Newbie - please be nice! ;o)

Zookie

Hi guys,

I've been reading this forum for a while now but thought it only right to register and say hello! "Hello"!

Anyway, a little about me!

My name is Grant, I live in West Wickham, SE London (or north-west Kent if you like!).
For 36 days, I've started to cycle to work up in Canary Wharf after getting so frustrated with buses, trains and the DLR. I am happy to say, that I am so glad in making this decision. I don't know myself!

Back in 1997, I bought myself a Raleigh M-trax 150 (Cough, don't laugh) MTB Hardtail, and up until August this year, I think I must only have covered about 300miles on it (Nothing really). That's all changed now! From the latter part of August, I'd hop on the bike after putting my daughters to bed and ride a brisk 6 miles around the country lanes at the back of my house up to Biggin Hill to try and improve my fitness. I did this about 3 or 4 times a week.

My Monthly travelcard expired on the 30th September and on the 1st Oct I decided it would be my 1st cycle commute!

I cycle around 26miles per day and for the first 3 weeks, I could only manage 3 or 4 days per week. But since then I can easily do 5 days without even thinking about it! This morning, I passed the 900mile mark in 36 days and beat my previous PB by nearly 5mins (tail wind I'm guessing) - commute to work this morning took 47mins 33secs, averaging 16.7mph!. Would be quicker if there was a bridge instead of the Greenwich foot-tunnel.

So, basically, I'm a very happy chappie! I'm saving money (when not in Evanscycles opposite the office), less stressed, fitter and lost my love-handles!!! Everyone's a winner!

Thanks for reading.
Grant.

el_presidente

next steps:

a) experience first near miss with traffic. start to develop irrational hatred of cars
b) start wondering how a fixed gear bike actually feels like to ride
c) experience first near miss with pedestrian. start to develop irrational hatred of pedestrian.
d) enter into first helmet debate on bike radar. feel slightly sordid
e) start looking for long way home.
f) develop irrational urge to overtake every other cyclist you see
g) start telling off motorists on the phone
h) experience first near miss with RLJ cyclist. start to develop irrational hatred of RLJ cyclists.
i) enter into first rlj debate on bike radar. feel more sordid.
j) buy new road bike for weekend rides.
k) use road bike for all commutes as it's so much faster. Buy new road bike costing 3 times as much for weekend rides.
l) look for even longer way home.

il_principe

el_presidente wrote:

next steps:

a) experience first near miss with traffic. start to develop irrational hatred of cars
b) start wondering how a fixed gear bike actually feels like to ride
c) experience first near miss with pedestrian. start to develop irrational hatred of pedestrian.
d) enter into first helmet debate on bike radar. feel slightly sordid
e) start looking for long way home.
f) develop irrational urge to overtake every other cyclist you see
g) start telling off motorists on the phone
h) experience first near miss with RLJ cyclist. start to develop irrational hatred of RLJ cyclists.
i) enter into first rlj debate on bike radar. feel more sordid.
j) buy new road bike for weekend rides.
k) use road bike for all commutes as it's so much faster. Buy new road bike costing 3 times as much for weekend rides.
l) look for even longer way home.

Spot on, that sums up my progression almost perfectly!
Welcome to the forum Zookie, and congrats! I hope you stick to your commute through the winter. Bet you won't be back on public transport in a hurry!

I give you 2 months at the most before you're hankering after a new bike... it's addictive this cycling lark.

BentMikey

Welcome Zookie! I live quite close to you, I'm in Biggin Hill and used to live in Bromley.

LOL, el_presidente, quality!!

Zookie

Cheers guys.

Mikey - I'll keep a look out for you! (I live in Coney Hall).

Well I've already had a few 'encounters' with motorists and pedestrians alike but overall, I'm pleasantly surprised how courteous some drivers are!

I am after a new bike, torn between road or hybrid - I have Marathon XR's on my MTB and (touchwood) no punctures yet and going to skinnies of a road bike I think would just give me grief?

I don't think I'll have too much trouble getting through the Winter. I've started at a pretty rough time with low fitness levels. Ok the headwinds are hard work but I think that the Summer will be pretty draining especially with a rucksack on my back - gonna have to get some rear panniers for the spring I think. Rucksack in the cold actually helps to keep warm!

Grant.

