Cycling UK Forum

Having started cycle racing in the early 60's before heart rate monitors, the norm was to check your pulse to make sure you were rested and not overtraining. I had always continued this and was used to my resting heart rate been about 45 bpm rising to 52 as I got older. In 2019 I was cycling well and did over 13000 miles in the year, including a 600k audax in 36 hours. However in 2020 in the depths of the pandemic, I noticed that my pulse was uneven , going slow then fast. This lasted for about 3 days and then it went back to normal. I had checks at the doctors and hospitals and short and long ecg tests but nothing showed up. The irregular pulse again showed up and I returned to the doctors and referred to hospital heart consultants. Among many tests , an ultra sound scan of the heart showed valves etc ok but 2 of the chambers significantly oversized. I was diagnosed with permanent atrial Fibrillation and this is still the same 18 months later. I was informed that there was very little hope of any intervention been successful due to the oversize chambers, and they would control the situation with medication. The suggested cause was many years of endurance cycling I take Beta Blockers and Blood Thinners. I tried to continue cycling but found it impossible. I have not given up hope but have lost so much strength and movement I know it is going to be a struggle. The NHS has been under so much strain for the last 2 years it has been difficult to progress, It has made me realize how much joy cycling has given me in the past and I need to give it another try.

The Portsmouth to London trains are Southern and you can not reserve bike spaces on these. They normally have one cycle/ wheelchair compartment every four carriages. The London trains are normally 8 carriages, giving you 4 spaces or during busy times 12 carriages , giving you 6 spaces. The bike carriage is marked by red down the side of the door. The Portsmouth harbour station is just a little further but is a terminus, so the trains usually sit there for 20 minutes giving you plenty of time to get on board and strap your cycles in. If the trains on your journey are calling at both both, this would be the better option. When using Southern, I am never given an option to reserve a seat, nor do I see reserve cards. These are basically regarded as commuter trains. The advance tickets always say restricted to that train, but in practice I have always used the first train available with never a problem. The only exception been off peak tickets, when the barriers will not let you through at peak times.

I have one exactly the same in my garage. 9 speed drive side built into a mavic A719 rim. I have used this combination for many years and have had a few due to rim wear. The rest have been perfect and this one still ran perfectly true and was hidden behind the large cog on the cassette and I only noticed it when working on my bike at home so I don't know how long it had been like that. I have often wondered if it was a faulty flange, too much weight, a bad bump or over tensioned spokes. I use the same type of hub on 4 bikes and so feel it was just bad luck rather than a weak component to be avoided.

There is nothing to show which model on the saddle and they all look the same. However I remember the saddle was for a leaning forward riding position, such as riding on the hoods on a touring bike.. This then is the Athletic, I have checked the measurements, and they agree with the given measurements for the Athletic. All the other 3 models are different lengths and widths. Hope this helps. I normally document everything I fit, but on this occasion didn't bother as regarded it as a very short term stop gap.

I bought a Selle Royal Freeway Fit , as an emergency replacement for a Brooks B17 Competition Special that I found had failed , whilst checking my bike, the day before a 600k Audax. Despite been in the saddle for 24 hours it was the most comfortable saddle I have ever used. I was given another brooks b17 completion special but this again broke after a few months. I kept the selle royal on my touring bike and covered 13000 miles in 2019 . It still looks like new and is so comfortable I do not expect to change it. ( I am 77 ) I had previously used brooks for all my non racing cycling since 1962 with never a problem and still have a have a 50+ years one in use. I never expected a last minute rush to Halfords to provide me with something I am so happy with, especially at a very reasonable price. However I learnt a long time ago that saddles are a very personal thing and one doesn't suit all, although I have never had a problem other than than two mentioned above failures. I haven't even taken up the guarantee on those as I have no intention of swapping back.

That would be great., Richard is correct in that covid has restricted our activities. Although we were able to work alone and have zoom meetings the loss of events such, such as cycle shows and rallies, meant we were unable to recruit and publicise. ( Thanks Richard for Cycle Travel a great facility) I can see the difficulty on rural routes , where the distances may be far greater and the volunteers far fewer, so there may be no local group.

Having been a keen user of Sustrans long distance routes, I also found that on occasions the signing was difficult to follow in places. In order to put something back into the system, I joined the local Sustrans group as a ranger. I look after about a 15 mile stretch of the NCN 2, mostly on cycle track. Checking signs is the easy bit, chopping back overgrow verges and bramble is more involved. We hold regular meetings and have a group ride afterwards to get fresh views on a route. I guess as with all bands of volunteers, enthusiasm and time may vary. We hold working parties for larger challenges and I have in the past cycled 100 plus miles to reach them. Most time consuming though is the work that goes on ,to get better cycling facilities and routes, such as checking planning applications and attending meetings so that new housing is cycle friendly, (somewhere other than the bedroom to store your cycle ) speed limits, dedicated cycle routes, cycle racks at schools and town centres. We are currently working with our town council, county council, district council and National park on several projects. It has opened my eyes to the effort and time these volunteers put in, especially at the pace councils move at, often taking years of campaigning to get something done..

