[Travel] Ten reasons now is a great time to start cycling

[neilbard]

Gave it a go this morning, count me out.

 

[1066familyman]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52592421

A real shame successive Governments have continued to massively under fund acitve travel (cycling and walking), but good to hear this at least.

 

[1066familyman]

And anyone who remains unconvinced by the argument for moving away from a car culture might like to read....How Cycling Can Save The World. The author is the very same Peter Walker who wrote the piece this thread kicked off with.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31146560-how-cycling-can-save-the-world

 

[Billy in Bristol]

...so you can nominate any cycling enthusiasts doing their utmost to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their local communities.

I am hosting (non profit) THANK YOU PELOTONS at the Olympic Velodrome hosted by GB Gold Medal cyclists.

If you know of anyone you can nominate via www.facebook.com/cyclistsvscovid19 , you can also enter the online draw to win cycling memorabilia and experiences.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Have you tried Planet x? They keep trying to sell me a new one so I assume they have stock. Highly recommended.

I’m after a flatbar road bike, but that doesn’t seem to be their strong point.

 

[Stat Brother]

I’m after a flatbar road bike, but that doesn’t seem to be their strong point.

Price point?

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Price point?

£750-£1,000. Looking for Shimano 105 (min), disc brakes, internal cabling, carbon forks, 700 wheels, 28mm-35mm tyres. Rider height 1.82m.

Quite attracted to the Cannondale Quick 1, Merida Speeder 400 and Triban 520.

 

[1066familyman]

£750-£1,000. Looking for Shimano 105 (min), disc brakes, internal cabling, carbon forks, 700 wheels, 28mm-35mm tyres. Rider height 1.82m.

Quite attracted to the Cannondale Quick 1, Merida Speeder 400 and Triban 520.

Try Cycle Surgery. They are having a closing down sale. Big discounts on new bikes apparently.

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

Hmm....bit of training at stopping at red lights might be useful

Bit of training for vehicle drivers on the recommended Highway Code distance for overtaking cyclists (which isn’t 2 feet from their right handlebar grip)

And we’re up and running!

It’s almost as if people are the problem and not the groups we box them in to... but you’re both correct. Some cyclists are dicks and don’t stop at lights and some motorists are also dicks and don’t leave enough space (happened to me twice this morning, the worst being a person in an SUV, could have reached out and hammered on the window but didn’t fancy falling off) . In summary; people are self-absorbed douche bags.

 

[Garage_Doors]

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...cycling-lockdown-eases?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other


I know this isn't the place for 'on second thoughts' or god forbid 'I was wrong'.

I'm wondering if any of the very vocal car lobby here have pulled their old 'sit up and beg' from the back of the garage and thought 'this isn't so bad after all'?

When you say cycling, do you mean non assisted or including battery assisted?

 

[Stat Brother]

When you say cycling, do you mean non assisted or including battery assisted?

With the battery assisted bikes are you also including, a full face helmet, 1200cc engine, 3 foot wide tyres and full leather clothing (nothing gay about that! ) ?

 

[Guinness Boy]

I have noticed a lot more very young children ( 6 & 7 yr olds ) on bikes on roads like church road and sackville rd in Hove . I know it’s 20 mile max on those roads but still bloody dangerous to allow very young kids to cycle on roads with traffic even if a parent is behind them . I despair at the lack of common sense with some parents . Why take a completely unnecessary risk with your child’s life ! Idiotic .

Funnily enough just back from a walk on the seafront where I noticed loads of cyclists using the bike lanes, which by themselves are not 2 metres wide, let alone allowing 2 meters distance for walkers and joggers, while the seafront road was completely empty.

I'm not having a particular go at cyclists - I'm pro anything environmental that promotes exercise - but right now it really is not that simple. If they were sticking to government guidelines then they SHOULD have been in the road - but with young kids, like you say, I'm not sure that's a good idea.

 

[Garage_Doors]

No the normal looking pedal cycles that are battery assisted, friend of mine has bought one to get fit without the effort of having to pedal up hills.

As it happen i do have a few 1200+ cc engine bikes

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Try Cycle Surgery. They are having a closing down sale. Big discounts on new bikes apparently.

