Road Cycling Essentials

[Russinating]

I'm falling out of love with it. I've had my Van Nicholas for a month and have only cycled 40 miles on it. The only cycling I do now is commuting to work. It's all too easy to blame the weather, so I am going to blame the weather.

I actually quite like bad weather, apart from when my brakes don't work. I get far too hot in the summer but it's nice to wrap up in the warm. I'm loving my neck gaiter for a bit of mouth and ear protection at the moment.

 

[milgo]

I saw someone last night wearing a full face balaclava on his commute. Bit ott at about 10 degrees c. I always wondered about the heat exchanger masks for when it gets really cold. Riding in low temperatures always induces a lot of coughing once I stop.

Think it would look a bit daft though. They are probably designed for extreme cold.

 

[Participant]

I always unclip right foot first and have never had any topples in a year of wearing clipless. Of course now I've said that I'll stack at the earliest opportunity.

Anyway I used my Fenix LD20 on full blast on the way home last night. It lit up the country lanes fairly well, but it was a drizzly evening and I need something slightly more powerful. Having scoured the flashlight thread, I think I'm going to order three Ultrafire C8 XM-Ls (one helmet, one handlebars, one rear with red filter), a six cell 18650 charger (XSTAR WP6), two more lock blocks, and six Li-ion 18650 cells.

Warning cyclists, that thread is dangerous for the wallet.

 

[platypus]

I frequently don't want to get out on the bike but I never regret being out there.

This is often the case for me during the winter. Stepping out my back door into the initial freeze is horrible, as is the thin almost foggy drizzle that you get at this time of year, and ends up getting you **** wet through by the time I get to work 15 miles later.

But I never regret it once I'm pedalling.

She's finished and she coped with this morning's run in:

Pretty, pretty.

I'm aware of the saddle angle, that's wash't deliberate, that's just the result of levelling it when it's in a repair stand. It' wasn't uncomfortable though.

Where did you get the frame? And is that a complete self build?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

This is often the case for me during the winter. Stepping out my back door into the initial freeze is horrible, as is the thin almost foggy drizzle that you get at this time of year, and ends up getting you **** wet through by the time I get to work 15 miles later.

But I never regret it once I'm pedalling.



Where did you get the frame? And is that a complete self build?

It's a custom built titanium frame from Justin Burls and I bodged everything else to it.

 

[buy_my_cookies]

Anyway I used my Fenix LD20 on full blast on the way home last night. It lit up the country lanes fairly well, but it was a drizzly evening and I need something slightly more powerful. Having scoured the flashlight thread, I think I'm going to order three Ultrafire C8 XM-Ls (one helmet, one handlebars, one rear with red filter), a six cell 18650 charger (XSTAR WP6), two more lock blocks, and six Li-ion 18650 cells.

Warning cyclists, that thread is dangerous for the wallet.

Is the red filter something you can buy or a home made job? I have a few xpg torches that i use for commuting which are great and have never throught about using one for the rear! currently just use a few cheap flashers but i really should be doing better.

oh and after wondering around on these forums for a few years i have only just noticed this thread!

 

[Russinating]

We're producing a film at the moment on the issues cyclists face when commuting/in the city etc.

We've obviously got our own ideas and experiences but does anyone have any unusual stories or things we should try and capture?

 

[platypus]

You should capture the essence of how dangerous it can be.

Highlight the highway code and how a considerable of motorists and cyclists don't know it.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

does anyone have any unusual stories or things we should try and capture?

Drying kit when you get to work.

 

[buy_my_cookies]

the strange looks you get from colleagues when you tell them you enjoy it even in the wet/cold/snow etc!

 

[Participant]

Is the red filter something you can buy or a home made job? I have a few xpg torches that i use for commuting which are great and have never throught about using one for the rear! currently just use a few cheap flashers but i really should be doing better.

oh and after wondering around on these forums for a few years i have only just noticed this thread!

You can buy them for Fenix torches from http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk. Not sure about Ultrafires etc. though. If I can't find them I'll just buy a red one, they're not much on eBay.

We're producing a film at the moment on the issues cyclists face when commuting/in the city etc.

We've obviously got our own ideas and experiences but does anyone have any unusual stories or things we should try and capture?

Aside from the obvious stuff like cars paths on cycle paths and general anti-motorist rage, make sure you balance it with something on how to cycle defensively.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

make sure you balance it with something on how to cycle assertively.

FTFY.

 

[Participant]

FTFY.

Well it's both though really, isn't it. I only mentioned defensive because that's what more often saves your life.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

We might be talking about the same thing, but have you read Cycle Craft by John Franklin? I'm using the definition as he does (as the UK's most respected expert in safe cycling) to include things like taking primary, early lane changes, etc.

 

[touch]

We might be talking about the same thing

Surely "defensive" cycling just means cycling in a way that will protect you best. So, if assertive cycling is the best way to protect yourself, then:
"defensive cycling" == "assertive cycling"

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Surely "defensive" cycling just means cycling in a way that will protect you best. So, if assertive cycling is the best way to protect yourself, then:
"defensive cycling" == "assertive cycling"

Language is powerful thing. Most new cyclists think they are riding defensively in order to protect themselves by sticking as far to the left as they can and only dashing out at the last minute when required.

Assertive cycling has different connotations and is the best way to protect yourself.

 

[Russinating]

Fair points. I would do that (and I cycle assertively too) but the film is more of an 'issues cyclists face from a driver's point of view'. It may be worth touching on at the end though.

The good news is (kind of) that both myself and my colleague have both almost crashed whilst riding and filming with the GoPro.

 

[Jonny69]

That video was fantastic. I am going to try that on Oxford Street and see if the crowd parts

I'm loving cycling at the moment, even though the weather is noticeably trashing my bikes already. I need to sort out the brakes on my Raleigh. I put the dual pivot calipers on and it's made the braking awful. I'm fairly sure it's the pads to blame, because I've re-used the pads and they land on the rim at a slightly different angle, so the braking is poor. I also need to tweak the back wheel because it's got a slight wobble from hitting a big bump, so the rear brake is wound right out which doesn't help. Also, are dual pivots a complete biatch to centre up or what?

Got damn lucky this morning. I left my Fenix torch on my bike by mistake and merrily jumped on the train. I decided it was too risky to leave it all day but there would be a tiny tiny chance it would still be there is I went back straight away. 45 minutes in Croydon and it was still there. I think I'll have to say the bad weather was the reason

We've obviously got our own ideas and experiences but does anyone have any unusual stories or things we should try and capture?

What about the number of people who try and stick an elbow or shoulder in as they walk past when you're wearing anything that resembles bike gear? I'd almost forgotten people do it because I haven't experienced it for ages, but had two ******** do it this morning.

 

[Streeteh]

What about the number of people who try and stick an elbow or shoulder in as they walk past when you're wearing anything that resembles bike gear? I'd almost forgotten people do it because I haven't experienced it for ages, but had two ******** do it this morning.

Wha? I haven't experienced this yet. Is it just because they dislike cyclists?

 

[Fuzz]

Can you expand on the situation there Jonny, I don't think I've ever had anyone try and shoulder me off (unless I do something daft like ride on the pavement)