I run the easy section of Central London CTC, a member club of Cycling UK. We have a shortage of ride leaders willing to lead the easy group. Rides usually start from a train station just outside London with riders arriving by train to meet the leader. We usually have about five riders attending.
If you live in London, or in one of the home counties, and are a paid up Cycling UK / CTC member and are registered with Cycling UK as a leader could you consider offering to lead an easy ride of between 40k and 50k. See our website for more information https://www.centrallondonctc.org.uk/for ... -spring/p1
Search found 465 matches
- 9 Mar 2023, 1:44pm
- Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
- Topic: Ride leaders wanted for around London
- Replies: 0
- Views: 6293
- 27 Feb 2023, 11:32am
- Forum: Off-road Cycling.
- Topic: Tyre pressures
- Replies: 21
- Views: 8301
Re: Tyre pressures
I'm 80kg. I run about 28 on the rear and 24 on the front with 29 x 2.3 inch with tubes on a hardtail.
- 27 Feb 2023, 11:23am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Could you give our updated journey planner a quick test?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 2343
Re: Could you give our updated journey planner a quick test?
I gave it a quick test. Using Chrome browser on GNU/Linux Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS. Tried a few routes. Not able to drag route via a preferred village or town. The route does not flag up sections of off-road. I would just stick with Cycle.Travel. I usually use the free version of Ride With GPS. I use it for both road and off-road planning. I see no advantage to using the CUK route planner, only disadvantages, sorry.
- 27 Feb 2023, 11:17am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Could you give our updated journey planner a quick test?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 2343
Re: Could you give our updated journey planner a quick test?
Worked for me using Firefox on Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS. Have you done
Code: Select all
sudo apt update
Code: Select all
sudo apt dist-upgrade
- 23 Nov 2022, 7:03pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Bari - Pisa or further
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1165
Re: Bari - Pisa or further
I cycled from Pescara to Bari (part of a longer tour) nearly 25 years ago and it was difficult to find a place to camp and even find any accommodation that was available due to it being high season. I ended up sleeping on the beach a few times which turned out to be lovely. I just picked a spot out of the way or near some fishermen and just slept in my sleeping bag on my Thermarest.Squibnocket wrote: ↑3 Nov 2022, 9:53pm Looking into cycle camping/ hostels with minimal gear next June from Bari - Pisa, mainly following the coast with some inland detours.
Done a quick search for campsites etc and not had much luck. Can anybody offer advice etc or recommend sites they've been to ?
Any advice would be great.
Grazie
Part of the rest of my journey was between Firenze (Florence) and Pescara. There were some good campsites and also some Hostel Internationals (HI) in some interesting old buildings including former monasteries and convents. Italy is not cheap, though. But very enjoyable.
- 28 Sep 2021, 3:29pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Why am I eating through chains so fast?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2976
Re: Why am I eating through chains so fast?
Don't use white spirit. In the winter use a wet lube but wipe off excess after lubing. Don't over lube.
Clean the chain (and the rest of the bike) little and often with warm soapy water (I use cheap washing up liquid in a very weak solution). Don't let crud and grime build up. Keep the bike clean. Don't jet wash it. (I use a gentle, hand-pumped garden spray.)
After washing spray with GT85 or WD40 (edit: just the chain, not the whole bike!). I spray GT85 onto a cloth and run the chain though it. Then lube as normal. Don't overlube, and wipe off excess lube.
In the drier months use a dry lube. Clean little and often as above.
Some observations. Winter riding in a city in all weathers will wear out chain and components very quickly. City roads are filthy and this will will wear out bike components along with road salt. Full mudguards will help. I now ride a cheap, single-speed, fixed-gear bike with full mudguards in London all year round. The chain and single cog lasts several years. So do the brake blocks (front and rear). Tyres get replaced more often than chains.
- 27 Sep 2021, 7:16pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Why am I eating through chains so fast?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2976
Re: Why am I eating through chains so fast?
White spirit? You might be making things worse by cleaning with such a harsh degreaser. If is better to lightly clean more frequently; without deep cleaning, which will rid the inner bearing faces of lubricant which are also difficult to get lube into.
