Ive just got a Halfords Carrera Crossfire for £200 and i find it to be a very good bike. I only got it to get my fittness up and to try and get into cycling. Please dont say i could have got this or that for that price, im happy with what i have and to me its a good bike.
Cycle commute!
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
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Its not really the bike thats important!!
If you are happy with the bike thats all that matters! Do you commute at all, or just ride for fun?
I assume you guys all have showers at work? I used to stink when I rode 4 just miles each way to uni in my 2nd year, although that didn't stop me
There are (work at a Uni) but to be honest I don't find the need for them, but I guess some of my work can be manual so it doesn't make much difference to me.
/edit - just been bad and ordered a new hardtail frame. 2008 Charge Duster on the way in steel. Can't wait till the weekend now!
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There is a shower here, but i am told not to use it untill it has been serviced/cleaned fully, it is a legionairres risk apparently. As soon as it is sorted I will be using it.
However, currently I shower in the morning before I lride. Then find that after my 9.1 mile ride in, I towel myself down, to dry any sweat off, have a quick wash in the sink, and get changed A bit of underarm spray, do my hair after wetting it/drying it to remove helmet hair and apply some product!
Good to go
However, currently I shower in the morning before I lride. Then find that after my 9.1 mile ride in, I towel myself down, to dry any sweat off, have a quick wash in the sink, and get changed
A bit of underarm spray, do my hair after wetting it/drying it to remove helmet hair and apply some product!Good to go
There is a shower here, but i am told not to use it untill it has been serviced/cleaned fully, it is a legionairres risk apparently. As soon as it is sorted I will be using it.
However, currently I shower in the morning before I lride. Then find that after my 9.1 mile ride in, I towel myself down, to dry any sweat off, have a quick wash in the sink, and get changed
Good to go
Likewise - a quick towel down generally does wonders. Sweat doesn't really smell when it's fresh, if you can get it off whilst you're still 'damp' then there's little lasting smell. It's when you leave it that you start to hum...
I'm thinking of grabbing a bike of some sorts to commute to my work.
It's a 30 mile round trip, but I would not mind!!
Our work have just introduced the "Ride to work" scheme where you sort of "lease" any bike of your choice from them and they pay 40% of the purchase price.
Only trouble is, I know next to nothing about push bikes.
I'm thinking of an MTB with road tyres rather than a road bike, so I can hook up with two mates offroad every so often.
They are both nuts about MTB's, one of them spent a fortune on a frame recently and built the bike using his choice of components.
Dont think there was much change out of about £3k, as far as I recall, the frame is a "Titus" or something like that?.
It's a 30 mile round trip, but I would not mind!!
Our work have just introduced the "Ride to work" scheme where you sort of "lease" any bike of your choice from them and they pay 40% of the purchase price.
Only trouble is, I know next to nothing about push bikes.
I'm thinking of an MTB with road tyres rather than a road bike, so I can hook up with two mates offroad every so often.
They are both nuts about MTB's, one of them spent a fortune on a frame recently and built the bike using his choice of components.
Dont think there was much change out of about £3k, as far as I recall, the frame is a "Titus" or something like that?.
Like most interests in life you can spend what you like on a bike. There's always something out there that's 0.1g lighter or that extra few % stronger.
Buying a bike in component form is generally more expensive than buying complete due to the economics of buying in bulk, but you get the choice of what you want on the bike itself. I've just done something similar, but not spent anywhere near that much.
Buying a bike in component form is generally more expensive than buying complete due to the economics of buying in bulk, but you get the choice of what you want on the bike itself. I've just done something similar, but not spent anywhere near that much.
I got it to try and get into shape, at the moment im doing about 10miles a day. I know you get what you pay for but im also sure that my bike isnt just going to fall apart doing the type of riding im doing (all road). Im shortly going to be looking at doing 15-20miles a day. I previously had a raleigh ogre for about 15yrs and it served me well over the years with no problems at all.
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I got it to try and get into shape, at the moment im doing about 10miles a day. I know you get what you pay for but im also sure that my bike isnt just going to fall apart doing the type of riding im doing (all road). I shortly going to be looking at doing 15-20miles a day. I previously had a raleigh ogre for about 15yrs and it served me well over the years with no problems at all. Im also looking at doing a 54mile charity bike ride later on in the year.
