Search found 992 matches

by Merry_Wanderer
31 Mar 2016, 3:46pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Amazon do you really want to buy from them?
Replies: 51
Views: 2905

Re: Amazon do you really want to buy from them?

I won't buy from them on principle because they don't pay their fair share of tax in the UK. I would rather buy from a supplier that does pay their fair share because otherwise the rest of us end up paying more.

I recently gave an order to Guardian books (for books not bike parts) and they were cheaper than Amazon and pay tax in the UK. For bike parts I use Spa Cycles mainly
by Merry_Wanderer
9 Feb 2016, 11:29pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Why does the CTC not promote Sportives?
Replies: 55
Views: 4153

Re: Why does the CTC not promote Sportives?

I'm an old and crusty wooly sock brigade 48 year old and with my younger friends in their 30's we have done both sportifs and Audax events. My experience of a sportif was doing a 100km event in 7 hours including stops and finding that a the last stop all the free food had gone as the organisers had packed up before the last riders arrived. I paid £28 for the ride for the privilege of being left to my own devices. Contrast that with the 8 Audax events that I have done where I have paid between £5 and £8 to enter. The rides have included a lot of free, home-made food, drinks and camaraderie. No one got left behind and for the cost of having to follow a set of directions rather than a signed route I have had a fantastic time. The largest Audax had 130 riders, most of whom were younger than me. You are welcome to organise your own sportif and make a shed load of cash. I will stick with Audax
by Merry_Wanderer
8 Feb 2016, 5:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Keeping feet properly warm
Replies: 33
Views: 2614

Re: Keeping feet properly warm

I wear leather lightweight walking boots (Brasher) with a thick mountaineering sock (Smartwool) and Buffalo teclite trousers. No more cold achey feet
by Merry_Wanderer
8 Feb 2016, 5:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Surly tandem(perhaps)
Replies: 40
Views: 2651

Re: Surly tandem(perhaps)

Not quite on topic but Gary the owner of Banbury Cycles (Oxfordshire Surly dealers) has a Surly LHT made into a trike, but not made by Surly
by Merry_Wanderer
5 Feb 2016, 11:23am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?
Replies: 69
Views: 7150

Re: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?

It may be ignorant of me to ask, in which case please feel free to correct me, would a 1 x 11 not wear out the chain more quickly than a 3 x 9 because of the angle of the chain in the lowest and highest gears
by Merry_Wanderer
5 Feb 2016, 9:31am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?
Replies: 69
Views: 7150

Re: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?

Martin - I wasn't thinking custom build, more along the lines of making cheap changes to your existing bikes. You could change the tyres on your hybrid for a slick puncture resistant variety to cut your rolling resistance (if it hasn't already got such tyres) and see if there's any difference. In reality if you are new to cycling that distance it will feel challenging especially when you have done it for a week and worked in between. I would second what Vorpal said above, eat well, get good rest and you will get fitter and it will feel easier over time. My 14 mile round trip if a commute used to feel very hard, especially on Friday evening but after 9 months I spend more time thinking of ways to increase my commuting distance.
by Merry_Wanderer
4 Feb 2016, 9:18pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Lifespan of a washing machine
Replies: 62
Views: 4903

Re: Lifespan of a washing machine

We have a Whirlpool washing machine bought new in 2001 for £299. It looks a bit tatty and the powder drawer broke a few years ago (we put tablets in with the clothes) but it still works well
by Merry_Wanderer
4 Feb 2016, 3:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?
Replies: 69
Views: 7150

Re: Road bike Commuting up hills - 16, 22 or 24 Gears?

My commute has 2 stiff hills in the first 2 miles and my commuting bike had until today, a 48/38/28 Alivio set up with an 8 speed cassette of 11-32. I have now changed the chainset to 42/32/22 as I have tended to use the 28/32 gear every day and the 48 chainring precisely never. This bike has 26" wheels and 26 x 2 inch tyres. My other bikes are 9 speed with a highest gear of 46/11 x 700. FWIW I am the same age as the OP. Until the last event my Audax bike had a gear range of 17 to 104. Probably excessively low for most people but I have found as I have got older and my knees more decrepit, I am really grateful for very low gearing and a higher cadence
by Merry_Wanderer
1 Feb 2016, 11:15pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Slow riders?
Replies: 36
Views: 3219

Re: Slow riders?

I average 10mph (including stops) or 12mph rolling speed on Audaxes. Longest one I have done so far was 131km (including unscheduled diversions aka wrong turns - official distance was 123km). I am usually last or just before last but as there are no records kept of places or speeds on Audax, who cares! I am getting value for money :-)
by Merry_Wanderer
1 Feb 2016, 11:03pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Brutal hit & run - Nottingham
Replies: 238
Views: 18634

Re: Brutal hit & run - Nottingham

Shocking, can't think of another way of describing it.

What would the chances be of a private prosecution getting a result for the cyclist?
by Merry_Wanderer
29 Jan 2016, 11:04pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 2016 ride plans
Replies: 23
Views: 2176

Re: 2016 ride plans

Going to Holland for the first week in May and for the first time (now that we have a van instead of a car) we are taking our touring bikes to enjoy day rides from our caravan. I have convinced my wife to try some Audax rides with me too and we are planning a 3 week trip to the west coast of Scotland with bikes. An island hopping trip of day rides. I am planning to increase my commuting mileage too and we are also planning a short tour away on bikes
by Merry_Wanderer
26 Jan 2016, 1:56pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: oldies riding in the cold
Replies: 45
Views: 4277

Re: oldies riding in the cold

At 48 I am a mere youngster but I have found that my body temperature can go haywire in the cold. My commute is 14 mile round trip with a hilly first 2 miles. My standard winter commuting kit is Buffalo Big Face top, buff, Lowe Alpine fleece lined mountain cap, Buffalo Teclite trousers, thick walking socks, walking boots (flat pedals). Keeps me warm in all weather. Lowest temperature I have cycled on was -5 and ok on the gritted roads but fell off the bike on black ice 2"weeks ago. Bike was ok and I got away with a gashed knee and bruised ego :-)
by Merry_Wanderer
18 Jan 2016, 5:36pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Would You Return These Tyres?
Replies: 13
Views: 1670

Re: Would You Return These Tyres?

I had to return a non functional B&M dynamo headlamp to Rose. Their customer service was excellent and received the replacement within 2 days of them receiving my returned item. Didn't cost me a penny thanks to their returns policy
by Merry_Wanderer
11 Jan 2016, 3:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Heavy bikes
Replies: 75
Views: 4070

Re: Heavy bikes

My Surly DT weighs about 16kg unladen and when I have used it for Audax it weighed in at about 20kg laden, or 44 pounds in old money. It's funny but I am no faster on my Surly Cross Check which weighs about 13kg unladen. What gearing do you have on the Big Dummy? That would make more difference than the weight I would think. My DT and CC have almost identical gearing, 44/32/22 and 11-34 9 speed. I have a relatively high cadence