The winter wear could be acceptable. But using in a wet lubricant in the spring and summer may also make things worse as it attracts grime. Use a dry lube little and often. However, it does sound like an odd amount of wear for a 7-speed chain.
- 27 Sep 2021, 1:32pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1155
Re: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action
Yes. You should turn clockwise the "L" limit screw (low) on the mech so that the chain does not overshoot the largest cog. It is best to err on the side of caution and adjust it so that the chain will only just shift to the largest cog. Turn it clockwise a 1/4 turn at a time until it won't shift from 2nd to 1st. Then turn it counterclockwise a 1/8 of a turn at a time until it shifts properly.doffcocker wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 1:19pm
Also, going forward, do I need to review the indexing of my gears? Generally speaking they have been working like a dream this last month in every way, there has only been a few occasions where this has happened. The chain sort of goes flying into the spokes - not from the largest cog - but from 2nd and maybe 3rd, mainly when I'm climbing the gears quite rapidly and maybe putting too much force into the pedals?
- 27 Sep 2021, 11:01am
- Forum: Off-road Cycling.
- Topic: Today I realised my true mountain bike rides are over
- Replies: 30
- Views: 10576
Re: Today I realised my true mountain bike rides are over
I'm more than ten years younger than you and I frequently have trouble getting up the steeper and more slippery sections on my rides. My solution? Get off and walk. I use flat pedals on my MTB and prefer this to being clipped in and the shoes are easier to walk in. I'm a relative latecomer to cycling off-road and I enjoy every minute of it. Mind you, I draw the line at excessively muddy routes. We all have our limitations and different pleasures. Happy riding!FREDO wrote: ↑26 Sep 2021, 2:52pm It seems my days on the gravel sections are over and are too much for me with the lack of traction and the extra effort required being too tiring, so at the age of 72 I have had my last Cannock Chase ride and will now do canal and bike path rides on my mountain bike and my road bike.
- 5 Aug 2021, 9:31pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Aug/Sept Cycling UK mag
- Replies: 51
- Views: 3548
Re: Aug/Sept Cycling UK mag
Yes, today.
- 5 Aug 2021, 1:47pm
- Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
- Topic: Cycle mag, CTC finally caved in re helmets & sold us out?
- Replies: 518
- Views: 38209
Re: Cycle mag, CTC finally caved in re helmets & sold us out?
It matters more what it means to readers...
ASA states in guidance:
"Most ads and other marketing communications are obviously recognisable as advertising purely by virtue of their content and the context in which they appear e.g. display ads in newspapers, ‘promoted’ posts on social media, leaflets, etc. One type of advertising that, due to its close resemblance to editorial content, may be less readily identifiable is ‘advertorial’ or ‘advertisement features’. This material may appear, for example, as long-form copy presented in a similar way as the editorial content within a publication, or as influencer marketing posts. "
And
"Where the overall presentation doesn’t make sufficiently clear that it’s an advertisement, as opposed to regular editorial content, a label is a straightforward way of indicating this to consumers. The CAP Code specifically refers to “Advertisement Feature” as an appropriate label for ‘advertorial’ content. The labels “Ad”, “Advert”, “Advertising”, “Advertisement”, “Ad Feature” and similar are all very likely to be considered acceptable labels, as long as they are displayed in a noticeable place." https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/re ... tures.html
Note although ASA use the term "advertorial" it is not listed as an appropriate label. But Cycling UK, in my view, must hold itself to a higher standard as the subject of helmets is directly related to its policy and readers look to the organisation for impartial advice.
- 5 Aug 2021, 1:10pm
- Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
- Topic: Cycle mag, CTC finally caved in re helmets & sold us out?
- Replies: 518
- Views: 38209
Re: Cycle mag, CTC finally caved in re helmets & sold us out?
https://mobil.abus.com/ in the advertorial.)
I have a real problem with this "advertising feature" in the latest Cycle. It is clearly labelled as "advertorial" (twice) but many readers will read it as journalism - not an advert. It may not breach the ASA's guidance but in my view it breaches CTC/CUK's policy on helmets by promoting their use in its own magazine. And it does so without a note about CUK's policy on helmets, which states they are against the promotion of helmets and that "there are serious doubts about the effectiveness of helmets. They are, and can only be, designed to withstand minor knocks and falls, not serious traffic collisions. Some evidence suggests they may in fact increase the risk of cyclists having falls or collisions in the first place, or suffering neck injuries". https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/v ... le-helmets
But many readers are not to know this and will read the sentences which describe the helmets as "intended to help reduce rotational force to the head during impacts, potentially minimising injuries"; and "reduce the risks associated with impact and rotation injuries" as advice from Cycling UK. In other words, it looks like CUK is promoting the use of helmets.
