Search found 2487 matches
- 16 Mar 2024, 6:24pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
- Replies: 24
- Views: 819
Re: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
Completed. Any chance we can meet up to discuss cycling in detail? Had a crank bolt came loose today, had to be tightened 5 times in 2 miles, had to cut the ride short, new paintwork to the chainstay's seem's ok, but needs a final sand and coat, was abused by a BMW passenger within 3 miles of leaving home today, lambs were fairly indifferent, but Galloway calves........
- 16 Mar 2024, 9:13am
- Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
- Topic: Halfords
- Replies: 2
- Views: 213
Halfords
Halfords ? Had always had a good image of the company, but ?
On buying a front derailleur, swayed by the 20% discount & FOC delivery. Halfords delivery process was remarkably quick & efficient, became apparent immediately, that they'd sent a braze on, rather than a band on derailleur. On looking at their website, band on derailleurs were now out of stock. Hadn't been when I'd ordered, immediately beforehand
Have wasted 2-3 days trying to sort this out, faced by virtual online assistants, nominal "customer service" after hours on the phone, a prospective 5-6 Hr round bus ride to the nearest store ? Faced the prospect of another several days devoted to it? Have had to bin the part and buy a replacement from a trusted cycle retailer
Wished I'd looked at Trustpilot before ordering, it would appear Halfords have substantial, online ordering issues
On buying a front derailleur, swayed by the 20% discount & FOC delivery. Halfords delivery process was remarkably quick & efficient, became apparent immediately, that they'd sent a braze on, rather than a band on derailleur. On looking at their website, band on derailleurs were now out of stock. Hadn't been when I'd ordered, immediately beforehand
Have wasted 2-3 days trying to sort this out, faced by virtual online assistants, nominal "customer service" after hours on the phone, a prospective 5-6 Hr round bus ride to the nearest store ? Faced the prospect of another several days devoted to it? Have had to bin the part and buy a replacement from a trusted cycle retailer
Wished I'd looked at Trustpilot before ordering, it would appear Halfords have substantial, online ordering issues
- 15 Mar 2024, 2:48pm
- Forum: For Sale - bits of bikes, etc.
- Topic: (BINNED) Claris 8spd front derailleur / braze on, triple (Brand new)
- Replies: 0
- Views: 188
(BINNED) Claris 8spd front derailleur / braze on, triple (Brand new)
BINNED. Being partially disabled, am not allowed to recycle metal in Northumberland, so had to go in a street bin
- 14 Mar 2024, 9:30am
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
- Replies: 181
- Views: 22977
Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Hmm, paintwork on my last Taiwan made steel bicycle, was in absolutely perfect condition after 20 years. Suppose the alloy frame on my Taiwan made road bike is still perfect after 21 years
If only the paintwork, on my "bespoke", English made Tourer, was off the same quality. Paintwork in exceptionally poor condition after five years, now at eight years suppose it's worth considering having the frame repainted at a decent garage, rather than trying to repaint it at home
Bit like wheels. Mass made, super light 16 spoke road wheels perfectly ok after carrying heavily pannier related loads for several years, bespoke, English made, heavy duty 36 spoke touring wheels notably warped after nine years, will literally have done perhaps < 1% of the pannier related mileage !
Wouldn't pay £10k, but a decent Taiwan made bicycle, definitely worth 3-4 times the price of a bespoke, English made tourer
- 10 Mar 2024, 5:22pm
- Forum: Health and fitness
- Topic: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
- Replies: 42
- Views: 1667
Re: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
Fair enough. What you basing that assessment on? I presume you can explain why other medical sources set a safe heart rate for sustained exercise, at a lower level than the NHS. Are such simply more conservative then the NHS?Nearholmer wrote: ↑10 Mar 2024, 5:07pmSeems about right as a starting bid for maximum to me. The rough approximation of 220-age for the OP gets to 153 or 154.Just been reviewing mine, 156 max heart rate seems very high for a 66/67 age.
Maximum is maximum, so the NHS guideline for sustained exercise is bound to be lower, and it looks to me as if they’ve set it fairly conservatively to account for a range of fitness levels.
- 10 Mar 2024, 1:52pm
- Forum: Health and fitness
- Topic: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
- Replies: 42
- Views: 1667
Re: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
Just been reviewing mine, 156 max heart rate seems very high for a 66/67 age. Sure the NHS would recommend around 116 bpm for a sustained workout (Nb. NHS recommending no more than 75% of maximum HR for sustained exercise)Psamathe wrote: ↑10 Mar 2024, 1:18pm A couple of months ago I got a heart rate monitor (in a Garmin watch). I've left my "Max. Heart Rate" as set by default by Garmin. Initially it was 156 (I'm age 66/67) which made sense.
