Cycling UK Forum

It's hard to verbalize some aspects of the fun (err... joy?) we get from riding. Something my misses when new to cycling found hard to grasp is what I've seen described as 'companionable silence' . Just because because I didn't chat as we were riding along did not mean I was not enjoying her company or would rather be riding with someone else. Has anyone else experienced this or is it just me not wanting to reveal my shortness of breath?

I have often experienced this in the company of females that I know. Ladies are great communicators and silence from their partner can sometimes be difficult to understand from their point of view. My wife, for example, likes a chat. I on the other hand am quite comfortable to be with her and not say an awful lot. I admit that I am not a great communicator (many men find it difficult to discuss their feelings even with their intimate or close companions) but she understands this. I used to joke with a male friend of mine that over a weekend we would exchange no more than a few sentences with each other. Not because we'd fallen-out but simply because we were enjoying the weekend, each-others' company, and the newspapers/breakfast/music.

On a bicycle I have a great deal of trouble hearing what the other person is saying simply because my hearing is poor and there's lots of wind noise in my ears. That and I'm normally holding-on with my teeth to keep from falling off

Hi there

Nationalrail.co.uk is your friend here. Since they introduced that "PlusBike" thing a couple of months ago their cycle-related information on the site is much improved.

Just enter your journey details and click on the link to get details of the specific timetabled train journey and you should see on then right-hand side of the details bit a small cycle icon. Tap/click on that and you will be shown the cycle restrictions, reservations requirements, etc. They even tell you how many cycle spaces a given train has.

Hope this helps.

PV

Hi Miguel

Sorry for the delay, I've been offline for a bit.

I honestly thought that it would be easy enough to find a road cassette with a small sprocket of 13-14 tooth but I've not been able to track one down! Mountain bike cassettes (see SRAM) offer some crazy-big sprockets but they will not work with your 105 mech.

So, yes, impractical advice! You'll get used to the 32-tooth sprocket with practice anyway

Hi Miguel

In addition to Brucey, assuming that your Croix is using the 105 RD5800-GS, the docs say that the maximum capacity on that is 37-tooth. Switching to a 11-34 cassette would give you a tooth-difference of 39. I suppose if you were touring then you won't need an 11-tooth top gear so get a cassette with a small sprocket of no less than 13 teeth (I believe 14-34 is easy enough to come by).

Hope this helps.

Hi Samsbike

I presently ride on a triple, some FSA chain set that came with my bike which is 48-36-26. I tend only to use the 48 tooth ring on the flat or downhill anyway when engaging warp speed. I think that almost everyone sits on the middle ring anyway.

AFAIK Shimano group-sets from the 105 "downwards" to Claris offer triples, though I do not know if they offer a choice of chain ring sizes. My FSA chain set is starting to wear and I cannot find a direct replacement for it anywhere. It was when searching for this I discovered Spa Cycles' chain set offerings and they sell Stronglight, Shimano, and other quality brands with a wide choice of chain ring sizes. I'll probably replace mine with a Stronglight part.

As for a smaller double, look at mountain bike chain sets from Shimano or SRAM - they can go super-tiny. Peruse the sites of Wiggle or Chain-Reaction and you'll get a feel for what's available. As for what will fit your frame, that's another thing entirely!

Hi there,

"Gotten" is, in fact, an ancient English word that was in use in England at the time America was colonized by the English. Over the centuries, the Americans kept on using it and the English did not. It's considered obsolete in British English nowadays, but can be used legally.

More info here (quite an interesting read, I hope you agree): http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/on-the-use-of-the-word-gotten

robgul wrote:
I cancelled my membership last November and was given an 8/12ths refund within 2 days ... have to say I was surprised, but I have the money

In fairness your early renewal is probably foxing them .... you should be able to sort it and get a 100% refund.

Rob

Quite right, Rob. After replying to the original email where they stated no refunds, they took my point about essentially not "starting" my renewed period and have since agreed to give me a full refund. Ho hum, all's well that ends well.

Paul

Who knows? Could be they're dealing with a backlog of cancellations or are anticipating a surge in requests to join following the re-launch next month.

EDIT - deleted section on membership cancellation problems as now resolved.