Cycling UK states: "Individuals should be free to make their own decisions about whether or not to wear helmets, with parents making these decisions in the case of younger children. Their decisions should be informed by clear information about the uncertainties over the benefits or otherwise of helmets."
Cycling UK through its Cycle magazine has failed to properly inform its readers by omitting its own policy advice. At the very least the article should have been labelled "Advertising features" and carried a statement saying:
"Cycling UK is pro-choice on helmets but is opposed to both cycle helmet laws and to helmet promotion campaigns because these are almost certainly detrimental to public health. There are serious doubts about the effectiveness of helmets. They are, and can only be, designed to withstand minor knocks and falls, not serious traffic collisions. Some evidence suggests they may in fact increase the risk of cyclists having falls or collisions in the first place, or suffering neck injuries."
I'm minded to make an official complaint to CTC about this.
(edit: added a screen shot to show where readers are taken from the link I have a real problem with this "advertising feature" in the latest Cycle. It is clearly labelled as "advertorial" (twice) but many readers will read it as journalism - not an advert. It may not breach the ASA's guidance but in my view it breaches CTC/CUK's policy on helmets by promoting their use in its own magazine. And it does so without a note about CUK's policy on helmets, which states they are against the promotion of helmets and that "there are serious doubts about the effectiveness of helmets. They are, and can only be, designed to withstand minor knocks and falls, not serious traffic collisions. Some evidence suggests they may in fact increase the risk of cyclists having falls or collisions in the first place, or suffering neck injuries". https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/v ... le-helmets
But many readers are not to know this and will read the sentences which describe the helmets as "intended to help reduce rotational force to the head during impacts, potentially minimising injuries"; and "reduce the risks associated with impact and rotation injuries" as advice from Cycling UK. In other words, it looks like CUK is promoting the use of helmets.
Cycling UK states: "Individuals should be free to make their own decisions about whether or not to wear helmets, with parents making these decisions in the case of younger children. Their decisions should be informed by clear information about the uncertainties over the benefits or otherwise of helmets."
Cycling UK through its Cycle magazine has failed to properly inform its readers by omitting its own policy advice. At the very least the article should have been labelled "Advertising features" and carried a statement saying:
"Cycling UK is pro-choice on helmets but is opposed to both cycle helmet laws and to helmet promotion campaigns because these are almost certainly detrimental to public health. There are serious doubts about the effectiveness of helmets. They are, and can only be, designed to withstand minor knocks and falls, not serious traffic collisions. Some evidence suggests they may in fact increase the risk of cyclists having falls or collisions in the first place, or suffering neck injuries."
I'm minded to make an official complaint to CTC about this.
- 27 Jul 2021, 9:53pm
- Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
- Topic: Bivvi bags - advice please
- Replies: 126
- Views: 12718
Re: Bivvi bags - advice please
More a case of my bad photography. The largest and heaviest item is the sleeping bag. The pillow is very light and will squash down a lot smaller in my pannier. I did buy an inflatable pillow that packs down to a fraction of the size but it just doesn't have the comfort of the Thermarest pillow so I left it at home.
I don't sleep particularly well but the combination of the Thermarest pillow and the Venture mat gave me a very comfortable night, and I slept very well for the four nights I spent on the beach - and the 90 minute siesta I had everyday under a tree in a nearby copse.
- 25 Jul 2021, 10:56am
- Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
- Topic: Bivvi bags - advice please
- Replies: 126
- Views: 12718
Re: Bivvi bags - advice please
More adventures in bivvi bags this past week. I spent four nights sleeping on a shingle beach in Hampshire.
The sleeping bag, mat, and bivvi were all a recent purchase and this was a huge improvement over my previous set up. The Thermarest Venture mat in a large size (I'm 77kg and 186cm [6'1"]) was very comfortable and the extra width and length made all the difference. I placed the mat on top of the groundsheet and the bivvi bag on top of that. This was the most comfortable set up and I slept very well.
