Got a bike yesterday

I live in Blackburn

I am going to Lancaster FROM my hometown of Blackburn
sorry about the confusion

I have found a campsite in Lancaster but I need to ring them to check
there will be some space

I went to Tenby on the coach last week and really enjoyed the weekend
so at sometime during the summer I will be cycling to Tenby in about 8
stages as it is 220 miles from Blackburn to Tenby, South Wales

footybet.net said:

I live in Blackburn

I am going to Lancaster FROM my hometown of Blackburn
sorry about the confusion

I have found a campsite in Lancaster but I need to ring them to check
there will be some space

The one next to the Golden Ball pub at Snatchems End, downstream on the
river from Lancaster, seems rarely to be crowded and has the inestimable
advantage of an excellent pub within crawling distance...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
The thing about Tony Parsons, though, the defining aspect of his
personality, is that he is a complete [censored].

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

Quoted message said:

The one next to the Golden Ball pub at Snatchems End, downstream on the
river from Lancaster, seems rarely to be crowded and has the inestimable
advantage of an excellent pub within crawling distance...

Prioritised :-)

Pete

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

Quoted message said:

I live in Blackburn

I am going to Lancaster FROM my hometown of Blackburn

My fault! Looks like I can't read

Anyway, if you're after somewhere decent to ride from Blackburn then head
over to Whalley, Clitheroe etc.. Some nice rides out that way.

R

footybet.net said:

I was given a mountain bike yesterday

Good timing (as far as the weather goes)!

Quoted message said:

when I first got on it, it was like being on a horse, I felt so high
it must be at least 3 years since I last rode a bike

Mountain bikes have relatively high bottom brackets, placing you higher
up. This doesn't much matter once you get used to it.

Enjoy the cycling.

~PB

footybet.net' of urlhttp://groups.google.com/url said:

I live in Blackburn

I am going to Lancaster FROM my hometown of Blackburn
sorry about the confusion

I have found a campsite in Lancaster but I need to ring them to check
there will be some space

I went to Tenby on the coach last week and really enjoyed the weekend
so at sometime during the summer I will be cycling to Tenby in about 8
stages as it is 220 miles from Blackburn to Tenby, South Wales

This cycling lark will get its teeth into you, soon that 220 miles will look
like 4 stages, not 8. Just don't be tempted to use the National Cycle
Network along the North Wales coast - there is one very nasty bit that ends
up effectively cycling along a motorway.
--
It's my rule never to lose me temper till it would be detrimental to keep it.
Sean O'Casey, Irish playwright
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

footybet.net said:

I was given a mountain bike yesterday
when I first got on it, it was like being on a horse, I felt so high
it must be at least 3 years since I last rode a bike

I have been whizzing about today, around town, and I appreciate the
goodness of having some transport rather than walking everywhere

I found a good book in a shop showing cycle rides of approximately 20
miles each in different areas of the UK, it is only £9.99 and I may
buy it quite soon

I have enquired about a speedometer and will likely have one fitted
next week

I may cycle to Lancaster from Blackburn tomorrow, about 24 miles, and
camp there for the Bank Holiday Weekend

Enjoy the sore bum ;-) Don't worry, it'll harden off in 2 weeks or so.

Zog The Undeniable said:

footybet.net said:

I was given a mountain bike yesterday
when I first got on it, it was like being on a horse, I felt so high
it must be at least 3 years since I last rode a bike

I have been whizzing about today, around town, and I appreciate the
goodness of having some transport rather than walking everywhere

I found a good book in a shop showing cycle rides of approximately 20
miles each in different areas of the UK, it is only £9.99 and I may
buy it quite soon

I have enquired about a speedometer and will likely have one fitted
next week

I may cycle to Lancaster from Blackburn tomorrow, about 24 miles, and
camp there for the Bank Holiday Weekend

Enjoy the sore bum ;-) Don't worry, it'll harden off in 2 weeks or so.

Any tips?

