The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

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  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    first puncture on the new bike this morning. Kind of my own fault. I was overtaken by a guy going pretty quickly on a merida at heworth. I got onto his wheel down the hill towards the stadium. But I hit a huge deep pothole at about 30mph. The guy either didn't know I was there or didn't know group riding etiquette so I cant blame him. The noise it made was unbelievable, I thought that I had lost a spoke on top of a knackered tube and tyre. But luckily it was just the tube I needed to replace. Rather than 2 snake bites from a pinch puncture it had one side of the rim go into the tube then back out the other side! So 2 1 inch long cuts in the tube.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    that'll learn you, never trust a cyclist you don't know. Nice bike by the way.

    Warning - I have taken my mudguards off the commuter, expect torrential rain any day. On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    My commuter is a giant defy and so far I've left the tyres as is, 23mm is a bit thin for commuting but whilst they hold Ok I'll live with them. Lovely bike, giant have got it Sussed.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    jomoj wrote:
    On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.
    Looks like buying overshoes and mud guards paid off, barely needed them so far.

    I'm considering joining Derwent Side CC, any one know about the Newburn Chain gang, is it OK for non-DCC members to come along or would I be better joining the club run a couple of times?
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Long_Time_Lurker
    Long_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    Remember I had a busted fork a couple of weeks ago?
    Sent it of to Sramm for repair. Came back 3 weeks later and within 1 hour of my first 'serious' ride, the same problem has occurred.
    Furious :x
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Spoke too soon. Almost raining this morning.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    Initialised wrote:
    jomoj wrote:
    On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.
    Looks like buying overshoes and mud guards paid off, barely needed them so far.

    I'm considering joining Derwent Side CC, any one know about the Newburn Chain gang, is it OK for non-DCC members to come along or would I be better joining the club run a couple of times?

    I'm in the DCC. I don't know who's in the Newburn gang but I know someone who will. I'm sure they will be OK with another pair of wheels, likewise at the Tuesday night TT (which I've so far failed to get to this year). I'll do some asking.
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    anthdci wrote:
    first puncture on the new bike this morning. Kind of my own fault. I was overtaken by a guy going pretty quickly on a merida at heworth. I got onto his wheel down the hill towards the stadium. But I hit a huge deep pothole at about 30mph. The guy either didn't know I was there or didn't know group riding etiquette so I cant blame him. The noise it made was unbelievable, I thought that I had lost a spoke on top of a knackered tube and tyre. But luckily it was just the tube I needed to replace. Rather than 2 snake bites from a pinch puncture it had one side of the rim go into the tube then back out the other side! So 2 1 inch long cuts in the tube.
    Ouch!! I had a similar pothole puncture the first week of my new bike, luckily it held out until I got home - in fact I only realised the next day

    I have new shoes :)
    Aldi £20 jobbies only lasted 6 weeks, broken foot plate, Velcro coming off the strap and vinyl splitting on the outside of the toe area. In a stroke of luck, I found the receipt, so back they went for a refund :D
    I only found out there was a broken foot plate due to an *ahem* emergency unclip moment which didn't feel quite right. Turned out I'd left half the shoe attached to the pedal
  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    Andy9964 wrote:
    Ouch!! I had a similar pothole puncture the first week of my new bike, luckily it held out until I got home - in fact I only realised the next day

    I checked it out when I went past today and it has got a lot bigger since I last looked at it. Very surprised my wheel is not egg shaped now. Put a message into Gateshead council to see how long it will take them to fix it.
  • Allez Mark
    Allez Mark Posts: 364
    http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/

    I've used this app before for reporting potholes. You can check the status of the repair. It seemed to work for me.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    Andy9964 wrote:
    anthdci wrote:
    first puncture on the new bike this morning. Kind of my own fault. I was overtaken by a guy going pretty quickly on a merida at heworth. I got onto his wheel down the hill towards the stadium. But I hit a huge deep pothole at about 30mph. The guy either didn't know I was there or didn't know group riding etiquette so I cant blame him. The noise it made was unbelievable, I thought that I had lost a spoke on top of a knackered tube and tyre. But luckily it was just the tube I needed to replace. Rather than 2 snake bites from a pinch puncture it had one side of the rim go into the tube then back out the other side! So 2 1 inch long cuts in the tube.
    Ouch!! I had a similar pothole puncture the first week of my new bike, luckily it held out until I got home - in fact I only realised the next day

    I have new shoes :)
    Aldi £20 jobbies only lasted 6 weeks, broken foot plate, Velcro coming off the strap and vinyl splitting on the outside of the toe area. In a stroke of luck, I found the receipt, so back they went for a refund :D
    I only found out there was a broken foot plate due to an *ahem* emergency unclip moment which didn't feel quite right. Turned out I'd left half the shoe attached to the pedal

    Yeah the Aldi/Lidl stuff is a bit hit and miss. I got a great windproof jacket from Lidl last year and some crap overshoes that suffered a broken zip on the second outing.

