Bike recommendation

"Purple" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Downhill was a scream though. I need to
to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears instead

of

Quoted message said:

using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

With a freewheel, you can't do that - you've got to use the brakes.

(cars don't have freewheels, so can engine brake)

cheers,
clive

in message <[email hidden]>, Purple

(') said:

By the end of the ride I was beginning to gage correctly whether to
move up or down a gear or not. The hills were hardwork as it was very
hot and I was having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream
though. I need to to figure out how to slow myself going down hills
using the gears instead of using the brakes to do it as I will
probably wear them out very fast.

You can't slow a bike down with the gears (apart from fixies but they're
rare and moderately eccentric). You have to use the brakes. Don't worry
too much about the brake pads - they won't wear out that quickly and
they're cheap and easy to replace.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'graveyards are full of indispensable people'

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

Also I have never used gears before. When I was riding ten years ago I

set

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the gears to one setting and just left them there. Now I have front and

back

Quoted message said:

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gears which are going to take some getting used to but I can't wait to

get

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Quoted message said:

back out there practicing.

The amount you have these days can be a bit bewildering at first, but
Don't Panic! Think of gears as the one you're in, lower, and higher
rather than trying to remember if you're in 13th or 14th or whatever.

If your legs are windmilling around with hardly any tangible resistance
you need a higher gear, if you think about standing up to move the
pedals around you need lower (try and stay in the saddle: it's generally
much better to change down a gear rather than stand up).

I went out for my first proper ride this lunchtime and it was fantastic. I'm
not completely used to riding again but I went a fair distance and I didn't
get into any trouble.

There were two occasions though while I was experimenting with the gears
when I set it so the pedals were spinning round but absolutely no resistance
but I just had to switch up a gear to fix that.

By the end of the ride I was beginning to gage correctly whether to move up
or down a gear or not. The hills were hardwork as it was very hot and I was
having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream though. I need to
to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears instead of
using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

Quoted message said:

To start with I'd put the front changer in the middle and just get the
hang of the rear gears as that's where you make most of your changes.
The front changer comes in handy for big hills and/or heavy loads like
the trailer, where you may want the small/inner chainring, or for high
speed where the bigger/outer ring is best.

Many people, especially those who haven't been on a bike much, will tend
to use higher gears than they'd be best off with, with legs moving
around quite slowly. It's better for you and the bike to spin lower
gears, so your feet should be moving around at a fair pace but not so
fast you can't push any harder on the pedals.

Quoted message said:

I don't think I will be doing much cycling in wet mud

Even cycling along a wet road after the rain's finished can throw up
enough spray from a wheel to be an annoyance. Unless you're out for
serious performance then mudguards really are a Very Good Idea IMHO.

Even on a dry day like today we ended up going through a fairly large muddy
puddle where water had collected n the path under a bridge, suffince it to
say the trailer and my little girl got fairly well covered, but she thought
it was a hoot and asked to go through it again! Luckily she loves the
trailer and didnt want to come home, she wanted to stay in it all day.

Quoted message said:

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I have waterproofs already but they are hiking/rambling waterproofs

which

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are very very good quality but are quite bulky. Can anyone recommend any
suitable clothing I might need so I can buy it before my 10% discount

runs

Quoted message said:

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out?

As long as you're not busting a gut your walking waterproofs will be a
good start. What a lot of us have found is that any formally waterproof
coat can get a bit sticky inside if you're cycling, so a lightweight
windproof top is a very useful piece of kit. Most of them will keep a
brief shower at bay and they're lighter, cheaper and more breathable
than full waterproofs.
On the legs, something stretchy that moves with you is very good, and
most of these will be fairly comfy even if they get a bit wet and dry
very fast too. I only wear overtrousers if it's sheeting it down and
likely to stay that way. Ronhill Bikesters are very good as general
cycling trousers: not only very comfy but they won't get caught and/or
oiled in the chain either. Padded cycling shorts are very good on
longer rides, or even on shorter ones if you can't get comfortable on
your saddle, but they are a faff and a relatively expensive one at that
so for short trips a lot of folk don't bother.

I found that my legs were getting caught in the saddle as I tried to sit on
the bike but since lowering it a bit I haven't had any trouble.

I have a waterproof throwover that folds down into a bag when not in use
which would be ideal, I don't know why I didn't think of it when I wrote my
previous post.

