De-lurk.....

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been enjoying
it so much.

I'm just coming up to my first anniversary back on a cycle. Like
yourself, I've enjoyed it loads and have even done a couple of 200km
audax events.

ISTM there are three issues you need to address, namely:

Keeping the bike working
Keeping yourself comfortable on the bike
Eating/drinking properly

To keep the bike working, I take:

two inner tubes
tyre levers
a pump
spare brake/gear inner cables (never needed)
a suitable multitool
a puncture kit
an emergency tyre repair patch
a spoke key
spare shoe cleat and set of screwes (never needed but hey...)

This gets me out of most (so far!) scrapes such as punctures, chain fell
off and stuck in the crank, wheels need truing, brakes adjusting etc.
Even if you are apprehensive about using the tools, at least if you have
them it may help. Everyone should have tubes & pump, at the very least.

To stay comfy on the bike I layer up and add/remove as needed. I use:

Helly Hansen L/S base shirt
Trendy s/s cycle shirt
cycle shorts
cycle socks
neoprene overshoes
track mitts/winter gloves
bib longs if cold
very thin Lusso racecape (hiviz)
best bit of kit - a fleece beenie

The above has seen me up Snake Pass in a heatwave and across the
Cheshire Plains in a blizzard (not during the same ride, so far...)and
all between - so it seems to work for me!

Food wise, I use a 50/50 mix of apple juice and tap water in my bottles,
have a pack of sundried bananas handy for snacks and a bar of proper
chocolate somewhere for emergencies (mental as well as physical).
Otherwise I can recommend cakes, sweet tea and beans on toast at every stop.

Have fun,

Tony B

krys said:

I bought a bike last year - nowt special - just a ladies mountain bike from
Sterling House, if any of you are aware of them.

If it works then that is fine. If you are enjoing cycling though, do try a
more upmarket bike when your current one wears out and you'll notice a world
of difference..

Quoted message said:

However, there is another reason, and it's the same one that brings me here
in search of advice. I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a group,
in June. 47 miles from Bude to Padstow. Now, I'm aware that to some of
you, that ain't far.... but to me, well. A small group of us has done a
couple of practice sessions so far - about 23 miles & 2 1/2 hours each time,
which to be fair has been fine, so I'm not too worried about an inability to
make the distance.

Great. That is a comfortable pace, and the idea is to enjoy it, not race it.
The key to distance is to take it easy all the way, and take breaks every so
often.

Quoted message said:

Not sure how long it'll take though - but we were being
held back by a slower cyclist, so hopefully on the day itself we'll be going
a little faster. Or is that unrealistic?

Not at all. But speed isn't the thing. Make a day of it and enjoy.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing. Oh - and then
there's the whole h*lm*t thing.......lots of them are, and I'm not keen - so
could someone point me in the right direction for some info on the subject?

www.cyclehelmets.org for a collection of research papers and so on.

Quoted message said:

FYI - I've already got gloves, sunglasses, a gel saddle (hey, it works for
me), a little saddle bag (on wiggle order), a pump, water bottle & carrier,
and puncture repair kit.

You may need/want a couple of basic tools such as tyre levers, a spanner
that fits the essential bolts and so on. Gloves are great.
Padded cycle shorts are also good - get girlie specific ones without seams
on the pad. They'll seem strange at first but are much better over longer
distances (less chafing etc.)

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been enjoying
it so much.

Find a local cycling club, eg the CTC (branches nationwide) and hook up with
them. AS well as loads of experience, they'll know great routes and
excelelnt cafes to stop at.

Have fun.

...d

krys said:

Hi there,

Please allow me to introduce myself......or at least to come creeping
out of the shadows briefly. I've been lurking for a little while,
having been sent in this direction by a friend.

Welcome out of lurk.

Quoted message said:

I bought a bike last year - nowt special - just a ladies mountain
bike from Sterling House, if any of you are aware of them.

We're aware of them. You haven't been lurking that long then?

Quoted message said:

I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a group, in June. 47
miles from Bude to Padstow. Now, I'm aware that to some of you, that
ain't far.... but to me, well. A small group of us has done a couple
of practice sessions so far - about 23 miles & 2 1/2 hours each time,
which to be fair has been fine, so I'm not too worried about an
inability to make the distance. Not sure how long it'll take though
- but we were being held back by a slower cyclist, so hopefully on
the day itself we'll be going a little faster. Or is that
unrealistic?

