I'm quite close to the chilterns so that would seem like a nice place to cycle. What do you guys think?
You'll find loads of good riding/routes around there! One invaluable resource can be your Local Bike Shops (LBS), the majority of them will have a local club loosely affiliated with them, some even sponsoring local riders/teams. These teams often have Facebook/Strava/Web pages where you could ask for/find some good local routes and maybe even find some local riders you kinda know and can ask advice from. Many local clubs have introductory/newbie rides.
You will be surprised how many small and quiet roads there are. But contact with busier roads is inevitable unfortunately. It is something you will get used to though.
Agreed, you know those main roads you use when driving places that are always busy (but are the fastest way to get around outside of Motorways), they are the ones you generally want to avoid when on a bike.
Tools like Strava's
Clusterer &
Heatmap can be good tools to see what routes/areas are most popular by cyclists in your area (those both centred over Hereford as an example). I've used Clusterer before to track down local TT routes as you can be quite specific with it's plotting, even down to seeing the rides, popularity/riders per day and segments involved.
Someone in this forum gave me some good advice the other day and just said "be predictable".
Ive only been road cycling for a few weeks but I'm already cycling like I own the road.
That was me, it's something I say to everyone! As to me being predictable removes much of the uncertainty around cyclists on the road. If I'm predictable and someone does something stupid, immediately I know they're someone who's logically/illogically capable of making stupid decisions and probably not capable of rational thoughts.
Thought I'd try out some new eyewear...
Can see now why you ride Katusha team kit.
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/accessories/#id=49049 - sorted!
Most 'cotton caps' I find quite tight on my (big) head. I found the
Prendas ones too tight and poorly made.
Cheapy PX ones lack shape and stretched too much (making them baggy/uncomfortable).
Cheapy DHB ones don't stretch enough but very sturdy made. Rapha ones well made but tight (I use my Trade Team one for rain as with all the decals it's semi-waterproof - no longer sold). More recently I found my clubs 'own brand' caps to be superb, thinner and more stretchy than cotton caps, made of a polyester mix they've become my go-to. Think of them like the
Castelli thin roubaix style headbands but a slightly thinner fabric in a cap.
I did pick up the
Sportful Fiandre NoRain cap a couple of weeks back. Worn it on 3 rainy rides so far and it's superb. More of a rain accessory that an everyday cap though.
