Idiot friendly bike articles
Discussion
Mr Will said:
I'm sure a few of us here can help with a few ideas but there is quite a lot of difference between the different types of riding.
Do you know what sort you want to do, or at least where you think you'll be riding most often? If not, what has inspired you to try cycling?
I just want a bike to ride to get fit with, that is comfy. I don't really know what else to say cause I don't really know anything. Hence my need for articles. Cycling is now practical for me cause of living in the country... I tried boris bikes in london, unfortunately I wasn't really capabale of turning right, which as I'm sure you can imagine led to issues.Do you know what sort you want to do, or at least where you think you'll be riding most often? If not, what has inspired you to try cycling?
Somewhatfoolish said:
I just want a bike to ride to get fit with, that is comfy. I don't really know what else to say cause I don't really know anything. Hence my need for articles. Cycling is now practical for me cause of living in the country... I tried boris bikes in london, unfortunately I wasn't really capabale of turning right, which as I'm sure you can imagine led to issues.
I hear that Ken's going to win the Mayoral election, which should mean that turning right is no longer an option anyway.
ok as a starter for ten, have a look at a Specialized Sirrus. its a sort of hybrid best described as a road bike with flat bars which offer a more upright position, it might or might not have suspension dependant upon the model. for most riding it will be fine, it will cope well with roads, canal tow paths and that sort of loose/unsealed surface... you wont be able to descent very steep rocky paths on it and you wont win the tour de france on it, for most other things it will be ok. Spend a bit of money on a good cycle computer and you can keep an eye on your average speed too, quite useful for getting fitter.
any good?
any good?
I will initially be riding on my own cause tbh I'll be so slow starting out that I would keep anyone else down. I'll exclusively want to ride on tarmac which in practice means roads but that isn't strictly necessary. I don't rule out riding with friends in the future (can pretty much rule out family as I can't think of any that ride), or even joining a club! But one step at a time...
I was actually thinking of my main "route" being riding the southern 100 road race track in an anti clockwise direction, mainly because a) it's very close to where I live and b) 99% of it drivers on my side of the road will be able to see me from a long way off, and I don't want to get mown down. And it's pretty flat.
The reason I had difficulty turning right is I couldn't keep up with traffic and certainly couldn't accellerate into a a spot, so the only way I could get in to right hand lanes would be to barge my way in and hope people behind braked. Certainly no one let me in if I signaled right! I was not prepare to do such barging so quite often I was forced to "turn right" by going three sides around a square!
I don't want to spend tens of thousands incase this turns out to be a fad, but I don't want some horrendous chinese thing either. I have no problems with a pleasant enough chinese thing though.
An early 90s kia = no thank you, but an early 2000s kia I would be fine with and probably ideal. Except I want it to be light weight. Also, I can't get the hang of those bendy handlebars.
Link to roads I think are good to start cycling on. I would be going in the opposite direction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl2ju2cIes8
I was actually thinking of my main "route" being riding the southern 100 road race track in an anti clockwise direction, mainly because a) it's very close to where I live and b) 99% of it drivers on my side of the road will be able to see me from a long way off, and I don't want to get mown down. And it's pretty flat.
The reason I had difficulty turning right is I couldn't keep up with traffic and certainly couldn't accellerate into a a spot, so the only way I could get in to right hand lanes would be to barge my way in and hope people behind braked. Certainly no one let me in if I signaled right! I was not prepare to do such barging so quite often I was forced to "turn right" by going three sides around a square!
I don't want to spend tens of thousands incase this turns out to be a fad, but I don't want some horrendous chinese thing either. I have no problems with a pleasant enough chinese thing though.
An early 90s kia = no thank you, but an early 2000s kia I would be fine with and probably ideal. Except I want it to be light weight. Also, I can't get the hang of those bendy handlebars.
Link to roads I think are good to start cycling on. I would be going in the opposite direction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl2ju2cIes8
Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Wednesday 18th April 16:33
It sounds to me like you'd get on well with an entry-level road bike for around £500/£600, no need to spend a fortune on the latest and greatest carbon machines. I'm sure someone far more knowledgable with me will be along with some suggestions soon.
My top tip would be to go to a reputable cycling shop (not Halfords) and get properly sized up, thus avoiding the common and potentially painful and expensive mistake of getting an ill-fitting bike.
My top tip would be to go to a reputable cycling shop (not Halfords) and get properly sized up, thus avoiding the common and potentially painful and expensive mistake of getting an ill-fitting bike.
sounds like a velodrome would be ideal to be honest. you will get fit, there are no right turns, there is no traffic....
seriously though, you are actually better joining a local club or at least talking to someone in a shop who can get you out with a regular rider even if its just two of you, they can show you how to take defensive lines, how to position your bike on the road so you dont get mown down but are considered as a bonafide road user.
seriously though, you are actually better joining a local club or at least talking to someone in a shop who can get you out with a regular rider even if its just two of you, they can show you how to take defensive lines, how to position your bike on the road so you dont get mown down but are considered as a bonafide road user.