No, it's highly realistic. With the excitement of the event and being
surrounded by a crowd on the same ride you will find yourself getting
swept along.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should
be considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing. Oh - and
then there's the whole h*lm*t thing.......lots of them are, and I'm
not keen - so could someone point me in the right direction for some
info on the subject?

You definitely haven't been lurking long. Have a look at
<http://www.cyclehelmets.org> for a helmet-skeptical viewpoint. For
cycling on the road they can certainly protect you from minor injuries
but there isn't any convincing evidence they help much in serious
crashes. There's even a suggestion that they can make matters slightly
worse in the most serious ones. If your friends feel better wearing one
don't try to talk them out of it; on the other hand they should allow
you to make your own decision. You may find, however, that the
organisers of the ride you're doing will insist that helmets are worn,
thus taking the decision out of your hands.

Quoted message said:

FYI - I've already got gloves, sunglasses, a gel saddle (hey, it
works for me), a little saddle bag (on wiggle order), a pump, water
bottle & carrier, and puncture repair kit.

Tyre levers? Multi-tool? A spare inner tube or two would be a good
idea. It's much easier simply to change the tube than to patch a
puncture at the roadside. Practice doing it at home so you will be
confident you can cope if you puncture on the ride. A light waterproof
jacket you can stuff into the saddlebag would be a good idea. You
should fill your bottle with a sports drink such as High-5 and take
frequent sips from it. Drinking some the night before won't hurt
either. If you run out either refill with plain water or any appetising
drink from a handy cafe or garage. Take some high energy food you can
nibble - energy bars, muesli bars, raisins, bananas are particularly
good. Mars bars also work for me. Eat small nibbles often, and before
you actually get hungry. A generous helping of pasta the night before
would be a good idea too. If you make a cafe stop beans on toast is
easy to eat and makes good fuel. Cake is also popualr with cyclists on
a long ride.

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying it so much.

Generally, select the lowest gear (easiest gear giving the fastest
pedalling cadence) at which you can comfortably maintain whatever speed
you're going at, have fun, keep track of the miles you've done and
don't think about the ones you've still to do, and keep turning the
cranks until you get there.

--
Dave...

Roedd <<krys>> wedi ysgrifennu:

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying it so much.

What everyone else said.

Additionally, if you're still riding the knobbly tyres that came with your
bike, consider getting a pair of slicks or semi-slicks for road use. 1 1/4 x
26 are what you're after. You'll find the difference considerable.

--
Rob

http://www.asta51.dsl.pipex.com/webcam/

in message <[email hidden]>, krys

(') said:

Hi there,

Please allow me to introduce myself......or at least to come creeping
out of
the shadows briefly. I've been lurking for a little while, having
been sent in this direction by a friend.

I bought a bike last year - nowt special - just a ladies mountain bike
from
Sterling House, if any of you are aware of them. I did some cycling
last season, and have just started again. I spend a lot of time in the
gym, or swimming, or walking, and variety is good so.....

However, there is another reason, and it's the same one that brings me
here
in search of advice. I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a
group,
in June. 47 miles from Bude to Padstow. Now, I'm aware that to some
of
you, that ain't far.... but to me, well. A small group of us has done
a couple of practice sessions so far - about 23 miles & 2 1/2 hours
each time, which to be fair has been fine, so I'm not too worried
about an inability to
make the distance. Not sure how long it'll take though - but we were
being held back by a slower cyclist, so hopefully on the day itself
we'll be going
a little faster. Or is that unrealistic?

I don't think so, but it does depend on the terrain. On a nice day with
relatively flat terrain and little wind even unathletic cyclists can
sustain 12mph for a very long time - it's only 20 watts. But a 12mph
headwind increases that to 162 watts, so the wind on the day makes
a /huge/ difference.

The other thing that your fist long cycle will test is how comfortable
your bike is. Something which is tolerable after two hours can be
desperately uncomfortable by four - this applies particularly to
position and to saddle.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should
be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing. Oh - and then
there's the whole h*lm*t thing.......lots of them are, and I'm not
keen - so could someone point me in the right direction for some info
on the subject?