Adamskii

Hi Zookie and welcome, I'm a relative newbie to this forum also and it's fair to say it's quite a good one!

el_presidente - You missed off somewhere in the list 'Having your first fall followed many, many hours spent in A&E! And at some point trying to decide if shaving your legs would speed up the healing process of road rash of just make you look like a girl

ChrisLS

...welcome Zookie, despite all the hassels, riding a bike to and from work is a spiritual experience 8) ...you travel on a higher plain...

Zookie

ChrisLS wrote:

...welcome Zookie, despite all the hassels, riding a bike to and from work is a spiritual experience 8) ...you travel on a higher plain...

Thanks for all the kind welcomes!

I definately agree with you there Chris!

My wife said to me about a week ago, that I seem to be so much less stressed and in a good mood when I walk through the door compared to when I used public transport!
Says it all really!!!

woodgob

Feel the love Zookie....one thing to add.....FEAR THE WET DRAIN COVERS!

Zookie

Cheers for the advice there Woodgob!

tardington

Hello!

And too true about the drain covers! Also wet cobbles... :shock:

What stage do you get an air zound horn at? Shortly after Ped Hatred kicks in I reckon :twisted:

william79

Welcome Zookie,

I'm new to the forum too.

I've been commuting on the bike since May. It really wakes you up in the morning & helps you clear your head of work stuff on the way home. I feel much fitter for cycling 5 days per week.

Wet drain covers, cobbles & greasy painted lines are definitely dodgy. I've caught a few slides, but crashed last tuesday (wet & greasy yellow lines). Had my first visit to A&E too.

I'm in the market for a new bike too (got the bug!), considering a hybrid or something a little different (Charge Plug perhaps). I crashed the old race bike & I'm on the Scott mountain bike (big nobbly tyres, not ideal), so the hybrid compromise for the daily blast is a possibility.

Keep biking to work, it's great.

Cheers

misterben

I'm also a relative newbie. Been commuting since October, and I agree with everything said by william79 (apart from the fall/visit to A&E).

Gerry Attrick

Welcome aboard Zookie. Relatively new here myself, but great craic as they say. I was going to warn you about wet cowpoo, but maybe not a problem for you?

Crapaud

william79 wrote:

Wet drain covers, cobbles & greasy painted lines are definitely dodgy. I've caught a few slides, but crashed last tuesday (wet & greasy yellow lines). Had my first visit to A&E too.

...and wet leaves...and those gravelly patches that build up on corners / bends.

Welcome, Zookie!

BentMikey

I suggest a road bike with drops, Zookie, especially given the distance you're commuting!

Zookie

I was thinking of a Road with drops myself - they do look smart! Would have to convince the missus but seeing as I'm going to be riding more miles than driving per year.....!!!!!!!

My main concerns are for punctures and damage to rims through Downham, Catford, Ladywell, Lewisham and Greenwich due to glass and bad road conditions - I think you know what I mean around those areas?!

As stated already, I'm running on Schwalbe Marathon XR's which so far have been great.
Are there any equivalent tyres giving the same puncture resistance for road / hybrids?

Many thanks in anticipation.
Grant.

BentMikey

It's much better if you use the road rather than the cycle path, assuming you use the one via catford, etc. Road bikes are plenty tough enough for the road conditions in London.

I just run Conti GP4000 23mm tyres on my Langster, and Schwalbe Stelvio 406-28mm tyres on the recumbent. I do get the unmentionable once in a while, but it only takes a few minutes to fix and I carry two tubes and a repair kit. To me it's well worth having the much better handling and speed from some good tyres.

Zookie

Hiya

Cheers for that.

In just use the road.
Down Beckrnham Hill Road, turn left at Homebase / The Green Man and follow the A21 in the buse lanes all the way into Greenwich. This seems to be the most direct and quickest route.

Thanks again!
Grant

El Capitano

For bomb proof tyres, try the Continental Ultra Gator Dura Skin tyres. I run them in a 28mm version, but narrower ones are available. Currently on my 3rd set and only had 1 puncture so far *touches wood* and that was from a piece of electricians wire that had been left in the works car park by an inconsiderate contractor...

pst88

I'm also new round here so I might as well introduce myself. I'm a bit of a late bloomer, I only learnt to ride about 4 months ago! Never had a bike as a kid but I figure that's still no excuse. Bought myself one for my 24th birthday and went out and taught myself to ride it. It was dead easy, don't know why I never tried earlier.

Been commuting on and off for about 2 months now on a hardtail MTB with slicks... looking to get a road bike when I come by some money!

