Cycling UK Forum

In my youth there wasn't the range of specialised clothing that there is now (if you turned up for a club run in "racing kit" you were a subject of derision). I would avoid cotton if possible as it retains moisture which will chill you in the winter. Some form of waterproof/windproof jacket would be useful. A wool jumper for warmth will work as well as most dedicated products. Most of us have our own preferences.An acquantance, apart from a helmet, eschews all cycling specific equipment including shoes- he still completes a 400k audax with no problems.

There isn't a direct link. My girlfriend is the same height as me (5' 5") but has much longer legs and a shorter body. Hence she requires a longer seat tube (54cm) but struggles with top tube length. My preferred seat tube length is only 50cm but I feel comfortable with a much longer reach. The best thing is to get your various relevant measurements and start from there. Bernard Hinault's book on cycle racing gives a great deal of useful information on this- you may of course want to modify the "racing position" indicated, in terms of reach and handlebar height but the the saddle height and setback you obtain is an excellent reference point.

Some fifteen years ago my late Brother made a citizen's arrest of a pavement cyclist who had ridden into him and then assaulted him after he objected. Pedestrians can strike back as well.

The accident simulations were weighted to put the cycist at fault. There are many other scenarios which could also have been shown. In my experience the "left hook" is usually down to a motorist overtaking a cyclist and then performing an immediate left turn. This of course when performed by a HGV has caused the death of several women cyclists in London this year.
On the other hand it has to said that many cyclists have a cavalier attitude to the rules of the road and their actions toward pedestrians is often appalling - this was also neglected in the programme.
What I would like to see, would be a more serious "Horizon" style programme considering the issues without the biased language.
I felt that the comments of the AA representative on a recent morning news programme were far more constructive.
We definitely need a dialogue between the motoring, cyclist and pedestrian organisations to seek something like the French "share the road" philosophy.

A case of SMIDSY I suppose?

The introduction of the speed limit (despite the oppostion of the "Blimps" who claimed that "eventually pedestrians will learn to get out of the way of the motor car") led to a dramatic reduction in road deaths - I think they were much higher than today.
I think our present problems date back to the fifties when politicians of all complexions were obsessed with futuristic dreams of high mobility by means of personal motor transport. People were encouraged to think of car travel as a virtuous activity (Margaret Thatcher's opinions are a case in point).
The 'fifties minister of transport Ernest Marples stated at the time that the freedoms of motorists would have to be controlled before they became sufficient in number to become a political force. Well they have become a political force and both major parties are terrified of antagonising them. Hence we wont have the type of laws that exist in most continental countries where SMIDSY isn't any acceptable defence.
What we do have from a substantial minority of drivers is a resentment towards cyclists for interfering with their freedom to proceed at any pace that suits them. As we know this is often exhibited in dangerous overtaking, verbal abuse and sometimes physical assault.
We also have the press, incuding the so called serious broadsheets plus TV motoring programmes, vilifying cyclists.
It's hardly surprising that a German cyclist is shaken by British motoring standards.

[quote="robgul"]An idea that was in Cycle mag a few months ago for drop bars ... cut two short lengths (about 3cm) and roll them on the bars before taping (obviously brake levers will have to be removed) - then tape the bars and roll the sleeve of tubing over the end of the tape on the bar tops - reduces the chances of the tape unwinding. Similar idea with 2 sleeves slipped on to the bar ends after taping - again reduces the risk of unravelling.
A good idea.

I always slit an old tube lengthwise and wind it onto the bars as one would normal tape. I then apply normal (cork) tape on top. This helps to give some reduction in vibration on poor surfaces such as most minor roads have these days.

What is "Carbimazole"?

Manx Cat wrote:Im gonna mention hygiene here. Partly cos I work in microbiology, and because I have seen shocking hygiene when it comes to cyclists and cleaning their bottles.

Water bottles are a great source of fungal and bacterial growth, they should be washed out and soaked in Milton (a baby bottle bleach) for at least 30 minutes after they have been used, dried properly, and stored in a dry dark place such as your china cupboard.

I take your point about cyclists and drinking bottles.
I always wash mine and then put them through the dishwasher, is that ok? They get a rinse before use. If I'm on tour I take some sterilising tablets. I fill the bottles to the brim and put the tops upside down on top so that the mouthpiece is also immersed.
I don't get stomach problems normally but I think the problem that Herbie is describing and I know I suffer from on longer rides, is to do with the effects of prolonged exercise on the digestive system.

eileithyia wrote;

"Probably one per cafe stop. so it will depend on length of ride and number of cafe stops."

That's very interesting to me. This may sound very stupid but do you take them before or after eating? Also do you take them whether you feel the need or not?

[quote="
I always have a large supply of Rennies on a long ride.[/quote]
How many do you take on a ride? I always understood that large amounts of antacids were a bad thing.

quote]
I'm not sure the Basque terrorist group can help. Unless you want to get rid of the shop on a permanent basis.[/quote]
I left my passport in a hotel in Spain and went into the police station in Irun on the Spanish border. They asked for ID and I handed over my ETA card, this made for an interesting few moments and some raised eyebrows as they passed it round.
I don't belong to ETA anymore.

Of course in the good old days we could ride around for a few miles with a new pair of shoes and get a nice pedal line on the sole to align our shoe plates, all we needed was a hammer, tacks, and a cobblers last.
When I first tried SPD's I thought of leaving them a little slack so that I could align them by moving my foot. Fortunately I found a wall to cling to so that I could get my feet out of the shoes ! - one failed experiment. I eventually sorted out the position by trial and error.
What may be more germane to the discussion is the height of the sole above the pedal axle. I read an interesting article about this in the French "Cyclo" magazine, where they compared having too large a height as equivalent to pedalling in platform shoes, reducing the possible angle of ankle rotation and having a consequent deleterious effect on the knee. There is a wide variation in height between the various systems with SPD's at the upper end at about 17mm and speedplay (lollipops) at about 7mm (Nearly as good as the old cleats and thin soles).
Having said that I'm 68 and I've been using SPD's for 12 years and I don't suffer from knee problems(I'm also short (5'5") and use standard length cranks), but if your knees are a bit delicate it may be worth considering these points. Otherwise keep to a sensibly low gear, keep your knees warm, and if you are suffering from knee pain, rest is probably advisable- best to lose a little short term fitness than have a prolonged forced layoff.

I don't know how long you have been cycling. You may be one of those people who suffer from exercise induced nausea- basically your body generates excessive acid - although 50 miles is quite a short ride to have this problem unless as others suggest you are riding at a racing speed- perhaps your energy drink is too concentrated. l I am a fully paid up old git but I've suffered from this since schooldays and still do sometimes on audax rides despite being very slow. I understand that some people deal with it by using some antacid medication such as Zantac I always bring some soda water and a packet of plain crisps to take after a ride- very effective even if I feel on the verge of a technicolour yawn. . My usual problem is the "greasy thumb" control often encountered in Audax events (please support the controls says the information sheet!)- how do others manage to consume a vast amount of fried food and still ride as fast as they do?

Tub cement? it takes a little time to dry but it certainly grips.