I think I'm done with road...

[ukbabz]

GuigiaroBertone said:

Going off topic a bit, but UK weather is actually pretty conducive to skydiving. There are more jumpable days here than you'd probably think. I've been in California / Arizona where it's often just too hot to be comfortable jumping all day or there are dust devils that can really endanger your landings. I've also lost days in Spain and Portugal due to wind being above my limits.

Sure the scenery can be pretty in some locations, but on most jumps you're not really focusing on the background view. Aside from your altitude your other main focus is your position relative to your buddies and the moves / discipline that your learning.

Anyway, I digress. I've always been into all forms of cycling but other road users really ruined it for me. It got to the point where I was getting wound up on every ride- especially when riding through the suburbs on my way out and back. Now I just stick to offroad. I feel far safer in freefall with a main and reserve parachute, plus a device that deploys my reserve automatically if I am unable to for any reason, than perched atop a road bike on a busy section of road with countless drivers paying zero attention to anything outside their 2 tonne 50mph cocoon.

Edited by GuigiaroBertone on Thursday 4th April 19:42

The weather and limited capacity is one big one. You may claim number of jump able days but I was fed up of spending a weekend at a dz for a handful of jumps with long turnaround times. There's a reason folks train in Spain / Portugal etc. I think my record jumps in the UK was around 6 in a long day. Whereas I'd nailed 13 by lunch in Spain.


They say cycling is a time killer, but I spent so much more time at the DZ / getting there!

I'd also say it may feel safer but out of the hundreds of folk I know who ride 0 have died, or had life changing injuries. That's not the same with skydiving.

The perception is that the road is dangerous and to an extent it is. I rode across Britain last year and the worst driving was near cities (Bristol, Manchester, Keighley, Edinburgh) and rural roads were a lot better.

Cities are too crowded, with too many distractions and piss poor infrastructure for all road users. I don't like riding in them and much prefer being out of town (easier when living in South Oxfordshire than Middle of london)

[carlo996]

jasonrobertson86 said:

Also sick of it. Went out a few times to relax and found myself more stressed

So stop moaning and stay indoors!

Seriously, if you lack the general ability to cycle on the roads, then there are loads of options. The roads are not safe, they never have been, it's hardly massive news.

[heebeegeetee]

carlo996 said:

The roads are not safe, they never have been,

In which case, surely we can understand why authorities want to clamp right down and make roads much safer?

I've driven in Europe on and off for over 40 years and I consider there has been a great transformation there, I believe I have seen this transformation with my own eyes, I have seen that it can be done.

I possibly don't agree with you re the degree to which UK roads are not safe, however I do think the problem is more down to antisocial drivers, and I do believe we have far too many of these for whatever reason.

As a motorist I am more than happy to comply with ever more restrictions in order to make road use available for all.

I have always, always said that the biggest threat to my freedom to motor is my fellow motorist.

[GuigiaroBertone]

carlo996 said:

jasonrobertson86 said:

Also sick of it. Went out a few times to relax and found myself more stressed

So stop moaning and stay indoors!

Seriously, if you lack the general ability to cycle on the roads, then there are loads of options. The roads are not safe, they never have been, it's hardly massive news.

Idiotic comment.

I've been cycling on the roads for well over 30 years and the number of incidents I had with motorists increased massively in recent years.

Driving standards and general attitude to cyclists is worse than ever. Too many people on their phones/ not paying attention or viewing cyclists as an inconvenience rather than another human.

[carlo996]

GuigiaroBertone said:

Idiotic comment.

I've been cycling on the roads for well over 30 years and the number of incidents I had with motorists increased massively in recent years.

Driving standards and general attitude to cyclists is worse than ever. Too many people on their phones/ not paying attention or viewing cyclists as an inconvenience rather than another human.

Nonsense. Motorists have always had an issue with cyclists. There’s no educating some of them…so you stay clear of them.

[thepritch]

On a visit to Surrey last year, I was on my bike, stopped at regular crossroads junction at a set of traffic lights. No traffic around, around 6pm, I was very relaxed minding my own business stood next to the kerb. A white van appears from the road on my left, and on seeing me, winds down his window and yells right at me : ‘You f***’ing C***’.

And continues to drive off. That was it. No other interaction or back story.

I’m sure the regular PH cycle haters will tell me that was deserved. Because yes, I’m a menace to the road.

Glad I moved away, and now enjoy my riding alone, with only one or two cars an hour. Of course, I’m sure I’ll be annoying someone on my solo rides. Somehow.

[nickfrog]

trails said:

nickfrog said:

MTB is where it's a at for me. Sooooo much more fun. No cars

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 4th April 17:13

Just have to avoid those derestricted ebikes instead. Menaces to society

On a serious note, while I can see the appeal of the raw speed of road bikes, it doesn't feel/look like a lot of fun compared to MTB. Although I suppose fun can take many forms. I just don't see road bike riders giggling and grinning like we seem to do on a MTB.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

nickfrog said:

trails said:

nickfrog said:

MTB is where it's a at for me. Sooooo much more fun. No cars

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 4th April 17:13

Just have to avoid those derestricted ebikes instead. Menaces to society

On a serious note, while I can see the appeal of the raw speed of road bikes, it doesn't feel/look like a lot of fun compared to MTB. Although I suppose fun can take many forms. I just don't see road bike riders giggling and grinning like we seem to do on a MTB.

