Search found 244 matches

by chris3vic
17 Aug 2017, 11:26am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Advice on getting back to fitness...
Replies: 14
Views: 1458

Re: Advice on getting back to fitness...

Vorpal wrote:I sometimes go out for a spin after the kids are in bed. Also, I don't like using the turbo trainer, but it's bearable with a movie on, if I'm desparate enough for exercise and can't go out on the bike for some reason.

p.s. can you try some different routes to work? Thay can't all be horrendous? You can walk the worst bits? Maybe you are doing that from public transport, anyway?


Yeah I've found a pretty good road route that keep me off the dual carriageway and away from the so called cycle bypass which is actually a mud track through a dark wooded area. It makes a 12 mile cycle rather than the quick (7-8 miles) route and throws up a good hill too.

Going out after dark is probably a good idea, a couple of times a week.

Chris
by chris3vic
17 Aug 2017, 7:42am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Advice on getting back to fitness...
Replies: 14
Views: 1458

Re: Advice on getting back to fitness...

david7591 wrote:Perhaps sacrilege on a cycling forum, but here goes. Have you considered running on those days you are time pressured? Running is a much more time efficient activity than cycling if you're object is simply to get fit and lose weight. A half hour run is a decent work out, whereas half hour on a bike is just warming up. Also there's less faffing with equipment and clothing with running. Obviously running will do little or nothing for bike specific fitness.


Yes I have, in fact a few years ago I would happily run 5k on a morning before work and actually enjoy it :shock: but nowhere near as much as putting some miles on the bike.

It's possibly something I'll pick back up between cycling.
by chris3vic
17 Aug 2017, 7:40am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Advice on getting back to fitness...
Replies: 14
Views: 1458

Re: Advice on getting back to fitness...

Thanks all for your replies, advice and good points.

Yeah my son is already "in to" cycling, as much as a 5 year old can be. We spend time out on the tag-along at weekends because he's not yet built up the confidence of cycling on his own - so usually it's a short jaunt around the park or through the woods - nothing strenuous but hopefully as he gets older that will change. Fit that around the usual morning swimming lessons, trampoline lessons and art & craft clubs and somewhere in there we do have a regular bike ride weather permitting

As an update I have joined a small fitness club which runs a lunch time spin class and is over the road from my office - it's £13 a month, which providing I stay motivated I will not grumble at that. It gives me something to do at lunch times so I won't be tempted to smoke and eat fast food from one of the millions of outlets on the road where i work.

Also I've cycled in to work every day this week 8) . I've mapped out a longer (12 miles), but much quieter route (without the busy A roads and junctions that even takes in a decent climb along the way) - getting back into it was extremely tough after the ease of the bus, but I reckon I'm getting the bug again.

I shouldn't be, but I am so shocked how one can lose fitness and motivation and gain weight in such a short time, even when it's surrounding something you really love!
by chris3vic
15 Aug 2017, 9:46pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Advice on getting back to fitness...
Replies: 14
Views: 1458

Advice on getting back to fitness...

Hi all

Since starting a new job in March this year I've stopped cycling, got really unfit generally, and piled on about 2 stone. Yes, two bloody stone since March :x - it;s spiralled very quickly and unexpectedly.

My job is now city centre based with extremely good public transport links and it's a particularly nightmarish and unenjoyable cycle, so I kind of just stopped doing it, which I didn't appreciate how bad it would be for me and how much of a knock on effect it would have - I've not been considering what I eat for example, I've become immobile (desk job) and now get out of breath doing basic exercise, smoking has crept back which is just making things worse - just last week I went on a family hike with my wife and son to some waterfalls and after half an hour I was sweating and breathless.

Two years ago I was 12 stone, had just cycled my first century and was routinely doing 50-60 mile stints at weekend. About 6 years ago, even, I weighed 16.5 stone, so I'm heading in the wrong direction and I want to take immediate action.

My weekend commitments pretty much focus on my young son, so Sunday club rides are out of the question nowadays.

I'm just after a bit of advice on how best to get bike fit again, and hopefully drop these extra pounds to boot.

My thoughts at the minute are to ride to work (16 mile round trip) at least 3 times a week. Eat a small breakfast and a sensible lunch, cut out sugar, cut out weekday drinking, cut out smoking.

I'm not in a position to afford a gym membership, so the days I don't cycle I'll be heading out at lunch for a long walk.

I also want an incentive to aim for. I'm thinking of something like the Fred Whitton or a C2C challenge - two things I've always wanted to do.

What do you folks think? How best to regain fitness with such a hectic life? :lol:
by chris3vic
28 Feb 2017, 9:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Rear bike carrier for Vauxhall Mokka
Replies: 23
Views: 9683

Re: Rear bike carrier for Vauxhall Mokka

Mick F wrote:
thirdcrank wrote:If he hasn't already posted, Mick F will be along to warn against carrying bikes on the back of a car.
Firstly, I had to Google to find out what a Vauxhall Mokka was .............. and/or looked like.

Secondly, after seeing one on Google Images, I reckon you don't need a rear rack, because the car is well big enough to put a bike (or two) inside.

Thirdly, I warn you about carrying a bike on the back of a car, because if you get rear-ended, the bike will get wrecked.


I have a vauxhall mokka and have recently gone through this...

No one, not even the folks at Halfords, would confidently sell me a rear carrier for the bike and Vauxhall said they were not recommended.

I ended up with Thule roof bars and bike carriers. I have three bikes to carry and they go one easy enough. I carry one of those collapsible steps in the boot.

