Cycling UK Forum

So today I was out for a cycle, trying to give my new Dawes its first proper run since I got it. Plan was to cycle to the in-laws where I'd meet the mrs. and my son for sunday dinner. My father in law is an avid cyclist so i rang ahead and aranged to meet him halfway. The whole trip is about 26 miles.

Anyway, two miles in I was on a bit of a narrow and busy road doing about 28mph on a nice easy downhill stretch when a couple of buses and an HGV overtook me.They weren't mega close, but close enough for me to hug the road as close to the kerb as i felt comfortable and slow down a wee bit. Then my front wheel suddenly went into a crack/pothole in the tarmac. It tracked it like a bloody tramline and sent me straight into the kerb. I was flung onto the pavement and slid a good way over the concrete, my hand, elbow, hip and knee taking most of the brunt, and onto a grass verge and into some bushes. I honestly didn't know for a second how I'd got there. Somehow I was still clipped in and couldn't clip out. Looked down to see a massive hole in my tights and blood pouring from my knee. Bloody all down my arm and the sleeve of my jersey ripped too.

Bus that had passed me stopped a bit down the road and the driver got out and helped me up, as did a car with a couple of young girls who had been behind me. It was no ones fault on the road, but i was glad that people stopped and actually showed some concern. Girls gave me some tissues and I mopped up my leg and made a makeshift bandage. Tried to piece my pride back together and after a bit of a rest and a biscuit, got back on my way.

The bike is okay bar a couple of a scratches to the paintwork and pedals.

I'm abolutely SICK of the state of the roads round here though, and I'm sick to the back teeth of reporting pot holes and crap cycle lanes. What can I do about it? The crack in the asphalt will one day catch another cyclist out and he/she may not be so lucky as to land in the bushes...

Knee is very sore now by the way...

fossala wrote:Nail varnish.

Clear? Or my personal favourite, Chic Crimson?

I have a steel frame dawes that I came flying off today on a stupid pothole. Apart from the fact I have no skin on my knee and my fave dhb tights have been ruined, I'm ok, and my bike is all in one piece, however I took a bit of a chip out of the frame paint and wondered if there is anyway to "seal" it so no water gets to it and starts rusting.

Is this even something I should be worried about? The chip is small and not too deep but I've told chips are where steel frame rust sets in.

Getting it resprayed would be a false economy obviously as the rest of the frame is in immaculate condition.

bikerta wrote:I have also just purchased a 2012 model of the Dawes Galaxy from bike shop in Taunton. Advertised on line for £839, so I went down and had a look and a go on it in their car park. Was very impressed with the bike, but they do have a long top tube and I found it was a bit of a stretch to sit with my hands on the hoods. The shop have now fitted an adjustable stem to bring the bars in a little closer to me and a Blackburn MTF1 front rack included in this price, so was very pleased. Had my first go on it today and it feels great and I hope the back, shoulders and knees hold out. (am 53 and up till now have only done cycling as a leisurely activity) I have never had a touring bike before, but I would like to begin cycle touring. I am already a motorcyclist and have done a few tours on that, so have most of the lightweight gear already. It is however, a slightly different ball game when you literally have to push that weight up the hills.

Hoping to do a 3 day tour in the next couple of weeks just around the Wiltshire Cycleways as a tester.

I'm really pleased you like your dawes.

I've been riding mine exclusively for a couple of weeks and absolutely love it.

A very smooth and reliable ride.

Today I got back on my super light roadbike and really appreciated how "racey" it felt.

Very happy to have two bikes I love to ride that serve two different purposes

I would very much like to do the northern tier route in the next 18-24 months, however would be looking at doing it in around 60-70 days

clanton wrote:My favourite is "Round the World on a Wheel" by John Foster Fraser. Written in 1888! I like it as much for the world it reveals - and their attitudes to the world - as for the actual cycling stories. From a modern viewpoint some of their attitudes will seem very anachronistic - even distasteful to some - but I found it fascinating.

I'll have to check that one out it sounds like it would be pretty interesting

Used the Ortliebs for the first time yesterday and was mightily impressed by the ease of use and look of them (most important )

Since seen some carradice front panniers second hand which may be worth a punt for the price

It was meant to be a glib remark, not scientific fact.

In any case it's raining now up in the hills of Bolton (Greater Manchester)

Tease

robgul wrote:

chris3vic wrote:The bike shop is about 14 mile from me but I went there because they had shop stock of an ortlieb ultimate 6 mount - and I couldn't find one anywhere.

To be fair the guy was pretty eccentric but he put the fear of god into me as I have no experience with steel frames.

He tried to flog me a giant carbon machine with electronic shifters though, which probably says a little about his area of interest

He did say he's been fixing bikes for 40 years though, so I dare say I believed his tales of woe.

Should've seen his face when I told him I hang the thing up in the old outhouse.

Name and shame the shop!

Rob

Nah its not relevant really. Like I say the poor old chap was very helpful and endearing but his views on steel bikes were worrying if not a little eccentric as I said. In fact, it seemed just the Galaxy's he had an axe to grind with. Maybe one rotted on him in his youth.

If they had wronged me in any way, either service wise or financially then of course I'd name and shame 'em

The bike shop is about 14 mile from me but I went there because they had shop stock of an ortlieb ultimate 6 mount - and I couldn't find one anywhere.

To be fair the guy was pretty eccentric but he put the fear of god into me as I have no experience with steel frames.

He tried to flog me a giant carbon machine with electronic shifters though, which probably says a little about his area of interest

He did say he's been fixing bikes for 40 years though, so I dare say I believed his tales of woe.

Should've seen his face when I told him I hang the thing up in the old outhouse.

On Saturday I cycled down to a Local Bike Shop because they had stock of a bar bag mount I wanted.

The guy in there was really helpful and gushed over my Dawes Galaxy propped up against the railing outside. That pleased me greatly of course.

Anyway, whilst I was in there the heavens opened for a bit of a sun shower.

The shop guy started panicking and suggested I'd want to bring my bike into the shop until it stops. No bother, I said, I've already covered my brooks.

No, he said. Those bikes are notorious for rusting through. In fact, he says, you should never ride one in the rain if you want it to outlive your elderly goldfish.

Now, I'm no steel frame expert, this is my first bike of its kind, but surely he is over exaggerating. I mean, these bikes, and loads like it are built from steel to last, right? They go round the world fully loaded over all sorts of terrains and through all weather systems and climates don't they?

Do I really need to be worried about this? Should I take some sort of precautions if the clouds gather and it starts weeing it down mid ride (pull over and throw a tarp over it perhaps?)

I'm aware of FrameSaver, though wasn't going to use it believing, naively maybe, that I was worrying over nothing.

I live in manchester, it rains constantly. Please tell me my bike isn't going to vaporise in the next shower.

Any maintenance tips otherwise?

Loads of good recommendations here. Thanks very much.

A couple bought on Amazon already, so I'll update you on what I think when I've read 'em

shane wrote:
Or just read one of the thousands of free cycling blogs out there

I do like to peruse the blogs. These are more for holiday reads and stuff I can shove on my kindle.

Thanks again. Will pay amazon a visit later.

Thanks guys - a few good ideas to look into here

I love travelogues to be fair. Easy and interesting holiday reads. I don't really "do" novels. Prefer travel stuff and short story collections.