Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:14:07 GMT

www.youtube.com/watch

Thought Bob Lehner would enjoy the bit about "cycling nutjob"...... ;-)

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:41:42 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

A friend and I were once cantering up a narrow path through the forrestry, I was on the second horse, when we rounded a bend, and nearly collided with a mountain-biker coming down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[/quote]

Perhaps you shouldn't have been cantering on what you admit was a narrow path Wynne. I was riding (sensibly) along a narrow bridle path when a horse rider came galloping round a blind turning with no chance of stopping, I had to throw myself into the hedge to avoid being run down, her companion came along a bit more sensibly and was at least apologetic for her friend who by now disappeared into the yonder. Consolation - her friend was very nice looking! But what if I'd been a family walking with young children? Equally last Sunday I was cycling down a narrow lane and a horse and trotter cart came thundering along the other way, the driver shouting advice at me to slow down/get out the way in rather colourful language and it wasn't even a pikie!, needless to say he got back as good as he gave. Perhaps bike and horse riders alike should have more mutual respect and gang up on the common enemy - reckless car drivers.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:45:39 GMT

I did a sportive ride in the New Forest weekend before last - it was like a slalom course between horses, ponies, donkey, sheep attle and even a few pigs! Mad stuff. Lovely ride though.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:10:34 GMT

Yup - its hard when your going fast (on horse or on bike)

Don't talk to me about near misses , cycling on Dartmoor we have sheep, ponies, cows, deer, and man many lemming squirrels!

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:03:28 GMT

A friend and I were once cantering up a narrow path through the forrestry, I was on the second horse, when we rounded a bend, and nearly collided with a mountain-biker coming down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend pulled upsharply, and I nearly ended up riding pillion-fortuneately no actual collision-I don't know who had the worst fright

Wynne

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:35:27 GMT

I've had some near misses too - one a deer that bounced out of the woods in front of me whilst I was on the road bike and doing a fair lick and fortunately kept going straight up a very steep bank on the other side. It was VERY close, and I had no time to react. The one above though I think is a bit different - it looks like that Hartebees was gunning for him!

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:23 GMT

[quote user="Simon Neuhoff"]

www.youtube.com/watch

Not your usual cycling hazard!

[/quote]

Maybe more common than you think, a year or so ago a large deer (I think it was a Roe but it happened very quickly) jumped over a fence while I was on an off-road tail and missed me by a fraction. More frequently Muntjacs run onto or across the trails I use (indeed on more rides than not) although a collision with one of them, wouldn't be quite so spectacular.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:20:44 GMT

www.youtube.com/watch

Not your usual cycling hazard!

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Robin Grimmer — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:11:14 GMT

Anyone know of this vet who is about to embark on an epic bike ride from the UK to Cape Town?

http://vetonabike.co.uk/

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:25:31 GMT

No Simon - I had to regretfully pull out (about 5 days before) but I sold my entry to a very nice guy and he cycled with my friends - combination of exhaustion (from work and training) and my wife was ill etc so I stayed around home for the week - now gutted as I later found out no TW for 2012 - I hope they come out with something similr - there is talk of maybe a 3-4 day more technical event?

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:43:57 GMT

I've watched that clip half a dozen times over the last week - it really is the most incredibly skilled thing I've seen all year. That man has a great future ahead of hime.

BTW Richard - saw your name in the Trans Wales lists - did you enjoy it? My wife and I have ridden four of them, (and managed to win the mixed category last year) but sat this one out due to family visits. Sadly it looks like it was the last one.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:46:31 GMT

"As previously stated, discussing cycling isn't really for a vet web site"

Disagree with you there - We are in the Off Duty section - perfect place to discuss our hobby!

I marshaled at the ToB Thursday and wrote up the article if anyone is interested: http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/blog/tour-of-britain-stage-5.htm

@Neil : Danny's run was unbelievable!!!

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:13:30 GMT

As previously stated, discussing cycling isn't really for a vet web site, but reading all the postings, you might appreciate this. Presentling the British winner of the Downhill World Championships this year.

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/216258/

I'm off to polish up the steel framed, bespoke Mercian tourer in purple and white (very pretty) and dream of Colorado, Slovenia, China and India.

Neil

PS Don't forget to vote for the Manx Missile in BBC Sports Personality this year.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:02:18 GMT

Chain wear - simply buy a metal tool that's hinged in the centre and has two flanges at either end. Slot these into the chain and if the metal lies flat against the chain, you've stretched the chain. They are about £14 from your local friendly bike shop.