Its not the bum or the dangly bits.. but the bit inbetween that's
getting me :o(

I've just started cycling after at least a 15 year gap (finally
brought a galaxy)... been taking it easy...

Day 1 (Yesterday).. After unpacking, fittiing and checking everything,
did 5 miles locally (within walking distance in case anything fell
off.. including me!).. up and down a few small "hills".. just to get a
measure of what I could / couldn't do and these new fangled gear
things (they didn't have them in my day etc :o)

Day 2.. after checking (and where nessesary tightening) everything
again, a gentle 10 miles.. on the flat.. felt so easy I could of
cycled all day.. and would of been easy to continue.. apart from a bit
of saddle pain.

Tomorrow.. I'm thinking about cycling to and a lap around Richmond
Park...

Apart from the saddle pain, yes I think I'm hooked!

Regards
Mark

Mark Blewett said:

Apart from the saddle pain, yes I think I'm hooked!

Contrary to expectation a hard saddle is actually better than a soft
one. You are designed to bear weight on your sit bones and a hard
saddle ensures that happens. With a soft saddle the sit bones tend to
sink into the soft saddle and the weight gets spread onto surrounding
soft tissue which is much more easily bruised. So think about changing
the saddle if its a soft one. Seriously.

--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)

Mark Blewett said:

Any tips?

Its not the bum or the dangly bits.. but the bit inbetween that's
getting me :o(

Yes. Wear proper cycling shorts with nothing else underneath them. It
may seem pervy, but this is how they are designed to be used. You may
want to apply Sudocrem (it's nappy rash cream - supermarkets and
chemists have it) before riding, but this shouldn't be necessary after
the "breaking in" period.

On Sat, 28 May 2005 19:51:26 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Contrary to expectation a hard saddle is actually better than a soft
one. You are designed to bear weight on your sit bones and a hard
saddle ensures that happens. With a soft saddle the sit bones tend to
sink into the soft saddle and the weight gets spread onto surrounding
soft tissue which is much more easily bruised. So think about changing
the saddle if its a soft one. Seriously.

If it's the same as the standard saddle on my Galaxy (2000 or 2001
vintage) the saddle is reasonably firm. I'd suggest that having not
cycled for quite a few years, Mark just needs to break his body in to
cycling. From memory, this took me about a month - six weeks.

A resonable pair of shorts will work wonders though...

Al C-F said:

If it's the same as the standard saddle on my Galaxy (2000 or 2001
vintage) the saddle is reasonably firm. I'd suggest that having not
cycled for quite a few years, Mark just needs to break his body in to
cycling. From memory, this took me about a month - six weeks.

However he says its not his bum but the bits in between that are sore so
I am surmising that a soft saddle is a more likely cause. With a hard
saddle it should be the bits of tissue over the sit bones that gets sore.

Quoted message said:

A resonable pair of shorts will work wonders though...

Agreed

--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)

On Sat, 28 May 2005 20:04:51 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Al C-F said:

If it's the same as the standard saddle on my Galaxy (2000 or 2001
vintage) the saddle is reasonably firm. I'd suggest that having not
cycled for quite a few years, Mark just needs to break his body in to
cycling. From memory, this took me about a month - six weeks.

However he says its not his bum but the bits in between that are sore so
I am surmising that a soft saddle is a more likely cause. With a hard
saddle it should be the bits of tissue over the sit bones that gets sore.

Quoted message said:

A resonable pair of shorts will work wonders though...

Agreed

Thanks Tony and Al for such a quick response!

I'm not familiiar with prior galaxy saddles, its a relatively hard
saddle (ie its not completely solid.. but neither is is sprung).. if
you press down there is about 3-4mm padding before you hit the hard
stuff (.. I guess its a san marco from the label on the side)

It's not a big issue.. but one I had not thought about, and just been
wondering.. I got as far as, whether it was just a case of getting
used to it.. or whether I need to tilt the saddle down a tad.

Shorts wise... I'm using standard linen shorts.. I'm not sure anyone
would what to see me wearing lycra yet :o(

Regards
Mark

Zog The Undeniable said:

Mark Blewett said:

Any tips?