There was some condensation on the inside of the Hunka bivvi bag but mostly along the taped seems. Bear in mind that the nights over the past week have been hot and humid, although it was a great deal cooler on the coast. Sunday night (18 July) was so warm I didn't even bother with the bivvy bag. However, a heavy dew settled and the top of the sleeping bag was damp in the morning. I don't think think the Hunka is a huge improvement over the Mountain Warehouse bag but it is a well designed and simple bag. I like the way it stuffs into its own pocket. The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag is very comfortable and very well made - to match the relatively high price (I paid £120 but it can be had much cheaper). The Thermarest Neoair Venture (large) mat is very comfortable and is made of fairly tough material. It is worth the slightly extra weight.
Bivvi https://alpkit.com/products/hunka-xl
Sleeping bag https://www.snugpak.com/sleeping/softie-3
Mat https://www.thermarest.com/ie/sleeping- ... nture.html
Other equipment I used:
MSR DragonFly liquid fuel stove https://www.msrgear.com/ie/products/sto ... 11776.html I bought this 20 years ago and I've only replaced the fuel pump. Boils water fast for morning coffee, and can simmer very low for cooking porridge. I use Coleman fuel or Primus Power fuel (both are refined petrol). I've also used Aspen 4 fuel and unleaded petrol in the past.
Firesteel https://lightmyfire.com/en/swedish-fire ... -army-2in1 to light the stove.
MSR cooking pot set https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/sta ... 21720.html Bought these 20 years ago. Durable and easy to clean. DragonFly and pump fits inside.
Pictured is my complete sleeping system from top to bottom: Thermarest pillow, Lifesystems midge and mozzie headnet, Snugpack Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag (standard size), Thermarest Neoair Venture (large), Hunka XL bivvi bag, and a Blue Mountain groundsheet cut to size.The sleeping bag, mat, and bivvi were all a recent purchase and this was a huge improvement over my previous set up. The Thermarest Venture mat in a large size (I'm 77kg and 186cm [6'1"]) was very comfortable and the extra width and length made all the difference. I placed the mat on top of the groundsheet and the bivvi bag on top of that. This was the most comfortable set up and I slept very well.
There was some condensation on the inside of the Hunka bivvi bag but mostly along the taped seems. Bear in mind that the nights over the past week have been hot and humid, although it was a great deal cooler on the coast. Sunday night (18 July) was so warm I didn't even bother with the bivvy bag. However, a heavy dew settled and the top of the sleeping bag was damp in the morning. I don't think think the Hunka is a huge improvement over the Mountain Warehouse bag but it is a well designed and simple bag. I like the way it stuffs into its own pocket. The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag is very comfortable and very well made - to match the relatively high price (I paid £120 but it can be had much cheaper). The Thermarest Neoair Venture (large) mat is very comfortable and is made of fairly tough material. It is worth the slightly extra weight.
Bivvi https://alpkit.com/products/hunka-xl
Sleeping bag https://www.snugpak.com/sleeping/softie-3
Mat https://www.thermarest.com/ie/sleeping- ... nture.html
Other equipment I used:
MSR DragonFly liquid fuel stove https://www.msrgear.com/ie/products/sto ... 11776.html I bought this 20 years ago and I've only replaced the fuel pump. Boils water fast for morning coffee, and can simmer very low for cooking porridge. I use Coleman fuel or Primus Power fuel (both are refined petrol). I've also used Aspen 4 fuel and unleaded petrol in the past.
Firesteel https://lightmyfire.com/en/swedish-fire ... -army-2in1 to light the stove.
MSR cooking pot set https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/sta ... 21720.html Bought these 20 years ago. Durable and easy to clean. DragonFly and pump fits inside.
- 15 Jun 2021, 3:17pm
- Forum: Off-road Cycling.
- Topic: Apps/route planners for off road cycling?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 9435
Re: Apps/route planners for off road cycling?
https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ You can ride on the bridleways and byways public rights of way. Footpaths will have gates and stiles in your way and should not, generally speaking, be cycled along but you can usually do so if you are not crossing private land.