The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

king_jeffers

Anyone in North Tyneside - came across a riders group call North Tyneside Riders on Facebook, worth joining if you fancy the odd group ride out.

tuktuk

Cuddywifter wrote:

Do any of you folks record your rides with MapMyRide or Strava or another and make them "public" so others can see them? It would be interesting to see your split times to see how slow I really am!

I have been doing a route from South Gosforth to the Airport and back to see if I can improve my time, which I have, but I am nowhere near the average speed of tuktuk or others on here.

I imagine the route makes a massive difference, all of my rides are pretty flat, infact other than the banks of the fish quay i havent really came across an incline!

From memory I started cycling in May time this year, and since then covered just under 1500 miles, always trying to push myself little bit harder each week.

Best thing i bought for the bike is spd-sl pedals and shoes, made a big difference to the way i pedal, i would definately look into those if you havent already got some.

Im thinking more and more about buying a road bike, a guy at work is selling his specialized allez but it needs a few little jobs done on it. I might take that off him or buy a new one early next year.

Long_Time_Lurker

Did the C-2-C this weekend. As someone who was born down-south, all of my old routes are over rolling hills. The hills over the Pennines are brutal in comparison.
Next time I'm definitely using a road-bike.

Initialised

Long Time Lurker wrote:

Did the C-2-C this weekend. As someone who was born down-south, all of my old routes are over rolling hills. The hills over the Pennines are brutal in comparison.
Next time I'm definitely using a road-bike.

Funny that, I was fantasizing about a full suss 29er with nice chunky tyres on my way up into the Pennines along Waskerly Way (NCN 7) (see the elevation profile above). Maybe next time I go that way I'll stick to the roads instead. But, it is nice to be able to do both road and trails at a decent pace in a single ride so maybe the true all terrain bike, the hybrid that isn't the worst of both worlds is a 29er Hardtail With Drops or a CX with front shocks?

anthdci

did anyone else travel west to Newcastle this morning? it took me nearly 10 mins longer to do 12miles due to the massive headwind! It has decided to rain now just before leaving work :evil:

Long_Time_Lurker

Yep - along the coast road into town. Didn't take too long either.
BUT... when it was time to head back with the tail wind, my legs were dead. The ride in had taken it out of me.

Initialised

anthdci wrote:

did anyone else travel west to Newcastle this morning? it took me nearly 10 mins longer to do 12miles due to the massive headwind! It has decided to rain now just before leaving work :evil:

I go east in the mornings, saw the trees blowing in the wind as I left the house. Thought this could be fast. It was, I managed to average 19mph which is a personal best for the morning commute. Paid it all back on the way home.

anthdci

Initialised wrote:

Paid it all back on the way home.

I got picked up since we were getting our new puppy last night, so didn't even have the fun of a fast ride home! This morning was not as windy, but there was still a headwind, and it was bloody cold, the computer was reading 8 degrees. Leg warmers, bib shorts, base layer, jersey, thermal gloves and socks and I still hadn't warmed up after 12 miles.

byke68

anthdci wrote:

I really dont understand single speeds, I mean i know they are less maintenance, but I dont think the upkeep for gears is that much.

I've got a Giant Bowery, had no maintinance issues and only one puncture inthe 2 years I've had it. Just get on and ride, great if I'm feeling strong and fancy doing a few quick miles. Commute to Wallsend whenever I don't need the car.

Initialised

Allegedly 4C this morning, didn't feel too bad, no need for extra kit. Was a nice ride in until some twunt pulled out on me and I nearly left a tyre shaped dent in his door.

tuktuk

I was really cold thismorning, glad i put my leg warmers on. Need to sort put some decent gloves!

Load of people biking on the way home today which is unusual as i normally only come across 2-3 max.

tuktuk

Cant say im looking forward to the home leg today! Wind was right behind me thismorning, so much so that 30mph was a breeze in places, excuse the pun.

Forecast for the wind to strengthen later and considering its already got the rain heading horizontally it doesnt sound like its going to be fun

anthdci

im very glad i got the metro this morning! Aldi have a bunch of winter cycling gear in this thursday, think ill be going and stocking up!

Initialised

ALDI experience from stuff bought ~2 years ago:

Merino Jumper is itchy but warm.
Base Layer is fine.
Gloves and Cap are onto their third winter this year. I add a thin liner to the gloves and a thin buff for me head at -5C
Lock is OK, you'd pay 2-3x for the same product with a different logo.
Overshoes aren't water proof or that warm.

Was a wet one today and looks like the same tomorrow but #stillinshorts

Could have done with my lights.

tuktuk

I didnt see too many cyclists today but one i did come across had red roar legs! He looked absolutely frozen. Your braver than me still wearing just shorts.

I really struggled coming home, was up out the saddle to get some sort of pace about the journey but shortly after sitting down the wind just slowed me right down. The worst thing was the rain hitting my eye lids and lips, felt like being jabbed by needles!

Initialised

Got blown about a bit but once I was on Scotswood Road it was all behind me.

Use glasses for weather like this, noting worse than snowflakes landing on your eyeballs. Maybe hailstones or gravel.

Dragging out the neoprene booties and some lights for tomorrow.

Initialised

Wow, Toon Flood 2012 Round Three done.

Scotswood Road, A184, Lobly Hill/Bensham Bank and half of Team Valley all flooded again. Soaked feet detours.