Other forums for you to while your time away on

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/

http://www.tandem-club.org.uk/_dboard.htm

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Liz w — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:43:35 GMT

on a separate topic, if anyone is planning to enter the Etape Caledonia the entries are open this Monday. Apparently it's already a third full from pre-registered people, so you'll need to act quick if you're wanting to do it.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:05:17 GMT

Some of the descents were old DH tracks so on new 140-160mm bikes they are not DH track now - some guys were there on LT HT's so cert. doable - there is the last one at Afan still to go in 2011 :) there were a few gaps and tables at the bottom of the last stage but not big ones - prob be right up your street :) I'm not much of a gnarly rider and I could just about ride most of it clean.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:38:27 GMT

[quote user="Simon Neuhoff"]

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

I'm running 34/50 compact chain rings, does anyone know if it is possible to get <34 110 mm BCD compacts ? I've never been able to find one. Will be doing some really hilly audaxes before long s just wanted to lower the gearing.

[/quote]

Clive I don't think so. Even if you did I suspect you would run into a problem with the front mech - I don't think they can manage bigger jumps than 16 teeth at a time. I think you'd be better off looking at your cassette - it is easy enough to swap to a bigger rear cassette though you may need to lengthen the chain too, in extreme cases people have fitted 32 teeth rear cassettes off mountain bikes but then you would need a long cage, MTB rear mech too.

To be honest it sound llike an excellent reason to buy a new bike to me...... might I suggest something in titanium?

[/quote]

Cheers Simon, would love a new bike but funds limited at the moment so not yet.

You are probably right; probably need another casette and/or to fit a triple on the front. can get up most things as I am so will probaly stick with it.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:34:16 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[/quote]

To be honest it sound llike an excellent reason to buy a new bike to me...... might I suggest something in titanium?

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Simon Neuhoff — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:10 GMT

[quote user="Richard Fox"]

I have built 5 MTB wheels now - the last rear rebuild after I split the rim seems pukka as I completed the Eastridge Gravity Enudro on it - it was only the tyre that gave out ;) The more you built the better they become in my experience:

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/racing/sixsixone-gravity-enduro-eastridge.htm

I got some Dura-ace Carbon laminates last Xmas and they are still true - love them :)

[/quote]

Now THAT looks like fun!! How technical are the courses? Would they be described as entry level downhill? I'm good on rock gardens/berms/rooty twisty stuff and tiny jumps but big gap jumps etc are beyond me! I ride a steel hard tail with 130mm travel...... Very keen to give this a go!

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Julian Earl — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:03:30 GMT

Chain anecdote: train specifically towards the LVRC TT National championships, all intervening races used as a build-up for a race on a course to suit one's abilities, hit personal bests on the way so you know you're on track, prepare bike in advance, clean, tighten, overhaul, even down to getting new shoe-plates so they are are nice and snug, recce the course the day before, warm up for a good half hour before the event, focus, focus, focus...

and snap your chain fifty metres after the start.

Bu$$er.

Don't ignore the chain folks. Just because it was fine the previous ride doesn't mean it will be okay the next.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:02:51 GMT

[quote user="Simon Neuhoff"]

Hmm - I thought the chain wear indicators were marked in percentage of total? I have the Park Tools one - I'll check tonight.

[/quote]

You're correct, typo on my behalf. The other way you can measure this is with a 12" rule measure from rivet to rivet it should be exactly 12 links, if it is more than 1/16th of an inch out or one rivet the chain needs replacing. I tend to change my chains every year regardless except on my MTB which gets very little use then the other drive train components seem to last forever.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:18:44 GMT

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/racing/sixsixone-gravity-enduro-eastridge.htm

I got some Dura-ace Carbon laminates last Xmas and they are still true - love them :)

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:04:56 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

Does anyone rebuild and re spoke wheels, I've learnt to this year after an entry level Alex A340 rim exploded on me.

[/quote]

I have in the past but with factory built wheels with aerodynamic spokes it is not easy to get spares but they're pretty bombproof and my hand built wheels are so good I've not had a broken spoke or one go out of true for 10 years. I've had to completely rebuild a wheel on the side of the road on tour on more than one occasion in the past after crashing or hitting a pothole but last one I broke the rim going down a drain cover last year I discarded as it was my number 5 set I couldn't be bothered repairing it, saved the Hope hub and the spokes though.

PS I hope this wasn't another wind up I'm obviously such a bike nerd I'm falling for them hook, line and sinker.

[/quote]

Not a wind up at all. I was just showing off because I have learnt to rebuild wheels . My "good" set of wheels are hand built (professionally, not by me) hope hubs, swiss DT spokes and mavic open pro rims - they really are the canine testes. Rebuilt the old ones keeping Shimano 105 hubs and swiss spokes, with new nipples and new cheapo Rigida Chrina rims for winter and turbo trainer use.

I check my good wheels monthly on a truing stand, still spot on true after >12 months and many miles and many audaxes.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:25:57 GMT

I change chains when they are at between 0.75 and 1% stretched/worn. get 2 chains to each cassette and chain rings.

Re: Anyone into Cycling - a website for you?

Richard Fox — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:11:02 GMT

OOPS - missed the sarcasm there