And suddenly it all makes sense....

Sparks1883

First time commuting in to work today - decided I was sick of sitting in the car going nowhere so bought a Carrera Virtuoso in the recent Halfords sale and thought I'd see what you guys are all so passionate about...

Loved it! Nothing like the adrenaline from nearly getting wiped out by a lorry to get you started in the morning.

Might have to take a trip over to the SCR section soon...

Kieran_Burns

http://www.wiggle.co.uk

Have fun.

UndercoverElephant

Congratulations, welcome aboard.

richVSrich

woop woop! welcome aboard the "train"

you might want to read the pinned threads at the top of the chat

CiB

If you're commuting, you need to log your miles with us and get hopelessly swept up in pointless and puerile attempts at climbing 2 places to number 87 or whatever by going 4 miles out of your way to get to work. Link below...

Welcome to the pleasure dome.

CyclingBantam

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

Really glad you enjoyed it. Make sure you stick at it. You will have some bad days where you feel you can't be bothered but you will find, without exception, when you are actually out, you will be glad you cycled.

Also, never forget to have fun. That is something you can sometimes overlook.

gtvlusso

Most people have this epiphany in spring, so chapeau to you for starting on the edge of winter....will you still be here in a months time when snow is on the ground and your breath freezes?! Hope so!

Good luck, enjoy and above all stay safe.

Wrath Rob

Another winter convert! I started in November on a MTB, loved it so much even though it had been peeing with rain for 4 out of the 10 rides that I went and bought a road bike. If you can get through the winter and love it, you'll fit in here pretty well.

meanredspider

Well done - adrenaline and endorphines - a heady mix to start the day (probably only matched by "getting friendly" with the CEO's PA on his desk before he arrives in the office)

gtvlusso wrote:

Most people have this epiphany in spring, so chapeau to you for starting on the edge of winter....will you still be here in a months time when snow is on the ground and your breath freezes?! Hope so!

Good luck, enjoy and above all stay safe.

I started bang in the middle of winter on a 10 year old MTB with ice spikers (having fallen off my road bike within a mile ripping my new jacket, golves, baselayer and arm). The upside of that approach is that it only gets better!

joelsim

Welcome. This is my first winter too. I've bought all the kit so I have to cycle 8)

jonginge

Joelsim wrote:

Welcome. This is my first winter too. I've bought all the kit so I have to cycle 8)

Much to learn you have.


Welcome Sparks! As said above just enjoy it and don't let biking become a chore.

Wheelspinner

Joelsim wrote:

Welcome. This is my first winter too. I've bought all the kit so I have to cycle 8)

^^ JonGinge is right.

Your sig lists only 2 bikes. No outright race bike. No TT bike. No SS/Fixed. No MTB. No Frankenbike. Sooooo many opportunities!!

UndercoverElephant

JonGinge wrote:

Joelsim wrote:

Welcome. This is my first winter too. I've bought all the kit so I have to cycle 8)

Much to learn you have.


Welcome Sparks! As said above just enjoy it and don't let biking become a chore.

+1, you've never bought *all* the kit.

Koncordski

Welcome!

Read this thread for some tips on developing zen skills: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12806569

Then get strava downloaded to your smartphone, MTFU & blame wiggle in that order.

jonny_trousers

Sparks1883 wrote:

Loved it! Nothing like the adrenaline from nearly getting wiped out by a lorry to get you started in the morning.

It's awesome isn't it? I remember riding down Brixton Road shortly after I began commuting by bike thinking, this is like the best computer game ever! Only problem is you get just one life.

Congratulations and welcome!

joelsim

Ok I've bought lots and lots and lots of winter clothing, so in order not to have wasted money I have to cycle. Is that better?

Ride hard

meanredspider wrote:

Well done - adrenaline and endorphines - a heady mix to start the day (probably only matched by "getting friendly" with the CEO's PA on his desk before he arrives in the office)

Do you care to elaborate?

In all seriousness though, good on you Sparks1883.

You will face many obstacles (e.g cold days when your hands will turn blue, drivers cutting you up, pedestrians stepping out 10 yards in front of you to 'test' your reaction time, suicidal cats and squirrels playing chicken in front of you when you're jamming at 28mph+, days so windy that despite the effort you put into the cranks it would be quicker to walk, and not to mention having to justify your 'essential' purchase of your £100 pair of cycling bibs to the missus - even though you already have two) but apart from that, its all plain sailing

Enjoy.

