘salt in the wound’ as you overtake is the Brooks label on the (heavy-ish) Swift leather saddle! Steel and titanium – it’s the ‘zen place’ beyond carbon.