Quoted message said:

Other things to spend your pennies on would be some luggage. Rucksacks
on a bike are a Work Of Stan, as you can find out by trying alternatives
such as panniers, bar bags, rack packs and saddlebags. Of course, the
trailer will be a perfect place for stuff but if you're riding without
it then somewhere to put things that doesn't hang off you makes riding
more of a pleasure.

I'm going to ask Freewhell to fit a rack onto the back wheel along with the
mudguards when they do the service as though the trailer has storage, when
going downhill all the small items shoot forward and end up underneath my
daughters feet.

Quoted message said:

Other accessories worth getting would be a multitool (you can do most
things with a set of Allen keys on a modern bike), a couple of spare
inner tubes and a puncture repair kit, a good pump, a serious lock and a
good set of lights. With the possible exception of the inner tubes you
Get What You Pay For on all of these (I think you realise that, judging
from your choice of bike).

hmm changing tyres is something I won't be able to do! Isn't there a two
wheel equivalent of the AA? ;o) I am going to have to learn how to change
tyres, but for some reason just the thought of it fills me with dread as I
completely technically dyslexic and am no good at all at thigs like that.

Quoted message said:

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P.S. I am sure I recognise your signature from somewhere Pete, do you

also

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post in uk.rec.walking?

Yup. Or uk.rec.walking.totalnumptieswithattitudeaboutconservation as it
appears to be the last week or so :-(

I thought I recognised you. I only lurk in that group now. I did post there
a few years ago when my partner and I were planning to do the C2C but as it
turned out we went travelling around Europe instead.

Quoted message said:

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Fran

"Purple" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

By the end of the ride I was beginning to gage correctly whether to move up
or down a gear or not. The hills were hardwork as it was very hot and I was
having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream though. I need to
to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears instead of
using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

Bicycles *don't* have 'engine braking'. If you're going to go down hills
with a trailer, your brake blocks will wear out fairly fast. Join us at
the York Rally next year and buy a job lot!

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

"Purple" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks Clive, I'm getting there. I didn't do so bad for a first ride,
without even meaning to I hit all 4 surfaces, tarmac, mud, gravel and

grass.

All at once? :-)

Quoted message said:

I found uphill on grass very hard work but it was almos vertical so

cheated

Quoted message said:

and pushed the bike and trailer up!

Yes, grass is hard work. We really notice it going along grassy bridleways.

cheers,
clive

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream though. I need

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears

instead of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

That isn't going to work: engine braking works in a car as the driven
wheels try to drive the engine if you're in gear and freewheeling, but
the freewheel on a bike which allows the pedals to stop while the bike
carries on means this won't work[1].
You'll have to stick with the brakes.

ok, lol, told you I was a newbie! ;o) I came down a pretty steep hill today
with a U bend at the bottom and it was quite hard to slow down let alone
stop. I would have been okay but for the trailer pushing me down faster. I
just kept my hands on the brakes all the way down and then gradually braked
harder towards the bottom which worked, I was just worried about the
constant pressure on the tyres but as Simon has mentioned in another post
they are easy enough to replace.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hmm changing tyres is something I won't be able to do! Isn't there a two
wheel equivalent of the AA? ;o)

I know there's one near York, I doubt he covers Nottingham though!

Quoted message said:

I am going to have to learn how to change
tyres, but for some reason just the thought of it fills me with dread as

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

completely technically dyslexic and am no good at all at thigs like

that.

whoops, sorry for all the typos!

Quoted message said:

It's pretty easy. Taking the wheel off is very easy as you've probably
got Quick Release skewers. All you have to do is flip the lever, unhook
the brake and out it pops.

Yep I have those skewers

Quoted message said:

To remove the tyre, insert a couple of tyre levers, slide around and,
errrr, that's it. You'd have to be worse than technically dyslexic to
have trouble once someone shows you how. Just apply the "can-do"
attitude you've shown to riding to basic maintenance and you'll be there
PDQ.

My partner is fairly bike savvy so he'll show me on his next day off, I'm
sure once I get the hang of it I'll be fine. Either that or just stick to
busy cycle paths and flutter my eyelids at the next passing cyclist! oh but
whoops, that isn't very PC is it lol ;o)

Fran

Quoted message said:

Pete.

