Search found 134 matches

by Enigmadick
16 Feb 2024, 5:33pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Mileage declining !
Replies: 23
Views: 2080

Re: Mileage declining !

Although my partner and I are retired, we too have stopped getting the miles in especially so when the weather is poor.

Why give the entire day over to a long ride, when a couple of hard 30 minute sessions on a tech bike followed by some weights and floor exercises, twice a week, and a good pool session now and then, are all that is needed to maintain fitness through the autumn and winter?
by Enigmadick
16 Nov 2023, 3:45pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Anyone tried the East Coast Easy Route?
Replies: 10
Views: 8428

Re: Anyone tried the East Coast Easy Route?

I used to hitchhike up and down the Fosse Way from Leicestershire to Bath when I was at university down there in the 1970s and wanted to ride its course fifty years later.

Except, other than a few hundred yards here and there, I didn't actually go on the route, but tracked quieter roads to either side.

The Roman's obviously built it straight in anticipation of the motor car.
by Enigmadick
5 Nov 2023, 6:48pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: LEJOG May 2023: Review of Barrett Cicerone guide book, lessons learned
Replies: 6
Views: 10681

Re: LEJOG May 2023: Review of Barrett Cicerone guide book, lessons learned

Mr. Barrett’s superior conditioning and lifetime of outdoor pursuits may have allowed him to average 12 mph,
Nowhere in this guidebook does it suggest an average riding speed of 12mph.

The suggested time for each stage is based on two factors (a) the horizontal distance at 12mph and (b) the amount of ascent at 400 meters per hour. In my experience these are fairly reasonable figures for a reasonably fit club cyclist tackling a multi-day challenge ride.

What else can a boy do?
by Enigmadick
21 Apr 2023, 7:47pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gravel bikes off tarmac?
Replies: 269
Views: 14069

Re: Gravel bikes off tarmac?

As the owner of a gravel bike, I have to say I wouldn't ride it off road. It's superb for the poor quality lanes that ten years o Tory austerity has left us with, but if I am going off road I choose an MTB first.
by Enigmadick
20 Dec 2022, 9:35pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Repeat Timer app
Replies: 51
Views: 2422

Re: Repeat Timer app

Lots of interval timer apps in Google Play store and presumably in the Apple Store too
by Enigmadick
26 Jul 2022, 8:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gravel bike on the road
Replies: 34
Views: 2772

Re: Gravel bike on the road

Some of my club, including me, have bought gravel bikes with low profile 38mm tyres as our winter bikes. Mine takes a massive 62mm mudguard which is awesome in wet weather.
by Enigmadick
28 Apr 2022, 6:56pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: B7076 Current Road Condition
Replies: 19
Views: 2328

Re: B7076 Current Road Condition

Head over to the B7020 up through Lochmaben which is quite lovely and full of interest.
by Enigmadick
26 Mar 2022, 6:02pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: after hip replacement - handlebars?
Replies: 22
Views: 6645

Re: after hip replacement - handlebars?

Having had a dynamic hip screw put in to repair a fracture to the head of the femur after having an "off" on black ice, my advice would be to leave your bike alone and focus of getting the full range of movement back into the joint.

My NHS physios were next to useless providing little more than a printed sheet but I researched suitable exercises online. I then did a session of stretching and lifting four hours and was back riding on drop bars within 12 weeks.

Good luck.
by Enigmadick
25 Mar 2022, 1:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: just how far our gullibility will stretch?
Replies: 159
Views: 9277

Re: just how far our gullibility will stretch?

Serious reply, - when out cycling I just find that being constantly attentive to traffic, what else is around and your body leads to a state of mindfulness. No need for earbuds or any other distraction.
by Enigmadick
24 Mar 2022, 9:18pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: just how far our gullibility will stretch?
Replies: 159
Views: 9277

Re: just how far our gullibility will stretch?

I have both the Spurcycle bell that cost £50 from Ghyllside Cycles in Ambleside and the Rock Bros bell that £8 on the Internet.

The former brings me joy every time I ring it, the sound hanging in the air like a chime from a Buddhist temple floating over a misty valley. It was an excellent purchase.

The latter is just a piece of [inappropriate word removed]. It was a ripoff.
by Enigmadick
22 Mar 2022, 6:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wall mount bike above radiator?
Replies: 16
Views: 1351

Re: Wall mount bike above radiator?

You still single then Steve?
by Enigmadick
7 Mar 2022, 8:40am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Gym use in Winter
Replies: 7
Views: 1102

Re: Gym use in Winter

Yes, we use the gym at our local bike hub which costs £38 annual subscription plus £5 per visit.

Well equipped but we tend to do a 55 min high intensity hill climb on the techno bikes using a heart rate monitor followed by a few reps for the upper body. Really noticeable benefits since we started this regime and we're both 68!

[https://alphacycleworx.co.uk/]
by Enigmadick
10 Feb 2022, 10:38pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Your Year Planner to Fitness?
Replies: 7
Views: 874

Re: Your Year Planner to Fitness?

Used to do all my miles on the roads, in groups and alone, but for the last year have limited outdoor riding to just two days a week and do two high intensity gym sessions doing rolling hills, reps and simulated classics climbs. Usually do an hour with heart rate over 85% of max heart rate for the second half an hour.

68 now and I don't think I've ever felt fitter.
by Enigmadick
7 Jan 2022, 1:02pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Chepstow to Liverpool route lejog
Replies: 16
Views: 1780

Re: Chepstow to Liverpool route lejog

https://strava.app.link/0psqMANJCmb

Regret I can't find the GPX files for this ride that goes from the Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow to the Old Dee Bridge in Chester on quiet roads that we did in one day a few years ago. You can easily continue up the Wirral to Birkenhead on the good NCN paths and then ferry or train across to Liverpool.

Hope you find it useful.