One tip to improve my cycling?

[tek-monkey]

We had no training past cycling to gnosal on the lines once in a while, yet everyone but me managed Stafford to Prestatyn in one day without issue. To be fair if it wasn't for me they'd have actually reached Abergele, our final destination, but I'd injured myself just outside Eccleshall! Just shows age and experience is no match for youth and knees that still work.

 

[Gramaisc]

Here's a tip to make yourself more conspicuous - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22919201 .

 

[tek-monkey]

Bit chilly north of the M25, I wear one of these:

 

[flossietoo]

I'm here...in actual London! It's just like the monopoly board!

I had a bad smash on Wednesday evening. Fortunately the wonderful man at Henry Burton got my bike roadworthy in time. I am bandaged but extremely bloody minded. NOTHING was going to stop me getting here.

Now I am here though..it is actually a bit scary.

The spaniels had a bit of a look round Clapham Common while we unloaded the bike. They thought London was all very well, for city dogs, but there didn't seem to be very many rabbits. They have headed off to Brighton which I hope to reach, before dark, tomorrow.

I have ditched the pump and the puncture repair kit so I can carry more muffins.

 

[John Marwood]

more muffins - it's a vote winner

 

[Gramaisc]

I have ditched the pump and the puncture repair kit so I can carry more muffins.

Is that wise? Have you thought about carrying a spare wheel?

..it would also keep the rain off..

 

[Withnail]

Is that wise?

If you get a puncture you could offer a muffin to the person willing to fix it for you. Depending on how far in to the ride this might happen, i'm guessing that that person will really want a muffin.

It could turn out to be the shrewdest of moves.

(good luck Flossietoo)

 

[Gramaisc]

Are you there yet..?

 

[flossietoo]

Yes!
I did fall off once, in London, due to the sheer number of cyclists packed up against traffic lights. I couldn't start properly when the lights changed and collapsed in a heap. No harm done. It was difficult for the first 10 miles because it was so crowded that you had to concentrate really hard to avoid crashing. After that I loved every second and cycled with a big stupid grin on my face. I was really surprised and thrilled to discover that I passed loads and loads of people, particularly on the hills. I had just sort of assumed I would be miles slower than everyone else.

I got up all the hills ok except Ditchling. It was quite hard just pushing the bike up there. Saw some awful crashes but avoided the ambulance myself.

Arrived in Brighton after about six and a half hours, in bright sunshine, crossing the line with Batman, Spider-Man and Superman. Nothing ached except my smile muscles.

 

[tek-monkey]

Excellent, glad you enjoyed it

 

[Gramaisc]

Well done!

Did anybody else enjoy waiting for you?

 

[flossietoo]

The spaniels didn't make it to the finish line. Neither did my husband. He was stuck in stationary traffic outside Brighton when I went through.

The dogs have just come back from a hurtle on the beach. We are staying down here to give them a seaside holiday.

 

[Gramaisc]

The dogs have just come back from a hurtle on the beach. We are staying down here to give them a seaside holiday.

Sometimes you just need to chillax for a bit..

 

[littleme]

Well done Flossietoo

I have a question about cycle etiquette for all you lovely cyclists....

We've recently started taking 7yr old daughter down onto the Lines to cycle, as our garden isn't really big enough....anyway we tell her to keep to the left of the path as propper cyclists zoom up and down as myself and the other half amble along behind her....is this correct? We don't want to get in the way of them, but we seem to of got a few 'Dings' off people recently and I'm not sure if this means Get out of the way you fools, or hello were coming through?

Most times if we spot cycles coming I try to get her (and ourselves) to stop and stand still, but I don't always hear them!

Someone please tell me the correct etiquette

 

[Gramaisc]

Your behaviour would seem to be correct - to me - but there appears to be no actual system of any kind. It seems to me that it ought to be simple enough, but a lot of cyclists will ride on the right, a lot of pedestrians will obstruct the whole width of the path - and get annoyed if dinged, or if not dinged. On split routes, pedestrians appear to delight in wandering in front of cyclists on the cycle-side. It's all so unnecessary....

There was a bit of chat about it from here - http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/ind...g-you-have-witnessed.8163/page-47#post-189375 - down...

 

[flossietoo]

I don't ride on the railway line because the surface is a pain on my road bike. Where I encounter a pedestrian walking in the country lanes with their back to me, I usually try to say something so they don't jump. Most often: "Passing on your right" then "Hello" as I go past.

Sometimes the dinging isn't in annoyance. It is just to warn you they are approaching from behind.

 

[Withnail]

My problem is that I just can't seem to get my pace up... however hard I try, I can't get my average pace for a trip above 12mph.

I have also discovered a brilliant app called Cyclemeter... As soon as you finish a ride it sends an email outlining your route, total ascent/descent, average speed etc. If you've done that route before, it will tell you how you've done against your previous times - great for the journey into work.

If you get yourself a Garmin you could choose the Lance Armstrong route towards enhancing your performance.

 

[John Marwood]

Men shaving their legs - it's just not right

 

[Withnail]

Men shaving their legs - it's just not right

On the steepest descents in Pro Cycling the riders will top 100km/h. They will also, on occasion, fall off their bicycles at that speed. Shaving the wound(s) in advance is called prudence.

Dear.

 

[Gramaisc]

If you're going to go sliding along a road at sixty miles an hour, why does a few bits of your own hair matter?