[1] you can get a "fixed gear" which allows you to brake by pushing back
on the pedals. But you probably don't want one of those as you /cannot/
freewheel on one!
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Purple

(') said:

By the end of the ride I was beginning to gage correctly whether to
move up or down a gear or not. The hills were hardwork as it was very
hot and I was having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream
though. I need to to figure out how to slow myself going down hills
using the gears instead of using the brakes to do it as I will
probably wear them out very fast.

You can't slow a bike down with the gears (apart from fixies but they're
rare and moderately eccentric). You have to use the brakes. Don't worry
too much about the brake pads - they won't wear out that quickly and
they're cheap and easy to replace.

Thanks Simon, I was wondering why I wasn't having much luck going downhill
in high gear!

Fran

Quoted message said:

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'graveyards are full of indispensable people'

"Helen Deborah Vecht" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Purple" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

By the end of the ride I was beginning to gage correctly whether to move

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or down a gear or not. The hills were hardwork as it was very hot and I

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

having to pull the trailer aswell. Downhill was a scream though. I need

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears

instead of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

Bicycles *don't* have 'engine braking'. If you're going to go down hills
with a trailer, your brake blocks will wear out fairly fast. Join us at
the York Rally next year and buy a job lot!

Hi Helen

I think I might have to! It was very hard to slow down with the weight of
the trailer behind me!

Fran

Quoted message said:

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

"Clive George" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Purple" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Downhill was a scream though. I need to
to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the gears

instead

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear them out very fast.

With a freewheel, you can't do that - you've got to use the brakes.

(cars don't have freewheels, so can engine brake)

cheers,
clive

Thanks Clive, I'm getting there. I didn't do so bad for a first ride,
without even meaning to I hit all 4 surfaces, tarmac, mud, gravel and grass.
I found uphill on grass very hard work but it was almos vertical so cheated
and pushed the bike and trailer up!

Fran

Peter Clinch of University of Dundee said:

Purple said:

Can anyone recommend any
suitable clothing I might need so I can buy it before my 10% discount runs
out?

Quoted message said:

On the legs, something stretchy that moves with you is very good, and
most of these will be fairly comfy even if they get a bit wet and dry
very fast too. I only wear overtrousers if it's sheeting it down and
likely to stay that way. Ronhill Bikesters are very good as general
cycling trousers: not only very comfy but they won't get caught and/or
oiled in the chain either. Padded cycling shorts are very good on
longer rides, or even on shorter ones if you can't get comfortable on
your saddle, but they are a faff and a relatively expensive one at that
so for short trips a lot of folk don't bother.

For full leg cover ordinary cheap women's leggings will do fine. Men need
to buy bike specific trousers to eliminate flapping.

What I recommend is a pair of women specific padded cycling shorts, to be
worn under those leggings or on their own. Padded shorts are for me one of
the things where the women specific styles add extra comfort. Most cycling
shorts have a centre seam with extra thickness. This produces a rubbing
effect on sensitive parts, so women's cycling shorts have the padding made
in a different way. Some have no seam in the padding, some have a
horizontal seam under the bum; either will be more comfortable than a
central seam. By the way, padded cycling shorts are worn next to the skin
for maximum comfort. I find it worthwhile to bother putting them on if I'm
planning to be on the bike for more than about 15 minutes.

--
There is no medical proof that television causes brain damage - at
least from over five feet away. In fact, TV is probably the least
physically harmful of all the narcotics known to man.
Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

"Steph Peters" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch of University of Dundee said:

Purple said:

Can anyone recommend any
suitable clothing I might need so I can buy it before my 10% discount

runs

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out?

Quoted message said:

On the legs, something stretchy that moves with you is very good, and
most of these will be fairly comfy even if they get a bit wet and dry
very fast too. I only wear overtrousers if it's sheeting it down and
likely to stay that way. Ronhill Bikesters are very good as general
cycling trousers: not only very comfy but they won't get caught and/or
oiled in the chain either. Padded cycling shorts are very good on
longer rides, or even on shorter ones if you can't get comfortable on
your saddle, but they are a faff and a relatively expensive one at that
so for short trips a lot of folk don't bother.

For full leg cover ordinary cheap women's leggings will do fine. Men need
to buy bike specific trousers to eliminate flapping.

