Forum Replies Created
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Sadly, everyone has a story
Sadly, everyone has a story similar to this; you just have to ‘suck it up’ and try not to escalate the situation, although that can be difficult if you’ve just been surprised with a close pass. Helmet camera footage and the police might get interested, or the protagonist backs down when he sees the camera. Usually it’s commuting time when the real a*seholes get in their cars.
I picked up some Rapha
I picked up some Rapha lightweight bib shorts cheap last year; primarily for hot conditions in Provence. Awesome padding in comparison to my existing shorts. Just need some seriously hot weather or I may need to source a regular pair.
Discarded gel wrappers really annoy me. As fatbeggaronabike says, it’s going to blow up at some point and be used as another stick to beat riders with. I don’t understand being squeamish about sticking it back in your jersey pocket. Yes, it’s sticky, but surely the jersey is going in the wash as soon as the gel eater gets home?There is a campaign within clubs and event organisers on the continent to stamp the problem out, but I’ve seen nothing over here.
On my one and only Sportive last year people were flinging gel and bar wrappers all over the place; cr*p behaviour! Mind you I got roped into a village lane hedgerow clean up and was amazed how much stuff had been flung out of cars. If you’re a proper cyclist, you should know better.
I upgraded from my aged
I upgraded from my aged Niterider Minewt at the start of the winter as it didn’t have the lumens to cope with the pitch black lanes I was on as a result of a job change. Impressed with the Niterider brand, I stayed with them and picked up a Niterider Lumina 800. Great light with 3 levels and some other flashing modes. Gives you ‘time left’ on the display so you know whether to charge, or switch to a lower level to conserve power. Bar mounted and easy to move between bikes.
Only do what you’re doing
Only do what you’re doing occasionally (odd day at another work place) but I have a Rohan Travel Suit which folds up quite neatly (+shirt, tie etc) into a packing cube that goes into an Ortlieb pannier. The suit really comes out crease free. With some travel size wash gear and a micro-towel it all works quite well. Shoes are the only bulky things that weigh a bit.
A French Pyranees MTB ride in
A French Pyranees MTB ride in June 2011. Headed out towards, what the French OS map said, were MTB trails. After numerous backtracking and about 50% walking we made it onto some forest gravel road switchbacks, after which the single track started again. A farmer had obviously been moving livestock so at one point we were ankle deep in mud and slurry. Turning back really wasn’t an option as we were beyond half way. Got some decent riding over a plateau and then the longest downhill in christendom, which actually became quite tiring and boring, even on a full suss MTB. We’d totally underclubbed it on food and water and still had 4 miles of road to do in blazing afternoon sun. Thought it would be easy but it was utter misery and slightly uphill. Arrived back at the campsite and rode straight into the nearby mountain river to cool off. I’ll never trust a French OS map again ref MTB trails! Oh, forgot to mention that I was on honeymoon!
Perhaps taking a long term
Perhaps taking a long term view that you’ll get a road bike again in the future (ie not for commuting), I’d choose the one that best suits commuting ie you can put slightly wider tyres and mudguards on the winter + discs. I always think that commuting is pretty tough on bikes, so tough it out with one bike that can take the punishment, and then demote it to commuting/winter riding in the future when you can afford a road bike.
If it’s the B&B Cycle Path
If it’s the B&B Cycle Path you’re on, then, as a regular until earlier this year, I didn’t think it was too bad. I occasionally encountered the sweeper truck so I thought they cleared it more than once. Bristol council were better at it than Bath (who, I think, didn’t do anything). I now head out on the 2 Tunnels and onto back lanes which are just ‘hellish’ at this time of year compared to the B&B Path; which I dream of as my bike, and myself, get covered in ‘cr@p’, even with mudguards! At least on the B&B Path you don’t get the odd farmer who’s been doing some ploughing in the wet and then gone in and out onto the road with his tractor.
The Topeak case is good.
The Topeak case is good. Mine’s survived numerous monsoons and a couple of winter ‘dismounts’. You can get additional bar mounts so you can move it between bikes. Not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ as it isn’t the sleekest looking thing, but if you don’t like the look of an iPhone on your bars then you’re into Garmin territory.
Some impressive round trips
Some impressive round trips here. My commute is only 25min by car but I cycle it once or twice a week to keep fit. 15 miles each way on small bit of town, some gravel cycle path and lanes (Wiltshire). There are 2 good roads (A & B) but I’m not into busy commuter routes. Absolutely knackers me out; probably the road surface and ‘up down’ nature of the lanes so takes anything from 70-80 min. Even worse in the winter with all the sh*te on the lanes. My winter hybrid is covered in cr*p just after one journey. Could have a (quicker?) smoother ride on the A or B road but being overtaken constantly by cars just isn’t fun.
Depends on how much risk you
Depends on how much risk you want to take and how much you enjoy repairing punctures by the roadside in winter. I was cycling down lanes to work yesterday in the apocalyptic aftermath of Storm Barney (or whatever it was called) thinking the last thing I needed was a puncture. Personally, I’d replace the tyre. Someone else might have some advice on a ‘trick’ to patch the hole up a bit.
I’ve done a few (Newcastle
I’ve done a few (Newcastle based) Saddle Skedaddle UK MTB guided trips and a self guided CTC (ie they shift your bags and book accom + take you back to your car at the end). They are excellent and do all sorts of continental road trips as well. They’ll probably do something bespoke if you wanted to do a long distance trip, possibly more fun than just being based in one spot. I stayed in a Chalet Hotel place called Chateau d’Oz when I did Alp d’Huez which was excellent. Came back from the Alpe and the owner walked out with a tray of cold beers and said the Dauphine was on the big screen in the lounge; class!
Can’t vouch for the earlier
Can’t vouch for the earlier versions but the 4’s video quality is excellent and I like the touch screen on the back. Depending on what you want to use it for, I’ve found myself buying a variety of mounts to get different shots. Getting better ‘angles’, editing and movie making are the tricks to get the most out of a GoPro. If you’re wondering how tough it is, part of my handlebar mount snapped (probably only so many ‘shocks’ it could take from bumpy terrain) and the camera hit the tarmac at 20mph. Casing a bit scuffed but otherwise OK. Rather alarmingly the clip sprung open but the camera stayed in the casing.
Really like my Kask helmet
Really like my Kask helmet (Mojito); great fit and works well with a Buff underneath if it gets cold.
My Blackburn Mars has been
My Blackburn Mars has been going for a few years now. Got through plenty of miserable winters. Good light (steady or flashing). Batteries last well although you just have to keep an eye on the light losing brightness and change them. You can either mount it on the bracket or on the back of a seat pack (or similar).
