Cycling UK Forum

While the USA certainly has a car culture, it is not true that the roads are for motor vehicles. The laws can vary considerably from one state to another, but most states have laws that give cyclists the right to an entire lane, just as if a bicycle were a motorized vehicle. In fact, in most states, this is accomplished by defining a bicycle, car, horse drawn carriage, etc. as vehicles and applying exactly the same rules to all.

In most states (including Ohio) slow moving vehicles must use the right lane unless overtaking or turning. This is advisory rather than mandatory in some states.

The Ohio police officer who said stoobs was "riding too far out" clearly did not know the law in his state. I am a US American and have over 30 years cycling experience in the USA. I have never been told anything like that. Contrarily, when I was a teenager, an Illinois police officer did the opposite, and suggested that I would be safer if used the traffic lane I was "entitled to". That piece of advice has influenced my cycling ever since.

I am not familiar with the Huffington Post, but this seems to be true. See http://road.cc/content/news/18586-bicyc ... ampaigners

However, I doubt this will last long. I would expect half the 118 residents of Black Hawk, CO to go buy bikes and start pedalling them around town to assert their rights.

Also, a community cannot enact a law banning cycles. They can only pass something called an ordinance, which allows a community to require the payment of a fine if someone were to do something against the ordinance. I have not checked Colorado law, but I would expect that little things like state laws which define a bicycle as a vehicle and permit vehicles to use roads, etc. will take precedence if this ever gets to a court of law.

There are actually several reasons I wear the tights underneath other stuff...

-The tights are winter bibs that I usually use as a base layer on cold days; I wear stuff over them and remove other layers rather than the tights
-The tights are a comfortable fit, but not with other stuff underneath them; I sometimes cycle with the tights as my only layer for the lower part of my body, so their fit suits me as it is
-If I could find alternatives that fit me, I would be happy to consider them, but in 25 years or so cycling as an adult, these are the only tights I've found that fit comfortably. My body seems to be a different shape from whatever clothing companies (including American ones) base their designs on
-The last (but relatively minor) point: the shorts I usually wear over them are club kit

My tights don't fit over the shorts.

I'm a 16/18 and have a similar problem. I've always worn mens' shorts. I have one pair of ladies' tights, but they don't have much padding, and I wear mens' shorts over them if I'm going any distance. For some brands the padding is the same, and for others, it's different. Some brands have more padding than others, some offer several increasingly expensive alternatives. Don't order shorts off the net. You can't tell if they will fit, and different brands are cut very differently.

However, the most important way to avoid chafing, etc. is to have a comfortable and correctly adjusted saddle. Your weight in the saddle should be on your pelvic bones, and your legs should be *almost* straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I find the saddle is most comfortable for me if the nose is tilted down slightly, but they are usualy set up by shops to be more or less parallel to the ground.

Check http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sa-o.html#saddle
Or See http://www.perfectcondition.ltd.uk/Arti ... inpage.htm

Try making some changes to your saddle adjustment. If that doesn't work, I'd try a new saddle. Any old shorts will do.

Good luck with RAGBRAI!

I bought a new bike about 18 or 19 months ago. It was my first bike purchase in about 15 years. I needed to reduce the number of bikes in the garage, so I bought a new one.

The most useful thing I did shopping was ride lots of different bikes. Not only was it fun trying all the different bikes, but it helped me a great deal in determining what I wanted in my new bike. And when I met my new bike, I knew it as soon as I rode it.

You could ask around a local cycling club or two, or try calling some local primary schools. The schools often offer some sort of bicycle training to students. Some use Bikeability, but others rely on volunteers.

You could also check the list of CTC instructors and contact others in your area http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4747

It's difficult to say what will be best for you because circumstances vary from one place to another.

Best of luck.

Get a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It's recommended reading for Bikeability training, anyway. And you may be able to get what you need from the book and some work & practice.

You could also try some cycling clubs. They should give you opportunities to ride with others, get some training in, and advice form experienced cyclists. Most clubs will let you come along on a few rides before asking you to join.

Don't be put off taking a course or getting training, if you can. That may well be the fastest way to gain confidence cycling, and you are likely to learn something from it, regardless. There are plenty of trainers, however, who aren't experienced cyclists. Get recommendations from others. Again, a local club can be a good resource, even if you don't join.

Finally, enjoy yourself. I've seen new/returning cyclists complete a 150 mile, two day charity ride within a few weeks of buying a bike. The worst you're likely to get out of it is saddle sore.

Good luck!