What I recommend is a pair of women specific padded cycling shorts, to be
worn under those leggings or on their own. Padded shorts are for me one

of

Quoted message said:

the things where the women specific styles add extra comfort. Most

cycling

Quoted message said:

shorts have a centre seam with extra thickness. This produces a rubbing
effect on sensitive parts, so women's cycling shorts have the padding made
in a different way. Some have no seam in the padding, some have a
horizontal seam under the bum; either will be more comfortable than a
central seam. By the way, padded cycling shorts are worn next to the skin
for maximum comfort. I find it worthwhile to bother putting them on if

I'm

Quoted message said:

planning to be on the bike for more than about 15 minutes.

Thanks Steph, at the moment I am just riding in normal leggings and while
they are good they tend to get hooked up on the saddle as I try to mount. I
want some shorts that are more figure hugging and certainly cooler. I wasn't
wearing the right sort of clothing yesterday and just got unneccessarily
hot.

Fran

Quoted message said:

--
There is no medical proof that television causes brain damage - at
least from over five feet away. In fact, TV is probably the least
physically harmful of all the narcotics known to man.
Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page

<http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

harder towards the bottom which worked, I was just worried about the
constant pressure on the tyres but as Simon has mentioned in another post
they are easy enough to replace.

No pressure on the tyres (or at least there shouldn't be!): the brake
pads move against the metal rim of the wheel. You will wear out the
wheel over time, but a /lot/ of time. Brake pads will last quite a
while too, typically measured in lowish numbers of years of reasonably
frequent use.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Purple said:

"Steph Peters" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch of University of Dundee said:

Purple wrote:

>Can anyone recommend any
>suitable clothing I might need so I can buy it before my 10% discount

runs

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>out?

Quoted message said:

On the legs, something stretchy that moves with you is very good, and
most of these will be fairly comfy even if they get a bit wet and dry
very fast too. I only wear overtrousers if it's sheeting it down and
likely to stay that way. Ronhill Bikesters are very good as general
cycling trousers: not only very comfy but they won't get caught and/or
oiled in the chain either. Padded cycling shorts are very good on
longer rides, or even on shorter ones if you can't get comfortable on
your saddle, but they are a faff and a relatively expensive one at that
so for short trips a lot of folk don't bother.

For full leg cover ordinary cheap women's leggings will do fine. Men need
to buy bike specific trousers to eliminate flapping.

What I recommend is a pair of women specific padded cycling shorts, to be
worn under those leggings or on their own. Padded shorts are for me one

of

Quoted message said:

the things where the women specific styles add extra comfort. Most

cycling

Quoted message said:

shorts have a centre seam with extra thickness. This produces a rubbing
effect on sensitive parts, so women's cycling shorts have the padding made
in a different way. Some have no seam in the padding, some have a
horizontal seam under the bum; either will be more comfortable than a
central seam. By the way, padded cycling shorts are worn next to the skin
for maximum comfort. I find it worthwhile to bother putting them on if

I'm

Quoted message said:

planning to be on the bike for more than about 15 minutes.

Thanks Steph, at the moment I am just riding in normal leggings and while
they are good they tend to get hooked up on the saddle as I try to mount. I
want some shorts that are more figure hugging and certainly cooler. I wasn't
wearing the right sort of clothing yesterday and just got unneccessarily
hot.

Fran

Quoted message said:

--
There is no medical proof that television causes brain damage - at
least from over five feet away. In fact, TV is probably the least
physically harmful of all the narcotics known to man.
Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page

<http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

I can highly recommend cycling shorts. Much more comfy on the bum, and
less tendancy (though not completely free of it) to hook on the saddle
nose. I've got the endura MT500 shorts (shorts for mountainbikers, but
suit me very well and I ride a road/tourer bike). They're longer in the
leg than some (useful for covering excessively flabby thighs), have a
double panel on the side (apparently useful for when you fall off) and
have some reflective markings on them (though I think mine's not that
effective now they've been washed quite a lot). The padding on them is
very comfy though not excessive, and they're made in women's specific
cut too.

To keep cool, I'll either ride in a cycling jersey (good for wicking
sweat away to keep me cool) or a cotton vest top (gets lots of air flow
between it and the skin but naff all wicking). My preference these days
is the cycling jersey, it has to be said - brighter, can be zipped up
when the day's heat starts to wane in the evening, etc.

