Cycling OSers

Austin_Allegro

Hi to all cycling OS folk!

I've always cycled for fun but last October started commuting (10 mile round trip) to work. I am saving c.£40 a month in bus fares plus about £10-£20 in occasional tube fares, getting fit and most importantly, getting into work and home quicker than using the bus/tube. I absolutely love it and relish cycling past long queues of miserable looking people at bus stops.

I bought a Brompton folding bike using the government tax relief system called Cyclescheme, which your employer can set up for you if you are PAYE taxpayer. It was expensive (£360 with the tax relief) but it will pay for itself in about 6-8 months, and it can be folded up and taken on trains etc easily.

I also have a cheap boneshaker with a basket at the front for using when I have to leave a bike outside for a long time, say if I'm going to the cinema. If it gets stolen it doesn't really matter too much.

Any OSers considering cycling, I would say go for it, but read a book called Cyclecraft by John Franklin (bought second hand from Amazon of course). This has a lot of good advice on riding. It's perceived as a dangerous activity but according to DofT statistics, it is actually safer than walking or driving, you just need to anticipate what's ahead and not rush around madly.

hornetgirl

Another cycling OSer here. I have a ladies Trek 2100. It's a hybrid, which means it's a bit more comfy than an out and out road bike, but not as chunky as a mountain bike. I love it! Best bit was getting to take it to Texas last year to take part in the Ride for the Roses, which raises funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, in support of cancer survivors. Way cool!!!

kittiwoz

I bought my bike over a year ago but I'm having a hard job riding it, I can't seem to balance any more. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Make sure you have the seat and handlebars adjusted to the right height for you so that you are comfortable and when the pedal is fully depressed your leg is not straight but nearly. Make sure the tyres are well pumped up. Try starting out in a lower gear.

Michael_K

I had a lightbulb moment several years ago when I realised that instead of my leisurely scenic Sunday afternoon cycle I could head to the larger supermarkets with the bigger range and their lower prices, and no bus fare. I've been doing this ever since, avoiding rain, headwinds and 2 lane roundabouts where possible. Though when the motivation wanes I imagine the savings in chocolate: pay the bus fare or collect the equivalent in chocolate at the finish.

The Argos ProAction panniers are still going strong, replaced one with a Lidl roll-top, waterproof pannier, great for volume, 40L IIRC , though its plastic top hooks make me nervous.

I've found Aldi great value for cycling gear. So far my Aldi kit includes most of the cyclist's wardrobe, handlebar bag (v. handy, doubles as a freezer bag), basic lights, LED head light, touring saddle (no more pain) and the combi pedals and clipless shoes.

On my wish list - (Any recommendations on these greatly received) :

Trailer or front rack
A decent jacket
Hi visibility vest
Third party insurance
Easier gears
And just to go faster

And any advice on turning right on a fast, 2 lane roundabout much appreciated.

tomstickland

I've got a Cove Stiffe mountain bike which is the only valuable possession I have and I love it. All for fun, riding it up and down hills as fast as possible mainly. I'm going to make a pub bike up soon too.

caffeinehit

I did a bike maintenance course last year (found it through my local cycling group) - it cost about £5 per session and I'd thoroughly recommend it. I'm not at all mechanically minded but learned to change a tyre, adjust gears, replace brake cables and check bearings, all on my own (very old) bike, which should save a fortune in repair costs. It was also surprisingly good fun.

I absolutely love my ride to work - couldn't believe at first that I could get right into central London via virtually traffic-free roads, with only brief forays on to busy streets. Normally the traffic's going so slowly anyway that it's much less intimidating than some other places I've cycled. Much quicker than the bus or tube and far, far more fun.

elmer

And any advice on turning right on a fast, 2 lane roundabout much appreciated.[/QUOTE]

pretend you're a car, take up position about 50metres beforehand in the centre of the right hand lane, keep cycling with as much speed as you require, try to signal, (scary) and then use the whole lane all the way round, I used to cycle in London (now live in Scottish Borders, much nicer!), and i found that the only way to maintain speed and not get squashed was to use the whole lane, there shouldnt be enough room for a car beside you if you are going anyway, so just go for it, Good Luck.

Elmer

PS you can practise on a quieter roundabout, and beware sometimes motorist dont like you using the whole road!

Michael_K

elmer wrote:

And any advice on turning right on a fast, 2 lane roundabout much appreciated.

pretend you're a car, take up position about 50metres beforehand in the centre of the right hand lane, keep cycling with as much speed as you require, try to signal, (scary) and then use the whole lane all the way round...

Thanks for that Elmer.

My fear is that once I get into the right hand lane on a roundabout I won't get a chance to exit if there's any car traffic approaching from behind in the left hand lane. (The only time I venture there if there's no traffic about and it saves some distance).

What I tend to do now is just stay in the left hand lane, but position myself towards the right hand side of it (iykwim). That way there's less chance of being undertaken, less likelihood of getting cut across, but not the ideal scenario.

I find the car drivers round here pretty tolerant, but up to a point. They don't like waiting on a cyclist, and if there's a gap they'll risk it to take it.

holstar

Michael_K wrote:

And any advice on turning right on a fast, 2 lane roundabout much appreciated.

speed! thats the best thing...so try and get your speed as high as possible, and maintain it!
- good awareness of what cars behind you are doing.
- clear signalling

how I approach roundabout depends very much on the particular one...some I find easier to stick to the left lane (taking up whole lane though) and basically signalling right, until i want to turn off, at which point i indicate left.
some, as Elmer said, pretend you're a car...but this does take some practice and guts at first. Here, awareness of cars in the other lane is vital so you can turn off at the road you want.

off your wishlist....can't really help with most of it, but as for going faster...just practise! find a steepish hill and go up that regularly, and as that gets easier you'll also find that its easier to go considerably faster on flat and gently sloping roads


But yes, I love my bike, and I take it everywhere Its been into middle of manchester, out to Pennines, from manchester to aberystwyth (uni), up into north wales, down to south wales, up to Lake district...oh, and to college and back at home, and now to campus and back from my halls here (but that sounds much less exciting than the other places its been lol)

Hol x

MikeAndHisLovelyPlant

Baileys_Babe wrote:

Hindered: not being able to make the most of BOGOFs

Check for BOGOFs on the web before you go out - then go in the car if you really need to and go BMGMF!

Mike

p.s. BMGMF = Buy Many Get Many Free