It's hard to grin and laugh when your bestubbled face is staring wistfully at the horizon in black and white.

[thepritch]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

It's hard to grin and laugh when your bestubbled face is staring wistfully at the horizon in black and white.

I suspect it’s hard to see anything at all when you’re caked head to toe in mud and s**t. I guess the fun bit is taking three hours to clean yourself and the bike after every ride

Being serious, I enjoy both. They both have their own appeal.

[nickfrog]

That's a very good point about the mud. That's why I have stopped cycling October to (hopefully this year) March.

It's tennis for me instead in winter though! Immense fun too.

Edited by nickfrog on Friday 5th April 09:03

[trails]

nickfrog said:

trails said:

nickfrog said:

MTB is where it's a at for me. Sooooo much more fun. No cars

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 4th April 17:13

Just have to avoid those derestricted ebikes instead. Menaces to society

On a serious note, while I can see the appeal of the raw speed of road bikes, it doesn't feel/look like a lot of fun compared to MTB. Although I suppose fun can take many forms. I just don't see road bike riders giggling and grinning like we seem to do on a MTB.

Even in the horrible weather we have now, riding through fields of cow dung, and hucking a 45lb ebike over ten stiles

[President Merkin]

I love the mud, me. Getting covered in st is part of the appeal. I also get the speed & rhythmic zen thing in road biking but can't square it with the proliferation of aholes in cars. It just doesn't add up in my head, so I'm sticking to the trails. Sometimes literally.

[Freakuk]

I think a lot of this depends upon where you live.

I have been mountain biking for 20+ years, road cyclist for around 10 years, and a motorcyclist for 26 years. So I am more than aware of the UK driving standards.

I've kind of fell out of love with MTB mainly due to location and congestion. I would go to Wales most weekends over summer and it would be around 1 hour to get to a trail centre, moving house and increased congestion means that is now in excess of 90 minutes (each way) to the same place, so 3 hours just spent in the car for a few hours ride.

This led me to get a road bike as I could be out cycling and be back and still have 1/2 day left to do something else.

The good thing is my location, I am very rural so I have access to lots of single track lanes which are rarely used by normal road traffic, you may have to dodge the odd tractor, sheep, cows etc, but generally you are pretty safe.... Thus my cycling has become more road biased, time, safety etc.

I do have Zwift and over winter that takes over, I am very much a fair weather rider, but I prefer the outdoors just to take in the views and fresh air.

As another observation, i've done 2 cycling holidays - Costa Rica and India (which I completed March this year), and it's surprising how much easier/generally safer and better roads they have there by comparison. I envisage my big riding will be abroad going forward given the experience to date and Zwift will be my main UK cycling. I'd love to do more MTB but as I say the travel is the killer for me.

[trails]

thepritch said:

TGCOTF-dewey said:

It's hard to grin and laugh when your bestubbled face is staring wistfully at the horizon in black and white.

I suspect it’s hard to see anything at all when you’re caked head to toe in mud and s**t. I guess the fun bit is taking three hours to clean yourself and the bike after every ride

Being serious, I enjoy both. They both have their own appeal.

Three hours...maybe I've been doing it wrong; hose bike down in back garden, then get the wife to hose me down...jobs a good 'un

[nickfrog]

^that's fair enough but if you're rural, aren't there any local decent trails without taking the car?

[bobbo89]

thepritch said:

On a visit to Surrey last year, I was on my bike, stopped at regular crossroads junction at a set of traffic lights. No traffic around, around 6pm, I was very relaxed minding my own business stood next to the kerb. A white van appears from the road on my left, and on seeing me, winds down his window and yells right at me : ‘You f***’ing C***’.

Must have been a Derek and Clive fan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTifRi3qDkU

[Evanivitch]

GuigiaroBertone said:

Going off topic a bit, but UK weather is actually pretty conducive to skydiving. There are more jumpable days here than you'd probably think. I've been in California / Arizona where it's often just too hot to be comfortable jumping all day or there are dust devils that can really endanger your landings. I've also lost days in Spain and Portugal due to wind being above my limits.

Not my limited experience of Swansea skydiving!

[nickfrog]

President Merkin said:

I love the mud, me. Getting covered in st is part of the appeal. I also get the speed & rhythmic zen thing in road biking but can't square it with the proliferation of aholes in cars. It just doesn't add up in my head, so I'm sticking to the trails. Sometimes literally.

You must be happy as a pig in muck atm!

It's quite surreal the state of the ground where we are in places. I can't remember it being like this in April but perhaps a bit of recency bias on my part...

[Your Dad]

trails said:

hucking a 45lb ebike over ten stiles

If you're encountering stiles it might suggest that the footpath you're cycling on isn't permissive for bicycles.

[nickfrog]

Your Dad said:

If you're encountering stiles it might suggest that the footpath you're cycling on isn't permissive for bicycles.

Plenty of them on the bridleways I cycle on (South Downs).