Search found 354 matches

by wearwell
10 Oct 2022, 11:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Advice on flat pedals for new bike?
Replies: 22
Views: 1592

Re: Advice on flat pedals for new bike?

My cheapo Stolen Thermalite are flat but with little knobble things. These keep any normal type of trainer firmly engaged and feels just like SPDs until you lift your feet off. There's enough surface area so you don't need stiff soles and they won't cut into your shoes which the old cage type did. Nice bright colours too!

https://capture.dropbox.com/ZTlPN5oLlN44xWYQ
by wearwell
16 Sep 2022, 8:26pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Advice on flat pedals for new bike?
Replies: 22
Views: 1592

Re: Advice on flat pedals for new bike?

I got the cheapest - "Stolen Thermalite" less than £10.
Fine so far.
Previously had SPDs for years - the only downside of unclipped is you don't have the pull up on mega steep hills or the help when starting up a hill. Otherwise not missed at all.
by wearwell
16 Sep 2022, 4:58pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Pleased to say I'm back on me bike.
No special measures required, no physio, no bike adaptations except I've gone for flat pedals instead of SPDs.
Just normal activities and dog walking, including the occasional short jog. Then a few goes on a step-through shoppers bike.
Can now get my leg over and it feels just like it used to before arthritis kicked in several years ago!!
8 months from when I stopped when it was all just too tedious.
So if anybody is going through the same thing I'd say take your time, stay active, don't panic!
by wearwell
22 May 2022, 8:03am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Spa Cycles (Harrogate)
Replies: 691
Views: 388688

Re: Spa Cycles (Harrogate)

arnsider wrote: 28 Mar 2021, 6:27am What is the point of this thread?????
All it does is demonstrate just how up and down customer relationships go.
I agree
My own experience of Spa has been mediocre..........
Me too. Was good for years over many routine items but then I bought a whole bike which was a disaster with no happy outcome.
by wearwell
20 May 2022, 9:33am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Jdsk wrote: 19 May 2022, 8:20pm
wearwell wrote: 19 May 2022, 8:17pm
Jdsk wrote: 19 May 2022, 7:13pm.....
Do you have access to physiotherapy advice?
Yes but at £40 an hour, or wait 3 months or so for NHS.
Thanks.

I'd hope that you could get advice without a physical appointment. That's improved enormously during the outbreak. It might be worth asking the orthopaedic unit.

Jonathan
OK thanks I might try that. Our local medical centre is very good.
Pilates looks good however and is fairly harmless - I soon got the impression that the gentle movements really stretch parts which need stretching!
by wearwell
19 May 2022, 8:17pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Jdsk wrote: 19 May 2022, 7:13pm.....
Do you have access to physiotherapy advice?

Jonathan
Yes but at £40 an hour, or wait 3 months or so for NHS.
by wearwell
19 May 2022, 6:47pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

I'm on the case! NHS site https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitne ... beginners/
Could be just what I need for starters.
by wearwell
17 May 2022, 9:28am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Post hip op and arthritis.
Any recommendations for on-line leg stretching exercises - particularly for getting leg over (the bike that is)?
Currently have to lay it down, step over and lift it up. Reverse for dismounting.
by wearwell
30 Mar 2022, 8:17am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Rightho. Will proceed with caution and perhaps not touch the bike until 12 weeks is up.
Am into brisk walking 5km or so, including steep hills, stiles, etc. No aches and pains but feel weak and must recover strength. Seems good so far!
by wearwell
18 Mar 2022, 6:13pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Thanks for replies. No I haven't been back on the bike yet I'm only 6 weeks on. I'm also 77 and a bit more fragile than I was. It seems the hazard is in sudden movements and twists, perhaps if I fell off, and straight bars perhaps give more secure grip?
I'll have a go soonish on a bit of flat trail.
by wearwell
18 Mar 2022, 1:07pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6644

after hip replacement - handlebars?