Cafewanda

Welcome Sparks.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

http://www.probikekit.com/uk/

http://www.rapha.cc/ - at sale time

Purely for information, you understand :twisted:

The Running Man

Welcome indeed Sparks!!

I have it on good authority that once you have the SCR bug you're stuck with it for life.

It's easier to get rid of herpes .... (not that i have tried to get rid of herpes)

(or that I have it and am happy with it and therefore have not tried getting rid of it)

Oww : my head is starting to hurt now .....

dodgerdog

Ride hard wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Well done - adrenaline and endorphines - a heady mix to start the day (probably only matched by "getting friendly" with the CEO's PA on his desk before he arrives in the office)

Do you care to elaborate?

And on a related note, should she be appearing on the Knitwear or Lycra shorts threads in the Cakestop?

We are alll waiting with baited breath.

Kieran_Burns

Cafewanda wrote:

Welcome Sparks.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

http://www.probikekit.com/uk/

http://www.rapha.cc/ - at sale time

Purely for information, you understand :twisted:

Get yer own joke - that was taken on the 1st post :P

meanredspider

Dodgerdog wrote:

Ride hard wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Well done - adrenaline and endorphines - a heady mix to start the day (probably only matched by "getting friendly" with the CEO's PA on his desk before he arrives in the office)

Do you care to elaborate?

And on a related note, should she be appearing on the Knitwear or Lycra shorts threads in the Cakestop?

We are alll waiting with baited breath.

Unfortunately nothing to elaborate upon (the CEO isn't even based here). And the last thing I want to do is start another "The Receptionist" thread :shock:

Ride hard

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Cafewanda wrote:

Welcome Sparks.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

http://www.probikekit.com/uk/

http://www.rapha.cc/ - at sale time

Purely for information, you understand :twisted:

Get yer own joke - that was taken on the 1st post :P

Now, now children. Play nicely.

@The Running Man - That was a TMI moment. Sit down and have a cup of tea, that should help..

Sparks1883

Wow... lots of responses - thanks guys!

Think I might have to find some ways to hide the credit card bill from the wife...

UndercoverElephant

Sparks1883 wrote:

Wow... lots of responses - thanks guys!

Think I might have to find some ways to hide the credit card bill from the wife...

That's the spirit.

meanredspider

Now all we need is Wiggle to stop putting "Wiggle" on the bloody box!

Even my son's school tutor (my son's still at home after cancer treatment before you think I'm loaded) has noticed the number of Wiggle deliveries (and has become a Wiggle devotee himself - though upset by lack of Haribo).

I'm sure they sell more stuff if they put something random on there (Lawn Mower Parts Warehouse, Gutter Leaf Removal Centre and so on...)

Jay dubbleU

Beware - this lot will have you riding a carbon frame road bike in full lycra before you can say n+1

London_Falcon

+1 to "this lot will have you riding a carbon frame road bike in full lycra before you can say n+1"

I have been doing the 32 mile return commute once or twice per week since early August. I never dreamt I'd buy anything vaguely lycra-ish. This week the new lycra padded shorts arrived this week and proved most acceptable.....

il_principe

meanredspider wrote:

Now all we need is Wiggle to stop putting "Wiggle" on the bloody box!

Even my son's school tutor (my son's still at home after cancer treatment before you think I'm loaded) has noticed the number of Wiggle deliveries (and has become a Wiggle devotee himself - though upset by lack of Haribo).

I'm sure they sell more stuff if they put something random on there (Lawn Mower Parts Warehouse, Gutter Leaf Removal Centre and so on...)

The missus received her first Wiggle box last week. She was very pleased with the free Haribo. Essentially Haribo is Wiggle's gateway drug.

gtvlusso

London_Falcon wrote:

+1 to "this lot will have you riding a carbon frame road bike in full lycra before you can say n+1"

I have been doing the 32 mile return commute once or twice per week since early August. I never dreamt I'd buy anything vaguely lycra-ish. This week the new lycra padded shorts arrived this week and proved most acceptable.....

I would say that we look forward to seeing this reflected in your FCN (you really don't need to show us the padded shorts)

:-)

London_Falcon

Currently wearing the lycra underneath baggies so didn't feel that really counted

and for very obvious reasons the Engalnd rugby top has been banished from the cycling gear pile to the diy around the house pile