Cyclists, a question

[ester]

It still amuses me that people travel a long way to what was just my 'local bike shop' .

True re. tubes though the blokes one of this isn't much different (and it's not such a pretty colour ) and when I was looking most just didn't go small enough.

 

[SamBean]

It still amuses me that people travel a long way to what was just my 'local bike shop' .

True re. tubes though the blokes one of this isn't much different (and it's not such a pretty colour ) and when I was looking most just didn't go small enough.

If you are referring to SJS, we drove from North Staffs which meant an overnight stop too. We stayed off a services and my goodness it was well dodgy place! Saying that, I'd travel again like a shot, as TP said, it is worth the journey to me. Not done lejog but we went from home to Belgium on the tandem last year and did some 200k audaxes. It was also our wedding carriage when we eloped

 

[ester]

yup SJS

 

[Suechoccy]

Re time trials, unless there is permission for an organised event isn't racing on a public road illegal?

Time trials don't require permission. They only require the organiser to give a formal notice to the local police authority within a certain time period.

 

[Suechoccy]

I'm a cyclist too, lovely to see so many of the other forumites are also enjoying cycling. Over the years I've always cycled to work, had a few seasons in 1980s/90s and a comeback couple of years 2009/2010 with timetrialling. Did a fair amount of road racing and track racing in the 80s/90s when there were no indoor velodromes and national track cycling champs were held at Leicester each August in-between any rain showers on the banked wooden boards, training was at steep wooden Harlow track or wide asphalt Herne Hill track. Also done a fair bit of touring UK and some abroad, and been a member of a cycling club for about 35 years. This year I'll ride just four time trials, just for the excuse of getting the lovely racing bike out with its "singing" tyres (slicks make a lovely noise), wearing lycra, and eating tea and cake in a village hall with the other racers afterwards. Good fun.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Having tea and cake after a ride seems to be a common highlight for all cyclists, me definitely included. For tourists like me, cycling is something to do to work up a virtuous appetite in between pit stops .

ETA. The fitting room at SJS cycles (ester’s local bike shop!). A bike fitting takes a couple of hours at least. You get taken through everything that you want for a bike, the spec you want and they suggest how to implement it. They then set up one of their similar demo bikes to fit you and send you off for a test ride to see how you get on, and will tweak things according to your feedback. I did like those Rohloff hub gears...





You then wait for a couple of weeks at least, but probably longer, for them to build your bike up.

SamBean, 200k audaxes eek, that’s impressive! Is that on the tandem? We did have a very basic Thorn tandem when the lads were young, one of us would be captain, the older lad would be stoker and the younger would go on a Burley piccolo tag a long behind him. It was great fun.

 

[SamBean]

TP yes, though my husband wants us to attempt a 300k. It won't be this year as my fitness has dropped, I also loose my appetite after 80-100 miles so need to sort food intake out better. It works well on the tandem for us, Stu has a route sheet and I'll have the garmin route, I can pass food over as well so we can keep going. If one of us crashes the other can push on a bit more until we get to a suitable stop too. This is from a club ride a couple of years ago,we tend to go matchy on it these days. Despite the weight. love the Rohloff hub, can change gear at a standstill, and don't have to worry about dropping the chain or getting clogged up with dirt, just so little hassle. It is due a service and oil change soon.