Try the Mini Mite from Saris: http://www.saris.com/c-18-parking-and-storage.aspx (scroll to the bottom of the page). Saris group is the same company that does CycleOps stuff, so I expect someone in the UK will carry their other products, though I haven't looked.

I have Sora components on my CB & am planning to upgrade the brake lever/shifter because I don't like the Sora ones. They require frequent adjustment, and when they are out of adjustment, I have trouble shifting, especially the front derailleur. That's where I would recommend spending a bit more. Otherwise, I find Sora are pretty good value for money.

I'm an emigrant, myself, but you could try the Eastern Road Race League Forum at http://forum.errl.org.uk/index.php
Someone on there is bound to know.

Good luck!

Have you looked at this? http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=5116

Also, check with your county council road safety group. Many of the councils sponsor Bikeability training for the schools, and are short of instructors. If you meet their criteria, they may pay or sponsor you to attend a course on the condition that you commit to delivering a minimum number of Bikeability courses at local schools.

You can also try these sites

http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/travel ... ining_Home
http://www.bikeability.org.uk
There is some sponsorship available through Bikeability, as well. See: http://www.bikeability.org.uk/professio ... saries.php

If you wish to try it out as an assisstant or volunteer before you commit, I would still recommend the same contacts. You will need a CRB check.

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

I waited until my kids could hold their heads up before taking them out with my bike. I use a trailer for two & a bike seat when I only have one along. I have an Hamax Sleepy seat which leaves just enough room underneath for panniers. My trailer is an Ammaco trailer which I obtained used from a club mate. If I were going to buy a new one though, the criteria on which I would select one are:

carrying capacity (we get close to the 100 lb limit carrying shopping & two kids)
stability (try some out, loaded, if you can, before you buy)
ability to convert to push-buggy
ability to fold down for transportation
reliability (I don't know anyone who's had problems with a trailer, but I'd read on-line reviews & stuff)

My trailer has a third wheel and a push-buggy handle (with brakes) that can be folded down or detached when not in use. Technically, it doesn't meet British standards for push chairs, and so isn't recommended for use as such. It certainly isn't a well-designed push chair. However, not having to carry my littlest (who is just 1 year old) and kids' accessories when I get wherever I'm going is a *huge* bonus and means I can use the bike to take the kids for days out to the zoo, park, etc.

Some of the bike hire places in Essex also hire out trailers. They seem to use the same model trailer that I have. You might be able to hire bikes with various solutions & see which ones suit you and your family.

Best of luck!

Linda

National Express East Anglia 08.20 from Witham to Chelmsford on the 27th April. There were three other cyclists that I saw getting on the train, but there were probably others already on. Bicycles seem to be fairly common and reasonably well accomodated on National Express East Anglia. There aren't usually any special carriages, but most have sufficient capacity to accomodate bikes, except at peak times on the most popular routes.

I take my bike on the trains in East Anglia several times a year (and used to do so more frequently) and have never had any difficulty. Theoretically, bicycles are not permitted at peak times between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street, except for reservations on various of the intercity services. However, the intercity services (running every half hour) will often permit walk-ons if all of the bike spaces in the guard carriage are not taken.

They don't charge for bikes or require folding bikes. Bike spaces are theoretically limited on some services, but I've never seen the limit enforced, nor been turned away from a train because I had a bicycle. They won't take tandems, trikes or trailers. Without dedicated carriages, I don't expect there is room. Their cycle carriage policy is here http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.co ... e_carriage

They offer a cycle rescue service on some routes, and there is talk of extending it to others.

The worst trouble I've had is dirty looks from fellow passengers, and not too many of those. All in all, my experiences with bike/train travel have generally been positive, and it is the fastest travel method (including car) to a couple of occasional destinations.

edited for typo

I'm female. Like some others, I lurk more than I post.

I have been cycling with varying degrees of seriousness for about 35 years. I am reasonably mechanically able, and confident enough to cycle alone in traffic, haul two kids in a trailer, join a 60-mile club run, patch a puncture in the rain, etc.

I'm not too worried about what other people think (or intimidated by strong opinions). I just don't have time to keep up with the forums I belong to. I keep up with my club forums. I browse a regional forum with some regularity. And I read this one occasionally, use it to get information about a particular topic, and browse the classifieds.

With two small children and full time education, I don't often take the time for more than that. Besides, when I get a little time to myself...well, I'd rather be out on my bike.

Others clearly think I'm crazy! But that's okay.

I use my hobby to spend more time with my toddler. She likes cycling, as long as the weather is decent. And our outings often end at a park, or other destination of her choice. Other cycling is merely transportation