Cycling UK Forum

[/quote] That pretty well describes my flu experiences - I've had two bad bouts - it puts a strain on the heart - a relative 36 years old died from it. Incidentally I understand ( maybe I'm wrong and misunderstood a recent radio broadcast ) but developing vaccines isn't particularly rewarding and s...

Nice video- pretty well sums up audax - one of the attractions to me is being able to ride a detailed route in a different area compiled by someone with local knowledge.

It seems to me that the cellophane backing of Tip Top patches has changed over the years.
I first bought some in 1955 and the backing split just by folding the patch, making it easy to remove.
I can't do that with the present material.

I use marathon plus tyres, not had a p****e for years, glad to pay more for robust sluggish tyres They last well too I tried Marathon plus and didn't find them any more puncture resistant than my gatorskins - atrocious ride - the only advantage I found was that the road holding was better - which i...

Normally I use the dishwasher. On tour I carry sterilising tablets. At the end of the day I fill the bottle to the brim and place the inverted cap on top so that the spout is immersed. After a couple of hours I screw on the cap and squirt some of the solution through the spout. I agree that fruit ju...

There is no such thing as being "musclebound" Isn't there? It has this meaning :- Definition of muscle-bound 1: having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise 2: lacking in flexibility : RIGID First Known Use of muscle-...

The difficulties of knowing which factor affects what body aspect, eh? As with all highly complex "systems" it's impossible to separate out any simple cause & effect relationships. They are, as another poster mentions elsewhere, "unfathomable". Just ask Maxwell's daemon. The...

pete75 wrote:Getting muscle bound decreases flexibility and will make the task harder.

There is no such thing as being "musclebound"

Weight training will improve strength but also flexibility. I'm 78 and I don't have a problem swinging a leg over the saddle. I use a gym about three times a week for a mixture of cardio, stretching exercises and weights. Whether you use a gym or exercise at home some weight training is beneficial (...

What gears are you using ? Possibly you would do better on something lower than you are currently using. Also the advice of keeping to your own pace is good. Many cyclists start a climb too fast - try taking it very easy to start - when you are riding within your comfort zone you can try riding a li...

Last vaccination I had was as a teenager at school. Ended up with a 1cm cubed hole in my arm. All a reaction and nothing to do with a macho culture of hitting everyone on their vaccination arm of course. Seriously nasty wound that stuck to every dressing my mum could buy. Took over a month to dry o...

Thanks once again for the replies.
I replaced the housing at the shifter - used metal ferrules.
All working OK.
How things have changed from down tube shifters - in fact my first front mech was lever operated - you had to reach down to change it - nice positive action though.

I've used it a couple of times. Obviously it involves all night on a coach - the seats are well spaced though. Bikes are secure. Sometimes delayed. The main drawback I find is that the dates and routes don't match my requirements. Relatively expensive compared to flying - or even train for early boo...

Interesting Cudgel, Some years ago, maybe in the 70's there was an experiment on how much time difference would be obtained at different speeds. I think the start point was in Germany and the end in Italy. One driver was instructed to drive with care but allowed to drive up to the speed limit. The o...

Thank you all for the replies. All points toward the outer from the shifter which I'm going to replace. I hadn't thought about the BB cable guide but that seems in good condition. It occurs to me that I had a problem with the LH shifter (front changer) earlier in the year. The wires of the housing h...