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Schwalbe Marathon Plus (rigid
Schwalbe Marathon Plus (rigid) weigh a ton and I’ve found them a bit ‘skittish’ in the wet and on cold ‘greasy’ roads (really hard rubber); changed to Marathon Supremes 32″ which are folding (lighter) with better grip (commuting bike). Resisted for many years but now switch to a winter tyre, Continental Top Contact Winter II 36″ (folding), to cope with frosty roads; seem pretty good and I run them down at 55-60 psi to have plenty of grip (videos of people riding them in snow!). I’d use both on tow paths; they weren’t cheap though (not as widely used as other tyres), even bought on the web, but decent rubber does cost. The Rolling Resistance (Google it) has some good rolling/puncture stats on tyres.
Based on the horror stories I
Based on the horror stories I hear from Bristol where, despite increasing the door security measures (usually up and over doors) with more bolts, padlocks etc, the thieves keep on coming, I’d throw good money at the door and get something that’s properly secure. Would still be worth securing the bikes in the garage but at least ‘convenience’ (ie ease of getting the bikes out) isn’t compromised by excessive, long-winded security measures (multiple padlocks, bolts, chains etc). In a burglary the financial loss is the ‘tip of the iceburg’; it’s the loss in time (police, insurance claims, tradesmen to fix things etc) and (previous) long-term investment in bike component upgrades etc that really gets you, not forgetting the paranoia that it’ll happen again….when all you have is a new ‘off the peg’ bike with cheap tyres, rims, BB, saddle etc. Kind of spend money to save money.
I’ve got a 2000 Cannondale
I’ve got a 2000 Cannondale aluminium bike with smooth welds, although the frame is marked ‘made in the USA’, suspect that’s not the case now with frame manufacturing moved to the far east.
Ortlieb Pannier Bags – must
Ortlieb Pannier Bags – must be over 20 years old now. Indestructable!
I love the advice being dispensed here, you’re top lads (and ladies). I just realised on the way into work this morning, that my original question raises another one. When you move to a new location, how do you plan your route, on roads that you’ve never driven, let alone cycled? In the past, I’ve tried google maps, ride with GPS, Strava, Garmin BaseCamp, God knows what else. Too often, I’ll end up cycling along the M20…. or I would, if I’d followed the route.FYI: I’m doing Gravesend to Bank Junction.
CycleStreets has served me pretty well; provides a ‘Quietest’, ‘Balanced’ and ‘Fastest’ route. Sometimes worth just scrutinising a section of a route; did that on a regular commute (that I’d been doing for years) and it found me an excellent quiet suburban shortcut that was a mile shorter than the bike path (which it always suggested when you looked at the whole route).
I’ve got a 17 mile (each way)
I’ve got a 17 mile (each way) commute; pretty much flat and mainly bike path. I’ve mixed it up over the years; train in/bike home, all cycle and half drive/half cycle (van makes that easy). I drive in Fri as the traffic is quieter. I guess for me it’s time (incl showering at work and work day) and how tired I get when I may want to ride at the weekend. Winter always seems like really hard work and longer; winter bike, dark, more kit on, windy etc and the risk of icy paths, so my half drive/half cycle option works well. I normally ride pretty hard and it’s the one time I’d really like a super-light bike; some people I know just stick to a steadier pace that they can maintain day in day out and accept the time penalty. Got an idea to ‘borrow’ (if a bike shop agreed to it) a decent e bike for a week and see what the times are like (all cycle); use the e bike for winter, headwind and ‘too tired’ days, and road bike for days when I want to get some fitness riding in. I’m mid 50s and 85kg; everyone’s different as I know people who can maintain a blistering pace every day, just not me!
I was having problems with
I was having problems with Conti 4 Seasons getting damaged but I was running them at max pressure; educated myself on correct pressures vs weight (ie not max pressure) and no more problems.
