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

[Poojah]

So, this thread has inspired me to go and buy a bike for me and the missus. Both our kids have learned to ride their bikes without stabilisers and during lockdown and we thought it would be quite nice to do some family bike rides together. We’re also moving house shortly (amidst all the madness) and we’ll have easy access to some lovely country trails.

I haven’t owned a bike since I passed my driving test 18 years ago, so I haven’t really got a clue where to start. Looking to spend around £500 apiece, which I appreciate isn’t a lot. Any recommendations?

 

[1066familyman]

So, this thread has inspired me to go and buy a bike for me and the missus. Both our kids have learned to ride their bikes without stabilisers and during lockdown and we thought it would be quite nice to do some family bike rides together. We’re also moving house shortly (amidst all the madness) and we’ll have easy access to some lovely country trails.

I haven’t owned a bike since I passed my driving test 18 years ago, so I haven’t really got a clue where to start. Looking to spend around £500 apiece, which I appreciate isn’t a lot. Any recommendations?

Good stuff

Btwin bikes from Decathlon are a really good bet. Brilliant bang for your buck there.

 

[Deanbha]

So, this thread has inspired me to go and buy a bike for me and the missus. Both our kids have learned to ride their bikes without stabilisers and during lockdown and we thought it would be quite nice to do some family bike rides together. We’re also moving house shortly (amidst all the madness) and we’ll have easy access to some lovely country trails.

I haven’t owned a bike since I passed my driving test 18 years ago, so I haven’t really got a clue where to start. Looking to spend around £500 apiece, which I appreciate isn’t a lot. Any recommendations?

I recently got a carrera bike, not the best brand admittedly. I've managed to cycle 203 miles in just under 3 weeks.
I hadn't been on a bike in about 15 years.

Only cost £300.

 

[Easy 10]

I recently got a carrera bike, not the best brand admittedly. I've managed to cycle 203 miles in just under 3 weeks.
I hadn't been on a bike in about 15 years.

Only cost £300.

I'm not a serious cyclist, but I bought a black Carerra and I love it. 18 speed, trigger gears that are so slick its ridiculous, disc brakes. Paid about £180 as it was reduced in an online offer. I'm sure the lycra-nerd wrap-round sunglasses snobs will call it a piece of shite, but I couldn't give a flying. I've had it 18 months and its been excellent.

 

[1066familyman]

I'm not a serious cyclist, but I bought a black Carerra and I love it. 18 speed, trigger gears that are so slick its ridiculous, disc brakes. Paid about £180 as it was reduced in an online offer. I'm sure the lycra-nerd wrap-round sunglasses snobs will call it a piece of shite, but I couldn't give a flying. I've had it 18 months and its been excellent.

Why so angry? If it gets you out of that shit car of yours, it's a brilliant bike.

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm not a serious cyclist, but I bought a black Carerra and I love it. 18 speed, trigger gears that are so slick its ridiculous, disc brakes. Paid about £180 as it was reduced in an online offer. I'm sure the lycra-nerd wrap-round sunglasses snobs will call it a piece of shite, but I couldn't give a flying. I've had it 18 months and its been excellent.

If you're happy I'm sure they're happy.

You'd be surprised just how many lycra-nerd wrap-round sunglasses snobs started life on a Carrera or considerably worse.

 

[Deanbha]

If you're happy I'm sure they're happy.

You'd be surprised just how many lycra-nerd wrap-round sunglasses snobs started life on a Carrera or considerably worse.

I'm already considering upgrading to a boardman bike or similar. Never knew how addictive cycling is, already thinking about doing Brighton to Paris next year.

The Carrera range are good value for getting around.

 

[Stat Brother]

Scientists are starting to ask whether, under lockdown, fewer people will die from the coronavirus than would have otherwise been killed by vehicle-related causes

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/sto...of-plague?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=true

It's not saying anything new but a good read nevertheless.

 

[Palacefinder General]

The road tax suggestion seems quite sensible,



for those cyclists who don’t own cars.

Errr...

’All tax payers pay for roads, not just motorists. Those who pay income tax and those who pay council tax are the ones who pay for roads, and that's not just motorists. And anybody who buys anything in Britain also helps to pay for roads because VAT also contributes’

As a non car owning cyclist I pay enough already to cycle on dangerous, potholed roads not fit for purpose. I’m guessing you have an anti-cyclist agenda,..

 

[Hu_Camus]

You can't beat the 'situp and beg' type of bike.
If you need exercise, it increases the wind resistance of your torso, so the effort needed to move forward @ xm2 is greater, meaning more actual effort required..but less speed typically for a given exercise rate.
In the sit-up position, you therefore travel slower, but you actually see more, so the experience is more about being than concentrating on not hitting something or someone.
It's better for your back, and no-one expects you to wear lycra or be a tw@t on cycle paths.
Only my opinion, of course.