<URL:http://www.cyclehelmets.org/>

Quoted message said:

FYI - I've already got gloves, sunglasses, a gel saddle (hey, it works
for me), a little saddle bag (on wiggle order), a pump, water bottle &
carrier, and puncture repair kit.

DRINK ENOUGH. One water bottle is not enough for five hours, unless you
refill it a couple of times. Mixing 'sports drink' 'electrolyte' stuff
into your water, although it seems over-keen and silly, actually does
help. Also, one thing which happens even to ordinary non-diabetic
people on long rides or other long exertion is a sugar crash - you
simply burn up all your available blood sugar. The symptoms are you
suddenly feel extremely weak, your morale plummets, and your temper may
shorten. You should carry some sort of high energy food, ideally to
eat /before/ you suffer these symptoms, but certainly as emergency
rations /when/ you suffer these symptoms. I use 'Geobar' fair trade
cereal bars which I find palatable and very good, but you can use Mars
(or other confectionery) bars (too sweet for me) or energy bars or gels
sold by sport shops (usually disgusting).

A small multi-tool is a very good thing to have. Basic allen keys and
screwdriver is good, one with a chain tool is better. If your p*nct*re
repair kit does not include three tyre levers, tyre levers are vital.
It's no good having a p*nct*re repair kit if you can't get the tyre
off! Also, I'd recommend carrying a spare inner tube - then you don't
have to faff about at the roadside trying to fix the p*nct*re (at
least, not the first one).

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying it so much.

Good for you!

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

;; IE 3 is dead, but Netscape 4 still shambles about the earth,
;; wreaking a horrific vengeance upon the living
;; anonymous

krys came up with the following;:

Quoted message said:

However, there is another reason, and it's the same one that brings me
here in search of advice. I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a
group, in June. 47 miles from Bude to Padstow. Now, I'm aware that to
some of you, that ain't far.... but to me, well. A small group of us has
done a couple of practice sessions so far - about 23 miles & 2 1/2 hours
each time, which to be fair has been fine, so I'm not too worried about
an inability to make the distance. Not sure how long it'll take though -
but we were being held back by a slower cyclist, so hopefully on the day
itself we'll be going a little faster. Or is that unrealistic?

Nope it's eminently realistic. Be careful, however (the voice of doom),
that you don't set off too quickly and 'burn out'. It's easy to do,
especially when new to cycling longer distances.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing.

Just basics really, a mobile phone, a multi-tool, spoke key, tyre levers,
spare tube, pump, spare brake and gear cable inners. That's about it.

Plenty of water/sports type drink and lots of nibbly stuff, Mars bars are
great, Coco pops type cereal bars and the like. Eat lots of nibbly stuff
often rather than waiting for a large meal. If you do stop for a meal Beans
on Toast is great. 😉 Keep drinking, small sips, often. Getting
dehydrated is a big lesson learnt, so don't go there, and is potentially
very painful and damaging.

Quoted message said:

Oh - and then
there's the whole h*lm*t thing.......lots of them are, and I'm not keen -
so could someone point me in the right direction for some info on the
subject?

A quick google would find lots of threads, both for and against. Your
choice. I rarely wear a helmet on the road, I don't see it as a benefit,
but I do wear one off-road as it keeps twigs and 'stuff' away. I also fall
off more slowly, generally, when off-roading, so have felt a helmets benefit
in this context.

Quoted message said:

FYI - I've already got gloves, sunglasses, a gel saddle (hey, it works for
me), a little saddle bag (on wiggle order), a pump, water bottle &
carrier, and puncture repair kit.

Learn to use the puncture outfit on an old, or even a new, tube that
actually has a puncture, it'll be a couple of quid and some time well spent
if you need to repair a tube 'in anger'.

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying it so much.

Nice one. 😉

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!

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

Quoted message said:

Hi there,

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying
it so much.

krys

Hi krys,

Lots of useful advice already given - esp re carrying a spare inner tube
(it's so much easier...), plenty of drink and food, and some more drink.

Not sure when in June the planned date is, but I would give some
consideration to getting a ride in that is approx 75% of the actual day - so
you'd be aiming for ~36miles - perhaps a couple of weeks before, on similar
terrain to event. Good for both physical and mental training...

