Search found 4843 matches

by Mark1978
7 Feb 2017, 9:59am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Transpennine Express
Replies: 13
Views: 1236

Re: Transpennine Express

geocycle wrote:Agree about TPX, was almost evicted as a result of suitcases in the bike area on the way to Manchester despite reservation. Northern rail are generally a much better bet if they are operating on your route.


They provide services from Darlington to Eaglescliffe - which is only 2 miles from work but they don't run CLS-DAR despite CLS being a Northern Rail branded station.
by Mark1978
7 Feb 2017, 9:31am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Transpennine Express
Replies: 13
Views: 1236

Re: Transpennine Express

Haha! It's a fair assessment at least and pretty much what I feared and is why I've never really used train & bike despite living, literally, 2 minutes walk from a station.

Folding bike looks like a possibility but that's a fair outlay when there's a good chance I might discover cycle commuting just doesn't work for me. Having never ridden one I'm not sure how it would fare over the 12 miles between Darlington station and work at Stockton. Mostly on shared use cycle path, so relatively bumpy, and a few miles on road. The terrain is flat but not entirely flat, shown here https://www.strava.com/routes/7574716

Leaving a bike at Darlington is possible, but that leaves the problem of how I deal with maintenance & cleaning, easy when the bike is at home and I have my hosepipe, track pump etc, at work and at a station, not so simple.
by Mark1978
6 Feb 2017, 8:34pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Transpennine Express
Replies: 13
Views: 1236

Re: Transpennine Express

Main issue is that I would need to do this for a good while before I can justify any significant investment in a new bike. In addition I'm not sure I'd want to ride a folder for the 12 miles to work.
by Mark1978
6 Feb 2017, 3:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Transpennine Express
Replies: 13
Views: 1236

Transpennine Express

Does anyone have much experience of bicycle carriage on TPX trains? I'm specifically looking for travelling between Chester-le-Street and Darlington probably 0613 return 1741.

I live next to CLS station and work is around 12 miles from Darlington, in Stockton.

Just wondering how much hassle it would be to commute that way, and if it would be reliable enough, obviously not getting to work because the train had too many bikes isn't an option.
by Mark1978
28 Dec 2016, 8:54pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 100 mile a day commute?
Replies: 95
Views: 15989

Re: 100 mile a day commute?

It's not so much the miles but the time. Ain't nobody got time for that.

50 miles each way is a long commute even driving. I drive 35 miles each way and never fancied cycling it.
by Mark1978
27 Oct 2016, 8:55pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Hardest UK climb?
Replies: 246
Views: 34953

Re: Hardest UK climb?

Great Dun Fell is the hardest I've done. It's both long and very steep in places but it being closed to cars is a big plus.
by Mark1978
22 Oct 2016, 10:02am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cycle lane give way
Replies: 13
Views: 3314

Re: Cycle lane give way

Some of them are even worse here when approaching a roundabout it directs you onto the footpath. So drivers are expecting you to disappear not leave the cycle lane and continue in the lane.
by Mark1978
16 Oct 2016, 8:35am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner
Replies: 86
Views: 8865

Re: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner

Mick F wrote:The other day, I weighed myself first thing in the morning. 12st 2lbs on our bathroom scales.
The other day, I weighed myself directly after a 3hr ride. 12st 2lbs



You hydrated correctly.
by Mark1978
15 Oct 2016, 8:17pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner
Replies: 86
Views: 8865

Re: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner

david7591 wrote:My rollers are in an unheated garage. With the door open it can be cool! If you're cycling inside a warm house without ventilation the heat will cause your heart rate to be higher for same perceived effort than it would be out-doors in cooler conditions.


I find the opposite. Outside I can get my HR way up straight away. Inside it takes a very concerted PE to do the same.
by Mark1978
15 Oct 2016, 5:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner
Replies: 86
Views: 8865

Re: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner

NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
On a cool day I lose about 1.8 kgs over three hours, on the turbo I can lose over 2 kgs in an hour.


You need better fannage ;). TBH I know I should drink at least one full bidon per hour on the turbo but I often don't.
by Mark1978
14 Oct 2016, 8:34pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner
Replies: 86
Views: 8865

Re: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner

Agreed. Turbo twice a week for me. I won't claim brilliant results but it keeps me going.
by Mark1978
14 Oct 2016, 7:49pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner
Replies: 86
Views: 8865

Re: Speed on Rollers - Newbie - Beginner

NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
Forget speed.

Just think time and effort.
You need a heart rate monitor :!:

Select your zone and off you go.

I don't think I ever got to the bottom of resistance on rollers.......is there any?


You wrote what I was going to. Heart rate monitor to get your effort levels then you can plug it into the likes of Strava which will give you a number as to how hard your ride was. The same applies to turbo trainers too.

I would base your indoor efforts on doing intervals in certain heart rate zones for a certain time and not speed which has no meaning indoors.

There isn't much resistance on rollers but there is some and usually enough to get a good workout but it's not like a turbo when you could be grinding at a low cadence to simulate hills, but it's a different type of training.
by Mark1978
11 Oct 2016, 4:12pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Where do I start...
Replies: 20
Views: 3035

Re: Where do I start...

In addition to what Vorpal said, if you feel comfortable telling us where you're starting from and where you need to get to, there are many on here who will be more than happy to advise on a suitable route - as said, it might be something that has never occurred.
by Mark1978
11 Oct 2016, 1:56pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling from Newcastle to Longframlington - OK?
Replies: 8
Views: 1644

Re: Cycling from Newcastle to Longframlington - OK?

There's actually some good cycling that way if you're prepared to plan your route carefully, I did a similar route with the Bike for Bobby sportive all quiet roads quite near busy A-roads.

Something like this https://www.strava.com/routes/6767505
by Mark1978
11 Oct 2016, 1:33pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Where do I start...
Replies: 20
Views: 3035

Re: Where do I start...

Welcome to cycling, and, sorry.

You'll come to the realisation that when your cycling everyone hates you, if you're on the road motorists hate you, if you're on a shared use path pedestrians hate you, if you're forced onto a normal footpath pedestrians hate you even more, not because you're causing them any problems but because you're breaking the 'rules'. And if you're on a dedicated cycle lane motorists still hate you for 'causing' congestion.

What we all have to learn eventually with cycling in all it's forms is that other peoples opinions of us are completely irrelevant and should be given the attention they deserve, that is, none.

Keep doing what you're doing, keep getting fitter, keep taking your daughter to school, and forget about the haters - for they will always be there.