Cycling UK Forum

You say you want to get a "bit fitter" and can't " see myself really getting into cycling further distances".

I'd prioritise. You're cycling to "get fitter". There's no doubt cycling 3-4 miles uphill a day will make a minute difference, but to be honest, it'll make little difference in terms of improving cardio vascular fitness, building muscle or losing weight/fat.

To improve cardio vascular fitness, you really need to undertake 60minutes + exercise per day at a high heart rate. To build muscle, you really need intensive exercise (a 3-4 mile ride hardly counts as a warm up, with untold possibilities in terms of injury if taken intensively). To lose weight/fat, diet (as in food you eat, not in calorie counting),against energy expenditure.

I'd concentrate on what you want to achieve,prior to concentrating on buying a bike. Though buying a bike will be great and is definately, in every respect, a better way to commute 3-4 miles than a car. Good luck

Without a doubt. My Christmas starts around 11th December and following nights and days "out", I'm "in" from tonight. This the bike beckons! Until the new year!

No, I never worry about a bike

The original ergo unit lever on the LH side snapped last february, after approx 38k. The replacement snapped on Sunday after 6500-7000k (I'd been using another bike throughout the past year). I'd be able to understand it, if at a fast pace, on a bend I'd rammed the gears home, however at a steady pace, on a flat, straight road, I merely changed gear and again felt the lever flex and bend, prior to breaking off

Anyway, thanks for the comments. A new set of levers are on the way and while annoying, they are fairly cheap and take minutes to fit. Hopefully the RH unit will fail next time, as I'll shortly have a lifetimes supply of RH 9sp campag ergo units. Or perhaps I could have Campag on the right and Shimano on the left, as my only spare sti unit (A result of airline breakage) is a shimano!

Yes, I was referring to "ergo" units, though Ive always thought of STI being the generic term for such units I.e. similiar to hoover being the generic term for vacumn cleaners, though I believe the generic term in that instance is now dyson?

The 9 speed campag mirage ergo units I've had, have all been fitted with a plastic composite gear lever, whilst I noted all the 10 speed campag units I've seen seemed to have alloy levers.

Given that I've never had a problem with alloy levers snapping, while the campag plastic composite levers seem to snap relatively easily, I was considering alternatives.

Suppose I could buy 10 speed ergo units and swap the alloy levers across to the 9 speed ergo units.

What are the compatability issues (if any) in fitting campag 10 speed sti units, to a bike fitted with a campag 9 speed drive train? The composite 9 speed sti units seem liable to snapped levers, while the 10 speed are heavier duty alloy and cheaper (£45 as opposed to £70)

It's a minor issue, the plastic bottom bracket cup merely exists to fasten the cartridge in. A cracked cup doesn't effect the non-adjustable bearings, nor does it result in the bottom bracket cartridge falling out. That said, if the plastic cup deteriates to a degree where it's falling to pieces, scrounge a replacement from a cyclist or bike shop FOC, or take it off an old bike

However, personally I'd loosen it a bit. The BB plastic cups always seem to seize after a while and it's definately easier to retighten it occasionally, rather than having to drill the things out when seized

Am I a sanctimonous cyclist?

I ask the question, because the village is now "snowed" in. Seems genuine this time, with a heavy 6-8" (150-200mm) snow overnight and the direct road to town blocked by 20-30 cars, vans and a truck, unable to proceed forwards or backwards

It gave me the greatist of sanctimonous pleasure to cycle past stranded motorists (MY god, it's only a 45 minute walk to town or village) , given that I didn't know we were snowed in, until I cycled to the gym first thing (It's official, my neighbour the policeman told me on my return). In particular, seeing an expensive silver sports car, normally driven at incredible speed by a purple haired middle aged woman with complete indifference to other road users, stuck at an angle on a slight uphill stretch, was most pleasing

While I stay off icy roads, a good, compacted 6" of snow on the road, with no moving traffic proved easy enough to ride on. Far better than the wet, icy roads of the last two weeks. And while I'd expected to walk back uphill, even on 28mm slick tyres it proved to be straightforward to plod on at a slow, steady pace (The whole journey was done on a 42 chainwheel, 26 cassette)

If only the roads were like this every day, the world would be a better, , more fulfilling, self righteous place. Even the motorists were behaving like humans and talking to each other!!

thanks jawaka, no one's given me a medal yet!

