We are new to this hobby

Hello folks,

We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We have not spent a lot of money, but are trying to
take up the hobby and hopefully get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were
wondering if you folks could tell us anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are they reliable?
If not, what common problems should we expect to see. The bicycles are: Emmelle Gemini & a Falcon
Riviera. Thanks for your help in advance.

JOHN & LISA

 

"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello folks,
>
> We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
> have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We
have
> not spent a lot of money, but are trying to take up the hobby and
hopefully
> get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were wondering if you folks could tell us
> anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are
they
> reliable? If not, what common problems should we expect to see. The
bicycles
> are: Emmelle Gemini & a Falcon Riviera. Thanks for your help in advance.
>
> JOHN & LISA
>
>
They are good cheap standard bikes. If you havent paid much then they will nbe fine. Hmmm....
Advice.... lets see... Keep pedaling while changing gear, never backpedal while changing gear or the
chain will come off. After a few weeks the gear changing will go off, dont worry this is normal and
is caused by the cables stretching a bit. take the bikes back to the shop and they shoul readjust
them for you. It only takes a minute or so. Always set out into the wind so you get pushed home.
Enjoy yourselves.

Stan Cox

P.s. Oh yes beware of places with Hill in the name

 

"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello folks,
>
> We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
> have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We
have
> not spent a lot of money, but are trying to take up the hobby and
hopefully
> get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were wondering if you folks could tell us
> anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are
they
> reliable? If not, what common problems should we expect to see. The
bicycles
> are: Emmelle Gemini & a Falcon Riviera. Thanks for your help in advance.
>
> JOHN & LISA
>
>

You'll get on just fine. You'll meet the nicest people when you've got a puncture ... we'll always
stop and help.

Bring a few basics with you (ask your local bike shop), and keep your bike maintained! A rusty bike
is a bad bike

And then enjoy ......

 

Following on from John's message. . .
>Hello folks,
>
>We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
>have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We have not spent a lot of money, but are trying to
>take up the hobby and hopefully get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were
>wondering if you folks could tell us anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are they
You make it sound like the antiques road show

(1) Find a good LBS. [LBS=Local bike shop] The big multiples tend to get a bad reputation for
ignorant staff but small shops can be poor also. If I may hazard an opinion: The multiples want
sales while the independents want customers. A good LBS will be able to help you with specific
problems and steer you to 'better' bikes when you get the bug and want to upgrade.

(2) Bikes go wrong a lot to begin (first couple of weeks) with then run for ever then get tired.
The run-forever bit is helped with TLC and well specified parts. You'll want to tweak things
like the saddle height to begin with and as you know every tweak is an opportunity for the bolt
to be insufficiently tightened. Most bike shops have a policy of checking the bike after a few
weeks for free.

(3) The minimal tool kit is nothing. Many like to have a mobile phone to summon help. Punctures are
an infrequent fact of life. Most people take a spare inner tube and practice how to change it.
(After removing the cause of the problem.)

The bottom line is that if you do basic maintenance it is better to think of all the reasons for
getting a better bike than worrying about what will fall off. Enjoy.

PS Get a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin ISBN 0-11-702051-6.
PP Don't cycle in the hedge/gutter.
--
PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded

Witham Cycling Campaign www.eminent.demon.co.uk/wcc.htm East Anglian Pub cycle rides
www.eminent.demon.co.uk/rides

 

"Peter Fox" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Following on from John's message. . .
> >Hello folks,
><big snip>
>
> PPS Don't cycle in the hedge/gutter.
> --
> PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded

Now that IS good advice. If you cycle a little bit out from the gutter and hold your line cars will
give you more room and also you will puncture less from the junk in the gutter.

Stan Cox

 

Stan Cox wrote:

> Now that IS good advice. <snip>

For plenty more the usual recommended book is Cyclecraft: Skilled Cycling Techniques for Adults, by
John Franklin

Published by The Stationery Office Books; ISBN: 0117020516

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

 

In article <[email protected]>, elyob
<[email protected]> writes

>You'll get on just fine. You'll meet the nicest people when you've got a puncture ... we'll always
>stop and help.