Also, don't forget, averaging 10mph (inc stops for drinks, food, chats, etc)
will still mean you'll do the 47 miles in 5hrs

Enjoy the build up and have a great day!

Cheers,
Graham

Simon Brooke said:

even unathletic cyclists can sustain 12mph for a very long time - it's only 20 watts. But a 12mph
headwind increases that to 162 watts,

I'm sad enough to be interested in that sort of thing, how does the calc
work? Any links??

Quoted message said:

The other thing that your fist long cycle will test is...

I'm less interested in that sort of thing, sounds far too painfull :-0

bfn,

Tony B

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. I'm planning on
carrying on with the cycling even after the event, since I've been
enjoying
it so much.

I'm just coming up to my first anniversary back on a cycle. Like yourself,
I've enjoyed it loads and have even done a couple of 200km audax events.

Hi Krys! Nice to see someone else getting a lot of pleasure from cycling.

Tony, that's cool, I'm also just coming up towards a year back on bikes. I
think you've done rather a little more cycling than I have though. Even
though I was one of the slower riders on Sunday, I so enjoyed that audax I
think I'm just going to have to ride another one soon. 🙂

Tony B said:

Simon Brooke wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The other thing that your fist long cycle will test is...

I'm less interested in that sort of thing, sounds far too painfull

:-0

Who was the stand-up comedian who said he'd recently joined a fisting
club? He wasn't really into it; he just wanted to widen the circle of
his friends.

--
Dave...

Tony B said:

Simon Brooke said:

even unathletic cyclists can sustain 12mph for a very long time - it's

only 20 watts. But a 12mph

Quoted message said:

headwind increases that to 162 watts,

I'm sad enough to be interested in that sort of thing, how does the calc
work? Any links??

http://www.cptips.com/energy.htm#drag (and the rest of that page) with
some graphs at http://www.cptips.com/gphener.htm ... The graphs are
for different speeds with no headwind (and in calories/hr rather than
watts) but air resistance dominates so as a very rough approximation
the power required to ride at 12mph into a 12mph headwind is a little
less than the power required to ride at 24mph in the calm.

Pete.

krys said:

I bought a bike last year - nowt special - just a ladies mountain bike from
Sterling House, if any of you are aware of them. I did some cycling last
season, and have just started again. I spend a lot of time in the gym, or
swimming, or walking, and variety is good so.....

However, there is another reason, and it's the same one that brings me here
in search of advice. I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a group,
in June. 47 miles from Bude to Padstow.

That's Kernow, where there be hills. Not big hills, but very steep!
At least if you do the scenic coast road (and it won't be much fun
if you don't).

Now, I'm aware that to some of

Quoted message said:

you, that ain't far.... but to me, well.

47 miles on a tourer isn't far, but on a mountain bike it's quite a way.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing. Oh - and then
there's the whole h*lm*t thing.......lots of them are, and I'm not keen - so
could someone point me in the right direction for some info on the subject?

If it's an organised event, there's no great need to carry any more than
you listed. In fact I'd say that for more-or-less anywhere you go in
the developed world: in an emergency, there's always the fallback of
finding an LBS.

Quoted message said:

I be 32, of the female persuastion, in Zummerzet

How be you travellin' to Kernow? That's further than I'd want to
ride on an MTB. It's possible by train, but neither end is really
convenient to a station.

(fx: light bulb. Aha, I tend to think of Zummerzet as sort-of
Bath/Yeovil/Taunton/Mendips/Levels, but the Exmoor end isn't
so far from Bude:-)

krys said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing.

Most others have already said take a punture outfit, levers and spare tube.

The latter is of little use unless you can take your wheel out.
Unless you have quick-release wheels, make sure you have a spanner for
the wheel nuts.

Check you can undo them before you set out as well.

John B

in message <[email hidden]>, Tony B

(') said:

Simon Brooke said:

even unathletic cyclists can sustain 12mph for a very long time -
it's only 20 watts. But a 12mph headwind increases that to 162 watts,

I'm sad enough to be interested in that sort of thing, how does the
calc work? Any links??

The one I used is this one:
<URL:http://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics1.html>; there are
a number of others around the net.

Generally aerodynamic drag increases with the square of the wind speed,
but that's a bit imprecise for odd-shaped, not very aerodynamic shapes
like a person on a bike, because different vortex shedding patterns
create different amounts of drag at different speeds.

