Cycling is fun

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

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Hello,

I am not sure if any of you guys remember, but I was on this group in January quite a lot -
looking for advise on a new bike, eventually got the Raleigh Sport 300 - a great bike.

snip for our sanity

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Anyway I thought I would share a few experiences and thoughts with you

guys,

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just to say thanks for all the great advice back in January.

snip details

Welcome to Cyclists Anonymous. Most of us are also addicted.

Some impressive trips there. Well done.

Don't bother about not being able to push the biggest gear fast. That's what gears are for -- to
allow you to find one you can push comfortably fast under almost all conditions.

Have lots of fun -- the summer's just beginning (which may explain the thunder, lightning and hail
stones outside my window 🙁

T

glad to hear ur having fun!

panda

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

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am not sure if any of you guys remember, but I was on this group in January quite a lot -
looking for advise on a new bike, eventually got the Raleigh Sport 300 - a great bike. I also
started a massive god forsaken "Helmet war" if I remember correctly by simply asking "Should I
wear a helmet".

Anyway I thought I would share a few experiences and thoughts with you

guys,

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just to say thanks for all the great advice back in January.

When I bought the bike, it was seldom used. I went a few miles to work

and

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back around 4 times a week, and maybe cycled to my mothers once or twice doing 15 miles total.
Then it got wet. Recently though, the last six

weeks

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I have gone cycling daft. I am managing 100+ miles per week and loving

it.

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My first big cycle was Edinburgh to the Falkirk Wheel and back again,

along

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the old canal. This was a very enjoyable ride, extremely easy and recommended if you want

a

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nice relaxing ride with no pressure or hills. It was a very hot sunny day when I did the cycle
which made it even better. The wind on the way back was horrendous - kept me at 6 miles an hour
until I hopped on the train at Linlithgow to get back to Edinburgh - not ashamed to admit the wind
was killing me.

My second cycle was much more difficult. I started in City Centre Edinburgh and followed the
following course: Edinburgh > Musselburgh > Gullane > Haddington > Gifford > Musselburgh >
Dalkeith > Edinburgh. It was around 70 miles and it absolutely drained me of all energy. East
Lothian was very hilly, especially Gullane to Haddington. The weather again was flawless, this
time there were no wind issues. The cycle started at 9:30 am and ended around 7:30 pm - a long

day.

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Here is a map of our route (see the red line) garywhittle.co.ukroute2.jpgOpen ↗

My latest cycle was from Edinburgh to West Linton and back again. This

was

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lots of fun - although one road on the left of the Pentlands hills was

VERY

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windy - head down, and push 🙂. Also, the hill up from Roslin Glen was walked - I did not even
attempt it.

I would like to say I am most pleased with the bike I chose. The cycle

has

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a good range of gears (27 speed), large slick wheels and I would say the bike is perfect for high
speed road cycles and non extreme off roading.

You

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can easily achieve a constant speed of 25 MPH without too much effort, and

I

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have managed 40+ with a very hard push. I am not strong enough to get

fast

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revolutions on the stiffest gear, it takes a lot to get to that speed and

I

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am usually puffed out around 37MPH. When out with friends I find I pedal around 25% less than
everyone else in order not to speed off. I end up doing a lot of freewheeling when behind others -
if infront I do push

ahead

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quite rapidly.

To see the bike, visit here: garywhittle.co.uksport300.jpgOpen ↗

Anyway, thought I would share my experience so far! its been fun 🙂

Thanks,

Gary.

Gary Whittle said:

bike is perfect for high speed road cycles and non extreme off roading. You can easily achieve a
constant speed of 25 MPH without too much effort, and I have managed 40+ with a very hard push. I
am not strong enough to get fast revolutions on the stiffest gear, it takes a lot to get to that
speed and I am usually puffed out around 37MPH.

On the flats? Surely you mean kph? Or else call the British Cycling head coach now.

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Gary Whittle said:

bike is perfect for high speed road cycles and non extreme off roading. You can easily achieve a
constant speed of 25 MPH without too much effort, and I have managed 40+ with a very hard push. I
am not strong enough to get fast revolutions on the stiffest gear, it takes a lot to get to that
speed and I am usually puffed out around 37MPH.

On the flats? Surely you mean kph? Or else call the British Cycling head coach now.