Zookie

El Capitano wrote:

For bomb proof tyres, try the Continental Ultra Gator Dura Skin tyres. I run them in a 28mm version, but narrower ones are available. Currently on my 3rd set and only had 1 puncture so far *touches wood* and that was from a piece of electricians wire that had been left in the works car park by an inconsiderate contractor...

Thanks buddy for the heads-up!!!!

Welcome too PST88!

simon_e

Zookie and pst88, good on yer both.

Specialized Armadillos, GP4000/GP4 Seasons and Gatorskins seem to get mentioned regularly. I bought some Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase after reading good things, haven't fitted them yet.

Can't advise you whether to go road or hybrid, it's entirely down to you. Try to find a shop that will let you try a couple, how it feels to sit on and ride is as important as anything. If most of your riding is urban streets you might find the more upright position on the hybrid is better for keeping an eye on the traffic & wayward peds, but we're all different.

LOL at el_presidente, that's me too! Well, apart from the expensive road bike Maybe one day....

Zookie

Thanks Simon!!!!

I'm gonna get through the expense of Christmas first before even sitting on another bike.

Will shortly be setting up my new plasma ready for the festive period (to be delivered next Wednesday), so that will keep me entertained for a while aleast, although I know what will happen - I'll want a faster bike to get home quicker in order to watch it! HehHehHeh!

secretsam

woodgob wrote:

Feel the love Zookie....one thing to add.....FEAR THE WET DRAIN COVERS!

And watch out for road markings as well

And leaves

And litter

And f$cking huge dings in bike lanes

And taxis (missed that one, el presidente)

I'd grow some new eyes :roll:

Fuzz Monkey Five

el_presidente wrote:

next steps:

l) look for even longer way home.

Too right !! I only do 7 miles each way on my commute bhut I've being adding more and more huills into it recently, after an extra month of hill climbs I feel really good for it and fitness has increased that extr anotch.

Ted Edwards

ZOOKIE SENT YOU A PM. To everyone living in Selsdon as I do it seems that theres a few of us that live local to each other. Well have to try and get a ride out together sometime.Before then however can I make a plea on behalf of all little bike shop owners including our great Paul smith at Plus Cycles South Croydon that whenever possible we use them. For those of us that live in West Wickham Selsdon Biggin Hill area we have Youngs at Coneyhall, Ruxley Cycles in Orpington and Biggin Hill Bikes all of these need our support as they offer us such a good personal service and, in my experience are always willing to offer us advice even when we are not buying on on bike problems we have. The big chains may on occasions be cheaper but I would rather pay that little extra to ensure we do,nt lose the little shops.
Ride Safe

woodford2barbican

Ted Edwards wrote:

ZOOKIE SENT YOU A PM. To everyone living in Selsdon as I do it seems that theres a few of us that live local to each other. Well have to try and get a ride out together sometime.Before then however can I make a plea on behalf of all little bike shop owners including our great He Whom We Do Not Name at Plus Cycles South Croydon that whenever possible we use them. For those of us that live in West Wickham Selsdon Biggin Hill area we have Youngs at Coneyhall, Ruxley Cycles in Orpington and Biggin Hill Bikes all of these need our support as they offer us such a good personal service and, in my experience are always willing to offer us advice even when we are not buying on on bike problems we have. The big chains may on occasions be cheaper but I would rather pay that little extra to ensure we do,nt lose the little shops.
Ride Safe

I second that - had excellent service from Bike Plus and from Ciclos Unos in the last month.

Zookie - welcome. A new bike need not be an expensive one, you can pick up a steel road frame for £50 -70 off ebay and build it up yourself. I have done that twice now and had two really good commute bikes out of it.

As for punctures you are no more likely to get those on skinny road bike tyres than any other tyre. Just run them at the correct pressure and use something like the specialized armadillos or schwalbe M+.

I would go for drops as well for your commute, when it is cold . wet and windy it is so demoralizing to be bang upright like a sail, it feels good to drop down and streamline!

Zookie

Thanks again guys.

I definately try and support my local shops, Young's Cycles and Bigfoot Bikes in Hayes. Although, convenience also pays a part with Evans Cycles opposite my office in Canary Wharf. :oops:

Time permitting for me - I'd definately be up for a meet though! At the moment, seeing as I've just started, my weekends are recovery periods after 130 miles each week. I also have two young children to keep me busy. But, perhaps when I'm fitter, the weather improves and I can sneak out I can join you all

Grant.