What a morning!

tuktuk

I got detoured thismorning too, was soaked when i arrived at work and our boiler has been removed to be relocated so im freezing and all my kit will still be soaked later

Girlfriend just phoned to say Morpeth is really bad so she is being sent home.

Initialised

I had to detour around this:



Coming back wasn't too bad.

tuktuk

Is that at the Team valley ?

Was nice to have a quiet stroll in thismorning without being pounded by the wind or soaked from the rain.

anthdci

tuktuk wrote:

Was nice to have a quiet stroll in thismorning without being pounded by the wind or soaked from the rain.

was a lovely ride this morning, nice and quick too, managed under 50mins.

jomoj

alright? been a while away from this thread.
Bloody hell - someone really flipped the autumn switch on didn't they? First time since May I've had to put my windstopper jacket on. Also packing a snorkel, just in case. Got a great pair of endura 3/4s to keep my knees toasty as well with the comfiest backside pad known to man, just in time by the look of it.

jomoj

Initialised wrote:

Long Time Lurker wrote:

Did the C-2-C this weekend. As someone who was born down-south, all of my old routes are over rolling hills. The hills over the Pennines are brutal in comparison.
Next time I'm definitely using a road-bike.

Funny that, I was fantasizing about a full suss 29er with nice chunky tyres on my way up into the Pennines along Waskerly Way (NCN 7) (see the elevation profile above). Maybe next time I go that way I'll stick to the roads instead. But, it is nice to be able to do both road and trails at a decent pace in a single ride so maybe the true all terrain bike, the hybrid that isn't the worst of both worlds is a 29er Hardtail With Drops or a CX with front shocks?

Did it this year on my cxer with 28 road tyres, the perfect combo if you ask me. The other lads were on their full on road bikes and had a slight advantage on the hills but suffered on the lumpy bits whereas I was blasting along.

Long_Time_Lurker

jomoj wrote:

Did it this year on my cxer with 28 road tyres, the perfect combo if you ask me. The other lads were on their full on road bikes and had a slight advantage on the hills but suffered on the lumpy bits whereas I was blasting along.

We timed it wrong - the Grouse shooting season had just started that weekend so all of the off-road sections were shut. We could have risked it, but we heard stories of people getting half way and then getting turned back by people with shotguns.
Too big a risk to ride 10 miles up a hill, only to go back down again and have to cycle up a different hill.

tuktuk

My bike seems to be falling apart at the minute! All my fault as its been totally neglected.

Brakes are done for, im going to have to get new pads today from edinburgh cycles at dinner. Whilst braking using only the rear, it seems to 'grab' the wheel at a certain point, i can only think this means its buckled or something ?

Lastnight it jumped out of the big ring and wouldnt go back, i never change this so god knows how i have stretched the cable or anything. I tried to 'tune' it lastnight but ended up taking the derailer off completely and then i couldnt get it back on properly!

My whole left pedal and 'arm'? comes loose after a weeks worth of use, i have knackered the head of the bolt trying to tighten it.

Also everytime i go over a bump or the bike judders there is something rattling but i cant find out what it is.

Think it needs to go in for a service before the winter.

anthdci

sounds like you do! Edinburgh have been pretty good at sorting my bike when ive needed them too, I managed to snap the front shifter cable by over tightening so they fixed it and indexed the rear for my while they were at it.

Ive just got back from aldi, spend 75 quid but got all sorts of stuff. I think im pretty much winter prepared now.

jomoj

It sounds like you lads need to invest in some tools and a good bike repair book rather than handing your bikes over to the shop for minor tasks! Replacing a cable and indexing gears are 2 minute jobs requiring no more than a 5mm allen key... teach a man to fish etc.

tuktuk - couple of Qs - what kind of cranks have you got? And re: your back wheel, check if the 'grab' spot is where the rim joint is (usually opposite the valve) or if not that the rim isn't dented from hitting a kerb or pothole. Small sideways buckles shouldn't make much difference to braking but if the rim has been splayed out from hitting something then it's possible that you'd feel a grab or 'pulse' when you brake.

tuktuk

The cranks say omega fsa ?

Il have a look over the back wheel later today. Thanks for the tip

Fitted brake pads just now so thats one thing sorted, although i havent been out on it yet, so we will see what happens

Had some mudgaurds delivered thismorning which arent going to fit my bike without modifying but il have that sorted before i leave the office.

Also got some cheapo bib pants from wiggle so i have a spare.

jomoj, do you have any recommendations for books ? I think for this winter i will stick it into a shop but would like to learn some maintenance next year.

Initialised

You don't need a book YouTube has loads of videos for any give job.

Skipping gear? If you can't tune it out (look up index rear derailer) then it's probably chain and cassette replacement time. I

My wheel went under an Audi and started grabbing so most likely a buckled rim. Having said that I made it through 2010-2011 winter without an effective rear brake, and I could basically use it once per ride then had to reset it by hand so it's not like you can't adapt to just front brakes.

Jumping out of the big ring probably means your front gear cable has stretched. If it has a barrel adjuster on the levers you can use this to tighten it up. Cable stretch happens over time and isn't a a tough job. Look up front derailer adjustment.

Long_Time_Lurker

First morning with the 'big light' today.
Riding through some woodland and came face-to-face with a deer. I stopped 2 feet in front of it, and then we had a 3 second face-off.

I think it screamed before it ran off (although that might have been me :oops: )