**** 2017 Cycling Thread ****

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Roker Mackem said:
Some tips anyone?


I’m quite unfit, in an aerobic exercise sense, and I want to start cycling again.


Has anyone got any tips for starting out (how many miles etc?)

Cheers
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The best person to judge that is yourself. Start out low, build yourself up and don't over do it.

Do a few local back lanes to get a feel for it again and take it from there, you'll soon know what's good for you.
 


Part time cyclist here, so just bought a cyclo cross bike in sale. Ridley Xbow 20. Lovely looking bike and looked ideal for what I want, mainly road use with occasional light trails. Been on a few times now and fk me, hills seem harder on it than my old roady and hybrid. Am fairly fit but just seems to be hard work. Is this the case with cyclo cross bikes?
 
The Butcher said:
Part time cyclist here, so just bought a cyclo cross bike in sale. Ridley Xbow 20. Lovely looking bike and looked ideal for what I want, mainly road use with occasional light trails. Been on a few times now and fk me, hills seem harder on it than my old roady and hybrid. Am fairly fit but just seems to be hard work. Is this the case with cyclo cross bikes?
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It will be if your tyres are wider on the cross,and lower psi,will both make it harder /slower.

No set in stone targets for me, just a general get myself fitter and stronger than last year.
May try a few more long rides on road. Beat my time for my hundred last year.
 
I did a 25 mile ride on Sunday, down from Cramlington to Blyth, then along to Tynemouth and back.

Really enjoyed it, bloody freezing though. I've only got a Hybrid, but looking to get a road bike eventually. Potentially with a duathlon/triathlon.
 
elder said:
better than the bus though but...?
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Oh aye

The Butcher said:
Part time cyclist here, so just bought a cyclo cross bike in sale. Ridley Xbow 20. Lovely looking bike and looked ideal for what I want, mainly road use with occasional light trails. Been on a few times now and fk me, hills seem harder on it than my old roady and hybrid. Am fairly fit but just seems to be hard work. Is this the case with cyclo cross bikes?
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I went from mainly MTB to a cyclocross for commuting to work and I feel like I fly up the hills now.
 
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Smiler said:
I went from mainly MTB to a cyclocross for commuting to work and I feel like I fly up the hills now.
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that's what I would expect tbh, and I did notice the difference with road bike, however not sure if its the gearing making it seem harder? or just my lack of bike fitness. Any advice from cyclists where best place for spares and accessories is online or just the usual, wiggle etc?
 
The Butcher said:
that's what I would expect tbh, and I did notice the difference with road bike, however not sure if its the gearing making it seem harder? or just my lack of bike fitness. Any advice from cyclists where best place for spares and accessories is online or just the usual, wiggle etc?
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Merlin take a lot of beating for components
 
The Butcher said:
Part time cyclist here, so just bought a cyclo cross bike in sale. Ridley Xbow 20. Lovely looking bike and looked ideal for what I want, mainly road use with occasional light trails. Been on a few times now and fk me, hills seem harder on it than my old roady and hybrid. Am fairly fit but just seems to be hard work. Is this the case with cyclo cross bikes?
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Is it fairly high geared, mine and my mates are. Similar gearing to a roadie with fatter tyres to drag around. Do love mine, great winter bike.
 
I was directed here by @RossTheNinja from the C2C thread. Haven't had a bike since 2012 and need a new one for doing the coast to coast...

Reet, advice needed. Think I'm probably going to get an adventure road bike for the ride. Now having never owned a road bike and only ever had mountain bikes I've never bothered with the whole winter bike malarky. So the question is, should I get my new bike now or wait till Spring and just get a mountain bike for the next few months?
 
Baloo said:
I was directed here by @RossTheNinja from the C2C thread. Haven't had a bike since 2012 and need a new one for doing the coast to coast...

Reet, advice needed. Think I'm probably going to get an adventure road bike for the ride. Now having never owned a road bike and only ever had mountain bikes I've never bothered with the whole winter bike malarky. So the question is, should I get my new bike now or wait till Spring and just get a mountain bike for the next few months?
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As said earlier on the thread cyclo cross are quite high geared not sure about adventure bikes mind. As to whether to get it now, if you're going to do a lot of road training the salt might do a bit of damage, if ,mainly tracks I wouldn't worry to much. Saying that I road mine all the way through last winter and apart from a new rear wheel bearing it didn't take any harm.
 
Manuel said:
Is it fairly high geared, mine and my mates are. Similar gearing to a roadie with fatter tyres to drag around. Do love mine, great winter bike.
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I haven't got a clue how to determine if it is high geared or not. Its a 46/34 front cog, 12-27 on back. Am gonna put some slicker 28 tyres on it and see how it goes.
 
Manuel said:
As said earlier on the thread cyclo cross are quite high geared not sure about adventure bikes mind. As to whether to get it now, if you're going to do a lot of road training the salt might do a bit of damage, if ,mainly tracks I wouldn't worry to much. Saying that I road mine all the way through last winter and apart from a new rear wheel bearing it didn't take any harm.
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I think the gearing should be fine. I've always liked my granny wheel, but I'll just have to learn to ride like @Sneech and go hell for leather for 15 seconds then have a rest.
For the next couple of months I'll pretty much just be doing the old railway line from Ryhope and adding a few miles on each time.
 
The Butcher said:
I haven't got a clue how to determine if it is high geared or not. Its a 46/34 front cog, 12-27 on back. Am gonna put some slicker 28 tyres on it and see how it goes.
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That's about a 33" bottom gear - not particularly low for off-road but should get you up all but the very steepest you encounter on the road. The technique required is to laugh at the pain.
 
Al said:
That's about a 33" bottom gear - not particularly low for off-road but should get you up all but the very steepest you encounter on the road. The technique required is to laugh at the pain.
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My roadie has a 34 30 (I think) :oops: CX 34 - 28 which is altogether wrong I know.
 
Baloo said:
I think the gearing should be fine. I've always liked my granny wheel, but I'll just have to learn to ride like @Sneech and go hell for leather for 15 seconds then have a rest.
For the next couple of months I'll pretty much just be doing the old railway line from Ryhope and adding a few miles on each time.
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It'll be my preferred method again this year :lol:

Fuck bimbling about all over the road, turning the crank 20 times to travel a millimetre.
 
Al said:
That's about a 33" bottom gear - not particularly low for off-road but should get you up all but the very steepest you encounter on the road. The technique required is to laugh at the pain.
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Or to get a mechanical and get a lift from Mal X
 
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