Cyclists - y so serious?

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Mondeo man in yet another "people spend their hard earned on whatever the fuck they want" shocker.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Couple of points of order from this thread.

Servicing bicycles is NOT simple because there is no real standardisation (even for things that are supposedly standard like rim size two diiferent 700c rims can be amrkedly different in size). They have archaic/historic bits of design on them and require special tools for just about everything (when did you last use a 15mm spanner for anything other than removing a bicycle wheel?).

A 6mm bearing from one packet is not necessarily the same diameter as one from another packet.

All in all, bicycles are a total and utter bastard to work on for no real good reason and are covered in sharp bits for you to skin your knuckles on.

Second point. Puncture frequency is not down to luck. It's down to tyre selection and keeping them pumped up. I've not had a puncture for years because I only use Schwalbe tyres and pump them up before every ride.
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JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

EazyDuz · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Karma :

Every vehicle with rubber tyres can get punctures.

In terms of bicycle servicing, its not that easy. You need a pro to respoke your wheels for example.
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SQL · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Karma :

I was talking about this the other day with my girlfriend, when we were younger we fixed our bikes with WD40 and Cellotape + Magic

Now days we buy proper grease bearings slime innertubes etc....

just quite odd really

When I was 13 - 14 I had a bmx with a 26" front wheel 16" rear used to ride it everywhere

now I have a Voodoo Shango DJ bike with loads of mods >_<

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

Ayrton · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Karma :

Im all up for this service it yourself stuff. Theres nothing that beats fixing up your bike yourself, especially when you need to be able to sort something in a hurry. Although there are some that you need to take to a shop. For instance i have no idea how to sort out gears or fix a buckled wheel.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ok. I'll put it another way.

MOST punctures happen because people don't pump their tyres up properly.

Someone who is "always getting punctures" (Like Mrs stinkwheel and one of her friends) is generally the author of their own demise. I've even bought her a track pump but I don't think it gets used from one week to the next.

Mrs Stinkwheels friend is even worse. Her bicycle is a total disaster area to the point where it's dangerous. I don't know how someone can continue riding a bicycle when the bottom bracket is so loose it's shedding bearings.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

LordShaftesbu... · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

Itxi · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Karma :

EazyDuz · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Karma :

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

Nonsense.

Road, or even hybrid bikes are infinitely better than mountain bikes (especially Argos specials with dual suspension) for general commuting.

If you take it out once a month, sure, it's probably not worth it.

If you actually use the bike as an alternative to motorised transport, then it just makes sense.

We are not talking marginal improvements here. A £100 used Raleigh with skinny tyres will absolutely dominate an Argos bike.

It's not all necessarily about speed, it's about endurance. MTB tyres lose you so much effort through friction. Great for losing weight, not great for getting somewhere without knackering yourself.

The Reebok comparison is nonsense. Would you go running in a pair of boat shoes? Of course you wouldn't. So you buy trainers. They don't need to be expensive ones, just the right bloody type of shoe for the job.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

Alpha-9 · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Jan 2012 Karma :

Lycra clad bellends with their arsse in the air and a serious face and general pompous attitude that people like that seem to have is what pisses me off

I agree it seems to be a craze
Nothing wrong with taking pride in your hobby, but people paying £1000+ is just retarded in my eyes because it could have an engine on it for that much

I used to cycle to work on a shit mountain bike with massive dumb tyres, was 3.8 miles and took me 20 mins ish

I saw a cyclist doing 40+ behind a lorry earlier Laughing

My friend has cycled nohanded alongside my YBR at 20mph
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Stiffler · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Karma :

Currently sat knackered in my hotel bed in the alps. I've just ridden the Col du Galibier.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/225236107

Not particularly quick but I made it which is what I was here to achieve. My bike cost me £1400 5 years ago and although it's quite alot it's nothing compared to some of the other bikes in the group I'm with. There are bikes at 3k, 4k and 6k here!! I've been a keen cyclist for about 10 years now and for me it's a worthwhile investment. I do a fair few miles a year and have managed 5 trips to the Alps in that time too. Not particularly keen on being referred to as a bellend though...
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Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

I have a friend who has a £10k RRP bike hanging on his wall.
Couldn't tell you what brand it was, I don't follow these things.

He gave up serious cycling after being involved in two RTA's. Pelotons are scary.

Howling Terror · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

First of all...

https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/templates/standard/images/new.gifThe Cycling Forum
Thanks. Thumbs Up

Not got a photo to hand but mine is by Viking. At least 10years old. A vile machine. Loctite is always to hand. It's heavy and the front cable operated disc brake is on or off, and it only comes on if you crush the lever. Adjustable front suspension ! What was I thinking. I never bothered with suspension before, my arms and legs did that fine.
21 gears ! I use 5 maybe 6.
Stupid flappy mudguards.
Swapped the tyres for Swalbe Marathon...somethings. Great profile and superb grip. They're very interesting on muddy paths, but I don't mind going slower, trying to relax as my front tyre does a 'Shall I go left or go right' dance. -5 points for a dab. Evil or Very Mad

I'll keep an eye on this new cycling section. It'll give me info on what parts to get. Best bikes I rode were homemade, cobbled together.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

A cheap road bike is more likely to have wider spread gearing ideal for the 'new rider'. Also, a lot of people will just get off and push regardless until their fitness level is up.

I recently got a cheap hybrid and really enjoying it for getting around - about as fast as a motorbike in town as you can take a few more liberties and definitely faster than a car in town.

And note, when I say cheap, I mean £115 second hand with a RRP of £300. In comparison I got a free mountain bike that was probably sold new for maybe £150.
The Hybrid is massively better getting from A to B.
However, sure I don't need to go faster, but I want a bit more speed so I can pedal slower - so have bagged myself a decent deal on a Charge Scourer, which has the 50/11 (vs 48/14 on current) maximum gear I want - selling the current one should mean it won't have cost me much more than buying new stuff would have.

el_oso · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2008 Karma :

try this on you're £100 Apollo POS.

I do partly agree, that some people way over the odds for their push bike. Whist I'd never pay less £100 on a push bike (unless 2nd hand), Spending more than £400-500 on a new road going bike I think is pointless unless you really do care about getting every single mph out of the bike you can.
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JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I don't think I'd spend that much on a road bike because it's not one of my interests. A mountain bike would make more sense for me as it would improve the bits I enjoy.

I'm currently spending a little money on a road bike because it helps me achieve general fitness aims (with the hope of doing some motorbike enduros or at least rallies next year, can't hurt) as well as saving me money each utilitarian ride.

Why spend £1000 on a motorbike, pay for tax and insurance, put your self in danger etc when you could just get a taxi?

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

If anything, buying a better bicycle is more useful than buying a more powerful motorcycle, simply because you can actually use the added power.

Speed limits don't really apply to bicycles. If you manage to get something that can do 50mph in a town centre under the power of your huge glutes, go for it.

In all honesty, even a reasonably expensive road bike (say £1000) will still work out cheaper than a 50cc moped if all it's used for is commuting under 10 miles.