A happy thread

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Not much in this neck of the woods/forum is actually to do with the good aspect of commuting by bike, so I thought I'd kick things off and see what happened!

Despite the wind and my strained leg I loved my blast through London this morning, oh, but I didn't like getting stuck behind the bin truck though [xx(]

Battersea Park looked all wet and ruffled, a bit like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards by the wind and rain overnight.

The pretty girl at the traffic lights who smiled at me and complemented my bike.

The cabbie who when he came alongside me in a queue after a loooong green lighted blast down Embankment who leant over and told me that whilst I looked like a "div" he was dead impressed with my riding.

That familiar sucking feeling as I leant deep into the corner by work and felt the tyres squirm.

Aaaaand to top it all, it was sunny! [:D][:D][:D][8D]

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

urrrrrrrrrs · June 2007

Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

The cabbie who when he came alongside me in a queue after a loooong green lighted blast down Embankment who leant over and told me that whilst I looked like a "div" he was dead impressed with my riding.

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It wasnt me[:)] as i've just got out of bed !!!!
i'd rather have a bottle in front of me,than a frontal lobotomy

Gussio · June 2007

Enjoyed this morning as well - lovely fresh weather, reasonable traffic and no near misses. Better than yesterday when I cycled into work with the saddle bag open and lost my puncture repair kit en route. Spent the evening ride home petrified of running over glass and nails!

DavidTQ · June 2007

First ride to work on my new Road bike today (only a Giant SCR 1, nothing fancy), realised those roadies I had been struggling to keep up with on my hybrid had an unfair advantage the whole time [:D]

The whole bike feels far more nimble than my old hybrid and shot up the big hill that I normally struggle with [:D] accelerating away from lights was far quicker.

Despite having to do my first rides on the new bike in the rain Im finding it faster with less pedalling effort, to the extent I dont think its going to be as good for me as the hybrid... But still its more fun and its faster.

Despite spending most of last night tweaking the bike Ive still got some way to go to get the setup just right. moved my saddle further forward when I got to work today might have to move it up a little more yet as well, and then re angle the bars to suit etc. Dont feel Im making as much use of my legs as I could do.

domtyler · June 2007

Read the forum policy Jacobus. Happy threads are not allowed, this has been flagged up.

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Porridge not Petrol
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Hemp Marijuana

Flycatcher · June 2007

David, I've got myslef a cheapish Trek (1000) to replace my hybrid and will use it tomorrow for the first time, need mudguards today. When it's really nice I commute on my Specalized road bike but pedal just as hard, I just get there quicker. You'll be right when you get used to it, enjoy.

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") If I could do a baby elephant I'd use that instead.

BentMikey · June 2007

Nice one David, glad you're enjoying the new bike!!!

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

Origamist · June 2007

Can someone please derail this thread - we don't want to give the impression that commuting can be enjoyable.!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The pretty girl at the traffic lights who smiled at me and complemented my bike<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Like new bar tape, you mean?

Folders

graham_g · June 2007

I'm happy too. No particular reason, but I am.

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

domtyler - my name is Jacomus if you don't mind! [:P]

and noooooooooo don't derail the happy thread!

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

^ How about that for happy. Hwahahahahahaha!!

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Totalnewbie · June 2007

A lady in a 4x4 let me turn right in front of her today, I gave her a big smile saying thanks and she smiled back. (let's not speak of the different 4x4 lady who gave me a death stare because I delayed her by THREE whole seconds later on).

And my bike is currently in having its seat post fixed so tonight I'll hopefully be able to ride it vaguely efficiently instead of as though I'm doing a rendition of Knees Up Mother Brown...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">By Origamist
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
quote:

The pretty girl at the traffic lights who smiled at me and complemented my bike

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Like new bar tape, you mean?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Well, she would defo have looked good from a riding position [;)][:0]

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Tynancp · June 2007

head wind all the way ish

twinge in the right thigh, sore right knee, could have been worse but not the best

the bloke in the LBS wouldn't let me have a road bike

so I look forward to reading of you lot coming off in the wet and being too low to see oncoming danger, as he promised would happen to me

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">By Tynan
so I look forward to reading of you lot coming off in the wet and being too low to see oncoming danger, as he promised would happen to me
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Tynan, oh dear.

Looks like you need a *virtual cuddle* [:)][:)]

Also you should obtain a fish, and apply it vigoursly to whatever numpty salesman told you that. Basically its utter bo**ocks designed to scare people into buying 'commuter bikes' which turn a much better profit margin for the bike shop[:(!][:(!]

See this link for a demo: http://justgiving.typepad.com/justgivings_blog/images/fish.jpg

Loads of people commute on roadbikes, the only reason you wouldn't see forwards properly is if you look down. Messengers even use track frames for their fixies, which have even more extreme geometry than road frames.

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

Come on people, lets keep this happy

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Tynancp · June 2007

they're a supposedly very good shop and all their other advice has been good

but I'm regretting not being more forceful on the road bike issue, I see them all the time gliding along, the only argument that makes sense to me is the tyres one, I am a big bloke and I've locked the wheels a couple of times already in dicey spots

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Anyone can lock a wheel, just pull the brakes too hard.

Braking on a roadbike is something that I worried about at first, but I have got myself into more trouble on my MTB with regards to braking than on my roadbike.

Push to try one out, and if they won't let you, go to another bike shop! Have a proper ride around, you'll see that a lot of people are intimidated by roadbike simple because they haven't ridden one. They tend to assume that they are unstable, dangerous and uncomfortable. They are absolutely not!

Go forth and test-ride! And smile (because this is a happy thread!!)

