Bike recommendation

Purple said:

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.

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.

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

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. 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.

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] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

"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)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

'graveyards are full of indispensable people'

"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] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

"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.

"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.

"]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

"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)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

'graveyards are full of indispensable people'

"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 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 <sandbenders.demon.co.ukindex.htmOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> 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

<sandbenders.demon.co.ukindex.htmOpen ↗

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] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Purple said:

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

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> 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

"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 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] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

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?"

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] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

"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

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

Quoted message said:

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 :-)

LOL I did that to my partner, he had never been rambling
but I have been a member of the Ramblers Association, since
I was 12 when my father bought a family membership and we
all went on the walks. I introduced him to rambling a while
back by making him walk 16 miles with our little girl in a
child carrier!

I think he's more of a bike person as he has been talking
for years about buying a bike to commute to work with but
has never got round to it. I think it is partly my fault
as I was quite negative towards the idea because he works
very long shifts and he would be travelling to and from
work in the dark. Also I wasn't happy about him cycling
home knackered after a 15 hour shift in the dark, I would
worry too much. I worry knowing he's driving a car tired!
Though knowing my partner he would have bought an
expensive bike with all the best intentions, commuted for
a week or two at the most and then when tiredness got the
better of him resort back to using the car. A bit like the
expensive sewing machine I've got upstairs gathering dust
when I had the romantic notion of making my own curtains
for our new house!

Since we moved my partner said he was pleased he didn't buy
a bike in the end. He's getting himself a bike now but for
recreational reasons but it will be there if he feels like
commuting and I can't wait till he gets it and we can go out
into the country as a family. Also he has a lot more
experience of bikes than me as he used to ride avidly a
couple of years before he met me and has always wanted to
get back into it. Hence the wanting to cycle to work.

Quoted message said:

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 wouldn't say my bike is causing me agony but I only cycled
two miles at the very most, I wouldn't like to wear what I
was wearing yesterday for a days full ride.

Quoted message said:

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!

I didn't realise the state my legs were in when I got home.
I climbed off the bike and my legs were like jelly!

Quoted message said:

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.

I am fairly fit as I walk everywhere unless I am doing a
weeks worth of shopping but I found cycling yesterday that I
was using muscles that hadn't been used for ten years!
Saying that though I didn't find it particularly hard going
until I got a a nearly 45 degree hill which was a killer
with the trailer pulling me backwards all the time

Quoted message said:

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.

Once my partner has his bike I'm sure I will feel more
confident on the roads. For some reason I always feel more
confident when there is someone else around anyway.

Quoted message said:

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!

I am also a bit overweight, not grossly but just above the
maximum healthy weight limit on that chart GP's nurses have.
I haven't been slim since my [censored] and hips blossomed in
puberty, I ahve always been ample in those areas but I put
on just over a stone when I quit smoking last year and would
love to lose it again which is why I wanted a bike now I
can't get out walking anymore.

Quoted message said:

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...

LOL

Quoted message said:

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)... :-)

Quoted message said:

--

Velvet

Fran