Much to my other half's chagrin, I'll not be talked out of wearing the
shorts (and unlikely to be talked out of wearing the jersey either) even
if we're just doing a 10 mile round trip to town and back. So while
he's happy to ride his bike in jeans and tshirt when we do this, there's
no way my bum's going to be happy about it without padded shorts, so
much of cambridge gets to behold the hideous sight of a lycra-wearing FB
*not* on her bike but wandering around the city clutching a pannier or two..

--

Velvet

Purple said:

'just' ten miles?! As a rambler it amazes me what cyclists think are small
distances! 10 miles would take the best part of a day for a lot of ramblers!

Would take the best part of a day for some cyclists...

Quoted message said:

LOL I refuse to wear anything too tight fitting in public for the sake of
public decency, people of a sensitive disposition wouldn't be able to handle
my lumps and bumps lol

I remain unconvinced by these arguments, though I see them a lot. I've
seen some pretty lardy folk in tracksters and they don't look any worse
to me than if they were in jeans, but I've come across an awful lot of
folk saying they wouldn't wear them because they're too fat (or too
thin). Most worrying about what other people think is accompanied by
the "other people" not actually giving a damn, or even noticing, I'm
quite sure.

Quoted message said:

My partner is the same, I mentioned cycling shorts to him yesterday and
asked if he is going to get 'proper' cycling clothes when he gets his bike
and asked what was wrong with jeans. Sparing you the gory details, I don't
think I could ever wear jeans to cycle, they would just be too tight!

The thing wrong with jeans is the same thing that's wrong with them for
walking. If they get a good soaking they take forever and a day to dry
out and often chafe mercilessly after a time. For a quick blat in fair
weather there's no real problem at all, but for longer distances and/or
inclement weather then something that moves /with/ your legs is vastly
preferable: if he wouldn't go for a mile run in jeans, why go on a 10
mile cycle in them with a not dissimilar range of leg movement?

You can get loose fitting jeans, of course, but they'll still be in a
heavy non-stretch fabric with bulky raised seams that takes forever to
dry and are purgatory when wet.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Purple said:

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

need to to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the
gears instead of using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear
them out very fast.

That isn't going to work: engine braking works in a car as the driven
wheels try to drive the engine if you're in gear and freewheeling,
but the freewheel on a bike which allows the pedals to stop while the
bike carries on means this won't work[1]. You'll have to stick with
the brakes.
[1] you can get a "fixed gear" which allows you to brake by pushing
back on the pedals. But you probably don't want one of those as you

You may be thinking of a back-pedal/coaster brake - yet another system -
this one contains a freewheel, but press the pedals backwards and brake
blocks are pushed into place inside the rear hub while you're still
freewheeling. Some Amsterdam rental bikes have them, and apparently
they're common on US childrens' bikes, so I guess that measn they're
pretty robust and low-maintenance.

I'll hazard a guess and say that they're probably as rare on UK streets
as fixies though. Certainly for adult bikes.

Quoted message said:

let alone stop. I would have been okay but for the trailer pushing me
down faster. I just kept my hands on the brakes all the way down and
then gradually braked harder towards the bottom which worked, I was
just worried about the constant pressure on the tyres but as Simon has
mentioned in another post they are easy enough to replace.

The rubber part of the brake should press against the flat side of the
rim, and shouldn't touch the rubber of the tyre at all. If it starts
doing that, the shop you bought it from should fix it up for you if you
take it in. It's a tiny job, and they ought to do it for free if you
bought the bike from them recently.

The tyres are probably OK if your brakes are properly adjusted unless
you're riding a heavily-laden tandem down a fast hill or something.

--
Andrew Chadwick
You never hear a Cricket crowd chanting "who's the [censored] in the hat?"

"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

"Steph Peters" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> of University of Dundee wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I can highly recommend cycling shorts. Much more comfy on the bum, and
less tendancy (though not completely free of it) to hook on the saddle
nose. I've got the endura MT500 shorts (shorts for mountainbikers, but
suit me very well and I ride a road/tourer bike). They're longer in the
leg than some (useful for covering excessively flabby thighs),

ideal for me then!

Quoted message said:

have a
double panel on the side (apparently useful for when you fall off) and
have some reflective markings on them (though I think mine's not that
effective now they've been washed quite a lot). The padding on them is
very comfy though not excessive, and they're made in women's specific
cut too.