I do work and back, a few miles each day, small hills in each direction.
Not for fitness, just the quickest way to do it.
I ride quite agressively, but no jumping reds, and keep kerb-hopping to a minimum. Will have to measure distance and time sometime for a laugh.
Ride on an el-cheapo £80 dual suspension (heaaaavy), knobly front, semi-slick rear, pro2 seatpost (6'3"), and gummy blocks (Scary how fast they wear, but stop more than quickly enough to put you over the bars if you aint thinking).
Need a new rear wheel though, the bearing is shagged in this one. Cheap wheels can't deal with hard cranking. No helmet, have never worn one unless I had to for competition (Used to do BMX and Vert many moons ago)
Not for fitness, just the quickest way to do it.
I ride quite agressively, but no jumping reds, and keep kerb-hopping to a minimum. Will have to measure distance and time sometime for a laugh.
Ride on an el-cheapo £80 dual suspension (heaaaavy), knobly front, semi-slick rear, pro2 seatpost (6'3"), and gummy blocks (Scary how fast they wear, but stop more than quickly enough to put you over the bars if you aint thinking).
Need a new rear wheel though, the bearing is shagged in this one. Cheap wheels can't deal with hard cranking. No helmet, have never worn one unless I had to for competition (Used to do BMX and Vert many moons ago)
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if you want to map a route, use this website.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/
Its pretty good, lets you map a route properly, and also shows gradients over the trip and things like that
http://www.mapmyrun.com/
Its pretty good, lets you map a route properly, and also shows gradients over the trip and things like that
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Meh, I use my gps watch.
I use GPS and tomtom on my phone. (i found a couple of handlebar mounts on ebay, might get one
)But this allows you to plan distances and map routes you have done previously. If you have no had a look, its worth having a play with the interface
I cycle to work usually March to September (until I have to start using lights).My journey used to be 11 miles each way but that is down to about 4.5miles each way now as I moved. As said it's a good way to keep fit and save money on fuel. I am putting in about £12 of fuel for *** week at the moment
My bike is about 11-12 years old now I think. It is a Saracen Tufftrax which way back cost me a bit over £500 I think. Look at it compared to what you can get for £500 now and it is rubbish. No suspension at all and a chromoly frame. Still it still works so no point buying a new one jusy yet. No suspension is fine for road riding anyway.
My bike is about 11-12 years old now I think. It is a Saracen Tufftrax which way back cost me a bit over £500 I think. Look at it compared to what you can get for £500 now and it is rubbish. No suspension at all and a chromoly frame. Still it still works so no point buying a new one jusy yet. No suspension is fine for road riding anyway.
I bought this last year through work cycle scheme.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/core-10-07-13031
Its a lovely bike but the front forks are too soft. I'm getting new forks and road wheel/tyre package next month.
My last payment is next month so I'll be looking for my 08 ride soon
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/core-10-07-13031
Its a lovely bike but the front forks are too soft. I'm getting new forks and road wheel/tyre package next month.
My last payment is next month so I'll be looking for my 08 ride soon
That's pretty cool. My ride to work is 3.02 miles with a maximum elevation of 96 feet. My ride home is 5.81 miles with a maximum elevation of just 71 feet. I wish there were some decent hills on my route.if you want to map a route, use this website.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/
Its pretty good, lets you map a route properly, and also shows gradients over the trip and things like that
No lockout?
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this is my commute bike...10 miles each way.
the bike was an appollo Ramage circa 1997, but with a few upgrades/changes....
schwalbe city jet slicks, campolio (sp?) 43/53 front chainset, seatpost rear rack 40 litre sadle bags.....numerous lights......pedal clips
looking at getting tri bars as well..and a proper shock but cant find a 150 mm to my liking. but might invest in a street bike instead.
bullit
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bullit, I'd advise against tri bars as they make the bike *very* twitchy! Also makes it a very stretched out position, fine if you are road racing but IMHO for commuting you want a reasonably upright position so you can watch the traffic. Full suspension unless you plan on going off road isn't really needed for commuting. Hence me replacing my worn out forks on my hard tail with nice steel rigid forks!