At Last!!!!!!!!!!!

"clarky44" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyway I have done the trip about 10 times and I am still trying to get the layering right (does
anyone have any ideas about the right combination of base layers and fleeces etc at the moment?)

I think the quality is as important as the number of layers. On Sunday I was mostly wearing an
Altura base layer, ancient Giordana brushed (not fleece) mid layer and a Goretex waterproof top
layer despite it not raining nor forecast to do so. This proved a good compromise for ride that
involved sheltered, long, slow, hard climbs off-road that made me sweat and exposed high level road
sections in temps of 2 to 4 degs and I think would have been perfect for a road only ride.

The Goretex kept out every vestige of the cold wind and yet allowed the sweat to evaporate. In years
gone by with a less efficient shell any sweat developed during the ride would remain with me
throughout so by the rides end I felt cold, wet and uncomfortable.

Pete

clarky44 said:

After moving near to Leicester and working in Kettering I figured out that there had to be a better
way than taking the carto the station. I desperately wanted to cycle to the station but couldn't
work out how to do it with clothing etc and bike etc. So having "bit the bullet" I decided that I
was going to go for it, I have "invested" in a very cheap tourer type bike. I went into City
Bikesin Melton Road Leicester and although I was right at the bottom of the market Dave was quite
prepared to make sure that I got the right bike for my budget (and delivered it to home at no extra
cost) I was impressed.

The bike is a "sit up and beg" type but I figured that it would be less atttractive to nick.
(which, touch wood, has been the case until now) It also gives a great view of traffic. However,
the cycle lanes of Leicester are anything but - but I am imoresssed generally with my route. I find
the 4x4 and bus drivers the worst.

Anyway I have done the trip about 10 times and I am still trying to get the layering right (does
anyone have any ideas about the right combination of base layers and fleeces etc at the moment?)

all depends on what sort of trip it is and how you regard it.

for short [<5 miles], flat commutes i adopt the 'utility' mode and ride with whatever i am wearing.
if it is likely to rain [and this doesn't happen as often as you may think] i just add goretex
jacket, overtrousers and overshoes. if it feels a bit chilly i just pedal harder for two minutes and
wear a hat.

if you treat your commute as a sport and change into cycling specific clothes i'd take the 'wear
as little as possible' approach; cycling shorts + a jersey. wet legs are easier to dry than
sodden longs.

Quoted message said:

I am really enjoying it - even if it does increase the journey by about a third. I am hooked.
There's no turning back now. I'm hooked

good man.

clarky44 said:

I went into City Bikesin Melton Road Leicester and although I was right at the bottom of the
market Dave was quite prepared to make sure that I got the right bike for my budget

Hurrah for Proper Bike Shops!

Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.ukOpen ↗

clarky44 said:

After moving near to Leicester and working in Kettering I figured out that there had to be a
better way than taking the carto the station. I desperately wanted to cycle to the station but
couldn't work out how to do it with clothing etc and bike etc. So having "bit the bullet" I
decided that I was going to go for it, I have "invested" in a very cheap tourer type bike. I went
into City Bikesin Melton Road Leicester and although I was right at the bottom of the market Dave
was quite prepared to make sure that I got the right bike for my budget (and delivered it to home
at no extra cost) I was impressed.

The bike is a "sit up and beg" type but I figured that it would be less atttractive to nick.
(which, touch wood, has been the case until now) It also gives a great view of traffic. However,
the cycle lanes of Leicester are anything but - but I am imoresssed generally with my route. I
find the 4x4 and bus drivers the worst.

Anyway I have done the trip about 10 times and I am still trying to get the layering right (does
anyone have any ideas about the right combination of base layers and fleeces etc at the moment?)

I think one can get way too obsessed with clothing for cycling. In the years when I did the sort of
cycling you're doing now (i.e. a regular commute to work over about six to twelve miles) I wore just
whatever I would be wearing for work anyway, and took a change of t-shirt (it's only your underneath
most layer that gets sweaty unless you're going a long way). I used to keep a change of shoes in my
locker at work, because if you're going to cycle, proper cycling shoes are worth it (and the ones I
used in those days you *definitely* couldn't walk in).

In the days when I was commuting 21 miles each way I wore cycling clothes for the commute and kept a
complete change of clothes at work
- that meant driving in once a week. These days I work from home so don't commute, and when I go
cycling I usually wear, summer or winter, a silk vest and a thin woolen jersey. In winter I wear
bib longs, in summer shorts. If it's raining I wear a thin waterproof.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

-- mens vacua in medio vacuo --

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Simon Brooke
[
I think one can get way too obsessed with clothing for cycling. In the years when I did the sort of
cycling you're doing now (i.e. a regular commute to work over about six to twelve miles) I wore just
whatever I would be wearing for work anyway, and took a change of t-shirt (it's only your underneath
most layer that gets sweaty unless you're going a long way). I used to keep a change of shoes in my
locker at work, because if you're going to cycle, proper cycling shoes are worth it (and the ones I
used in those days you *definitely* couldn't walk in).

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

-- mens vacua in medio vacuo -- [/B]

Thanks for the help. When I go back to work in the New Year I'll try to wear just normal gear and leave some spare clothes etc at work. Your right - I think you can get too obsessed.

Went on on my usual mountain bike today to burn off the turkey and pudding and found it like a dream to ride. Mind you I have become used to the comfort of the saddle on the commuter.

Thanks again.

Steve