I've only been out riding once since I got my bike on Monday but I have
noticed that cycling in just leggings and normal underwear isn't, how shall
I say it?, very comfortable for the female form, well not my form anayways!

Quoted message said:

To keep cool, I'll either ride in a cycling jersey (good for wicking
sweat away to keep me cool) or a cotton vest top (gets lots of air flow
between it and the skin but naff all wicking). My preference these days
is the cycling jersey, it has to be said - brighter, can be zipped up
when the day's heat starts to wane in the evening, etc.

I've got a couple of light wicking t-shirts which should do the job, I'd
love some suitable leggings or shorts as you mentioned above. I'll have a
look in my local cycling shop for them

Quoted message said:

Much to my other half's chagrin, I'll not be talked out of wearing the
shorts (and unlikely to be talked out of wearing the jersey either) even
if we're just doing a 10 mile round trip to town and back.

'just' ten miles?! As a rambler it amazes me what cyclists think are small
distances! 10 miles would take the best part of a day for a lot of ramblers!

Quoted message said:

So while
he's happy to ride his bike in jeans and tshirt when we do this, there's
no way my bum's going to be happy about it without padded shorts, so
much of cambridge gets to behold the hideous sight of a lycra-wearing FB
*not* on her bike but wandering around the city clutching a pannier or

two..

LOL I refuse to wear anything too tight fitting in public for the sake of
public decency, people of a sensitive disposition wouldn't be able to handle
my lumps and bumps lol

My partner is the same, I mentioned cycling shorts to him yesterday and
asked if he is going to get 'proper' cycling clothes when he gets his bike
and asked what was wrong with jeans. Sparing you the gory details, I don't
think I could ever wear jeans to cycle, they would just be too tight!

Quoted message said:

--

Velvet

Fran

Purple wrote stuff:

<but I snipped it all>

Heheh, ok, well... I got my bike three years ago, and was dragged out on
a first ride on it for 28 - yes, 28!! miles, by t'other half. It was
very painful, very slow, and not very pleasant, but I got to the other
end somehow (though looking back I have no idea HOW *grin*). I think I
already had my cycling shorts then, but can't be sure. The bum REALLY
hurt though - but mostly cos i had a blokes saddle on my (blokes) bike :-)

Only thing is, those endura shorts are *expensive*. I looked at how
much my bike had just cost me and decided for hte sake of some bum
comfort it was worth it though!

I've eventually changed the saddle, after deciding while it was only
just off fitting me, the just off was enough, and have a much nicer
(though still not ache-free) saddle made for girlies - the selle italia
oktavia ldy. Nice and slim (surprising given my ample behind,
relatively firm, and only starts to lead to aching once I've done 20+
miles on it, and I only realise this once I've been off the saddle for
10 mins or so then get back on!

While the 28 mile was a baptism of fire into the world of cycling again
(having previously cycled really only as a nipper, and never on the
roads) it took quite a long time to build up miles after that - partly
confidence problems, partly bike not fitting me issues.

I think it helped that I was encouraged out on rides by someone that was
used to riding fairly long distances - though it took a while for him to
fully comprehend the problems with confidence and suchlike! I'd also
been swimming a fair bit so the basic fitness, though poor, wasn't as
bad as it would otherwise have been.

You'll soon realise though that cycling's a lot faster than walking, and
your perspective on it changes. Initially a ride of 4 miles would be
quite daunting, partly the distance but mostly just confidence issues.
My legs and bum (and hands and wrists) would know about it after!

I did a few 10 milers last year, and a few 20 milers, then managed a
personal best one day (on my own, too) of 32 miles. Even then, it was
hard work and a struggle, even at my slow speeds (felt fast to me at the
time!) This year I've managed to ramp things up more, though it's not
been plain sailing and I've spent quite a bit of time with lead for legs
struggling up hills etc. However, I'm at the stage where I view a nice
jaunt out is 30+ miles, and a decent sunday ride is 45-50 miles. Over
relatively flat countryside, though, hills are still a killer!

I still can't signal, so much prefer cycling with at least one other,
but I'm making slow progress on that one now I'm happier with the way
the bike handles and learning how it reacts to stuff.