There's another site out there somewhere which gives an amazingly
precise list of the number of seconds this or that modification to your
bike will shave off a time trial time.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; If God does not write LISP, God writes some code so similar to
;; LISP as to make no difference.

In article <[email hidden]>, JohnB <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Most others have already said take a punture outfit, levers and
spare tube.

Take your mobile phone and make sure that you know where you are!

--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net

Thanks everyone!

Blimey - if I bought everything - this could be the most expensive charity
ride ever! *grin* Lots of good advice though - especially about the
drinks/food etc. - because I'm clueless about such things and don't want to
burn out just because I've dehydrated or under-fueled. I'll take away all
your advice and see which bits I can't afford to do without, so have to
afford, if you see what I mean. Where's the best place to pick up cycling
shorts - anywhere going to beat wiggle?

And for those that wondered - we're getting to Bude by van & minibus, and
cycling from there to Padstow - taking a day over the cycling. Fingers
crossed the weather is ok.......I'm not keen on the whole "wet cold &
miserable" thing! 🙂

krys

in message <[email hidden]>, krys

(') said:

Thanks everyone!

Blimey - if I bought everything - this could be the most expensive
charity
ride ever! *grin* Lots of good advice though - especially about the
drinks/food etc. - because I'm clueless about such things and don't
want to
burn out just because I've dehydrated or under-fueled. I'll take away
all your advice and see which bits I can't afford to do without, so
have to
afford, if you see what I mean. Where's the best place to pick up
cycling shorts - anywhere going to beat wiggle?

The Aldi and Lidl supermarket chains do cycling promotions from time to
time, and their shorts are significantly cheaper than elsewhere. Mind
you, I've never tried them.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
; gif ye hes forget our auld plane Scottis quhilk your mother lerit you,
; in tymes cuming I sall wryte to you my mind in Latin, for I am nocht
; acquyntit with your Southeron
;; Letter frae Ninian Winyet tae John Knox datit 27t October 1563

krys said:

However, there is another reason, and it's the same one that brings me here
in search of advice. I'm doing a sponsored cycle ride as party of a group,
in June. 47 miles from Bude to Padstow. Now, I'm aware that to some of
you, that ain't far.... but to me, well.

Back in April Audrey and I decided to have a go at the Manchester 100km ride
in September. At the time the longest either of us had ridden in a day
during 2005 was 10 miles. After a couple of months of going out every
weekend possible, we've now got to your 47 mile distance, admittedly on flat
terrain. We're older than you, very probably somewhat larger, and
definitely less fit, so you should be able to do it.

Quoted message said:

A small group of us has done a
couple of practice sessions so far - about 23 miles & 2 1/2 hours each time,
which to be fair has been fine, so I'm not too worried about an inability to
make the distance. Not sure how long it'll take though - but we were being
held back by a slower cyclist, so hopefully on the day itself we'll be going
a little faster. Or is that unrealistic?

For the day you need to build in at least one stop for food and drink.
Although you might do the first 23 faster, the second part when you are
tired will be slower. 5 hours riding time for 47 miles is a bit quicker
than I can manage, but it might be reasonable for you.

Quoted message said:

What I'm really after is advice as to what kit I need, what I should be
considering, carrying, taking, all that kind of thing.

You have had lots of suggestions for bike bits, to which I will add the
advice to only carry things you know how to use.

Quoted message said:

FYI - I've already got gloves, sunglasses, a gel saddle (hey, it works for
me), a little saddle bag (on wiggle order), a pump, water bottle & carrier,
and puncture repair kit.

That gel saddle is going to feel a lot less comfy after a longer ride. What
is needed is a firm saddle, with the padding inside the cycle shorts. Women
specific shorts have no seams in the padding. Shorts made for men often
have a seam down the middle; avoid this at all costs as it applies pressure
on exactly the wrong points and will very quickly be agony. Padding with
baseball style seams is fine. The other point to note about cycle shorts is
that they are to be worn next to the skin, as their entire purpose is to
prevent rubbing from the edges of underwear.
--
Borg saying: We came. We absorbed. We left.
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

Tony B said:

spare brake/gear inner cables (never needed)

In the last 5 years I've needed the gear cables twice, and observed people
needing the brake cable 3 times.
--

Martin Bulmer