Recovering from hip replacement. Advised to get straight bars to avoid bending too far.
Any advice/suggestions on what to put on my Dawes Galaxy and Spa Audax bikes, and what to avoid?
by wearwell
16 Mar 2021, 9:50pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: New idea for navigating LEJOG?
Replies: 61
Views: 6574

Re: New idea for navigating LEJOG?

Jdsk wrote:
wearwell wrote:Have to ask - is there any particular point in all this high tec navigation stuff as compared to straight paper maps, or is it just the novelty value? It looks and sounds so difficult!

We can all make our own choices. But do you really not understand why some other people choose to use satnavs?.......
Yes I understand why people choose to use them - they work brilliantly in the car.
They don't do so well on a bike though. We've had several Warmshowers visitors over the years and several of them have been driven insane by trying to follow a route on a phone or whatever. Mainly because of blindly following instructions and lack of "over-view". Then there's batteries, bad back lighting, failure in heavy rain, having to stop at every change of direction, and so on.
Had to sit them down with maps! Given several maps away, including my original one with my own Lejog route marked up in felt tip!
The OS Routemaster 1/4" maps were spot on for long distance cycling. Sadly no longer available.
by wearwell
15 Mar 2021, 9:28pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: New idea for navigating LEJOG?
Replies: 61
Views: 6574

Re: New idea for navigating LEJOG?

Have to ask - is there any particular point in all this high tec navigation stuff as compared to straight paper maps, or is it just the novelty value? It looks and sounds so difficult!
I've cycled Lejog and all over Britain and a lot of Europe but can't say I've ever encountered a problem to which the methods on this thread would be a solution.
by wearwell
9 Mar 2021, 11:45am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Joy of plastic pedals and toe clips
Replies: 20
Views: 1873

Re: Joy of plastic pedals and toe clips

I've gone clipless - mobility prob with arthritis - Thermalite cheapo plastic MTB pedals on a Dawes Galaxy.
Amazed to say that once pedalling they don't feel the slightest bit different to my SPDs. Feet feel firmly attached, just so much easier to get on and off. And I can use any old footwear - swimming flippers even!
The only slight loss is that extra bit of pull you sometimes need on a hill. Can't show off any more by thrusting myself up an impossible incline. Just have to stand on the pedals a bit more.
Made me wonder what is the point of clipping in at all, even though I've been doing it for 40 years.
by wearwell
7 Mar 2021, 9:20pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: New idea for navigating LEJOG?
Replies: 61
Views: 6574

Re: New idea for navigating LEJOG?

robgul wrote:.....
Some trivia, not dissimilar to the roller idea - Denis Jenkinson, when navigating for Stirling Moss in the 1955 Millia Miglia constructed a wooden box with 2 rollers and had the route on a very long strip of paper - the box was strapped to Jenkinson's thigh and he unrolled it as Moss drove - shouting out each bend/corner/junction etc!! That Moss dove 1,000 miles at 98+ mph was quite remarkable.
Hi Rob - I'm known as Jacob in another place. Small world!
Moss's Mille Miglia was turned into a brilliant TV drama about their rehearsals and practice, with bits of contemporary film of the race itself. Should be available somewhere, youtube perhaps.
My Lejog and other touring navigation has always been done with pages taken from the Michelin road map book. Just the ones needed plus a margin of error. These packed in pannier in a poly bag inside another poly bag to withstand the worst weather. The page for the day taken out and carefully folded for an Ortleib bar bag map case, which work really well even in heavy rain.
There's just enough info on the Michelin maps including topography but if visiting anywhere en route could add a local map and pages torn from Rough Guide.
Also tend to take a one sheet whole map of GB or France for good overall view of the route and alternative route planning.
Paper is best!
The prob with detailed Audax style detailed instructions or sat nav on the phone, is that it's quite possible to have no idea of quite where you are or how to plan an alternative route. You don't get the over-view and batteries go flat.