How/why do you cycle?

Marco_Panettone

chucknorris wrote: »

EDIT: I would also be interested if getting a road bike, nothing too expensive about £750-£900. I wonder how it would differ from my mountain bike on road experience (which is an old Giant Boulder Alu-Lite and weighs 13.5kg), anyone know?

A road bike will be lighter, faster and easier to ride on smooth surfaces. The drop handlebars give you several hand positions that can make it more comfortable over long journeys, or when climbing/descending hills.

For that amount of money you can get a perfectly good bike - have a look at the Boardman range in Halfords (the bikes are fine, the mechanics vary in quality...), or for a bit less (but also perfectly good) try Decathlon's Triban series.

charley_177

Regularly I ride to/from work, the local shops, gym and nearby pubs. Occasionally I will ride to the hospital (as parking is expensive) or IKEA (for small purchases).

Milton Keynes is very lucky as we have a segregated network of pedestrian/cycle routes called 'Redways', which avoid the busy main (60/70mph) roads, meaning you can cycle whether you are 5 or 85 without worrying about traffic/lorries etc. Driving everywhere is quick, but you see much more (and interact with people) on a bicycle.

I don't wear any special clothing or a helmet, never have done. I currently ride a Cortina U1 3-speed utility bike, my spare bike is a single-speed Batavus Bub.

Hanky_Panky

charley_17/7 wrote: »

Regularly I ride to/from work, the local shops, gym and nearby pubs. Occasionally I will ride to the hospital (as parking is expensive) or IKEA (for small purchases).

Milton Keynes is very lucky as we have a segregated network of pedestrian/cycle routes called 'Redways', which avoid the busy main (60/70mph) roads, meaning you can cycle whether you are 5 or 85 without worrying about traffic/lorries etc. Driving everywhere is quick, but you see much more (and interact with people) on a bicycle.

I don't wear any special clothing or a helmet, never have done. I currently ride a Cortina U1 3-speed utility bike, my spare bike is a single-speed Batavus Bub.

I too live in Milton Keynes and the Redways are certainly a good way to get around by bike for recreational purposes but for more serious riding/exercise I avoid them like the plague now and stopped using them after about three weeks of getting my hybrid. Too much stop/start at all the junctions, people getting cross when you call them to come through. Having said that riding on the grid roads is pretty horrible too so I just get out to Whaddon as quickly as possible and ride around the roads to Stony - Beachampton - Nash - Whaddon again.

Chimpofdoom

I commute about 14miles a day varying from 2 days one week, to 3 days the following (alternating with using the gym for weight training).

Use a Hybrid, mountain bike frame with road wheels (Cannondale "badboy"), never wear lycra.. always baggy MTB stuff

kwmlondon

My commute is about 16 miles round trip. I've got a top-of-the-range hybrid on the cycle-to-work scheme and although it's expensive for parts it's a damn fast and comfy ride.

I cycled the 50 miles to Brighton last weekend with some work friends - lovely day out.

I always wear a helmet and gloves. I normally wear superdry shorts and a t-shirt as I think Lycra is the work of Beelzebub, or at least looks best on Andy Bell of Erasure.

I was timid when I started cycling in London but now I take on the Elephant and Castle roundabout each day and it's not that scary. I even have a go at the Old Kent Road now and again.

Cycling +

Fast
Healthy
Cheap
Fun
Sociable
Convenient
Efficient

Cycling -

Sweaty
Risks
Thieves
Crashes

R_P_W

Just ordered myself a cannondale quick cx4 hybrid. Hopefully get it on Friday and cannot wait! Live in south west london.

If anyone on here can recommend any decent routes would be appreciated in sw London. Was thinking of heading from Wandsworth across to Wimbledon common to Richmond park etc.

Cycrow

Richmond park is good to cycle around.

depending on how far you want to cycle, i like to goto Boxhill as well.

R_P_W

Cycrow wrote: »

Richmond park is good to cycle around.

depending on how far you want to cycle, i like to goto Boxhill as well.

Thanks. Planning to have a good explore this weekend!

LeafGreen

I cycle to work most days, from 7 miles round trip up to 25 or more if I go the scenic way in or back. Occasionally I'll drive if need to swap a load of clothes or need to go to the supermarket or something.

I do consider myself a cyclist - I did use a hybrid with panniers for a while but it felt like driving a bus when you have a ferrari in the garage, so I use a road bike with rucksack pretty much all the time now. For commuting I have a single speed (not fixed wheel) with mudguards etc, as I would not want my nice racing bikes to get bashed in the sheds or worse still, stolen.

You do have to have your wits about you when cycling. Make sure you can be seen, although personally I really don't like it when other cyclists use those rapidly flashing ones. Cars pulling out from side roads as you approach are the ones to pay particular attention to, the drivers can look right through you sometimes.

023456789

R_P_W wrote: »

Just ordered myself a cannondale quick cx4 hybrid. Hopefully get it on Friday and cannot wait! Live in south west london.

If anyone on here can recommend any decent routes would be appreciated in sw London. Was thinking of heading from Wandsworth across to Wimbledon common to Richmond park etc.

Unless your going "out of hours" I would personally avoid Richmond Park! Way too many people on the trails around the park and a lot of traffic on the roads.

For me I would look at a run along the Thames towpath towards Kingston and beyond from Wandsworth. (I used to live in Wimbledon and have done that route several times).

One thing to watch out for on Wimbledon Common is it is very unclear as to what paths are cycle access as many are foot only - I got told off by the conservators a couple of times about it as well:eek: