The Cycling Thread

Drew, I cycle 8 miles each way to work and my fastest time is about 20 minutes. Generally I sit at about 24-28 minutes. (Road bike)

My friend does 13 miles each way and it takes him about 40 minutes. We've both only been cycling for about a year but regularly.

The weather can be a bit poo, but, if you're going to have a shower it's generally only rain so you'll only be wet.

Wind? I did take a 21mile route home after 8 miles in when we had 25mph winds with 45mph gusts - bloody hard work but so worth it when you get home and feel good for just doing it.

I'd imagine as you already have a base level of fitness and you say it's pretty flat, you could probably do your 10.5mile commute in about 45 minutes no problems each way. Once you get better at using a road bike etc you'll probably find that time coming down a bit - I wouldn't be surprised if this time next year you'd be able to do it in 30-35 minutes on a good day.

You still have the option of the train if you want it. Give it a go

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Drew Carey

But from a timing point of view.....I have never ridden a road bike in my life, so curious to know if my current commute 45mins (10min cycle, 25min train, 2min cycle to office, +/- 8mins contingency) could be achieved in a quicker time, even with an average fitness level. Or am I asking too much of myself?

10 miles in just under 33 minutes at the moment, which is my best time, and not a flat route either... Road bike will be a massive amount faster than your MTB is even when its shod with slick tyres...

and I'm nowhere near peak fitness at the moment. Fit some mudguards to your road bike and a decent rain jacket / base layers and you'll be fine especially if you have shower facilities at your work place.

Research the cycle to work properly. It doesnt give you the benefits that you think it might at first glance...

[Drew Carey]

Cheers both for the advice......good to know it should be do-able - with a bit of work of course.

As for C2W Fizz, yup, aware its not as good as it used to be - but still a good way of getting an interest free loan for a bike with a small discount. Its not guaranteed that the company will be doing it yet. If they don't will just look to buy something outright.

Originally Posted by 454697819

how do you find the motivation to cycle in the crappy winds and rain?

Get a wife who wants a new kitchen, which is roughly equal in cost to a Husqvarna SM610s and a Mercedes CLK...

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Its pure skill mate.... it takes skill to eat that many pies!

Yes its all that hard work you did





Eating all them pies that is

[maviczap]

Just seen these gizzmo's after reading about them in cycling weekly.

Might look very odd, but probably effective, especially for the hands on super long winter rides in extreme conditions.

The ones for the feet wouldn't look to weird

http://www.breezeblockers.com/buy.php

Originally Posted by krhall

Get a wife who wants a new kitchen, which is roughly equal in cost to a Husqvarna SM610s and a Mercedes CLK...

ha lol....

fair play,

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by 454697819

how do you find the motivation to cycle in the crappy winds and rain.. I have opted for the car 70% of the time in the last week not good

Need to get some proper cycle gear I guess?

Yes, it helps, good gloves and shoes that keep your feet warm

So maybe 'Sealskinz' waterproof gloves & socks

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sealskinz/

Maybe get some DHB brand windproof top and roubaix weight tights

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-rou...d-waist-tight/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-signal-jacket-2011/

Is good stuff at reasonable prices from Wiggle

A lot of cycling brands are very expensive and not much better than the DHB stuff

[fizzwheel]

What Maviczap said, I'd add to that list Mudguards. Now I know its probably criminal to fit guards to My Look, but i have done, got a set of Crud Road Racer 2's on it. Been out in the wind and rain, and they make a big difference to how dry you stay, which makes a big difference to how warm you stay also it keeps all the much off my shiney cardbon stead. I think it'll go away once they start gritting the roads though.

It was lovely here this afternoon I've got a few days off work using up holiday that if I dont take I'll loose, so went out for a ride this afternoon 3/4's base layer and jersey and I was to hot... it wont last so I'm making the most of it !

Really enjoying my cycling at the moment, so I've invested in some more DHB kit, and some DeFeet gloves and oversocks for when its cold. I'm planning on fitting race guards to the Boardman tomorrow prior to heading out.

I also picked up a Kurt Kinetic Turbo which is a fantastic bit of kit. Feels more natural than the Cycleops fluid I had a couple of years back when I was coming back from an off. Highly recommended.

We're lucky enough to have a local floodlit cycling circuit nearby so they are running winter training sessions on it. Went down tonight for a 2hr session and got blown off the back a couple of times. Plan on doing it for the next 6 weeks and seeing if I can stay with them by the end of it.

If this lasts, I can genuinely see me hanging up my helmet and gloves on the motorbike for a bit. I'm not finding any time to use it.