Cycle commute!

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Don
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
17,154
Location
In a house
So guys, who here cycles to work, and what do you ride on, and how far do you ride :D

I just started again this morning, and it feels good to be back on the bike, saving petrol and helping me with my Cardio! I ride a really basic 2001 Giant ATX 840 hardtail with knobbly tyres! Hardly an elite commuter machine, but i like bouncing it up kerbs and taking nice little grassy short-cuts which rules out a road bike :)

Same as this one, but i have a few different bits and bobs on it. stc-rc cranks, and different pedals/saddle/cat-eye dual lights.
ATX%20840.jpg


At the moment I am cheating a bit, I start my journey in thatcham, but drive to calcot, (10 miles) and then ride from calcot to twyford. Its about 9 miles further, and took me 40 minutes this morning taking it easy :) I figure as i get quicker i will try the longer distance and see how it goes. I dont particualry like riding the thatcham-calcot stretch, its NSL single carriageway for most of the way, and pavements are limited :(
 
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You did 19 miles in 40 minutes? That's pretty darn good, you must have been doing 26mph+ all the way? and uber fit. Crap bike for riding on road though.
 
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/core-10-08-28926

Genesis Core 1.0

Bought through my work cycle scheme last year. I don't bike every day and admit its a fair weather thing.

My work is 1.5 miles away but its all down hil one way and uphil on the way back. Very unfit so the ride home kills me :)

My daughters school is on route so she jumps on and I walk her down to the school and then pretty much free wheel to the office door :)
 
badbob said:
You did 19 miles in 40 minutes? That's pretty darn good, you must have been doing 26mph+ all the way? and uber fit. Crap bike for riding on road though.
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noooo, i did 9 miles, with an old bike, laptop on my back and knobbly tyres :D

I drove the first 10, to avoid the nasty NSL section!
 
Bianchi_EV41.jpg


Although mines the 2008 model. The days that I cycle to work, it's 12.5miles each way. Takes me 45-50 minutes. If I was stupid/brave enough I could try the cycle lane on the A14 and it would take about 20.
 
Only 2 miles each way, to and from the train station on a 3 year old Claud Butler Legend, bought 2nd had for £90. No suspension and skinny Schwabe Marathons makes it fairly easy.

Takes me nearly as long to lock up the bike as it does to do the journey!
 
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badbob said:
So 9 miles in 40 minutes? That's crap...are you a girl driving with the hand brake on? ;)
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Something like that :p Bear in mind I am riding through a town centre, so its nota straight route along a road, i have to stop/start a lot and weave in and out of stationary traffic, hop kerbs when idiots dont leave enough room for me to pass! I also had to answer my phone at one point :D

I will try and get a better run on the way home tonight. Will keep you posted, i have a target time to beat now!!
 
hop kerbs when idiots dont leave enough room for me to pass!
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Don't do that, it makes you a idiot crazy cyclist. If there's no room on the left, wait. You can go on the right but not recommeded...would only do it in a traffic jam, with no oncoming traffic. And careful no one opens the door or decides to pull out.

I will try and get a better run on the way home tonight. Will keep you posted, i have a target time to beat now!
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Try and do 16 miles in less than 40 minutes :-)
 
badbob said:
Don't do that, it makes you a idiot crazy cyclist. If there's no room on the left, wait. You can go on the right but not recommeded...would only do it in a traffic jam, with no oncoming traffic. And careful no one opens the door or decides to pull out.
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In that case i am deffo an idiot crazy cyclist!

badbob said:
Try and do 16 miles in less than 40 minutes :-)
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I dont have a 16 mile route to try :p I did once do a 14 mile route in 55mins, i did it a few to my old place of work before i moved office always under the hour. Bear in mind that the last time i rode was back in 2001 when i bought the bike, and i was only using it for jumping!!
 
monkeyspank said:
Get some of these mate
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDeta...60022196&N=Specialized Crossroads EX Tyre Set

they look like they have updated the design a bit since I got mine but they have a road tread down the middle and nobbles on the side for when you go off road.

Knobbly tyres on roads is hard work and noisy.
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Handbuilt Wheels - Front Disc
Hub Upgrades: Deore 6 Bolt Disc
Rim Upgrades: XM317 Black Disc
Spoke Upgrades: ACI Black S/S DB
Pro 11 Hub Colour: Black
£46.00

Handbuilt Wheels - Rear Non Disc
Hub Upgrades: Deore
Rim Upgrades: XM317 Black
Spoke Upgrades: ACI S/S DB Black
Pro 3 Hub Colour: Black
£47.00

2x Continental Sport Contact Tyre Size: 1.3" £27.00

2x RIM TAPE £2.00

Thats what i was thinking of getting, means i can whip off the commute wheels, and drop on my off-road wheels if required :)
 
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Not much of a commuter, but great fun.. especially with the soles of my shoes for brakes. 30/10 gearing.
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Illegal for riding on the roads! afaik even if the rear wheel is a fixed hub you still have to have a front brake.

BMX'ers on the roads make me laught..
 
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badbob said:
Illegal for riding on the roads! afaik even if the rear wheel is a fixed hub you still have to have a front brake.

BMX'ers on the roads make me laught..
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Aye, been stopped a few times. Unless you ride BMX yourself though you wont appreciate the difference of riding with and without brakes.

Why do BMX's on the road make you laugh?
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
Handbuilt Wheels - Front Disc
Hub Upgrades: Deore 6 Bolt Disc
Rim Upgrades: XM317 Black Disc
Spoke Upgrades: ACI Black S/S DB
Pro 11 Hub Colour: Black
£46.00

Handbuilt Wheels - Rear Non Disc
Hub Upgrades: Deore
Rim Upgrades: XM317 Black
Spoke Upgrades: ACI S/S DB Black
Pro 3 Hub Colour: Black
£47.00

2x Continental Sport Contact Tyre Size: 1.3" £27.00

2x RIM TAPE £2.00

Thats what i was thinking of getting, means i can whip off the commute wheels, and drop on my off-road wheels if required :)
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nice. :) won't you need a cassette and poss a freewheel as well?
 
excaliborg said:
Aye, been stopped a few times. Unless you ride BMX yourself though you wont appreciate the difference of riding with and without brakes.

Why do BMX's on the road make you laugh?
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...and you continue to ride on the roads?:rolleyes:
BMX'ers are slow and wobble side to side.
 
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