My thought was that the computer needed recalibrating. I can only achieve about 20 constant on the
flats "without too much effort" if I've got a raging tailwind!

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 hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Gary Whittle said:

Hello,

<snips .. >

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Anyway, thought I would share my experience so far! its been fun 🙂

Heheheh, nice to hear someone enjoying it .. 😉

Well done on the trips.

--

Completed 1666 Seti work units in 12694 hours setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edusetiathome.ssl.berkeley.eduOpen ↗

Tony W said:

Have lots of fun -- the summer's just beginning (which may explain the thunder, lightning and hail
stones outside my window 🙁

I just encountered the same this afternoon, hoping to get from Carlisle to Hexham (on Brompton) then
train to Wylam. Was pleased to make it to Haltwhistle - soaking wet and freezing. Next train wasn't
due for another 45 mins so into the station hotel for a guiness and dry off with a beer towel!
Needed a lift home from Wylam station as feet had been numb for 2 and a half hours, finally restored
to normal after 20 mins in the bath.

Pete angeltec co uk

Gary Whittle said:

I also started a massive god forsaken "Helmet war" if I remember correctly by simply asking
"Should I wear a helmet".

Incooommmiiiiinnggg!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was on the flat, but I constantly climbed slowly until I hit 37MPH then gave up.

I was pushing very very hard on a flat road which is between Edinburgh and West Linton - the
Pentlands are on the right when heading back towards Edinburgh, a nice road. I also think a strong
wind was behind me which helped allot - and remember I JUST hit 37 and slowed right back to around
23. It was fun but I got tired.

Thanks,

Gary.

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

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Gary Whittle said:

bike is perfect for high speed road cycles and non extreme off roading.

You

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can easily achieve a constant speed of 25 MPH without too much effort,

and I

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have managed 40+ with a very hard push. I am not strong enough to get

fast

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revolutions on the stiffest gear, it takes a lot to get to that speed and

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

am usually puffed out around 37MPH.

On the flats? Surely you mean kph? Or else call the British Cycling head coach now.

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

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

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I am usually puffed out around 37MPH.

On the flats? Surely you mean kph? Or else call the British Cycling head coach now.

It was on the flat, but I constantly climbed slowly until I hit 37MPH then gave up.

I was pushing very very hard on a flat road which is between Edinburgh and West Linton - the
Pentlands are on the right when heading back towards Edinburgh, a nice road. I also think a strong
wind was behind me which helped allot - and remember I JUST hit 37 and slowed right back to around
23. It was fun but I got tired.

You "think" you had a strong wind behind you? Even with a powerful tail wind your speeds would be
impressive, but you did say you are "usually puffed out at 37 mph" which implies that you regularly
achieve these speeds in general conditions. If this is the case then either your computer is
optimistic or you are a world class cyclist.

37 mph would give you a 25 mile time of 40:33 or a 10 mile time of
16:13. Either of these would shatter the UK competion record. In fact your 25 mile time would just
lift the RRA record which is set in a single direction in favourable conditions. Bear in mind
that records are set on extreme competition bikes by talented riders at the peak of their
physical conditioning.

It might be a good idea to measure one of your routes very carefully on a map, then ride the route
noting your start and finish time. This will allow you to calculate your average speed. Then compare
your actual speed and distance with what your computer says you've done.

--
Dave...

Dave Kahn said:

Gary said:

think a strong wind was behind me which helped allot - and remember I JUST hit 37 and slowed
right back to around
23. It was fun but I got tired.

It might be a good idea to measure one of your routes very carefully on a map, then ride the route
noting your start and finish time. This will allow you to calculate your average speed. Then
compare your actual speed and distance with what your computer says you've done.

I still think it's set on kph (37 kph = 23 mph).

Ewoud Dronkert <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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I still think it's set on kph (37 kph = 23 mph).

I think that's the most likely explanation too. If the speeds Gary quotes are actually kph they are
still quite respectable, but they are also realistic. I've just looked up Chris Hoy's Commonwealth
Games gold medal winning time for the kilometre. At 1:01.726 Hoy's average speed was 58.32 kph or
36.45 mph. So if Hoy allowed Gary the advantage of a flying start on his Raleigh Sport 300 while
himself taking a standing start on his disk wheeled carbon track bike he would just fail to catch
him by the finish.

--
Dave...