Staying cycle fit; without cycling...!
Staying cycle fit; without cycling...!
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Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
We moved a year ago; before then I was cycling a fair bit. I'd say at least three times a week and I had decent cycle fitness.
However where we are now, cycling just isn't as accessible; the roads are lethal, the nearest MTB terrain is half an hours drive away. Annoying as I'd just got my bike "perfect!"

However I run and surf a lot plus swim
and do weights; will these help?! I've always been a fit(ish) rider with fairly decent technical ability off road.

My lovely £3k bike has been untouched for over a month...

V-spec

779 posts

280 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Cheap or second hand road bike, turbo trainer and www.thesufferfest.com

il sole

287 posts

173 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Vladimir said:
We moved a year ago; before then I was cycling a fair bit. I'd say at least three times a week and I had decent cycle fitness.
However where we are now, cycling just isn't as accessible; the roads are lethal, the nearest MTB terrain is half an hours drive away. Annoying as I'd just got my bike "perfect!"

However I run and surf a lot plus swim
and do weights; will these help?! I've always been a fit(ish) rider with fairly decent technical ability off road.

My lovely £3k bike has been untouched for over a month...
Is this because you can't fit the bike in the back of the M135i?? ;-)

Seriously, if you swim and surf, you must be near the coast and/or a pool, surely you can fit in some time on the bike?

richardxjr

7,561 posts

239 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Move again.

Likewise interested to see where on the coast you are with no countryside for mtb or quiet enough roads.

TwistingMyMelon

6,510 posts

234 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Whereabouts are you?

There has got to be places nearby to ride, unless you are on the moon

Swimming and surfing must keep you really fit, surfing killed me and I'm a fit cyclist.

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
I'm in Polzeath in North Cornwall.
There are some quiet back roads but many fast, narrow stuff that is just very dangerous to cycle on. There are no bridleways; I cycled the coast path (not allowed) and it was lethal too!
I'm a fit runner (mostly fell/coast stuff, sub 6min mile on the road over a fair distance), swimmer and as paddle did for surfing as I've ever been but part of me does miss cycling.
TBH the enthusiasm may have waned a bit too; nothing used to stop me riding in almost any conditions.

Il Sole - I have roof bars and two Thule bike carriers for the M135i plus a whacking great van. No excuses…!

Edited by Vladimir on Wednesday 15th January 19:37

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Nonsense, I've just looked on Google Streetview and there's loads of roads around there that are perfect! What's lethal or dangerous about them?! confused

z4chris99

12,521 posts

208 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
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I love polzeath. used to enjoy many a summer getting messy in Carter's and the OC

oh, and get a TT

egor110

17,675 posts

232 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
How about joining a tri club down there?

They'll have loads of bike routes.

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January 2014
quotequote all
Chris; I worked at the OC (holiday job) for six years! Sadly Carter's is now another load of holiday homes...
Egor; I've done three tris (did quite well) but no clubs nearby. A shame as my running and swimming are now stronger but my cycling will be worse. Decided to give them a miss.

okgo

42,132 posts

227 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
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The roads look fine. Get on your bike.

If people can ride through London you can ride in the middle of nowhere!

z4chris99

12,521 posts

208 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
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but those hills down to the beach are killers, my car struggles!

Rob_T

1,916 posts

280 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
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i don't live in cornwall but i have cycled quite a bit in the county. i have family down there and whenever we go out for a day trip when we are down there to to e.g. a National Trust property or to the beach the family get in the car and I cycle and meet them there.

I know what you mean about some of the roads being dangerous. However if you pick your roads carefully they are no worse that anywhere else. I've cycled from St Ives to Okehampton once and it was as safe / dangerous as anywhere else in the country. I avoid the main A30 and any other A roads that look to be fast and sweeping.

The main problem with Cornwall is the lumps. It is by far the hardest place to ride - you can never get a decent rhythm going. One minute you're spying downhill, the next you are grinding uphill.

Personally I would move somewhere else. Cornwall is a nice pipe dream. The few odd days of sunshine do not make up for the remainder of the years 'mizzle' or horizontal rain.

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
No way we'd move; we overlook one of Cornwalls nicest beaches, the kids are bedded in at school and all our mates live here!
I think I just need to get my "yes" head on and get out more. I have an 11 mile route I do to keep fit; 2000ft of climbing! And my running is more like full on fell stuff. Very hilly here but that means I can do shorter rides.
You've fired me up guys; cheers!
Surfing always comes first though...!

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
No way we'd move; we overlook one of Cornwalls nicest beaches, the kids are bedded in at school and all our mates live here!
I think I just need to get my "yes" head on and get out more. I have an 11 mile route I do to keep fit; 2000ft of climbing! And my running is more like full on fell stuff. Very hilly here but that means I can do shorter rides.
You've fired me up guys; cheers!
Surfing always comes first though...!

Rob_T

1,916 posts

280 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
smile I was joking about moving, I'm just jealous….

Don't forget you have the Camel trail very near to you - that's totally flat and good for training I would imagine - unless it's in the summer and full of tourists!

TwistingMyMelon

6,510 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
I cant believe they cycle on the A30 dual carriageway, its the one thing that puts me off Lejog, as most of the routes I have seen use it

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

187 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
Six cycling fatalities in the last year here in Cornwall all on the roads. It sounds a bit lame but it is dangerous here. Even when driving (I'm very cyclist aware) I come across dangerous situations quite regularly; there are many roads I just wouldn't cycle on at all.

But I love cycling at our new trail centre and probably ought to dust off the hardly used Allez at some point.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
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If you don't want to use local roads then get a turbo trainer and make trips to local centres/trails.

TwistingMyMelon

6,510 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th January 2014
quotequote all
I see your points on local roads, I cycle on an A road most days that all the locals I know say is suicidal to cycle on at night, but it isn't actually too bad, then again another B road that looks "safe" for cycles I find pretty dangerous on a bike and try and avoid due to the parked cars, entrances, road surface and pot holes