I commuted on lanes for a
I commuted on lanes for a couple of years and it was pretty annoying; I don’t think we’re talking about a bit of mud, it’s the 2 inch thick layer of stcky clay mud that’s been dragged up from the depths of the field. Sticks to the wheel and you have to stop to clear it off. One of the reasons I steer clear of lanes from now until March as it’s all a bit random. Couple this with vehicles smashing up the muddy verges and it’s just not worth the hassle of a major bike clean after a ride. Luckily I moved jobs but I was about to give up the winter commute as the bike needed cleaning every evening or else the mech just siezed up. Lots of bits needed replacing after that period of riding.
Bit of feedback post my
Bit of feedback post my Berlin trip; was there for 2 and a half days. Pre-booked a bike tour with Fat Tire cycles in Alexanderplatz; perfect 3.5 hour very informative tour around the main sights and got used to cycling in Berlin. They had a whole programme of different tours. Bikes were 3 spd hub heavy duty modern shopper style cruisers (rack, mudguards, chain cover, fat city tyres, hub dynamo lights), but that’s what everyone uses and Berlin is ‘pancake flat’. The shop did have hybrid/tourer bikes but we just held onto our tour bikes, left some ID as ‘deposit’ and we’d just settle up when we returned them (all quite informal). Bike infrastructure in Berlin is good; not perfect but drivers are generally pretty courteous to cyclists. Lycra, high viz and helmets are practically non-existent; everyone just wears normal clothes. I saw one sole roadie on the Saturday morning. There are no shortage of bike hire outlets and most hotels have bikes for hire. Our bikes had fitted frame/wheel locks and we were given a basic cable lock but sensed that bike theft wasn’t a problem. Beyond the tour we did everything by bike; if I was there again I’d get a faster bike and head down to Potsdam (again all flat). You can take bikes on the trains; might be some restrictions at busy times though. Saw a fair amount of Bromptons as well.
I don’t live in London but there wasn’t the ‘tension’ between motorists and cyclists; to copy a Boardman phrase, “I just saw people in normal clothes riding bikes”. Like I said, Berlin cycle infrastructure isn’t perfect and we were, at times, in busy traffic but not getting the sh#t dished out like UK motorists.
Just spotted Conti Top
Just spotted Conti Top Contact Winter 2 tyres; bit fat at 38mm but claim to be great on cold frosty roads.
It’s good to have a review of
It’s good to have a review of an e bike by a regular cyclist so the rest of us can get an idea where they might fit into our ‘velo-life’. Wouldn’t mind an e bike to reduce time and ‘take the heat’ out of (long) weekly commuting so I had more energy for longer weekend rides.
I’ve ‘gone off’ Marathon Plus
I’ve ‘gone off’ Marathon Plus in the wet; came down hard a few weeks ago in the wet and I was running them down at 70-80psi (32mm on a hybrid). Not the first time either and they never feel great in the winter when everything’s cold and greasy. Possibly breaked a bit hard on the front in a tight turn. Going to give Marathon Supremes a go as they’re much lighter and potentially better grip but with good puncture protection. Marathon Plus contact zone just feels hard and not ‘grippy’. Conti GP 4 Seasons always feel ‘solid’ on a road bike.
My advice would be don’t ask random people on the internet for medical advice.I’m not. The question was ‘has anyone experienced anything similar’. Bit of ‘asking around’ doesn’t do any harm. I’ve got a GP appt next week, but that’s just one doctor, so doing some research in advance in order to ask the right questions seems sensible.
Even in July I’ve been
Even in July I’ve been sweating buckets in the valley and then sitting in a cafe at the summit; jacket and hat on with a mug of hot coffee.
Someone was championing their
Someone was championing their 5 grand bike that weighed nothing; I felt like saying, “and now you’re going to chuck 2 water bottles on it, a saddle bag with some spares/tool and you’re not exactly that ‘svelte’?”
I went to a ToB stage finish (on my pub bike) and observed the legions of cycle club people turning up; the amount of carbon on the bike was directly proportional to the extra ‘lard’ on the owner.