1. Should the Max. heart rate be the max you ever see or should it be the max. sustained for a period of time or set it to the 220-age
After a couple of slack years (Nb averaging 180 miles weekly last summer), have got back to gym based, cardio sessions. Couldn't help note that I was habitually working out at the max heart rate, actually designated for me, just over a quarter of a century ago. I must be about a quarter of a century older, with presumably a lower recommended max heart rate ?
And having always presumed that working out harder & harder was better, has been notable that having been in multiple emergency ambulance / acute units over the past five years (Nb. Not heart issues), ,medical concern at my oversized heart muscle has been mentioned in internal letters / memo's, on any number of occasions. Too much exercise > max HRM, must be a medical concern ?
- 7 Mar 2024, 8:40pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Sorry, am aware of the incredible construction skills of the Romans . Merely referring to the lack of engineering structures in the route (Nb. There is a 13th, 15th, 18th & 18th century bridge over several miles, but only one would be used to cross a major river)Vorpal wrote: ↑7 Mar 2024, 8:26am
I assure you that a huge amount of engineering went into the Roman Road, or it wouldn't have survived to be tarmacked.
They either dug out or compacted the surface, then built foundations. They also used a multi-layer technique, not so different from what is done today, but the layers were thicker and more durable. They cambered the surfaces for drainage, and where necessary, facilitated drainage in other ways. In many way, the engineering, even for a simple straight surface was more than that done today. First because they did it without access to even Victorian technology, and second because it had to be built with human & animal power.
- 7 Mar 2024, 6:23pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Well I took my own route. As clarified in my opening post.PH wrote: ↑7 Mar 2024, 6:01pmObvious to who? You can't treat cyclists as if they were one big unified group, the obvious good route for one might be totally unsuitable for another. If you want a route that best reflects your own criteria and that's different to that of a route planner then the answer is to plan your own. That doesn't make the route planner bad, just different.
But fair enough, if some cyclists & cycle route planners find it preferable to choose to cycle along the busiest road in the area, carrying 15-25 times more traffic than other routes, whilst maximising the mileage to get from A to B, and ensuring the climbs are maximised by cycling at direct right angles across several, steep sided river valleys, whilst ensuring all views are minimised and any close contact with the routes principal historical and landscape features is minimised (I.e. Iron Age forts, Roman Roads, ruined monasteries), that'd be their choice.
There's no reason why a cycle route planner can't choose to direct cyclists along the hard shoulder of the non-motorway sections of the A1, to head North or something similar. Personally I wouldn't choose it, but there's no reason why other cyclists shouldn't
- 6 Mar 2024, 6:05pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: New Bike Thoughts and advice
- Replies: 37
- Views: 1550
Re: New Bike Thoughts and advice
I'd suggest that too much is made of pot holes. And certainly wouldn't let a fear of pot holes determine the type of bike you buyPaulK wrote: ↑5 Mar 2024, 8:32pm
The only reason i was thinking about a "Gravel Bike" is to cope with the pot holes etc, My last bike was an MTB, and the road resistance on the big fat knobbly tyres was an absolute curse. While super skinny wheels will just shatter at the sight of a rough patch of road.
Ive never heard of a Cyclocross bike.. (Sorry) Where do they fit in to to things ...
I can't recall any pot hole damage after 42 yr's cycling across the UK, doesn't really matter if I've been on a super light weight, 16 spoke road wheel, c/w 20mm tyre, or something heavier duty in nature.
- 6 Mar 2024, 3:58pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Oh I recognise that the Romans & Victorians were able to recognise the contours of the local landscape, as I had even as a 13yr old. Was merely bemused that the modern day "cycle route" planner, didn't appear to have the ability to follow an obvious route
Little or no engineering of any era on the routes & wasn't even as if the restrictions on modern day paths, tracks or roads being constructed, would have been a restraining factor. All the roads required for an obvious route existed, even the Roman road now being tarmac
- 4 Mar 2024, 10:16pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
- Replies: 587
- Views: 61413
Re: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Hmm, last minute check last night. As a partially disabled cyclist, c/w disabled rail card, multiple journey options to my destination 191 miles away, on a quiet Sunday, mainline service, several days in advance, for £18.90. Returned to book it tonight
It's now £125.7 for the cheapest ticket. With next to no services available. The reality of travelling with a disability in the UK, in the 21st century. Thank God for the van, bus, 4/4, HGV drivers, c/w "we wouldn't leave you" approach.