Eh?

--
congokid Eating out in London? Read my tips... http://congokid.com

 

<snip> You'll meet the nicest people when you've got a puncture ... we'll always stop and
help. </snip>

I'm heading out from Derby to Worthington this evening on the sustrans route - can you arrange to be
in the Melbourne area, just in case I do spring a leak?

Pete.

---------------------------
Peter Connolly Derby UK

 

"congokid" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, elyob
> <[email protected]> writes
>
> >You'll get on just fine. You'll meet the nicest people when you've got a puncture ... we'll
> >always stop and help.
>
> Eh?
>

Oh, apart from Congokid.

 

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:01:13 +0100, "Peter Connolly" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm heading out from Derby to Worthington this evening on the sustrans route - can you arrange to
>be in the Melbourne area

I live in Derby myself and when I read that earlier today I thought "Hello, that sounds nice, I
wonder where it is?" I didn't realise any of the Sustrans routes were that close.

Anyway, I was out for a pootle this evening and I suddenly realised I'd stumbled on it by accident!
Route 6, innit? Very nice too, I went out as far as Breedon on the Hill and then came back by road,
it was lovely.

When I have a little more time over the next few days I'll hop on again and explore a bit further
along. Signposts suggested it goes to Leicester.

Bob
--
Mail address is spam trapped To reply by email remove the beverage

 

"Call me Bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:01:13 +0100, "Peter Connolly" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Anyway, I was out for a pootle this evening and I suddenly realised I'd stumbled on it by
> accident! Route 6, innit? Very nice too, I went out as far as Breedon on the Hill and then came
> back by road, it was lovely.
>
> When I have a little more time over the next few days I'll hop on again and explore a bit further
> along. Signposts suggested it goes to Leicester.

It does indeed. The section between Derby & Loughborough is particularly pleasant.

Simon

 

On Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:53:46 +0100, "Simon Geller"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>It does indeed. The section between Derby & Loughborough is particularly pleasant.

Yes, I went a bit further today, to Worthington and back, and it was very nice. Spent 5 minutes
watching some kind of hawk hovering over fields looking for it's dinner, wish I'd known what it was
exactly. I'll try the ride out to Loughborough this weekend.

Bob
--
Mail address is spam trapped To reply by email remove the beverage

 

"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Hello folks,
>
> We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
> have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We have not spent a lot of money, but are trying to
> take up the hobby and hopefully get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were
> wondering if you folks could tell us anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are they
> reliable? If not, what common problems should we expect to see. The bicycles are: Emmelle Gemini &
> a Falcon Riviera. Thanks for your help in advance.
>
> JOHN & LISA

Oh good! You think it's a hobby. Most here think it's their religion.

 

>Oh good! You think it's a hobby. Most here think it's their religion.

Now that is funny

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!

Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~

 

[email protected] (Michael Pearlman) wrote in message news:<210ea83.
>
> Oh good! You think it's a hobby. Most here think it's their religion.

It's my hobby and my transport. what's your excuse?

-Luigi

 

>> We are new to this newsgroup, so apologise if we are are things that have been asked already. We
>> have just bought ourselves two new bicycles. We have not spent a lot of money, but are trying to
>> take up the hobby and hopefully get to see a few nice country sights in the process. We were
>> wondering if you folks could tell us anything about the bicycles we have bought. Are they
>> reliable? If not, what common problems should we expect to see. The bicycles are: Emmelle Gemini
>> & a Falcon Riviera. Thanks for your help in advance.

They're just bikes. Get out and ride. Then tell us your experiences. Mike

 

> For plenty more the usual recommended book is Cyclecraft: Skilled Cycling Techniques for Adults,
> by John Franklin
>
> Published by The Stationery Office Books; ISBN: 0117020516

Which is excellent, but long and not everyone can be bothered even to get it. Myra did her own
version which may still be here: http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/

I think it's easier and shorter.

TerryJ