Cycling

[glosterred]

Buy yourself a pair of good walking boots and walk its a lot safer and cheaper - and just as good exercise

COYR

[CusworthRovers]

Free App I also use is Strava. Very good. I just use my Garmin for running now (although I could use Strava for that, but don't like running with my phone).

Bought a Giant Hybrid on the cycle to work scheme about 3 months ago. Excellent bike and does everything

Also I've now got a Racer (note to self, need to start calling them road bikes). I say got, a friend of mine is bike mad and has them made to order/fit/customised and spends 3-4k on the things (nutter). He's GIVEN me a Giant carbon framed...turbo nutter bas**rd type. The trouble is, he's given me the frame, a set of handlebars, the cogs, 2 wheels and 2 tyres. I need to fit it all together, buy gears, a seat, a chain, pedals and other bits. As this is a very expensive bike, I'm guessing it's going to cost a few conkers to get this all together and get the bits it needs to re-assemble it. I say I need to fit it together, I haven't the time or knowledge, so will pay somebody....Any offers or advice on that front.

 

[mushRTID]

Cheers lads, will check those out.

[nutwellrover in dublin]

 Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.

[wilts rover]

Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.

Err my geography of London isn't that great as its a while since I lived there - but isn't Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road about 3 feet?

[nutwellrover in dublin]

Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.

Err my geography of London isn't that great as its a while since I lived there - but isn't Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road about 3 feet?

yeh just about but im fast at it.

[Mr Brightside]

So a year after starting this thread iv finally bought a bike (hybrid).

Just wondering if anyone knows any websites or apps that give you cycling routes etc?

I use Strava to record my rides but if I'm planning a route or browsing someone else's routes I use www.ridewithgps.com

[Spud]

Sustrans website has all the National Cycle Routes on here

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map

It's not very smart phone friendly though, i use the site to plan a trip then use the "Bike Hub" app when i'm out & about.

How's it going so far?

[podrover73]

Doncaster cycling map here , you can get the hardcopy from Doncaster Council:

doncaster.gov.uk/Images/Doncaster_web 37-104534.pdf



http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/sections/transportstreetsandparking/transportation/cycling_in_doncaster.aspx

[mushRTID]

Doncaster cycling map here , you can get the hardcopy from Doncaster Council:

doncaster.gov.uk/Images/Doncaster_web 37-104534.pdf



http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/sections/transportstreetsandparking/transportation/cycling_in_doncaster.aspx

Great thanks for that, i will pick up a copy.

[SingingPostman]

Free App I also use is Strava. Very good. I just use my Garmin for running now (although I could use Strava for that, but don't like running with my phone).

Bought a Giant Hybrid on the cycle to work scheme about 3 months ago. Excellent bike and does everything

Also I've now got a Racer (note to self, need to start calling them road bikes). I say got, a friend of mine is bike mad and has them made to order/fit/customised and spends 3-4k on the things (nutter). He's GIVEN me a Giant carbon framed...turbo nutter b*****d type. The trouble is, he's given me the frame, a set of handlebars, the cogs, 2 wheels and 2 tyres. I need to fit it all together, buy gears, a seat, a chain, pedals and other bits. As this is a very expensive bike, I'm guessing it's going to cost a few conkers to get this all together and get the bits it needs to re-assemble it. I say I need to fit it together, I haven't the time or knowledge, so will pay somebody....Any offers or advice on that front.

 

I have lived out of area now for a long time so I may be out of touch with local specialists but you could try Dave Marsh at Maltby. They have some experienced mechanics and they build from new and renovate older bikes and I know from a chat I had a while back that they're helpful. If it's not their cup of tea they'll know which direction to point you in. This is their site...

http://www.universalcyclecentre.co.uk

The rest of your kit shouldn't be too expensive. They always say spend as much as you can on your frame and wheels as the rest of the kit you can upgrade as you need to.

Or you could try the guys at Planet X at Barnsley &/or Sheffield. I'm 99% sure they won't do the bike for you but they'll definitely be able to tell you who might finish the job for you.

Take plenty of advice on the pedals. If you want to ride the bike with cleats, there's a range of different styles and it'll affect which pedals you can use. One manufacturers cleats generally can't be used with other manufacturer's pedals, so it can be an expensive job if you don't get along with your first choice of pedal/cleat.

[CusworthRovers]

Thanks matey

[ponte_ricky]

My question to you all is this.... are all you cycling newbies going to join us in cycling to Leicester at the end of the season? I should be getting to work on organising this soon.

Seriously cannot recommend cycling enough. Although its hard and can be difficult getting motivated when its wet and windy, its a great sport. I'm sure there are probably lots of cycling clubs around Doncaster too. Its nice and flat your way too, Over here in Manchester I have had to learn to like hills haha.

[RedJ]

If any of you would like to join a cycling club or at least have a look at one, Doncaster Wheelers are your best bet round here.

[DaveDRFC]

I'm potentially interested in the ride to Leicester, depends what my situation is in May as we're expecting our first baby in October so things like that may have to take a back seat for a while!

I have only really started biking more seriously fairly recently, I'm more of a runner but have got bitten by the triathlon bug so need to get my biking up to scratch. Find the swim and run fairly easy but biking is hard work! The other week I biked from our place in Thurcroft to the in-laws in Boston, 74 miles in just over 4 hours so was fairly happy with that. It was pretty damn flat though, only really one major hill to speak of!

[ponte_ricky]

Thats really good, abpit 18mph average right?

I managed 50 in just under 2 and a half recently after not training for a couple of months  was very happy with that.

[Filo]

Don`t know how you cyclists get comfy on those saddles, it`s like sitting on razor blades to me, or is it that I`m a bit cuddly thats the problem?

[wilts rover]

Don`t know how you cyclists get comfy on those saddles, it`s like sitting on razor blades to me, or is it that I`m a bit cuddly thats the problem?

No its cos you don't do enough of it! Being cuddly you should spread the weight better.....

[ponte_ricky]

get padded shorts

[DaveDRFC]

+1 for padded shorts, you look a bit daft but it's well worth it! Although after 74 miles even with the padding I couldn't feel much down there...

My Garmin said 17.6mph average so I was really happy with it, especially as it's only the third time I've biked over 25 miles! Previous furthest were 47 and 40 I think.

Not sure how I'm going to feel next week running a half marathon after a 56 mile bike (and 1.2 mile swim!) but I do insist on doing these things to myself.

[ponte_ricky]

Gets addictive doesnt it. All I wanna do is get out and train all the time.  ive started circuit training too which is lots of fun

[nightporter]

Got a bike FOR SALE now winters on its way out time lose those christmas pounds (stones)   Quality bike, not a £99 bone shaker from halfords.

Specialized status fsr 2012 


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-status-fsr-2012-/281245249939

[Wild Rover]

Cheap and cheerful does for me. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Kendal-21-Speed-Gents-Trekking-Bike-Mens-Bicycle-Blue-Cycle-/370979971385?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

[River Don]

I finally started cycling just before Christmas.

I did it very cheaply, my mate was getting rid of an old mountain bike, it just needing cleaning up and a set of new tyres.

It's a heavy old thing but I don't mind that I just see it as added resistance which can't be a bad thing since I'm only just getting used to doing it again after decades.

I've been doing a six mile off road route four mornings a week, it includes a steep hill climb so my legs are feeling it but I'm really enjoying it so far.

Not sure I'll be up to cycling to Leicester though.