Search found 2489 matches

by gbnz
24 Mar 2024, 8:43pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Why are the general population resistant to getting fit?
Replies: 97
Views: 5045

Re: Why are the general population resistant to getting fit?

millimole wrote: 24 Mar 2024, 5:34pm My experience tells me that it's persistent all-year round riding that is important to maintain a base level of fitness (and motivation!)
Age and/or letting fitness levels drop, can be difficult to recover from. Am two decades younger, but ten years back, doing a quick 24 mile round commute, c/w 2300' climb just to get to the gym was routine. As were the routine 70+ mile rides. Only 100+ mile rides felt long

But three yr's with almost rides being a generic 28-30 mile circular, minimal gym, fitness level had dropped through the floor. But ? just finished fourth week prioritising the gym, increased mileage on the side. Realised on finishing yesterdays quick 38 mile spin, half against a 20mph+ head wind, that fitness levels were heading upwards :wink: . Felt great, time for a quick 4-5 day coast / coast / lakes / dales
by gbnz
19 Mar 2024, 9:39am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Would it be unreasonable … ?
Replies: 42
Views: 1693

Re: Would it be unreasonable … ?

nirakaro wrote: 19 Mar 2024, 8:31am
simonhill wrote: 19 Mar 2024, 12:33am You could look away, ride off path, fall in canal and when he hopefully helps you out you explain that you fell in because his lights dazzled you.
Of course! Why didn't I think of that? In future, that's what I'll do every time the situation arises. :shock:
It's a pity the smart phone approach may not work. I find it very useful to walk in a straight line and then the dumb, smart phone users who don't look where they're going, literally bounce off. May be too dangerous on a bicycle, c/w bright lights ?

Or at the end of a 65+ mile ride yesterday, on a small alley way, 100' from where I live. Found I didn't have to speak to the individual allowing two dogs to deposit remains across the alleyway. Stopped, got off the bike, stood and stared directly at the dog owner. No need to speak. It worked
by gbnz
16 Mar 2024, 6:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
Replies: 24
Views: 937

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........
by gbnz
16 Mar 2024, 9:13am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Halfords
Replies: 2
Views: 373

Halfords

Halfords ? Bought a front derailleur, swayed by the 20% cheaper price & FOC delivery. Delivery process incredibly quick & efficient, cable parts delivered within 24Hr's, derailleur within 48Hr's. Derailleur incorrect, a braze on variant sent. Subsequent check online, 2 Hr's/1 day later, showed that band on derailleurs were now out of stock. Had been in stock when I ordered

Had wasted 2/3 day's trying to sort this out, Halfords national online/phone systems being hopeless. Endless online & phone response via "virtual assistants" sometimes called Chantelle (Nb. I'm sure there were comedies in the 90's, about computer based, virtual assistants ?). The one human I was able to get in contact with on the phone, pleasant/helpful, marked it as an "urgent" case. Spoke to the same individual two days later, the case hadn't progressed

Was able to retrieve it from a street bin. 58 mile round ride to nearest store, 69 miles the route I took. Store assistant very helpful, preferred option of absolute refund sorted within minutes (Nb. Part ordered elsewhere). Was chucked it in a street bin, to physically prevent myself trying to return directly to a store. Wasn't sensible to cycle for 2 - 5 days? Had tried 12.67 miles, turned back
by gbnz
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: 228

(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
by gbnz
14 Mar 2024, 9:30am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 195
Views: 24380

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

pliptrot wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 9:07am . If anyone can explain how a bicycle made in Taiwan is worth 10,000 quid I'd love to hear it.
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
by gbnz
10 Mar 2024, 5:22pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
Replies: 42
Views: 1947

Re: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)

Nearholmer wrote: 10 Mar 2024, 5:07pm
Just been reviewing mine, 156 max heart rate seems very high for a 66/67 age.
Seems about right as a starting bid for maximum to me. The rough approximation of 220-age for the OP gets to 153 or 154.

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.
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?
by gbnz
10 Mar 2024, 1:52pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)
Replies: 42
Views: 1947

Re: Max Heart Rate (Setting & Meaning)

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
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)

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 ?
by gbnz
7 Mar 2024, 8:40pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Replies: 30
Views: 1977

Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?

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.
Sorry, am aware of the incredible construction skills of the Romans :wink: . 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)
by gbnz
7 Mar 2024, 6:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Replies: 30
Views: 1977

Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?

PH wrote: 7 Mar 2024, 6:01pm
gbnz wrote: 6 Mar 2024, 3:58pm Was merely bemused that the modern day "cycle route" planner, didn't appear to have the ability to follow an obvious route
Obvious 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.
Well I took my own route. As clarified in my opening post.

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
by gbnz
6 Mar 2024, 6:05pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New Bike Thoughts and advice
Replies: 37
Views: 1817

Re: New Bike Thoughts and advice

PaulK 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'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 buy

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.
by gbnz
6 Mar 2024, 3:58pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Replies: 30
Views: 1977

Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?

Vorpal wrote: 6 Mar 2024, 10:41am
Romans & Victorians immediately recognised the contours of the local landscape and were able to engineer an appropriate route.
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
by gbnz
4 Mar 2024, 10:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Replies: 589
Views: 61810

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.
by gbnz
3 Mar 2024, 9:16am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Replies: 30
Views: 1977

Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?

PH wrote: 3 Mar 2024, 12:35am
gbnz wrote: 2 Mar 2024, 8:41pm Sorry, just bemused that the Romans, 1800 yrs ago,<SNIP> immediately recognised the contours of the local landscape and were able to define an appropriate route immediately.
I 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.
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.

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.
by gbnz
2 Mar 2024, 8:41pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?
Replies: 30
Views: 1977

Re: Routing online or via "knowledge" ?

Bmblbzzz wrote: 2 Mar 2024, 8:01pm What are we being asked here? It's hard to connect the post with the thread title and the "anyone found it true elsewhere?" question.
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