The mokka is a bulky car but not big inside. Internal would fit a couple of bikes forced in with front wheels removed. Pointless if you have more than one passenger and/or want to any thing else with you.
by chris3vic
13 Feb 2017, 10:33am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brooks Team Pro Woes!
Replies: 8
Views: 1519

Re: Brooks Team Pro Woes!

pwa wrote:Have you tried taking a little of the tension off?


No, but I think I will do so today
by chris3vic
13 Feb 2017, 10:12am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brooks Team Pro Woes!
Replies: 8
Views: 1519

Brooks Team Pro Woes!

I've just switched from a B17, which I have always ridden, to a Team Pro, as the B17 on my road bike was causing chapped thighs and general discomfort from being a little too wide.

I started riding the team pro last week. I don't remember a B17 ever being so uncomfortable out of the box. There has always been a breaking in period, but up to that point the B17 was always ridable even on long distances.

Is it my imagination or is the Team Pro a hell of a lot harder than the B 17? It looks like it was specifically designed to maim and torture ones nether regions. It also has a slightly rounded profile which I find odd.

It's going to take me years to break in isn't? :?
by chris3vic
13 Feb 2017, 8:29am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:
Davidwd wrote:


It's a plastic box styled to look like a modern device which you can mount to your bars. Inside you can stick a card with the route numbers written down.
.


Right I see. I guess a handwritten page inside the map holder on my bar bag will work as well then!
by chris3vic
12 Feb 2017, 8:25am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Davidwd wrote:
m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:I tend to get a bit tired of my garmin, but not really sure of any alternative.

I kinda just want to plan a basic route, noting the numbered junctions and follow that as best as I can. Is that asking for trouble?

On the map the numbered junctions look easy to follow, in practice, is that true?


The numbered junction systems works if you're slow enough. The signs are easy to miss though, and if they are posted on the other side of the junction you'll have to loose all momentum before you know which way to turn. You'll want a map to get back on track when it catches you out.
A garmin loaded with tracks via the Fietserbond routeplanner is easier to follow, but you need online access and to plan in advance. But the routes offer more flexibilty and can be tailored to taste, as the options like fast, scenic, easy to follow, limited cars etc actually work.

A paper map and map reading skills will get you there too, but you won't have the benefit of the knowledge built into the routeplanner, which comes into it's own in urban area's


I use the numbered junctions I have a very good atlas it is the FALK fietsatlas to pre plan my route and i use an anwb bikepointer to mark the numbers on, its what the dutch do, you will see the bike pointers mounted on many dutch bikes


I've just ordered tbe atlas online actually, so that's good.

The bike pointer sounds interesting. What exactly is it. Is it electronic or some kind of analogue route planner?
by chris3vic
11 Feb 2017, 7:33pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: what cheap second hand touring bike?
Replies: 19
Views: 2801

Re: what cheap second hand touring bike?

A combo of 1 and 2 is going to be hard to come by i think - second hand and under £500...

Which one is a must?
by chris3vic
11 Feb 2017, 5:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Surly LHT or Cross Check?
Replies: 34
Views: 5752

Re: Surly LHT or Cross Check?

I was in the same dilemma as you - in the end I went for the disk trucker simply because I thought it would be a better "touring" option.

What I found is that I really should have gone for the cross check, as most of my rides were unladen and to/from work. I found the trucker to be really hard work for that. Slow, heavy, not very nice on the road.

However, get some luggage on there and it will take you quite comfortably to the ends of the earth and back. It is an absolute steed, but unless you're doing some serious touring on it my opinion is to get the Cross Check. It's a much better "One Bike" in my opinion.
by chris3vic
11 Feb 2017, 8:20am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

I tend to get a bit tired of my garmin, but not really sure of any alternative.

I kinda just want to plan a basic route, noting the numbered junctions and follow that as best as I can. Is that asking for trouble?

On the map the numbered junctions look easy to follow, in practice, is that true?
by chris3vic
11 Feb 2017, 7:33am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

What would be the best way way to navigate in Holland whilst out on the bike? Garmin with a decent dutch overlay? Or paper maps?
by chris3vic
10 Feb 2017, 11:04am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

m-gineering wrote:You want to get the miles in, and you want to visit the biggest, most densely populated area's/cities and you want to use Google maps? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
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I'm only using Google Maps for some tentative, basic planning - looking for possible waypoints, hostels etc etc.

I'm reducing my mileage per day to account for slower speeds around big towns, but there are still swathes of cycle routes between towns and villages which allow me to RIDE my bike, as you say. There is over 50 miles of this between Rotterdam Port and Utrecht for example.

I have cycled before in Amsterdam (to Leiden and back, and to Zandvoort and back) and in the areas around and including Groningen centrum so I know kind of what to expect and avoid. I see your point about riding in built up, densely populated cities, but given these are start and end points I'm not overly worried if the route is planned adequately.
by chris3vic
9 Feb 2017, 2:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 4 days in holland - advice?
Replies: 25
Views: 6557

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Great advice.

Ok now I'm thinking, Rotterdam -> Utrecht (via Kinderdijk and Gouda)
Utrecht -> Amsterdam (via Naarden and Weesp (to make it interesting, plus I've always wanted to visit Naarden) - This will still be a short day, but will mean a slightly greater time spent with my friend, rather than just the evening.
Amsterdam -> Rotterdam (via Haarlem, Leiden and Den Haag)