Cycling UK Forum

Some excellent looking bikes in this thread. Some real classics here which unfortunately mine are not.

I have my road bike which has had a few upgrades since it came out of the shop. Now running almost fully 105 drive gear and Mavic Aksion wheels.



Then I have my Hybrid which is kitted up for commuting, yes I do have a lot of stuff I have to cart back and forth to work. I ride at night a lot hence why plenty of reflectiveness and 2 rear lights.

I agree with the above. Canoes are not easy to paddle. Having only one blade on one side makes going in a straight line quote hard until you have mastered the stroke properly. It's not easy. A kayak is a lot easier to paddle and as you are sat down a lot more comfortable for long periods. A nice touring kayak would be ideal.

Get a Trangia. I wouldn't use anything else. It is the best stove in the world in my opinion. In really bad weather I have been known to use it in the porch of my Terra Nova Trisar tent.

It is a safe stove and can cope with horrendous weather.

It could be my imagination but I'm sure drivers leave me more room on my Hybrid with wide panniers on the back than they do when on my road bike.

My hybrid is a Specialized Sirrus Elite, so I would class that as a roadie with a little bit more room for tyres and flat bars, going much wider would also mean wider mudguards as well. I think 28 should be fine, I don't find the ride hard. I do also ride a roadie on 23 tyres.

I have no idea what the average is.

I got back on a bike about 4 months ago for the first time in about 20 years. After about a month I was riding 30 mile country road route in about 2 hours so averaging 15 mph.

I am pushing an average of 17mph now on 40 - 50 mile rides on my road bike.

Commuting in town on the hybrid with panniers is a good bit slower though between 11 and 12 mph.

Whatever speed you go though doesn't matter. What matters is you are out on your bike enjoying the outdoors.

Having been working in Richmond on Thames recently and spending some evenings cycling around Richmond Park I have learnt not to worry about the pace others are riding at as it can easily depress you.

Thanks all.

I was heading for the Marathon Plus as had read of some potential problems with the Gatorskins and the Armadillos not lasting long.

The Land Cruisers only seem to come in 35 wide which is a bit wide for me so I'm now looking at the original marathons which are only £20.00 each so not to bad at all.

Hi, I've just got back into cycling in the last few months in order to lose some weight and improve my overall fitness.

I bought myself a new hybrid a couple of weeks back in order to commute to work about 8km each way.
The current tyres are Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x28c. I've already had a puncture though and they are inflated properly so I'm not convinced they are as good as I had hoped.

There appears to be three options out there that I have found but I would welcome some opinions on them. I am riding on tarmac cycle paths and roads in all weathers.

Continental Gatorskin
Schwalbe Marathon Plus
Specialised Armadillo

Are any of the above better than others or to be avoided.

Thanks