 

[Palacefinder General]

^ Palace fan or not, you've hit the nail on the head Hotel Charlie, I hate the riding position of a standard road bike and the 'stretch' to the brake levers, which never feels all that safe. For me the flat bar road bike is the best option, all the spec and most of the speed of a standard road bike without the 'hellish' riding position.

 

[Stat Brother]

Traffic Management Act 2004: network management in response to COVID-19


https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...04-network-management-in-response-to-covid-19

The government therefore expects local authorities to make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians. Such changes will help embed altered behaviours and demonstrate the positive effects of active travel. I’m pleased to see that many authorities have already begun to do this, and I urge you all to consider how you can begin to make use of the tools in this guidance, to make sure you do what is necessary to ensure transport networks support recovery from the COVID-19 emergency and provide a lasting legacy of greener, safer transport.

Grant Shapps
Secretary of State for Transport

 

[Chicken Run]

On the subject of cycling I picked a serious looking cyclist up yesterday,all the gear and plenty idea near Ardingly Reservoir.

His tyre had punctured or something but because it was a new type of wheel /tyre or something he couldn’t repair it, no idea why but he knew what he was talking about, anyway he was halfway into his daily ride and needed to get home!

Home being Cheam! Couldn’t believe he cycled that far.




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[Stat Brother]

On the subject of cycling I picked a serious looking cyclist up yesterday,all the gear and plenty idea near Ardingly Reservoir.

His tyre had punctured or something but because it was a new type of wheel /tyre or something he couldn’t repair it, no idea why but he knew what he was talking about, anyway he was halfway into his daily ride and needed to get home!

Home being Cheam! Couldn’t believe he cycled that far.

All 29 miles!

 

[Chicken Run]

All 29 miles!

I meant his projected round trip!

Anyway I have absolutely no idea why you would be looking to pick holes in my story I’d be more impressed if you had explained to me me the issue with the tyre seeing as you are an apparent expert, to help you he mentioned years ago a spare inner tube would have resolved the problem, over to you and try and be nice!


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[Horses Arse]

The road tax suggestion seems quite sensible,



for those cyclists who don’t own cars.

Totally agree. I would say that to reflect the reduced carbon resulting from manufacture and the much smaller size compared to a car the cost should be less that the road tax for an electric car.

The question is by how much? What would be a reasonable charge for cyclists to apply and would the petrol/diesel car drivers resent paying cyclists from their road tax contributions?

All in all it's a bit of a dilema

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[Stat Brother]

I meant his projected round trip!

Anyway I have absolutely no idea why you would be looking to pick holes in my story I’d be more impressed if you had explained to me me the issue with the tyre seeing as you are an apparent expert, to help you he mentioned years ago a spare inner tube would have resolved the problem, over to you and try and be nice!


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I'm sorry I wasn't picking holes.

I did initially think 'cool' ride, only for it then to occur to me:-

Cheam that's very south London.
Ardingly that's the very north of England

THEY'RE VIRTUALLY NEXT TO EACH OTHER!


Anyhoo, I'd imagine he'd gone tubeless.
Think of a bike tyre that's a full circular tube as opposed to a semi circle plus innertube.

The tubeless tyre is then glued into place.
It's lighter.
Tougher
Can run at lower pressure.
You can even fill it with 'tyre weld'.

It's basically foolproof unless you get it slashed.

 

[banjo]

I meant his projected round trip!

Anyway I have absolutely no idea why you would be looking to pick holes in my story I’d be more impressed if you had explained to me me the issue with the tyre seeing as you are an apparent expert, to help you he mentioned years ago a spare inner tube would have resolved the problem, over to you and try and be nice!


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He could be riding tubeless tyres, which is all the rage with some cyclists.

 

[Stat Brother]

I meant his projected round trip!

Anyway I have absolutely no idea why you would be looking to pick holes in my story I’d be more impressed if you had explained to me me the issue with the tyre seeing as you are an apparent expert, to help you he mentioned years ago a spare inner tube would have resolved the problem, over to you and try and be nice!


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Oh and I was once labouring my way up Steyning Bostal.
An old fella, properly old, eased his way up to as the climb became more manageable at the top.
He started chatting (nobody likes a show off)

He's ridden down from Twickenham because he wanted to see to sea.

I incoherently said words to the effect of 100 yards and you will.

There was a very dense sea fret, from the top of Steyning Bostal you couldn't even see Worthing, let alone the pier or sea.


He turned and went home.

 

[Notters]

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

Your friend does realise that pedalling up hills is what gets you fit right?