Purple said:Also I have never used gears before. When I was riding ten years ago I set
the gears to one setting and just left them there. Now I have front and back
gears which are going to take some getting used to but I can't wait to get
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).
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.
Quoted message said:I have waterproofs already but they are hiking/rambling waterproofs which
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
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.
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.
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).
Quoted message said:P.S. I am sure I recognise your signature from somewhere Pete, do you also
post in uk.rec.walking?
Yup. Or uk.rec.walking.totalnumptieswithattitudeaboutconservation as it
appears to be the last week or so :-(
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/