I tend to stay off the bike in ice and snow. That said, it's been ice and snow for two weeks now and patrick taylors comments about withdrawall symptoms ring true. Couldn't help it, had to do a couple of hours this morning

I've found narrow tyres (20mm) can be difficult to stretch over the rim. Conversely wider tyres (32-35mm) sometimes seem too loose on the rim, until inflated

Well, used to be the case that I never bothered too much about a bit of ice on the road

Funny how a knackered knee, pinned elbow, cracked skull, brain haemorrhage, temporary brain damage, memory loss, hospital stays over a period of time etc, etc and all the other joys of cycling have changed my outlook (I'm proud to say I've never lost a bike yet,just damaged the organic bits!!)

My next major accident isn't planned until 2014, based upon a rational examination of cycling safety, mileage, conditions and a realistic asessment of risk

So, no, I decided to walk to town last weekend, not cycle in the snow and ice!

Well, I'm not a fan of Halfords. Would any individual with a serious interest in cycling, admit to such a deviation in character?.

That said, my experience to date this year has been positive. Though I know it's due to the individuals involved, it's hard to avoid the same positive train of thought in regard to Halfords in general.

The bike shop employee's in Plymouth, Newhaven, Newark and Durham all contributed towards my attitude. All were young, minumum wage fodder, at the same time genuinly interested in cycling. They'd had no training from Halfords, yet clearly knew what they were doing, in terms of repair work. Moreover at both Plymouth and Newhaven I spent a good 1-2 hours in the shop, having been lent the tools, lubricants and the workspace F.O.C. to replace knackered bearings while out on the road. Whats more they all had a good range of bearings in stock, though under the counter, not on display

Having been told by 4 high class french bike shops, that bearings weren't available, "there were none in the country", I'd have to wait two weeks while requirements were ordered and a work schedule allowed repairs to proceed and NO, NO they couldn't lend me the tools if I bought the parts and did the repairs myself, it was a fantastic feeling to sail into Newhaven and arrange and complete essential repairs in such a short time

Can't recommend a book or guide. Assuming you're heading for the West Highlands (Given it's perhaps the most distinctive area), I'd acquire a basic 1:250,000 map and follow the minor roads around the coast and lochs

I'd particularly consider using the various ferries to cut between various areas, given a lot of motorists avoid the smaller roads (Though check online they exist, as they are subject to change). Also bear in mind the fairly decent rail network, which gives an escape route, if the weather turns foul. And it is one of those areas where carrying food or planning retail stops ahead is worth it, as otherwise you can pay a fortune for rubbish

Perhaps the major consideration is timing; I've always heard mid april-mid may is best in terms of weather and midges. It was certainly the case this year - the first two weeks in may were sub burn territory with not a midge in sight

Parcel force or royal mail (I sent a road bike frame 400 miles via royal mail (I think it was classed as a oversized letter, maybe a parcel?), £8 for next day delivery and insurance)

98% bike, excepting long distance by train (with bus connections at this time of year)

And a bit of walking, though the 9 mile round walk to the supermarket this weekend was an exception (Normally by bike). Too much snow on the road for the bike, in any case it was a beautiful winters day for a walk across the moors

"which would fit all my needs"

I wouldn't attempt to buy one bike, which "does it all". There'd be far too many compromises between a commuting, off road and touring bike. I certainly wouldn't buy a Specliazed Tri Cross - whatever the adverts say, it isn't a road bike, mountain bike, off road bike, touring bike in one (I have one, which after a small fortune in replacing second rate, compromised components is now ok for general light touring)

Personally I'd have a decent bike for your main mode of cycling, have a working cheap bike for secondary use and even a third cheap bike for tertiary use. I.e. I've a decent road bike, a workable assortment of parts for a town/commuter bike and a assortment of parts fitted to a tricross frame for touring

Have to say your commute is pretty impressive, espcially in terms of the ascent. Have you considered a light weight road bike, fitted for rear panniers - I used a road frame, salvaged road calipers, gears, 24 spoke front wheel, fitted a short handlebar stem and flat bars and a made to measure rear wheel (road rim, 36 spoke, xt hub) as a commute/town bike. It's pretty ideal