    If you're in the market for some new and improved shoes then I can recommend Specialized as a brand. I have a fancy pair with carbon soless for nice days and a beaten up pair that are 12 years old for every other condition. They look like crap but the velcro, straps,stitching, sole and inside are intact and fully functional.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    jomoj wrote:
    On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.

    Agreed! It's a definite that this summer is better than last years - couldn't get much worse? While we did have some nice spells in August/September last year, going back to June/July was pretty much constant rain. I was on holiday in Wales at the time and I don't think it ever stopped raining - we started to joke that it was 'not raining' when it was only drizzle.
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    jomoj wrote:

    If you're in the market for some new and improved shoes then I can recommend Specialized as a brand. I have a fancy pair with carbon soless for nice days and a beaten up pair that are 12 years old for every other condition. They look like crap but the velcro, straps,stitching, sole and inside are intact and fully functional.

    I got some Shimano MT23's. Would have preferred something a bit more 'roadie 'looking, but A) I only had £50 max and B) I'm stuck with SPD really because i have a canny walk when i get off the bike at work
    Tried them last night, a world of difference compared to the Aldi shoes. Much, much stiffer, which helped make the clip/unclip more positive. And much more comfortable despite the stiffness
    Just noticed as i type this, the pain I was getting just below my outer ankle has subsided considerably. Coincidence?????
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Andy9964 wrote:
    I got some Shimano MT23's. Would have preferred something a bit more 'roadie 'looking, but A) I only had £50 max and B) I'm stuck with SPD really because i have a canny walk when i get off the bike at work
    Tried them last night, a world of difference compared to the Aldi shoes. Much, much stiffer, which helped make the clip/unclip more positive. And much more comfortable despite the stiffness
    Just noticed as i type this, the pain I was getting just below my outer ankle has subsided considerably. Coincidence?????

    Interesting that you'd mention that as I've only ever used Aldi shoes so don't know how others compare. Recently I've been having problems with the fit of them with my little toe being squashed after long rides. I might check those out if you recommend them?
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    make sure you try them, Shimano shoes can be on the narrower side so can be a problem if you've got wide or averageish feet.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    Twostage wrote:
    Initialised wrote:
    jomoj wrote:
    On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.
    Looks like buying overshoes and mud guards paid off, barely needed them so far.

    I'm considering joining Derwent Side CC, any one know about the Newburn Chain gang, is it OK for non-DCC members to come along or would I be better joining the club run a couple of times?

    I'm in the DCC. I don't know who's in the Newburn gang but I know someone who will. I'm sure they will be OK with another pair of wheels, likewise at the Tuesday night TT (which I've so far failed to get to this year). I'll do some asking.
    Apparently the gang doesn't go out in summer. So the suggestion is to get yourself to the club TT on a Tuesday and test yourself. Do you want details ?
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Andy9964 wrote:
    I got some Shimano MT23's. Would have preferred something a bit more 'roadie 'looking, but A) I only had £50 max and B) I'm stuck with SPD really because i have a canny walk when i get off the bike at work
    Tried them last night, a world of difference compared to the Aldi shoes. Much, much stiffer, which helped make the clip/unclip more positive. And much more comfortable despite the stiffness
    Just noticed as i type this, the pain I was getting just below my outer ankle has subsided considerably. Coincidence?????

    Interesting that you'd mention that as I've only ever used Aldi shoes so don't know how others compare. Recently I've been having problems with the fit of them with my little toe being squashed after long rides. I might check those out if you recommend them?
    The piece of the footplate that snapped off my Aldi shoe was nowhere near the full width of the shoe ( it pulled through the cleat hole without splitting it) so I don't suppose my feet were getting support across the full width