After been hit at speed by a car in 2007 my Dawes Galaxy (2004) was classed as a write off and I was able to buy a replacement with the insurance. The old bike frame was OK but the forks, bars and wheel were write offs. I purchased the forks you have listed from St Johns St Cycles and just had to cut the steerer down. After that for the next nine years I used the bike for my 200 commuting weekly miles. They have behaved perfectly. I brush painted them with hammerite to match my green Galaxy. They do less miles now I have retired but still get well used especially if I don't want to risk a better bike. They have guards fitted and 700 x 35 Marathon plus. Have not fitted front panier rack so can't advise

I cycle up from Sussex to Kings Cross to catch the train up North quite often. As I have pre booked train tickets I have to be careful with the time. I come into Epsom on the A24 and allow 2 hours from there to Kings Cross, so about 1 hour 40 mins to central London. Using A24 to South Wimbeldon then right for Merton and super highway via Clapham or alternative Earlsfield, Wandsworth and south of the river till Chelsea Bridge. I try different routes on the way back, via Sutton for example. I tend to follow my nose a lot to try different routes, but generally know where I am having lived and worked in London and Surrey for Several years. Even though I commuted 20 miles each way to Brighton for over 20 years I find the ride through London quite a challenge.

I have a Brooks B17 Champion brought from Wiggle with the same fault. I was rebuilding a frame and my 57 year old Pro was starting to look a bit tired so I bought the above saddle. I had it for about a month and was nicely broken in, when checking my bike before a 600k audax the next day found it twisted. One side of the tension shackle had snapped off allowing it to twist. As it was about 7pm I bought a cheapo from Halfords and rode in surprising comfort. Upon telling the tale to a club mate , he said he had one for sale, still in box. He had fitted it and ridden it twice but didn't find it comfortable. I bought it at a bargain price and fitted it, Rode it for about a month and the end came off the tension bolt. I had registered the first saddle with Brooks which extends the guarantee to 10 years but haven't had it repaired as I have lost confidence in the product. Don't want it breaking miles from home or away on tour. My Made in England faces forward and the underside of the rivets are copper but are much darker as don't get polished. I have never had a saddle problem in 60 years of riding and now get two in a few months. Need to decide if just unlucky or quality isn't what it used to be.

From my 1963 Bike riders aids is the following entry under Rims - Sprint
Constrictor Conloy 12.5 ozs. Probably the strongest hollow sprint rim made. Has a very deep well, so that most tubulars need a rim tape to lift them from the edge, or the walls are liable to chafe. 54 shillings per pair.
No mention of wood filled, but the previous entry on the page is for Weinman Hollow Alloy wood filled rims and states that the flat section is made more rigid by the wood lining which allows the spoles to seat themselves into the rims.

I can understand your attachment to your Dawes Horizon, as I have two galaxys and they are my go to bikes, despite having carbon, aluminium and hand built steel. They take what ever I throw at them in terms of miles, terrain, weather and luggage with great reliability and comfort. Both mine are green and I get lots of compliments. The only thing I haven't been completely happy with is the Canti brakes but Brucey has, as always covered it all. As suggested go with the advice of the repairer. The cost of the tubing is negligible, compared with the labour of repair and respray. Dawes used to sell, just the framesets. I wish they still did as my daily commute took me to work on a pier where in winter the uncovered bike rack used to get lashed by sea spray. Heart tells me get resprays, head tells me get a new bike with disk brakes. Not sure yet, which is going to win.

It depends on the type of ride. I go out twice a week with a Cycle UK section, often as leader. We do 45 to 75 miles depending on starting place. the café and pub stop and conversation give me great pleasure. To get further afield I will do one or two solo rides with 100 miles about the average. I get as much pleasure from these, as I did when I started 55 years ago. I have no one to worry about me, so don't return till 10pm in summer. Speed is not an issue so always looking for scenic, interesting places and go on my touring Dawes rather than my carbon audax. Tomorrow am going with a group on 20 mile technical off-road ride. Unless you are training for an event, its all about doing what you enjoy, have the health for and having the time and money for. Luckily for me, I am still ticking all the boxes.

Have done several tours with my Carridice Barley. I take about the same for a 3 day ride as I do for a two week tour, just have to wash more. As I mainly hostel, one of the largest items is a towel (even though its a lightweight, quick dry). If using other accommodation they would provide, or you can hire at YHA but that adds up over 2 weeks. The next is shoes, now I take a pair of light deck shoes, which flatten down to the size of a pair of insoles. Mobile phone instead of camera etc. Miniature travel items in wash bag. Do a pack list and think about each item. I have also used the straps that should fix the bag to the pole, to extend the closing straps, turning it into a long flap version ( without the flap ). That's fine as long as you pack inside a waterproof bag, which I do as most luggage will let water through eventually.I Keep looking for a bargain bigger bag but at least this way makes me keep the weight down as daily mileages tend to be high.

You need to go to Cycling UK website and under membership benefits they list the benefits with a view button for the promo codes. You can only view the code if logged in. Just apply that code in the promotion code box on YHA on line booking. If using more than a couple of nights per year a better bet is half price yha membership as for £10 it would give you £3 per night off stays. If already a yha member you can't get half price membership. The on line prices are members prices and if on arrival you don't have membership they add an additional charge https://www.cyclinguk.org/membership/member-benefits