It's now £125.7 for the cheapest ticket. With next to no services available. The reality of travelling with a disability in the UK, in the 21st century. Thank God for the van, bus, 4/4, HGV drivers, c/w "we wouldn't leave you" approach.
- 3 Mar 2024, 9:16am
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
The local Roman Road is dead straight. But dead straight in such a manner, that rather going up/down @ right angles to all the river valleys it bypasses all the river valleys by skirting around the river valleys in a flat patch to the East and West of the moorlands and then effectively runs parallel to the river valleys. And also crosses the moorlands by choosing the naturally lowest stretch of moorland in 13 miles.PH wrote: ↑3 Mar 2024, 12:35amI thought the Roman thing was all about straight lines and engineering, pretty much the opposite of following contours.
It's the engineering which is expensive, cycle routes benefit from that when they're converted from their original purpose, rail lines, canal tow paths... and are disadvantaged by the lack of engineering when they follow roads only ever intended to take low volumes of traffic.
Whereas the "cycle route" does the opposite and also follows the primary B road heading North in the district, where perhaps being passed by a motor vehicle every 2-3 minutes can be the norm, rather than 2-3 vehicles an hour on the "non cycle" route back roads, which are shorter, with less of a climb. Unusually those back roads still have a decent tarmac surface, can't think of any pot holes en route.
- 2 Mar 2024, 8:41pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Sorry, just bemused that the Romans, 1800 yrs ago, the Victorians 140 yr's ag, a 13yr old in 1985, immediately recognised the contours of the local landscape and were able to define an appropriate route immediately. As I was today, sans map or IT
Just wondering if it's a fairly common experience, to find that "cycle routes",, are routinely defined by motor vehicle dependent individuals', without an intuitive regard for "up's & downs" in the landscape ? As anyone who walks, cycles, or rides will know, on an intuitive basis
- 2 Mar 2024, 7:01pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1861
Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
A quick review of my route home, post ride today. Without map's or IT on the ride, gut feeling, my route on review ?
42.91 miles, 2699' of easy gradients when checked, primarily north westerly, so typical wind directly pushing my way. Lengths of which the Romans took, with bit's of the hillside contoured, roughly paralleled by 1880's railways's taking a similar route for stretches. And the "cycling routes" , with recognised "cycle" , signposted routes ? 45.65 miles, c/w 3505 of sheer gradients, innumerable crossing of river valleys !
Am sure this is fairly common, anyone found it true elsewhere ? (Nb. It's the gradients on the cycling routes I'd find unpleasant, literally lowest gearing, as opposed to spinning through the hills, hardly noticing them in passing, aside from the view)
42.91 miles, 2699' of easy gradients when checked, primarily north westerly, so typical wind directly pushing my way. Lengths of which the Romans took, with bit's of the hillside contoured, roughly paralleled by 1880's railways's taking a similar route for stretches. And the "cycling routes" , with recognised "cycle" , signposted routes ? 45.65 miles, c/w 3505 of sheer gradients, innumerable crossing of river valleys !
Am sure this is fairly common, anyone found it true elsewhere ? (Nb. It's the gradients on the cycling routes I'd find unpleasant, literally lowest gearing, as opposed to spinning through the hills, hardly noticing them in passing, aside from the view)
- 2 Mar 2024, 10:20am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Tour Plans for 2024
- Replies: 76
- Views: 9392
Re: Tour Plans for 2024
+ 1. Staying in the country too, Chester may be a mid route town. Nothing definite yet, but thinking of a short 2-3 week early year ride, heading South on the Eastern side, heading West over towards Bristol, then North on the Western side. Wouldn't mind having all these small cities with notable features en route,purely by chance notable Cathedral, Abbey and University buildings en route, along with bit's of the Fen's, Downs, Lincolnshire Edge on the way. If the post industrial North West looks like it'll be too bleak, probably skip it via train up to Southern Cumbria.DinoD wrote: ↑7 Jan 2024, 5:39pm I was planning to cycle to Friesland but with all the cost and travel to even get to Calais I've decided to stay in the country and starting off at Chester I'd cycle and camp the north and down the west coast of Wales. I've done Carmarthen back to Swindon a few years back so will choose an alternative.
Having had 28 yr's studying/working around the country, having experienced the superb landscape in so much of Southern Britain, a need to get out of the North is desperate .