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I’ve probably missed out with them, as their stock is now very depleted in my size.

It did remind me that the Giant Fastroad SL1 is another bike that interests me.

 

[Questions]

Preaching to the converted. I've been cycling every day for about the last 35 years !

You must be a long way from home now

 

[Stat Brother]

£750-£1,000. Looking for Shimano 105 (min), disc brakes, internal cabling, carbon forks, 700 wheels, 28mm-35mm tyres. Rider height 1.82m.

Quite attracted to the Cannondale Quick 1, Merida Speeder 400 and Triban 520.

Is the cycle to work scheme available to you?

Are you weirdly shaped?



Top end.

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/8...-road-sl-mens-flat-bar-road-bike-in-grey.aspx


To be continued ...


Check the size of the large:-

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/road-bikes/whyte-pimlico-2020-flat-bar-road-bike-purple_463888


Another Cube - no front mech!!:-

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/cube-sl-road-pro-bike-2020?sku=103302267&source=igodigital

A cheap Bianchi - money saved on the groupset

https://www.fishfacecycles.com/prod...s/bianchi-c-sport-2-2020-black-matt-ypbd3jkw/



It would seem 105 fishing tackle groupset only comes at the very top end of your price point.
You might want to be careful that you don't end up paying too much for a lesser specced package, just because of 105.

New Tiagra is the 105 of 2 years ago.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Is the cycle to work scheme available to you?

Are you weirdly shaped?



Top end.

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/8...-road-sl-mens-flat-bar-road-bike-in-grey.aspx


To be continued ...


Check the size of the large:-

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/road-bikes/whyte-pimlico-2020-flat-bar-road-bike-purple_463888


Another Cube - no front mech!!:-

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/cube-sl-road-pro-bike-2020?sku=103302267&source=igodigital

Many thanks for those suggestions. I can’t get cycle to work scheme, but am certainly interested in the 2019 Cube SL Road. I think that I’d probably want the size 59. Generally, last season’s stock seems to have mainly gone now, so I might be out of luck size wise.

As you’ve seen, I’ve pretty much narrowed the choice down to about 5-6 bikes. It’s just a case of finding availability somewhere and ideally being able to sit on one before committing.

 

[Stat Brother]

Many thanks for those suggestions. I can’t get cycle to work scheme, but am certainly interested in the 2019 Cube SL Road. I think that I’d probably want the size 59. Generally, last season’s stock seems to have mainly gone now, so I might be out of luck size wise.

As you’ve seen, I’ve pretty much narrowed the choice down to about 5-6 bikes. It’s just a case of finding availability somewhere and ideally being able to sit on one before committing.

Cool good luck.

As said in my last edit, I wouldn't get too hung up on 105.

As decent as it is (if you like that sort of thing) new Tiagra is pretty much rebranded 2 year old 105, but improved upon.


I wouldn't want you to sell yourself short on the whole package only shopping for 105.
As that extra cost will have to come off some place else, namely the wheels.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Cool good luck.

As said in my last edit, I wouldn't get too hung up on 105.

As decent as it is (if you like that sort of thing) new Tiagra is pretty much rebranded 2 year old 105, but improved upon.


I wouldn't want you to sell yourself short on the whole package only shopping for 105.
As that extra cost will have to come off some place else, namely the wheels.

Really appreciated. I didn’t know that about Tiagra and will certainly review my options.

 

[Stat Brother]

Really appreciated. I didn’t know that about Tiagra and will certainly review my options.

Yeah Shimano don't tend to do away with group sets.

As a rule when they improve Dura Ace, x months later Ultegra gets a spruce up, with the 'old' Dura Ace tech and so on.

105 is the bottom of the high end.
Tiagra is the top of the low end.

Since the invention of 11 speed transmission, you can't physically mix and match, but that doesn't mean the tech stopped filtering down.

A couple of years ago they even stopped pretending and bought out a Tiagra set that looked exactly the same as 105.


You'll not be getting 'one over' on Shimano, 105 is better.

But as I keep reiterating for an everyday rider and most self proclaimed 'experts' (like me!) they are unlikely to notice the difference.
But where the price points meet you will get better components on a top end Tiagra bike than you would on a bottom end 105, plus its much cheaper to repair.