And I'm still overweight for my height, flabby, and not as fit as I
really should be.. but in two and a bit weeks I'm doing my first ever
charity bike ride (London to Cambridge, 50 miles but 60 for hte day once
cycling to/from is counted in) so have been in serious training regime
for this over the last 3 weeks to avoid expiring permanently en route
somewhere!

Oh, and apparently I'm addicted to cycling. Which is all my other
half's fault, cos I only got the bike cos he was a cycling nut - and I
knew if I didn't I'd end up not seeing him cos he'd be gallivanting off
with the CTC club runs at the weekend... silly me had visions of lovely
romantic pootles through countryside at low speed... well now I'm
happier with the bike this has all changed and it's me shouting 'faster
faster' when we get to a hill (albeit small ones)... :-)

--

Velvet

Andrew Chadwick said:

You may be thinking of a back-pedal/coaster brake - yet another system -
this one contains a freewheel, but press the pedals backwards and brake
blocks are pushed into place inside the rear hub while you're still
freewheeling. Some Amsterdam rental bikes have them

I've rented a couple of standard bikes in the NL, one in Amsterdam and
the other in Bergen. Both had a rear coaster brake and nothing else.
You could get brakes with conventional levers, but that cost extra (as
did gears).

I figured that since I can (sort of) ride a unicycle then coasters
shouldn't be beyond me, but it took a bit longer than anticipated to get
the hang of them. With nothing else, the trick is coming to a complete
standstill and stepping off the saddle onto the ground in one manoeuvre:
normally I step down from a high saddle with one pedal at 6 o'clock, but
of course you can't push back on it there, so no brakes as you step
down... Got there in the end, though rather happy that Dutch motorists
tend to give bikes the benefit of the doubt, and /especially/ if they
have a rental company disk on the front screaming out "I am a touroid,
assume zero clues!". Roos resented hers, but I was rather pleased to
have it!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Andrew Chadwick" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple said:

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Purple wrote:

> need to to figure out how to slow myself going down hills using the
> gears instead of using the brakes to do it as I will probably wear
> them out very fast.

That isn't going to work: engine braking works in a car as the driven
wheels try to drive the engine if you're in gear and freewheeling,
but the freewheel on a bike which allows the pedals to stop while the
bike carries on means this won't work[1]. You'll have to stick with
the brakes.
[1] you can get a "fixed gear" which allows you to brake by pushing
back on the pedals. But you probably don't want one of those as you

You may be thinking of a back-pedal/coaster brake - yet another system -
this one contains a freewheel, but press the pedals backwards and brake
blocks are pushed into place inside the rear hub while you're still
freewheeling. Some Amsterdam rental bikes have them, and apparently
they're common on US childrens' bikes, so I guess that measn they're
pretty robust and low-maintenance.

I'll hazard a guess and say that they're probably as rare on UK streets
as fixies though. Certainly for adult bikes.

Quoted message said:

let alone stop. I would have been okay but for the trailer pushing me
down faster. I just kept my hands on the brakes all the way down and
then gradually braked harder towards the bottom which worked, I was
just worried about the constant pressure on the tyres but as Simon has
mentioned in another post they are easy enough to replace.

The rubber part of the brake should press against the flat side of the
rim, and shouldn't touch the rubber of the tyre at all. If it starts
doing that, the shop you bought it from should fix it up for you if you
take it in. It's a tiny job, and they ought to do it for free if you
bought the bike from them recently.

Sorry, I did warn the group I was technically dyslexic! ;o) I meant to say
rim not tyre. Sorry for any confusion

Quoted message said:

The tyres are probably OK if your brakes are properly adjusted unless
you're riding a heavily-laden tandem down a fast hill or something.

Nope not a tandem, just a trailer! :-)

Quoted message said:

--
Andrew Chadwick
You never hear a Cricket crowd chanting "who's the [censored] in the hat?"

Fran

in message <[email hidden]>, Purple

(') said:

'just' ten miles?! As a rambler it amazes me what cyclists think are
small distances! 10 miles would take the best part of a day for a lot
of ramblers!

We do travel rather a lot faster than ramblers, even when we're
travelling on sheep-tracks in hill country. Ramblers probably average
about 2.5mph. Cycling you should average at least four times as fast,
or more when on tarmac.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; ... exposing the violence incoherent in the system...