Its not the bum or the dangly bits.. but the bit inbetween that's
getting me :o(

Yes. Wear proper cycling shorts with nothing else underneath them. It
may seem pervy, but this is how they are designed to be used. You may
want to apply Sudocrem (it's nappy rash cream - supermarkets and
chemists have it) before riding, but this shouldn't be necessary after
the "breaking in" period.

Thanks Zog.. I think I'll try the cream out tomorrow.

Shorts.. does seem a bit pervy.. but I must admit I did have a very
quick look in the LBS today. At the moment I'm treating cycling as
fun.. so was starting to question myself looking at shorts (seems so
serious.. plus I'm not exactly a pleasent shape!)

However I guess for a long run (and thats my aim.. distance rather
than speed), I guess they become more than necessary.

Having spent so much time thinking about why / what / where of cycling
I'm now on to the "hows".. its a learning experience.. and fun.

Regards
Mark

Mark Blewett said:

Shorts.. does seem a bit pervy.. but I must admit I did have a very
quick look in the LBS today. At the moment I'm treating cycling as
fun.. so was starting to question myself looking at shorts (seems so
serious.. plus I'm not exactly a pleasent shape!)

I was getting a sore bum on long rides so I took the advice of the urc
crowd and raised my saddle a bit. I also bought some Lidl cycling
shorts and have found them to be very comfortable. I do feel a bit
silly , especially since my bike is a rickety old thing and not
exactly built for speed, but I enjoy the rides so I may as well be
comfortable.

Judith

Tony Raven said:

Contrary to expectation a hard saddle is actually better than a soft
one. You are designed to bear weight on your sit bones and a hard
saddle ensures that happens. With a soft saddle the sit bones tend to
sink into the soft saddle and the weight gets spread onto surrounding
soft tissue which is much more easily bruised. So think about changing
the saddle if its a soft one. Seriously.

i took a group of 14 for an introductory bike ride today, including two
who called themselves the tellytubbies.
One had a bike with suspension that made it look as if she was riding a
pogo-stick - the bounce was a good three or four inches on every pedal push.
She was complaining of a very sore rear after just 8 miles, and I'm
pretty certain it was the suspension that aggravated it.

John B

Judith said:

Mark Blewett said:

Shorts.. does seem a bit pervy.. but I must admit I did have a very
quick look in the LBS today. At the moment I'm treating cycling as
fun.. so was starting to question myself looking at shorts (seems so
serious.. plus I'm not exactly a pleasent shape!)

I was getting a sore bum on long rides so I took the advice of the urc
crowd and raised my saddle a bit.

From what I have read, I think I have the saddle height right (of
course I may be wrong.. I'm learning!)

At the moment with the peddle at 6 o'clock and sitting on the saddle,
the centre of my knee is inline with the front of the cog.

Quoted message said:

I also bought some Lidl cycling
shorts and have found them to be very comfortable. I do feel a bit
silly , especially since my bike is a rickety old thing and not
exactly built for speed, but I enjoy the rides so I may as well be
comfortable.

Thanks Judith for an encouraging reponse from someone who feels a bit
apprehensive about the whole shorts thing.

Regards
Mark

Mark Blewett said:

At the moment with the peddle at 6 o'clock and sitting on the saddle,
the centre of my knee is inline with the front of the cog.

At that pedal position with your heel on the pedal your leg should be
straight. Knee over the pedal is for saddle fore/aft position and is
with the pedal at the 3 o'clock position.

All you need to know about saddle position is in the bible at
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)

On Sat, 28 May 2005 21:56:24 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Mark Blewett said:

At the moment with the peddle at 6 o'clock and sitting on the saddle,
the centre of my knee is inline with the front of the cog.

At that pedal position with your heel on the pedal your leg should be
straight. Knee over the pedal is for saddle fore/aft position and is
with the pedal at the 3 o'clock position.

All you need to know about saddle position is in the bible at
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

An education... Thanks!!

Regards
Mark