I wouldn't have a problem turning right with the levels of traffic here - so long as I am sure I can be seen I am fairly confident in traffic, just far too considerate to pull out in front of someone. Although my lines and so on are almost certainly completely wrong - in fact I can't really imagine they would be right! Velodrome doesn't appeal, I want to be outside.
I did read cyclecraft once, but that was as a driver and purely so I could understand some peculiar seeming things other cyclists were doing.
Your idea of getting someone to ride with me who knows what they're doing is a good one, I will have to think about the best way of doing that. It certainly can't happen every time I ride though cause believe me I WILL slow them down.
Is the comment about cycling shorts a joke? I am that clueless I can't tell! I was pretty much planning on just wearing jeans.
I did read cyclecraft once, but that was as a driver and purely so I could understand some peculiar seeming things other cyclists were doing.
Your idea of getting someone to ride with me who knows what they're doing is a good one, I will have to think about the best way of doing that. It certainly can't happen every time I ride though cause believe me I WILL slow them down.
Is the comment about cycling shorts a joke? I am that clueless I can't tell! I was pretty much planning on just wearing jeans.
Somewhatfoolish said:
Is the comment about cycling shorts a joke? I am that clueless I can't tell! I was pretty much planning on just wearing jeans.
Arrrrrrrrggggggggh!!! is pretty much how you will feel if you wear jeans whilst riding to get fit. Not so terrible for a trip to the shops or a very short commute, but not ideal apparel for riding. There are rivets and reinforcing stitching all over the pockets at the back, and a really thick seam down the middle - exactly where you don't want it.The cycling shorts tip was definitely not a joke. You don't need to wear head-to-toe Lycra, but good quality sports clothing will help. As for the shorts, there are the tight padded Lycra ones, looser fitting Mountain biker styles, as well as full length trouser versions of both, but you can also opt for a pair of padded 'Cycling Undershorts', designed not to be seen, but to provide you with a greater degree of comfort than your 'regular clothes'.
Try the clothing sections of any of the big cycling websites, and there will usually be something to match your style and budget, or dare I suggest the Karrimor and Muddyfox branded gear at Sports Direct at the lower end of the budget. http://www.sportsdirect.com/cycling/cycling-clothi... - there are even some basic bikes on that site, but without a closer look, I'd probably advise against them, and echo the advise earlier on in the thread - go along to a local bike shop, preferably one that comes with a recommendation from someone you can trust, and buy the best quality you can to suit your budget. There is much to be said for developing a good relationship with your local experts.
One last word of advise - don't feel that you have to fit a certain mould, or align yourself with a particular group. Be the cyclist YOU want to be, and enjoy the benefits or freedom, fresh air, and physical fitness without all the hassle and expense of a gym or a personal trainer.
Good luck, and enjoy
I'm more a jacamo kind of guy when it comes to finding clothes that will actually fit me... How's about these uns: http://www.jacamo.co.uk/shop/zoggs-osprey-shorts/w... ?
Not that i'll be buying them until I've had a chat with some people at a bike store.
Still a real shame there doesn't seem to be a complete moron's guide to cycling anywhere on the internet. I suppose that makes a kind of sense, as there isn't a complete moron's guide to driving either, but this issomething a lot of adults would want to retake up you would think...
Not that i'll be buying them until I've had a chat with some people at a bike store.
Still a real shame there doesn't seem to be a complete moron's guide to cycling anywhere on the internet. I suppose that makes a kind of sense, as there isn't a complete moron's guide to driving either, but this issomething a lot of adults would want to retake up you would think...
Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Wednesday 18th April 17:41
Somewhatfoolish said:
I'm more a jacamo kind of guy when it comes to finding clothes that will actually fit me... How's about these uns: http://www.jacamo.co.uk/shop/zoggs-osprey-shorts/w... ?
Not that i'll be buying them until I've had a chat with some people at a bike store.
Still a real shame there doesn't seem to be a complete moron's guide to cycling anywhere on the internet. I suppose that makes a kind of sense, as there isn't a complete moron's guide to driving either, but this issomething a lot of adults would want to retake up you would think...
Nice, swim shorts Not that i'll be buying them until I've had a chat with some people at a bike store.
Still a real shame there doesn't seem to be a complete moron's guide to cycling anywhere on the internet. I suppose that makes a kind of sense, as there isn't a complete moron's guide to driving either, but this issomething a lot of adults would want to retake up you would think...
Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Wednesday 18th April 17:41
They would do fine tbh. Shorts will be the least of your worries when your arse is in tatters from your new saddle!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff