Road Cycling Essentials

uniQ · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:48

Pretty sure they do do crack downs in phases so they focus their efforts on catching a particular offence or subset of offences for a couple of weeks.

olv · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:52

platypus said:
Mmmm ok, but given the length of service of my 105 bracket (at least 3 years, possibly more if cleaning it tonight proves it isn't the BB), options being £20-44 for a Shimano (ranging from 105 to top end DA), why pay double for the Hope?

For a moving part that is, relatively speaking, cheap as chips I think 3 years is a pretty damned good term.

I had the same thoughts, I've had at least 10,000km out of mine which is more than acceptable so went with this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38998 ultegra. Even if it only lasts a year, not sure why it would, that's still dirt cheap.

[DOD]Asprilla · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:52

platypus said:
Mmmm ok, but given the length of service of my 105 bracket (at least 3 years, possibly more if cleaning it tonight proves it isn't the BB), options being £20-44 for a Shimano (ranging from 105 to top end DA), why pay double for the Hope?

For a moving part that is, relatively speaking, cheap as chips I think 3 years is a pretty damned good term.

Three years is great, about six times longer than I've ever got our of a Shimano BB. Literally YMMV.

arknor · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:53

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

Vonhelmet · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:55

arknor said:
can't you just use blue threadlock on them? I got some from ebay for 99p when I was build a rc helicopter and it only takes the slightest twisting pressure to crack it

Probably not a bad idea.

arknor · 10 Jul 2013 at 13:57

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

grudas · 10 Jul 2013 at 14:12

Vonhelmet said:
I can't imagine many people ever get done for it. You'd probably have to cause some genuine bother for them to do anything about it, like banging along at 20mph on the high street or something.

my mate got fined..

i got two warnings! so yeah in london and especially islington its not that hard to get a fine for it..

platypus · 10 Jul 2013 at 14:29

olv said:
I had the same thoughts, I've had at least 10,000km out of mine which is more than acceptable so went with this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38998 ultegra. Even if it only lasts a year, not sure why it would, that's still dirt cheap.

Oh nice link thanks, thats way cheaper than Wiggle.

#Chri5# · 10 Jul 2013 at 15:18

platypus said:
Oh nice link thanks, thats way cheaper than Wiggle.

+1 - have grabbed one as a spare

arknor · 10 Jul 2013 at 15:21

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

topgun06 · 10 Jul 2013 at 15:50

Well its the first day back at work after my holiday, and I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms.

My cycling trip to Majorca was amazing. Everything was top notch. the roads, the weather, the lack of traffic, the climbs and especially the descents. There is a ride for everyone. If you want a flat coastal ride, a hilly mountain ride or something in-between, your covered. Some of the views were absolutely fantastic!

I covered 308mi over 5 days of cycling. We had one rest day in the middle and did nothing for the first half day on the island. We used the time to unpack the bikes and get them ready etc.

It seemed at some points that everyone was a cyclist. The number or people who would just start talking to you about cycling was surprising and we tagged along with a group of around 25 others on one day.

Will 100% be returning. An amazing experience.

grudas · 10 Jul 2013 at 15:55

arknor said:
I'll stick to the law then rather spend an extra 10seconds or so pushing then risk a £30 fine

I'm guessing most people aren't aware of the law?
I'll ask the next obvious commuter I see that's riding on the path if he's ever been warning or fined and if he realises it's illegal

those fines/warnings were when i used to bmx.. and jumping over curbs and so on was the usual on my short commute to college.. thats why i spent some time on the pathway

on my roadie i think i may have done 1mile on pathway out of 3000+ i covered on it in the past 7 + months

uniQ · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:03

topgun06 said:
An amazing experience.

Photos + Strava link or gtfo

touch · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:10

topgun06 said:
My cycling trip to Majorca was amazing. Everything was top notch. the roads, the weather, the lack of traffic, the climbs and especially the descents.

Ooof, i see you did the Puig Major from Soller! Thats a loooooong climb.

arknor · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:11

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

topgun06 · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:23

uniQ said:
Photos + Strava link or gtfo

I'll sort the pictures out later. I'll create a dropbox folder and share the link.

Day 2: 44mi. But for some reason, even though I used my Garmin as normal, I do not have an activity file for this. I'm going to steal my mate's file and upload that eventually.
Day 3: http://app.strava.com/activities/65865661
Day 4: http://app.strava.com/activities/65865592 - VERY windy on the return leg.
Day 6: http://app.strava.com/activities/65865655
Day 7: http://app.strava.com/activities/65865554

[DOD]Asprilla · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:27

arknor - buy and read Cycle Craft by John Franklin http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/

Then with a bit of experience you'll soon be breezing though that junction (I used to live opposite The Strawberry).

topgun06 · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:29

touch said:
Ooof, i see you did the Puig Major from Soller! Thats a loooooong climb.

Indeed, it had to be done. I was getting pretty tired, but a lovely portion of paella in Soller helped me out. Its a really nice town.

arknor · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:33

deleting every post I ever made in this thread

[DOD]Asprilla · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:43

arknor said:
Thanks for the advice I'll be sure to grab a copy.

I went through here yesterday which is probably considered more dangerous as theres more roads obviously and you need to make sure no one is going to turn into you.

but the cycle lanes down the side of the road leading to it and on the other side gave me the confidence to do it

I'm guessing when theres cycle markings all over the place people are more likely to watch out for you and give you more space?

If I was going straight on there I would position myself in the middle of the left lane rather than in the cycle lane. Someone is less likely to left hook you from the right lane than from the left.