[:)]

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

DavidTQ · June 2007

Ive just swapped from a hybrid to a road bike, I wont be going back, faster, easier and more fun Before I was lucky if I got one overtaking opportunity in a day, now in my last two rides Ive had two or three overtaking opportunities a day! [:D]

Two of my commutes so far have been in the rain one in torrential conditions, it certainly felt better planted than my hybrid, Felt further from locking up the wheels than the hybrid did. I think possibly the brakes are less "bitey" than the Hybrids "V-brakes" they feel a little more progressive although that might be because the brakes on the road bike are "105", and the hybrid had "alhonga" OVerall I was expecting the brakes to be less powerfull for a full on stop than my hybrid but was surprised that it actually seemed to have more stopping power, and less threatening to lift the rear wheel, that I really cant figure out as my weight must be shifted further forward because of the bars... Maybe its the lower centre of gravity that makes it less likely to lift a rear wheel?

I got the Giant scr after trying one out at a LBS, It felt "right" when I tried it there it felt comfortable it felt good, Its certainly far from uncomfortable, feels better over a rough tarmac donwhill section that I go every day, I think the descending in general feels far better than it did on my hybrid.

As far as seeing ahead goes, Ive had no issues yet but im mostly riding on the hoods which although a little more aero than the hybrid position is still pretty up right, I didnt have any problems looking ahead when I am on the drops either. but dont spend much time on the drops yet, mainly for down hill use so far.

I would really say you have to try one out to find out if its for you. But they really do make it so much less effort to sail past the hybrids and MTB's [:D] And you dont even have to "try" just pedalling at your normal rate [:D]

Aidocp · June 2007

I don't commute on my road bike but a hybrid as its only a short commute. So I may be wrong but I find drivers behind me a bit more patient when I'm on the roadie, perhaps because I'm going a couple of miles faster? Is this the same when commuting on a roadie ?

If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?

Jeremy Parker · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tynan

they're a supposedly very good shop and all their other advice has been good

but I'm regretting not being more forceful on the road bike issue, I see them all the time gliding along, the only argument that makes sense to me is the tyres one, I am a big bloke and I've locked the wheels a couple of times already in dicey spots
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Keeping things happy, I got in my good deed for the day yesterday.

Up at the Millbank/Vauxhall Bridge junsction there was a giant queue, due to police closing part of the road. Stuck at the side was a woman with a motorbike looking pretty lost. She had her helmet off and and was clearly not happy. Cars scooters and cyclists were all shoving their way past her ,so I thought I'd ask if she was ok.

She had stalled the bike (which was a very tasty RVF) and didn't really know what to do. I helped her push it over the ped crossing, and then gave her a bump-start down the incline.

She was very grateful that someone had taken the time to help her, and off I rode with a smile. Not to mention that I could ride like a loony down the middle of Grovenor Road whooping at other cyclists as I went past.

Oddly though, despite a police cordon blocking traffic entirely, most of the cyclists along that stretch were gutter hugging!!

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Totalnewbie · June 2007

That was very nice of you Jacomus.

On happy things, I was allowed to turn right by both a black cab and an HGV this morning.

And a car roared up behind me on Vauxhall bridge tooting madly (I was in the middle of the right turn only lane, unsurprisingly, as I was turning right down Millbank) before realising that he didn't actually want to turn right and having to change lanes sharpish, so he looked a bit silly which amused me. @rse was on his phone. Muhaha.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

el_presidente · June 2007

a) Fixed your seatpost yet TN?

b) Jacomus why is stalling a bike a problem? Don't you just stick it in neutral & restart like a car? (or with a kickstart if there's no electric ignition?) How does she start it every morning?

to keep the happy theme going a van moved over to let me filter through a gap this morning

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Trouble is, she was on her way to get a new battery![:D]

She had just managed to start it when she left home, but got stuck on the rise at the junction.

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

el_presidente · June 2007

aha well that makes perfect sense then

Totalnewbie · June 2007

It's sorted el presidente, I have updated the post in Beginners.

I also wondered why stalling the bike was such a problem but I geddit now...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

Tynancp · June 2007

bit late for me now as I've bought a Canondale something, I am happy with it and it's stacks quicker than my old one

as for locking, I wanted to stop very fast indeed and thought I was going to pile into the back of the vehicle in front, disc brakes and 28 tyres so I reckon I might have had a accident on skiny tyres

granted it would have served me right for riding too fast too close

grim journey today, headwind and felt tired right from the off, slow

ah well I'll have to ride this one into the ground,, might not take that long given the state of the roads, they're absolutely appalling

erm, didn't rain today and I've now lost 12lbs in less than four weeks

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
erm, didn't rain today and I've now lost 12lbs in less than four weeks
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes! Well done, you've lost weight AND put something happy on the happy thread.

[:D]

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Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Tynancp · June 2007

uh huh

bear with me, I'm in the difficult stage of initial enthusiasm wearing off and the grim commute settling in

need to get to the fit and summer stage of things, had some brill rides last week plus the L2B, I think it's catching up with me at the mo

still the proper tyre around the waist is now starting to become 'a bit fat'

come on sub 16st!

[:)]

hevipedal · June 2007

Did my last fast ride in this morning for this week; taking it easy ready for Sunday and the London Etape. It was dry, traffic was light and I was feeling great, fast riding for the whole 18 miles. Did it in 1hr1min. Would have been faster but caught all the red lights down from Maida Vale but what the hell, other days I catch all greens. Topped out at 50.3 kph along Constitution Hill towards the wedding cake - funnily enough cars were still overtaking me.
Great morning ride, thoroughly enjoyed it.

URRRRRRRRRRRRS - what on earth are you doing just getting up at 0850, you've missed half the day......

 Hevipedal 
Phrase of the week - I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
 
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

A happy thread

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