    The Shimano shoe feels like I'm walking on a comfortable steel girder in comparison. They do seem to be a reasonably wide fit, I take a UK size 10, and got a size 46, with no pinching or squashing on my first commute in them (6.5 mile each way) looking forward to a longer ride to give them a good test
    The only down side I can foresee with them is, my feet will get a soaking when it rains. There's a lot of fabric in the upper which will easily let water through, it's summer though........right???
    I paid £48 for them, you can get them online for £10 cheaper, but I wanted some quickly and needed to try them on first so I wasn't bothered
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    Due to the exceedingly good weather this morning, I took the long route home, doubling my 6.5 miles. From Nissan into Southwick and past stadium of light, down to the harbour at Roker, then up the coast through Seaburn, Whitburn and back to sunny shields.
    Very warm, glad I took the opportunity to chill my juice down to -170 deg in the dry ice container, it was just starting to thaw nicely right when I wanted it
    Slightly dissappointed it was only 13 miles and not the 15 google maps said it would be, I thought 46 minutes was pretty quick until I saw the mileage :(
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    I was on the nice bike yesterday - Carbon Fibre and Tribars. Happily getting Strava PRs and a KOM until the arm rest worked loose on the track between Newburn and Wylam. Thanks to the friendly lad on a Giant who stopped and lent me his multi-tool (mine wasn't in the saddlebag for some reason). :shock:
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Twostage wrote:
    Twostage wrote:
    Initialised wrote:
    jomoj wrote:
    On that subject ,I can't remember a single day like today last summer, let alone a week's worth of decent sun.
    Looks like buying overshoes and mud guards paid off, barely needed them so far.

    I'm considering joining Derwent Side CC, any one know about the Newburn Chain gang, is it OK for non-DCC members to come along or would I be better joining the club run a couple of times?

    I'm in the DCC. I don't know who's in the Newburn gang but I know someone who will. I'm sure they will be OK with another pair of wheels, likewise at the Tuesday night TT (which I've so far failed to get to this year). I'll do some asking.
    Apparently the gang doesn't go out in summer. So the suggestion is to get yourself to the club TT on a Tuesday and test yourself. Do you want details ?
    Yes, can you PM.

    Just looked it up, from work getting there for 6:40pm is going to be a bit tough. Looking at 16-18 miles with 2000 ft climbing in 1hr to make the last sign on time and I'll have to clear it with the wife, which may be harder than the ride!
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    @twostage: so is it on tomorrow?
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • tuktuk
    tuktuk Posts: 179
    anthdci wrote:
    Not the best pictures since it was starting to get dark but I've put the fulcrum racing 5s on, hoping for a nice improvement over the standard wheelset.

    null_zps56728ab6.jpg
    null_zps9bdee0d6.jpg

    has anyone else found the standard giant p-r3 tyres lethal in the rain? I've had the back slide 3 times on the 2 wet commutes I've done on them.

    Very nice mate, and there been some lovely weather to be out on it!

    Yesterday i booked some tickets to go over to paris for the weekend and see the tour roll in! Cant wait :D
    ReefFishForum
  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    tuktuk wrote:
    Very nice mate, and there been some lovely weather to be out on it!

    Yesterday i booked some tickets to go over to paris for the weekend and see the tour roll in! Cant wait :D

    yea thanks it has been lovely, I have only missed 1 day commute on it over the last three weeks and that was due to fatigue.

    Enjoy, should be good to see. I might have a pop over next year to see it.
  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    hope everyone has their waterproofs at the ready, looks like the rain is going to start very soon, it's black out there!
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Heavy rain forecast for Sunday :( I've been enjoying recently going out every Sunday morning for a long ride.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    just want to give a thumbs up to the artic driver who waited patiently for me to drag my arse up the bank out of Willington Gut before passing nice and wide.

    that is all.
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    Just wanted to give the finger to the arsehole in the blue van who sat on my back wheel honking his horn all the way through Fencehouses. What did he expect me to do; disappear?
  • tuktuk
    tuktuk Posts: 179
    20130721_185203_zps6f80598d.jpg

    20130721_201421_zpsebb0d0f8.jpg

    20130721_201148_zpse32b6680.jpg

    Didnt get the best spot but still thoroughly enjoyed it!
    ReefFishForum
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    jongooligan wrote:
    Just wanted to give the finger to the arsehole in the blue van who sat on my back wheel honking his horn all the way through Fencehouses. What did he expect me to do; disappear?

    Yes.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    just a heads up - literally - for anyone who uses the NCN72 route along the north of the Tyne. I found and removed a length of electrical cable that had been strung across the path in Walker near Malaya Drive. As a lovely touch, the scum that had tied it up had added some bags of dog poo scavenged from the nearby bins. Maybe that's what passes for entertainment for some people, I don't know but just keep your eyes open for repeat occurences.

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